World Cup 90--RP Thread

by **Mytanija** » Tue Jan 25, 2022 3:38 pm

MYTANIJA SQUAD FOR MATCHES AGAINST DOD RAVA (H) & MAGNECIA (A)
Goalkeepers: 12. Pedja Kasun (Ararat Severyan); 23. Dragisa Lazarevic (Litala ’93); 34. Lazar Obradovic (Liria Prizren)
Defenders: 13. Ermin Urankar (Anomalies [CMT]); 14. Ezib Salihovic (CDSA), 15. Kamil Jernejec (Chromatik [CMT]), 16. Adnan Sulejmanovic (Atletik Thessia); 17. Antun Spiridonovic (Litala ’93); 24. Vuk Bajalica (Kyethas Rivermen FC [TKT]); 25. Dino Racic (Libertas Bergheim [SVJ]), 26. Mahir Kapetanovic (Liria Prizren), 35. Svetoslav Radozevic (Bakartirla Buccaneers [ASG]); 27. Slobodan Vujovic (Royal Rumiatzi [ASG])
Midfielders: 8. Alen Hrdaljko (CA Paulinthal [PAS]), 29. Edin Aganovic (Directus [EUR]); 10. Jasno Odonelec (Atletik Thessia); 41. Davor Mahovlic (Liria Prizren), 36. Sefir Ajanovic (FK Arsika); 20. Omer Kuhar-Arh (Atletik Thessia); 19. Dusko Ocokoljic (St. Thomas [TLI]); 28. Zijad Kurtcehajic (Crossroads [CMT])
Forwards: 21. Dejan Zgela (Damogran FC [SRS]), 32. Zlatan Andrijasevic (Z’ai’ai [CMT]); 33. Mijat Simic (Liria Prizren), 40. Fran Prpic-Bosanac (Workers Union [EUR])

Let's take a look at Gazeta Mytanija's lead story:

’32 ELECTION SUPPLEMENT
THE LOWDOWN ON THE CANDIDATES AND THEIR PARTIES AHEAD OF ELECTION DAY

by Avdotia Dzotsoeva

PREMIER ANA MECAVA-CATIC (JVO - 139 seats, largest party): A good relationship with the media, outstanding personal ratings and a safe guiding hand behind some much-needed economic growth have Ana Mecava-Catic in pole position to not only defend the gains her party made at the last election but to significantly add to them. Some pollsters have optimistically tipped Jedinstvo to come out of the election with a majority of their own, no longer reliant on coalition partners Ekologija or a confidence-and-supply arrangement with Radnika to get votes over the line. Over their governmental term both Jedinstvo and Ekologija have cleverly manipulated Radnika, painting any intransigence as a failure on their part and a stronger indication that the old big tent party of Mytanija’s centre-left has made a final move towards the centre of Mytanar politics, betraying their traditional voters for once and for all. Mecava-Catic is an intelligent politician who uses her previous career as a nurse to her advantage, she is genuinely caring but she is also prepared to metaphorically knife opponents whenever she can. Radnika have been severely weakened as a result of her and Radenka Kovacevic’s politicking and it has offered the opportunity for the coalition partners to wipe out their more centrist rivals for once and for all.

An offer to complete the reconstruction of Mytanija that her government has begun will be intoxicating to some voters who have seen enormous investment in their towns and cities along with the introduction of universal healthcare free at the point of use. Educational reforms are next on Mecava-Catic’s list and whilst there has been harmony between her and Radenka Kovacevic (and their parties more widely) whilst in coalition there could be storm clouds on the horizon if they have to form a coalition government together again. Part of their version of reconstruction post-Conflict was the nationalisation of the country’s energy sector, complete with a shift towards green energy and reskilling the workforce to meet the demands of this change. Jedinstvo’s timeline for this is slightly different to Ekologija’s, something which is perhaps to be expected given the two parties’ slightly differing priorities. Mecava-Catic will have to find a way to negotiate that during debates in the run-up to the election and potentially afterwards too. Kovacevic has been very strident in her desire to retain Ekologija’s independence despite a solid working relationship between the parties, you imagine this is one area where she would make it difficult for Mecava-Catic if she needed a bargaining chip.

Some in Mytanija may see Mecava-Catic’s failure to get involved in the Nyowani Kitara peace talks as a foreign policy failure, particularly given that there has been noises from other nations for greater Mytanar involvement to support the Kitarans and Nafuna Akongo specifically. A strong electoral performance may see Mecava-Catic more confidently assert herself in whatever comes from the peace talks.

KRSTO GOJKOVIC (MNK - 98 seats, main opposition): Gojkovic has the difficulty of fighting a popular incumbent whilst not being universally well-liked within his own party. He’s re-aligning the MNK aggressively, looking to shift leftwards economically into what some would consider traditional Jedinstvo territory, but this comes with the chaser of a shift to the right on issues such as immigration, national identity, family life, LGBT and sexual rights. Picking a fight with Bigger Mbala-Ekakia – a black man who is fast becoming a national hero – because he ‘doesn’t look Mytanar’ was at best ill-advised, but there are some areas of Mytanija where that sort of rhetoric will go down well. Voters in Zentria, Magevskaya, Nasto and Avnalia and parts of Vojovitica seem to regard Gojkovic as a no-nonsense politician who tells it how it is. There is a bit of a lack of familiarity with what Gojkovic would do in government, he has mostly stuck to concepts and ideas rather than pinning down some policies, but that could give him significant freedom to make promises and renege on them where needed if he did get into power.

Voters in more provincial locales who are tired of old-school Zentrian politicians running the MNK and trying to re-establish Zentrian hegemony in Mytanija have flocked to the party under his leadership. Many of these voters didn’t vote last time when Radovan Stefanovic ran against Ana Mecava-Catic but they seem prepared to lend the MNK their votes with Gojkovic in charge. Support for Mytanar unity has soared under Mecava-Catic’s premiership and Gojkovic has accepted that reality, preferring to focus on immigration as a threat to Mytanar national identity rather than trying to re-litigate the outcomes of the Mytanar Conflict. Voters seem to have warmed to that even if some in the MNK have not. Gojkovic may find it hard to keep hold of some of the traditional MNK voters who expect to see firmly centre-right economics and there are some who are uncomfortable with the MNK treading on similar ground to the far-right Spasenje. Similarities between Gojkovic’s politics and those of Zoran Milosevic are obvious and some have claimed the MNK is in danger of becoming fascist rather than a traditional centre-right party, Gojkovic’s responses to these claims have usually been along the lines of calling them ‘leftist nonsense’. It remains to be seen whether voters will agree with him or not.

RADENKA KOVACEVIC (EKO - 52 seats, coalition partners): Kovacevic falls into a similar category to Mecava-Catic in that her time in power has led to the public liking her even more than they did at the last election. They have worked well together and achieved a lot, it is something both parties are trying to underline at every possibility and it has led some to wonder why the two won’t make their coalition arrangement something a little more formalised. There is a majority to be won but the two parties are unlikely to compete against one another too much in seats they already possess. Kovacevic wants her party to remain independent, particularly given the plans to hasten the nationalisation of the energy sector post-election should the coalition partners remain in power. There could be some disagreements there with Ekologija wanting to do away with nuclear power entirely and a quick move away from coal power stations. Jedinstvo were ambitious with their plans for the sector at the last election but a need to stabilise the economy post-election took precedence. The two parties did work well on some large-scale renewable energy projects in the intervening period though and that could remain fruitful ground if there is to be another coalition government.

Ekologija don’t differ from Jedinstvo too much on economics and we may see both parties trying to marginalise Radnika from the left as a result, but there could be room for Ekologija to win some seats which Jedinstvo would find impossible to win. Disaffected MNK voters who do not like the party’s direction under Krsto Gojkovic but who are concerned about the environment and climate change might lend a vote to Ekologija in this election. The more likely win for Ekologija could be from Zajedno Naprijed! though, with the more liberal centrists seemingly trying to be all things to all people at this election. That’s what Radnika tried last time out and ZN! are trying to take seats leftwards (from Radnika); as well as from the right (from the MNK). Ekologija might pick up some protest votes in student towns and cities which have traditionally been MNK strongholds but which voted for ZN! last time.

ZORAN MILOSEVIC (SPA - 45 seats): Spasenje managed to pick up enough seats to be the fourth largest party in the House of Representatives at the last election. They are firmly a party of the far-right, generally seen as a bit of anachronism who would prefer to take Mytanija back to the times of Kalinina with a dominant Zentrian Orthodox Church and subjugation of Thessians, Rauchiks and Visoravs. However, the fact they picked up 45 seats demonstrates that there was an appetite for these views at the first democratic election post-Conflict. Whether that remains the case is up for debate but there is a feeling that Krsto Gojkovic’s MNK might well dull some of Spasenje’s appeal. There is also the electoral mathematics which saw Spasenje pick up seats from the national proportional representation seat allocation more so than picking up actual constituencies. Their electoral geography is limited in that three regions of the country are more or less guaranteed to never vote for them, but then that’s kind of the point given Spasenje’s politics. Gojkovic’s anti-immigrant rhetoric might have more traction now given that a post-Conflict consensus of Mytanar unity seems to have been firmly cemented.

Relations between regions of Mytanija have improved under Ana Mecava-Catic’s leadership (the famous words of a surprised boxing coach coming around to her premiership in the MKV Olympic Games series Standing on the Shoulders of Giants remain fresh in the mind!), with many who would have been long-standing opponents to any semblance of Mytanar unity coming around to the idea as economic prosperity, increased interdependence and more regular interactions with other regions have had an effect. Spasenje’s stances might not ring true when experiences of life under a Thessian Premier haven’t quite lived up to the nightmarish imagery Zoran Milosevic tried to paint in the run-up to the last election. Pollsters are expecting a much lower seat return at this election, perhaps down by as many as 25 to 30, with Milosevic’s party restricted to rural constituencies and far-right strongholds in the capital, Trunca and Miago.

DAVOR JURIC (ZN! - 42 seats): Davor Juric has been upbeat about his party’s chances to cut into the votes of two of Mytanija’s traditional parties at this election, the MNK under Krsto Gojkovic and Radnika under Nikola Devic. It is interesting that he doesn’t feel that there is any chance of harming either of the coalition partners, but then Zajedno Naprijed! aren’t economically left-wing enough to really operate on similar ground to either, at least not under Juric’s leadership. His party’s approach is likely to focus on Radnika’s weakness, electing Devic as leader seems to be more of the same and Juric has been keen to emphasise this whenever possible. Voters may as well vote for ZN! if they’re thinking about voting for Radnika, Juric’s party have always been liberal centrists and have long-standing credentials on that particular territory. Voters won’t end up with a Radnika representative who is forced to shift left with a change of leadership or one who has to vote with Jedinstvo and Ekologija as has happened with the current confidence-and-supply arrangement. Juric’s party could be successful with this offering. They will also look to the right and try to pick up any voters who are uncomfortable voting for the MNK under Krsto Gojkovic. There could be a lot of these voters, some who don’t like his shift leftwards economically and some who aren’t keen on his anti-immigrant rhetoric. This is potentially fertile ground for ZN! too.

They will have to be careful of being caught in the trap that Slobodan Acimovic’s Radnika didn’t negotiate well at the last election though with some voters unsure what his party actually stood for as they chased votes from left and right. You get the feeling that ZN! might be a little more successful with this due to their more natural desire to occupy the centre ground of the Mytanar political spectrum. It could be a successful election for Davor Juric’s party.

NIKOLA DEVIC (RAD - 23 seats, confidence-and-supply): This could have been a fresh start for Radnika, the traditional big tent party of the centre-left in Mytanija. Interim leader Branislav Hanzek was (and still is!) firmly of the party’s left and receives generally positive reviews from voters across the left of the spectrum, including those who went and put an ‘X’ in the box for either Jedinstvo and Ekologija last time. Unfortunately the party machinery and membership appears to lie mainly to the centre of that ‘centre-left’ moniker. They plumped for Vojovitican lawyer Nikola Devic as their new leader and he is very much a follow-up act to Slobodan Acimovic, hailing from the same wing of the party as the former leader who led the party to its worst ever electoral result (and we’re including pre-Conflict elections in that). The party of Predrag Pamic appears to be destined for the political wilderness for the foreseeable unless Devic can inspire an unexpected resurgence to reverse the results of his immediate predecessor.

The ‘Radification’ – as termed by Mytanar academics – of traditional centre-left parties isn’t a phenomenon exclusive to our political system. It has been reported in other countries too where new populist parties of the left and right have marginalised the vote for the long-standing centre-left party whilst the traditional centre-right party remains untouched. Nikola Devic said he was ‘determined to prevent it being a terminal illness’, but given that his policy agenda seems to operate very much on the same ground as at the previous election there could be danger of further marginalisation. Jedinstvo and Ekologija are both licking their lips; ZN! and even the MNK are positive that the left vote could be split and they could come through to claim some seats too. Radnika could be the victims of it all. They might not be needed even by way of confidence-and-supply following the election should their seat number fall much lower.

ILYA ILICIC (PsD - 8 seats): Unlikely to trouble the scorers too much PsD are nevertheless going to be present and will hope to defend their 8 seats, though that may be a hopeless task such is the popularity of Jedinstvo in many of the constituencies which surround PsD held ones. Ilya Ilicic’s party won 5 constituencies at the last election, grouped in cities with strong communist traditions like Thessia, Ibon and Sigurno. Jedinstvo did well in these sort of places too and we might see more votes fall their way this time given the general satisfaction voters in those places have with what Ana Mecava-Catic’s party have done with their time in government. Ilicic will want to defend valiantly but it could be a case of holding onto one or two seats and maybe the same number coming from the national PR seats.

More of the usual Util-Tolik in-fighting that the communist PsD sees between elections might even see the numbers approach zero. Ilicic is firmly from the party’s Alex Util inspired tradition, the more moderate wing which probably has a lot in common with Jedinstvo voters and could remain palatable to them. The Tolikist wing have been a thorn in his side for a while however and have led to claims from some Jedinstvo members that it is their much newer party – rather than Radnika or the PsD – which are the true heirs to Alex Util’s political legacy. That sort of statement will be a dagger to the heart of many veterans in both parties given that it is Util’s intellectual teachings which are supposed to underpin much of their policy agendas. Given their lack of proximity to power it doesn’t matter too much to the PsD but Ilicic is a clever leader who wants to maximise his party’s influence and it is telling that he approached Mecava-Catic following the last election offering his support, though the 8 seats he could offer were unable to move the needle much in terms of persuading her to accept the offer of assistance. Further in-fighting won’t help to reverse that decision.

TOP STORIES:
pg. 6 - Policija discover Mytanar Conflict weapons cache; find guns
pg. 17 - One-armed man applauds kindness of strangers in Port Jarko
SPORT: Hoops move two points behind The Holy Empire with fourth straight victory

by **Ethane** » Tue Jan 25, 2022 3:41 pm

Qualification effort on rocky ground

It's been a rather challenging set of results for the Red Kites, who are struggling to pick up momentum as the top seed in this group. With the minimum target set on qualifying for the World Cup, the manager will be desparately trying to fix the rot that has embedded itself within this team, and salvage a reasonable performance to push for first place.

Gone are those days of the last World Cup where Ethane had the best defence in the whole tournament qualification process. This World Cup so far, the Red Kites have conceded 9 goals in 9 matches - a far cry from their defensive performances of yesteryear. The backline looks more vulnerable than in the past. Peter Mallard has struggled to adjust to the demands of international football, and is yet to put in a solid performance, limiting the choices Nathan Walker has. With Wilburn-Mason out of form as well, the de-facto leader of the defence, there has been a lack of coherence to Ethane's defensive performances, which has let weaker teams have chances which we would have never offered them before. Velázquez and Araújo are also both showing their age, and will most likely be shown the door straight after this World Cup campaign whatever the result.

Tyler Ellis-Wood has had to step up in midfield a lot to control the games, and for the most part he has done a respectable but not exceptional job. He has controlled the tempo, shown a great diversity in passing and build-up play, and has created and taken multiple chances across the games so far. In the few games we've had in this campaign, Ellis-Wood has to be the best player for Ethane. However, he sorely misses the attacking presence that Montoya offered. Montoya tragically retired from injury in the build-up to the campaign, though he would have retired after this World Cup anyway in all likelihood. However, Montoya made this team gel, linking midfield and the offensive side. While this team has scored 12 goals, which is pretty decent at this stage, when they've pushed they have left themselves vulnerable at the back by committing too much forward.

In their performances so far, they've wandered from that traditional Ethanian defensive philosophy which has undergirded many successful performances for the Red Kites previously. Whether it's tactical, a loss of confidence in the manager, or the wrong players being selected and played, we can't be certain. However, the buck always stops with Walker. He needs to regain their confidence, stamp his authority, and reassert that Ethanian defensive philosophy if this team is to have a chance at qualifying this campaign. And if he can't, then perhaps it's time to be shown the door.

by **Kimi-Suomi** » Tue Jan 25, 2022 5:12 pm

Tervehdys ja tervetuloa takaisin jalkapallon pariin! After claiming 7 points in our first 7 games, Kimi-Suomi looked to try and sneak an invite into the Cup of Harmony over the next 7 games by claiming as many points as possible no matter what. We certainly didn't have any aspirations to reach the playoffs, but if we can get close then maybe that will boost our chances of getting that all-important invite through the mail.

Up first, once again, was Baptism of Fire Champions Dispertag in Pesä. Kimi Kaupunki has already seen plenty of drama thus far in this WCQ process, so it certainly was nice for a no-nonsense win for Kimin Armeija to happen on home soil - with Daniel Marx certainly taking notes on what a complete performance from this nation looks like as the preparations for NSSCRA 12 ramp-up in the frozen tundra. Valtteri Nordström scored the only goal of the game in the 56th and it was certainly nice for Kauko Loukamaa to get a clean sheet to their name.

But this wouldn't be a rare occurrence as Kauko was certainly important in making sure that the winning run of form continued in Rhubarbton. Kauko saved a lot of shots from this contest and held off the first enough, despite constant pressure from the hosts, to see Kimi Airo score the winner in the 75th and receive a kiss of approval from Heidi Itälä in the post-match - certainly a surprise to many, especially our #1. Just as surprising is our placement in the group now - 5th on 13 points, only 3 back on the playoffs. Miten ollaan vielä hengissä?!

The next two is now very interesting, with both games in Pesä against the teams around us in the group midfield battle. Zeta Reka and Hugeltaldom are 2 points back but as the Pot 3 team, they will most certainly be expecting a result here in our house. Hapilopper, on the other hand, are 1 point ahead for now and also looking to move forward in the standings in the final few weeks. Daniel Marx will be hoping for points against the Haps in particular, as the pre-game festivities will include the formal presentation of Huuhkajat Moottoriurheilu and their 4 drivers for the upcoming season: Lam Chow-Cheung, a valuable asset from TJUN-ia itself in more ways than one, Aurélia Karvonen, the GOAT of motorsports in this nordic land, and two development drivers for the T2 Everlong in Kaarina Salo and Ilmari Pëkannen. Football is obviously important for us all at this very point, but that moment will certainly show our friends in Hapilopper that this AO nation didn't bring Marx along for show. NOSTA KUIN HUUHKAJAT!

by **Eraman** » Tue Jan 25, 2022 6:06 pm

Part 1

The Melayuans
Part 2

by Prof. Dr. Mustari Bumi

What is "Melayuan custom"? Is the "Melayuan custom" permanent and constant?

On The Melayuan Custom

Melayuan custom in general means the way of life and ethics of the Melayuans. It is this custom that determines the Melayuanness in the Melayuans.

Melayuan custom has roughly three phases. Pre-Meilawati-Sripala phase, Meilawati-Sripala phase, and Samudera-Southern Palm Islands phase.

Before the introduction of the Dharma religion during the rule of the Meilawati and Sripala Empire, the Melayuans already had their own set of beliefs, codes of ethics, and way of life. This is the seed of the Melayuan custom.

As the famous Melayuan proverb says, "dead tiger left behind its stripes, dead men left behind his names". This code of ethics is based on the concept of “name” (dignity) brought to death, determined by the relationship with the head of the community. Due to the close relationship between name/dignity and the community leader, the Melayuans view the community leader as a representative between the spiritual and physical worlds. And the Melayuans must respect the name of their leader so that their name itself is not tarnished.

The introduction of the Dharma religion reinforces this concept. That is, these leaders use the term Devaraja (god-king) Dharma in the existing understanding. Concepts such as devotion and treason were adapted to the Melayuans but rarely retained their original meaning. The Meilawati and Sripala Empire succeeded in spreading this understanding to the archipelago so that every aspect of Melayuan life used almost the same values. The fall of both the Meilawati and Sripala Empire has diversified the cultures of the Melayuan tribes but still has the same essence.

When the Samudera Kingdom replaced Meilawati Empire in Melayuan political power controlling the main trade port and trade routes, indirectly Samudera had control over the Melayuan custom. The conversion to Watu Telu religion by the king of Samudera influenced the surrounding Melayuan community. However, similar to the Dharma religion, the entry of Watu Telu in the archipelago did not change Melayuan customs drastically, instead only strengthened the ancient beliefs.

The teachings of Watu Telu at this time emphasize loyalty to the king, as well as the power of the king as the representative of God. The same understanding if we look at the beginning; where the Head of the Community is the same as Devaraja Dharma during the Meilawati-Sripala phase and subsequently the king in the Samudera-Southern Palm Islands phase.

After Samudera had control over the Melayuan custom, the culture of Samudera began to be considered as the Melayuan custom. The kingdoms under the auspices of Samudera such as Sharktail, Alamsunda, Putrasia and even as far as Libonesia, Pulang and Tanah Jaya in the easternmost part of the archipelago began to follow the same path.

However, if Samuderan custom is the Melayuan custom, what about the other Melayuan tribes in Southern Palm Islands, Pemecutan, Eraman, Sendhang, Acastanha, Otksarin, etc who did not convert to Watu Telu and doesn't follow the Samuderan customs?

by **Muralos** » Tue Jan 25, 2022 7:15 pm

Is this it for the Muralosian national soccer team? The sentence circled around and around in Muralosian midfielder Vilhelmo Lumin's mind. It was, to say the least, odd to witness the transformation of Muralosian sport in his 8 years playing soccer professionally – for FC Havenurbo since 2014, on the men's national team from 2014 to 2016 and briefly in 2020, and on the newly formed all-gender national team since late 2020. He thought that the trajectory of Muralosian soccer would be predictable: perennial regional powerhouses dominate the competition in Asian Archipelago, show up on the multiversal stage, and gradually rise in power and skill once they do that. But who knew that the intricacies of the multiverse would complicate Lumin's vision of Muralosian sport so much? The 87th World Cup qualifiers were physically tiring; how they managed to squeeze in two qualifying matches each day, with travel time in between them, was ridiculous. The 88th World Cup qualifiers was much better, but after that run, exhaustion set in across the board. To do the World Cup thing four times in a year felt like just too much. Besides– and here's the surprisingly immature side of Lumin again– it was unfair that the gap between World Cups was a proper four years for most other nations in the multiverse, while it was a mere four months for the Muralosians. And now, when Muralos ought to turn heads on the multiversal stage again, they were instead about to cower away from it. La Gazeto de Sportoj's Adamo Tanaka wrote a sentence that stabbed Lumin's heart, but also rang true to him: "The Muralosian national team is dragging itself through the 90th World Cup qualifiers just because they happened to sign up."

Together, the 88th and 90th World Cup qualifiers hung an albatross around Vilhelmo Lumin's neck. Just contemplate the weight of these words on an athlete: "We did so well in the 88th World Cup qualifiers. We were in playoff contention at the halfway point of qualifiers. We climbed so high, just to fall into the depths of the multiversal sport hierarchy." Lumin knew how toxic this mindset could be for his game. But how – he asked himself– did he once have such a good mentality around these things? How could he once have had so much confidence that the Muralosian national soccer team was, no matter what, a good team; that with their level of training, study, and chemistry, they could put up a good fight against most teams (with the possible exception of Cassadaigua), and – at least – win more times than lose, even if they don't win anything? Wait. Pause. Was Lumin really so sure about the second part back then? Absolutely not; how did he forget? He and most other members of the Hawks would say that, no matter how much you study another team, you can never truly know if you'll beat them. The one constant is what you put out on your end – good soccer (bona futbalo). When soccer stops being an exciting opportunity to show your skills and what you know about the game, it becomes an ordeal of metaphorical head-bashing, where you torment yourself by asking why you can't win. Training demoralizes you when you think about how none of it might pay off. Instead, you need to think about your improvement after each drill and how satisfying the process is. Gee whiz. Lumin is 30. When he was a 20-something studying at Zamenhof University, he had expected people at 30 to be locked into a positive, constructive mindset, and he didn't think he would have to make such a conscious effort to reinforce it. But he needed it just now.

Now, he wondered, would he be able to perform and help the Muralosian team win? No, no, the fact that he was asking that question was a bad sign. He decided instead to think about the prospective feeling, still not gone, of playing a match The Cordian Isles at home in Komcatt Arena, Urbego, followed by a match against good old IAC rivals New Lusitania and the Algarves in Estádio da Anta do Dragão, Porto. He imagined the chilly, yet invigorating breeze that he'd encounter in both places (with a touch more sun in Porto). He thought about the endorphin release that came when he fielded a cross to Adamo Brava, Valora Lin, Rui, or the little pipsqueak Daniil Lee- even as he felt himself passing his prime a bit prematurely. He thought about marking Miguel Pereira, and he thought about his deep respect for New Lusitania after playing them four times in two years.

To a better second qualifying half - if not because the Hawks actually do better, but because they rediscover the joy in playing for the Muralosian national team again.

There was one more stressor, however, outside the soccer field. Lumin, a devoted student of east Asian politics, who took night classes for his masters' degree while playing for FC Havenurbo, had been following the development of the nascent Muralosian Populist Party. He cringed hearing the party leaders' speeches, which suspiciously stressed "Western civilization and values" while ignoring the much more complex roots of Muralosian culture. The populists could not be more wrong, Lumin thought. For all the influence of Russian culture on the country, Muralos is in the east, and the east is home to so many valued things – Confucian parables, Japanese novels, Ainu yukar (mythic stories), agricultural techniques, knowledge of important medicinal and staple crops, painting and calligraphy that cannot be replaced by European counterparts. What the Muralosian populist party represents is just not what Muralos is - at least, it's not what Muralos should be.

So Lumin couldn't stop wondering. Is Muralos, his country of birth and the nation he has always represented as an athlete, all right?

Upcoming Qualifying Fixtures
Muralos vs. The Cordian Isles @ The Cordian Isles
Starting line-up (4-3-3): Lubimova, R. Mori, A. Mori, Kim, Petrov, Donaldson, Granda, Lumin, Brava, Rui, Lin

Muralos vs. New Lusitania @ home (Komcatt Arena, Urbego)
Starting line-up (4-3-3): Markov, Takeda, Lei, R. Mori, Petrov, Zheng, Granda, Lumin, Brava, Rui, Lin

by **Zwangzug** » Tue Jan 25, 2022 7:49 pm

The Arlington Moon-Tribune

You don't have to look far to find the last time Zwangzug put up a 6-2 scoreline on the road; it was at the end of last qualifiers, in an astonishing victory over Southwest Eastnorth that saw Esther Axelrod-Conway score a remarkable, and we think unprecedented, four goals. And while she didn't get credit for quite so many this time, the win in Eshialand makes it clear that this "queen" is ready to hold court.

The S-PFL has put plenty of effort into attempting to categorize the various sub-specialties of positional nuances; witness the Farf media's attempts to replace their brilliant takilante. While Axelrod-Conway may be merely a "midfielder" on Kate DiMarini's clipboard, you can slice and dice her in plenty of ways to try to pinpoint her role at Mâ Âlâmëómë. Is she a "box-to-box" midfielder, who is capable of succeeding both on defense and offense if meed be? Is she a "standard defensive" midfielder? That may make her sound too mundane, yet by Farf standards, she might actually be relatively sedate. But on a Zwangzug side where she's playing alongside people like Simon Gannett from Canbix, Fedya Troy-Vee from 102d, and Kausalya Vizirani from Namiri Forest, those same tactics can be comparatively electrifying.

The excitement began in the thirteenth minute, when Axelrod-Conway neatly dispossessed Lucas Meilling in the midfield. She set up Kayla Haugen, who dribbled past George Habisbrauer and shot high, the ball sailing just below the crossbar to put Zwangzug up 1-0. Six minutes later, a similar play saw Axelrod-Conway pass to Sokhi. But with Sarah Silver closing in on him, he unselfishly passed back to Valerie Waugh, who got off a shot that Alexander Kolek just got his fingers to. He couldn't hold on, however, and Axelrod-Conway was there to head home the rebound and make it 2-0.

The home side's troubles worsened at the half-hour mark, when a terrible tackle from Dominique LaPlante resulted in laplant of leface into leships of an unruffled Nancy Puyo-Sachar. LaPlante was red carded; Waugh scored the penalty to make it 3-0. Soon after, Kenneth Morgan substituted Alyssa Longfield off for Andrew Travers in a valiant quest to shore up the back line. But the foul resulted in three minutes of added time, which Zwangzug capitalized on with a short chipped goal from Aimee Ginoud-Sachs.

Up 4-0 with a player advantage, DiMarini was able to ease up in the second half, playing some of the kids on defense. Eshialand would look slightly more competitive as a result, although it would be hard not to; Alice Carroll converted an Avery MacDougall pass in minute 51 to give the home side some life. Soon after, however, the Axelrod-Conway highlight reel continued, as she smashed in a long Jenna Kowalski pass to make it 5-1. A Meilling free kick was headed in by Jacob Harran in minute 76 for the hosts' second goal, but the fireworks were not yet finished. A fearless Axelrod-Conway tackle on Melissa Carey and a pass that neatly closed the gap between Habisbrauer and Travers set up Lukas Helsen-Roan for his first-ever goal with the national team. Who could ask for more?

It almost doesn't bear mention that Zwangzug defeated Lisander, too, with a goal from Quincy Dulk-Fough all they needed at Simplex 3 (Waugh couldn't score in front of her home fans, but Troy-Vee got the shutout so they're happy). But while the regal performance from Axelrod-Conway will rightly get the attention, it might be even more important that South Newlandia dropped points to that same Lisander side, meaning Zwangzug now lead the group outright rather than worrying about tiebreakers. Of course, much can and will happen between now and the showdown at the Stadium of Friendship. So for now, go ahead and savor the sui generis play of our nine-point midfielder.

Other sports news:
*"Verily, 'tis an honor to participate in an auspicious fourth run, even if the outcome is not the most satisfactory" - Irene Dinadan on the jousting competition
*"Splitting out the Atlantian Oceanian competitors for kleptochase is the sort of self-important drivel we'd expect from such nostalgia-obsessed dingbats" says insufferable history geek
*Transportation Department rules that Eric Llawcae may bring a VMG stein into the country if he makes sure it doesn't contain any illicit substances
*Fans petition to name football team the Zebras too after cute and adorable gif goes viral
*Aguazuleño benchwarmers disqualified from "Unremembered World Cup Heroes" by being way too remembered by history nerds who won't shut up, and also dead

by **Pemecutan** » Tue Jan 25, 2022 8:31 pm

Part 3.1 || Part 3.2 || Part 3.3 || Part 3.4

Part 3.5

"Order! Order!" shouts the chief judge.
The situation in the courtroom of the second session of Ngurah Artha Guna case become noisy after the speech made by the defense attorney. Although the speech was indeed mention that the defendant is confirmed his guilt but Wirama's proposal to ask for mental health examination make the courtroom chaotic. While Ngurah Artha Guna put a little smile in his face. It took a while for the chief judge to calm the guests.

"Thank you everyone," says the chief judge after everyone calm. "And Mr. Wirama. I hope you understand what's you're asking for," reassure her.
"Yes, Your Honor. But may I come forward?" ask Wirama.
The chief judge make a gesture to allow him. The procecutor is also present.
"I'm sorry, Your Honor. But I have the feeling after all this time I'm talking to him. Something is just not right with him," explain Wirama.
"Are you sure?" the chief judge ask once again. Wirama nod firmly. She then glance to the procecutor asking for his permission.
"Sure, Your Honor. We can proceed the proposal," say the procecutor.
"Okay then," confirmed the chief judge. Both lawyers are back to their position.
"After deliberation, the court is agree to give mental check up for the defendant. And therefore the session is adjourn until the result is release. The court is dismissed," say the chief judges with three knocks.

Wirama sighing while tidying his files. The procecutor approached him and lower his head to match Wirama's ear.
"I hope you realize what's you've done," whisper the procecutor.
Wirama just smile in response. The procecutor walks away, leaving him with Ngurah Artha Guna who is ready to be taken by the guards. Wirama exhaling deeply. Hope he did the right thing this time.

Walking on a Line

Suryajaya come to his office after another exhausted meeting with club's owners and managers. But he kind of a bit relieve. They are a little back down and make compromise altogether after that hard speech. Hopefully, this meeting will be going somewhere.

"Good result for today, I guess," comment Kusumawardani who is also entering the President's office.
"Yeah. It's exhausting but seems like we're getting somewhere," say Suryajaya.
Kusumawardani nodded. "I'm glad they accept the proposal so we will have 3 leagues in national level," she added.
"True. That's a crucial setting that I'm thinking about," reveal Suryajaya.
"Crucial?" Kusumawardani feel confused.
Suryajaya nod. He pause as the OB come while bring both of them coffee. Suryajaya start to explain the moment the OB gone.
"My dream is that we're having a full professional league in the top 2 level. Now we are almost getting there. Most of our current clubs in Kasa and Karo League already have the certification. Then when we want to connect national and regional, there's a gap in there. I see it in our current system," explain Suryajaya.
"What gap?" ask Kusumawardani.
Suryajaya sipping his coffee before continuing his explanation. "You see there is a different competition between national and regional. When national league clubs are already independent and able to control their cash flow, they are able to signed a better players for the club. But this situation sometimes can't be done by regional clubs. And by the time they enter national level, this gap is showed. The disparity of their performance. Just like current league result. Most of the promoted clubs from Regional Leagues are at mid or lower table."
So that's where the third national league present," cut Kusumawardani.
And also the 2 Regional Divisions. This 3rd and 4th tier will be act like a barrier. A place where the clubs from Regional level can prepare themselves. Start to signed a better players. Better training quality. Better sponsorship. All of which will surely back up their club if they will compete with higher level clubs," added Suryajaya.
Kusumawardani nodded in understanding.
"You know what? The association is so blessed to have you as the President. You have a brilliant idea though sometimes I think you rush things out," remind Kusumawardani.
"Hahaha. Yeah. I realize that. Maybe that is my bad side."

Both of them continue to talks about what will be discuss at tomorrow's meeting while enjoying their coffee.

"That's really bold move," smirk Ngurah Artha Guna.

Wirama is having another talk with Artha Guna. He wants to press about the medical check.

"At least it would buy us some times," Wirama makes an excuse.
"I just want this to end and you keep delaying it," mock Artha Guna. "Huh. You really want to make it the hard way," he added.
"What do you mean? I just want to try another option. At least we can lower your punishment," say Wirama.
Artha Guna laugh loudly. "I'm fine with whatever the punishment will be," he say.
"You're giving up?" ask Wirama.
Artha Guna shake his head. Head lean forward and whispering, "I'm never giving up."
He lean back again. "I just want to relax a bit. And a lifetime in jail seems okay. I have plenty of time. Don't you think?" he say calmly.
Wirama gulping. Does it mean that he plan on something? His mind wondering.
"But you have play your card. So I guess I just have to play a long. It's been a long time since I'm playing a game. It will be interesting," he say suddenly.

Wirama walk away from the interrogation room with a lot of things in his mind. That short meeting with Artha Guna give him chills. He become afraid that something might happen again.

A knock on his office some how makes Suryajaya sartle a little. He glance to the opened door and see Kusumawardani standing there.

"Are you ready for today?" greet Kusumawardani.
"Of course. I just hope that they want to cooperate," answer Suryajaya while preparing his files.
"They will. I have the hunch," say Kusumawardani so optimistic.
Suryajaya smile and they both walk to the meeting room. After yesterday meeting about the league structure, now they will be talking about the slot allocation for each level. This will be a hard work. Each club will want to placed at higher level. But Suryajaya hope that they will believe in the process and climb up gradually.

Wirama is in his office this morning. No intention for him to meet Artha Guna again today. Last night meeting was giving him goosebumps. He is still cautious. Then a knock come to his door. It is his secretary. She brought an envelope from the Court. He slowly opened it and read the letter carefully. His eyebrows twitch. He re-read the letter once again. Then a smile develop on his face. He grab the phone and make a call.

"Prepare a meeting with Artha Guna. I have news about the mental check up," ask him.

He sigh heavily as he put down the phone. Hope he fail the test. He say in his mind.

by **Valladares** » Tue Jan 25, 2022 8:47 pm

The whistle was blown for the last time at the Estádio Estadual Armando Bozzelli in Campo Grande. Hispinas had managed to endure the offensive avalanche by the Valladar national team as well as the lack of air and altitude of the Chiquito state capital to rescue a 3-3 draw and bring La Nacional's home winning streak to an end. Although it was quite far from being a poor game, three defensive inattentions were met with disapproval by nearly 58,000 fans who booed the team at the end of the match and also ruined the possibility of staying atop of the group before the upcoming crunch game against Ko-oren. Although Valladar NT manager Federico Rassmussen seemed calm, he was not at all satisfied with having dropped points at home for the first time in the campaign, and against Hispinas who in some inexplicable way had wrested 4 out of 6 possible points from La Nacional. On the way out of the field, and amid the boos and hisses from the home fans, Rassmussen was seen talking to his assistant Rodrigo Araneda about the events of the match, but also about the incoming match in Ko-oren that might potentially decide Group 13.

"Listen to that Rodrigo, the boos coming down from the stands. Definitely the Campo Grande fans are a special case."

"Indeed they are. Paulo Ferraz did warn us about it: it's winning or winning. They won't accept anything else and this is their way to make their displeasure known. No wonder why the Real players themselves including Ferraz say it's harder for them to play at home than on the road..."

"Well, in all fairness I'd do exactly the same if I were in their place. Without showing or doing much, but rather capitalizing on our defensive blunders, Hispinas got a draw tonight. Perhaps I made a mistake by fielding Peralta, Martín, and Tormin together, considering that they are still lacking some NT experience. The goals scored by Hispinas aren't really their fault, but I think we could have avoided those goals by Hispinas had two of them been joined by someone more experienced, such as a Barrichelli or a Núñez."

"That's true, mister. But I think that was the risk we decided to take with this last callup. Besides, it's important that they start playing and getting minutes on field for when their time to be actual starters instead of reserves comes."

Rassmussen nodded in agreement with his assistant and expressed his thought that there were things to rescue out of the double qualifying matchday.

"Indeed. I do think there are more positive things to get out of this match, as well as the one we had against Kingdom of Voidstania in Pradera some few days ago. In general terms we played well tonight, we attacked, we scored goals, and we went out to win. We were unable to do so in the end because football is not really fair, and I would be lying if I said that this result leaves me satisfied, but as far as the functioning of the team is concerned I've got no complaints since we have some very high points. For example, the performance and goals by Aymeric Fortin in this double matchday, who despite not being quite bright today, was coming from scoring a brace in that last match against Voidstania. Mateo Foschini also did a fine job in those two games, especially tonight. Also, the performance of both Christian O'Brien and Fabio Betancourt is going on an upwards curve, and that's something I was expecting ahead of these upcoming games we're going to have."

"Oh yes, that's right. What about Benítez? I cannot believe that such a player has had so much trouble to adapt to the new style of play..."

"You see he's doing his best to get used to our new system. He's still struggling but I hope he will eventually come out stronger to help us at the right moment, when we need him the most."

"Well. Time to turn the Hispinas page and start focusing on Ko-oren. I think that game against Ko-oren could very well be a replay of the one we played in Metropolis. With their post-football tactics, I'm definitely not expecting them to go on the offense, even though they will be at home. Rather, they will be waiting for us."

"I think that game in Ko-oren will be the one that might potentially decide this group, with all due respect to Savigliane whom we have yet to play as well. Those mistakes we committed tonight should not be repeated again, let alone against a team known for taking advantage of every possibility presented to them."

"We've got to be very careful there..."

"...and pretty sharp up front. We will also have to take advantage of every chance we get, just like we did at home. In the meantime, let's get some rest and prepare for this match. As things stand, odds are that it's going to be either them or us when the qualifiers end, and with that scenario in mind I'll call our most powerful weapons to make sure it's us the ones going through in the end. The time for testing is over."

Valladares 3-1 Kingdom of Voidstania
(Fortin 10', 79', O'Brien 48'; Cortez 85')

Valladares: Piatti - Peralta (Mendes 86'), Martín, Tormin - Ferraz, O'Brien (Alonso 75') - Betancourt, Benítez, Durmisi - Fortin, Foschini (Ardouin 69')
Manager: Federico Rassmussen

Kingdom of Voidstania: Stanley - Massey, Park, Hart, Ward - Coleman, Mcbride, Owen, Matthews - Wise, Cortez
Manager: Federico Rassmussen

Venue: Estadio de la Montaña, Pradera
Attendance: 40,058

Valladares 3-3 Hispinas
(Foschini 9', Betancourt 35', Ardouin 80'; xxx 33', xxx 58', xxx 87')

Valladares: Piatti - Peralta, Martín, Tormin - Ferraz, O'Brien - Betancourt, Benítez (Zamudio 71'), Durmisi - Fortin (Bentley 81'), Foschini (Ardouin 76')
Manager: Federico Rassmussen

Venue: Estádio Estadual Armando Bozzelli, Campo Grande
Attendance: 57,605

VALLADAR NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM SELECTION - MATCHDAY 10 & 11: KO-OREN (A) / GALLIENA (H)

Goalkeepers: 1 - Lucien Chamoun (Fontvielle Impact), 12 - Danilo Araúz (Stein-los Turkish, PAS), 23 - Steven Piatti (Fontvielle Impact)
Defenders: 2 - Alejandro Acosta (Edmonton United), 3 - Danny Barrichelli (Canalave Dragons), 4 - Pablo Núñez (Marinos Metropolis), 13 - Gonzalo Peralta (Nacional), 14 - Mauricio Arboleda (Falourr, EUR), 15 - Luan Barbosa (Real Campo Grande)
Midfielders: 5 - Darwin Pico (Mar Sara FC, VAL), 6 - Christian O'Brien (Tanrısal, PAS), 7 - Fabio Betancourt (Hondo FC, VAL), 8 - Alexis Durmisi (Urbizania Wanderers, ASG), 10 - Cristian Benítez (Cazadores Cathair, AUD), 16 - Pablo Abreu (Metropolis Alligators), 17 - Kevin Martins (Fontvielle Impact), 18 - Andrés Abrigo (Urbizania Wanderers, ASG), 19 - Aldo Pereira (Marinos Metropolis), 21 - Adrien Trolli (Tanrısal, PAS)
Forwards: 9 - Gabriel Petrasso (Tanrısal, PAS), 11 - Thibault Benezet (Sabrefell Athletic, NPH), 20 - Aymeric Fortin (Montreal Koreana, QUE), 22 - Mateo Foschini (Hondo FC, VAL)

Starting Lineup: Chamoun - Acosta, Barrichelli, Núñez - Pico, O'Brien (c) - Betancourt, Benítez, Durmisi - Petrasso, Benezet

by **Cassadaigua** » Tue Jan 25, 2022 9:25 pm

Rosenblatt looking to carry the team,
By Chelsea Dufresne, Concord Heights Times

When Morgan Rosenblatt was named the successor to Rachel Schanke in as far as wearing the captain’s armband for the World Cup team, it did not necessarily mean that she was being expected to become the team’s leading scorer. That figured to be Jenna Frontiera, and for Rosenblatt, she needed to be more of a replacement for Meghan Wolcott’s production. You’ve heard me talk about this before, so no sense in getting into all of that again. Everyone knows everything that needs to be done by the Fillies to get in a spot where they can qualify out of the Group of Death. At midway, they trailed Polkopia by two points, and while second place still gets you into the playoffs, there is no one in their right mind who wants to end up in a home-away playoff series. This is not like recent World Cups were a certain number of second place teams automatically qualify, so there are going to be some very good teams in the playoffs. Those who wanted to be even more paranoid than just talking about the playoffs would mention that in a group like this, even second might be tough to get.

Look, this is a great group, and I am going to make a prediction: In World Cup 93, there will be at least four teams that were in the current Group 8 that end up qualifying for that World Cup. Perhaps a safe prediction, as come that time, not many will remember that I made that prediction, but that is how highly I think about our opposition plus we know the Fillies will, or at least, should, be a contender. In a group like this, you need people to step up, and a 28-year old midfielder named Morgan Rosenblatt is doing just that. “We’re a close group,” Rosenblatt told me, “just because one or two people might not be going as well as you want them to go, or as good as you may think that should be going, it does not mean that you don’t realize all the good that they have done. We got each other’s back.” Morgan is certainly referencing Jenna Frontiera, who only scored three goals during the first half of qualifying, and none against the teams in the top half of the group standings. But Jenna has done a lot of things right when it comes to setting up other people to score goals, and her teammates certainly realize that.

The second half of qualifying would begin against Schima Bas, playing the team that sat in the third position of the standings at midway, and not too far behind the Fillies. We saw them when the competition began, and knew they had plenty of potential, and they would certainly show that after we managed the one goal victory on the road. At Dagan Airways Stadium, there would be no mystery about who the Golden Crescent was. Everyone knew they were good, and fulfilling Gaio Grecio’s promise to have his team fight hard and lay it all on the line. The opponent came in feeling optimistic, likely feeling that they had a chance to pull off the upset and would try not to be intimidated by Monument Wall in the South Endzone of the Cassadagan legends that have played the game, or the World Cup Champion banners, or the banners in other spots. There is no way that Grecio would let that happen, and the Fillies were well aware of that.

“Rank is a nice thing to look at before the start of a tournament,” Rosenblatt said before the game, “but we’re past that now. They’re the third place team, and if they beat us, they could be the second place team. We cannot let that happen. Those numbers in parenthesis? (ranks) Who cares now.” Brittany Byers did not mess around with the starting lineup for the match, and played all of the expected starters, so that would mean Cynthia Kerr in goal, and a chance for everyone to start off the second half right.

Cassadaigua was especially dominant in the midfield of this match, and it may have been Danielle Porter’s best game of qualifying thus far. The Fillies needed that from the veteran, as they are desperately looking for someone to step up in that role beside Morgan Rosenblatt. That’s not to say that Porter has struggled, because she most definitely has not, but if she could raise her game, then you have to like Cassadaigua’s chances to show that they are still the top team in this group. This midfield dominance did a lot to shut down Bisma Shehadeh, a key member of the visitors team, and he was a little hard on himself after the match. As for Porter, though, she was solid, and did well to set up Bayley Stanton for the opening goal, something that could remind many of the big goal Stanton scored in the opening game, but the Fillies kept on coming and just three minutes later, Morgan Rosenblatt made it 2-0.

“That was a big play for us, something we really needed,” manager Brittany Byers said after the match, “Danielle was great, and Morgan did such a great job to keep the heat on them. Love it.” After going into intermission with the two goal lead, the Fillies could not have been happier with the next goal scorer: Jenna Frontiera, but even more elated by how perfectly placed the shot was. No one on the Fillies is pointing any fingers at Jenna right now, that’s really just some fans and some media outlets, but this may have been her prettiest goal of the tournament. It’s just her fourth, but first against a top team in the group and maybe something that would kickstart her over the second half. Morgan Rosenblatt would complete the scoring, and she is now the Fillies leading goal scorer through this game.

This fine victory led to a lot of excitement for the next match, as the pink and black looked to get a little revenge against Reçueçn, on the home turf of their rival they could only manage a draw with. It has not been a good qualifying effort for Reçueçn thus far, and you have to wonder if we have seen the nation at their best in World Cup qualifying. The only change to the Fillies lineup would be in goal, where Katie Schnapper would get the chance to start. Morgan Rosenblatt would again score two goals, coming in the 10th and 31st minutes, sandwiching a goal in the 23rd by the home side to make it 2-1. Cassadaigua then got a goal by Danielle Porter in the 55th as she followed up her great game against Schima Bas to make it 3-1. After the home side got one back, Chloe Anderson scored in the 79th, off a brilliant feed from Jenna Frontiera to account for the game’s final goal.

WIth Rosenblatt scoring as she has, Jenna Frontiera not finding the net as often as the team would like is not going to be as big of a deal, but if Frontiera does start to pick it up, then the Fillies would be in a much greater position. “I’m just doing what I need to do, what I am on the team to do,” Rosenblatt says, “I know that everyone is working hard, but we cannot let up. Not for a moment.” Cassadaigua moved into the top spot, leading Polkopia now by two points. Still plenty of soccer left to be played.

by **StrayaRoos** » Tue Jan 25, 2022 9:53 pm

Real Menai CF ✓

@RealMenaiOfficial
Breaking:Eden Bale has Retired from Football after playing 180 minutes in World Cup Qualifying and has switched sports to Golf #Lazy Yes,Golf

#EB12 : #RMCF : #STRKAN

Eden Bale Career Stats
2010-2019:Panem City 23 (5)
2020-2022:Real Menai 9 (1)
Club Stats. 32 (6)
International Team
2010 StrayaRoos XI 1 (0)
2021-22 StrayaRoos 4 (0)

Fans Reactions
“that Lazy Idiot was taking up 5 million a year and only played thrice an season!”
Player Reactions
“Good on Him,now good luck winning last at the Olympics”-Cruz Kaiplo

by **Wrecker** » Tue Jan 25, 2022 10:30 pm

THE END OF WRECKERIA – PART VII

Patrick Stadium, Halsted
World Cup 90 Qualifying Match 9: Wreckeria v. Astograth
Since the Kelssek match, it seemed like there was a different feel to the Wreckerian Bulldogs matches. Before, Wreckerians were hopeful that something good would happen, and they felt like they had a good group of players surrounding them, but there was this air of impending doom around them, that this was a team effectively playing for nothing. But all of that changed when Wreckeria shockingly defeated Kelssek. Now, there was something to fight for. The matches became more and more emotionally charged.

And interestingly, it seemed like all of Wreckeria was watching. All of Wreckeria was pinning their hopes of their nation on a group of 20 individuals, all of whom united together for one goal. These were folks were different in all ways. Away from the pitch, one player could be seen smashing a barstool or a beer bottle over someone’s head, while another player could be seen, and unfortunately heard, belting out a popular tune at a karaoke bar, way the fuck off key. One player has retreated to a quiet fishing hole west of the town of Sprague, while another is at a casino, calmly relieving other players, and the house, of their hard-earned simoleons in a game of poker.

It felt like the emotion was bubbling over as the Wreckerians sat in the old dingy locker room of Patrick Stadium. There was a chance – a real chance, at that – that they could wind up leading their group after this match with Astograth. Darrell Stacy, the wild defensive midfielder, was already suited up 20 minutes before the start of the match, pounding lockers and screaming. Scott Murphy, the violent gentleman of the team, stared Murphy down with a crazed look on his face. He was nodding his head. He was getting into the moment.

And Sig Justice and Biscuit Gilbert, the inspirational leaders of the team, were getting into it as well. Sig had been on Wreckerian teams before, and been on teams where it seemed like they didn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell. He had been in locker rooms where the players wanted to be anywhere else but there. But not this one. This was a team that wanted to win ballgames, come hell, high water or Hapiloppian takeover.

There was nothing that needed to be said – neither from Marvin Byrnes, the head coach and manager, or from Sig, the official captain of the team. Everyone knew what needed to be done, and to say anything would merely belabor the point.

But if you thought the scene inside the Wreckerian locker room was wild, you should have seen the outside. Over 30,000 fans were already in the stands, and tens of thousands more stood outside, wanting to get a glimpse of the match. All of Wreckeria had pinned their hopes on their national team, and understandably so, it was one of the few things that they could be proud of.

In the President’s Box, Arnold Martin was joined by members of his cabinet, as well as leaders from both the Party of Pride and the True Wreckerians. They had looked forward to this match all week – a week that had been full of stress and disappointment. Stress in trying to find a way to keep Wreckeria afloat. Disappointment in the growing realization that it probably wasn’t going to happen. But now, at least for 90 minutes plus injury time, they could lose themselves in the moment and pretend at least that for this moment, everything was going to be just fine.

As Arnold looked around the stadium – to see 30,000 Wreckerians singing songs, dancing and enjoying the moment, almost as if it was like New Year’s Eve, a tear came from his eye. Maybe everything was going to be OK. Wreckerians had been treated to expect the worst and look forward to doom and gloom. But now everything was turning out alright. And maybe, just maybe, the world could cheer on Wreckeria rather than look down on them.

And you know something? To his surprise, it turned out more than just Wreckeria was tuning in to watch the Bulldogs. He glanced to his cell phone, and to the twii.tur social media service, where it turned out that, due to “very popular demand,” the Hapilopper Television Network was showing the Wreckeria/Astograth match, which was a huge deal. HTN usually showed Hapilopper's matches and that was it.

THE HAPILOPPER TELEVISION NETWORK ✓

@HapTV
Ask and you shall receive. Millions of you requested it, you get Wreckeria and Astograth, live and direct from Halsted, coming up next!

#WC90 : #WREvsASG

TEAM HAPILOPPER ✓

@TeamHap
Here in Hapilopper, we're cheering on our neighbors to the west. Go get 'em Wreckeria!

#WC90 : #WREvsASG

Arnold’s eyes went wide and he took a deep breath. He knew that, for years, Hapiloppians looked at Wreckerians differently than others, and not in a good way. They were the guys that always fought wars against each other. They were the guys that kept screwing themselves over. They were the laughingstock of Atlantian Oceania. The laughingstock of the multiverse. But now? Hapilopper was actually cheering for Wreckeria.

This was an atmosphere that more resembled a wild party than a Wreckerian football match or anything resembling anything Wreckeria had done, and it was an atmosphere that Arnold wished could last forever. An atmosphere that everyone wished could last forever. The Wreckerian footballers were giving their fellow countrymen something to enjoy, running toe-to-toe with the 58th-ranked team in the multiverse.

That was, until the 54th minute, when David Marlin alley-ooped a pass from Gary Bronson, bicycle kicking it past goalkeeper Echepare Rospide and into the back of the net. David didn’t even need to look and see his handiwork. All he needed to hear was the roar of the crowd grow in volume to something that actually hurt to hear. Still on the ground, David looked up at Gary and smiled like a maniac before looking back to the net, smacking the ground a few times and doing a kip-up to get back going.

Throughout the remainder of the match, Wreckeria turned their focus to defense. For the rest of the match, John Marlowe’s work increased as the Astograthian team started working harder to put the equalizer in.

The emotions were boiling over that much more, especially as people started looking at their phones to see what was going on elsewhere in the group and realizing that if Wreckeria held on and won this match, they would not only take three points they needed, but they would actually be leading the group with five matches left in the qualifying campaign, and in position to actually make it to the World Cup proper.

And when the final whistle sounded to end the match, it was official. Wreckeria led the group. One of the last teams anyone expected, especially this deep in the qualifying campaign, was in position to make it to the World Cup proper. With five matches left out of the 14, Wreckeria had to run the table. Kelssek stood in front of them. Omerica stood in front of them. Gyatso-Kai stood in front of them. Jeeves Land stood in front of them. Damukuni stood in front of them.

It was a series of five matches that Wreckeria had to take seriously. The worst was coming with Kelssek and Omerica, sure, but they couldn’t look past their other opponents, as they could play the world’s most heartbreaking spoiler with the best of them.

As Arnold Martin stood in the President’s Box at Patrick Stadium, he looked down at his phone to see two notifications.

ALERT! THIS IS NOT A DRILL, HOLY SHIT! WRECKERIA LEADS WCQ GROUP WITH FIVE TO GO

BREAKING: WRECKERIA TO ENTER WORLD CUP 91 TEAM, SAYS MARVIN BYRNES: “WE CAN’T STOP NOW”

A huge smile slowly came about Arnold’s face. Maybe this wasn’t the end of Wreckeria.

Maybe this was only the beginning.

The next day, Wreckerian Sports News, the leading print media for sports in Wreckeria, summed up the emotions of all Wreckeria with a very eye-catching headline on their front page.

by **Chromatika** » Tue Jan 25, 2022 10:47 pm

Sybill & Hellion, Part 1: The Opening Interview
Sybill & Hellion, Part 2: Walk First Before You Learn to Run
Sybill & Hellion, Part 3: The First Defeat
Sybill & Hellion, Part 4: Four of a Kind
Sybill & Hellion, Part 5: The Unavoidable Spin

Sybill & Hellion, Part 6: Gathering Momentum & Stray Thoughts

World Cup 90 Qualifying Matchday 8: Good Samaritans 2-4 Chromatika
Goals: Burns '18, Gainsbourg '48, Hauser '62, Ighv '88
Starting XI (4-1-4-1): Enax; Chapman - Régine - Ansov - Ighv; Burns (C); Humphreys - Fillar, B. - Hauser - Fillar, E.; Gainsbourg.
Substitutes: Anbient -> Ansov ('58), Larriet-Cortes -> Burns ('64), Mora -> Fillar, B. ('81)

World Cup Qualifying Matchday 9: Sargossa 2-3 Chromatika
Goals: Humphreys '10, Gainsbourg '67, Kuznetsov '80
Starting XI (4-1-4-1): Enax; Chapman - Régine - Ansov - Ighv; Burns (C); Humphreys - Fillar, B. - Hauser - Fillar, E.; Gainsbourg.
Substitutes: Vitan -> Chapman ('62), Kuznetsov -> Fillar, E. ('71), Vidal -> Gainsbourg ('85).

Predicted Starting XI vs. Al Qurija, @ Eura (4-1-4-1): Fillar, J.; De Saint-Pierre - De Aea - Anbient - Sayer; Armageddon (C); Wen - Hauser - Mora - Kuznetsov; Vidal.
Reserves: GK Kathie Begley, GK Jacob Descombes, RB Grayson Fillar, CB Giles Ken, CB Moira Ansov, LB Ha'nei Ighv, DM Kaia Larriet-Cortes, DM Kateryna Zuniga, RW Augustus Humphreys, AM Baillaire Fillar, LW Edith Fillar, ST Alicia Gainsbourg

Frozen Stadium
Felswyr, Mountain District, Chromatika

It wasn't lost on Sandra Sybill that the first three-game winning streak of this cycle had all occurred on the road. 6-3 over Nyowani Kitara. 4-2 over Good Samaritans. 3-2 over Sargossa. Now, they were back in the frozen confines of a Felswyr in the dying throes of the Chromatik summer, with temperatures expected to be just above freezing. Though the team was struggling a little bit defensively - conceding two goals to Good Samaritans was of a big concern - Chromatika was averaging more than three goals per game, the "shoot first, ask questions" aspect of Sybill's game was really starting to shine, and the team was starting to really come into its own.

Even when not fielding the best of the Anomalies, Sybill and Hellion were starting to pull some of the best out there to be inserted in key situations; Vasily Marten Kuznetsov's entrance in the seventy-first minute of the game against Sargossa ended up paying off when the Herzegovina City FC star finally put away the go-ahead goal in the eightieth minute. Now, Chromatika sat atop the group with twenty points, two ahead of Eura and four ahead of Nyowani Kitara and Sargossa; Chromatika had a one-goal lead on Eura, three goals on Nyowani Kitara, while any tie between Chromatika and Sargossa going forward would result in a Sargossan victory due to the Corsairs having defeated the Anomalies by two goals in Chromatika.

Was it a bit overkill to throw the best Anomalies lineup against Al Qurija? Likely, but the Anomalies could hardly afford to drop points in the next five. This field of potential playoffs opponents was absolutely scary, and winning the group was the only way to avoid that. She would still give everyone a chance, but if it came down to starting the best in order to avoid dropping points, she'd take the results every single time.

"Did you hear about the latest from our illustrious people in Chromia?" came the question of the day from an unexpected source, Kaia Larriet-Cortes, "I can't believe that we're getting to this..."

"They did well by taking on the defectors," remarked Enigma Armageddon to anyone who would listen, "This is what Chromatika should be."

Voices were starting to grow in the locker room about what was going on in the country, but team cohesion was holding, for now. Success helped with that... And if they continued on this trajectory, it would be okay.

For now.

Part 1: The Twin Meetings
Part 2: The Book Moves
Part 3: Twin Surprises
Part 4: The Cambian Horse

Mirroring Paths
Part 5: Shaking Hands with the Devil

It can be said that modern Chromatik history started with the incorporation of the first national football team of Chromatika. Luuk Aart, the team's Captain, was under investigation by the Chromatik Party and the then-Chromatik government for masquerading as a Violet, someone in the upper castes of the Chromatik society, when he was born as a Red, a caste of laborers. When he was convicted despite not being complicit - Aart had had no knowledge - the Chromatik national team, led by Franscseca Larriet-Cortes, fled the country. They would spend a cycle using a stadium in Quebec as their home field, while events started to unfold in Chromatika.

The Rainbow Writers, a group of underground writers, started to spread propaganda supporting a free Chromatika while various rogue elements joined forces under the banner of what became known as the Rainbow Revolution. This Revolution, despite not having a singular leader, toppled the Chromatik Party, though Franscesca Larriet-Cortes was martyred in the process. The Chromatik Party was overthrown, and the Rainbow Revolution's interim government took power, finding an effective voice in Alina Krasnikova, the prior head of Chromatika's secret police that had turned her back on the principles of the Chromatik Party. Krasnikova became the first Premier of Chromatika, though she wasn't one that was voted into office.

Chromatika found itself facing multiple problems during the quest for its first free election not five years later. The remnants of the Chromatik Party had been spared due to keep the country's infrastructure intact after rudimentary inquiries were made to weed out the most offending members of the Chromatik Party regime. Now, many of them were proving to be a roadblock to Chromatika's future. Aided by an ally in Banija, Chromatika was successful in having its first free election, also employing the aid of The Chosen, a group of extraplanar angels whose fates had been tied to Chromatika by virtue of one of them interfering with Chromatik history. At the end, The Chosen were free to be their individual selves, and Chromatika had its first freely elected leader - Keri Wyse Aart.

Though Chromatika started to become a more stable nation, some underlying problems emerged. A group of people thought that the previous members of the Chromatik Party hadn't paid enough for their mistakes, while others looked at the plight of the previously oppressed population and claimed that the Rainbow Party wasn't doing enough to bring those people up to speed. Then, the Anaia-Atlantian Oceania split took the nation by storm, and though Chromatika decided to join the departing nations in Anaia, the fact that the country split from one of its closest political allies in Banija and the fact that most of the negotiations had been done behind closed doors wasn't taken well by the populace. Using this discordance as an ample opportunity, a crime syndicate called the Shadow Hand, a remnant of the Red Enclave that had been the first to oppose the Chromatik Party back before the Rainbow Revolution, started to make some bolder moves.

Recently, three events have shaken Chromatik politics to the very core. First, retired Chromatik footballer Han Ga-Yeong, a major supporter of the current Chromatik government and a spokeswoman for the rehabilitation of the previous ROYG community, was murdered. Not long after, a member of the Chambers of the Legislature, Chromatika's legislative branch, Jordan Lefebvre of the Traditionalist Party, was assassinated. Second, an explosion rocked one of the team buses of Chromatika's national team on the way back from Franscesca Larriet-Cortes International Airport, instantly killing the driver and injuring twelve others. Thankfully, none of the Chromatik footballers were badly injured, but the event proved to everyone that nobody was truly safe.

Finally, at the end of the most recent election, twenty-eight Representatives from the Rainbow Party and the Traditionalist Party joined forces to bring forth a new party, the Saebitdang, or the New Light Party. Hélène Embroise, the previous #1 confidant of Keri Wyse Art, the Premier, heads the New Light Party, breaking the supermajority of power that the Rainbow Party enjoyed and plunging the country into an uncertain future. (This RP has a good glossary of most recent events.) If you want a spoiler for what's really going on, click here.

Glossary of Abbreviations:
RP - Rainbow Party
Trads - Traditionalist Party
CP - (now-defunct) Chromatik Party
ROYG - Red Orange Yellow Green community (the previously lower class in the prior regime)
BIV+ - Blue Indigo Violet plus community (the previously upper class in the prior regime)
NLP - New Light Party (Saebitdang)
NYK - Nyowani Kitara
CFF - Chromatik Football Federation, the organization in charge of the Chromatik National Team and the Rainbow League System
(the) SH - Shadow Hand
BanAm - Ambassador to Banija
NewBanAm - New Ambassador to Banija
Cont - Controller

Aart Household
4871 St. Vincent Blvd
Chromia, Capital District, Chromatika

Usually, the Aart residence was vibrant - everyone on staff was active, Luuk was around and present, and there was an air of confidence there - but today, everything was dreary. Sinister, even.

When the Premier had picked her house to be the site of this meeting, it had been a matter of convenience; it was a bit out of the way, private, with great security, no bugs, and most of all, privacy. Though she knew that the SH was a real threat, she also knew that they didn't dare touch her place of residence, and if she was going to be making any kind of a semi-clandestine deal, she would rather do it there than anywhere else.

As Keri Wyse Aart walked up from the gate, and umbrella shielding her from the fall Chromatik rain, she couldn't help but think about the woman to the right of her. Hélène Embroise had had an interesting upbringing. A schoolteacher during the days of the Chromatik Party, Embroise had committed to the Rainbow Revolution from a very young age, and had been one of the communications operators during the key years of the revolution. After that, she'd committed her life to public service, and had risen to the office of the Head of the Chambers of the Legislature before she had flipped parties during the split to the Saebitdang. Now, though the Rainbow Party held the majority of the seats, nothing could get done without some input from Embroise; she was, in fact, the second most powerful woman in Chromatika, and it wasn't even close.

Chromatika had managed to bring two of the Nyowani Kitara National Team defectors - Omollo Ayange and Arendt Sundin - to the mainland, a move that had brought forward the attention that Aart and her government had sorely needed. Now, the Chromatik populace was abuzz about the opportunity of helping everyone have a voice, awakening some of that patriotic fervor of ages past as well as disdain against what had been done to the country all those years ago. This was a double-edged sword for both women present. The Premier had an opportunity to galvanize the public into a singular point and then direct that point toward the real problems that the nation faced. Embroise, on the other hand, could now prove that the Saebitdang's goals aligned with that point - that the past had to be held accountable in order for Chromatika to realize the future that it so desperately needed.

They wanted to head to the same place, they knew. However, the Saebitdang was hell-bent on making sure that there were consequences, while the Rainbow Party wanted to just move on. The Traditionalists, though usually against the Rainbow Party, actually sided with the RP when it came to issues that the NLP were presenting, because they were afraid of betraying their own power base. The Reds were just happy with the chaos and the rich perhaps betting stuck with a bad deal, but they weren't willing to do any of the work, which made the NLP become very frustrated toward them. Lastly, the few Independents were all wild cards, and not very reliable.

Noting that only the guards were available, as instructed, the Premier opened the door to the living room, allowing Embroise in. Hélène sat on one of the seats - usually used by either Alina Krasnikova or April McLeod - and the Premier took the other.

Before Embroise could speak, Keri raised a finger to stop her. Fervently scribbling on a piece of paper, she revealed a note to Hélène that simply stated:

'We are safe here. Nobody can hear us. You can be honest with me.'

A surprised look went over Hélène's face, but she nodded slowly. By her counterpart's body language, the Premier could tell that Embroise was becoming more relaxed. Whether that was a good or a bad thing for the discussion to follow, she wasn't sure; however, she knew that honesty would indeed be the best policy going forward.

"It wasn't that long ago that I considered you one of my closest allies," began Keri, "And now we sit here, you about to provide the demands that you would have of me in order that the country continue to enjoy the brief win that it has. It's a brutal world, politics, but it's one that we've both chosen to dedicate our lives to, so here I am. I wanted to bring you here because I wanted you to know that nothing that is said here will leave the room. You can be honest here, as can I, and we can have a real conversation, woman to woman. Can you promise that?"

Embroise smiled back, and replied coolly, "Of course, Madame Premier. Thank you for bringing me here. Please understand there may be some things I just cannot discuss for different reasons, but also know that I really appreciate the fact that the location is secure, and I do promise to speak in a truthful manner that will benefit both of us going forward."

Hélène was a woman of her word; everything was going as the Premier wanted, so far.

"Have you been well?" Keri inquired seriously, "We have some suspicions, some ideas, but..."

Before Embroise could object, Keri continued, "I understand if you can't say anything. It would just help me if I knew that not everything that you've been saying nor committing to is of your own volition. Help me understand the scope of what we're dealing with here."

Embroise was lost in contemplation for a while, and then slowly sighed. Keri noticed that Embroise looked at least ten years older than her age.

"I am not really sure where things went in an unexpected way," she admitted, "It's all gone out of hand."

Gathering herself, she continued, "It was my intent from the very beginning to be part of the split. That was me - I truly do think that we don't do enough, and we should focus inward instead of facing outward so much. Then... Things changed. Now, I speak for more than just my constituents, and that's as far as I'm willing to explain things to you, for now. At times, I think I'm pressing on things too hard; in other times, I'm glad for the outside pressure, because it actually helps me get the point across, be a little bolder, take more risks. I apologize if I've been rude in decorum to you, but it's just business."

"You've never been rude in decorum, Hélène," replied Aart, "Though the policies you've been presenting are a bit... rough around the edges. Thank you for letting me know. I want you to know that we're working on it, and I hope that one day, we can meet as equals instead of worrying about other masters."

Hélène hung her head in shame, as right after this conversation, she had to bring up the next topic.

"Did you notice that Lulabalo mentioned you by name the other day?" she asked Keri, "This is having the intent that you wanted - the nation is remembering its roots, its getting galvanized by a similar situation; Chromatika is ready to take the next step toward true healing."

"You mean," replied Keri evenly, "That by reminding everyone just where we come from, and how unfair the Nyowani Kitara government is being by not allowing the national team players to speak, you're reminding the Chromatik populace about what the Chromatik Party used to make the entire country go through, which will then further your cause. It's a roundabout way of doing it, but it's definitely working - the populace is ready for your cause, too."

"I don't want to put this to you as a demand, Keri," explained Hélène, and the Premier could tell that Embroise was being genuine. "However, the Rainbow Party made a needed but impossible promise at the end of the Revolution. I understand why you gave most of the previous Chromatik Party blanket amnesty. They had more than 89% of the country's educated populace, as well as more than 78% of the nation's money. You can reclaim the money, but it would take four years to train up the people that had helped you take over the country reach the same level of competence as the incumbents. In order to recover more quickly, you shook hands with the devil."

She paused to take a look at the Premier's demeanor. Keri Wyse Aart was attentively listening, though there was a slight tinge of annoyance.

"Politically, they became the Checkers Party, which helped dissuade the first free election. Afterwards, they're now the Traditionalists, and even now, they are against any action that looks at addressing the scars of the past. Without healing, Chromatika cannot truly go forward. If we fail at lifting the previously ROYG community, we've done nothing. Children of then-ROYG parents are now becoming parents, and the numbers are alarming - families of then-ROYG members are having 75% of a harder time at finding a stable job, marriages where one or both parents are then-ROYG members are 64% more likely to fall apart, and the average income of the then-ROYG members still fall behind the then-BIV members by more than 30%. Why is that? It's because they simply haven't known any better, haven't been taught how to live in a free world."

"I understand," carried on Embroise, "That some of the then-BIV community have given back to the public hundredfold. That it was some of those previous experts that have kickstarted many of the ongoing programs to uplift the downtrodden. Those people are not the target of the NLP's ire. We want to work alongside those people, to commend them, to accommodate for their needs so that they can continue doing the good work that is needed in our illustrious nation. No, the issue is with those who think that they've just gotten away with one. The ones that just changed the skin that they are wearing but haven't changed the core of their beings. Those that would've probably been imprisoned by a more strict transition need to pay for their past sins, and that is why the NLP is strongly requesting that the CP Sponsorship Program be allowed to start as soon as possible."

"Do you still want it to be run by one of yours?" asked Keri weakly, causing Hélène to start. She had expected the Premier to be on the defensive, not just asking for details on the logistics.

"Not exactly," answered Embroise, "Dr. Pierre Hightower isn't a politician. He's a sociologist and an anthropologist who specializes on the impact that the Chromatik Party has continued to have on the then-ROYG community. He is an expert at just how much it would cost to uplift each of the people depending on their circumstance in life. Helping him will be Kim Jung-Ah, a finance professional that will be able to match the needs with the more affluent of the then-BIV community. They estimate that their team of around thirty employees will be able to generate an acceptable model within three months, and then we can start incorporating it next year."

"You do know," commented the Premier, "That if we do this, we actually get joined to the hip on it? We move forward in all the areas - domestic, international, financial - while taking the time to start intentionally healing what has been overlooked? You'll need to cover for me against the Trads, against some of the Reds, even against some of my own Party. Chromatiks don't like people that go against their word - that's going to grate on a lot of souls."

Hélène flashed a genuine smile at the Premier before remarking, "Some of that is on you for the stance that the Rainbow Party has had for so many years. However, when it comes to the vote count, you will have the Saebitdang's support, and the Traditionalists won't be able to do a damned thing about it. I'm sure the polls will have a field day, and then we'll both be able to see how things shake out before the elections that are coming at the end of the year."

"So, this is more of a temporary alignment due to a mutual interest, not a full alliance?" asked the Premier, looking a bit crestfallen.

"Look at it this way - before today, we hadn't agreed on a single thing since the establishment of the Saebitdang. This is a good, important first step. Who knows what will be ahead of us next?"

"If this is what is needed to keep the good momentum going," acquiesced the Premier, "And if you'll help us maintain course in fighting the invisible evil and putting the Traditionalists in their place... I'll agree to your terms."

She extended a hand to Embroise, who took it.

'Better the devil you know,' the Premier mused.

"Keri?" blurted Hélène, right before she was about to leave.

As the Premier turned, she noticed that Embroise looked very thin. Frail, even. For someone who had just negotiated one of the most important things in her party's platform, she looked so... vulnerable.

"Good luck finding the invisible evil," Embroise offered, "I hope you're successful, and soon."

Then, the head of the Saebitdang left the Aart residence, leaving the Premier with a lot to think about.

The Chromatik Party Sponsorship Program would go forward as planned. Both the Rainbow Party and the Traditionalist Party would go up in shambles, but for the sake of the lost and the oppressed, this was the only way to go.

She hoped that her party was resilient enough to overcome while they looked for the invisible shackles that held the NLP at such an aggressive light.

by **Ranoria** » Wed Jan 26, 2022 12:45 am

It's Coming Closer: Krauts On Unbeaten Six Match Stretch, Crucial Trip to HUElavia To Decide Their Fate

The Krauts have done what they needed to do to stay in this race. After hovering at 6^th in Group 15 all the way up through five matches, they've been on a tear, winning five of their last six and pitching a shutout in two of them. Nine games in, the Krauts are 5-2-2 and sporting the 3^rd best defense in this WCQ, having allowed just 8 scores to this point.

That effort is largely due to the efforts of Kris Reinhardt, who spearheads this defensive unit. One could argue that she's the best player on the squad, and she plays on the same domestic team as Jules Annina, another defender. Ranoria's other two backfielders - Eugene Rimold and Chris Jenkins - also play together for the Dietrich Dirks. With two pairs of teammates with plenty of chemistry, it makes for a dominant unit on the back end...and even if you get through them, Vincent Emilia is one of the best players in the country at goalie.

That group will largely be relied upon if Ranoria wants to complete their potential upstart qualification with the next two games coming against HUElavia and TJUNia. The two nations are the only squads ahead of the Krauts in Group 15, but HUElavia is indiputably the greater priority. While TJUNia's Jaguars are only currently being threatened by the former team for the group lead, Ranoria has a much bigger chance of taking the runner-up slot from HUElavia to qualify for a play-in game.

In the first duel between these two teams, HUElavia's national team came into Smith Field in Richardson to take home
a 2-1 victory. In Nuevo Estadio del Rio, a stadium with a capacity over four times that of Smith Field (80,000 to 19,050), homefield advantage is surely going to be much more of a factor than when the Krauts hosted.

Fortunately, that may not be a problem. Ranoria's been better in away contests than at home so far in these qualifiers.

In five home games, the team is 2-2-1, just barely a winning record, with five goals scored - good for one per game - against four conceded. In four road games, we've scored six goals - good for 1.5 per clip. They allowed just four while putting up a nice 3-0-1 record on the road. If the team can keep the trend of being better away from Richardson, they may be able to find some success against a HUElavia team that's been the 2^nd best squad in Group 15 all tournament long.

The team is aware of the importance of this game.

"No spotlight, we don't make a lot of headlines at home or abroad," said striker Barry Chlorid, who's scored 7 of the teams 11 goals this season, "But if we want to change that, this is a must-win game. We lose this one and we'll never close the gap between ourselves and HUElavia. Great teams are at their best in the biggest moments, and this is the biggest moment in this team's history."

With a legitimate shot to qualify (the first opportunity for this team since a third place group finish in WC88's qualifiers) the Krauts can prove that their nation is more than a one-trick pony, a gridiron nation that struggles in other sports. And to be fair - the team has secured a winning record in each of the last two cycles and likely will in this one as well. At a minimum, they've been respectable, but that's not what they want. Much of this veteran roster is heading into the final years of their peak performance, and many expect significant roster turnover and depth chart shuffling come the World Cup 91 qualifiers.

If this team wants to make their mark, this is their final opportunity, and it's a golden one. Just win baby.

by **The 14 Stars** » Wed Jan 26, 2022 1:17 am

Stars align

After the other matches the team went back to the Starsian grounds except two of them, Flare and Swyndon after both playing a good match compared to their teammates weren't found on the training grounds.
They had quickly dressed up at their dorms and went out together, no one really knew about them doing so but they'd been planning on going out on a date for a while after that night when they trained together.
Flare really felt some sort of happiness again after a while, not one that could ever replace his loss but those two were a couple that could grow despite their age diffrence.

the days after their date their friendship only grew more strong they did have a great evening that day and alot of fun both older members of the team and they were an example to their teammates.
Jill was one of the older girls on the team being like a big sis to the young female players on the national team and Flare was like a teacher to the male players along with Valerian, White and Moon who were the only veterans left.

Meanwhile in an underground training complex in The 14 Stars

There was only one person here and some robots, however the person itself evaded them easily and shot a terrifyingly strong shot aimed at the robots head shooting the head off immediately.
Alot of frustration, anger and disbelief was what you could feel here, the one training was Christiana Love former captain of Mount Olympus and former International but now not even called up as a reserve because of disciplinary issues.
She did not understand it, she saw the mistakes they made clearly however for some reason they did want her to point it out? was this the price an exceptional player has to pay for their talent?
When she was about to take another deadly shot a voice could be heard speaking behind her.

''Thats a quite powerful shot you got, ever thought of doing something else with it then trying to shoot people's heads off?''

Christiana: ''Says who, another one coming to mock me?''

To her surprise it was Klaus Meyer, one of the Starsian veteran players who knew everything on rough physical plays and mastered using them without comitting fouls anymore while still being a tough player

Meyer: ''Nope, i want to help you, you have good talent but you need to use your talent in the right way, your brutal force is not enough to just win a match, you need a team and a whole new mentality.''

Christiana: ''What would you know, i was the one who kicked you out of the national squad remember, why would you help me?''

Meyer: ''Because a very friendly young girl asked me to''

To Christiana's shock her sister Athena appeared apparently back for a few days before going back abroad

Athena: ''Its true sis, i want you to play your heart out at the highest level there is, i dont want to see you here wasting your talent when we both known the two of us belong in that national team.''

Christiana: ''Hmm i see....and what do i need to do according to you then sis, i lost the only team i had''

Athena: ''Simple as it is, either join a new team or go abroad, you're a former NT player im sure they can catch a few million for you and the foreign league's are on a whole diffrent level anyway.
I improved so much by playing abroad that i really feel like i could elevate the Starsian team to a new level once i can join, but hey you can do it now you're way older then me sis.

Please do me a favor, take his advice he has been a great player and he was the one who gave me the advice to move abroad aswell.''

Christiana: ''You did?''

Meyer: ''I indeed did, she wanted to improve and im really impressed how much she did progress in a season, its more then you'd do with a whole career in the Starsian league like me i can tell that.''

Christiana: ''Hmmm....alright i guess its always better then what im doing now.....''

Line up for the next two matches

GK - Princeton
LB - Yale
CB - White
CB - Moon
RB - Hollow
LM - Diam
CM - Valerian
RM - Ray
LW - Jude Redwood
ST - Maximillian Flare
RW - Kira Blade

by **Kyzhurkistan** » Wed Jan 26, 2022 1:37 am

As the second half kicked off, Kayrat Umarov leaned back. He wanted to pull the towel on his head over his eyes, disappear and never come back to this place. Forty-five minutes had passed in which Darmen determined the pace but struggled to translate that into an actual lead. Of course, beginner's luck had played its role so far for Kyzhurkistan, but the defensive line, which had been under more than a bit of scrutiny before the first ball rolled, had exceeded every expectation and the All Greens couldn't find the space. It required everyone to put in their work and even Kayrat, a nimble striker, knew what that meant. So he toiled and tried, more often than not losing the duels against bulkier defenders, dropping energy left and right. So yes, when… It was more a haphazard clearance than a really clever pass from Maksutov. But the Darmeni back four, usually positioned with square and compass by Abbey, suddenly allowed him to go one-on-one with the irreplaceable Hyman Campo. Normally, Kayrat never squandered such an opportunity.

Tonight, he tried to dribble the goalie and seemingly forgot his ball. Campo picked it up, kept a clear view and launched Kennard Hale for a goal at the other side of Stadion Hungaria. Just like that. In a strict sense, it was not his fault. Umarov had not left a corridor for the Scott City striker, he had not hesitated too long to leave his goalmouth. But coach Chinbayev stated his substitution as if it was a given. In Kayrat's head, everything was spinning out of control. Had he peaked, at twenty-three, and now started his slow decline? His transfer to Topbati was far from a success. The limelight had been stolen by that other newcomer there, the Astograthian Biktorika, who pushed him to the wing where he struggled to flourish. Leaving Bashketysh, which he had called provincial and cramped to friends, for the capital had been a mistake as well. He knew no one there, spending afternoons, evenings and nights, playing video games against himself. To make matters worse, it seemed as if his replacement in Darmen, the young Sarybaev, was hitting it off well with Rakhimov. The tens of thousands in green in the stadium, already leaving little leeway for mistakes to Goldschmidt, turned first silent and then discontent when the one Kyzhurki striker presented the other a goal, and then vice versa.

Not hard, but continuously, Kayrat banged the rear of his skull against the headrest. Whilst the stadium exploded with anger over the 1-3, his own teammates slapped one another's shoulders and thighs in ecstasy, trying to process the miracle in front of them. But Kayrat struggled to greet it with the same delight. And someone noticed. Of course, someone noticed. Uulu Nazirbek was the kind of assistant manager who tried to be just a bit too chummy, too much one-of-the-boys for someone who was limited to setting cones and handing out bibs.
"It's just one game, one goal and you're back on track."
Yes, worst of all, Uulu had the personality to say the right things at the moment you didn't want them. Kayrat tried to muffle a confirmation between his teeth but as Belek Sarybaev just doubled up his tally with an acrobatic volley to wrongfoot Campo, if remained stuck in the middle of a swear. Everyone stormed the corner flag where Sarybaev had slid towards and out of some mix of guilt and duty, Kayrat jolted behind them. Halfway, he slowed down and eventually halted, realizing that no one would miss him in the celebration..

It hit him with that same force that put the ball in the net. For the first time in his life, Kayrat Umarov knew he was lonely.

One week later, he knew that his parents, younger sister and a handful of friends had made the trip to Kartash for his sake. It should be his stadium here, his home ground to excel but Kayrat still felt like an intruder, an imposter whenever he walked the grass. In a way, it only made sense that his contact remained limited to a little strip near the touchline where Isaev, Kharimov and he were doing some stretching exercises with the enthusiasm of a museum guard on the brink of retirement. Museum. It hit Kayrat that he had never seen a museum from the inside. Funds for culture had always been low in his high school and during most trips, he faked some excuse that would give him extra training hours. Twenty-three years living in Bashketysh and never setting foot in the majestic halls of the Museum of Industrial Progress, despite it being just around the corner of the market square where he used to ball with friends. And that new flat might be lonely, but wasn’t there an art gallery around the corner? Kayrat was so caught up in his musings that he didn’t notice the coach waving his arms to the substitutes. That… No, that one! Hey! Dreamy!

It is an idiom which hits the papers every once and a while: he knew he had scored before it hit the net. But this time… Kayrat Umarov connected with the cross on the edge of the box and immediately used the momentum of his move to tilt to the left, punch a fist in the air and dart to the corner flag. He didn’t need to see the stunned look on the face of Stenger or the hangtime from Bolkvadze, coming a glove short, to know what had just happened. The Gothanita Isles were doubtful to recover from this blow, the group lead suddenly seemed for the taking and the Topbati Arena screamed and shouted incoherently. As he slid on his knees, the chalk of the touchline making two neat stripes in the wet grass, Kayrat knew he was the center of the universe, if only for a few seconds. Still, his first thoughts went to the bench and he pointed vaguely in that direction whilst a horde of teammates arrived for something amidst a celebration and a drowning. The cameras did pick it up.
“It’s a little gesture for Uulu Nazirbek. I’ve heard that the assistant manager has been pivotal for this turnaround, keeping the confidence in the young Topbati striker.”
Kayrat knew better. It was a show of minds alike. Because no one knew that loneliness as well as the man who jogged a little behind the other replacements when they jumped on top of him. In that time and place, Kayrat could share his loneliness with Belek Sarybaev. Shared among the guild of replaced strikers, seeing their back-up score.

by **Nephara** » Wed Jan 26, 2022 3:45 am

Nephara 5 - 0 Indusse
(4-2-3-1) 1 - Provost; 2 - Schrader (17 - Soeringer 79'), 5 - Clevinger, 6 - Turnbull, 3 - Lind; 18 - Tapper, 8 - Cromwell (15 - Sauber 60'); 13 - Reed, 14 - Fletcher, 11 - Considine; 21 - Basilisk (10 - Harper 60')
Goals: Basilisk 13', Lind 18', Fletcher 33', Considine 53', Harper 77'

Nephara 1 - 3 IA Quebec
(4-2-3-1 / 4-4-2) 1 - Provost; 2 - Schrader, 5 - Clevinger, 6 - Turnbull, 3 - Lind; 4 - Timekeeper, 8 - Cromwell; 13 - Reed, 14 - Fletcher (9 - Gjasula 58'), 11 - Considine; 21 - Basilisk (10 - Harper 81')
Goal: Considine 73'

THE HERALD
ATTITUDES HARDEN AT HOME AS TEMPERS RISE IN VARAKOULA
Lilith Woods Pavola Correspondent

As the Varakoula summit rages on, an otherwise quiet news week in Nephara has latched on tightly, turning it into the water-cooler issue of the year. A study of polls to 20 questions has shown that Nepharim have responded with a general hardening of both hearts and resolve as the war has progressed.

Poll I: Attitudes towards Nephara

From the outset, a pattern can be surmised: Nepharim were relatively ambivalent about the war and its legitimacy, before a rush of relief when peace talks began, only to become more jaded as they have moved on. Some of the largest damages have been to the way Nephara sees how other nations see it, with idyllic visions of nations simply agreeing having turned to dust amidst ardent opposition in Varakoula.

While there is substantial opposition to the sentiments, by and large, the war remains a reluctant but popular action within Nephara. Most marchers believe the war has been a net positive for NYK, particularly after the ceasefire was called, but in the most recent polls, sentiment has turned that it has become a negative for Nephara itself. With dozens of dead and countless guilders spent, the fear of becoming an international pariah has pushed some over the edge; that said, most still regard it as 'right', albeit with more of a sacrifice narrative.

The other half of the polls asked for views on the central factions; initially the three warring sides in Nyowani Kitara along with the KFF's most prominent sponsor, Banija, and Nephara's close allies, Eura. Surveys closer to the summit also included surveys on hosts Tikariot, and fellow Pavolan nations Graintfjall and the United Republics of Yuezhou.

Poll II: Attitudes towards Factions

Nepharan opinion on the three factions is immensely polarised, with the KFF almost universally despised, even among those who do not believe Nephara should have intervened at all. The DFLK and KPWC have both been fairly unpopular, but the reputations of both have improved throughout the summit, where Nephara has indicated a willingness to work with the DFLK and the KPWC have largely caved to demands from Bastion and Corvistone.

Eura remains highly-regarded in Nephara, with the two nations enjoying a significant overlap and a tight connection as of the Endemian War. With a perception that Bastion's ability to knock heads together has seriously greased the wheels of the talks, regard has only increased. As for Banija, they have come more into the firing line since the talks have begun, with many Nepharim - not least, the Lindt government - seeming to hold that as a foreign monarchy, they should have little say over a Rushmori democracy.

Despite Graintfjall's (largely informal) associations with the DFLK, opinion in Nephara remains positive, while the fairly polarised view of Yuezhou has rehabilitated significantly, mirroring a thawing of relationships between the nations themselves. The United Republics have long sought the official recognition of Corvistone, which is of all Rushmori democracies arguably the most communist-sympathetic, and this is rumoured to be on the table. Opinion of Tikariot, however, has cratered, with an increasing belief they have taken it upon themselves to balance the scales of the talks.

Poll III: Attitudes towards War

Most Nepharan attitudes towards the war remain the same; people who even know who Isaksson is are entirely happy for him to remain in detention, Nepharim are largely apathetic to northern independence but consider it a good bargaining chip, everyone continues to hate the KFF and, remarkably, resolve to win the war by any means necessary has bounced back. The major change has been the shift in opinion on President Akongo; initially even less popular than her party, marchers are more ambivalent than before, not less, and have now (seemingly reluctantly) concluded she should remain in some form of office.

Of course, as with most polls of this kind, it is important to remember that issues fresh in the mind tend to colour opinions disproportionately; while opinions of the Pavolan nations and of Banija have fluctuated wildly, they reflect a disproportionate shift in the tides owing to recent press. There is an increasing 'siege mentality' within Nephara, flames that the Nationals have worked tirelessly to stoke; if the talks fail to break through, it suits them to shift the blame. It also implies that the Nationals' arguments - that nobody has worked harder or bled more to end the fighting - are bearing fruit within a populace receptive to a narrative where they are leading the way to a near-heroic degree. But a knock-on effect appears to be a loss of faith in diplomatic methods and institutions. Whether these attitudes linger, or what that means, may take years worth of polls to determine.

NEPHARAN NATIONAL TEAM SELECTION - FORTNIGHT 6
Goalkeepers: 1 - Aranea Provost (Spartangrad, EUR), 12 - Raluca Garamond (Sabrefell Athletic), 20 - Tanith Arrowsmith (Dynamo Sjoedrhavn, SVJ)
Defenders: 2 - Ophelia Schrader (AFC Treason), 3 - Radeka Lind (Jinja City FC, BNJ), 5 - Reniira Clevinger (Herzegovina City FC, BNJ), 6 - Reina Turnbull (Kingsgrove, BRE), 17 - Pristina Soeringer (Stein-los Turkish, PAS), 19 - Caracal Page (Starling), 22 - Gawain Warden (Marinos Metrpolis, VLD)
Midfielders: 4 - Rook Timekeeper (Sabrefell Moths), 7 - Anselm Koerner (1830 Cathair, AUD), 8 - Lothaire Cromwell (AC Izotz Zubia, AUD), 11 - Kendra Constantine Ramsey (AFC Treason), 13 - Severine Reed (Raynor City United, VAL), 14 - Thalassa Fletcher (La Nueva Avenida, FFD), 15 - Tasha Sauber (Sabrefell Athletic), 16 - Lili Marinca (Chromatik, CMT), 18 - Feo Tapper (Aleuisia Capital, ZRH), 23 - Lindse Kvasina (Sabrefell Athletic)
Forwards: 9 - Ruby Gjasula (Bastion, EUR), 10 - Bravura Harper (Ulsa, EUR), 21 - Latona Basilisk (Mâ Âlâmëómë, FFD)

SCHEDULE
Indusse 2 - 4 Nephara
IA Quebec 0 - 4 Nephara
Nephara 7 - 2 Milchama @ Farham Arena (Sabrefell)
Pekoland 1 - 0 Nephara
Nephara 6 - 3 New Zhengguo @ Phoenix Rise (Corvistone)
Barunia 2 - 4 Nephara
Nephara 6 - 3 Natanians and Nosts @ Farham Arena (Sabrefell)
Nephara 5 - 0 Indusse @ The Gauntlet (Treason)
Nephara 1 - 3 IA Quebec @ Eagle's Club (Brinemouth)
Milchama vs. Nephara
Nephara vs. Pekoland @ The Gauntlet (Treason)
New Zhengguo vs. Nephara
Nephara vs. Barunia @ Farham Arena (Sabrefell)
Natanians and Nosts vs. Nephara

by **Brenecia** » Wed Jan 26, 2022 4:52 am

Brenecia 1 - 0 Lathamford
(4-2-3-1) 12 - Tanner; 17 - Lovibond (2 - Sidle 68'), 5 - Killen, 6 - Giltanan, 3 - Culpepper; 23 - Briggs, 8 - Conway (4 - Garrett 56'); 15 - Fife (7 - Longshore 68'), 13 - Meskela, 16 - Marusak; 21 - Lofthouse
Goal: Fife 32'

EOT 2 - 2 Brenecia
(4-2-3-1 / 4-4-2) 1 - Finnan; 17 - Lovibond, 18 - Shrine, 6 - Giltanan, 22 - Seeler; 19 - Mikoliunas, 8 - Conway (9 - Lyrick 86'); 15 - Fife (7 - Longshore 79'), 11 - Brind, 10 - Byrne; 14 - Tristram (21 - Lofthouse 72')
Goals: Brind 21', Byrne 39'

The first thing politicians tended to notice about Randall Kearney was that he had soft hands.
This was dangerous knowledge. This was a man who claimed to represent the interests of miners, after all, and the ever-nebulous 'common people'. He liked a vision of the working-class that cut out the service sector, the hospitality sector, immigrants, union loyalists and pretty much anyone living in Westpike.
No, farmers and industry, that was his game. Bring 'em around with vague talks that the only things threatening industry were regulation and free trade, then enter office, deregulate and hope everyone forgot about the 'free trade is bad' thing. Provided he won the election, 'Buy Better, Brenecian' was a slogan set to be taken out back and shot. It was fine. He had plenty of others.
Kearney was beginning to picture himself as Prime Minister in waiting. Soon, those soft hands would be shaking world dignitaries. For now, they were shaking a rather small young woman outside the Fiana Cove compound, a Cathy Shiring, sent to guide him and a small team of journalists around for photo opportunities and try to make sure nobody shot him.
Kearney's stance on the military was that it should be used to go out and shoot people more often. This was a very popular stance among people who liked the military and especially the lobbyists who supplied them, and a deeply unpopular stance among the actual military, who knew their extensive limitations better than anyone. Not least Shiring. Those soft hands worried her, and even more, the slightly crazed enthusiasm of a man who has never been in a serious fight seeing guns up close.
"Now this - this is what Brenecia should be all about!" He cast his hands wide around the encampment. "North Hall steel and Rathia grit, right there! We're an impregnable little rock, we are, and you're welcome to underestimate us if you like..." He strode over towards a soldier, stoic in dark armour and holding an assault rifle even Kearney could tell at a glance was top-of-the-line. The man bore a crisply professional air that suggested violence was available at but a moment's notice, and it would not be anything personal, no matter who had to die.
"Sir," said the soldier stiffly.
"So I must ask--"
The adjutant coughed delicately.
"I must ask if you're planning to--"
Once more, the adjutant coughed delicately, and this time kicked the candidate in the ankle rather indelicately.
Kearney wheeled on her. "What?"
"Sir, Fiana Cove... isn't a Brenecian military installation."
Kearney blinked at her for some time. "What."
"See the flag-patches? No cross. A Euran base means Euran personnel, sir, the only Brenecians around here are liaisons like myself and common contractors."
"Eurans on our shores?" Kearney glowered at the soldier, who repeated whatever mantras under his breath would keep him from starting an international incident. "Aren't they meant to be bombing Banija?"
"Nyowani Kitara?"
"Like I said. Well." Clenched smile never leaving his face, Kearney looked back to his team with a face that suggested one of them would be fired tonight. "Where can I find a Brenecian military base, then... ?"

Fort Hollingshead was a simple sort of place. Humble. Clearly slapped together far too expensively and enthusiastically and quickly and clumsily, with the worst investments simply gathering dust, occasionally stripped for parts and sold covertly on eBay by the Brenecian army's more opportunistic taskmasters.
Shiring could be proud of what they'd made of it. Brenecia wasn't the kind of place that could or ought to sustain an army that could do much more than act as a speedbump to the great powers, but the more sensible heads in the military had worked closely with LDP governments to downscale in such a manner that the military could remain a relatively efficient enterprise, able to muster to protect domestic interests, and work in peacekeeping operations abroad if required. It had been a lot of work to manage a military that had once overnight had its budget trebled, only years later to be slashed to a fifth.
Good luck telling Kearney that, though. He hadn't been impressed with the likely lads he saw. Fairly well-drilled, largely geared up in Euran - sometimes Nepharan - surplus a generation or two out of date. They weren't cutting edge, and they lacked a real Special Forces program worthy of note - though they were looking into this - but there was a lot of time and effort put into this.
... Granted, some of the stuff wasn't so great for optics. Shiring threw open the garage roughly midway into the visit, trying to bury it as deep in cruft on both ends as she could.
"So as you can see, sir, we have a fine supply of tanks," she said, which was true, mostly because nobody wanted to buy them and they were short of ideas for where to actually send them, "fifteen here and ten kept at each of the other two bases. As for our other vehicles--"
"What make?" Kearney asked innocently.
"... They are Rook battle tanks, si--"
"Ah, Nepharan again." He gave the camera a look.
Shiring sighed. "They've seen plenty of battle, sir, they're well-proven."
"For Brenecia?"
"In Esportiva," she said evasively, which meant in Felix, in a war Brenecia did not fight. "And... ah, yes, the Outrunner-R-class NSTV, a faithful servant over the years."
Kearney stopped and stared.
"Its versatility cannot be overstated," said Shiring, loyally. "And--"
"That's a utility truck with a machine gun welded on the back."
"Like I said, sir," said Shiring patiently, "an NSTV."
"That's a utility truck, Shiring, with a machine gun welded on the back."
"Well, the windows are bulletproofed, and the doors bulked up a little. And technically, sir, that's a recoilless rifle. The Outrunner-Ms have machine guns. Now, if you keep walking this way, I can show you to our plane."
"You mean planes. Surely."
"You'll see, sir."

The hit piece wrote itself. People were aware the military had been stripped back, and that was popular back when everyone remembered Ward sending them frog-marching down the streets, when in her zeal to get as many Brenecians as possible she had stripped back scholarships and apprenticeships. Ward's flagship issue in her last, lost campaign was National Service, and the LDR had attacked that angle relentlessly.
But time had passed, and now all across the screen, Kearney's smug, punchable head could be seen: "We've become weak and dependent on foreign powers - not even regional powers! - to defend our shores. Under a CPP government, I vow to give our neglected military the shot in the arm they deserve, that our leaders have cruelly denied them..."
And from the Prime Minister's office, in the centre of Rozelle, could be heard an exclamation: "With what money? With what fucking money?! Answer me that, Kearney, you greasy shit-cunt--"
But elsewhere in the country, people began to scratch their chins and think: hm. Good point, Randall! Why isn't the bad thing instead good... ?

BRENECIAN NATIONAL TEAM SELECTION - FORTNIGHT 6
Goalkeepers: 1 - Anthea Finnan (Holdenberg City, EUR), 12 - Sorcha Tanner (Southern Star), 20 - Cairbre Dundalk (North Laithland, NPH)
Defenders: 2 - Clovette Bravender (Ulsa, EUR), 3 - Triss Roscommon (Revolutionaries, EUR, c), 5 - Finn Leadbetter (Holdenberg, EUR), 6 - Casey Giltanan (Workers Union, EUR), 17 - Felice Lovibond (Kingsgrove), 18 - Athelney Shrine (Southern Star), 22 - Mynah Seeler (Southern Star)
Midfielders: 4 - Ronan Schofield (Olympia Borograd, STL), 7 - Kendra Carpenter (Wirr Tsi, CMT), 8 - Iseult Conway (Northern Union), 10 - Katua Byrne (KT Itzalovalle, AUD), 11 - Felicia Brind (South Laithland, NPH), 13 - Consaidin Garrard (FK Metropola Borograd, STL), 15 - Mathgamain Fife (Rozelle), 16 - Rhona Leonard (Kingsgrove), 19 - Kurtis Mikoliunas (Mâ Âlâmëómë, FFD), 23 - Skaidrina Briggs (Southern Star)
Forwards: 9 - Mhacha White (Farrenton Athletic, EUR), 14 - Danand Tristram (Kingsgrove), 21 - Jadwiga Lofthouse (Northern Union)

SCHEDULE
Lathamford 2 - 2 Brenecia
Brenecia 5 - 3 EOT
Oberour Ar Moro 2 - 3 Brenecia
Metherwoll 0 - 2 Brenecia
Brenecia 3 - 0 Sangti
Banija 1 - 2 Brenecia
Brenecia 1 - 1 Cabo Azure
Brenecia 1 - 0 Lathamford
EOT 2 - 2 Brenecia
Brenecia vs. Oberour Ar Moro
Brenecia vs. Metherwoll
Sangti vs. Brenecia
Brenecia vs. Banija
Cabo Azure vs. Brenecia

by **Savojarna** » Wed Jan 26, 2022 5:22 am

SavojarSports.sj - inside reports from all Savojarna
Voynov, Pakanen out; Gylfi holding onto a thread

By Jaukka Halanen

Things have continued to look bad for the Savojar national team after a double set of home games without victory. Losing to Osarius and drawing the Finntopian Empire, both ranked significantly lower than Savojarna, the Northlights now sit in the last spot of their group, something that has never occurred before so late in the campaign. This terrible record has somehow still not cost Gylfi Haukason his job, to the clear dislike of Savojar fans. #GylfiOut is still a trending twii.tur hashtag, and after both games (but particularly the draw to the Finntopian Empire), fans in the stadium have been shouting “Gylfi - NEJ!” after the game. The performances of the side have not helped: While the Osarius game was a spirited showing that at least provided entertainment and was finished thanks to an unlucky match for Iiro Pakanen, who made two crucial mistakes, the match against the Finntopian Empire showed a tired, uninspired Savojarna that played without any fire.

This lacklustre showing resulted in loud whistling and even booing at times during the game. The first whistle concert came about at half time, when Savojarna did not seem to bother trying to control the game and failed to push back their opposition at all. Whistles mixed with further “Gylfi-NEJ” chants, but the fans did welcome back their Northlights with more supportive tunes after the break. They did pay it back with the only ten good minutes of the game, resulting in Poulsen’s goal for the lead, but quickly fell back into complacency and boredom. The next whistling concert came when Krister Voynov, who spent 73 minutes playing with almost no connection to the game and squandered his first good action of the match, a dribbling past the Finntopian wingback, with a nonsensical attempt at a shot from an angle rather than passing to the open Sven Ehlers in centre. Further into the game, he was noticeable through his unwillingness to work backwards and his complete lack of impact on the match, something the Savojar fans did clearly not value as they whistled and bood him off the pitch as he was substituted for Finn Östberg. With the Finntopians equalising after a standard, Savojarna faced yet another winless game, the eighth in a row in the World Cup qualifiers. This, again, is a new negative record, although the overall winless streak was interrupted by the Copa Rushmori where Gylfi Haukason’s side performed more acceptably. After being faced with another concert of whistling and booing, the Savojar side left the pitch immediately, and without the customary visit before their fans.

Consequences were not yet taken by the SFFB, who refuse to let Gylfi go for the moment, although many suspect this is less a voice of trust and more an unwillingness to pull the trigger with any haste before finding a replacement, and working out details behind the scene. However, the players themselves have taken some conclusions. Iiro Pakanen took responsibility for his performance against Osarius, stating that for the rest of this campaign, he will voluntarily resign from the national team to take responsibility for his underwhelming performances. On the other end of the spectrum ranked Krister Voynov, who refused to show up to the press conference in return to the fans whistling and booing him specifically, claiming that he would not come to entertain such a crowd; later that day, he released a long social media message about how he felt disrespected by the crowd and would opt to no longer play for the Savojar National Team as a consequence. Voynov stated that with this being the energy surrounding the team, he could no longer see himself as a representative and would prefer to focus on his career over “the entitlement of ‘fans’ who demand entertainment and spectacle, and whistle at us for not giving it to them”.

Unsurprisingly, the post was not well received, with many fans online criticising Voynov for what they called tone-deafness and a complete disregard for the state of the team. In a much retwii’d and liked comment, well-known fan personality Olaf Johansson stated “If Krister Voynov thinks that we demand spectacle, it’s quite obvious he hasn’t been listening to what fans and media, and any competent coach, are saying: this is about pride and respect for the Savojar nation and your own performance, not flashy football”. Reporters and observers took similar stances, widely criticising Voynov for his decision (read our own Alexei Dryzbov’s comment here), some even going as far as calling his choice “no loss for the Savojar national team”. With Finn Östberg, Juhamatti Rajala, Steinar Aarsoy, and Kimi Hartikainen, it indeed looks like there are plenty of options within the Savojar pool to fill the left wing position; it remains to be seen who will be called up for future games. In goal, the succession appears to be clear, with Aleksandra Virulainen poised to take over the reins, although some were suggesting that Pakanen could (and perhaps should) return to the team after the campaign.

Still, all of these developments are at best distractions to the elephant in the room that is Gylfi’s future at the Northlights. The SFFB clearly appears to be working on something, and refused to comment on our request for a statement. Whether this means that they are internally giving up on him and wish to wait with public statements until they know more about the future of the national team, or it is an expression of support of the SFFB for their coach, remains to be seen.

by **Sarzonia** » Wed Jan 26, 2022 7:47 am

When it's all said and done, Sarzonia's 2-1 away victory over The Holy Empire might not drastically change the team's position in the Group 18 table. After all, the Stars are still a long shot to qualify for the proper. Their chances of going through as group winners are likely nil. Their chances of overtaking a position in the two-leg playoffs are at best unlikely. It likely would merely be dismissed in the Dreamed Realm as a mere speed bump on the way to their final destination in the proper. In the grand scheme of things, the match really is just one victory.

And yet, that result may have carryover effects that far outstrip its short-term impact. Sarzonia going into the Dreamed Realm and earning a victory to draw the two-leg series with The Holy Empire level at one win apiece and four goals each will carry negligible weight in the here and now. But when the Incorporated Football Federation evaluates this World Cup cycle and Sarzonia's future in the sport, the result will stand out as being a bellwether for how the team approaches its preparations for the future.

Nathan Hanifer may or may not remain as Sarzonia's manager past the team's 2-1 defeat to Mytanija. He might or might not see the team through to the Cup of Harmony in the event the Stars are invited to compete there. But amid rumblings about the team's more attack-minded offence compared to the previous "total football on steroids" approach that dictated a balance between offensive aggression and defence, that result may well be the one that allows Hanifer or perhaps a disciple of his to assume the reins if the IFF chooses to look elsewhere.

"It was a result Hanifer can point to when it's all said and done," said Astrid Palmer, a football columnist at the Sporting Ledger, a news magazine covering various national teams throughout Sarzonia. "It's one of those results that can vindicate his approach and validate the way he's overseeing the programme."

Even Bud Atkins, a noted Hanifer critic and opponent of the more offence-minded style favoured by Hanifer and his predecessor Nicola Mentes, applauded the result.

"It's a signature win," he said. "It's one of those results that the team will look back on fondly, much like The Marshall Miracle [when Sarzonia earned a shock 2-0 victory over then-11th ranked The Han Empire as an unranked side playing just their second World Cup qualifying match in the World Cup 44 cycle] or the Nephara Knockout [a 1-0 victory for the Stars against world No. 1 Nephara during World Cup 85 qualifying that helped propel 65th ranked Sarzonia into the proper just two World Cups after it returned from another extended absence from the international stage]."

If Hanifer opts not to remain as Stars manager, and really, by this point it may be his call, speculation about his successor has centred on assistant manager Brady Reynolds, who retired as a player after World Cup 88 qualifying. Hanifer has denied reports that he's been grooming Reynolds as his eventual successor, saying that he's been actively seeking to help a number of assistant managers become full on managers themselves, but a source familiar with Hanifer's thinking said he felt Reynolds might be the best choice to succeed him when the time comes.

"Brady's played for [former manager Kevin] Connelly and Hanifer, so he's seen a couple of different styles and ways to build a programme," said one source familiar with the IFF's thinking. "He's shown tremendous leadership as an assistant manager and it may only be a matter of time before it's Reynolds calling the shots."

by **Pluvia and the Saxean Isles** » Wed Jan 26, 2022 7:59 am

Marienburg, Pluvia and the Saxean Isles

The Saviglianois manager of the Pluvia and Saxean Isles national football team, Laurent Chambéry, was sitting in his office with his translator after the team's 1-0 loss to Darmen in the qualifiers of World Cup 90.

[I don't understand,] he said to his translator in Saviglais. [I thought we were turning a corner after that victory over the Ochre Islands. A win over the team topping the group should have given us momentum and confidence going into the second half. And yes, a 1-1 draw with Soldera isn't the best result, but after being massacred at home, a point is much better.]

[The Snakes played with much confidence,] replied his translator. [They had an injury at the back, but they clearly still believed they could win, so they did not just roll over. I believe it was this confidence that allowed them to hold us scoreless for 68 minutes until Carsten Francke finally found the net.]

[Perhaps you're right,] said Chambéry. [I thought we had put the emotional issues behind us after the AOCAF fight and the training camps. Now it seems we have fixed internal dissension, but we have not built up a well of self-efficacy that the men can tap.]

[Yes,] said the translator. [How else do you explain a 1-0 loss at home to a, frankly, lackluster Darmen squad? They started seven players on the wrong side of 30 and came into our match with 9 points from 8 matches. Hardly a good look from a top-60 team.]

[Hmm, I see.] Chambéry stroked his chin. [It certainly does help to have veteran players; they can make adjustments, which is part of why I believe they held us scoreless after conceding three in the first match. However, youth is undeniably the future. We ourselves typically field 7 players 30 or over, including the whole midfield. But the real question is, can we build confidence by the end of qualifying and challenge for a place?]

[In my opinion, no,] said the translator. [We have but five matches to play and trail by eight points from first and six from second. Furthermore, two of those matches are against Jeruselem and Mercedini, top-40 teams. One point from those two matches would likely be a success. The Gothanita Isles are a likely win, but could we defeat the Ochre Islands on the road and Kzyhurkistan, the top team in the group? Even defeating all of the lower-ranked opponents is only nine points, not considering how Kzyhurkistan or especially Jeruselem will do in other matches. Allowing the younger players to build up confidence is much more useful than playing 7 over-30s and trying to win all the matches.]

[I understand, but I disagree.] Chambéry knitted his fingers together. [Consider that we drew Mercedini last time and we receive a visit from Jeruselem and Kyzhurkistan. Surely this is a fortunate situation, not to mention our previous victories over the other island nations. I take your point that the younger players must play more, but we cannot completely abandon our chances. It would cause a catastrophic loss of confidence. We will make some changes. Axel Newman has never bought into our message and will be 33 by the next World Cup. Let's replace him with Alistair Bradley, who has shown promise in practice. Furthermore, Matthew Fletcher is 34, the oldest player in the starting lineup. Austin Davies plays well in practice, but is one of the players who needs confidence. Let him replace Fletcher. This brings two promising youngsters up to the first team, but does not give the impression we are surrendering.]

[Excellent,] said the translator. [This should bear fruit against The Gothanita Isles, which will build confidence for our home match against Jeruselem.]

The two men shook hands and headed out to face the team, confident that this time, their scheme would work.

by **Banija** » Wed Jan 26, 2022 8:41 am

Kadongo Kamu land a pair of road wins for a 6 point window as Qualification path comes clearer into focus

Dembo Savaneh with his stonefaced goal celebration in Banija's tight 1-0 away win over Metherwoll on Matchday 8 of World Cup Qualifying

DODOMA, BUNYORO REGION- Going on the road in World Cup Qualifying, as Pam Scott will tell you, is never an easy task. "Everybody thinks that they can take at least a point off of you, because they are playing in front of their home fans." Pam Scott told reporters when the team's plane touched down in Dodoma. "And I understand why- the energy of the home crowd, the climate, the field conditions, etc... all of those are playing in your favor. But there's a reason that World Cup Qualification is one of the toughest challenges in all of sports. The amount of travel, the amount of competition, for so few spots- it makes this the greatest competition in all of sport. And as this country knows well, nothing is a given. 9 Qualifications in a row, ranked 5th in the multiverse, reigning AOCAF champions- and couldn't even make the playoffs last time. Every game matters. These road games, especially, are always a challenge, no matter the rank of the opponent, or where they stand in the table. We take things a game at a time, and chase after three points."

Away Days- The Qualification Window

The first game of the window, was against a well-packed, and well-organized defense- Metherwoll. Ranked 242nd in the multiverse, they are, unsurprisingly, in the doldrums of the Qualifying group- a few cycles away from legitimately competing for a place in the World Cup Finals. But they are fully capable of pulling off the odd upset, and that is why Pam Scott knew they would be a particular challenge. In "a stadium" with a capacity of just 5 fans, it was certainly an interesting affair to watch on television. We couldn't even attend the match live, because of the lack of capacity. It made it interesting though- without any sort of crowd noise, it was extremely easy to hear the players. You could also hear the sound of the ball kicked- everything echoed onto the microphones attached to the TV cameras. But the confident and aggressive squad, coached by Tam Cowan, were not afraid of Banija. It would be a feather in the cap on what otherwise was an unspectacular campaign- get a point, or potentially, all three, against a team with our pedigree, and that would be something each and every player on the home team would remember for the rest of their lives.

The first half was mostly a slow affair. Banijan players, without any fans, struggled to find energy, and were quite lethargic, especially going forward. Metherwoll could not take advantage of that lethargicness, however, as Banijan defenders prevented them from getting any true opportunities on goal. Pam Scott's gameplan defending was clearly to surround their star player, SEEEEEEEEEEEBOOOOOOOO, and the plan actually worked to perfection. Their offense goes entirely through him- and Pam Scott said that if they were beat by somebody else, they would live with it, but Metherwoll's star would not beat them. And that is exactly what happened. In the last half hour of the game, however, a few substitutions by Pam Scott gave the Kadongo Kamu the energy they needed to break down a team like Metherwoll. It would be Dembo Savaneh scoring his first goal of the campaign, a 77th minute tap-in. Nothing of the spectacular sort, but he had made his run at the right time, and was found by the former Champions League winner, Gereh Kama. After the match, they had went directly to the airport to fly to Cabo Azure.

"We were happy to get out of there." Pam Scott told reporters. "A tough match, but the lack of a crowd made it feel lifeless- Cabo Azure will be a much better time." Maybe so, but the Banijans faced a challenge heading to Cabo Azure. Cabo Azure, as well, rest near the bottom of the Qualification table. But unlucky they have been. If you had told them, before Qualifying, at the halfway mark, that they would have earned away draws against both of the group's runaway leaders, Banija and Brenecia? Then they would have likely told you that they are in the running to shock the world and have a legitimate chance to qualify for the World Cup. Instead, of course, that is not true. "They've got all sorts of talent, as they showed both us and Brenecia." Pam Scott said. "They, truly, are a team that's capable of beating almost anyone, on a given day. When they are at their best, they are sharp, they are efficient, they are hungry." But, Pam Scott also said that Cabo Azure is a good illustration of the challenges of trying to climb the rankings. "Many teams down the rankings have the talent level to go to a World Cup. But- they show that it is an incredible challenge to remain consistent at this level, in this competition. They may have the top-level talent, but lack the depth to maintain fitness and withstand injuries over the course of a brutal Qualification campaign, especially with all of these air miles. They won't get there this cycle, but mark my words, we'll probably see them in the World Cup in 91 or 92. They are on the right trajectory. But we've got to find a way to three points on this Matchday."

While Pam Scott had heavily rotated the starting XI for the Metherwoll game, she ran out her first choice XI for this game, with a huge sign of respect towards the point that Cabo Azure had earned in Istria. ANd it would be the home team to score first in Rushmore. Cabo Azure largely had the better of the play for the opening 20 or so minutes, and when Cabo Azure earned a corner kick in the 22nd, it was as if we all felt what was going to happen. Cabo Azure center back Kevin Brandão rose above the crowd, and powerfully headed home a header to give the home team a 1-0 lead. A quality test for the Banijans, from a mental standpoint, right? How do they respond to an early goal for the home team, on the road? Can they handle it? The answer, emphatically, was yes. The team, and full credit to Pam Scott, did not shrink. Did not shy away. They rose up to the challenge. Led by, of all people, Lolong Bokate. The 21 year old made his presence felt, as both the present and future for Banija at left wing. He would score himself on an incredible solo effort in the 31st minute, beating a pair of Cabo Azure defenders on the dribble before deftly chipping the ball over the keeper to make it level at one. And then, in the 37th minute, a wicking bending cross on a set piece that Idi Mboge was able to get on the back end of, and head into the back of the net. 2-1 to the Banijans at halftime.

But the Kadongo Kamu were not done at half, just because they led. "We know that Cabo Azure is capable of scoring, and more importantly, doing so in bunches." Said the team's captain, Demba Kinteh. "We saw that from them last time, in Istria. So we wanted to continue going forward, especially out of the gate in the second half, and really put the game to rest." And since the Banijans brought their finishing boots with them, they were able to do exactly that. When Kausu Dione was fouled, about 23 yards from goal, in the 52nd minute, it would be Sarafina Ikpeazu who would be ready. The free kick given, she bent the ball into the upper corner, giving a diving Rufino Antunes, who is Cabo Azure's goalkeeper, absolutely no chance. An absolutely brilliant finish, as she ran straight to the nearby travelling support. The Banijans showed off their ability to counter-attack as well, when Mzukisi Nzo, who had come into the game for Momodou Jassey, took the ball from Narciso Maciel in the 63rd minute, and hit a near perfect through ball to Kausu Dione. With Dione and Kamara Touré both through on goal, Antunes, once again, did not have a chance. The goalkeeper sold out to stop Dione, but his unselfishness led him to pass the ball across to an unmarked Kamara Touré, who tapped the ball into an empty net.

After going 1-0 down after 22 minutes, the Kadongo Kamu now led 4-1 after 63 minutes. And that was game, set, match. Ademar Carriço scored a hell of a goal in the 66th minute, but it was too little, too late, for the home side to really get back into this one. Banijan players were happy at the 4-2 win. "Our second straight away win, is a good moment for us." Sarafina Ikpeazu said after the match. "It's never easy to win on the road in Qualifying, and this was always going to be a tricky trip to Rushmore. These are players who had taken a point off of us before, at our own house. So we needed to be absolutely ready to take the game to them. We studied up. And stuck to our gameplan. Even after going down 1-0, we were not scared. We did not try to push and do too much. We stuck to our gameplan, we played our assignments, and most importantly, we executed. The goals followed. It's a long road back to the World Cup Finals, and it is a road that can only be taken one day at a time. But we took one step today, and we will be ready for our game at the Eagle's Club in the next window."

The Road Ahead- what is Banija's path to Vilita & Baker Park?

Group 17                           Pld   W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Banija                            9    7   1   1    22   10  +12    22
2 Brenecia                          9    6   3   0    21   11  +10    21
3 Oberour Ar Moro                   9    4   0   5    18   20   −2    12
4 Lathamford                        9    3   2   4    10    9   +1    11
5 Euran Oceania Territories         9    3   2   4    12   16   −4    11
6 Metherwoll                        9    3   0   6     6    9   −3     9
7 Cabo Azure                        9    2   3   4    12   16   −4     9
8 Sangti                            9    2   1   6    10   20  −10     7

The path ahead, of course, is a challenging one. Looking at the table, however, gives us confidence. We sit at 22 points, with Brenecia at 21. It is going to be a two-horse race for the group's automatic qualification spot. But, let's look further behind. What is encouraging about this table, is that we have what essentially amounts to a two-horse race. Oberour Ar Moro sits in third place- but sits 9 points behind second place Brenecia, and 10 behind first place Banija. "Look- we're not saying that it is impossible." Wasa Jawo said. "But the ability for a squad like Oberour Ar Moro to make up a 9 or a 10 point gap, with just five matchdays remaining, is just incredibly unlikely. A lot would have to go their way- it would take a Brenecia or a Banijan collapse, neither of which is going to happen. Obviously, mathematically, the race is still ongoing for a number of teams. But practically, we know one thing- Banija and Brenecia will finish in the top two for this group. The real question is- which order? Who will go directly to VIlita and Baker Park? And which one will go to the Playoffs?"

Let's look at the Banijan path, shall we? It's a succeeding line of tougher opponents- culminating with an away day to Brenecia on the penultimate matchday. The next Qualification window, specifically, sees us take on 97th ranked Lathamford at home, at the Eagle's Club, followed by a trip to Anaia to take on the Euran Oceania Territories, who are ranked 84th. Both teams have earned 11 points through 9 matchdays, which put them at fourth and fifth in the table, respectively. "These are going to be incredibly challenging games." Pam Scott told reporters. "All of our focus is on the upcoming window. We're going to have to ask quite a bit of a lot of players- that trip to Anaia is not going to be an easy one to deal with. Our game against Lathamford last window was a tight one, even though we earned a 1-0 win on the road. I expect a similarly tight match on Banijan soil. But points are even more precious this time around, with so few games left in the Qualification cycle."

And she doesn't even need to talk about the trip to the Euran Oceania Territories. The game in Hoima ended quite comfortably for the Banijans, with a relatively routine 3-0 win over the freshly Anaia territory. But, that wasn't even the main story surrounding that game. With tensions between Banija and the Euran motherland, as well as Banija prominently backing an ultimately losing effort for the EOT to stay a member of Atlantian Oceania, EOT's team was not exactly a fan favorite. Fortunately, things weren't at the level of national anthems being booed or everything like that. But the crowd went after the team. Pro-Malik Akongo chants, calling Eurans commie-lovers, and let's go AO chants reverberated throughout the stadium on that night. With all of that political context, many would not expect the Banijans to get what one would call 'a warm welcome' in Fligsive.

"This is the biggest stadium we will play in throughout World Cup Qualifying." Demba Kinteh, the team's captain said. "It's going to be loud, and they will be a force for their national team. Look- I'm not worried about everything surrounding the match. It's not like I show up to an away World Cup Qualifier expecting the fans to cheer for me. It's going to be another away day. I'm not worried about everything surrounding- that's just outside noise. I've got a World Cup Qualifiers to play in. The ex-pats have got serious talent. They've got a number of players who play in Eura itself, including players going forward. That's what I'm worried about."

This window, of course, is made more challenging by the fact that Banija will be missing its first choice goalkeeper, Wanda Kouyaté, for Matchdays 10 and 11. Pam Scott said that she is missing the matches due to an injury sustained at the end of the Cabo Azure match. "This team believes in its depth, and all three of our goakeepers." Pam Scott told reporters. "Both Hebrons will get a chance to play in this upcoming window. Wanda Kouyaté simply suffered a minorly pulled hamstring. She'll have to miss two games- but she'll be back at full-strength for our Qualifier, on Matchday 12, against Oberour Ar Moro."

Looming, of course, over everything, is Banija's Matchday 13 World Cup Qualifier, away to Brenecia. Plenty of Matchdays away, of course. But there is a non-zero chance that game basically could be for all the marbles. But, of course, the team will not look ahead to that yet, even if pundits want them to. They will take things as we watch them- two games at a time.

by **Adab** » Wed Jan 26, 2022 8:47 am

Sunday, December 14, 2036 / 25 Shawwal 1458 / 25 Kislev 5797
Adab 3-2 Tumbra
Adab scorers: Yargab (26’), Akaptaha (52’, 78’)
Sunday, December 21, 2036 / 3 Dhu al-Qadah 1458 / 3 Tevet 5797
The 14 Stars 0-2 Adab
Adab scorers: Akaptaha (66’, 80’)

No Boundaries
By Saad Kaykali

Pushing through all boundaries
Erring while trying, yet trying until there are no more tries
Now is the reckoning, time to prove our doubters wrong
Ah, do you hear there in the distance, our song
Long will our supporters sing, the call to our duty
Driving the ball to the goal in this game of beauty
Over ninety or a hundred and twenty
In our blood is the roar of the desert lion
Struggle is our food, for the glory of our nation
For though we may fail, then at least we fail mightily
In these times our mettle is tested
No matter, we rise to the challenge until we have finished
Irrespective of everything, we will know that we have tried
Solemnly, bravely, knowing we have put everything on the line
Hurt we may be, tumbling, falling as we complete our design
Erring as we do, yet knowing there is a light at the end
Doing, daring, trying, believing ’til there is no more to be done

Adab lineup for MD10 (January 6, 2037, vs. Starblaydia away)
Starting lineup: Chandrasekar, Altun, Enmerkar (VC), Issou, Thomas, al-Muntar, Samanu, Orlev, Akaptaha, al-Kufa, Yargab (C)
Substitutes: Shulgi, al-Tikriti, Sharkalisharri, Akshak, Emmita, Uhwan, Zambiya, Barzani
Adab lineup for MD11 (January 12, 2037, vs. South Covello at home)
Starting lineup: Chandrasekar, Altun, Enmerkar (VC), Issou, Thomas, al-Muntar, Samanu, Orlev, Akaptaha, al-Kufa, Yargab (C)
Substitutes: Shulgi, al-Tikriti, Sharkalisharri, Akshak, Emmita, Uhwan, Zambiya, Barzani

by **Ochre Islands** » Wed Jan 26, 2022 10:24 am

Crazy Craig's Krytenian Takeaway and High Consulate had been a thorn in side of Bellflower City Council (BCC) for months now. After accidentally selling the freehold to the shop itself rather than just the leasehold to a Krytenian entrepreneur, BCC were desperately trying to find a way to rid themselves of the Krytenians so they could purchase it back, then rent it out and start making income off the place again. Their methods so far had failed, especially as it turned out that not only did the entrepreneur work for the Krytenian Government, he was also a member of the Krytenian diplomatic corps in the Ochre Islands who decided that having a consulate near the Ochres national stadium would be helpful should any Krytenians find themselves in a spot of bother there.

BCC were having to employ every trick in the book to try and shut the place down and rid themselves of the Krytenians, which was easier said than done when the takeaway you're trying to shut down has been granted diplomatic immunity. What complicated matters more was that the actual Krytenian Embassy was a six minute walk up the main coastal road in Bellflower, directly inbetween the offices of Bellflower City Council (where the pool cars were kept) and Crazy Craig's Krytenian Takeaway and High Consulate. While they hadn't been able to prove anything, BCC were almost certain that the Embassy were telling the High Consulate when Environmental Health were on their way over. Though if, for instance, the drivers were better trained and used their mirrors more often, they'd see one of the Krytenian Guards at the Embassy door reach for the phone every time a BCC van went past.

So, another Monday arrived, and another request to check the area around Crazy Craig's Krytenian Takeaway and High Consulate had arrived from a 'concerned member of the public' (using an @bellflower.gov.och address, suspiciously) who was worried about the effects of the takeaway on the local area and unsavoury Krytenian types turning up at the High Consulate for support. As the BCC staff reached the takeaway, they spotted a bin lorry parking up at the end of the row of shops, and the bin crew jumped out.

'Stop here Kev, there's something weird going on' Si said, pulling his bag of equipment off the back seat of the pool car.

'What's that then?'

'Our bin lorries don't normally collect from Crazy Craig's. They use a private supplier for their commercials. BillyBellflowerBins, if I remember correctly.' Si stopped fumbling through his bag for a moment and opened his notepad, licked a finger and flicked through a couple of pages, before tapping a page. 'And I do remember correctly.'

Kev continued to stare at the Takeaway and High Consulate, watching the bin lorry driver (who had remained in the cab). Soon enough, Si had found his binoculars and then lifted them up to his face to look through them. 'Definitely ours. One of the old ones. Can still make out "New Fenton" underneath where it now says "Bellflower".'

On saying that, the bin crew returned to the lorry with a bin, clearly belonging to Crazy Craig's thanks to the garish blue it had been painted in. 'Let's move in before they go' Si said, putting his seatbelt on and clearly expecting something to happen.

Nothing happened.

'Kev are you- Kev?'

Kev looked up.

'Yes mate?'

'What've you got there, Kev?'

'It's a vindaloo brownie Si.'

'Where'd you get that from, Kev?'

'Urr, Crazy Craig's Krytenian Takeaway.'

'And High Consulate?'

'No mate, they don't do brownies. Just paperwork.'

Si shook his head. Crazy Craig's was the enemy and yet here were BCC staff openly cavorting with them and worst yet, buying the godawful food.

'Drive me over to the bin lorry, would you Kev?'

'Alright mate' Kev said, licking his fingers clean and storing the rest of the brownie in his pocket. He put the car into drive and off they went another hundred yards down the road, parking over the path of the bin lorry and stepping out of the car, thrusting their Council identification badges at the bemused driver, who opened his window.

'You boys alright?' He said, looking at the motley crew of two. 'Just you've come in here acting like action heros when in reality' the driver squinted 'you're environmental health.'

'Just some questions, Mr...?' 'Ellie. Dave Ellie' the driver replied to Si, relishing the chance to say his name surname, firstname, surname, something he didn't get to do very often.

'Mr. Ellie. Why are you collecting the commercial bins of Crazy Craig's Krytenian Takeaway and High Consulate?'

'Sign-'

'Sorry Mr. Dave, got to tell you' Kev said, thrusting the remainder of his brownie at the driver rather than the portable recording device he'd issued himself with. He realised his mistake, swapped which arm he was thrusting with, took a bite of his brownie and carried on. 'Got to tell you, I am recording this conversation for trains and monitored purposes.'

Dave Ellie raised a rather thickly-haired eyebrow, leaning his body out over his hair-covered arm that was perched on the open window of the lorry. 'Trains, mate?'

'He loves trains' Si interjected.

'No trains around here. Only trams.'

'True, but they're all the same to him. It's the simple things isn't it?

Mr. Dave Ellie nodded. Every now and then he enjoyed a brisk walk in the park, listening to the birds. He could emphasise with a man's love of trains, even if the Ochre Islands did only had trams.

'I go back to my original question' Si said. 'Mr. Ellie, Why are you collecting the commercial bins of Crazy Craig's Krytenian Takeaway and possibly the High Consulate?'

'Signed a treaty with them, didn't we? All above board lads.'

'A treaty? Who is we, exac-'

This time it was Kev's turn to butt in. 'BOLLOCKS!'

The men both looked at Kev, who was looking at the floor. 'Dropped the last bit of my brownie.'

by **Flavovespia** » Wed Jan 26, 2022 11:37 am

FFA HQ, South Carston
4:00pm

It was the last training session before the flight to The 14 Stars to start the second half of qualifying, and the mood in the Flavovespian camp was not the happiest. Whilst the feuds of the first half of qualifying had settled down, the underperformances had caused a significant level of frustration, and the sense of another campaign that hadn’t delivered was in the air. One boost however, was the return of captain Steven Hall, declared fit to play by the physios now. And the team certainly needed him now more than ever, as a forward and a captain.

Steven Hall was back in training, and after an unscheduled break due to injury, was keen as ever to get back into the swing of things. Based on the reaction of his teammates, it seemed very much like his return was warmly welcomed. He wasn’t in the dressing room at the time of the row after the Adab game, but he was disappointed in the stories he head. Not that he needed to share that sentiment with the team in much detail, he wanted to focus on the positives, and set the example for the upcoming games.

Before the day was up, Steven Hall called in the squad together, to give his words as captain, and to try and lift the team. “Lads, listen up. It’s been a real tough start to this campaign, I’ve been here before, and this is one of the most challenging groups I can remember. But remember, don’t give up, you’ve still got a lot to play for, and we’re not out of it yet!” Steven Hall directed his comments at all the gathered players, not focusing on anyone in particular.

Steven Hall continued on with a message, this time trying to emphasis the issues that had happened so far. “I know things have been tough, and it’s frustrating. But lads, we’re all on the same team here, we can’t be doing with arguing with each other, else we’ll never win. All of you deserve to be here, representing Flavovespia, and you should enjoy this. You don’t want your time on the national team to be one of strife and turmoil. So let’s put our heads together, and turn this around.” A cheer and cries of “COME ON!” echoed around the training ground, as the players headed out of the huddle. The words of Steven Hall had certainly uplifted the spirits, at least temporarily, and the team were glad to have their captain back.

The game against The 14 Stars would see a very different attacking line up. Adrian Jones would be the centre forward this time. And on the left wing, Jonathan Bagshaw, being tried in a different position. Steven Hall found this an unusual choice, but from the training session he’d just seen, was quietly confident. Him and Jonathan Bagshaw were in some ways chalk and cheese. He was a gregarious, extroverted Loxthorpe Rovers player and Hadford Hill fan. Jonathan Bagshaw, a stoic, introverted Langmere Green Rovers player and Waldster fan. But the pair of them, far from being rivals, seemed to have a real mutual respect this cycle. The question was, could they both work together on the pitch.

City Arena
3:03pm

It was an unfamiliar position on the left wing for Jonathan Bagshaw. At club level, he was a right winger who sometimes got tasked with playing through the middle. However it was Augusto Rinaldi who’d put him on as a left winger for the first time that he can remember clearly. His role was more like an inside forward in this position, being a right footed player, but he still needed to keep the crossing option open.

With the return of Steven Hall, Jonathan Bagshaw had expected his stint in the team to come to an end. However, with all the drama and weak performances against Adab, Augusto Rinaldi had decided to put the young Langmere Green Rovers player in at left wing. Here in City Arena, Jonathan Bagshaw knew the pressure was on. The home favourite, Andrew Thomas was on the bench. So to was club teammate Michael Cole, Andrew Brockelhurst, last season’s Super League Golden Boot winner, and Scott Coleman, with his 100+ international goals. But that didn’t matter now, what did was Jonathan Baghsaw, and his performances.

Quickly Flavovespia were mounting their first attack of the game. It was Jonathan Bagshaw with the ball at his feet, advancing forward. He heard the calls of Adrian Jones, his club teammate, up ahead of him. Still onside, the left winger slid the ball into the path of Adrian Jones. Not one but two defenders went to press, and Jonathan Bagshaw instinctively dashed into the space into the middle, calling for the return of the ball. Timing his run to perfection, Jonathan Bagshaw looked up at the keeper, and down at where the ball was coming to. Pulling back the right foot, he hit the ball sweetly as it rolled into the box. The keeper was beaten, and the ball slammed into the net with force. 1-0 so early on, and Jonathan Bagshaw ran off celebrating, with the home fans cheering on the opener for Flavovespia. For Jonathan Bagshaw, a very significant milestone as well, his first ever international goal, and at 19, one of the youngest ever Flavovespian goalscorers.

Things got even better shortly afterwards. Wayward defending saw Jonathan Bagshaw dispossess the defender, creating a 3 vs 2 situation at the back. A wise ball sent over to the far post saw Steven Hall volley in the second, to make it 2-0 after just 5 minutes. On the half-hour mark, a cross by Steven Hall was met by the head of Adrian Jones, and 3-0 it was. Not long after the break, at which Augusto Rinaldi didn’t need to give much direction for improvement, Steven Hall found a pocket of space to get a shot away. The goalkeeper fluffed his lines, and couldn’t keep the ball out, 4-0 it was.

Jonathan Bagshaw would finish out the thumping victory. Initially, a free-kick by Steven Hall deceived the goalkeeper, who saw it late and could only parry it into the box, close to goal. A scruffy attempt at aclearance fell to Robert Totten. He took a shot that hit a knee or a foot or something. Jonathan Bagshaw didn’t see what it hit, but the ball flew towards him, and he hooked his right foot around it, and steered it past the 2 defenders still on the goal line. Appeals for offside were completely in vain, as the young winger made it a double for him.

For Flavovespia, it was finally a win at home in the qualifying campaign, and one that really showed the clinical edge the side had. The attacking trio finally worked, and the sort of play not seen since CAFA2 had returned. As for Jonathan Bagshaw, he’d taken on a somewhat unfamiliar position, and showed just what he could deliver. Far from being in competition at the moment for the right winger spot with Steven Hall, it seemed the two of them, one a Flavovespian legend, and one aspiring to be one, could play on the same team.

by **Valanora** » Wed Jan 26, 2022 12:53 pm

The Marauders survived their home fixtures against the two most difficult matches of the second half, grabbing four points and maintaining their spot at the top of the table. It is on the one hand to see the side be dropping points at home, something that was on the highest priority to avoid during this campaign, to try and build upon the last campaign and perform better. On the other hand, the Marauders have not been defeated by their two closest challengers for the top of the table by rank, even if they are not second and third in the table behind the Empire at the top of the group.

Huayramarca is the team that was able to hold the Marauders to a two all draw in the Empire and is currently sitting quite pretty at second in the table. As we all know, that second spot is going to be the prize to aim for for most of the rest of the group. While there is still a lot of football still to play, barring a major collapse from the Marauders l, it does appear like the Vanorian team has the top spot and the automatic qualification that comes with it under wraps. It is still quite possible that the team could hit a poor run of form and be caught up by the rest f the group, but right now that is a possibility that seems quite unlikely to unfold.

Huayramarca has been able to produce their challenge to the Marauders top spot by being very difficult to beat on the defensive end. To that credit, the Marauders are responsible for nearly half of the goals that the Anaia side has conceded through their campaign thus far. Considering the amount of attacking talent of elite quality that the Marauders are able to put out on the field, it makes a lot of sense and does speak to the quality of the defending that the Anaia side has produced. Four points adrift with five matches to go is not a good position to be in but not impossible to overcome.

However many thought it would be the cyan clad opponents of Krytenia that would be the Anaia side that was going to give the Marauders the most trouble. However in both games against the Empire, Krytenia has looked completely outclassed and out of their depth when trying to contend with both the offensive and defensive players of the Marauders, conceding five and scoring only once over the hundred eighty minutes. Struggling against the top seed is nothing to be ashamed of, it does happen more often than not, but the cyan side has also struggled against the rest of the group, with only three wins from their nine fixtures, leaving them languishing twelve points adrift from the top and far away from the playoff picture as well. Despite differing fortunes, the challenge for both is the same, focus in on the next few fixtures and get wins. For the Marauders it could mean early qualification while the Aces need it to stay alive.

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