World Cup 90--RP Thread

[Independent Athletes from Quebec]

Lost In The Wild

PART 3 - I Need A Good One

Pierre McCarthy was the first person in the neighbourhood to greet Garth Bates-Nugent. No matter how inconvenienced he was feeling, his daughter did raise an important point about visiting the Chevening Hall's new owner no matter what enquiry, and while she was deliberately kept not known until several days after, and into the Friday of the very weekend, it was in every single matter of consideration for Pierre to disclose it to her anyhow. Over the morning coffee, just as Arabella was reading the title of The Gaegyeong Gazette, Pierre addressed to her with a single cough:

'Garth Bates-Nugent does have a decent sense of fashion, so to say.'

'How would you of all persons know?' asked Arabella amusingly, as she raised her right eyebrow, 'Have the words already spread across the entire 1ere arrondissement of Montreal?'

'Gah, there is no arrondissement here, please don't mistake here with the old-world capitol...la petite mademoiselle,' Bashir, a minor-named associate who came to pick up a file to be processed later today, disputed, shortly before throwing back a wink at Arabella (groan), 'Have the Gazette reported on some of the plans he's had in mind at the MSE (Montreal Stock Exchange)?'

'Well...I am aware of them, Bashir, thanks to a newspaper and a telephone notification or two, but those aren't the ones I'm thinking about right now,' gently answered Pierre, 'But I am glad you have let me know about those, because I believe Monsieur Garth and I have other matters to discuss. For I have decided that him and I could bear each other for a bit more, though I don't know what he will think about that!' he chuckled.

Arabella tried his best not to erupt back with a response over his father's spontaneity, but, having hard time handling it on her own, decided to let it loose. 'Please don't come around with the assumption that I am a foreigner with mainlander blood, Bashir,' said Arabella. 'I very much represent the Tricolour as well as you do, and have always done so even when living in Cenial.'

'Children,' said Pierre in a scolding manner, 'Please be patient with each other for once, and understand that Maison M, where we stand, is not really a place to discuss about personal disgruntlements over citizenships or how Quebecois they can get. We work internationally, for what it's worth,' he then slowly grabbed a cup of espresso, before continuing. 'So when is your next major winter ball to be, daughter? Won't it be a grand plaisir for me, just as much as it is for you and I presume this young gentleman?'

'Well the major ones we've seen it through already. We've already went through Bal de Ballons and the Stelburg Opera Ball last May, and the royal court ball at Metropolis is almost impossible to get invitation these days,' sighed Arabella when being reminded about the ball season, something that continues strongly in various corners of the Multiverse, Quebec being one of the few pockets, 'I do know that Ballo Cavaliere in Astello expects the certain Quebecois presence, especially regarding sportspeople, though it seems like they will only take a few. Not sure if I would qualify.'

'Aye, and for what it's worth getting into Ballo Cavaliere, don't we have a few good friends of ours back there?' her father asked, amused with his daughter missing her rough placement (pla-ceu-man) in terms of social standings, 'You have met Canvelli and St-Amant before, a great-nephew of Sir. Joel, and a certain Lundrigan can write you a reference if necessary.'

'Yes, but you are missing the point about where we are going with plans for the year, rebutted Arabella. 'Stop thinking about it just for me, father. You have to think about how to link the Maison, from Zina to JC, through these balles. What balls do you have to say about that?'

Then, Arabella McCarthy, you will have the advantage of our dear neighbour, and should have no trouble coming to Astello on a December, just for a quaint, post-exam vacation season.'

'I know where we stand, but impossible, father, impossible. We are not of military ties, not in last three generations, and do not have family there. What is there for an agent to assume that he will be so openly accepted into the Cavaliere there?'

'I honour your pessimism on the merits of Ballo Cavaliere being a winter ball with stately domain in the country, as well as the fact that some parts of the world have trickier grounds to meet in terms of what they constitute for meaningful employment. But one thing that I have taught you well, and I still think I do, is that the times are always changing. You may think that these occasions are for snobs, and yet you have already been attending these occasions with all my blessings and investments! Do not be afraid to come right out and say who we are and what we're about, because that's why we continue to be invited to these occasions.'

Arabella did her best to swallow some words, before calming down to speak. 'Okay, so you think that a half-dozen of us will have no trouble meeting with the finest of the finest, and may be able to begin dispersing into our own worlds.'

'Not sure on the latter part, but let's not leave out said possibility,' Pierre answered. 'This is part of the dealings, and part of what the agents have to do. I keep you away from all this for the practical and personal reasons of being your father, but you don't complain to me about that either, dear daughter.'

'Sir, so what you are saying is that we will be seeing Mr. Bates-Nugent today and I guess in mid-December?' asked Bashir, as he took down notes. 'Right before the storm of the winter transfer market.'

'Let's say that we do. As I have already paid the man an actual visit, and expect to do so at any point today when he calls with an idea, the matter becomes more of an inevitability than a what if. And we work in a place where what if's are the ones that work as our lifeblood,' said Pierre, before noticing the tension between Bashir and Arabella again.

'Now, now, please be patient with me as I'll try to procure plenty. Billets aren't that hard to get when with me, but we have to remember that it takes all and every form of effort to keep the boys and girls in rein in middle of a festival ground,' said Pierre, fatigued with all the confidence he held and not the anticipation he should have had, but was unable to bring it forward. 'For today, some reconnaissance with friends is also on agenda as well, so to a festival I will head off. Feel free to join si vous voulez, but otherwise sit back and watch!'

[Savigliane]

LA GAZETTE DE VILLENEUVE
PRIMER: SAVIGLIANE IN CHAOS WITH ELECTIONS APPROACHING
Jason PRIMEVERE, POLITICS

VILLENEUVE -- What's happened over the past two months in Il Granaio has felt nothing short of a generational political shift. Bianca Fiore's Piano di Dios party, on the revelation that the Interdimensional Travel Task Force is much closer to being completed than was originally expected, has surged in the polls, sending the governing left-wing coalition into chaos as all parties scramble to define themselves on a new set of political issues. With the position of Populistas and ASD already vulnerable after the Francophone region of Ligurie's attempts to split from Savigliane, the election is anyone's game - and it's likely a coalition of unlikely partners will have to emerge. In this election primer, we break down the main actors on the electoral stage heading into the most important election in Savigliano history.

Up until a few weeks ago, despite the chaos, it was looking like Populistas would manage to hold onto their coalition despite everything going on. With the centrist, authoritarian wing led by Miranda Russo somewhat mollified by recent concessions, Alberto Caccini, Savigliano Prime Minister and one of the more left-wing Populistas leaders in recent memory had managed to maintain a salvageable position despite slipping in the polls. However, the Fiore leaks have left the party reeling. Caccini has so far held onto the position that Savigliane must attempt to return to their original reality, or at least open a gateway to allow for the transportation of refugees, but with his numbers falling fast and a majority already out of the question, he may have to yield in order to win the continuation of more traditional pro-union, redistributionist policies. Meanwhile, Alliance des Sociaux-Démocrates, Populistas' steadfast coalition partners even when some of their own members pushed to separate after the Ligurie fallout, have hinted that they may be more flexible on the matter. While Violette Bartois's personal politics are very similar to those of Caccini, she is more willing to compromise on the issue of returning to Savigliane's original reality, reportedly believing the ITTF to be much further away from making progress than what Fiore has indicated. The two parties combined for seventy-one seats of a total 150 last election, but are projected to slip into the low fifties in recent polls, a troubling reversal. With much of their platform - such as a universal basic income, a focus on new Anaian trade deals, and universal voting - still yet to pass, this could have major consequences for the Savigliano left.

The traditional party of the "fiscally conservative, socially liberal" Savigliano right, Ligue-Est, has been pushed dramatically to the center under Alphonse Duhamel in response to Piano di Dios' surge amongst the "alternative" right. Despite dominating pre-Portal Event politics, their response to the Savigliano Portal Event and the ensuing immigration, unemployment, and public health crises that was viewed as overly focused on the economy, and the Bonmaison Scandal - where government funds were illicitly used to subsidize the construction of a new football stadium - was the nail in the coffin for their collapse last election. Their shift to the center and appeals to reason have them projected to make slight gains, and Duhamel is controversially open to coalition talks with Fiore despite their support of ITTF, meaning that they could be returning to power sooner than expected. Meanwhile, Une Nation have continued to be Radically Centrist under party leader Emmanuel Saint Laurent. As usual, their failure to commit to a single position on the Interdimensional Travel Task Force has them hemorrhaging votes, but their lack of platform beyond Vibes gives them a relatively comfortable negotiating position.

Of course, the main story of the election has been Piano di Dios, formerly far-right but reformed into a party focusing on the Interdimensional Travel Task Force under former I Cigni captain Bianca Fiore. They're projected to win forty-one seats in current polls, which would represent a comfortable plurality, but Fiore's uncompromising approach to the ITTF may drive away potential coalition partners, or force Evangelista Rizzuto (believed to still maintain significant influence in the party despite stepping down as leader) to balance their former hardline right-wing policies with their desire to stop interdimensional travel in Savigliane at all costs. If it's the latter, they may be more interested in talks with Fronte!, the recently-renamed Worker's Liberation Front, the first party to join Piano di Dios' call to immediately suspend all ITTF activity. The strong stance, reportedly motivated by the greater proliferation of left-wing politics and socialism in Anaia, has made them a favorite of the anti-ITTF left, and they're projected to win a record twenty-two seats as a result. Whether Fiore chooses them or the right-wing Ligue-Est is up to question.

We believe a Piano-Fronte or Piano-Ligue Est coalition to be most likely, potentially bringing on smaller parties or independents to reach a majority. With a few months to go until the election, and Piano's recent success predicated on Saviglianos' uncertainty around interdimensional travel as well as Fiore's initial popularity, the future of Savigliane is still up in the air. No matter what ends up happening, with interdimensional travel allegedly on Savigliane's horizon and hundreds of thousands of Saviglianos still stranded abroad, everything hinges on the result.

[Astograth]

Previously

A flight was beyond the budget of a work-starved freelance journalist. So, the next day, it was on a train that Urti Kirna made his way to Uertza. It was not direct, of course. From his home in Urbizania, south of Rumiatzi, the tracks followed the course of the Leizaran river on its long journey southeast. He spent most of the morning looking out the window while listening to Daineri Starting Goalkeeper, Astograth’s biggest football podcast (new episodes out daily for subscribers, just Đ4.99 a month) – not because he was a fan, but because he needed to keep up with the zeitgeist. He was still an occasional writer for the DSG website (free access included in the Đ5.99 monthly package), and if it ever looked like he wouldn’t make rent he could pick out one joke from the episode and pitch a few clickbait articles that beat the horse deader than dead. Those always got good engagement.

The rolling green mounds of Urbizania province passed by to his left, the forests that lined the Leizaran to his right; this was some of the most verdant country in Astograth. The stops were many: Akarregi, Ezkutia, Gobea, Hiruzta, Aizpiyeta, Argorri, each warmer than the next as the sun crested the hills and bloomed. Mid-morning the train reached Arbetsana, the city made holy by the meeting of the rivers Leizaran and Araxes into the wide Anzar. The tracks crossed the Araxes over a tall railway bridge and continued southeast, to their final destination: Basabe.

Urti Kirna was not going to Basabe. He needed to take the train to Irtzu – the butt of many a joke for being the arse-end of nowhere – and get off at Uertza, which was only about two-thirds of the way to nowhere. He had a couple of hours to kill in Basabe before the train to Uertza, which Kirna did not relish, but he did recognise there were leads he could follow there. Itziar Lévêque, the man he was researching with journalistic intent, had spent several years of his life playing for Basabe Old Boys in the Second Division. Someone in this city of more than a million and a half people was bound to know something. Could he find them in the span of two hours? Doubtful. But he had nothing better to do.

Part of the problem, as far as Kirna was concerned, was Basabe’s colloquial reputation as a shithole. Well-earned in Kirna’s opinion, from the few times he’d been there. To him it seemed an abscess of industrial pollution, silted up docks, and the marbled residences of the once-important crumbling onto the street. It had been a rich city, the capital of an independent state that controlled all of vast Lake Anzar and its rich shores. It was the gate to Kernansquillec, the master of Arbetsana, the great power in the south whose trade ships roamed up and down the Leizaran and the Araxes.

It had been a slow decline over centuries. Freight rail had made the river fleet – always cumbersome – increasingly irrelevant. Imports from the northern coast became ever more accessible to the states of central Astograth. Basabe became a crossroads to nowhere. Then it wasn’t independent anymore, not for almost 90 years now. It remained an important centre of industry, for its location, relatively cheap labour, and pre-existing infrastructure, but the might and the sheen were long gone. It uprooted the forests and ran them through lumber mills, paper mills, and furniture factories. Processing plants worked the oil extracted out of Lake Anzar. The railway station and its bleak surroundings always smelled to Kirna like petrol and hot plastic; Basabe in fact led the nation in production of plastics. And bootleg products.

Kirna found himself sitting down at an eatery a few blocks away from the station. Working-class, it looked; a whiteboard advertised the day’s lunch menu for just 4 diru. The food, really, was unimportant. What caught his eye were the walls were lined with Basabe Old Boys memorabilia: red pennants, signed shirts, pictures of players and people whom he assumed were the owners. Photos of trophy-winning or otherwise important squads posing before kickoff. Inside, Kirna was quick to spot the least faded of these, and chose the table just underneath. A silver star at read Runners-Up Second Division 688. Squatting down, second from left: his man. Itziar Lévêque. The right-back from Uertza who had somehow deceived everyone, for at least some 15 years, that he and his family were Astograthian and descended from Kernansquillecans, rather than illegal first-generation immigrants from Kernansquillec. Or were they? The puzzle didn’t fit. Or perhaps it did, and Urti Kirna was just overthinking things again.

An elderly woman whom Kirna hadn’t spotted walked out from behind the bar and over to take his order. The same woman smiling at him from the walls, at different ages. A keychain with the Old Boys badge jangled at her waist. Maybe, just maybe, she knew something.

[Graintfjall]

Græntfjall – 2 (1)
Björnólfur; Michelle, Grímúlfur, Hjörleifur, Emeli (45+2’); Álfar; Lana (60’ Ari ), Johanna, Sara (61’ Justiina ); Lara, Röskvi (86’ Jason (90’))

Bollonich – 1 (0)
Perry (61’)

---

Delaclava – 1 (0)
Ingram (63’)

Græntfjall – 1 (1)
Björnólfur (86’); Michelle, Grímúlfur (62’) (73’ o.g.), Hjörleifur (17’) (63’), Emeli; Álfar (76’); Johanna (14’), Amanda (55’ Tinni ), Sara (75’ Lana (78’)); Lara (67’) (71’ Justiina (83’)), Jason (63’)

90 word match report: Lara Auðunsdóttir assisted a fine Emeli Vilbertsdóttir strike, then a late Jason Þórhallursson winner against Bollonich in a tense encounter. Græntfjall’s usual reliance on set-pieces failed for once, with multiple opportunities wasted. A trip to Delaclava proved one-all draws don’t have to be boring. Quebecois referee Ian-Francois Burke-Bechmanis did well to control a game that nearly spiralled into an all-out brawl when Hjörleifur Reynarsson’s reckless challenge on Varlam Kovalev left the midfielder clutching his knee (and Dathan Ingram his head, after his subsequent penalty was denied by a fine save).

---

“I just think there’s a fundamental inconsistency in our position.”

Jessika knew that Bjarnharður loathed having her here. The career civil servant clearly thought the Princess was nothing more than a celebrity, sent to soak up press attention while the adults got the solid work done in the back room, and regarded her ‘leadership’ of the delegation as purely fictive. She did not, and thus rather delighted in forcing him to go over the previous day’s negotiations with her.

“Yes, well, in my thirty five years’ experience of negotiations, sometimes I’ve found it necessary to…”

She rolled her eyes. “Very impressive. But as I was saying, there’s an inconsistency here.” She tapped her finger to the drafting notes, where the discussion of the DFLK disarmament lay.

Bjarnharður had spent Day 6 locked in angry private counsel with the Eurans, Nepharans, and Kitarans. Græntfjall’s position, he insisted, was that under no circumstances would they permit the DFLK to be forced to disarm and surrender their weapons to what they regarded as an opposition force that had only months earlier been fighting to destroy them. Euran attempts to portray themselves as guarantors of Nafuna’s fidelity fell on utterly deaf ears: Nafuna could not be trusted as far as Bjarnharður could spit. (And he couldn’t spit very far, because Hrafnkell had stolen all the breakfast juice.)

“We’re saying, we need absolute guarantees. On security, on peace-making, on elections,” Jessika waved her hand. “And then we’re turning around and saying, we don’t trust anything they say. That we simply don’t believe Nafuna will let fair elections proceed, or respect the results, or turn over power if she loses.”

Bjarnharður shook his head dismissively, but:

“Not to take the Euran side,” cut in Júlía Maria, who’d been listening with keen-eyed interest. “But I think Her Royal Highness has a point.”

God rested on Day 7, but the negotiators were not so slothful. They returned to the discussion of security issues. Those on the regime side might detect a faint lessening of the wall-like obstinacy that had marked Græntfjall’s contributions for the past two days. They were willing to concede a certain amount of ground, no longer insisting that the DFLK remain fully armed until after the independence referendum was concluded and being willing to entertain a demobilization.

Were, perhaps, things looking up?

[Eura]

WORLD CUP 90 QUALIFYING GROUP 6 - MATCHDAY 8
Taksylvania 3-4 Eura
Scorers: Atkinson 20, Coffey 37, Bowman 50, Almwood 63
Lineup: 1. V Simm, 5. T Green, 27, F Stephens, 25. A Coles, 6. M Rowland, 16. O Vincent (sub Rogers 72), 12. D Bowman (sub Almwood 55), 7. M Woakes, 20. T Coffey (sub Wheeler 60), 9. S Robson, 14. C Atkinson

WORLD CUP 90 QUALIFYING GROUP 6 - MATCHDAY 9
Eura 4-0 Geisenfried
Scorers: Sutton 40, Tomlinson 47, Robshaw 57, Woodman 82
Lineup: 13. E Palmer, 4. J Menard, 15. K Sherwood, 19. J Byrd, 18. S Erskine, 8. V Robshaw (sub Gates 83), 22. A Woodman, 28. C Rogers (sub West 71), 11. B Malone, 10. T Sutton, 17. I Tomlinson (sub Purcell 75)

---

With the Euran delegation working over the details of a proposed treaty text with various others from all parties, all seemed to be going swimmingly in the halls of the Vaiomala Beach Resort. With much of a potential agreement agreed to by most of the main parties, a deal now seemed within grasp. There was much at play, with the Nepharan-run elections being drawn up as likely the second most contentious point, after security, and the Euran-led reconstruction fund having its central principles drafted by a team from the Euran government, inviting input from all parties at the talks. The proposal of a joint peacekeeping operation had gone down well and had found a name – the International Peacekeeping Forces of Nyowani Kitara (IPFNK). While details remained to be ironed out, such as force limits and the terms each faction would demobilise under, the basic principles of an agreement were in place. The Eurans, hoping to progress as quickly as possible, had even drawn up a map of peacekeeping “zones”, which was comprehensive if simple:



Once they had shared it with the other delegations, the Eurans waited for input; they already understood Tikariot would offer its Navy to contribute to the coastal peacekeeping operation, for which the Eurans were grateful having had at least one carrier group on station for years non-stop. However, away from the ongoing negotiations, Foreign Secretary Rutherford had other concerns.
‘The headlines are good, Carl. Really rather good.’
‘Great,’ he responded to Prime Minister Smith, ‘so what could possibly be the problem?’
‘They’re good for you. They need to be good for us. For me!’
Rutherford looked at the PM quizzically. ‘What?’
‘It’s in your daily briefing.’ Every day, Rutherford’s personal office back in Bastion would supply him with a daily briefing pack detailing the latest goings-on at home while he was at the talks. That included polling, which today had been specifically pushed to the front of the pack on the orders of the PM’s office.

APPROVAL RATINGS – BEST KNOWN GOVERNMENT FIGURES:
Ian Smith (PM) – 25% approve, 54% disapprove (-29)
Carl Rutherford (Foreign Affairs) – 37% approve, 42% disapprove (-5)
Sterling Thorpe – 26% approve, 35% disapprove (-9) (Defence)

Rutherford tried to hide a slight smile. It did please him to be up to a -5 approval rating – very good for a Foreign Secretary of an unpopular government on the ropes. But he was not the Prime Minister, had no desire to be, and Smith’s dire -29 was therefore no cause for celebration. Neither were the party polling figures:

GENERAL ELECTION VOTING INTENTION:
Social – 42%
Liberal – 30%
Capital – 12%
Unionist – 6%
Civil Federalist – 5%

‘Fuck. They’re up twelve now?’
‘Indeed, although they were worse before the press started salivating over how good a job you’re doing over there. I am grateful for that, by the way.’ Smith couldn’t hide that little bit of spite in his voice. Rutherford ignored it. It was better for both of them that way.
‘These aren’t unrecoverable numbers, when you think about what we’ve been through. We were down to 20% after the referenda. If we can narrow the field-’
‘We’ll only cling on with confidence-and-supply or a coalition, at best.’ Smith wasn’t just spiteful. He sounded beaten. ‘Bloody hell, we haven’t even finally canned the Provisional Government yet! We’re only a few months away from that inevitable disaster for our popularity, and then its straight into an election.’
‘Just let me get this deal over the line,’ Rutherford asked with a soothing voice, ‘and then we’ll bombard the airwaves about how The Smith Fund makes you the lord and fucking saviour. That’ll do more than a bit of good. Look, I need to go. Have you got the OSI report on contingencies yet?’
‘Not yet. I’ll make sure they get it to us now.’

---

Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary,

As you have requested in our most recent meeting, the Nyowani Kitara Joint Committee (NKJC) have produced a series of contingency plans for various scenarios that could develop at this stage of the Nyowani Kitara conflict. These are attached, but I have provided summaries and my high-level thoughts on the current situation below.

It is safe to say that the respective Euran and Nepharan military operations in the country (Operations ROADTRAIN and CROWBAR respectively) have been a success. The KPWC’s forces are effectively victorious – certainly, they cannot now be beaten by the other factions without a very large foreign intervention – but have not been so decisively victorious that they have been able to avoid political concessions to us, their democratic backers. Corvistone have done an excellent job of making the President dependent, and as the Foreign Secretary has observed in person, making her genuinely more open to liberal democratic ideals, even if they remain difficult to stomach overall.

Negotiations in Tikariot have also proceeding in a positive direction. The Foreign Secretary will of course be more up to date than any of us, but the deal that is currently shaping up protects all of Eura’s vital national interests in the region, those of our allies, and leaves us with a way to conclude the conflict and withdraw cleanly. By that we mean withdrawing our forces involved in combat. Our request to the President and the KPWC leadership for a permanent Euran naval and aerial staging point in the country is pending, but we are confident it will be accepted, given the security assurances it will provide to the current government.

At this point, it is agreed that we have moved past the difficult horse-trading part of negotiations. There will be no more major concessions or renegotiations on our part or that of Nephara, according to the backroom discussions we’ve had with Corvistone. We are now into the formalisation stage; if any other state wishes to throw a wrench in the works, then they are welcome to try, but our response should be to double down and remind them that, without Nepharan and Euran counsel, the President would be pressing home her advantage and ending this war with a total victory.

We have gone into the main risks below, but in addition, the Foreign Secretary’s most recent report back about conversations with officials from Graintfjall are deeply concerning. Although we were aware of the country’s designs on what is currently DFLK territory (or at least the designs of some of its political class), we were not quite as clear on the disdain with which they appear to view the emerging settlement. It is possible that they will either try to block a deal (outright or by picking it apart) or walk out, in which case we will have to force through a peace without them. Another possibility in the long-term is of aggression against a post-treaty Kitaran state.

This would of course be completely unacceptable to your administration, and I imagine any Euran administration for that matter. Therefore, we now consider the possibility of aggression against a post-treaty Nyowani Kitara as a realistic prospect, and have developed a contingency plan accordingly. However, we advise against informing the President or wider KPWC bureaucracy of this intelligence at this time, as it might sabotage peace talks.

As noted above, these are only summaries of the attached documents:

SCENARIO A – PARTIAL FAILURE OF NEGOTIATIONS
In this scenario, one or more of the parties involved at the talks withdraws completely. The full document discusses the likelihood and impact of each given nation doing this, but our plan for almost all of them is the same; proceed as planned and ensure a deal is signed and signed soon. Use the withdrawal of any other party as an opportunity to strengthen our hand and that of our allies, cutting their interests out entirely. Scenario C covers the eventuality of the KPWC/President Akongo themselves backing out. In the unlikely event of Nephara withdrawing from negotiations, our assessment is that this could only happen if all hopes of a reasonable deal were dashed, in which case we would follow suit.

SCENARIO B – TOTAL FAILURE OF NEGOTIATIONS
A total failure of negotiations at Varakoula seems improbable at this point. However, it is not unfathomable if either side feels they have conceded too much, or if there is an unexpected change in the dynamic. If this were to happen it would be important that Nephara and ourselves move quickly to seize control of the situation. The war would likely resume more or less immediately. We would likely resort to our existing military assumptions and planning, seeking to defeat the KFF decisively before turning north to do the same with the DFLK. This option is viable and in fact quite low-risk militarily, but politically would be very difficult as the KRF would be unlikely to use restraint leading to atrocities, making our support very politically risky for your government.

SCENARIO C – KPWC BACKSLIDING AND/OR INSTABILITY
Relating closely to Scenario B, there is a possibility of the KPWC and/or the President seeking to back out of peace terms once they have been agreed. We have immense leverage over them but not so much so that there’s no chance this will be attempted. After all, KPWC forces number in the hundreds of thousands, and therefore it is not unthinkable that they could simply take action while the tens of thousands of Nepharans and Eurans watch on. Therefore, our pressure would need to be preventative rather than corrective, stopping this from happening rather than trying to fix it after it does.

The other risk is some kind of coup against President Akongo. It is quite clear to us that the Central Military Commission has a lot of unhappy members who are furious at the concessions they will have to make as part of the transition to peace. If anything it would be a big surprise if none of them are plotting. The President has hinted strongly in conversations with us that she plans to take them on as soon as peace is secured. However, if they move against her, this scenario plan outlines the most likely candidates, and how Nepharan and Euran forces can quickly act to crush any breakaway and ensure the President remains in office.

SCENARIO D – FOREIGN INTERVENTION
Previous scenarios drafted earlier in the conflict, involving Banija, foresaw the need for large scale conventional military operations to prevent a Banijan intervention. We were able to achieve this with the air and sea blockade and Busukuma was humiliated in the process. Less predictable are Nyowani Kitara’s neighbours, who cannot be kept at arm’s length in the same way as a power as far away as Banija. We don’t believe Tikariot to have any threatening intentions, but there is a real risk that one of Graintfjall or Yue Zhou attempt to reset the rules of the game against a regime they openly despise.

The latter seems content to accept détente now that their old communist regime is beaten and are licking their lips at the thought of formal Euran and Nepharan recognition. The former has openly admitted to us potential designs on Nyowani Kitara and clearly cannot be trusted, but that may change depending on domestic political events. They could intervene by interfering or undermining the elections or northern independence referendum, putting pressure on Nyowani Kitara by sanctions or other peacetime means, or actual military aggression. We need to deter this firmly and early on. The peace terms will make it clear that any reneging on the treaty will have consequences, but beyond that, we should ensure that post-treaty, the only way the KPWC are being removed from power is by democratic means in free and fair elections.

As the political leadership of this country, it is up to you how much we commit to Nyowani Kitara. But I believe it is in the clear interest of this country, if it wishes to maintain its role as a great power and a nation that commands respect (and fear where needed), to make sure there is no regression against the progress that Nyowani Kitara is set to make. We should support Nyowani Kitara in resisting any sanctions or undermining of their new democracy, and give them the means to thrive despite any such pressure and regardless of who is in power, as long as they continue to progress and follow their own commitments. We should commit to repelling any military aggression or invasion from nearby neighbours – the KPWC will surely want some stay-behind Nepharan and Euran forces, but this scenario sets out how we could rapidly deploy again to the country in greater numbers if needed.

Paige Burns
Chair of the Office of State Intelligence

[Squornshelan Remnant States]

The Kids Really Aren't All Right
Episode 4: It is certainly not a Country for Ants

Nikoro Ola and Arvi Lehtinen had finally run out of automotive resources after Arvi's father had not only taken back the keys to his pickup truck, but confiscated Arvi's license "until he learned to get right." It was a definite blow to their hopes of attending further qualifying matches, but they hadn't been doing too well on that front even with access to cars. They'd seen the draw with Southwest Eastnorth in their hometown of Arkintoofle, of course, but a wrong turn and some particularly zealous security officers at the arena in Vogsphere had scuttled their goal of seeing every match quickly. A long trek through the snow after running out of gas had meant they'd never even made it to Zarss for matchday seven, and with both of them grounded with parents keeping a particularly close eye, they'd not even been able to watch the dominant win over Western Sol from the same room, let alone the stadium in Brasta. With both their terms of punishment ending in the few days prior to the big clash with Kandorith though, Nikoro had formed a plan.

"Look, all I'm saying is it would work, we'd get there just fine and we wouldn't have to worry about gas or traffic cops or anything."

"I dunno man, there's gotta be another way."

"Well I can't think of anything else, and I don't get why you're so against it."

"I just don't wanna do it man, I don't wanna."

"But why not?"

"Because the train is for losers!" Arvi finally burst out. "Only losers take the train," He repeated more quietly, as if defending himself.

The Confederacy, particularly the most developed states of Megabrantis and Algolia, have a well developed and generously funded rail system. Arkintoofle, on the far eastern coast of Megabrantis, and Damogran where the match was to take place in far western Algolia were two of the most distant cities connected to that network, it was true, but the rate was still quite affordable compared to the cost of gas and parking and general hassle of driving. For the trips to Zarss and Vogsphere, road travel had made more sense, but Nikoro was feeling more and more confused by Arvi's insistent opposition to taking the train to Damogran.

"You really want to miss the biggest match of qualifying just because you think trains are lame? C'mon man, what's this really about?"

"I just don't like em, ok? What is it a crime to hate trains now?"

"You hate trains? That's kind of a big step up from just thinking they're for losers though, isn't it man?"

"What the hell do you care how I feel about trains anyway?"

"Well until a minute ago I didn't know you felt any kind of way about trains, but this is all getting really harsh man. Also I care because if you won't get on a train we're not gonna see the match."

"I just can't do it man," Arvi leaned forward over his knees. "I'm trapped in a metal tube with a bunch of other people and I just know we're going to crash and die. Cars are different, I'm in control, or someone I know is. I can't trust someone I can't see though."

Nikoro was silent for a moment, pensive, "I'll hold your hand if it helps you."

"Don't fucking make fun of me!"

"I wasn't making fun," Nikoro's eyes were large, earnest. "I meant it, whatever helps, I'm here for you man."

Matchday 8:
SRS 3–0 RWS

Scoring:
SRS: Ortan 35'; Arslan 52'; Shehu 80'

Lineup: Anthonsson; Chaika (Nyberg 42'), Galdra, Yarlut, Loefgren; Hedberg, Arslan (Marrish 80'); Bondarov, Zazagan, Popov; Ortan (Shehu 67')
SRS:

Matchday 9:
SRS 1–1 KAN

Scoring:
SRS: Naqvi 67'

Lineups:
SRS: Shimski; V. Harkhan, W. Harkhan, Buczvarov, Achthoven; Tabur (Zazagan 75'), Hashemi; Naqvi, Takala (Damnagoras 80’), Yonte, Petrov (Gerstlauer 87’)

Schedule and Results

FRND: SOL 3-4 SRS @ King Anthony Stadium (cap. 77,300), Branwen, SOL

MD1:  RWS 2-3 SRS @ Far out in the uncharted backwaters of the unfashionable end of the western spiral arm of the Galaxy
MD2:  KAN 2-0 SRS @ Empress Masumi Stadium (cap. 90,000), KND
MD3:  SRS 2-2 SWE @ Olympiastad (cap. 47,550), Arkintoofle, Megabrantis, SRS
MD4:  SDG 1-2 SRS @ Stadium Persekutuan (cap. 40,000), Kambang, SDG
MD5:  SRS 2-1 TSA @ Vogsphere Arena (cap. 90,000), Vogsphere, Vogsphere Urban District, SRS
MD6:  CHA 0-1 SRS @ Old Town Park (cap. 68,000), Billboard, CHA
MD7:  SRS 2-0 STR @ Estflanarena (cap. 31,200), Zarss, East Flania, SRS
MD8:  SRS 3-0 RWS @ Henkmar Field (cap. 29,850), Brasta, Sivolvia, SRS
MD9:  SRS 1-1 KAN @ Bridger Lane (cap. 72,406), Damogran, Algolia, SRS
MD10: SWE  v  SRS @ Pride of Virginia Stadium (cap. Yes, it probably has one, looks pretty big), Virginia, SWE
MD11: SRS  v  SDG @ The Lutenstaad (cap. 75,000), Lutenblag, Molvania, SRS
MD12: TSA  v  SRS @ TBA, TSA
MD13: SRS  v  CHA @ Admiral Cherenkov Stadium (cap. 71,200), Santraginus, Santraginus Urban District, SRS
MD14: STR  v  SRS @ Pale Football Stadium (cap. 60,000), STR

[Vilita]

Time for another Cutoff

[Starblaydia]

Episode 5 - The First
S01 | E01 | E02 | E03 | E04

Against one of the greatest and most-decorated
countries in history, the team have their first
opportunity to lift the most coveted prize in sports.
A younger brother builds himself a legend.

A Starblaydi Flag 'Tifo' at Victory Park, Vecchio

Narrator: By the time the twenty-fifth World Cup came around, the most participated-in tournament in any sport was at once both eminently familiar, and constantly changing. A new, regional power had formed - Atlantian Oceania - and it was beginning to scoop up the World Cup trophy again and again. In the midst of this burgeoning dominance, however, the game witnessed it's strongest ever team become its most successful...

The Orange-Blues of Rejistania, so nicknamed, among other various unpronounceable names in their local language, because of the colours they wore so proudly, were once the highest ranked team in the history of the World Cup. They finished third in World Cup 16 and then won the next two tournaments, 17 and 18, and at that point they had the highest KPB ranking there had ever been. By the time World Cup 24 had rolled around, they were already the most successful team in history, having won a record four World Championships. Not only were they legendary for their success, but also the manner in which they played. It was the legendary tactic known as System Karela. Named after one of their club sides, Karela Lines, the style of of System Karela was often described as "the most boring tactic ever", but at its heart was an ultra-defensive mindset. They, essentially, thought that the 10-0-0 was the most inherently beautiful formation and that 0-0 was the ideal scoreline - save for the proviso you actually had to win at football, they would allow for the fact you could score a single goal. Indeed, the word for 'conceders', lehiju'ny, was considered a grave insult in many corners of Rejistania.

Not only did this System Karela capture the imagination of a multiverse full of football fans - whether to mock it mercilessly or desperately attempt to copy the formation - it took Rejistania to the absolute pinnacle of the game. They were the most famous and most successful team of their era, and their closest challenger had but two World titles to their name. Rejistania had four, from just five appearances in the final. World Cup 25 was their sixth, and against this relatively upstart Starblaydia side, who were ranked only tenth at the time, Rejistania were undoubtedly the firm favourites. The team in white and purple were, at best, the dark horses of the championship. Starblaydia had won four titles in what was now establishing itself as the strongest of all the regions, in terms of sporting prowess. The World Cup had been won by Crystilakere, Vilita and Sarzonia from AO in the previous six editions, broke up only by Bedistan - who would later join AO - Liventia and Rejistania themselves. Indeed, you had to go back to World Cup 16 to find a champion who didn't come from Atlantian Oceania, FIFA, or The Heartland.

Under their former striker, Nikola Lazerevski, Starblaydia hadn't entirely set the world on fire, even if they had done so in their own region. Fresh off the back of winning the AOCAF Cup for the fourth time in Fmjphoenix - a tournament notable for the rise of the country's first ever female international footballer, Cherry Garcia - the team had not quite lived up to the promises made in the preceding decade or so. Thirteen years earlier, the team had won the 14th Under-21 World Cup at the twelfth time of asking. Finally the SFA had what they craved: a golden generation. Proven winners on the international stage at youth level, surely this was the team that would go on to win the big one. The thing is, though, try as they might, they just couldn't get it done on the world stage. They finished top of their qualifying groups for four World Cups in a row, won their third and fourth regional titles, but somehow couldn't make it past the last eight in the biggest competition of all. They bounced around the top twenty, rising as high as sixth at one point, but the so-called golden generation had yet to win the ultimate prize, try as they might.

By the time World Cup 25's qualifying stage was over, Starblaydia could only finish second in their group, consigned to that spot by home-and-away defeats against Tadjikistan, and despite thrashing regional rivals Vilita 3-1 and 4-1 in the same set of games. Making it through to the World Cup on a down-note, they used all their regional experience to get out of the Group Stage - just - in Kaze Progressa, defeating Druida, drawing with Turori and losing to the state that would eventually be merged with Starblaydia, Cup of Harmony winners Nova Britannicus. They scraped out of that group in second spot, but then overcame two more regionmates in Casari and Bettia to make it to what was still considered a dream semi-final. They almost snuck past Squornshelous in the final four by two goals to one and, somehow, found themselves in the World Cup Final against the most successful and famous team in history. There'd be no greater challenge than this.

Narrator: In a packed stadium in Kaze Progressa's capital city, Kaza, it was Orange and Blue versus White and Purple. One team would get to call themselves kings of the world. For Rejistania, it would be the opportunity to stretch their title run to an unprecedented five championships, more than double any other nation. For Starblaydia, it was the chance to show the world they really belonged on the grandest stage of them all. Hatime I Ra~es had managed his team to the final at the first time of asking, while for the sixty-eight year old Nikola Lazerevski, it would be his last roll of the dice in his eighty-sixth and final game in solo charge of Starblaydia.

It's difficult to really underestimate how important a figure Lazerevski was to the first few generations of Starblaydi football. He was already 28 when he scored his country's first senior international goal against Vilita in World Cup 15's qualifiers, and though he'd had a long and solid career at club level, he was just past his prime when a team that could qualify for the actual World Cup came around. He'd captained his side in the Cup of Harmony and by the time he retired after that tournament, had a tally of fifteen goals in thirty games. Even to this day, fifteen goals is the benchmark to be considered a Starblaydi goalscorer worth mentioning. There's even a club for it, using the Vegan word for 'predator', the Rapaii 15. Lazerevski was exactly that, a pinpoint accurate striker who was absolutely lethal in the box, which is how he got his nickname "Laser". Laser is still one of the more popular brand of poker chips in the country today, after he founded the company that began producing them as a way of cashing in on his fame using one of his favourite pastimes. He was absolutely a gambler, as the World Cup 25 Final demonstrates.

Narrator: Familiar to millions of Starblaydi fans, SCB:Sports lead commentator Sven Motsonsson, along with his co-commentator Trefor Trefor of Druida, would be the ones to call an epic and memorable game for an enraptured audience.

'Welcome, everyone, to Kaza, the Capital City of Kaze Progressa, here in FIFA. I'm Sven Motsonsson, and beside me is Trefor Trefor, who will be analysing all the action from this incredibly-exciting Final to come. It's the Dark Horses Starblaydia, against the four-time Champions and giants of the game, Rejistania.'

Some of these players have been forgotten over the years, for not everyone can be a super-star, but Starblaydia's side had a great blend of youth and experience. Cherry Garcia on the right wing, 22. Raphaelo up front with the great Zhorin "ooh-ahh" Tumunzahar, 22. Menecrates, the supremely gifted football, perhaps on of the most natural talents in the history of the team, was just 24. On the other hand, you had the old warhorses from the under-21 winning side. Nunzio Gre, the captain of both this side and the Golden Generation itself, was 32 andin his last tournament. In front of him was the wily defensive midfielder Alejo Cuevo. The goalkeeper, Corominas, known to everyone for being and outlandish player, was on the bench, along with defender Alex Vidal and Itechton Matranga. The Golden Generation were still here, and they were all over thirty, but they all knew bar maybe Corominas that this was their absolute last chance to fulfill the destiny they'd laid out for themselves.

'Starblaydia have sung the national anthem, 'Starblaydia Triumphant', with much gusto, and now the players are into their huddle. Such good team spirit this side have, with a number of them coming from that excellent Under-Twenty-One World Cup-winning side of some thirteen years ago. Nunzio Gre, there, psyching up his players, just as he's done for these last six matches here in Kaze Progressa.'

Angelos Prokopsis in goal, plying his trade at Marine Coast United in the Vilitan Stellar division. Danzir Garahildim and Leopoldo Lopez the fullbacks. Captain Nunzio Gre of the Rejistanian 1st Division side Sikane Sekhika, alongside Raymundo Hernandez in the heart of the defence, shielded bu Alejo Cuevo of KI Lanthanate in Cockbill Street. Cherry Garcia and another golden generation member, Strike FC's Surachai Buathiang, were the wide midfielders with Menecrates the tip of the midfield diamond. Then, up front, another Marine Coast United representative in Zhorin Tumunzahar, who'd scored 10 goals in 20 games during the campaign, partnered with young Iskara Daii star Raphaelo. It was a good, bordering on great, set of players, but as a team this one had glimpses of being absolutely magic.

'And we're under way, the twenty-fifth World Cup Final has begun. Starblaydia, in their customary white-and-purple, are kicking from right to left. Their opponents, the four-time Champions Rejistania, are in their usual orange-and-blue for which the team are named. Can you pronounce that in Rejistanian, Trefor? <laughs> I didn't think so.'

The Junis-Omeh'ny, as they're called by Rejistanian speakers, had participated ever since World Cup 9, and their System Karela was in full effect. The tactic had been advised by Hexatux, which was basically a football AI programmed by a nerd named Siki Rej, and Hatime I Ra~e had been employing it to excellent effect throughout the previous games. This was only the third time the two sides had met, with Starblaydia on the wrong end of a very Karelan 1-0 defeat in the first International Recreation Cup, while Simeone Di Bradini himself had scored the winner on the second occasion, in a 2-1 win at the beginning of the second IRC tournament. The importance of this match, though, absolutely dwarfed anything that had come before. If Rejistania wins here, then System Karela really has conquered the world.

'Rejistania's customary Six-Three-One is certainly keeping Starblaydia at bay here, Trefor, its been nearly fifteen minutes and I can barely remember either Tumunzahar or Raphaelo having a touch of the ball. It's the same, however, for Linux Raju, as he's been expertly kept under control by Gre and Hernandez. But wait, here's Cherry Garcia, she's given Lati the slip, gets to the by-line for the cross, a low one inside to Tumunzahar, lays it back for Menecrateeees! Great save by Larada! The first real chance of the game, from Menecrates, and Visnu Kanavan has pulled off a great reaction save to deny the Corinthian Spirits' Captain.'

Right from the off, the Orange-Blues completely lock down the game. Their fans are loving it, of course, while most of the neutrals are on the side of the Starblaydi team, who are having to press their attack every way they know how. They try and pass through, there's always a free man in an orange shirt to intercept the ball. Try and run it and you find yourself funneled into a corridor, where there's a well timed tackle or some short stocky fellow to just ease you off the ball and claim it without you really noticing. If you long-balled it, there was always a Rejistanian head to clear it away from this maze-like pattern of defending. In some ways, dare to say it, only whisper it, it was quite beautiful to watch. In almost every other way, though, it's the less-exciting cousin of watching paint dry. As much as it was about not-conceding, though, Rejistania still had to attack if they wanted to win the match.

'Sink~hil Syku, creating good play in midfield. Outside to Exke, its down the line for Lati... a one-two with Raju and Lati's in the box... Goal! Rejistania have scored! Garahildim, the right-back, was undone by the Orange-Blue passing and Lati fired it across the face of goal. Angelos Prokopsis was counting on his near post and the ball flew in past his despairing hands and into the back of the net. Rejistania one, Starblaydia nil, and what's the betting it'll be ten behind the ball for the next hour?'

The cry of "Xkora!" (sounding a little like "Zhoora") went around the stadium from everyone in Orange and Blue. This was it, this was all they needed, System Karela was their Plan A and it was working. There was no Plan B spat out of Hexatux's logic circuits, because they didn't need one. They just defended, and defended, and defended, and once the goal went in, they protected what they held even more dearly from then on.

'Half-Time, then, here in Kaza and Starblaydia have been like a white tide, breaking against the Rejistanian nine- or ten-man cliff face for the last ten minutes, desperate to pull things level, but to no avail yet.'

One-nil to the Rejistanians at Half-Time. Starblaydia had tried and tried and were almost resorting to pot-shots from 40 yards, such was the indefatigability of the defending put up by Rejistania. As the teams came out for the second half, Starblaydia were one Dwarf down: the fullback Danzir Garahildim had been substituted, and Starblaydi fans cheered one of their heroes as Itechton Matranga came on in his place, with Starblaydia switching to a more obviously attack-minded 3-5-2.

'Just look at the white shirts flooding forward, and its only a few minutes into the second half. Matranga's appearance has completely changed the nature of this game, he and Menecrates are dominating everywhere from Starblaydia's goal line all the way up to the Rejistanian Penalty Area, which they are defending as if their lives depended on it! Matranga chips it in for Raphaelo, who heads it down at the feet of Zhorin Tumunzahar! Over the bar!'

Almost immediately, Matranga has an effect. Here was a man, a second generation footballer, named after the city in Pedriana where his father scored an absolute wonder-goal in the final of the AOCAF Cup, but to no avail because it was the Third edition and NEWI Cefn Druids ran out 4-3 winners on that occasion, who wore his heart on his sleeve whenever he played. Now here Itechton was, at the age of 31, coming on to change the game in a World Cup Final. Even in this 3-5-2, Hernandez and Leopoldo Lopez were playing as overlapping centre-backs, keeping wide and pushed up to allow all the attacking stars to really go forward. Matranga and Menecrates paired up with trickery and such sublime passing, pulling the strings that finally allowed Tumunzahar and Raphaelo to get some service and come into the game properly.

'Buathiang, with the free kick from twenty-five yards, on the right-hand side. Left-footed... cannons back of the post! Tumunzahar follows up... deflected wide! Look at this incredible attacking play by Starblaydia! If Rejistania weren't true masters of this Karela system, they'd be dead and buried by now!

'Yet another attacking change from Starblaydia, here, Nikola Lazerevski is throwing everything at the Rejistanians to win this match. 'Attack means defeat', they say in Rejistania, but without attack, how can there be victory? This time it's the winger Giovanni Lopez coming on, with defender Raymundo Hernandez sacrificed. So Starblaydia are after a sort-of 2-1-3-1-3, if formations even mean anything any more. Its an odd line-up, Trefor, but when you're one-nil down in a World Cup Final, that's the time to throw the kitchen sink at the opposition. How else does one deal with everyone-behind-the-ball than to throw nearly everyone at the opposition's goal?'

There seemed to always be a body in the way, always another defender popping up from nowhere and ready to put their body on the line to defend their goal. The Rejistanians knew they were riding their luck, knew they were under the assault of a lifetime. All they had to do was hold out just a little longer. But Starblaydia kept throwing themselves into it, throwing on more forward-minded players as the Orange-Blues offered almost nothing in attack, such was their dogged desire to protect the lead they had, a potential fifth World Championship-winning lead. Giovanni Lopez was on, Internashionale's flying right winger and younger brother of defender Leopoldo, who always seemed to be scampering around at top speed with those quick feet of his, he was the perfect man to try and find the gap, break up the play, or steal that shot away.

'Less than ten minutes to go and even the Rejistani fans are nervous, they're under siege here, Starblaydia have been hammering away at this door for nearly an hour, and so far Karela has held them off. Cuevo now, he's only being half-shadowed by Raju near that centre circle. Out wide to Garcia. Down the line to Giovanni Lopez but he's surrounded by Orange shirts- oh what a lovely piece of skill! He's come away with the ball, into the area, into traffic... laid back to Menecrateeeeeeees! It's there! Starblaydia have equalised and the stadium is going absolutely wild! Menecrates lays buried under a pile of white shirts, but it's because he, and Starblaydia, has scored in the World Cup Final, with something like eight minutes to go! That's what you get for never giving up! What an incredible turn of events, Trefor!'

Garcia's pass, at first glance, looks like the correct one. Or it would do, if you weren't facing the masters of System Karela. But what Giovanni Lopez proves is that it only takes one piece of individual brilliance to break that line, to take one or two or even three defenders out of the game. That little flick with the outside of the left foot before darting over the outstretched shins: it's a move boys and girls in playgrounds up and down the country were doing for years after that, but no-one could ever do it quite like Giovanni Lopez. Bursting into the penalty area, he drew yet more defenders, allowing Menecrates the time, and more importantly the space, to run in to and simply pick his spot to side-foot into the back of the net.

'Just look at this, Rejistania are running scared! They were holding out for the one-nil win, but now I think their doctrine dictates to go to penalties, something Starblaydia just won't like at all. Raphaelo goes for glory...! Saved well by Larada, held it beautifully there.'

One team have their tails up and are buzzing, the other is almost shaking in their boots. The momentum has completely shifted now, and the Orange-Blues either need to come out and play, or try and lock things down again to make it to penalties.

'Can Starblaydia snatch it here in the last moments of Normal Time? No, they can't, the whistle has gone and both teams seem to think they can win this. Starblaydia want to do it within half an hour, while the Rejistanians just need to hold out for those thirty minutes and they know they'll have the edge on penalty-kicks, as Starblaydia are usually awful at them, to be completely honest.'

So, 1-1 at Full Time, but Starblaydia were on the up. Just one more change was required, that of Surachai Buathiang,the thirty-one year-old, being replaced by some fresher legs, those of twenty-four year old Reynaldo of the Streetian club Laf'goh'lith K'druz'ba. And with that, the first period of Extra Time came and went with two cagey sides making sure they didn't lose the match in those first fifteen minutes. Had Starblaydia just gone serious, or Karelan? The answer was decided in the second period of Extra Time.

'One last fifteen-minute drive for both sets of players before the dreaded penalty kicks. Can anyone win honour and glory for their nation in this next Quarter-hour? Starblaydia's mass of traveling fans have sung the Starblaydi national anthem one last time, and they'll lose their voices and go hoarse before they stop singing.'

For nearly two hours the two teams had slugged it out, a game of cat and mouse, defence and attack, and it was still deadlocked as the final second period of Extra Time began. Penalties were looming, and Starblaydia did not have a good history at them, especially not compared to the clockwork efficiency of the Orange-Blues.

'Reynaldo, takes a lovely cross-field ball from Menecrates, he's been phoenomenal tonight. Tries to, no, Reynaldo loses it on the wing, and here come Rejistania! They're surging forward, with Kalamanaserexesesikehidimerevenu, lobs it up toward the area for Raju, but its met by the head of Gre! What an intervention! The Starblaydi Captain seems to be injured, however, from making that clearance. Oh dear, you can see from the replay that he's headed the ball away just as Linux Raju has taken a swing at it. That's a nasty cut on the Captain's head, and he's off the pitch for the moment, receiving treatment. That might well need sitches.'

'Back on comes Nunzio Gre, his head bandaged up and listen to the cheer from the Starblaydi fans, they love him here, even though he plays for a Rejistanian club, no less. Menecrates, on the right. Nicked inside to Matranga, back out to Menecrates. He's forced out wide by the defence, knocks it to Garcia. Cherry Garcia, takes a touch towards the line and sprints away! She's left Lati for dead once again! Whips in a cross that's MET BY THE HEAD OF GIOVANNI LOPEZ! STARBLAYDIA HAVE SCORED! Lopez with a brilliant diving header from seven yards out! He's taken Starblaydia into the lead for the first time in the whole match! Nearly two hours of football and Starblaydia are Two-One up! Just look at these incredible scenes, here! Look, there, in the crowd, Lord Tiberius Starblayde and Simeone Di Bradini jumping around like loons! As are we all! Starblaydia are only five minutes away from becoming World Champions!'

That piece of commentary, it can replay in your head over and over again and never get old. I still feel like celebrating to it now when I hear it. It was equal parts dejection and elation, though, as every Rejistanian player, fan and member of the coaching staff was absolutely floored by it. They just couldn't believe this lead had lasted for so long, looked to them so safe, but suddenly had been ripped away from them. Hopes for a fifth world title - it's a patently ridiculous number of World Cups to win, isn't it? - down the drain thanks to two separate incidents in one match. Two goals was all it too to undo the Karelan machine, and it's something I think we're all better of for having taken place.

'That's it! Starblaydia have won the World Cup! The staff and players are streaming onto the pitch and they've done it! Incredible, unbelievable! Forty years since Nikola Lazerevski started the World Cup road for World Cup 15, and he's now guided the team - as manager - to the ultimate prize! Starblaydia are Champions of the World!'

Final score from Kaza, Kaze Progressa:
_Rejistania_ 1-2 _Starblaydia_
_Lati 37_ - _Menecrates 82, G. Lopez 114_

Narrator: The World didn't really expect it. Despite the occasional predicition that Starblaydia would somehow manage to make the final, no-one outside Starblaydia really thought the perennial underachievers and so-called Dark Horses would have a chance. Even a certain Krytenian journalist, on his way to the deed poll office to change his name to Rameses, didn't think it would happen. But happen it did, and Starblaydia were Champions of the World. The Golden Generation of Starblaydi finally come to fruition, and a little piece of sporting history had been made. But Starblaydia wasn't going to stop there.

[Qasden]

---

There's a Bug on the Screen and I Can't Get it Off

---

By Tomathan Hammerland

Seriously, man, the hell is this thing? Where's the Vanorian hit squad when you need them.

Oh...my subconscious was typing again...alright, I'm gonna hand you this NDA to never talk about this incident, got it? Cool, ok.

So when I got the call to start making posts for the misadventures of Qasden's umpteenth qualifailure campaign, there was little in me to do anything besides leaking my co-worker's IP address for eating my sandwich. Of course, when you're tired from watching sentient creatures clad in colors shuffling over a ball hundreds of times over, you get into hobbies to make these business trips worthwhile. Originally, I wanted to start small, exponentially growing rebellions against our opponent's government an hour before I leave. That plan fell through when I realized that would be boring as hell, so I decided to collect packs of random trading card games from every place I visit. I can't disclose much about them, since that would "rip a hole in the space time continuum" or whatever, but they're neat. Even got a rare from a pack in Turori. Crazy to think how much ass those islanders whoop when they're not welded to that teal tortilla chip next to them.

Right, this is proper journalism for the 90th World Cup Qualifiers. What did the high-ups expect, honestly? Midway through me not giving a dam about doing reports, they decide to ship me out to Valanora to cover the Di Bradini Cup. Yet, when the qualis are still going on, they decide to keep me here in this glorified elven broodpit instead of taking me back to Qasden? Bull shrimp, I tell you, and not that one football player in Southwest Eastnorth. I can't even get travel accords in order to catch the Octofinal in Everlin! Piss off, QADAN execs, making me spend my multi-million dollars on frivolous things like water bottles. Speaking of things pissing me off, the Vans' quali run.

The expectations were high this time, which was dumb as hell from the start. With Sylvia Zimari gone, the association's breadwinner team found themselves managed by one of their own, former captain, Icarus Darsten. Brought with him was a return to the offensive strategy, specializing in dissing opposing players' mothers and wives. Or it just means being more aggressive on the field. Don't know, don't care. The plans started hopeful, as displayed by a semi-final appearance at the last AOCAF, but how well would this success translate over to the big show of the multiverse? Fluckin' not well, I'll tell you that. The Vans were drawn into Group 3 as the Pot 4 squad, already putting us below staunch groups like Turori, Geektopia, and those 7-obsessed Sonnelians in Drawkland. The first half of the qualifiers were nothing to write home about, even for a journalist. Qasden went 3-1-3, a balanced blow to moral upkeep when the two teams cockblocking the ticket to the World Cup have only lost 1 each. The defeats were expected, Turori, Drawkland, even fifth-seed Saint Eleanor. There was a high point, dominating the last match of the half 4-1 against Geektopia in front of a cool-colored crowd in Fyre, a nice treat for them before the real event of the series: the QasCup Charity Match.

The charity match had been going on for some time now, albeit significantless enough to not mention it once the past couple of years. Generally, the game's purpose is to enlighten youth about the world of faking injuries and yelling at VAR on twii.tur, but it's hard to raise money when previous results both showed poor performance against Baker Park, a nation that forced all playgrounds and green spaces to now be referred to as "less impressive botanical gardens". But even with the loud marketing, not even the honeylovers wanted in this time, so the association had to improvise. Fortunately, a foe came not from the impossible amount of Qads in our academies, but from Qads in a completely different sport. The IceVans' Pro League, a long-deceased hockey league, recently made a comeback in similar fashion to the League of Hoops, having 20 teams duke it out for a title eventually given to the 10th seed. Despite none of the selected players having touched a football (and were forced to wear hockey jerseys on the pitch), the FA swooped up a contract and out the internal marketing went. It was IPL vs Qasden, a rather one-sided match both on and off the pitch, given the IPL's Qad in the first place, but whatever. Held at the Stade de Solis a couple days after the halftime commenced, the Vans decided to welcome the kings of ice to the grass by going all out on them.

Don't call it unfair when they unwillingly signed up to participate in it. Even with the long sleeve jerseys and skates, the IceVans *did* manage to hold off a couple scoring drives, even if they absolutely couldn't make any themselves. I assume some of the forwards maybe didn't want their feet accidentally slashed trying to wrestle the ball away. Cowards, this is why we're 4th. Anyways, it was still oblivion for the hockey jockeys, as Team Qasden easily stormed past to claim the country's first Colorful Calico, the award given to the winner. Accordingly, all QAFA merchandise will now feature a rainbow star that is noticeably bigger than the ones won at the Cup of Harmony and Jenna Raven Cup. Get dunked on, winter.

With the halftime out of the way and the hopes and dreams of kids who like any sport that isn't football completely destroyed, it's time to start the qualis back up by getting smashed by the Eels up north. Originally, the plan was to get 'smashed' with them, but when you don't understand the local language, nor knowing what had alcohol in it thanks to the local text, it ended up just being an orange juice kind of gathering. Idk, but we beat Winnebogan afterwards, so that's gotta cancel out the L, right? The Vans are still in fourth, albeit, closer to 3rd than before. The top 2 are still sealed shut by One-Loss Turori and Drawkland, so even with Icarus as manager, the run's looking like a new coat of the same paint. Who knows, maybe we'll get invited back to the Cup of Harmony again. I'm sure those nerds in the Licentian Isles and MoUnTaIn GrEeN would take pity on us, just need a bit more oomph is all.

Next up, an away game at Saint Eleanor to right wrongs that can't be righted, as well as a trip to Elder to square off against the Karodin Tetrarchy. Can the Vans suplex their way to an umimpressive bronze finish? Will Darsten end up just as bland as Zimari before him? Could somebody please get me out of Valanora? Stay tuned, stay updated, and stay alert for warning signs and waning airlines right here, at whatever number of Qualifers we're on now.

---

[Southwest Eastnorth]

Paulette Collins once again could not get in touch with Nate Ellis. She had tried now 10 or so times to get the scoop on a new controversy in football. Ellis a Hapilopper player and coach was at the center of an e-mail scandal called the "Hapi-leaker" scandal. Paulette was gonna get that interview>

She did have options for writing though. She had also been spending time working on a piece about a more domestic related news story.

It was a piece on Jessica Roth, one of the more fascinating characters in Southwest Eastnorth football and by far its most symbolically important.

Roth like many people descended from Tonissian ex-pats who moved to Southwest Eastnorth after the news of the founding of SWEN. Her grandfather had established a construction company when he immigrated to [TBD]. The Roths established quite the presence in the construction industry in the two decades the family and patriarch Arnold Roth lived their best life in the foreign land, but when the news of a nation founded by a dispora of former Tonissians who had colonized barren coastal deserts in Rushmore, the Roth were eager to go settle in these lands! The family settled in New Baltimore a fishing town, where they eventually used their techniques learned in the foreign lands and quickly built an empire. Arnolds's son Kenneth or rather just "Ken" would be born and he would take his father company to new heights. Originally specializing in rapidly built homes and apartment buildings, Ken took the business in a complete different direction. While in the last 30 years, the housing division has been the bread and butter of the Roth's empire, Ken Got the company into large scale projects including roads, airports and other massive size building projects, not just in Southwest Eastnorth but also in Rushmore and other regions.

So how does this lead to a talk about Ken's daughter Jessica? Well let's start ten years ago. Jessica had shown a lot of promise at school having graduated from The Virginia University of Auberlein, a quite prestigious school, Jessica also dominate football in the collegiate ranks. So where would she go? Well home! she ended up quickly on the roster of Ripken River Athletic Association's semi-pro team. Yes Semi-Pro at the time there were mostly regional leagues in SWEN and only a mere 5 years ago did SWEN get its first true professional league.

So what makes Jessica so important?

Well here's a thing you have to know. Ripken River AA is in the SWEN professional ranks now. How? Simply, Ken Roth payed for this. Why? Why do you think? His daughter had a roster spot.

While never explicitly revealed to be the case, many people think this is true. A similar situation in Amarock happened with oil tycoons buying a franchise to give to a local Athletic Club, but they don't have any children on the team in Amarock. This of course lead to consternation amongst footballing fans as a divide amongst fans in SWEN. Obviously a franchise system has made it where some teams are priced out and there has been a lot of vocal sentiment against this. But that's not to say there haven't been ideas thrown around, like a semi-pro league that would qualify for the IFCF Liga B, but thats hit a bit of a stagnation as the debate over promotion / relegation which many Semi-pro teams want but the SWENFA is tedious about adding.

Oh and this could get messy for Ripken River as Jessica wants to play internationally toward the end of her career, so we'll see where that goes.

But as the Op-ed piece slowly came from Paulette Collins brain down toward her keyboard, she thought

"Hmmm maybe I should call Nate Ellis one more time....."

[Kimi-Suomi]

We knew the good times would end...but not this quickly, right?

This weekend would see a double-header in Pesä and you better believe the locals were ready to welcome this "Jalkapallon festivaali" into Kimi Kaupunki. There were many a shop in town welcome to our visitors this week and you better believe both Zeta Rekan and Hapiloppian was welcomed with welcome arms and a shot of our finest vodka (with some caution towards the Haps - TJUN-ia told us all about "Jungle Fever I"). This weekend would be all about showing the world what we're all about, especially with the government's recent push to have a Kimi-Suomen diplomat in every AO nation by the end of the year coming to pass.

Speaking of Zeta Reka and Hugeltaldom, they would be up first to face the crowd and despite this one ending in a 0-0 draw, it was certainly the most entertaining 0-0 you could come up with. Both sides certainly had their chances here, with both Valtteri Nordström and “Fen” Scwartzhammer certainly rueing some missed opportunities in this one. Both Dejan Wasić and Kauko Loukamaa would have their work in keeping the nets untouched, but they both certainly did a good job - especially to the delight of Heidi Itälä. The burgeoning relationship between GK and RB has certainly brought some warmth to our icy hearts and it was certainly nice to claim both love and point today - even though the relationship was already in process in Rhubarbton and was probably going on behind the scenes for who knows how long.

Then came Hapilopper and oh boy, it was interesting. The introduction of HM to the world was certainly fun, with Daniel Marx joking to his Hapiloppean watchers that he would "see you all soon - sans the dumplings, of course" and then Nate Ellis got booed out of the fucking building because apparently, giving Hannu Koivu a Rock Bottom isn't going to get you over with these marks. Despite the obvious home-crowd pressure, Ellis actually ended up scoring off a corner with the smuggest celebration known to mankind (flipping the bird, yellow card and all) while both of the other 2 Hap goals came from Peter Robson, a player the locals didn't actually mind. Another contentious moment came after Kimi Airo's late goal in the 88th, allowing the fans to unleash a tifo hoping for the "equality of both Hap and Wrecker" in the coming years before the game finally ended. Kimi-Suomi may have lost today, but Marx had his wish - all of Hapilopper knows who this random nordic nation is now, just in time for the duel on the tracks of NSSCRA to enter the fray.

Next up is another painful duo of matches: Tikariot on the road and Audioslavia in Pesä, the current top 2 in the group no less. Kimi-Suomi could act as kingmaker and that would certainly be a whole lot of power bestowed upon a small nation like ours. I guess we'll see if Esko Laaksonen can make the chaos happen as the road to the Cup of Harmony continues. NOSTA KUIN HUUHKAJAT!

[Alezian Union]

This has been a repeated broadcast from my comic thread which you can find the link to in my signature below!
You can read my other comics and get to know these four characters there!
Hope you enjoy your visit there!

[Garifunya]

Presidential Palace, Frederykvil, Garifunya

President Immanuel Prins had just picked up the phone to call his old advisor, François Celestin, but put it down. François had been part of his rise to power as mayor of Vrijport, then as Federal Council member for Platanakust, then revolutionary, then Caretaker of the Republic, and finally president. After Simone Lunenborg had been confirmed as Vice President and the anti-Latino attackers had been captured, François had retired, claiming both that he was very tired and that he represented the old ways and should withdraw now that problems had been solved and a Vice President found. That was about two years ago. They had spoken very little since, as Prins had been concerned with affairs of state and François mostly with his garden. Prins had picked up the phone like this several times before, only to put it down again. He couldn't shake the feeling that the real reason François had left was because Prins had asked him to become Vice President. The old man had made it clear that he would serve if asked, but that it would change their relationship, which had been, if not father-son, uncle-nephew, for many years. Prins had talked to François on occasion, mostly at state dinners or other celebrations, but nothing about politics. But this was different. He felt lost and alone. His presidency was floundering, his beloved Garifunya consumed by violence and animosity. This wasn't how it was supposed to be. He picked up the phone again.

After a brief pause, a voice crackled on the other end of the line. "Hello?"

"François, old friend, it's me."

"Mr. President. To what do I owe this honor?"

"François, I need your services once again."

"You know my garden is my passion now. I am too old for politics."

"François, I'm sorry. I haven't called enough, or even visited your home more than once. I know you feel I put personal issues ahead of my duties as President when I asked you to take the #2 job. You had always been my right-hand man, but I understand why you had to say no and why you left. But things have changed. You have seen the disorder our nation has descended into. I cannot allow my country to continue on like this. I need your help."

"Mr. President, I will always serve my country when asked. What do you need?"

"François, you're the best political mind this island has ever seen. I need you for one last job. Campaign manager for Immanuel Prins. Together, against all odds, we can cook up a winning strategy for re-election. What do you say?"

"Mr. President, I will put on my finest suit and be with you soon."

"I'll send a car for you. See you soon, François."

Not long after, François entered the presidential office. The two men embraced. Then François spoke.

"Mr. President, I will admit that my leaving was largely a result of the vice-presidential debate. I feared that your affection for me was clouding your judgment. Nevertheless, I am happy to be back."

"That's very good to hear, François. Have you been keeping up with everything?"

"Mr. President, I have. It seems to me that your presidency is stuck. The issue, much as it was when I left, is crime and violence. So far, attempting to stem this tide with the Jandaams has made only little impact. So is the question one of more funding and power to the Jandaams?"

"Absolutely not. It would cause even more public protests from the left and right and would raise uncomfortable comparisons to Gillaat."

"Correct. Perhaps you can win people over with a new government program? Say, by running on revitalizing the public infrastructure program or a big investment in education, or maybe even a tax cut or pushing for land confiscation?"

"That won't work either. Public infrastructure is stale and there aren't the votes for it. Education might be possible, but it's not fast-acting enough for people to see the benefits. A tax cut might be popular, but we need revenue and the right largely hates me anyway; it's not like one tax cut will make a difference. Land expropriation is popular with the left, but almost all of DR would revolt. If they ran a candidate against me, I'd certainly lose."

"Astute as always, Mr. President. So if a law and order crackdown isn't the answer, and a bold new government program isn't the answer, what else can you do?"

"That's where I'm stuck, François. It feels like nothing will change the situation."

"Mr. President, all around us is chaos. Militias and gangs, anti-immigrant violence, a slow but steady uptick in prices. People do not feel secure. You must project an atmosphere of security, of safety. You must become the indispensable competent man. Nobody but you can run this country. All others are ideologically blinded, their popularity is too narrow, or they lack proper administrative experience."

"Competence, François? With storms raging around us? How can I run on competence?"

"Domestic affairs do look bleak, Mr. President. But foreign prospects are not so dim. Foreign direct investment is the solution. With foreign capital, you can look like the leader Garifunya has never had and use it to solve domestic issues. A foreign backer would assure many that you are the man who can save Garifunya."

"You are talking about the United States, François? I don't think they're in a position to help or even really care about us."

"No, Mr. President. Not the United States. I am speaking of Banija."

"Banija? I thought their influence was mainly in sporting events. You want Banija to sponsor an Eerse Divisyon team or build stadiums or something?"

"No, Mr. President. Banija is an immensely influential black country, like us, if not a republic. They will surely seek to aid their brothers and sisters, especially when we show that we are willing to make them our main source of oil."

"Yes, Venezuela has been a less reliable partner as of late."

"Furthermore, they have lost face in foreign affairs. They backed the wrong side in the civil war in Nyowani Kitara and they appear to have relatively little influence on the negotiations. They will be looking for foreign policy wins. They also recently elected a new government; benevolence on their part and a boost to Banijan industry would help them get off to a strong start. Even if the government is reticent, their king, the Kabaka, and his son, the Isebantu, who is foreign minister, may have some desire to engage with us."

"Brilliant, François! This is exactly why I brought you back. But I don't think they even have an embassy with us."

"Mr. President, you are correct. This means we must use backchannels. The other benefit of this is we do not have to go through the Foreign Ministry."

"François, you cannot be serious. We cannot bypass a member of my government."

"Mr. President, Foreign Minister van der Mollen is a weak man. He understands the nuances of diplomacy and he is well-educated, but he does not understand how to negotiate. Yes, Garifunya does not have many advantages of other wealthy nations. He thinks this means we must bow to whatever foreign investors want. But Garifunya has cheap land, cheap labor, and a connection to new markets in our part of the multiverse for nations like Banija. If you let me and another do the negotiating, we can secure a better deal."

"Who did you have in mind?"

François smiled. "Dirk Voordenhout."

"The independent senator we considered for Vice President? He does have foreign connections and business experience. But is it best to send a white negotiator to a nation like Banija?"

"Mr. President, his experience is invaluable, and you have a good relationship with him. If he is able to secure this, then you have Vice President Lunenborg to your left, and Voordenhout to your right. A black woman and a white man. It reinforces the competent man image. You can heal the racial divisions, you can rise above political decisions, and make Garifunya respected internationally. If it makes you queasy to bypass van der Mollen, then you must go to him, demand his resignation, and appeal to the Senaat to make Voordenhout the new Foreign Minister. If he refuses, and he may, then you need Parliament's approval to fire him. It's complicated. I can make sure that none of this gets out."

Prins looked uneasy. "Well, if you're sure of secrecy..."

"Yes, Mr. President. Now shake my hand."

The two men shook hands.

"Congratulations. We just formed the Committee to re-elect Immanuel Prins."

[Kyzhurkistan]

As the school bell rang, Nezar supported his head. It felt as if someone held a jackhammer just above his brow and slammed the switch into ‘maximum destruction’. Through the thin strips of his light-filtering eyelids, he saw two rows of boys and girls line up in front of him, all overcome by an insatiable desire to make as much hellish noise as possible.
“Have you seen the game against Mercedini, mister?”
“Papa only let me watch the first half but we were really good!”
With a silent nod, he instructed that they could follow him along the class of the fifth grade. As he passed by the arts-and-decs class, he shortly contemplated how much tape he would need to enjoy a quiet few hours but as they stampeded into their room, he knew that he would need to bring out the big guns to survive this. If he had seen the game against the Golden Eagles? Well, had he. He struggled to put names to faces at this point, but the kid who claimed that the opening half was good, was close to the truth. Surfing on the wave of confidence after their astonishing away victory in Jeruselem, the Tigers took it on with a good mix of valiance and maturity. Dostalok and Chillitov struggled to feel the leather in the danger zone. Not in the least through the solid game from the midfield trio Omorov, Atabaev and Shamshiev, who determined the pace. And that’s where it all went downhill.
“Mister, I have a photo of my cat, do you want to see it?”
“Mister, I forgot to bring a blue pen?”
“Shut up!”
Nezar sighed, slightly shocked by the impact of his cry. Nineteen pairs of children's eyes looked at him in fear.
“I mean. Shut up, please, I’m…”
I’m still very hungover. But that is not the kind of thing you can confess to eleven-year olds. At the break, Nezar had made a loud claim that he betted a bottle on a victory of the Tigers. His buddy put as much on a draw and well… In a way, they both lost, so they felt obliged to live up to the bet. Then again, they also believed it was a good idea to salvage the bet right away.
“I’m… Thinking of a good starter exercise. We start with mathematics today.”
A few groans, but everyone picked a page of paper. Instinctively, Nezar looked in his own rucksack, usually filled with some emergency tests and tasks but now all it had was an empty bottle, a cell phone and for some reason a plant.
“Your exercise is… Calculate the chance that Kyzhurkistan will qualify for the World Cup.”
Because he really needed to know.
“But… Mister. We have not seen any statistics yet?”
“You’ll… You’ll work something out.”
Nezar turned around ostentatiously, hoping that they would go silent automatically. It worked, as is the advantage of teaching eleven-year olds. Deep down, he truly loved it but on days like this… He watched the film his buddy made whilst trying to scrub his teeth enough so the first row wouldn’t get intoxicated from the odor. It showed Nezar, waving two bottles around whilst standing on top of a table, betting every single person in the bar a bottle that Kyzhurkistan would qualify. And it was a crowded bar. This might be a good job, but it didn’t pay for cartloads of free booze. Maybe, and there he sniggered a little inside, he should ask as a follow-up question how drunk someone had to be to make such a stupid bet.

…

Another resounding bell. Still painful, but more like someone hitting him with a flat hand. Nezar had made noon. His mouth felt thirsty, but he tried first to make it through the set of papers in front of him.

Aybek.
20%
I think there are still five candidates of which Kyzhurkistan is one, so one in five is twenty.

A bit crude reasoning but he made a point. It was difficult to split between Darmen, Ochre Islands, Jeruselem, Mercedini and our Tigers, so he wasn’t too far off. That’s an A-.

Zarina.
0 per cent
They proberly cannot qwalify.

Not the sharpest tool in his shed but… Then again, probably sharper than betting a shit-ton of alcohol on the Kyzhurki ‘qwalification’.

Mavlyuda.
50%
There are two options: either we qualify or either we don’t. So it is fiftyfifty.

There… Were a lot of statistical reasons to refute her answer, but at least she gave it a bit of extra thought. Good enough for a B.

Nurgazy.
100%
Our glorious nation can do everithing, if they want it.

Nezar’s pen was already penning an ‘F’ until he remembered that Nurgazy’s dad was one of those ultranationalists in power. With a little creativity and an extra line, everyone could make an A from an F.

Lidiya.
25,9%
Considering the results before and various direct confrontations between other nations, there is only a minor chance that any other team takes nine out of nine. As such, the realistic maximum for them is seven. Then again, all other teams are better when it comes to scoring goals, so if we would end up on equal points with any other team, they would probably rank above us. As such, if other nations grab seven points, we will need six points or more to qualify.
Every match has three possible outcomes, losing, drawing or winning. There are as such twenty-seven permutations for the outcome of our games against Ochre Islands, Pluvia and Soldera. Of those, there are seven where we have at least two victories. As such, I have come to 7 on 27.

It brought a minor skip in his step, also because that was better than anything he could hope for. He should really check if Lidiya can’t skip sixth grade altogether.

[Sarzonia]

With the short World Cup qualifying campaign nearing its end, five of the eight teams in Group 18 have been mathematically eliminated from World Cup finals contention.

By some miracle, the Sarzonian national football team are not one of them.

Sarzonia earned a 3-1 victory away to Pyazhnaya before a disappointing 1-1 draw back against Eastfield Lodge at Dave Wilson Stadium in Woodstock. The results leave Sarzonia gasping for air on 16 points with three matches remaining. They trail the current team in runner-up position Mytanija in the Group 18 table by eight points. The only chance Sarzonia have to qualify for the proper is if they win three consecutive matches and Mytanija lose their final three. They Mytanars face The Holy Empire in the Dreamed Realm in their next matchup whilst the Stars play away to Eraman, who defeated the Stars 1-0 in Woodstock.

It's a predicament that likely means the Stars will fail to qualify for the proper once again in three tries since a one-cycle absence when the Stars withdrew in protest of the World Cup Committee's voting Taeshan and Ethane as World Cup 87 cohosts. Hanifer took over the Stars in the final match of World Cup 88 qualifying after Nicola Mentes was fired. He's failed to get Sarzonia back to the World Cup proper, but his team's away victories over both The Holy Empire and Mytanija should allow him the opportunity to continue as manager.

"We'll sit down with my bosses at the [Incorporated Football Federation] and evaluate things like we do after every competition," Hanifer said. "I'm sure we'll have conversations about did-wells and opportunities and set forth future plans at that time." Hanifer may have publicly taken a non-committal tone, but a source within the IFF says Hanifer is considering retirement.

"Nathan's feeling some frustration about the team's progress, or relative lack thereof," the source said. "He's feeling like the team might need a fresh voice at the top. He's been the manager for two World Cup qualifying campaigns and the team have yet to qualify for the proper under him." However, another source said Hanifer wasn't ready to walk away from the team just yet.

"The short qualifying campaign may help him decide he wants one more shot at it," they said. "He can point to the away wins over The Holy Empire and Mytanija as arguments for seeing this thing through."

If Hanifer decides to step down as manager, speculation on his replacement has centred on assistant manager and former Stars midfielder Brady Reynolds as his possible successor. Hanifer has not said he's grooming Reynolds for the job, saying he's mentored other national team managers, including Under 21 national team boss Colton Longley. However, both sources who've spoken about Hanifer's future plans have said he's taken an interest in helping Reynolds learn the ropes as a manager.

"He sees a lot of potential, a lot of leadership ability in Reynolds," said the source who expects Hanifer to retire. "He thinks Reynolds can not only manage, but be an outstanding manager for the Stars or any team that employs him." The other source said Reynolds "already has the respect of everyone in the dressing room, and not just because many of them are his mates.

"When Reynolds talks, whether it's on the pitch or in the dressing room, those players listen to him," the other source said.

[Soldera]

Soldera may not qualify for the World Cup in their first go, but they're certainly still in position to make things interesting.

The Snakes are six points behind first place Kyzhurkistan in Group 10 with three matches to play and remain four points behind four different teams for the runner up position and an appearance in a two-leg playoff that would send the winners onto the World Cup. The Solderan national football team fell in a road contest to Darmen 2-0 and knocked The Gothanita Isles down to a last place tie with a 2-1 win at home and in a position where they can no longer win the group.

The latter victory, in front of 76,934 at King Anthony Stadium in Branwen keeps the Snakes alive in the race for one of the potentially two spots in the World Cup proper, but the road to a potential shock berth in the World Cup is a perilous one. Manager Norm Carricker pointed out that Soldera's next match is a road game at Dazza Dallas Stadium against a Jeruselem team that beat the Snakes in Branwen. They follow that up with their home finale against Mercedini and their last qualifying match on the road against first place Kyzhurkistan. Clearly, if the Snakes are to pull off either the automatic bid to the proper or even a spot in the playoffs that could send them through, it would be nothing short of a miracle.

"We're sacrificing a lot of rubber chickens right now," said Joe Wamsley, 54, a bank teller in Keshana who attended the match against The Gothanita Isles. "It might be a pipe dream for us to qualify, but that doesn't mean the guys and women won't give it their all."

Carricker said the Snakes would still approach things as if they had a chance to qualify even if he expects the Snakes' chances to officially be doused with the trip to Dazza Dallas Stadium.

"We're still looking to remain competitive," he said. "Even if we've got nothing to play for, some players are looking to play for their jobs, or perhaps to increase their playing time in the future." Carricker pointed to the impending retirement of midfielder and team captain Joey Westway and the injury to defender Eli Bingham as reasons for some of the players to continue to push hard in spite of the team's qualification chances being slim at best.

"We're going to need to see who wants to assume a leadership role on this team and wear the armband," Carricker said. "We want to see who's going to step into the starting 11 in Bingham's spot or if we need to shift to a 3-5-2 with Bingham injured. We're looking to increase the player pool. We're looking to develop our footballing pyramid from the ground up. There's a lot to think about. There's a lot of work ahead for all these players. It doesn't end with this World Cup cycle."

[Jeruselem]

Naked News Jeruselem's Aidra Nene (Aidra N) with a girl with blue hair (Aidra C) in Pluvia and the Saxean Isles

Aidra N:
Hello, this is Aidra Nene for Naked News Jeruselem once again covering the World Cup 90 qualification campaign, and we're back on the road.
It's qualification day 11 just leaving 3 games left for all teams to get points.
In Group 10, it's just really tight. I mean look at the other groups, there's daylight between first and last. That's the other 19 groups.
But not Group 10, the top 6 are all in contention still.
I'm with someone vtubers will instantly recognise, it's Crazy Aidra. Known for her weird antics.
That's why I had to call myself Just Aidra.

Aidra C: HEY CRAZY CATS
Aidra N: I'm just going call her Crazy, because ... both of us are Aidra. Her real surname is Pennywort.
Aidra C: Yeah, I really got not idea how one gets that surname.
Aidra N: What you know about football
Aidra C: Not much, we're a family of actors. Being a vtuber isn't being much different to an actor really. You're an actress!
Aidra N: Technically, but adult movies actresses aren't very good at acting.

Aidra C: Actually you're not the worst I've seen but you still wouldn't get anywhere.
Aidra N: That's why I'm here! Pretending to know about football. Anyway, let's recap the last round for context.
Aidra C: How do you remember all these numbers
Aidra N: Err, I don't. Why do think I have a phone in my hand ...
Aidra C: Oh right, cool.
Aidra N: I'm not Princess Kate. Geez she's got a good memory. Last round Ochre Islands fell at home to Mercedini 1-0, The Gothanita Isles at home upset Pluvia and the Saxean Isles 2-1, Darmen beat Soldera 2-0 in a home win and ladder leader Kyzhurkistan beat the Princesses 1-0 at Dazza Dallas Stadium

Aidra C: Say wasn't that one game we had to win
Aidra N: Yeah, but they were too good for us on the day. I guess it was least worst loss we could have.
Aidra C: Least worst?
Aidra N: We only leaked one goal.
Aidra C: I guess that's least worse ... for a loss.
Aidra N: Moving on today, and we kinda need to win after the last loss. Given that the difference between the top 6 was rather minimal, it's time teams are going fall out of contention.

Aidra C: Hopefully not us ...
Aidra N: At home, Darmen had to face Ochre Islands who had beat Mercedini last round. What we know about Ochre Islands is ... they don't do draws. So they would win ... or lose. And today they collapsed to 3-1 loss to Darmen.
Aidra C: So is that result good or bad for us?
Aidra N: Err, we'd prefer those two had a draw really. Soldera at home won 2–1 against The Gothanita Isles which was I guess expected.
Aidra C: Weren't they the team who scored 7 goals in one game?
Aidra N: Yes, but they haven't done it after that. I guess it was their best ever game. Kyzhurkistan were at home but the visitors were Mercedini who had lost their last game. Surely after being Jeruselem in Jeruselem, Kyzhurkistan would be victorious! But no they lost 1-0 to Mercedini. Group is like that.

Aidra C: Probably a good thing I guess
Aidra N: I guess so, but we're here in Pluvia and the Saxean Isles where the 2nd last team well, had to win. They didn't roll over to Jeruselem but put up fight for the points but went 3-2. Jeruselem also need the points given the state of Group 10 being so open.
Aidra C: I was a bit tense out there
Aidra N: For the home I suspect a loss would be certain elimination really.
Aidra C: That sounds unpleasant.

Aidra N:
The table is still a bit of clusterfuck.
The Gothanita Isles are still last with 9 points, with their 8 losses.
Pluvia and the Saxean Isles are 2nd last on 9 points as well. We suspect these teams are already out.
Then there's Soldera in 6th on 14 points, with their main issue being their 5 losses.
Right, then ... we have 4 TEAMS ALL ON 18 points.
Mercedini find themselves back in 5th despite having a goal difference of +6. 5 wins, 3 draws and 3 losses.
Darmen have fought their way back into 4th with the same 5-3-3 record.
Jeruselem sit in 3rd also with 5-3-3 record. Their record looks almost identical to Darmen's.
Ochre Islands hang on to 2nd spot with 6 wins ... and 5 losses. Imagine if they had more draws instead of losses then they'd the group leader.
Kyzhurkistan are still the group leader despite the recent loss, on 20 points.
Moving forward, realisticly the top will come from the top 5.

Aidra C: So we can still qualify.
Aidra N: Or one of the other 4 teams ... next up is Soldera at home and then Darmen away. We really need to win both. And giving points to Darmen is a no no.
Aidra C: True dat
Aidra N: Now, you're going attempt to juggle three full size footballs ... with one hand.
Aidra C: Yeah, not here and now. I need to practice.
Aidra N: I can barely hold anything without dropping it.

Aidra C: The main problem with footballs is they are ... err ... heavy, and kinda behave funny when they spin.
Aidra N: That's intentional. Otherwise they don't curve when kicked.
Aidra C: Well it makes them hard to juggle even with two hands.
Aidra N: What about chainsaws?
Aidra C: Err, I'm not that crazy. Anyway, those things scare me.
Aidra N: I've leave chainsaws to people who know how to use them. Anything else you might be trying.

Aidra C: Princess Stella, challenged me to get into shark cage and face killer sharks
Aidra N: Kate's daughter, she ... likes sharks. They have a football team named as well.
Aidra C: Actually, sounds safer than juggling chainsaws.
Aidra N: I get too panicky underwater.
Aidra C: I love water, it's too dangerous going swimming in the sea these days.
Aidra N: That's it from us, see you all later back home.

Aidra C: Say, when we going live stream together?
Aidra N: We're doing one now
Aidra C: No no, a proper one.
Aidra N: Oh, I'm very busy at the moment ... you know why
Aidra C: Well organise something
Aidra N: I guess it depends if Jeruselem qualify or not ...

[Squidroidia]

The Inklings knew they messed up.

Sitting in the locker room of Inkopolis City Stadium, they had sharks circling over them with 3 games to go in qualification. The sting of a 0-0 draw to the lowly Finntopian Empire, at home no less, rubbed on the team. Losing to Savojarna, even with them having a once in a blue moon disaster of a qualifying run, was one thing. This, to put them only 1 point ahead of Kohnhead and 3 points off of missing the World Cup entirely with the Valetinians in 3rd place, felt like the roles had finally reversed. They weren't the underdogs anymore. They were among the best football had to offer. And this was just one major bump in the road.

The silence from the team lasted for well over 2 minutes, nobody daring to let out a whisper after the shambolic display they had against the newcomers. If it wasn't for Takemoto Shingen once again rising up to the challenge in net, it would have been a 1-0 loss, maybe even more, their lead in the group only holding up because of the Kohnhead victory. Finally, breaking the silence, manager Adam Johnson addressed this performance that 50,000 squids had to witness.

"Are you KIDDING ME!? FOUR GAMES REMAINING IN QUALIFICATION AND YOU DO THAT AGAINST THE FINNTOPIAN EMPIRE AT HOME!?"

The outburst from Johnson still led to silence from his team. It wasn't like the Moliza game where he straight up flipped a table at the entire team, but it was still a sign that the team messed up in a supposedly easy game, the Finntopians not even doing well in the Baptism of Fire. And yet they did that. 0-0. In Inkopolis.

"Look, now isn't the time to get complacent AT ALL. This is embarrassing from this team, and we have 3 games left in qualification. Legalese away, St Trinians at home, and Kohnhead at the Chicken King. If you fumble even TWO POINTS in those 3 games, we're packing our bags to Montana Verde and my best hope of maintaining this job is if we win the Cup of Harmony. You have to understand that the SFA has placed a high bar for us, they want to see us back in the knockouts for the World Cup in Vilita and Baker Park. A round of 16 at MINIMUM. There is leverage if we do win the group and get knocked out in the groups, but even then we're going to risk our lives at the IAC again, and look how THAT turned out. A straight up national embarrassment that basically shut down the entirety of Squidroidian football until the qualifiers began. You don't want a repeat of that, do you?"

Finally, after all this time of silence, a hand is raised up. Takemoto Shingen, the captain and number 1, had something to say. "You know boss, the Finntopians could have won this game..."

"Oh look, it's Takemoto with the words of wisdom from the Man of the Match, isn't that EXPECTED? You were the only thing, the ONLY THING that prevented us from losing today. This defense was awful, the midfield was mid, the offense was like if you combined a super idol with that fucking bing bong thing, oh wait, I mean TERRIBLE! And this is the damn FINNTOPIAN EMPIRE! Imagine if you did this against Kohnhead, the Squidroidian press will never let you hear the end of it. You guys and girls need to straighten up or off goes my head. Kapiche?"

The team nodded, too embarrassed to talk about the situation. But with time running out, they had to talk. They just had to not slip up.

[Banija]

Kadongo Kamu winning streak extends to five in a row as Banijans prepare for potential 'winner-take-all' match at the Kingsgarden in Brenecia


Banijans celebrate Samba Ogunsola's late match-winner against the Euran Oceania Territories on Matchday 11

JINJA CITY, HANGAZA REGION- "Everything is earned. Nothing is given." Said Pam Scott, after Banija's thrilling 3-2 road win over the Euran Oceania Territories that extended their winning streak to five games in a row, and increased their gap over Brenecia in the Group 17 standings from 1 point to 3. The Kadongo Kamu are playing their best football at the right time, as they seem to have gotten into quite the groove, while at the same time showcasing their mental toughness. Three points are three points, and the window was enough to officially guarantee that Banija would get, at minimum, a berth in the World Cup Qualification playoffs- and have the inside track to qualify for the World Cup Finals outright.

The Qualification Window

First, it started with a home game. After last window was just a pair of away games, Banija came home to take on Lathamford, at the Bunyoro Eagle's Club. The game in Lathamford was a dryer, more defensive affair, with Banija coming out as 1-0 victors away from home. The game was always going to be a more open one in Banija, however, and the Kadongo Kamu made sure that happened. From the word go, the Banijans wanted to take control of the match, and were blitzing forward, trying to get the opening goal. Immaculate Kaba, making her first start of the campaign, hit the crossbar in just the 6th minute of the match, showing that the Banijans truly meant business. For the opening 20 or so minutes of the match, we were dominant. Had 4 shots on target, the opponent had no shots at all, and we had a ridiuclous 75% possesion. And yet- we couldn't put the ball in the net in the early going.

Lathamford, however, found an opportunity to break on the counter. After a corner kick was caught by their goalkeeper, everybody started blitzing ahead, especially on the wings. The Banijans were really pressing to get a goal, and they were caught flat footed moving backwards. Lathamford flew up the sidelines, and the move involved three attackers. Our defenders were outnumbered, as an out of position Demba Kouyaté was simply left chasing the play. A Lathamford winger hit the ball first time at the 18, with a picture-esque finish on their first shot on goal of the whole game. The visiting fans lost it while the home team sat there, stunned. But fortunately, the Banijans were not simply going to bow to Lathamford. We were a superior team for the first half, and we were able to confirm it for the rest of the half. We scored three first half goals in response to Lathamford's opener. Orji Uzoma in the 27th, Sarafina Ikpeazu in the 37th, and then Wesoloski-Okafor in the 42nd minute.

An early 1-0 deficit turned into a 3-1 lead at halftime, with the Banijans rolling. The first half, while an up and down flurry, saw the Banijans simply sit on the match, attempting to use their defense to hold onto their 2 goal lead. And they largely were successful at it. Not a great game in net for the goalkeeper, as in the game's final moments, Hebron Yiena came out to punch a cross and missed, allowing an easy headed goal into an empty net for the visitors. It was largely meaningless, as the referee blew full time almost immediately after the Banijans kicked it off, but still, a 3-2 win for the Banijans. Attackers showed their talent and a job well done for the Banijans. Next stop? A trip to the newly enchristened Anaian city, Fligsive, to take on the Euran Oceania Territories.

Similar to how the EOT did not receive a warm welcome in Banija, they received a similarly harsh welcome in the Euran Oceania Territories. But the Banijans were not scared. "Away matches in World Cup Qualifying are not about being nice and chummy with your opponent." Said the team captain, Demba Kinteh. "They want to gain every advantage possible. World Cup Qualification is everybody's ultimate goal- and if that's not achievable, winning as many matches as you can. It was no more than I was expecting." Still, a packed house for the Expats, who had lost 3-0 in Banija. For the second straight game, the Banijans came out absolutely firing in the first half. Lolong Bokate, in particular, was causing a lot of problems for the Expats defense, as they simply couldn't keep up with the pace of the Dí Maozöxê winner. His runs consistently pulled defenders out of position, opening up gaps for other players.

And it would be the other players who would take advantage of them. A brilliant diagonal run by him, off the ball towards goal, pulled two Expat defenders, and leaving an empty space where Lynch was. A brilliant find by Gereh Kama got the ball to Kausu Dione, and the veteran striker was absolutely wide open in front of goal. Dione struck true in the 22nd minute, to make the score 1-0. It would be another Bokate run, just a few minutes later, that would make the game 2-0. He actually got the ball on a diagonal run towards goal, as Ikpeazu whipped in a wicked cross towards him at the near post. He was able to flick the ball backwards, across the face of goal, with the top of his head. Mzukisi Nzo was on the line to head it in from about 2 yards out, and give the Banijans a 2-0 lead that we took into halftime.

Another day, cruising to another win over the EOT? Not so fast. 45 minutes was still a ton of time to play, and Wolcjeck Gruber's men were not going to simply roll over. They have some talented players going forward, and they were going to make a game of it. A packed house of over 96,000 fans, just to get rocked at home? No thank you. Suddenly, they were on the front foot, while the Banijans were on the back foot, desperately defending. Hebron Rao had a few good stops in her World Cup Qualifying debut, but when Kasey Fuller rocketed home a shot to cut Banija's lead in half, in the 64th minute, everybody knew that we had a real game on our hands. She picked the ball up out of the back of her net, herself, as the Bastion winger raced to the center of the pitch so the team could chase the draw.

In the 78th minute, disaster would strike for the visiting Banijans. When Pierre-Louis Le Tonnelier got the ball with his back towards the goal, a great run saw Kasey Fuller blitzing into the box. He made a brilliant pass towards her, and she was going to chip it back across goal, as he turned and ran towards the back post. Unfortunately for the Banijans, we were scrambling after the move. A sliding challenge by Kemo Jawara on Fuller just as she raced inside the 18. But the challenge was late. Studs a little too high, all body and no ball, from behind. The Busogan referee had no choice, pointing directly to the spot. Penalty. Jawara shown a yellow card. The 35 year old striker, Pierre-Louis Le Tonnelier, struck true on the penalty, and ran to celebrate with the EOT bench at the corner flag. From 2-0 down, they were level at 2-2, and were probably betting favorites to find a winner.

Idai Uster came into the game, at that point, for Kamara Touré. Pam Scott wanted a winner. Even though all the momentum was against them, the Banijans were able to wrest control back in the match from their opponents. In the 87th minute, an absolutely brilliant turn by Idai Uster created an opening, and she blasted a shot towards goal. A diving save by Honeybadgers goalkeeper Charlie Ross, at full extension, kept the ball out of the net, forcing a corner kick. Ikpeazu whipped in a wicked cross. And who would rise above the crowd? None other than Holdenberg City defender, Samba Ogunsola, who would rise above the rest and smash home the game-winning header. He ran directly to the visiting fan section and leaped into the crowd, scoring his first national team goal in nearly four Qualification cycles. The celebrations were fantastic.

The scoreline finished at 3-2, in favor of the Banijans. Demba Kinteh, the captain, spoke about it. "A 6 point window is a 6 point window- I cannot complain." Demba Kinteh said, who is the team captain. "We've got plenty to work on, we are nowhere near the level where we once were. However- one step at a time. We are getting closer to our goal of Qualifying for the World Cup Finals. But we've got to continue to focus on the task ahead of us. One game at a time." A 1-1 draw for Brenecia on this matchday extended Banija's advantage in Group 17 from one point to three, putting Banija that much closer to getting back to the World Cup.

Duel at the Kingsgarden

Banija sits with 28 points. Brenecia? 25 points. Three games left in Qualifying. Everybody else's points don't matter- we're the only two nations left who can mathematically finish in the top two. There's no looking backwards, only forward. Of course, it is the back game of this window, which makes things challenging. Brenecia has a trip away to an unranked Sangti who sit in last place in the Group 17 table after 11 games. Sangti has just 8 points after 11 games, and in Brenecia, they lost 3-0. While Banijans would like for them to steal even a point, it is unlikely to the point of absurdity- there's no way the Patriots drop points in that game. Not when a win there will give this duel at the Kingsgarden so much meaning.

It is Banija who have the much tougher game. 54th ranked Oberour Ar Moro comes to Jinja City, a Pot 3 team who has probably underperformed throughout Qualifying. But would they not like to end the Qualification campaign with a bang, by tripping up the Banijans at the end of the line, so we tumble into the playoffs? That'd be a quality feather in their cap. So they'll have all sorts of motivation to cause and wreak havoc at BCEL Stadium. "We can't afford to think about Brenecia right now- Oberour Ar Moro are simply too good." Pam Scott told reporters. "They've got all types of talent, and even though we got the away win, that means nothing for the return leg. We're going to have to be both aggressive and creative if we want to get a path to the three points."

But no matter the result of that match, this game against Brenecia seems almost set to be the decider. With Brenecia having won the game in Busukuma, they hold the head to head tiebreaker. So if Brenecia win out, and Banija win on Matchdays 12 and 14, but lose to Brenecia again- well, it will be the Patriots who go directly to the World Cup Finals, while Banija has to go to the playoffs. But if Banija can win, we will clinch a spot in the Finals directly, while sending them to the playoff, with one Matchday to go. And if we draw? Then all the marbles will be decided on Matchday 14, but with Banija having the decided advantage, as we will lead both in the table and are set to play last place, unranked Sangti at home on Matchday 14.

While none of the team refuses to publicly talk about looking ahead, the rest of us will. "Our team got outworked last time." Said Wasa Jawo, a former NT player who is now an analyst. "The Patriots defend with physicality and ferocity. They play with a certain type of siege mentality, that makes them brilliant to watch- if you're a defender anyways. They defend well, they are physical. They scored twice in the first half, and we allowed them to play their game. This time around, we are going to have to try and open them up a little bit. It's tight, they are extremely disciplined. But we must figure out a way to open up space. If we can get going forward early, and score early, we can pull them out of the game that they want to play- and give ourselves an advantage."

"The Kingsgarden is an advantage for them. It is always much easier to play their style of football at home. Their fans embrace it, and their noise and energy will egg them on, especially in midfield, where their physical style can get tiring." There will be plenty of incentive for the Banijans- a win there, in the Kingsgarden, and they will emphatically show the world that they are ready to return to the top. A World Cup spot would be in their grasp. It is in reach- can this team grab it in Rozelle?

Matchday 12 v. Oberour Ar Moro
Starters: 3-4-1-2.
Players who are based in a foreign league are bolded.
Players who have their first ever competitive callup received in this tournament are italicized.
BSL = Banijan Soccer League, Banija's second tier. National league. S-FPL is the joint first tier soccer league for Farfadillis, Banija, and the Busoga Islands.
GK #23 Wanda Kouyaté. Age 35(Female). Plays for Jungle Strike FC in Vilita. Only player on this team to be a world champion at every level- U18 World champion(Sporting World Cup , U21 World Champion(DBC 47), and World Cup Winner(World Cup 86). Missed Matchdays 10 and 11 due to hamstring injury.
LCB #3 Samba Ogunsola. Age 33. Plays for Holdenberg City in Eura.
CB #5 Demba Kinteh. Age 33. Plays for Dí Maozöxê(Farfadillis) in the S-FPL. Captain of the U18 Sporting World Cup 8 championship squad. Captain.
RCB #20 Tairu Conateh. Age 26. Plays for Raynor City United in the Elven Premiership in Valanora. Became a starter for the first time at the midway point of WCQ89.
LM #22 Orji Uzoma. Age 26. Plays for Herzegovina City FC in the S-FPL.
CM #8 Idi Mboge. Age 29. Plays for New Bremen FC in Baker Park. Only Olympic player to play for a foreign team. Banijan/Mrii dual-national. Debut made at Eagle's Cup XI. Became a starter for the first time at the midway point of WCQ89.
CM #6 Momodou Jassey. Age 27. Plays for the Hoima Warriors in the S-FPL.
RM #21 Dembo Savaneh. Age 20. Plays for Istria City FC in the S-FPL.
CAM #15 Immaculate Kaba(Female). 34 years old. Plays for Forest Park SC in the Commonwealth of Baker Park.
ST #17 Abel Wesoloski-Okafor. Age 20. Male. Plays for the Busembe Timberwolves in the S-FPL. Called up at halfway point of World Cup 89 Qualifying.
ST #12 Kamara Touré. 28 years old. Plays for Mar Sara FC in Valanora. Became a starter on Matchday 4 of World Cup Qualifying.
Bench:
GK #35 Hebron Yiena. Age 22. Plays for Busukuma AC in the S-FPL. Female.
GK #39 Hebron Rao. Age 24. Plays for Jinja City FC in the S-FPL. Female.
CB #30 Kemo Jawara.Age 30. Plays for Wexax United in the Elven Premiership in Valanora. Became a starter for the first time at the midway point of WCQ89.
CB #15 Demba Kouyaté. 27 years old. Plays for Istria City FC in the S-FPL. Called up for first time at midway point of World Cup 89 Qualifying.
CB #4 Idi Dabo. Age 23. Plays for the Hoima Warriors in the S-FPL.
CM #14 Tijan Sowe. Age 24. Plays for Herzegovina City FC in the S-FPL.
CM #25 Mzukisi Nzo. Age 34. Plays for Crisisbless in the Nepharim Premiership.
CAM #10 Gereh Kama. 26 years old. Plays for Lhor in the Red League in Chromatika.
RM/RW #7 Sarafina Ikpeazu. Age 26. Plays for Sabrefell Athletic in the Nepharim Premiership. Female.
LW/LM #11 Lolong Bokate. Age 21. Plays for Dí Maozöxê(Farfadillis) in the S-FPL.
ST #9 Idai Uster. Age 33(Female). Plays for AFC Treason in the Nepharim Premiership.
ST #19 Kausu Dione. 32 years old. Plays for KT Itzalovalle in Audioslavia. Starter on both the DBC 47 and SWC 8 Championship Teams.
Notes:
- Our free kicks are taken by Abel Wesoloski-Okafor. Our corner kicks are taken by the winger on whatever side the corner kick is on.
- Our penalty kicks are taken by Abel Wesoloski-Okafor.

Matchday 13 @ Brenecia
Starters: 3-4-1-2.
Players who are based in a foreign league are bolded.
Players who have their first ever competitive callup received in this tournament are italicized.
BSL = Banijan Soccer League, Banija's second tier. National league. S-FPL is the joint first tier soccer league for Farfadillis, Banija, and the Busoga Islands.
GK #23 Wanda Kouyaté. Age 35(Female). Plays for Jungle Strike FC in Vilita. Only player on this team to be a world champion at every level- U18 World champion(Sporting World Cup , U21 World Champion(DBC 47), and World Cup Winner(World Cup 86).
LCB #4 Idi Dabo. Age 23. Plays for the Hoima Warriors in the S-FPL.
CB #5 Demba Kinteh. Age 33. Plays for Dí Maozöxê(Farfadillis) in the S-FPL. Captain of the U18 Sporting World Cup 8 championship squad. Captain.
RCB #20 Tairu Conateh. Age 26. Plays for Raynor City United in the Elven Premiership in Valanora. Became a starter for the first time at the midway point of WCQ89.
LM #11 Lolong Bokate. Age 21. Plays for Dí Maozöxê(Farfadillis) in the S-FPL.
CM #8 Idi Mboge. Age 29. Plays for New Bremen FC in Baker Park. Only Olympic player to play for a foreign team. Banijan/Mrii dual-national. Debut made at Eagle's Cup XI. Became a starter for the first time at the midway point of WCQ89.
CM #6 Momodou Jassey. Age 27. Plays for the Hoima Warriors in the S-FPL.
RM #7 Sarafina Ikpeazu. Age 26. Plays for Sabrefell Athletic in the Nepharim Premiership. Female.
CAM #10 Gereh Kama. 26 years old. Plays for Lhor in the Red League in Chromatika.
ST #19 Kausu Dione. 32 years old. Plays for KT Itzalovalle in Audioslavia. Starter on both the DBC 47 and SWC 8 Championship Teams.
ST #12 Kamara Touré. 28 years old. Plays for Mar Sara FC in Valanora. Became a starter on Matchday 4 of World Cup Qualifying.
Bench:
GK #35 Hebron Yiena. Age 22. Plays for Busukuma AC in the S-FPL. Female.
GK #39 Hebron Rao. Age 24. Plays for Jinja City FC in the S-FPL. Female.
CB #30 Kemo Jawara.Age 30. Plays for Wexax United in the Elven Premiership in Valanora. Became a starter for the first time at the midway point of WCQ89.
CB #3 Samba Ogunsola. Age 33. Plays for Holdenberg City in Eura.
CB #15 Demba Kouyaté. 27 years old. Plays for Istria City FC in the S-FPL. Called up for first time at midway point of World Cup 89 Qualifying.
CM #14 Tijan Sowe. Age 24. Plays for Herzegovina City FC in the S-FPL.
CM #25 Mzukisi Nzo. Age 34. Plays for Crisisbless in the Nepharim Premiership.
CAM #15 Immaculate Kaba(Female). 34 years old. Plays for Forest Park SC in the Commonwealth of Baker Park.
RM/RW #21 Dembo Savaneh. Age 20. Plays for Istria City FC in the S-FPL.
LW/LM #22 Orji Uzoma. Age 26. Plays for Herzegovina City FC in the S-FPL.
ST #17 Abel Wesoloski-Okafor. Age 20. Male. Plays for the Busembe Timberwolves in the S-FPL. Called up at halfway point of World Cup 89 Qualifying.
ST #9 Idai Uster. Age 33(Female). Plays for AFC Treason in the Nepharim Premiership.

Notes:
- Our free kicks are taken by Sarafina Ikpeazu. Our corner kicks are taken by the winger on whatever side the corner kick is on.
- Our penalty kicks are taken by Idai Uster.

---

The Banijans, in their suite, at the Varakoula Conference

Isebantu Mutungi was sitting with his Father, the Kabaka. In only 3 or 4 days, Banija's main role at the conference had been played. They had convinced Malik Akongo to surrender, and had facilitated him going to a new life. The elected government back home, was glad that Malik Akongo would not be coming to Banija. They were prepared to take him- but Xolile Lubabalo did not want his simple presence in the country being the recurring reminder to the Banijans that her Government had basically surrendered to Corvistone.

So the rest of the conference? Rather boring, truth be told. The Banijan delegation was starting to get restless. They certainly could not leave the conference early, because what if peace accords fell apart. But it was clear, at this point, that the Kingdom would have no further role left to play. The Banijans were pulling a slightly less impressive imitation of the Græntfjall delegation, where they dug heavily into the food. Except, of course, they were not huge fans of Tikariot cuisine. "Not enough spice." One aide said to the Kabaka. But they were surely enjoying the wine.

So they were just... Hanging out. Full bellies, yes- but frustrated. Hoping that the conference would conclude quickly, that they'd sign, and be able to return to Busukuma. A nice place to watch Banija's World Cup Qualifiers from, yes. But the delegation was increasingly getting restless. Staying here and simply watching all of these Rushmori powers carve up Nyowani Kitara. It was disgusting. The Banijans had already determined they did not have a chance at influence at any point in time, before an election.

As they waited for the parties to get done, it would be the Isebantu who would get an urgent message from an aide, waking up in the morning.

"Your Highness." Said the aide, with a deep bow.

"Good morning." Said the Isebantu. "What time is it? Why are you waking me up?"

"It's 6 AM." The aide said.

"Why the hell are you waking me up at 6??" Mutungi said. And then, the aide said the message was urgent.

"We've been contacted by François Celestin-"

"Francois who??" The Isebantu asked.

"François Celestin. He's from Garifunya." The Isebantu nodded. He knew who Garifunya were. "He.. Wants to schedule a meeting with you. Secretly."

"About Nyowani Kitara?" The Isebantu said. "I'm going back to bed. We have no influence-"

"No, your highness." Said the aide. "It's about Garifunya and Banijan relations. Garifunya needs some economic investment. Both publicly and privately. A huge economic helping, of sorts. And we are capable of providing it to them. And.. They want to have PetroBan be their main oil source." The Isebantu sat up straight at that point.

"Create an ally in Garifunya. Have a gateway to their region. And another alliance between two majority-black nations. That... Is a good idea." The Isebantu said. "Heaven knows that there isn't enough of us. Wake up my Dad. Let's talk about this." The aide woke up the Kabaka, and the two, along with other foreign ministry officials, spoke about the opportunity. Plenty of potential... But plenty of unknowns.

"You know- I'm going to use this as an opportunity to go home." The Kabaka said.

"You're going to tell everyone about Garifunya?" The Isebantu said.

"Obviously not." The Kabaka said. "But I'm not needed here. Our part in negotiating is done. I'm the only head of state here, besides the three Kitaran prinicipals. And you are the Waziri, remember. You can stay."

"It's gonna look bad if you leave talks." The Isebantu said.

"How much worse can it look?" The Kabaka said. "I'm an old man- I care less and less about 'how things look'. I'm not going to lie- these talks were simply a humiliation. Surrender of the KFF, they are completely shot, and the Nepharans wouldn't even call me by name. When at home, I can sound out the cabinet on Garifunya, and have them potentially sound out investors. We're going to need some time to prep for a Garifunya meeting, I can do that while you finish things here."

They agreed. The Kabaka packed his things. He announced to the conference that he had to return to Banija urgent reasons back home, and that his oldest son, the Isebantu, who was also the Waziri, would remain in his place, fully empowered as Banija's Chief Negotiator. The Isebantu got a clandestine message back to Francois Celestin, letting him know that as soon as the talks ended in Tikariot, that he would be in touch about meeting with Garifunya. Could that be a foreign policy win for the Kabaka?

[Chartistan]

Since we can't even get 3 points in a single game against StrayaRoos...

---

PLAYING FOOTBALL LIKE
A parody of Fancy Like by Walker Hayes

[Wank Hesky]
My team ain't banging
They're so low maintenance
They're no firework popping entertainment
Take them to Pale
Those Roos are rocking
They wanna make us take points right off of me
And every now and then, we go play
The ball's on our feet, maybe we'll score ay (Ay)
Ay, ay, ay
Playing football like Smosh Games on a game night
Got that Alphafu snake with the off the post break
With some anguish on the top too
2-2, 1 point, man we drew to
StrayaRoos 3 times in 1 cycle
Got us with no more of that hope all the way home
With some 8 points behind 2nd with the World Cup in no sight (Hey)
That's how we play, how we play, football like
Oooh...
Football like oooh...
Football like oooh...
Football like oooh...
Uh
We need to score some to impress some (We need to score some to impress some)
My team ain't happy scoring on none (There they go)
They need some playing to start the banging (Oh, goals)
The defense's fine, 4 wide, slow dancing (Slow dancing)
And every now and then, we go play
The ball's on our feet, maybe we'll score ay (Ay)
Ay, ay, ay
Playing football like Smosh Games on a game night (That's right)
Got that Alphafu snake with the off the post break (Ayy)
With some anguish on the top too (Gotta add that anguish)
2-2, 1 point, man we drew to (Man we drew to)
StrayaRoos 3 times in 1 cycle (One cycle)
Got us with no more of that hope all the way home (All the way home)
With some 8 points behind 2nd with the World Cup in no sight (Hey)
That's how we play, how we play, football like
Those zero-point teams with the holes in them
Conceding screamers against teams with unranked on them
Yeah we're probably gonna be heading to Mavinet's Copa
Maybe a little Harmony cuz we do need it
On those Billboard nights, our team's slowing down
Checked out, then the curtain goes down
Ay
Playing football like Smosh Games on a game night (That's right)
Got that Alphafu snake with the off the post break (Ayy)
With some anguish on the top too (Gotta add that anguish)
2-2, 1 point, man we drew to (Man we drew to)
StrayaRoos 3 times in 1 cycle (One cycle)
Got us with no more of that hope all the way home (All the way home)
With some 8 points behind 2nd with the World Cup in no sight (Hey)
That's how we play, how we play, football like

---

I regret everything.

[Hapilopper]

The Nest [Pesä], Kimi City [Kimi Kaupunki], Kimi-Suomi
World Cup 90 Qualifying Match 11: Hapilopper 3-1 Kimi-Suomi
Internally, Nathan Ellis was thinking about what could have gone differently. He wondered if he had been the reason that Hapilopper couldn’t get past the qualifying stages. But as he suited up, he realized that if he said anything – at this point – to anyone, it would throw the Haps off their game. He had to be the old Nathan Ellis when he was on the pitch, when he was with his teammates, and when he was in other lands. No sense in looking weak. Putting on that uniform meant he couldn’t doubt himself. So as great as he could, he shut those feelings out and prepared to play some ball.

He figured he’d be greeted with a hostile reception – he usually was when he played in other countries. Kimi-Suomi was no exception – after all, the fans there were still fuming over Nathan’s Rock Bottom cheap shot on Hannu Koivu during their last match. So when Nathan came out onto the pitch, the chorus of boos that greeted him was almost overwhelming. To most people, at least. Nathan loved it. He reveled in it. He looked around to the hostile crowd and blew them all a kiss, taking in the absolute fury.

It seemed like every time Nathan touched the ball or made contact with a player from Kimi-Suomi, he’d be greeted with loud boos from the fans. Hearing the deafening boos from the fans made Nathan smile, and it might have helped fuel him. There were times that Nathan just loved pissing people off, if it meant he and his teammates were doing well. And the boos reached a fever pitch in the 39th minute.

Nathan was in a crowd of players waiting for a corner kick from midfielder James Huddleston. The players, jockeying for position, started shoving each other around to either try to send the ball past Kauko Loukamaa in goal or out into space. Nathan shoved an Eagle-Owl player to one side, got the ball and kicked it past Loukamaa to put the Haps on the board. When everyone realized just who it was that scored, the reactions ranged from either surprise (“That old jackass scored? HOW?”) to rage (“That (censored)!!”).

The hatred had fueled him and he couldn’t be any prouder of himself. Nathan rushed over to midfield and flipped off all of the fans in Kimi City, before blowing them a kiss. This sort of excessive celebration earned Nathan a yellow card, but the damage had been done.

There was some other damage done. His left knee was starting to bother him a bit. He could feel a sharp pain in his knee for a short period of time, but then it went away. That pain didn’t strike for the rest of the match, but he couldn’t help but think about it. What was the issue was his knee? Was it just spending years playing on rough turf, or just the typical wear and tear catching up to him? It was another thing wearing heavy on his mind as he ran down the pitch.

At the half, Nathan went to the trainer and asked him to tape his knee up – “just better safe than sorry, really.”

“There a problem?” the trainer asked.

“Had some pain after scoring that goal,” Nathan said sadly. “Not enough to take me out, but enough to be concerned.”

But as the knee was being taped, head coach Thom Perkins and assistant manager Myrone Rhule walked in and noticed the trainer working on Nathan.

“You good, Ellis?” Thom asked.

“Fine, just had some pain after that goal,” Nathan said.

“Aight, that’s… concerning, since I’ve never heard you complain about pain, except for that time Fotellis got you in the nuts,” Thom said. “We’re gonna sub you off.”

Nathan’s eyes got wide. “EXCUSE ME?!” he roared.

“Just trying to keep you healthy,” Thom said. “I know you don’t like that but it’s better than you getting hurt worse.”

“You motherfucker! I’ll kick your ass!” Nathan snapped, louder than ever. “You keep me in that ballgame or I’m going to kick the shit out of you!”

Nathan jumped off the trainer’s table and started to chase after Thom, and thankfully, not hobbling one bit.

“I’ve got to do this, Ellis!” Thom snapped. “I don’t want you blowing your knee out in front of everyone, you got me? I want to keep you as a ballplayer. Now hit the showers and rest that knee. I don’t need you to get hurt worse than you are now.”

Nathan stopped, looked down at his left knee and back at Thom, who was walking off to hype up the rest of the team for the second half. Myrone Rhule was still in there, shaking his head.

“You want something, Rhule?” Nathan snapped.

“I’m sorry, Nathan,” Myrone said sadly.

Nathan walked back to the showers, and as Team Hapilopper hit the pitch for the second half, Nathan was changing back into his street clothes. While thousands of fans in The Nest watched the second half of the match, Nathan quietly and sadly walked back to the team bus without being noticed by anyone. He put on some headphones, turned on some of his old tunes and shut out the world. He didn’t care that Team Hapilopper won 3-0. He didn’t care about the “Equality of both Hapilopper and Wreckeria” tifo, which didn’t necessarily have the impact in Hapilopper that Kimi-Suomians may have hoped for. He was steaming with rage that he had been benched, and that’s all he cared about.


Nathan Ellis’s office, Team Hapilopper Headquarters, Hapilopper City
Two days later
Nathan was still fuming as he watched tape from the Kimi-Suomi match – or more specifically, the first half. He refused to watch the second half, enraged at getting benched. He had not spoken to Thom Perkins in a couple of days, nor had he spoken to anyone else – aside from telling Myrone Rhule, who he called “you bald creepy fuck”, to leave him alone. He wanted to speak to his players about the gameplan for the next few matches, possibly in an attempt to play spoiler during the last few matches of the qualifying campaign.

Then, his phone rang.

“What?” Nathan asked.

“Hi,” the robotic voice started. “We’ve been trying to reach you about your car’s extended vehicle warranty.”

“Fuck you,” Nathan slurred as he hit “disconnect” on his phone. For whatever reason, the idea of his car’s extended vehicle warranty pissed him off. But then the phone rang again. He looked at the phone and shook his head again. It was an unfamiliar-looking number, that looked like it came from a nation called “Southwest Eastnorth.”

Against his better judgement, Nathan answered.

“Who the fuck is this and how the fuck did you get my number?” Nathan snapped.

[Pemecutan]

Le Choix 0-1 Pemecutan
(Away)

Formation
4-3-3
Line Up
1 - A. Jandisuga/GK; 13 - Y. Nehusandak/LB; 3 - S. B. Wijaya/CB; 5 - S. P. Laksamana/CB; 6 - D. R. Putra/RB; 7 - A. Kusumawijaya/; 8 - R. Karyadi/CM; 9 - B. Hermawan/RM; 12 - K. T. Mahayana/AT; 11 - A. T. Wijaya/AT; 22 - W. Pramana/ST
Bench
4 - A. Gunadarma/GK; 2 - D. P. Kusuma/LB; 15 - S. Aksapadan/CB; 18 - B. Padurjana/LM; 20 - A. Setiahadi/CM; 21 - S. Hermawan/RM; 10 - P. Oka Jaya/ST
Substitution
Bayu Hermawan <--> Samsul Hermawan (52')
Agus Kusumawijaya <--> Basuyuha Padurjana (78')
Goal
Rama Karyadi (34')

---

Pemecutan 1-2 The Cordian Isles
@ Manguwi Stadium

Formation
4-3-3
Line Up
1 - A. Jandisuga/GK; 13 - Y. Nehusandak/LB; 3 - S. B. Wijaya/CB; 5 - S. P. Laksamana/CB; 6 - D. R. Putra/RB; 7 - A. Kusumawijaya/; 8 - R. Karyadi/CM; 9 - B. Hermawan/RM; 12 - K. T. Mahayana/AT; 11 - A. T. Wijaya/AT; 22 - W. Pramana/ST
Bench
4 - A. Gunadarma/GK; 2 - D. P. Kusuma/LB; 15 - S. Aksapadan/CB; 18 - B. Padurjana/LM; 20 - A. Setiahadi/CM; 21 - S. Hermawan/RM; 10 - P. Oka Jaya/ST
Substitution
Agus Kusumawijaya <--> Basuyuha Padurjana (55')
Yuhabani Nehusandak <--> Dwi Putra Kusuma (67')
Bayu Hermawan <--> Samsul Hermawan (79')
Goal
Arya Tungga Wijaya (63')

---

Part 3.1 || Part 3.2 || Part 3.3 || Part 3.4 || Part 3.5

---

Part 3.6

"Good morning, gentlemen. Before we start, I want to explain about the procedure first," says the doctor as they arrive.
As per the court decision, Ngurah Artha Guna will be check for his mentality. And the court has also decide to select the government hospital, Puri Hospital as the place for the check up. Today, Ngurah Artha Guna will start his mentality check up. Ketut Wirama as the attorney is there to accompany him.

"There will be a several sessions before I can correctly diagnose your mental health. I can assure you that doing mentality check up doesn't always mean that you're crazy or something related to it. A person mental health is a broad situation that maybe affected by their past, their family interaction and their surrounding. There will be no such internal checks. I'm just going to deeply know you in person. And please be relax throughout each session. Because there is a possibility that I have to do some hypnosis to dig down your inner thoughts," explain the doctor.

Artha Guna just smile a little as he hearing what's the doctor say. While Wirama felt nervous. He still hopes that the test is failed and Artha Guna is declared mentally unstable. At least that can be the reason to lowering the punishment. But is it really the right things to do? Wirama glance at Artha Guna. His mind is still in limbo whether his decision to ask for mental check up is right or wrong.

"So are you ready for the first session?" ask the doctor.
"Yes. I'm ready," answer Artha Guna confidently.
The doctor smile then turn to Wirama. "Then you must be wait outside, Sir. Because this is a private session," informed the doctor.
"Oh, yeah. Okay. Right. I'll be outside then," answer Wirama a little startle.

After Wirama left the room, the doctor then ask Artha Guna to lay down at the bed.
"Make yourself comfortable," say the doctor as Artha Guna laying on the bed. "What place do you like the most? That makes you feel relax," he ask.
"That will be a lot of places," answer Artha Guna.
"I see," comment the doctor. "Close your eyes," he say.
He then play a record of a classic song. The harmony and melody is so soft that it calm yourself.
"How do you feel?" ask the doctor.
"I feel light like a feather," answer Artha Guna. He breath calmly.
The doctor smile. "That's good. Let the music fill your soul. It will make you calmer and calmer. And your body feels lighter and lighter," say the doctor in a soft tone.
Artha Guna exhale deeply. He feel calm.
"You're getting more and more relax now. Your mind is traveling along the memory line. As you enter deeper. And deeper to your past," whisper the doctor as he trying to do a hypnosis.

Artha Guna's body begin to tremble. His eyeballs moves randomly. The doctor can see the movement under the closed eyelids. He feels worry about his reaction.

"What do you see?" ask the doctor.
Artha Guna's mind traveling to his childhood. And as he open his eyes, he sees his parents. He heard his father yelling. His mother's crying and screaming. The scream slowly become louder and louder. It fills all of his surrounding. The sound become too loud it feels unbearable for his ears. He close his ears and scream in agony.

The doctor shock with the reaction. Artha Guna wake up while screaming loudly. His body tense. His breath become unstable. His sweat wet his clothes. The doctor try to touch him. But Artha Guna jump in shock.
"It's okay. Calm down. You're save, calm the doctor.
"What's going on?" ask Wirama who is rushingly open the room's door. His face shows worriness.

Don't Wake The Sleeping Tiger

"I'm sorry about what happen earlier," say the doctor.
He and Wirama are both seating face to face after the first hypnosis session to Artha Guna. As they speak in private, Artha Guna is seating outside the room. There are two policement that guard him.

"What's really happen?" Wirama curious.
The doctor sighing. "I was trying to perform a hypnosis. And as I asked him to remembering his past, his body start to tremble and then he suddenly scream," explain him.
"And?" Wirama ask with unsatisfy tone.
"I can't jump to conclusion based on just one session. But I think there's something happen in his past. I hope I can open him up in the next sessions," answer the doctor.
"Do you think it will success?" ask Wirama.
"This therapy is not just to know about your mental health but also can be a tools for self healing. But I can't assure you about the success rate because it's all depend on him," explain the doctor.
Both of them looking at each other before glancing to the door where Artha Guna is seating outside.

---

Later that night, Wirama is locked himself in his study room. He sees back all the file about the case, especially his interview with Artha Guna's neighbors and friends back in his hometown. He re-read all of it. He already know that his conclusion about Artha Guna's mental health is coming from all of this interviews. But he can't find the story behind it. The exact past memories that triggered his action. Is it really just because his father failure? Wirama exhale deeply.

Suddenly a knock come from the door. His wife gracefully comes in. She brings a cup of coffee and some snacks. She put it on the table next to her husband study desk.

"I thought when the case goes into trial then you will be more relax to do the case. But it seems that I'm wrong," she grumble.
Wirama smile. He walks to his wife who is seating on the sofa next to him. The study room is quite large. The study desk is the main focus of the room. To the left of it is a set of seating place complete with coffee table and a large sofa.

"I'm sorry if I make you worry," says Wirama as he sipping the coffee.
"I always worry when you take a case," answer the wife.
"Don't be. Everything will be just fine," calmed him.

He hugs his wife in hoping that it will calm her. Although he himself still don't know how long it will end. Wirama get back to his desk after his wife go back to the bedroom. He compile all of the files feel to call it off. He can continue tomorrow at office. But then his hand suddenly stopped. He take a picture that tucked in all of those files. He examine the picture. Then his eyes suddenly widen. He think he find the missing link.

---

The two policemen rushed into the room after they heard a scream from inside. It's not Artha Guna's scream. Wirama also walks in after them. Inside, the three of them stun. They are shocked with what happen. The doctor's room have been wrecked. The bed is rolling off. The chair is broken. There are papers everyone. The doctor's cabinet is also destroyed. While they are all seeing Artha Guna treat the doctor with a knife on his neck. The two policemen step forward and grab Artha Guna's arms. They tackle him down when he try to resist.

"What happen?" ask Wirama confusingly.
"He suddenly become angry during our session," explain the doctor.
The two policemen take Artha Guna outside.
"Are you okay?" ask Wirama as he check the doctor.
"I'm fine," answer the doctor a little bit shaky. "I think we can't continue today's session," he added.
"It's okay. I understand," response Wirama.

Wirama rush back to the precinct jail where Artha Guna is detain. After the incident, the two policemen have already drive him back. But he is stop at the front.

"I'm sorry, Sir. But he say that he doesn't want to meet anyone right now," explain the guard.
"But I'm his attorney. I just want to know his condition," argue Wirama.
"I understand, Sir. I'm just informing you what's he said to us earlier," say the guard.

Wirama walk out the building hopelessly. He really want to know what happen. But it seems that both the doctor and Artha Guna don't want to talk about it. Wirama then get inside his car and drive back to his office. He also wants to calm himself.

---

The jail door is open. "Hey, here's your dinner," the guard say.
Artha Guna looking at him with a smirk on his face.
"Why are looking at me like that? Eat your dinner!" say the guard harshly.
Artha Guna stand up and walk slowly to the guard. He continue to stare at the guard which scares him.
"Hey. Hey. What do you want? Why are you staring at me? What are you thinking hah?!" the guard babling on his words.
Artha Guna calmly walk then take the dinner plate in front of the guard.
"I just want to take my dinner. Why you'd be so scare" mock Artha Guna.
"Ish. Crazy fools!"

---

The guard walk out from the jail room. He walk slowly passed the jail warden.
"What took you so long? Are you chitchatting with him?" ask the jail warden.
The first guard shake his head.
"Then what?" the jail warden become curious.
He is not answering the question but just walk away from him.
"Hey. Hey. Where are you going? I'm asking you," the jail warden gets mad as the first guard walk away. But he can't pursue him as he can't go out from his position. He is the jail's gate guard. He just shake his head because of his friend stubbornness.

"Hey, do you see Wahyu?"
The jail warden startle as one of his fellow guard showed up in front of him. He asking about Wahyu, the guard who gave the dinner to Artha Guna earlier.
"Don't know. He just walk passed me after giving dinner to the special case," answer the jail warden.
"That's odd. We can't find him. He was supposed to be replaced by now. His shift is over. But we can't contact his phone or walkie," explain the guard.
"That's odd. Have you check his desk or his motorcycle?" the jail warden ask.
"His motorcycle is still parked outside," answer the guard.

The jail warden suddenly froze. He rushed to the jail ward. The guard followed him. They stop in front of Artha Guna's cell room. The jail warden take the key and open the cell door. They both stunned when the door open wide. They are not seeing Artha Guna. But they see their friend laying dead on the floor.

"Raise the alarm! Call the authority! A prisoner on the loose!" shouts the jail warden.

---

Muralos v Pemecutan
(Away)

Formation
4-3-3
Line Up
1 - A. Jandisuga/GK; 13 - Y. Nehusandak/LB; 3 - S. B. Wijaya/CB; 5 - S. P. Laksamana/CB; 6 - D. R. Putra/RB; 7 - A. Kusumawijaya/; 8 - R. Karyadi/CM; 9 - B. Hermawan/RM; 12 - K. T. Mahayana/AT; 11 - A. T. Wijaya/AT; 22 - W. Pramana/ST
Bench
4 - A. Gunadarma/GK; 2 - D. P. Kusuma/LB; 15 - S. Aksapadan/CB; 18 - B. Padurjana/LM; 20 - A. Setiahadi/CM; 21 - S. Hermawan/RM; 10 - P. Oka Jaya/ST

---

Equestria v Pemecutan
(Away)

Formation
4-3-3
Line Up
1 - A. Jandisuga/GK; 13 - Y. Nehusandak/LB; 3 - S. B. Wijaya/CB; 5 - S. P. Laksamana/CB; 6 - D. R. Putra/RB; 7 - A. Kusumawijaya/; 8 - R. Karyadi/CM; 9 - B. Hermawan/RM; 12 - K. T. Mahayana/AT; 11 - A. T. Wijaya/AT; 22 - W. Pramana/ST
Bench
4 - A. Gunadarma/GK; 2 - D. P. Kusuma/LB; 15 - S. Aksapadan/CB; 18 - B. Padurjana/LM; 20 - A. Setiahadi/CM; 21 - S. Hermawan/RM; 10 - P. Oka Jaya/ST

[Yue Zhou]

thirty-six years ago • Xihaishi, Xilindao, the Democratic Republic of Yuezhou

Premier Ren Qiang looked down on the crowd from the balcony. He'd woken up to the sounds of them chanting his name, still a sound that the young politician was not quite accustomed to. But he would grow into it soon enough. His people had swept through the island - and indeed, Yuezhou as a whole - like wildfire, halting an attempted coup in its tracks before fully seizing power. It was now simply a matter of consolidation - and cleanup - and the Yue peoples would finally be reunited.

He opened the door with a smile, and spread his arms wide, basking in the adulation from below. It was his first time in Xilindao - he'd been holed up in Beian and the small plains village of Yincheng, which would become his capital - ever since fighting had broken out - and he was really beginning to appreciate it. Some decades in the future, the people that chanted his name now would save his life. But for now, there was no need to worry about that.

"Citizens of Xilindao," he shouted excitedly, to cheers below. "You have been liberated from the coup that sought to end the freedom of the Yue people! The Democratic Republic will rise anew thanks to your support! We greatly appreciate your hospitality as we continue to ensure the safety of Yue socialism from oppressors abroad and at home!"

It had almost been random chance that had landed the whole of Yuezhou in Ren Qiang's lap. The young politician had somehow managed to catch the eye of the legendarily intimidating Premier Hu Xiaobo as he climbed up the ranks, eventually earning himself a minor cabinet post. At the tail end of Hu's final six-year term, to everyone's surprise, the Premier had looked over dozens of more experienced suitors and named Ren Qiang his successor. Ren had accepted with open arms, and gone to work consolidating his hold over Beian. None had dared touch him while Hu lived, but he knew what was coming, and rapidly consolidated power. And when Hu died and the coup had tried to take Yuezhou came from the political neophyte? They'd discovered exactly how prepared he had been. He'd seen every move, anticipated every strike in advance, and was now poised to tighten his grip on the isles.

And now that he was truly in control, he fully intended to tighten said grip. He had deeply respected Hu as a person, but the endemic corruption and pragmatism of his late Premiership had failed Yuezhou, and he fully intended to cleanse the nation of it. It was time to build a utopia. "But we won't let the reactionaries stop us from forming a better union of all Yue workers and continue the revolution! The sun is rising, and it rises upon a new golden age of the Yue people and of Yue socialism! From Xihaishi, your city, I proclaim the People's Federation of Yuezhou! We will begin to cleanse the nation of its corruption and its reactionaries, and we will not-"

present day

"-stop," Ren Qiang said on the telephone to Nafuna Akongo, who had been summarizing what had happened at Varakoula. "Just...stop."

"I apologize about the peacekeepers. There's simply no other way."

"No other way. Hah. You've invited the United Republics into your home. I assume that your masters will recognize them as a nation, and that you will follow. And now you intend to hold elections under Überolía's watchful eye. I told you to cut the rope, but instead...this...this is the end of socialism in Pavola. They are already at our gates. You're still next," he said, his words punctuated by the first shots of the final defense of Xihaishi in the distance.

"I did what I had to do to ensure we would remain in power."

Ren started, petulantly - "You're not-"

"I could have stayed pure. Like you. We would have fought all of Rushmore, side by side, the last defenders of the people in a region that is turning away from them. We could have gone out in a blaze of glory. But that, not what I did, what you did, would've marked the end. Now, my brother is defeated and his movement crushed, his backers sent home with tails between their legs, and we only need to win an election to hold onto power."

"Yes, your brother is crushed. Despite Wu Zhongsheng's best efforts. But now Eura is on your shores, Græntfjall has ripped away your north, and Nepharans outnumber you in your own country."

The line went silent. Ren fingered the glass of Zuanshi on his desk and downed it with a grimace, awaiting Nafuna's answer. She delivered it with a sigh. "When Græntfjall and Tikariot betrayed the cause, it was the beginning of the end for Pavolan socialism. Our two nations could not hold out from capitalist pressure forever. The future of Rushmori workers depends on the Mytanijas and Savojarnas of the world, not on the People's Federation."

A short laugh, more of a bark than anything, replied. "Mytanija. If these are who our saviors are, I would rather stay damned."

"We will win the elections. We will rebuild Nyowani Kitara. And we will continue to fly the flag of the workers in Pavola."

The line went silent again, and Ren took the opportunity to pour a second glass of spirit. "Why did you do it?" she asked. "The United Republics within such close range, watching your every move...extending to help Nyowani Kitara ensured your downfall. Why bother?"

"I told your father I would," he said resolutely. "I once thought that a century of Pavolan revolution rested on my shoulders. Xihaishi's inevitable fall tells me that perhaps it was never up to me."

"No," he said, sighing, "it's all on you now. I hope you're right about the elections. You have to win this. No matter what path it takes. No matter what you have to do to stay in power. Please don't let us down." Silence; another shot to the gut. "Goodbye, Nafuna."

As he hung up, he picked up the Zuanshi glass again, and watched the sun set over the Xilindao coast to the tune of distant gunfire.

[Savigliane]

This is a continuation of a previous storyline. To make life easier on those who haven't followed it previously, I've added a summary of what's happened in the preceding chapters in this factbook.

FIND YOURSELF

---

6. Incontro

Nine matches into World Cup Qualifying, things were finally starting to look up for I Cigni. An upset win over Ko-oren had pulled them within two points of automatic qualification, and Valladares' recent slip-up to Hispinas gave them a feasible backup plan. It had been left to Savigliane to take care of Galliena, and they had done so comfortably, with Adrian Toscani scoring one and assisting another before watching the remainder of the 4-1 victory from the substitute's bench. The team spirit, kneecapped by the lost six-pointer to Valladares and the three preceding years of constant disappointment, was on its way back.

It'd felt so natural the way they'd moved on with Chiara Blanco at the helm. The center-back had rapidly become an emotional nucleus of the team, taking many of the younger players under her wing. When they'd conceded Galliena's first off of a misplayed challenge by Alexandre Onio, she'd been there by his side to calm the defense down. In the second half, she'd made a goal-line clearance and continued to direct the defense with utmost precision, showing why Aries Chariots had spent so much on her (by Savigliano standards) so long ago. With Blanco at the helm, the likes of Toscani, Adélaïde Garcia, and Thea Squarciafichi in support, and a revitalized young team, they'd truly moved on.

The calmness in the stadium sat in direct opposition to the chaos outside of it. Every single day, Adrian was met with a stream of twiis and messages from back home, long-ass URLs and all-caps headlines extolling Bianca Fiore's Revolution. He'd been repeatedly asked to Defend the Country and Protect the Sancity of the Nation and endless other slogans copy-pasted straight out of an A/B test; he'd watched videos of Castiglione universities' windows being smashed up and manhunts for interdimensional travel researchers. He'd buried himself deeper and deeper into the Swans' qualifying campaign and Cazadores Cathair to compensate, but it was getting hard to ignore the simple fact that his former captain was going to win the elections. The thought cast a cloud over his mind as he stepped back into the dressing room and was greeted by two men in suits.

"Adrian Toscani! Incredible to meet you! I'm a big fan," one said, smiling and stepping forwards. Adrian froze in response.

"Uh, sorry, what is going on-"

"Where are our manners," laughed the other, "talking to you in this way before we introduce ourselves! My name is Lorenzo de Rossi, and this is my brother Umberto! We are here on behalf of the goverment of La Repubblica Savigliana."

Gears ground to a halt in Adrian's mind. "...okay, but, uh, me?"

"You will see in a moment, of course!" that was Umberto again. "Come this way! Ah, do not worry, your manager Tlanx knows what we're here for. They sent for us!"

So he followed them around a corner, down an increasingly dark hallway, and finally into a private conference room deep in Stadio del Piero's belly. Inside sat the Lion of the North and the first Italophone Prime Minister of Savigliane in twenty-nine years, Alberto Caccini.

---

"Uh, Prime Minister, it's an honor to meet you."

"Please, Adrian," Alberto said distractedly. "The honor is all mine. That goal you scored today? Incredible."

"Tell me about it, boss," chirped Lorenzo de Rossi from the doorway. Caccini looked up and shooed him away. "But that's not why we're here. I do not wish to presume - how familiar are you with our current...electoral situation?"

Adrian looked up with a start, then paused. "I know that Bianca's going to win if you don't stop her."

"So we're on the same page. Your manager told me as such."

"Listen, Prime Minister," he replied, cautious at first, "I'm a big fan of your politics. And I appreciate you coming down here to visit the Swans. But, uh, I don't know what the plan is, but Bianca is a good friend of mine. We may not see eye to eye now, but I'm not going to tear her down in public or anything like that."

The Prime Minister smirked. "That's not the plan at all! I'm offended you would suggest such a thing." Leaning in, he continued, "no, what we need is...information. We just want to understand what the footballer's motivations are, where she's coming from. How to game plan. You're from Il Granaio, yes? You know the stakes."

"That's the same thing," Adrian protested weakly, then caught himself. "I'm sorry, this...isn't the respect you deserve. All I'm saying is, I don't want to tear Bianca down."

"I understand," Caccini said warmly. "You do not wish to see your close friend become this way. And at the same time, you do not want to hurt her. I am not here to interfere in your personal affairs. But you have to understand the position we are in. A...wrecking ball has just detonated in the election. We don't know why she's doing this, or why Rizzuto is going along with the party's turn to a single-issue party. Perhaps we can work with her in the future, or perhaps she will head home to your team. We do not know. But the fact that I'm here should tell you how critical I think an understanding of Bianca Fiore is for the future of this nation." Adrian could only nod.

"Take your time. I'm in the city anyways. Umberto will provide you a number if you wish to reach out," he said in a clipped tone, standing and walking to the door.

"No, no need," the Prime Minister heard behind him as his hand lingered on the doorknob. "Bianca's...she's been through a lot."

Alberto Caccini turned, curious. "Tell me more."

"Nobody can know about this. Nobody but you."

"Of course."

"She went through...a lot in Occitania, when Savigliane was transported to Atlantian Oceania and left her behind. She fought for refugee rights there. She spent all her money to get legal representation for Savigliano refugees in asylum cases. She burned herself out, thought she was going insane, had some kind of...PTSD. She doesn't want to go back. She thinks she's taking care of us." The words hung heavy in the stadium air. "You really cannot go public with this. She-"

"I understand. Again, I don't wish to meddle in your relationships. Thank you, Adrian. We'll be in touch." With that, he walked back the way he'd come from the locker room, leaving the two brothers to escort Adrian behind him.

Atheara 1 - 3 Savigliane
Lineup: D'Ambrosio; Lamontagne, Garcia, Blanco, Vitale (Romano 66); Chastain, Buvalelli (Auvergne 67), Toscani; Rossi, Squarciafichi, Barthelemy (Montevecchi 73)
Goals: Rossi 17, Blanco 45+2, Montevecchi 84

A relatively comfortable away win over the group's nominal third seeds buoyed Savigliane's hopes of qualification, especially coupled with Ko-oren's defeat of Valladares that left the latter two points behind Savigliane in the table. Bonagiunta struck early for the second time in two matches against Atheara, and while the hosts equalized through star striker Frawning, a stoppage-time Blanco header and a late goal from the substitute Calliope Montevecchi bookended a dominant second half.

Savigliane 0 - 2 Garifunya
Lineup: DuCasse; Lamontagne, Dutto, Blanco, Romano (Vitale 52); Chastain, Auvergne (Buvalelli 60), Toscani; Rossi (Roux 60), Squarciafichi, Barthelemy

But just after sneaking into second place, they conceded playoff position back to Valladares with a shock upset at the hands of Garifunya. While the team was rotated slightly, the eleven who took the field were simply outclassed in the first half, with van der Weide's first goal well-deserved. While the second goal came as a result of some sloppy play from Nicolas DuCasse, it was still impressive that the opposing #10 van Harten was able to block the goalkeeper's attempt to play out from the back and slalom between Dutto and Blanco to double the visitors' lead. Despite some desperate substitutions from Tlanx, the team was never able to get back into it.

Lineup to play MD12, 13: D'Ambrosio; Lamontagne, Garcia, Blanco, Vitale; Chastain, Buvalelli, Toscani; Rossi, Squarciafichi, Barthelemy

One point behind Valladares (who they play in a pivotal MD14 at home) and with just three matches to play, the message is clear: if you drop points, you die.

[Ranoria]

Game Over: Ranoria's Hot Streak Not Enough To Propel Them to Qualification

For a roster that was fighting with its dying breath to end their prime with something to hang their hats on, this is a gut punch. First, HUElavia made sure to complete the sweep of our Krauts in a 2-1 heartbreaker that immedietely plummeted our chances - that was a must-win game for Ranoria to make their way into a playoff berth. A win-and-your-in type day. Drawing the Jaguars in a scoreless contest at Smith Field didn't make things much better.

Technically, they aren't eliminated. With three games to go, it's possible that the Krauts can amass nine points on the softer teams the schedule has presented them with while the three teams above them all collapse, but that's such a far-fetched possibility that we have to face the music - a coaching upgrade, a strong sense of determination and purpose, ultimately and this roster weren't enough to qualify for the most prestigious tournament in sports.

Like we pointed out - tough pill to swallow. Longtime midfielder Rayko Grossman has hinted at retirement. Strikers Barry Chlorid and Felix Graf aren't getting any younger, and while both are sensational playmakers they took a major step back in World Cup 90 as Ranoria shifted to a fully defensive philosophy. Kris Reinhardt - a veteran now - is still thriving on the back end, but even she only has a cycle or two left of peak production left in her. This crew tried, and try as they might they'll have to hand the reigns - gradually - to the next generation.

But the next generation is bright.

Now, they went winless in the Di Bradini Cup, but that doesn't speak to the talent on that roster. Tatiana Queen is one of the most exciting strikers to come out of Ranorian high school in generations, and Sabra Sapharina is a gifted defender with the ability to take over games given the opportunity. Vincent Emilia - the current goalie for the Krauts - is young, athletic, and not going anywhere fast.

This roster wasn't capable of doing what they set out to do - but with Manlafi Sowe coming back for at least one season to help right the ship, they may well have paved the way for the next batch to do what they couldn't with what will soon be three straight World Cup Qualifying campaigns with a winning record.

On to the next one, Krauts.