Baptism of Fire 78

[Reorganized Portugal]

Rádio e Televisão de Portugal

Portuga tops StrayaRoos Barrier Islands 3-2 at Baptism of Fire 78
Categories: Sports, News
Portuguese across the nation are ecstatic today after the Portuguese football team defeated the team of the StrayaRoos Barrier Islands 3 to 2.

This is a great comeback for the team following the slightly embarrassing 0-0 tie yesterday.

“I think the team played exceptionally today,” said head coach Fernando Santos, “and I know this is only the beginning of our path to the World Cup.”

Kickoff was at 6pm, and Farfadillis officials described the conditions as “remarkably regular.”Cristiano Ronaldo is making headlines after he scored the deciding goal against StrayaRoos, however it is also known that 10,000 Portuguese fans were scared off from the stadium following an incident that is being investigated.

“We just want to give a big thanks to Farfadillis for hosting these tournaments,” Ronaldo said during a press conference, “We’ve been having a lot of fun on the field these past days, and I can’t wait for the next game.”

Tomorrow the Portuguese team will be facing off against the nation of Efnakia, and many players are feeling confident about that match.

[Maphidon]

"And Smith is on a breakaway...he's nearing Holdast...chips the ball...GOOOOOAAAAAALL for Fort McKinley! And that pretty much closes out this match!"

A minute later, the final whistle blew.

Henry Garcia Valenci was very, very tired. As he looked around the pitch, he knew work would have to be done. Maphidon was still in contention by all means, but it would be a difficult battle. Los Palomas win against Kyhun had proved crucial, but a lot still hinged on the outcome of the Football Tiger-Kyhun match. The Maphidon players around him had different ways of coping. The more experienced players, like Timo or Kraus, seemed to only be thinking of how they could make it out. About what they had to do in order to exit the group in the right way. The younger players, like Jospeh or Ceiro, were taking it worse. Ceiro seemed especially affected. 3 goals in 2 games can do that to a young goalkeeper.

Henry spotted Mason on the sidelines. He didn't fault Mason for the events of the previous game, but if Mason had played this game, things might have been different. The players had gotten a very thorough briefing beforehand. The winner of this game would get a guaranteed Ro16 berth. And Maphidon had just blown that chance.

Coach Hagely was gesturing for the players on the field to come to the dressing room. Henry gathered up Nani, Marcus, and Kaspr, and the four of them made their way to the tunnel.

"Now, listen up." said Coach Hagely. "A loss is always hard. But the situation isn't as bleak as some of you might think. Football Tiger beat Kyhun 3-1. The group currently stands like this." He showed the team a table for Group A:

Group A                 Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Fort McKinley           2   2  0  0    5   1  +4    6
2 Football Tiger          2   1  0  1    4   4   0    3
3 Maphidon                2   1  0  1    2   3  −1    3
4 Kyhun                   2   0  0  2    2   5  −3    0

"So here's what has to happen for us to go through: We have to beat Football Tiger. Simple as that. Nothing else matters. How we are going to do it, on the other hand, is not quite so simple." Coach Hagely continued talking. Henry picked out some bits, like Mobile defense and Direct passing, but he couldn't focus on anything but Ceiro's face. Henry knew the young goalkeeper completely blamed himself for the game. He should talk to him later.

Coach Hagely's voice cut open his thoughts. "Henry, I want you to be present at the post-match interview. Normally, players don't go, but I think you should be there." In any other team, the other players might get jealous or cross with the favor Coach Hagely was showing Henry, but everybody in the Maphidon team knew he was the best. He had two goals so far from 2 matches.
"Alright, Coach, I'll do it."
"Thank you. The rest of you, we have a big match tomorrow. Get some sleep tonight, we'll have light training in the morning, then the match. Hopefully, we get to stay here a little while longer."

In the conference room...

[Mdembou O'doa, Maphidon Weekly]: Coach, Henry, that was certainly a tough game. Which parts went according to plan and which should be improved upon?

[Justin Hagely]: Our attack was good, we were just unlucky. Down the flanks is definitely where we need to focus our efforts. Because his red in the prior game was for violent conduct, Mason won't be with us tomorrow either. I think that Max can have a positive game. We have something to focus on tomorrow.

[Lara Vienhos, Sports of Maphidon]: Ceiro Holdast seems to be the one hardest hit with the recent loss. Care to comment?

[JH]: Yes, I very much would. Ceiro is young. That gives us two things. One: He still has many years left on him. He will only get better with time. Two: He hasn't had as much experience. For his age and experience level, I think he did very well. We only beat Kyhun because of his first-half heroics.

[Jaydon Mamari, La Chronicale]: What will be different in the next match, against Football Tiger? How will your team change?

[Henry Garcia Valenci]: If it's okay, Coach, I want to speak for this one. I know my team. They are sad, yes, but they personify building from what knocks you down. I think that yes, there'll be gameplay changes, but they will win because of the drive and passion. And, of course, we have some quality footballers on our squad.

[Hakim Abojabar, MNN]: And now, for the final, million-dollar question, do you think you can make it to the Ro16? Of course, that details beating Football Tiger. Only a win will do. So, does your team have what it takes?

[JH]: I think we will. This game was tough, but, like Henry said, we come back stronger. I believe in all the lads. We will adapt and survive. And I know what drives them. They want to represent our nation to the fullest extent. They want to lift the hopes and dreams of every child and adult in Maphidon. And if nothing else, they'll play because Mason will be yelling at them that they better not screw up his chance to play again in this tournament.

[Montesina]

The Fingers of discord

Montesina finally got off the mark in the table tonight. As expected, the game against Totomishin was tense and very tight in the midfield. However, fortunately we came out victorious this time. Both teams rely heavily on the passing game, so as expected, it was a busy game in midfield. When the few opportunities for the ball in the penalty area arose, Duhalde and Irvan would readily appear to defend both sides. And it would have been like that the whole game, if not for Damián García-Hirsch with his head and his fingers.

I mean, the 43rd minute goal was scored with his head, which was providentially met by a cross from Juan de Soto, but his fingers were what got the talk.

Just in case you didn't understand García-Hirsch gesture...

After the goal, García-Hirsch came out to celebrate, and stopping at the corner flag, raised a three-finger-salute (a gesture representing the Partido Revolucionario Obrero de Montesina, as opposed to the single finger taken to the sky, known as a sign of President Ubiña's supporters). None of the Mertagne TV cameras caught Hugo Medrano's reaction, but Montesinan journalists following the match at Cop Limy Stadium saw the coach go from joy to fury, throwing his clipboard to the ground!

Ultimately, Damián García-Hirsch did not return for the second half. He was substituted at half-time, and Santiago Mastrangelo came in his place. And he must have heard at least one warning from the coach. He watched the second half from the bench, sitting back enjoying his bottle of energy drink, while Medrano writhed nervously on the edge of the pitch. His expression was cheerful, as if to say to the coach "You took me off the field? All right, let's see what you can do without me."

We believe that this team has a lot to grow if it makes better use of the pitch, advancing the passing game to put pressure on the opposing defence (And that will be necessary in the next game against the leaders of the group, Hopal). And that cannot be done without García-Hirsch. The right to free speech is protected in the Republic's Constitution, approved equally by Obreros and Alianzistas there in the Parliament Palace, so the coach shouldn't be able to take away the most vital piece of the team, for a personal matter between the two. Will Medrano's change of position cost Montesina qualification?

---

[Tekatus]

The match started like any other. The weather was stormy, rain falling heavily upon the stadium, threatening to knock it down from the falling raindrops. But just before the first kick, Someone screamed and everyone’s attention was pointed upwards to the sky as a great hole in space tore itself open above the stadium seconds before spitting out dozens, no, hundreds of cats and dogs!

The Referees were so gobsmacked that they didn’t call off the game, only staring as the critters fell from the sky. A consensus was quickly reached. Triplets, Alpha, Beta, and Gamma would remain on the field, while the rest of the Iron Giants got to work catching the falling animals. The Cats all landed safely before quickly sprinting to the nearest shelter, only concerned with keeping themselves dry, but the canines were far clumsier, flailing about wildly as they fell into the arms of one of the now flying robot football players.

The Triplets held their ground against the Gadrian team, not only defending against the larger number, but actively out-maneuvering them, avoiding friend and foe alike as their fellows occasionally had to swoop down to the field to catch another pitbull or retriever. Alpha passed the ball to Gamma, who passed it back to Alpha, who struck it far to Beta, who struck it into the goal, leagues before the Gadrian goalie could figure out what was what.

When it was all said and done, the ‘Chaos-Storm’ event had dissipated, And the incredible display by the Sturnweilerbuilt triplets earned them a notable amount of local fame in the football scene. Taking home not only the win, but also an incredible ludicrous story, and a veritable army of freshly adopted pets.

[Gardelrya]

OSKARGARD DAGLIG KURER (Oskargard Daily Courier)
en.odk.com.gr/sports/baptism_of_fire

SUDILIA'S LATE GAME HEROICS GIVES GARDELRYA ITS FIRST LOSS
(Picture shows Tim Lang with his arm around Gunny Kristoffersan's shoulder, both with their head down after the defeat)

Ojo de la Tormenta
Azureña, Puerto Farolero
Farfadillis

Gardelrya's Best lose to Sudilia after two late goals gives them the lead. Gardelrya falls to second place in Group G, and is tied with Tjorl in points (3). Sudilia scored early with a 6' Emilie Labelle goal that Kristoffersan couldn't reach in time. But Gardelrya rallied back to score two goals back to back in the 17th and 20th minutes, by Sig Halvorsan and Kristian Tennefjord respectively. But their luck quickly ran out when Sudilian forward Olivier Ouimet scored right before halftime, making it tied 2-2.

Halvorsan struck gold again in the 52nd minute, when beautiful footwork by Soren Danielsan led to a pass that Sig promptly put in the back of the net. With the tie broken, their momentum continued to build, with Limmiera FC's golden boy Aki Hagen moving through Suldilia's defense to score a ball that almost levitated over goalkeeper Peter Grant making the score 4-2.

But unfortunately, things turned for the worst, as Gardelrya's offense stalled and defense became sloppy, as Sara Carbonneau scored on a long shot that the defense failed to prevent, and Kristoffersan mismanaged. But with a 4-3 lead heading into the 80' minute, the game was as good as over, until lightning struck dangerously close to the stadium. Using the startled defense to their advantage, Sudilia moved up the field almost as fast as the bolt, and put it past Kristoffersan. Both sides fought for the lead in the closing minutes, with both scoring chances and excellent goalkeeping abundant on both sides. But a bad penalty by Verner Ostberg set up a free kick, a free kick by Labelle that sailed gracefully over the Gardelryan defenders, landing on Rylan Grant's head, and ricocheted into the net, with Kristoffersan moving in the opposite direction. Extra time came up with nothing, and Gardelrya was handed its first defeat of the cycle.

In post-match interviews, manager Otto Castelberg said that the team's efforts were "commendable" but the second half was "extremely sloppy, too many chances given up, we simply have to do better." Castelberg isn't worried about Gardelrya's chances of making into the Round of 16, "we are going to figure it out, and we will be better next time. Playing one game in scorching heat and then with a massive storm surrounding you the next day would tax any team. The next match against Tjorl will be a big one, and we will be prepared."

[Efnakia]

25 minutes into the match. The score is 0-0.

Truly an excellent performance so far from the Blue and Golds. Dominating the first 25 minutes. Kaddaske now pushing down the right. Quick to Kanla and now looking for the overlap. Kaddaske still running down the right, now finds Kalafhaf in some space! Kalafhaf cuts in on his left, fakes a shot, now lifts one to the back post and KAHELTO IS THERE! MAPLEEEEEEEEEK SSU EFNAKIAAAA! An excellent header from Uhtetul Kahelto into the bottom corner and Efnakia takes the lead, one to nothing!
That is an excellently worked goal Massem, Kaddaske pushed the ball up brilliantly to find Kalafhaf, Kalafhaf found the space to deliver an excellent ball and Kahelto timed his run brilliantly to stay onside and meet the ball at the back post. Well-deserved goal considering the Blue and Gold’s early dominance, and that will be a confidence booster heading into the half.

Half-time. Three men are sat around a table labeled “Aka™ Halftime Show”.

A very, very good first half from the Efnak side so far. Leading 7 shots to 2, with the only 4 shots on target of the game, and the only goal of the game off an excellent header from Uhtetul Kahelto. Your thoughts, gentlemen?
Perfect performance so far from the team. They definitely struggled to adapt to the teams they faced during the AOCAF Cup, but it’s starting to become pretty clear that was far superior opposition to what the Efnak side is going to face in the Baptism of Fire.
For sure, Fonla, this has been superb so far. There’s a defensive solidity about the team that wasn’t present during the AOCAF Cup – Katemabffu has adapted well, got the tactics right, and it’s delivering so far. We were saying the same thing about the first half last match against the Barrier Islands, though, and it’s up to Katemabffu and the players to keep the momentum and push for a second goal to close this one out.

The fourth official’s board displays three minutes of added time. Efnakia still leads, 1-0.

Mon Sold are throwing men forward now for an equalizer. It’s a corner from the right side and the goalkeeper has wandered into the box for it. Corner whipped in, and it’s too long. Recycled out to the right back Simoes now. He’ll whip in a ball, and it’s poor and headed out. Oh, THE LEFT BACK SLIPS! Katemam is onto it and he has the fresh legs! Now a two-on-one with the goalkeeper stranded and just Simoes back covering! Katemam still running, now dummies the pass across and SLIDES IT INTO THE EMPTY NET! THERE IT IS! MAPLEEEEEEEEEEEK SSU EFNAKIA, AND THAT IS A FIRST INTERNATIONAL WIN FOR THE BLUE AND GOLD!

Cheering is heard in the back of the broadcast booth.

AMAZING, amazing, simply incredible Massem! They’ve done it! Tutsem Katemabffu has led this team excellently and for the first time in five attempts the Efnak national team has a WIN in the books. What a result!

---

FINALLY
Dumo hom Ccahor earn brilliant first win to take lead in group

FRÖNDT, Farfadillis – Chilly temperatures and a late, delayed kickoff didn’t faze the Efnak national team as they ran out winners against Mon Sold, 2-0.

It has become apparently clear to the Efnak media that Farfadillis’ reputation as an island of pure, unadultered chaos is well-earned, and that was on display again tonight. Kickoff was delayed several hours to 1am local time due to lighting issues, which were later uncovered to be a result of the attempted mining of cryptocurrency using the stadium’s power source. When the match finally kicked off at 1am local time, temperatures were well below freezing, despite the ostensible “summer” designation, reaching a low of almost negative 20 degrees by the end of the match.

The cold temperatures seemed to benefit the Efnak side, with it being difficult to play any form of fluid football. The Blue and Golds struck first, with Yutzie Sorma winger Koktamo Kalafhaf lifting an excellent cross to find 19-year-old Uhtetul Kahelto at the back post to take the lead. Kahelto would have another great chance in the first half, but he fired wide after a knockdown from strike partner Lanel Kamosspeffe.

Kamospeffe has led the line well at the tournament so far, and continued that performance in the second half. He was unlucky to find a second of the tournament with a sweetly struck volley that cannoned off the crossbar, and was denied on 70 minutes by an excellent save from the goalkeeper. But it would be the substitute Ssuto Katemam that would be the difference that secured the Efnak side the victory. As Mon Sold threw everything forward searching for an equalizer, Katemam rolled the ball into an empty net deep into added time to spark wild celebrations from the team and massive Efnak contingent of travelling fans. With the game not finishing until 5am in Efnakia, crowds at outdoor viewing areas weren’t as strong as seen for other big games, but there were still tens of thousands out in the dark to celebrate Katemam’s decisive winner.

The Dumo hom Ccahor sit top of Group F on four points, alongside Reorganized Portugal but with a greater goal differential. On Matchday Three, the Efnak side play Reorganized Portugal, while the StrayaRoos Barrier Islands face Mon Sold. The Blue and Golds are qualified for the knockout stages as top of the group with a win or a draw, while a loss means the side would rely on results elsewhere to qualify in second. There is still no information as to when and where the match will take place, but as always, coverage will begin (in Efnak) two hours prior to kickoff on MMSsE1, with Common-language coverage on MMSsE3. Hok Efnakia!

Thanks, dear reader! Buccoss kal, medunffob kasal! Ccam son ccamol teb he kem Efnak-asske bef bet’ tem ssa.

Ccam son omol ohaskof he al onka asske faf kem mat' ass kem Onka Ssaddo Loksob (Ssufuta hom Kodam) 395. Ccam ssal-lak ccamol omabu he Efnakia hom ccamol an Efnak ssaccess "memekmab mef".

[Forbidden Territories]

FTS News Interview

Ian :Hello everyone and welcome to FTS News Network, This is your host Ian, alongside with a special new guest exclusively on today's show . Ladies and gentlemen, coach Matt Ress from Forbidden Territories Football Team.

Matt : Hello there, everybody.

Ian: Quite the amazing start to your coaching tenure, isn't it Matt? A knockout place in IAC and now a confirmed knockout finish in the prestigious Baptism Of Fire. You must be ecstatic,

Matt : Oh absolutely, I am glad that we could confirm our place in the knockouts within the 2nd matchday. I wanted to do it asap, as there is very little gap between matchday 3 and the Round of 16.

Ian :Speaking of gaps between matches, the group stage rounds are in consecutive days. Isn't it a bit rushed and pits way too much pressure on players?

Matt: Oh absolutely, infact we were under pressure ever since the first match. You know, had to deal with algae in the field so a lot of energy was wasted. I for one did not expect that the next match was going to be so soon. Thankfully though it was delayed.

Ian: Delayed?

Matt: Apparently, a giant blue ringed octopus got accidentally released from the Ring Tank Aquarium and was vandalising a Calamari Stand. The players had to be evacuated and locked in a safe house in order to protect against it

Ian : A giant octopus?! Now that's something, how much big was it exactly?

Matt: The Size of 2 adult human male stacked on top of one another. It completely overturned the stand with ease and apparently is highly venomous. So we had to get out of there as fast as we can.

Ian: Goddamn, talk about a horror movie, you fo to your match wanting to watch your favourite footballer but instead see the sight of a monster octopus destroying everything in its path.

Ian: Well, now that I think of it, not a bad bargain, could fetch quite a lot of views.

Matt: yeah.....

Ian: Anyways we are derailing the interview, perhaps some other day we can talk about Killer octopus. So what's your plan against Cardenao?

Matt: We will playing our seconday squad in order to give well deserved rest to our primary players. It will be of formation 4-3-3 with a more aggresive setup

Ian: That seems like a good plan. Now that if it is confirmed that you will be on top of Group D assuming you draw. Which team would you prefer from Group C to be your opponent?

Matt: Well it's not gonna be Hopal , that's for shit sure!

Ian: Hahahaha. Indeed , thankfully they are expected to finish first unless they lose their last match and Macbon win theirs. So between Macbon and Montesina?

Matt: It's really hard to tell, both of them have similar aggresive style of gameplay which are perfect for our defensive counter strategies. Macbon however plays more rigidly with their 4- 4- 2 just like us, so I would prefer them honestly, since we already have some more gameplay footage of them than Montesina. Also I beleive you forgot about Totomishin , they too have a chance

Ian: Their chances are slimmer than a meteorite falling on the studio at this exact moment.

Matt reflexively looked up just to make sure..... He was quite the superstitious guy and didn't want to be a victim due to karmic retribution

Ian : Anyways... Totomishin need to absolutely win their next game by a wide margin and hope that the Montesina loses by a lot, assuming HTH is not counted in favour of Goal Difference.

Matt: Yes, it all comes down to what qualifier is used to determine tie difference.

Ian: a 2nd match and yet another goal for Alex Knott in the 80th minute, a strong reply to his critics, but at the same time, the team seems way too much dependent on him.

Matt: Well Alex is already established as one of the premier football superstars of the nation, so I don't exactly know why people were going for his head for failure in couple of matches, It was already expected that he would strike back and show us his true skill. As for overdependence, not really. We play as a team, and Alex being in the centremost position of attack is ideal for striking in goal. It's the chemistry of the team alongside his attacking prowess that results in this goal. He is a vital part of the team, but at the same time, uh.... we aren't dependent on him.

Ian: Well I reckon it's time you took a lesson on vital organs coach, because you sure do not survive without them. Anyways what's the team for tommorow's match?

Matt: Well this is a rough draft of the team.

1.GK 1 Shaun Mansey (31)
2.CB 18 Kael Molluwac ( 28)
3.CB 29 Chris Brayden (31)
4.LB 35 Chen Huefang ( 33)
5.RB 21 Mandrake Manson ( 29)
6.CM 38 Herman Miller ( 27)
7.CM 32 Larry Stevens (20)
8.CM 41 Albert hendrickson (25)
9.LW 43 Marc Rushinburg ( 27)
10.RW 60 Mohammed Rafique ( 28)
11.CF 56 Alberto Sanchez (24)

Ian: My my, you did not lie about giving rest to your key players. This is quite the new squad in fact, this is basically a B team with just a few recurrence of main squad players

Matt : Absolutely. I felt like a lot of the guys were tired, and thus I wanted to give the new guys a chance , to show their skills and assets in front of the world.

Ian: Cardenao is not an easy team. This might backfire spectacularly.

Matt: It's a dead rubber

Ian: You won't be saying that after a 5 - 0

Matt: I have confidence in my tea, but not enough to warrant a 5 - 0 victory . I think that's too much expectation from a rookie squad

Ian: A 5- 0 in favour of Cardenao sir.

Matt: Not a chance! I have personally trained the defenders . Molluwac and Brayden won't let more than 2 slip by

Ian: So you are saying a 2 -0 is in making.

Matt: No, but ... listen, I don't care if we win or lose, this match will be providing valuable experience to the squad and will help in future tournaments. That matters and that's about it.

Ian: Well we will see, the next match is going to be quite challenging so if you really wanted to throw the new guys into the boiler, you sure did. Anyways that's about it for today's show ladies and gentlemen, we will see you tomorrow after the match, discussing and analysing. Till then, bye.

[Fort McKinley]

The feedback from home gave the Ft McKinley squad reason to feel good about themselves ahead of the final Group A fixture against Kyhun, and David Guy Allen was feeling positive in spite of the fact that he'd only made a pair of late match sub appearances through the first two matches; manager Chris Gray had told him that he'd be starting in the final match during the preparations for Maphidon.

Another reason he was in a positive mood was the arrival of his girlfriend Leslie Peter Gray in Mertagne, one of a special party of 40 who had been granted permission to join up with the national team after their qualification for the knock-out Round of 16.

They had been a couple for over three years after having been introduced by David's older sister Kate, who was his closest sibling and biggest influence in being 'silent dissenters' to the Party; "Lee-lee', as she was known to everyone in her circle, was Kate's best friend from their time at the National University (which was different from the Autonomous People's University that was open to the general populace) and had the same political leanings.

Lee and David, along with Kate and her boyfriend Jason John Davis, had talked about plans to defect from Fort McKinley for over a year, making small, innocuous future arrangements and funneling cash into foreign bank accounts; David had enlisted the help of a Sarzonian National Team player in Jabal Ahkdar to assist him in transferring F^25,000 to a Sarzonian bank.

They would continue to bide their time, with the upcoming World Cup Qualifying looking like a perfect opportunity to further plan outside of the eyes of the Republic Party apparatus.

[Delte]

---

Serdtgyu 1-5 Delte
Kim Samrodd in Farfadillis for the Deltemouth Tide Times

---

I won't dwell overly long on the finer details of this match, but certainly mention should be made of the marauding right-sided partnership of Orem Ustingham and, well, yours truly, Kim Samrodd, who combined between them to provide four assists in the game, and the good doctor Ustingham also hitting a goal for The Representatives. Tai Cerotha, sporting an eye patch after a minor coming together with a flying object getting off the team bus, added an undeterred brace to his hatrick in the last game as The Representatives took full command against more anonymous opponents. The Tasher brothers Burus and Onan, who overslept and missed the last game played at dawn in the desert, were dropped to the bench for this one as punishment by the disciplinarian coach Enda Clentin, whilst veteran Aleard Sullenden, credited with discovering the existence of the Baptism of Fire in the first place (for the Deltlings at least), remained at the team hotel by way of apology to his team-mates.

---

The Representatives
Wish You Were Here

---

NOT MY finest hour, I must admit, sending postcards home to Issenda Tenning and Tessa Sack - heads of the football authority and the Delte valley community respectively - each card with a traditional Farfadillo ‘beast of the forest’ action photograph on the front, with said beasts in riot gear performing the familiar Faroleran Civil Unrest dance amidst a pageant of smoke bombs and plastic bullets, on the back of which I wrote, Wish you were here. No, seriously. I really wish you were here. Thanks for sending me. That was just after I had worked out why Issenda, Tessa and various other dignitaries from the valley of the Delte suddenly explained in great detail, back home on platform 3 of Oswark station, their very full diaries which meant they regretfully had to pass up the opportunity to see a bit of the world. While I wrote out the postcards coming into the stadium for our next match Perran Garimund, the team’s reserve rightback and security officer, so appointed because he is a constable in the River Patrol back home, was reassuring us that the coach windows were triple laminate bullet and brick-proof carbon nanotube-reinforced glass which the beasts of the forest could not smash no matter how hard they were hitting it and no matter what with; he further soothed us that the suspension on the coach was especially designed for such aggressive rocking from the crowd that lined La Grand Avenida, and in any case, if it all got too much the Rulandese coach driver Marcos el Triturador had a special licence to plough through, no matter what was under his bus. Even beasts of the forest.

Coach Enda had to read out the team selection with a megaphone while we were stuck in traffic and being pelted with cabbages, tomatoes, terrapins, stones and small incendiary devices made with broken pottery, bolts, washers and gunpowder. As the first choice rightback I got picked ahead of Perran to start the match against Serdtgyu, which according to the briefing sheet was a country so named for a random handful of letters drawn out of a Scrabble bag (Doctor Ustingham, the team doctor and right winger, called foul on that because, as an experienced Scrabbler he recognised that the offending drawer had taken one extra tile than the permitted seven, and proceeded to bemoan the scourge of extra-tile cheats that can ruin a good game of word formation). That was the only thing on the briefing sheet about our opponents, but the FARFADILLIS SURVIVAL GUIDE had plenty to say about how to get from the coach to the changing rooms with a minimum of fuss. Heads down, brisk jog, try not to show any fear - said our police constable Perran.

I’m not sure my first aid kit is big enough for this, remarked Doctor Ustingham.

[Kuraita]

KURAITASTRAVA
international

The Official International News Agency of The Republic of Kuraita

Ratified: Thousands assemble to celebrate

Arcjuga - After the signing of the Constituent Assembly three weeks ago, the Kuraitan people had to vote on their new constitution according to the process outlined in the Arcjuga Accords that terminated the civil conflict between the deposed military regime and new civic leaders. The Accords postulated a qualified majority vote, with 65% of votes in favour of the new constitution and a simple majority in all five provinces of Kuraita required for the new document to take effect. The finish of the assembly had been followed by a short, but intense campaign, with the resistances against the new constitution being led primarily by a faction of supporters of the Mandrins regime along with minor extremist groups. Another factor was the loose alliance led by law professor Vytautas Jagornis of the University of Arcjuga that was demanding a more “interactive” constitution, including referendum rights that were discussed but not included by the Assembly.

Still, the results of the referendum were convincing. Despite the competition from the Baptism of Fire football matches, where Kuraita was to make a first international appearance in the public eye, voters came out to the polls in droves. The National Team also promoted the vote, with captain Domantas Vaskevičius using a post-match interview to urge Kuraitans to vote on the referendum. Following the team’s opening loss to Cardenao, he said: “We are very sad to have lost our first competitive game. We’ve come here with high hopes to represent our nation. But there’s more important things going on this week, that will enter our history. I’m not here to say if you should support our constitution or not, but we are about to end a long and bloody history that has touched my family personally, and many of yours too. I urge you all to go vote, have a say in our future, and build our new country. And maybe come out to support us against Forbidden Territories afterwards, too”.

It appears that voters heeded Vaskevičius’s calls, heading to the voting stations in droves as the referendum saw a turnout of 92.3%. The vote also easily cleared the qualified majority, with 77.8% voting in favour of the new constitution and securing the required majority in all provinces. Closest results could be found in Makoja Province, the last holdout of the army before the peace process; still voters accepted the new constitution at a 56.2% in the province, among others urged on by a late campaign visit of former military leader Mandrins stating his support for the peace process. The results mean the new Kuraitan constitution takes effect immediately, establishing a temporary government drafted up by the Constituent Assembly and tasked with organising general parliamentary elections within two months, with campaigns expected to get under way soon.

For now, however, it is time to celebrate in Kuraita. In Arcjuga, estimates range between 200’000 and 300’000 people in the city’s streets; most notably, in a large gathering of a confirmed 33’500 people in the city’s Parliament Square, where Speaker of the Constituent Assembly Edvardas Redlihs, a former law professor and MP in the pre-Mandrins era, held a speech thanking voters for their support. “This day is historic, truly historic. Today, we, as Kuraitans, have come together to step over our difficult past and build a new Kuraita. Let Kuraita live forever!”, he exclaimed at the end of his speech before waving the new Vytis flag, a slight re-design from Kuraita’s pre-Mandrins flag. Mandrins himself had made a public appearance as well, speaking to officers in Makospils, and urged them to respect the decisions of the people and serve Kuraita above all else. In other locations across the country, a party settled in as well, with important leaders making appearances in Aziklirins and Auksturts, as well as civic leader Armandas Cigoras holding a well-attended speech in his hometown of Valtspils, simultaneously launching his election campaign for Parliament.

[Mon Sold]

Mon Sports!

Domestic and International Sports Wire from the Grand Duchy!

Bowheads Trounced by Efnakia!

By: Carmen Parri
PALAGHAST, Mon Sold - Our national team has received its first resounding defeat on the international stage. It wasn't the record they were hoping to set after yesterday's draw against Reformed Portugal, but a historic record is a historic record. In fairness, the team's performance was no worse than last week, with the Bowheads coming out in their standard defensive mindset of allowing the opposing team to keep the ball the majority of the time. This strategy is, supposedly, meant to wear the other team down while conserving their own strength which would allow them sudden bursts of aggression to hopefully get a strike. This strategy seemed to be working for the first half hour of the game as Efnakia was consistently repulsed from each attempt. It was a sudden feint by Efnakia's Uhteltul Kahelto with a header that caught goalkeeper Bertoldo Mandadori completely off guard and swept past him before he even had a chance to react! This goal shifted the whole balance of the game and seemed to unnerve team captain Sjaak Rey, whose strategy seemed to completely change. It isn't unexpected as it was also the first time the team ever allowed a goal, and this team doesn't have a long history of chemistry together.

By half-time the situation was still in Efnakia's favor but the Bowheads had burst fourth a total of twice to try and make a goal but failed due to stiff resistance. The performance of Forwards Van Dale and Campo were still praiseworthy, as the two seemed to coalesce around Striker Assies working the enemy's zone as best they could. While this performance was not enough shift the tide back in Mon Sold's favor it was good experience for the players and you could tell there is some as-yet undeveloped chemistry there. But, as time began to run out in the match the Bowhead's strategy shifted towards the offensive, abandoning their cautioned defense. It started as an aggressive counter-attack as the ball was seized by Lodovico Perrault (midfielder), and then suddenly all midfielders and the fullbacks came forward to make a strong push. That was when catastrophe struck. The dynamic shifted and before anyone knew it Efnakia had the ball and Simoes had slipped, although preliminary reports said it was Marin who slipped, Efnakia's Kateman rushed forward taking full advantage of the situation and was inside the penalty box, catching the Bowheads out of position. Mandadori was nearly alone, with only Simoes supporting, and then it happened -- a strike right where Mandadori wasn't expecting. With it the match was as good as over and the Bowheads were trounced.

The loss stung the fans at home with many cafes and bars alight with grumbling and shouts at the televisions. Head coach Willems said, after the match, "It happens. I'm not happy with the outcome but the team is putting on a good show. We'll recover in the next one."

If that is true only time will tell after tomorrow the team is expected to play recently victorious Reformed Portugal in a rematch. Can the team recover from this defeat and push ahead to score its first international win?

[Gortolekua]

Ballers Need Some Better Plans: Winter Lynxes qualify for knock-outs despite rocky 4-2 win
by Lempi Rey

NEW FLIGSIVE, Mertagne — That wasn't all so bad at all, was it?

Thirteen goals across two matches from all sides involved, and Gortolekua has a guaranteed ticket for the round of 16 in the 78th Baptism of Fire. Even following the weird distractions that have been taking place in both of our matches — the many Gortoleki sent to the Euran Oceania Territories on Matchday One, and the human statue protest on Matchday Two — there was a calculated composure among every one of those Winter Lynxes on the pitch.

Except for when there wasn't, of course.

Aleirave's squad proved to be a true first half nightmare for the Winter Lynx squad. They missed out on Garland Toivonen, suspended following a red card in the Caribbia match, and replacement centre-back Rocío Guadarrama didn't do Toivonen any favors. Or the country, for that matter, as she was involved in two errors that gave our fellow Anaians a 2-0 lead after the half-hour mark. A misguided pass that should have been cleared out, in all honesty, in our own half led to an interception by Fyodor Veshchik, beating Guadarrama again to slot it past Malone Newport on the right in the 18th. Guadarrama's day couldn't have gotten any worse, until woeful box positioning led to an own goal following a Seagull corner in the 29th minute.

It also didn't help, either, that Aleirave was able to smother any offensive creativity for most of that first half. Yekaterina Olayeva was all over Drummond Douglas in that first half, making sure he couldn't get a good shot off at all throughout that first half — four shots attempted by Douglas, zero on goal in that first half. Mapla Salinas and Jessica Partanen had tough, excruciating midfield battles with Aleksandr Vraletsky and Nakelia Lifevaneka that prevented any sort of breathing room at all.

"Credit to them, of course. They made it to the CAFA semis and could've won the damn thing if things went right," manager Bárbara Sanderson said. "Aleirave could've won this damn match too if we didn't pick up the tempo. They'll be a pain to deal with for many years to come, so I'm just glad we got this first one out of the way."

While Gortolekua was able to pull it back with a 42nd minute soft banger courtesy of Ivor Esteban, back-heeling the ball in, the Winter Lynxes went into the break down 2-1. Bárbara Sanderson, known for her animated, jovial conversations technical staff on the way to the dressing rooms, bolted back solo without a peep to anyone from our vantage point in the press box. Guadarrama received some sympathy pats from her fellow teammates, but her trek back to the dressers was a lonely walk for her — and her fears were pretty much confirmed when she was replaced by Arin Travieso to start the second half, forcing Lía Lindsey to play on the right.

"You know, there was nothing good to say about my time out on the pitch. I had one chance today to prove myself, and I blew it," Guadarrama told Totegia following the match. "I got why the gaffer took me off to start the second. I really do. Still hurts, though, having to watch all that out."

Sanderson also pulled out Mapla Salinas to bring Myra Randal on for a 45-minute shift and shifted Gortolekua to a 4-3-3 for the remainder of the match. It truly was night and day, especially with Randal's return to the pitch.

Three minutes into the second half, and Randal already proves her worth by directing an outside heel pass to Judith Berge, who went on to level the scoreline at two. Berge, who also did struggle playing on the wing in the first half, found herself much comfortable when she was able to center herself more on the pitch, and even grew more comfortable being on the wing as the match progressed.

"All your life you're playing up front and then the first time you play a match on the wing is for your country. In its maiden tournament. Against the regional semifinalists," Berge said in the post-match presser. "If you don't think I'm scared s---tless, you are gravely mistaken. I'm just glad it went better than I thought it would go."

Gortolekua then took the lead for the first time, following some excellent one-two play from Randal and Esteban, working to conduct match tempo with quick passes organized by both. Their work culminated in a beautiful pass from Esteban to Darby Innes in the 65th minute, sending Aleirave goalkeeper Falena Rukipiato right when Innes went left. And everything finally felt less chaotic when Drummond Douglas got his third goal of the tournament with a 77th minute shot just outside the box, which found its home in the top left corner.

"We managed to come back and show good mettle, which is great for us and for what this team does," Sanderson said. "But we know that there will be just as many good teams as Aleirave in the knockouts. There must be a better showing from here on out if we want to have any chance of a good run."

Ahead of the final matchday in the group stages, Sanderson has elected a mostly different starting XI to take on Unpleasant; she wants to give current starters some rest and some of the bench an opportunity to put their mettle into play for once.

Gortolekua's Starting XI against Unpleasant
Allan
Echevarría - Salinas - Mäkinen
Lynton - Pilgrim (c)
Saarinen - Travieso - Toivonen - Scrivener
Heikkilä

Landen Pilgrim, set to make his first ever start for the national team, is named captain for the match ahead against Unpleasant. For such a legend to finally get his first chance under the spotlight, it's an immense privilege he never thought he would get as his career enters its swan song.

"We can talk about the government being this, or the government being that. But for the first time in my life, I get to do what I've always dreamt of growing up," Pilgrim told Totegia following the match, where he was an unused substitute. "I get to wear an armband and lead my country in. My legs aren't the same, but my heart still is. And heart is everything in football. I hope we can finish the group stage undefeated."

Aleirave 2-4 Gortolekua
Aleirave scorers: F. Veshchik '18, R. Guadarrama (og) '29
Gortolekua scorers: I. Esteban '42, J. Berge '48, D. Innes '65, D. Douglas, '77
Aleirave subs: L. Fuseraka ⇄ A. Vraletksy '63; V. Resnyeva ⇄ I. Noselela '82
Gortolekua subs: A. Travieso ⇄ R. Guadarrama '45; M. Randal ⇄ M. Salinas '45; C. Mäkinen ⇄ J. Berge '83

DIG DEEPER
>CULTURE: Mertagnian rapper White Motif tops Gortoleki charts following secret BoF concert
>POLITICS: Salonen gaffes as a football fan, but thrives talking politics
>SPORT: Cricket rises in national popularity, as do many previously banned sports
>GORTOLEKUA: Protests calling for transparency regarding Point Foothill continue in Goudini

[Aleirave]

A Tale Woven in Time
Part III: A Wrinkle in Matters
Part I | Part II
Aleirave 2-4 Gortolekua

"They picked WHAT???"

Boris Kyslyev couldn't believe what his daily press briefing was telling him. The Aleiravan election had just come and gone, and the results had just been published: Aleirave had chosen their next leader... and he was King William of Eshialand.

Obviously, this was not a part of the Council of Oceanic Nations' plan. What they had been expecting was some sort of native government to be set up, and rendered completely helpless by the Klysevian-led invasion force. However, this island of 50 thousand was now going to be backed by a nation of 50 million, and not one that had friendly experiences with Klysevia in the past either. How was the Council going to take Aleirave back now?

To answer this question, he would have to reconvene the Council again... they'd need all of their brains on this one if there was going to be any sort of chance of getting all of this to work out.

"Okay, so what is our plan..." Boris asked. "Obviously, an invasion will be a bit difficult with a nation like Eshialand against us..."
"Wait, Eshialand?" the younger man from the previous meeting asked. "Isn't that the nation that Sergey Grenkov went to?"
"Aye, indeed it is Vasily Igorovich. They don't exactly hold us in the highest regard, so..."
"...so what I'm hearing..." said the man, now known to be Vasily Keregov of a nation known as Bestairitza, "...is that we have nothing to lose. No bridges to burn, no backs to stab... nothing."
"Well... yes, but I doubt the Klysevian population there will be too pleased with this. And mind you, as long as Maryansk still exists, there is a Klysevian minority in Eshialand."
"Who cares about them, they chose to stay with Grenkov, so they don't get an opinion!" a long-haired fellow chimed in.
"It's still not the best for optics."
"Who cares about optics, we have our base of Anaian operations to save!!"
"True... I suppose we should just carry on. Anyway, if that debacle between Eshialand and Aboveland is any indication, as soon as international incidents are involved that king just cracks under pressure."

A resounding "true" rang through the room.

"Well..."
"Anna? Is there an issue?"

Anna Poluyeva paused for a moment, knowing that, if she didn't delicately dance around her next few words, she'd probably get fired.

"Nikita Annedov is... proving to be a bit of trouble to locate."
"You can't find him???"
"Well... yes."
"What sort of counter-coup is this without our charismatic heir to the Presidential Palace???" Boris snapped back.
"I've been trying my hardest, but..."
"I need you to stop trying and to start DOING!!"
"Righty ho. Stop trying, start doing."

As Anna walked out of the conference room, she muttered under her breath "...hopefully the doing won't take as long as the trying..."

[Trollish Islands]

“Nyhedere vores regioon” newspaper

It looks, dear fellow citizens, like we were right in our guesses expressed in the last issue, that the whole tournament was started by some pranksters from the host countries in order to laugh at the guests of the country, and is, basically, something like an entertaining live-show with stupid jokes for undemanding public to relax after a hard day without straining their brains.

But let’s put facts in order. We observe episodes in almost every match of the tournament that testify to the complete collapse of the system of maintaining order, expressed in the inability of local law enforcement agencies to prevent at least the most obvious violations of it, such as intrusions of outsiders on the field or hooligan acts, so you should not be surprised at the riots and gang shootings near and on the stadiums. The infrastructure falling apart right during the games also, after the first shock, does not raise any special questions then, as all this events are completely in line with everything else. And again, almost in every second match there is visibile total shift in priorities, since even the slightest disruption of commercial activity at the stadium leads to the disruption of the games. In the end, well, we don’t know about everyone else, but we didn’t come here from Trollish Islands to eat boiled fish in a paper bag, but for very much another reason. Moreover, the hosts describe the inconvenience caused to the players and tourists with visible pleasure.

And, taking all this in account, there is nothing to be surprised that the results are ... strange, to say the least and while avoiding precise, but particularly rude, words. Perhaps the organizers were so carried away by the tough work of putting the guests of the country and the participants in the competition into the stupid and miserable situations that they completely forgot about why all these people took the trouble to travel so far.

Well, let’s in the end say something pleasant: at the last match of our team, one of the sectors of the stands was assigned to the needs of a hooligan element from the local students, who actively ran into trouble by insulting the guests of the country. Our fans, usually calm, did not remain in debt, and this play was continued after the game, but we will tell about it in color in a special news roll on Sunday. TTV promised us not to release their news story on this sooner. You will see and feel everything, we promise it!

So, let’s see last game of our team on the tournament and see you soon on our beloved islands, just in time for this Sunday event.

[Mertagne]

Matchday Three Scores

Group A
Kyhun 2–3 Fort McKinley [at Dannin City Stadium, kick off 15:00, pitch was quite boggy at one end. Player benches were moved to higher ground.]
Maphidon 6–4 Football Tiger [at Spectrum Stadium, kick off 19:00, several lightbulbs in fan stands were erroneously replaced with tanning bulbs. Many people experienced sunburn.]

Group A                 Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Fort McKinley           3   3  0  0    8   3  +5    9 - Winner A
2 Maphidon                3   2  0  1    8   7  +1    6 - Runner-Up A
3 Football Tiger          3   1  0  2    8  10  −2    3
4 Kyhun                   3   0  0  3    4   8  −4    0

Group B
Gortolekua 5–2 Unpleasant [at Keers Dock Pitch, kick off 17:00, game interrupted after an errant ball from an unconfirmed source capsized a small fishing vessel, scrambling the coast guard.]
Caribbia 3–6 Aleirave [at Flynn Ar3na, kick off 21:25, delayed after the pitch had been double booked by a war re-enactment group.]

Group B                 Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Gortolekua              3   3  0  0   14   6  +8    9 - Winner B
2 Aleirave                3   2  0  1   14   7  +7    6 - Runner-Up B
3 Caribbia                3   0  1  2    8  14  −6    1
4 Unpleasant              3   0  1  2    5  14  −9    1

Group C
Macbon 3–2 TotoMishin [at Cop Limy Stadium, kick off 15:00. After the match, a new time capsule was buried to be dug up in fifty years time.]
Montesina 2–1 Hopal [at Nine Star Arch, kick off 19:00. Afer the match, an activist group literally captured the arch and refused to leave.]

Group C                 Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Hopal                   3   2  0  1    5   2  +3    6 - Winner C
2 Macbon                  3   2  0  1    5   5   0    6 - Runner-Up C
3 Montesina               3   2  0  1    3   3   0    6
4 TotoMishin              3   0  0  3    2   5  −3    0

Macbon over Montesina based on H2H result.

Group D
Cardenao 1–4 Forbidden Territories [at The Ring Tank Stadium, kick off 17:00, in which the fire brigade was scrambled as the aquarium had sprung a leak on the outside of the stadium.]
Kuraita 0–1 Trollish Islands [at Spire Campus, kick off 21:00. During the first half, a nerd was discovered to have been wrapped inside a goal net in some form of cruel prank.]

Group D                 Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Forbidden Territories   3   3  0  0    6   1  +5    9 - Winner D
2 Trollish Islands        3   1  1  1    1   1   0    4 - Runner-Up D
3 Cardenao                3   1  1  1    4   5  −1    4
4 Kuraita                 3   0  0  3    1   5  −4    0

Round of Sixteen Fixtures

Fort McKinley vs. Aleirave
at Dannin City Stadium, Dannin, Dannmarsh

Hopal vs. Trollish Islands
at Cop Limy Stadium, Neorudo, Touchpoint

Gortolekua vs. Maphidon
at Flynn Ar3na, New Fligsive, Plitterland

Forbidden Territories vs. Macbon
at The Ring Tank Stadium, Ostosaide, Besny

[Farfadillis]

Matchday Three Scores

Group E
Stresia 1–0 Serdtgyu, [at La Snerra, kick off 21:00, match had to be delayed due to sudden, unexplained change of venus from Bojno Polje, which is all the way across the island from La Snerra.]
Delte 0–0 New Eestiball, [at La Fantás, kick off 17:00, match delayed by half an hour due to every relevant authority simultaneously forgetting the keys to the staduim.]

- Group E                       Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Delte                           3   2  1  0    9   2  +7    7
2 New Eestiball                   3   2  1  0    5   2  +3    7
3 Stresia                         3   1  0  2    4   8  −4    3
4 Serdtgyu                        3   0  0  3    1   7  −6    0

Group F
StrayaRoos Barrier Islands 0–0 Mon Sold, [at La Gran Avenida, kick off 4:00, the FFFF would like to apologize for confusing 4 am with 4 pm when scheduling this match.]
Efnakia 3–1 Reorganized Portugal, [at Rülândéá Çölíséá, kick off 19:00, match delayed due to referee getting asthma attack because of Rulandese smog.]

- Group F                       Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Efnakia                         3   2  1  0    6   2  +4    7
2 Reorganized Portugal            3   1  1  1    4   5  −1    4
3 StrayaRoos Barrier Islands      3   0  2  1    3   4  −1    2
4 Mon Sold                        3   0  2  1    0   2  −2    2

Group G
Sudilia 3–2 Tyskerlund, [at La Gran Avenida, kick off 20:00, math delayed because referee was kidnapped two hours before game was meant to start; the ransom was deemed too expensive and the substitute referee had to be talked into taking over due to fear of kidnapping.]
Tjorl 2–2 Gardelrya, [at Den Mytologiska Maneter, kick off 18:00, infestation of potentially very deadly flying jellyfish did not impede the match from happening at the scheduled time... though it probably should have.]

- Group G                       Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Sudilia                         3   3  0  0   13   9  +4    9
2 Gardelrya                       3   1  1  1    8   7  +1    4
3 Tjorl                           3   1  1  1    8   9  −1    4
4 Tyskerlund                      3   0  0  3    4   8  −4    0

Group H
Gadria 2–1 Potenzia, [at Grand René Skaé, kick off 18:00, a rather pleasant evening by René Skaé standards. Shame that nobody appears to have taken care of the pitch after matchday one.]
Kamisato Ayaka Nation 2–3 Tekatus, [at Bojno Polje, kick off 189:00, small-time, spontaneous fire in the stands because of faulty pop corn machine fortunately did not spread much, despite no concerted efforts being made to stop it.]

- Group H                       Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Tekatus                         3   3  0  0   11   3  +8    9
2 Kamisato Ayaka Nation           3   2  0  1    8   6  +2    6
3 Gadria                          3   1  0  2    4   9  −5    3
4 Potenzia                        3   0  0  3    3   8  −5    0

Round of Sixteen Fixtures

Delte vs. Reorganized Portugal
at La Gran Avenida, Victoria Lago, Farolera

Sudilia vs. Kamisato Ayaka Nation
at La Fantás, Ferdullaele, Ferdullaele

Efnakia vs. New Eestiball
at Rülândéá Çölíséá, Lìbêrêtê, Rülândéá

Tekatus vs. Gardelrya
at Grand René Skaé, René Skaé, Szoirsia

[New Eestiball]

New Eestiball was through, and luckily, they weren't playing the people they were closest to. After the draw with Delte, giving New Eestiball second in their group, Portugal lost in group F. This meant that the only chance there would be for a matchup of the Y*hlia-prayers would be in the semis. Instead, they would have a tough game against a great Efnakia squad. This would be followed by either playing heavy favorite Tekatus, who won all of their games in group H, or Gardelrya, who survived on point differential. That is, if they beat the Efnakia team that had a hard group, but won it. It was clear at the start, Delte and New Eestiball would be the two through from group E, and Delte would get first, due to their more attacking style. They were also a better team. New Eestiball would need good luck in the R16 to move on to the QFs.

The game, you ask? Well, here I present to you... The game between 2 teams that have both qualified and don't want any players to get injured or carded. BOOOOOOOOOORINGGGGGG. 0-0, obviously.

In other news, go look at the Maphidon game, that was exciting. Also Montesina's group, and that tiebreaker.

[Delte]

---

Delte 0-0 New Eestiball
Kim Samrodd in Farfadillis for the Toddwardine Beastmarket Journal and News of The World

---

I won't dwell overly long on the finer details of this match, but certainly mention should be made of the old fellas at the back for The Representatives, Unto Squaker and Darra Cankal, both 37, who were like a locked iron gate against the rusty doorknobs of New Eestiball. They simply allowed no openings all game. Drafted in as part of coach Enda Clentin's team rotation with qualification already assured, they were the highlight in a game otherwise lacking in quality and ambition. Already with one eye on the knockout rounds, neither side looked inclined to roll their sleeves up in a delayed game at La Fantás. Prolific striker Tai Cerotha was another benched for a rest after hitting five in his first two games, but even he couldn't make an impact with his late substitute appearance.

---

The Representatives
The Keys To The Kingdom

---

FIRST TIME it happened, fair enough. Anyone can get locked out. Fourth, fifth, sixth time? Peculiar, that. (Quoting team captain Eremo Olde, the good stoic). With a long journey to Ferdullaele ahead of them, the team were facing an early delay when the Tasher brothers, Burus and Onun, had to come forward after breakfast to admit that they had lost the keys to their motel room in the night. Uma Chapola, the senior bank manager for the Corn Exchange back home and the trip purser, being uncertain of the precise details of how everyone was getting paid by the EWCC for qualifying for the next round of the cup and therefore a bit concerned about cashflow, was reluctant to lose the team deposit at the Roja Roof Inn. There was a discussion about how much cash was left in the team pot, bearing in mind that the unexpected qualification meant everyone was short of underwear for the extended trip and Uma would have to measure everyone up for extra underpants, another cost. There was a cursory inquiry into what the Tasher brothers were up to, out of their room well after curfew, and where they had stayed the night - but at Eremo’s request this was left for another day. Finally Enor Perro the unemployed defensive midfielder came forward and, explaining some of the skills he had picked up in Auld Triangle (or gaol, for those who never heard of it), he managed to unpick the lock without letting the management of Roja Roof know what had gone on. Surprisingly for the somewhat slovenly Tasher brothers, the room looked so tidy, and the bed so well made, that it was almost as if they had never been in there at all except to dump their bags. Eremo the good stoic brushed over it for another time.

Things continued to progress slowly when Marcos el Triturador, their Rulandese coach driver, couldn’t find the keys to his coach - or the bus’s onboard facilities, and once more Enor Perro had to oblige, flipping the locks on the coach and the toilet as well as disabling the alarm and hotwiring the engine. Marcos was very impressed with Enor and promised to introduce him to some friends in Lìbêrêtê who might give him gainful employment, reassuring him that visa arrangements were very easy to navigate for someone with his skills. He soon had another opportunity to impress Marcos when the security guard at the Roja Roof Inn’s parking compound explained the barrier was stuck in the closed position. The driver, licensed to plough through, was keen to plough through but once again Uma intervened, anxious about damages, and the young defensive midfielder was able to hack the security box and get the barrier up in no time at all. From there to Ferdullaele, via the long and winding roads of the interior, Marcos insisted that Enor sat up front with him and they became great friends, promising to correspond should Enor decide that a career in counter-security in Farfadillis was not really for him.

When they got to La Fantás, they found they were locked out. Naturally, Enor was on hand to impress the various officers of the local authority who were each planning for life after being fired for incompetence, and he was highly praised for saving the day (and their jobs).

I don’t suppose you brought a fire extinguisher, joked the assistant director of the city council.

[Efnakia]

IN “SMOG”-KING HOT FORM
Dumo hom Ccahor ease to victory in fresh Rülândésé air

LIBÊRÊTÊ, Rülândéá, Farfadillis – The Efnak counter-attack was too much for a competent Reorganized Portugal side last night at the Rülândéá Çölíséá as the Blue and Golds romped to victory, 3-1.

Another bout of chaos delayed another Efnak match in this godforsaken remnant of a country Farfadillis, as the match began late following an asthma attack suffered by the referee due to the truly horrific smog, or as the locals would apparently call it, “an average day”. The Efnak winger pairing of Ssuto Katemam and Kasmab Kalas seemed most capable to cope with the conditions, being from the Efnak industrial heartland of Ssedbam, but both sides seemed lethargic throughout much of the match.

The Blue and Golds started quick out of the blocks, scoring within the first five minutes from a devastating breakaway. Katemam capitalized on his first cap for the national team by making an immediate impression, receiving a long ball from captain Sasmu Kacceda and beating the remaining defenders for pace before slotting the ball into the bottom corner. Reorganized Portugal was on the front foot for a while, maintaining serious pressure, but manager Katemabffu’s tactics proved brilliant again, as Katemam yet again received a clearance before playing an excellent through ball to young striker Este Kakto, where he rounded the keeper and slotted the ball into the empty net.

Reorganized Portugal would start the second half on the front foot yet again, and would finally get a goal, with a blistering shot from the edge of the box finding the bottom corner beyond the outstretched Mo Kacceo. However, they couldn’t capitalize on the momentum, and negative tactics from the Efnak side ground any remaining quality in the game to a halt. Finally, with 7 minutes remaining, a hospital ball from Portuguese center back to his goalkeeper was seized on by substitute striker Bomdu Kadasfe, and the Portuguese goalkeeper was again rounded as Kadasfe slotted the ball in to secure the victory.

With that win, Efnakia advances to the Round of 16 as group winners, while due to the goalless draw between the StrayaRoos Barrier Islands and Mon Sold, Reorganized Portugal advanced in second place. Next up for the Blue and Golds is New Eestiball, who finished their group undefeated with two wins over Stresia and Serdtgyu and a draw with group winners Delte. Travel will be simple for the traveling Efnak contingent, as the Dumo hom Ccahor will stay in Libêrêtê to play another game in the Rülândéá Çölíséá. As always, kickoff times have not been made available by the FFFF, but prematch coverage will begin (in Efnak) 2 hours prior on MMSsE1, with Common-language coverage on MMSsE3 beginning at the same time. Hok Efnakia!

Thanks, dear reader! Buccoss kal, medunffob kasal! Ccam son ccamol teb he kem Efnak-asske bef bet’ tem ssa.

Ccam son omol ohaskof he al onka asske faf kem mat' ass kem Onka Ssaddo Loksob (Ssufuta hom Kodam) 395. Ccam ssal-lak ccamol omabu he Efnakia hom ccamol an Efnak ssaccess "memekmab mef".

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CYCLONE AMHEM BATTERS EAST COAST
Thousands missing, hundreds feared dead as landslides, flooding pummel three eastern provinces

The path of Cyclone Amhem through the east of the country.

MUHDET’, Abmas – The incoming governments in the three eastern provinces of Efnakia already have a challenge on their hands as devastating Cyclone Amhem tore across the east of the country on Friday and Saturday.

The cyclone made landfall at 3am local time on the coast northwest of Udfen, Ulde, sliding down the Ulde coast before making a second landfall around Tuflo, Melham. The storm then turned southwest, slowing down as it traveled over the heavily populated River Ccenddes basin, before reentering the sea south of Daffu. However, with a high-pressure system coming from the south, the storm then turned east, where it battered the southwest Melham city of Monno before losing momentum in the southern Melham Range and exiting the southeast Melham coast as a simple tropical depression.

Naturally, a storm with this devastating of a path had the effects that were expected by Efnak meteorological authorities. Heavy wind damage was reported throughout eastern Ulde, including in the capital Udfen, where the roof of the Udfen Provincial Stadium was damaged leaving local side KF Udfen to play at an alternate venue until repairs can be completed. Heavy flooding was reported throughout northwest Melham and eastern Abmas around the River Ccenddes, with hundreds of thousands forced to evacuate their homes as water levels rose in the densely populated river basin.

Landslides were reported throughout the rural, mountainous areas of southwestern and central Melham, with the city of Monno being hit particularly hard as a large mudslide from the surrounding hills buried much of the east of the city in feet of mud. The historically neglected areas of central Melham were also heavily affected by landslides, though little news has emerged from the area.

The Efnak federal government has appealed for foreign aid, while rioting was reported throughout much of Abmas reportedly due to frustration with the federal government’s immediate response to the disaster in Melham (despite the unstated fact that both Ulde and Abmas have received greater aid in comparison to destruction suffered than Melham, as has been the case in every federal disaster response). The current death toll is marked at 170, with 120 of those being in Melham, with hundreds or potentially thousands more feared dead due to the devastation in urban areas.

Flooding along the River Ccenddes near Boku, Abmas.

The new government in Melham has already made public statements calling for greater federal aid for the southwest and center of the province, with a statement ending with “lacking further efforts, the Government will have to reconsider commitments made to the Federated State” seen as a veiled threat to the government in Odra. For their part, the government in Odra has announced redoubled commitments to the minority Melhamese populations in the east, with a revamped focus on disaster management and relief efforts which previously prioritized ethnic Efnaks in the three provinces. The new Minister for Development, Latla Katana (DBT – ŞoO, Melham South), is expected to make a statement on relief efforts in the Anuda tomorrow, though it is likely to be disrupted by Party for Purity and Fatherland Union members.

[New Eestiball]

The New Eestiballian team were finally motivated. Delte's premier press had called them 'rusty'. And the game wasn't a loss, it was a freaking draw! "Just because we don't shoot on sight doesn't mean we're not good!" said 934 angrily. Efnakia, watch out, because the doorknobs have something to prove.

[Reorganized Portugal]

Rádio e Televisão de Portugal

Portugal beaten 3-1 against Efnakia at BOF
Categories: Sports, News
On an otherwise sunny day in Lisbon, the shocking news is released to the country. Reorganized Portugal has lost a football game.

Following the 3-2 victory over StrayaRoos in the last game, many Portuguese were confident that the nation’s esteemed football team would defeat Efnakia and secure its spot as number #1 in its group stage. This was not the case.

Head coach Fernando Santos has not commented on the loss, however incomprehensible shouting and screaming was reportedly heard from the coach’s hotel room in Farfadillis as the match progressed.

Kickoff was at 7pm, the match delayed after the referee passed out from smog in the area, a phenomenon which locals say is normal. Efnakia scored the first goal, which was quickly followed by the Portuguese team. However, goalie Diogo Costa is under fire after he failed to block Efnakia’s second goal, a goal many saw as easily blockable. As the match progressed, Portuguese fans in the stadium became violent, with profanities yelled as Efnakia pushed the third goal at near the end of the match, securing the victory. As the match ended, at least three Portuguese fans beat up two Efnakian fans in the stadium and called to invalidate Efnakia’s goals and push into overtime. However, after it was revealed Portugal had still succeeded to the Round of 16 for being the runner up, the imminent riot subsided.

Portugal will be facing the team of Delte tomorrow, and Portuguese are hoping for a better result this time around.

[Mon Sold]

Mon Sports!

Domestic and International Sports Wire from the Grand Duchy!

Bowheads fight to a second stalemate! Eliminated from the Baptism of Fire ...

By: Carmen Parri
CILAGHAST, Mon Sold - The fairytale is over folks and not in the way the Bowheads had hoped. The team's chances were already precarious going into this match-up with a draw against Reorganized Portugal and a resounding defeat against Efnakia. Its not even clear if a victory here would have done them any favors unless, by some miracle, they had scored very well. The match itself took place at Farfadilis' La Gran Avenida stadium, situated in a deceivingly captivating forest, and against StrayaRoos Barrier Islands. The entire match-up with a fiasco from start to finish, and its expected that it was such a debacle that the Grand Duchy may request to build an embassy for the express purpose of filing an official complaint. First, the team coach, Mr. Willems, are contacted at 0330 in the morning asking when our boys would be arriving and what was delaying them. To Coach Willems horror the FFFF had mistaken 4am for 4pm when scheduling the match which caused massed panic in the hotel as players rushed around to get their gear while stadium officials agreed to hold until their arrival. As to why this game was scheduled so early remains unclear but our unknown sources inside the FFFF have relayed that the attitude was sour: "They're fucked anyway, lets just get this over with before the humidity gets too bad", is a quote attributed to one undisclosed FFFF official responsible for scheduling. Second, it was not properly relayed to the Bowheads that travel to the stadium by automobile was banned which made their purchase of a local bus for travel both completely pointless and an unnecessary expense. This is nothing compared to the wild beasts that roam the forest and are by no means afraid of humans. Our team trudged through the pathways and up towards the city when they were attacked by what some have called a "man-tiger-boar" which drug substitute Renaud Kool into the trees and savagely tore him to pieces before our stunned boys could react and attempt a rescue! Alas, the remains of Mr. Kool are being returned to his family in Mon Sold via a water bottle (given the amount of contents that remain, but it being flown business class).

The bloodied and battered team, exhausted and over an hour late, stumbled into La Gran Avenida with no time for breaks. The condition of the folks from StrayaRoos Barrier Islands was unclear at the time, but that is mostly because Mr. Kool was also the only member of our team that took animal biology and thus no one could tell the condition of the emus. Still, the game was hard fought as though both sides knew they were likely to be going home after this and so ... well, why the hell not? The Bowheads changed their tactics this time, opting for a more aggressive and risky play style. The chemistry that seemed to develop yesterday against Efnakia between Van Dale, Campo, and Assies continued with Assies clearly being the leader and attempting to utilize his younger, and more inexperienced, forwards to the best. That said, the StrayaRoos emus were highly effective at defensive tactics that, some, would say were downright animalistic. This back and forth continued for most of the game with both teams making numerous drives and attempts at the goal, but for the Bowheads Mandadori, shamed by his failure twice yesterday, was full of fire and equaled his emu opponent across the field.

Finally the referees seemed bored and decided to call the match. Neither team seemed able to topple the defense of the other and by late game it was apparent that there would be no big-scores that could upset the Baptism going forward. With the match called the team quickly raided the locker rooms, tearing off locker doors and crafting improvised weaponry, before sallying forth out of the stadium in a shield wall to strike for their hotel. Coach Willems shined here, apparently shamed by the loss of Mr. Kool who he is reported to be the one who placed his remains in the sanctified water bottle, staying in the middle of the formation and rallying the team to stick together despite numerous assaults by wild beasts from the forest.

At the time of writing, I can confirm that the Bowheads safely made it back to their hotel, packed up their gear, and have boarded their flight home. Their next chance to prove themselves will be during the upcoming World Cup which, if this shit-show was anything to go by, promises to make many more openings in the team's roster.

Until next time fans ...

[Sudilia]

Bring It On!

Sudilia wins Group G with a sweep, looking forward towards facing off against Kamisato Ayaka Nation.

Starting XI vs Kamisato Ayaka Nation:
1 Grant (C), 5 Williams, 2 Olson, 3 Grant, 4 Lee, 6 Carbonneau, 8 Latour, 11 Lyle, 10 Beauvais, 7 Labelle, 9 Ouiment

While the IAC was a disappointing debut on the Multiversal scene, the Baptism of Fire had been the opposite. In their second match in Group G, Sudilia survived a thrilling 5-4 victory over Gardelrya which secured the team their place into the Round-of-16. For the final Group Stage match against Tyskerlund, Coach Thompson opted to use the B-Team players in order to rest the starters prior to the knockouts. It was yet another thrilling match, as the team had a see-saw match against Tyskerlund, where a late goal from Gabriella Grant gave the Sudilians the full sweep of the group. In the other match, a 2-2 draw between Tjorl and Gardelrya was enough to send the surprise package of the IAC Tjorl out of the tournament.

Now, Sudilia will be taking on Kamisato Ayaka Nation, who finished 2nd in Group H with 6 Points after losing on Matchday 3 to Tekatus. The match is set to be played at La Fantás (70,000), in Ferdullaele. where it has been advised for fans to avoid the fires that break out. Speaking of surprise events in Farfadillis, there was an incident on Matchday 2 where the main referee was kidnapped and the match was postponed until a replacement could be found. Following that, there were some attacks from Flying Jellyfish on Matchday 3 that fortunately the players avoided, but some fans were attacked and were rushed to the hospital for treatment. Fans have mainly stayed safe, except for some skirmishes with some locals. The Sudilian government has still issued travel warnings for the visiting fans and expressed concern over their situation.

Meanwhile, at the team base, Sudilia continues to train, with the team studying film and practicing drills for their upcoming game. Coach Thompson was quoted "Sudilia is looking forward to this upcoming match. So far, we've had our defensive struggles, but the attack has made up for it and have given some entertaining games, even if it was stressful for us. Our next game against Kamisato Ayaka Nation will be a game we hope it goes well. We want to give a good game and hopefully advance."

GO SUDILIA! ALLEZ SUDILE!

[Maphidon]

This was it. The game that decided Group A's second Ro16 participant.

The teams walked out of the tunnel. Las Palomas finally got to sport their white home kits. It was time to show what they could do with their home colors on. When the national anthem came on, it was etched in their faces. As Coach Justin Hagely had rightfully said earlier, they wanted to win for their country. Though a very grim, sidelined Mason Woodmere-Knaxon seemed to add additional encouragement.

The game started soon afterwards. It was curiously warm in some parts of the stadium. The lights also seemed to be interchanged. Las Palomas started slow. This was evidenced by the quick attack from the opposition. Timo Sinclare made a hasty pass that was quickly intercepted, and Maphidon was on the back foot. The Football Tiger[s] made good use of the ball, sliding it back and forth between them. The first goal slid past Ceiro Holdast. Oh no. All the players knew this was the exact opposite of what had needed to happen. They were losing. At this rate, the Ro16 was gone. Maybe that realization lit a fire in some of them. It certainly did in one Henry Garcia Valenci. 0-1.

It was the 13th minute. Up 1-0, the opposition had started to lay back. They knew this result would keep them up. Maphidon had to fight harder. And fight harder they did. Henry got the ball around midfield. Later, Maphidon sports pundits would call it "the 50 yard dash". He just kept going. In and out and in and out. The other players couldn't grasp what could have been happening. They had similarly twisted up Maphidon just minutes earlier. Henry cut to the outside, in the gap between two defenders. He was at a tricky angle now. He knew he couldn't make it. Luckily, he had Jospeh. He chipped the ball up, over the goalkeeper, and right onto his aiding forwards head. 1-1.

They were back in it now. Las Palomas may mean "The Doves", but they could certainly take on tigers. After that tying goal, the match moved quickly. The other team got close in the 20th minute, but Ceiro held fast. A brilliant punch out of the box gave it straight to Max, who took off. He played a lobbed through-ball to Jospeh. He ran all the way to the corner flag. A quick croquetta beat the defender, and he returned Henry's earlier favor. Unfortunately, he didn't time it perfectly. It went a little behind. And so Henry did the only thing he could think off: he drew up his heel and executed a perfect scorpion kick. The crowd went crazy. Little did they know, they had had only a taste of what was to come. 2-1.

Football Tiger knew they had just lost their chance in the Ro16. They had to take this match seriously. They tried to start disrupting the flow of Maphidon play. Las Palomas gave away many cheap balls. And Football Tiger would use that against them. When Maphidon finally mounted a serious attack, an interception in the middle gave it to the other goalkeeper. He quickly sent the ball flying. Timo and Nani were beaten in a 3-on-2, and there was nothing Ceiro could do. It was tied yet again. This match had been very back-and-forth. There wasn't really a better side. That would work for Football Tiger. Not for Maphidon. 2-2.

It was nearing the end of the half. Las Palomas needed something to give them confidence going into the break. Henry knew that. He tried to advance, but the opposition defense wasn't having it. He got the ball near the 2nd minute of added time. He did the only thing left in mind. He feigned a pass to Jospeh. They he started running. Then played an actual through-ball to Jospeh. This greatly confused the opposition. Jospeh was able to break free. He sprinted down the line. It looked like he was through...but no! he passed it back to Fatih near the penalty box semi-circle, who launched a rocket into the top corner. Maphidon had their leg up. A completely selfless goal. This is how they were going to win the match. 3-2.

After the half, the Maphidon players were refreshed. They were back in it. Fort McKinley was taking care of Kyhun. All they needed to do was take care of this match.

Not too long after the kick-off, Kraus got the ball near sideline. He slid it up to Jospeh, who beat a defender soundly. He saw Henry. In one of the best assists of his career, he launched the ball over the opposition and right near Henry. Henry wasn't in the best angles, however. He was almost to the goalkeeper sideline. Without thinking, he made as if to pass the ball backwards. The goalkeeper stumbled a bit, confused by the fake. Henry then slid it straight through his legs. Las Palomas were up by 2! They had a serious hold on this match now. Henry was tackled by his teammates. They were ecstatic. If the result held, they were through. It had already been a shoot-out, with 6 goals scored inside 60 minutes. But many more were still to come. 4-2.

Just as the first Football Tiger goal had lit a fire in Maphidon, so did this latest goal light a fire in them. They knew their chance for the Ro16 was slipping away. Up by 2, Las Palomas were getting a little too comfortable. Football Tiger capitalized on that. They had really honed their play style of short passes. Henry could feel it. Something was about to happen. That something turned out to be a corner. Timo had blocked a shot, and now the opposition had a kick from the corner. They took it swiftly. Maphidon wasn't completely prepared. The ensuing scuffle near the goal proved disastrous. After a few heart-stopping seconds, Ceiro was on the ground and the Football Tiger[s] were bringing the ball back to the middle. It was close again. 4-3.

Every move had to have a purpose now. Maphidon had to be careful. Only up one, this game could very well turn against them. Football Tiger only needed one to tie it and go through. Soon, they would get that one. The opposition was pushing hard. Maphidon couldn't keep up. Suddenly, one of their forwards broke through. In a moment of weakness, Nani made a desperate tackle. It wasn't timed well enough. The player tumbled to the ground, resulting in a penalty. The Football Tiger players didn't seem to be that upset about the tackle. They were a shot away from grabbing back that final spot. Los Palomas knew they just had to accept it. If they wasted time, it wouldn't give them a chance to score again. The penalty kicker stepped up. He sent a powerful shot to the left, but Ceiro guessed right and blocked it. Of course, Maphidon had the luck for it to go straight to the opposition. 4-4.

They were back to square one. In live rankings, Football Tiger had clinched second. Fort McKinley had taken care of business against Kyhun, and had secured their spot. It looked like Football Tiger had too. But Las Palomas weren't out yet. They had to keep going. And keep going they did. It was nearing the business end of the match. A slew of goals had been scored at both ends. But the match was far from truly over. It went pretty uninterrupted until the 80th minute. Kaspr, in a rare dart forward, was brought down 30 yards out from the opposition's goal. On a hat-trick, Henry was the only one to take the kick. He stood over it, knowing a flash of brilliance could change the outcome of the group completely. But it was up to him to make that happen. He placed his foot and struck. A perfect knuckleball blasted into the side netting of the goal. The right side of it. Everyone in Spectrum Stadium was on their feet. This game was like no other, and this was a perfect display of it. 5-4.

The clock was ticking down. Football Tiger's chance was almost up. They really couldn't have done anything to stop Henry. Desperately, they attacked and attacked. In the 87th, Ceiro managed to get his hands on the ball. He quickly and accurately punted it downfield. It landed between Jospeh and another defender. Jospeh ran and ran, the defender staying with him the whole time. He was actually pretty close to the goal. Henry was on the other side. Jospeh passed it. The ball beat his own defender. But, in a cruel twist of luck, hit of the foot of Henry's defender and went in. An unfortunate own goal for the Football Tiger[s]. 6-4.

Maphidon had made it. They had closed out the shoot-out with exceptionally good play. Justin Hagely was ecstatic. He ran around, hugging his players. The Football Tiger players knew their chance was gone. They could have gone through with a draw, but Las Palomas had outplayed them, especially in the end. Because of an earlier game, Maphidon would play against Gortolekua in the Ro16. A tough team, certainly, but, after that match, Henry felt they could take on anything.

Goal Timeline
Maphidon: Jospeh Yrodriakios 13", Henry Garcia Valenci 21", 48", 80", Fatih al-Helfi 45+2"
Football Tiger: Harry Happer 10", 36", Jake Finley 56", Mat Mount 60"

[New Eestiball]

SEEDING ALL OF THE R16 TEAMS
Because betting is legal in Parnu County, the Vegas of New Eestiball, oddsmakers are seeding the teams.

#1: Sudilia
Sudilia was one of only 5 teams to have a perfect group stage, and they by far had the hardest group. This gives them a #1 seed.
#2: Fort McKinley
Similar reasoning to Sudilia, except their group only really had 3 competitive teams.
#3: Gortolekua
They had an easy group, but they went perfect.
#4: Forbidden Territories
I'm gonna put them here because their wins were just not as impressive as Gortolekua's, even if they had a harder group.
#5: Tekatus
Yes, Tekatus did win by the most goals, tying with Gortolekua, but their group was one of the 2 easiest and Gortolekua's group was slightly harder.
#6: Efnakia
They had a really hard group and a great win against Portugal.
#7: Hopal
Their last game they didn't need to do anything in, Macbon hadn't won by enough.
#8: Delte
Uber easy group.
#9: New Eestiball
Same as Delte, except more defending, so less on PD.
#10: Aleirave
Good team, nothing much to say.
#11: Macbon
They have a better team than several others in the R16.
#12: Maphidon
Barely survived a scare from Football Tiger.
#12.5: Montesina
They would have qualified over anyone below this.
#13: Kamisato Ayaka Nation
Overrated, they won their first 2 against teams that have never been competitive.
#14: Portugal
Efnakia humbled them, that game wasn't close.
#15: Gardelrya
They had a hard group, their win just wasn't amazing.
#16: Trollish Islands
This team would miss out if it weren't for Forbidden Territories' push despite already being qualified. They drew with Cardenao, and frankly, Cardenao's better.
Matchups:
(2) Fort McKinley vs (10) Aleirave
Aleirave was unlucky in that draw. Prediction: Aleirave's going down, but not without a fight. Expect this to go to extra time, and there is upset potential.
(7) Hopal vs (16) Trollish Islands
The Trollish Islandese quality of play has been subpar, but Hopal really wasn't there in that game vs Montesina, and they have no momentum. Prediction: Hopal wins.
(3) Gortolekua vs (12) Maphidon
Exactly what I said about the Aleirave game, except Aleirave = Maphidon and Fort McKinley = Gortolekua.
(4) Forbidden Territories vs (11) Macbon
So many potential upsets! Macbon might win this, but it's not an amazing chance.
(8) Delte vs (14) Portugal
Portugal could very well win, they would get 6 points at least in group E.
(1) Sudilia vs (13) Kamisato Ayaka Nation
Sudilia.
(6) Efnakia vs (9) New Eestiball
New Eestiball has a shot here, but so does Efnakia. We're not gonna judge our own match,
(5) Tekatus vs (15) Gardelrya
Long shot, but Gardelrya has a chance. Still, Tekatus will probably win.