World Cup 91 [roleplays]

[Flavovespia]

Tough draw compounds stadia and squad criticisms

“And in Group 14….Flavovespia!” The statement that, before the World Cup Qualifiers had even begun, seemed to set the national team off on a bad start. Between the negativity around the draw, the stadium selection, and aspects of the squad selection, Flavovespia’s 9th attempt to make it to the World Cup qualifiers was not exactly beginning in promising fashion for the island nation bidding to finally make it to the biggest stage of them all.

Firstly, the draw. There’s no such thing as an easy draw, or easy games at international level, but this draw landed Flavovespia in one of the potential Groups of Death. From Pot 1, is quarter finalists from last time out, and the #2 side in the world, Turori. Then, from Pot 2, Starblaydia, one of the most storied nations in this tournament, and they’re unlucky to even be outside the top seeds. They of course, were in a tough qualification group last time out and didn’t make it through, a group Flavovespia were in. 1-1, and then2-0 in favour of Starblaydia were the results in the qualifiers, before that heartbreaking 9-8 penalty loss in the Cup of Harmony Round of 16. Savojarna came out of Pot 3, a nation who showed real signs of improvement in the latter stages of last cycle, and were too much for Flavovespia in the group stage of the last Cup of Harmony. It would seem tough to better one of those 3 at a minimum or a Top 3 spot and at least a playoff position, but the lower seed groups proved a tough draw. Juvencus, the nation of Giordano Limeme who plays in Flavovespia, and a nation who drew 0-0 with Flavovespia once and can upset those above them. Wreckeria pushed Flavovespia to a penalty shootout in the last Cup of Harmony. The 14 Stars beat Flavovespia in Flavovespia in the last World Cup Qualifiers, and put in a very commendable display in the tough group they landed in. Forbidden Territories enter these qualifier have a strong display to reach the Baptism of Fire quarter finals. With 20 group games in all, many of which could be described as tough matchups, Flavovespia, and most of the group, will have a real grind to reach at least the playoffs.

This leads to the second point of discussion, the squad make up. Despite quite a lengthy playoff process, the FFA and manager Augusto Rinaldi haven’t sanctioned an expanded squad, sticking to just 23 players. A squad of 26 or 27 was on the cards, with 30 players used for World Cup 85 Qualifiers, where there were 24 group games. Criticism has come in saying that 23 is simply not enough for 20 games, and that there needs to be more depth and rotation in the squad to avoid fatigue. And then the criticism of selection comes in. Whilst generally the consensus is this on paper is a good squad, there is a concern of an overreliance of veterans who pay be picked on reputation and not performance. Scott Coleman, Tony Gardner and Steven Hall, for so long the key cornerstones of the squad, are now 33, 34 and 36 respectively. Nobody can downplay their achievements, and even in recent tournaments they’ve shown their good side, but the bad days or the injuries are becoming more persistent. With just 3 under 25’s in the squad, all from Langmere Green Rovers, there’s some suggestion that there’s a bit of a bottleneck in the squad for players to break into the Flavovespia national team. Still, the first few games will determine if sticking with the veterans pays off or not, and when Steven Hall was out injured in the last World Cup Qualifiers, his presence not just on the pitch but off it was missed.

Finally, the FFA have come under fire for their decision to cut the number of stadiums the national team use from 6 to 3 for these qualifiers. This move has proved unpopular in parts of Flavovespia, none more so than Marthorpe, Loxthorpe and Langmere Green, with City Arena, Rovers Arena and Seafront Stadium out of stadium rotation. Anger has spread also to areas with grounds that were considering expanding to top category level, such as Garden City (Westwood Road), Carston Green Green Park), and the eternally discussed idea of new or expanded stadiums for Kings Lunsel, Abbots Lunsel or Bavingtor. The decision by the FFA has been undertaken at least for one cycle, as part of a review into previous poor home performances. As part of that, the home venues are largely clustered, with only the Top 3 opponents by Pot allocated to each of the 3 stadiums. Manager Augusto Rinaldi, and most of the players refused to get drawn into the controversy, although Stuart Cookson of Marthorpe City and Robin King of Langmere Green Rovers stated that they were disappointed to not be playing in their “home” stadiums. Nevertheless, there is a consensus that such a move will be praised if it then leads to success for Flavovespia. For most fans, at least one of the stadiums is only a few hours at most via public transport anyway, somewhat softening the blow.

The early indicators for these qualifiers haven’t been promising for Flavovespia, and it’s felt like anything that could cause drama or criticism has. The fans though with tickets for the opening games won’t care though, and if after the home match against Juvencus, and the journey to Gadria, Flavovespia come away with a decent haul of points, the mood could be lifted quite quickly. Whilst 20 games may feel like a marathon and not a sprint, it’s far easier to finish top with a good start, and Flavovespia will kick off in St Astons City knowing that.

FFD Special Feature for World Cup Qualifiers 91

Fans always remember the legends who play for their sides, those who make their Hall of Fame. They’ll also remember the more infamous failures, the Hall of Shame. But what about those in the middle? Never a noticeably bad player, but never a great player, and in the end, forgotten by most. So this World Cup Qualifiers, after a poll of fans to list all the players they can remember for Flavovespia, the FFD will present, their most obscure Flavovespian starting XI, starting with the goalkeeper in our next edition.

[Kuraita]

KURAITASTRAVA
international

The Official International News Agency of The Republic of Kuraita

First official polls: Cigoras to top a complex field

Arcjuga - With the initial Parliamentary Elections coming up in Kuraita, the Arcjuga Institute of Politics released its first ever official national election poll in cooperation with the National University of Savojarna’ Institute for Public Opinion at Sjoedrhavn. The AIP/IPOS poll foresees a difficult government formation ahead in Arcjuga, with a clear winner on top and concerns for the future stability of Kuraita’s democratic transition.

The rules for this historic event have been laid out in the constitution voted upon a few months ago. The election will be centred around a unitary parliament with 100 seats, the Kuraitas Respublikas Saima. Eligible to the Saima is every citizen over 20 years, with every citizen or permanent resident of more than 5 years over 16 years able to vote. Voters receive a total of five votes, which they can freely distribute to five candidates (including of different parties). Seats are given out proportionally to the total votes for a party’s candidate, with the number of candidate votes deciding the identity of a party’s MS. A drawback of this system is a potential mess of parties being represented - and that appears to be the risk now, according to an early poll. No party appears to be coming close to 50% in the poll, which asked voters to state a single party that they prefer as well as using a more elaborate “mock election poll” conducted online.

The simple poll, which AIP/IPOS have stated to be more reliable despite its diversion from election rules, sees a plurality for the Citizens for the Future (PN) movement, led by Armandas Cigoras, the leader of Kuraita’s democratic movement. However, this appears to be primarily carried by the personality of Cigoras himself; few people appear to truly have a grasp of PN’s positions. This notably includes professionals such as AIP professor Tanja Redunaite: “PN’s policies are extremely vague. It’s increasingly clear that Mr. Cigoras is an activist, not a politician. Their manifesto makes broad remarks at democracy and civil rights, many of which have already been secured in the constitutional assembly, and little reference to more than that. The only three clear policies Cigoras stands for are the inclusion in the multiversal community and the decision to join regional organisations, which most other parties appear to agree with; a policy of strong anti-corruption laws that seems to be central to his campaign; and finally, the promotion of free secondary and tertiary education, something that he has not really consistently stood for but appears to have committed to over recent debates and interviews”, the expert stated. The PN stands at 27% in polls, the largest share of any party, although Redunaite assumes this may be inflated by Cigoras’ prominence.

Behind them, the Social Democratic Party of Kuraita (SDPK) appears to be the second force, particularly popular in the coastal cities of Juraja province; standing at 19% they are expected to be involved heavily in government negotiations. The same goes for the traditionally strong, but somewhat collapsed KDLP, the liberal-democratic party that held the government before the advent of the Mandrins regime. Their leading candidate is standing out as the only woman among the five biggest parties, with 43 year old Aziklirins lawyer Samanta Indrata drawing a fanatic social media following. However, standing at only 11%, the KDLP is nowhere near the force its former leader and Kuraitan Prime Minister Daugavinš expected: “There’s a real big drop in what we’ve expected, and even from what we’ve seen in mock polls before the election. It looks like a lot of the expected liberal voters have really gone for PN, the same progressive democratic energy seems to be going with Cigoras according to our data”, Redunaite explains. A similar size is attributed to the centre-right KPK and the nationalist National Alliance for a Strong Kuraita (NASK), which features prominent exponents of the old regime and has been coming in second in the poll in the Makoja province.

Small parties also appear to gain substantial support, including the Green Party at 6% and the Kuraitan Communist Worker’s Party (KKSP) just shy of 4%. They are a massively diverse set, with the Greens comprised of some well-known professors (including the chair of the University of Arcjuga Science Institute chair and climate scientist Prof. Zemgus Aliaitis) in their rows, and the KKSP a long-standing organisation who thrived in the Savojar exile during the military reign. On the other end, there are loose alliances of activists in the Feminist Movement (FK), which has come in under 4% primarily in Arcjuga and Auksturts, which both have large youth movements; as well as the libertarian National Movement for Freedom (NKB), which has primarily been noteworthy through its extreme economic policies, its charismatic leading candidate in the Arcjuga economist Prof. Vytautas Liżkus, and a high amount of financing by a group of tech entrepreneurs. These small parties, Redunaite points out, could all play a massive role in securing power.



Kuraita will also elect a President - who is going to be elected by popular vote, despite their primarily nominal power. The clear frontrunner appears to be former Prime Minister Daugavinš, collecting 61% of preferences in the AIP/IPOS poll; the only relevant other candidate is Edvardas Redlihs, a former MP and law professor who was acting as Speaker of the Constituent Assembly. The President’s powers primarily will be to nominate a Formator to create a government, likely a member of the largest party. In the current situation, this is all but set to be Cigoras - which will force an answer to the question of whether the PN movement is looking to move to the left or to the right. Currently, observers expect a governing coalition that includes the Liberals; if current poll results translate to seats, either the Social Democrats or the Conservatives would be enough to push that coalition across the line. The only thing that seems clear as of now is that the next PM of Kuraita appears to be most likely called Armandas Cigoras.

[Mertagne]

The writing was cast on the wall like a maniac with crayons on the metro as Alyson Hydguera saw the results pouring in from the latest batch of regional forum elections. One of the many rife issues with Mertagne's political system that the founders of the Second Republic tried to fix just a decade prior with statesman Roper and company's Mertagnian Charter was the idea that a single election could completely upend the status quo and lead everyone to ruin, which of course was exactly how Corvidae had come to power all those years ago. Their solution, however, was, much like the founding of the Second Republic, woefully inelegant - an upper chamber, the National Forum, which was proportionally elected from nineteen Regional Forums, which all held elections on a rotating basis in a five year cycle. None of that even mattered to Hydguera, the president, who was safe in her job until her majority in the Forum failed. A series of shaky coalitions in the last six years had meant that she, the third president of the nation and the second from her party, had managed to hold onto the esoteric power that the President of Mertagne is able to wield.

However, over the last year or so, it was becoming more and more obvious that the labyrinthine principles behind the Mertagnian Charter were starting to wear thin, and were in some places antithetical to the goals that they had been set up to achieve. Aurrera!, and groups across the country from all sides of the political landscape, were calling for constitutional reform after a series of agreements from the Unified Mertagne Party, a party that many claimed was simply existed as a political tool to get Mertagne on the global stage, had made with whoever the 'other' largest party in the National Forum ended up being to secure a UMP President. Hydguera's power of veto had been used sparingly, but a bill that had recently come her way to invest in national transport networks was eventually struck down, much to the decry of rural provinces and those unconnected to Dannmarsh, after a disagreement between the UMP and their coalition-mates the Workers Unions of Mertagne, in where the funds would be appropriated from. This move had begun Hydguera's block's slow decline in the polls, and parties from across the provinces attempted to remove their association with the block, costing her seats, and in one extreme example, directly handing seats to her opponents. A glaring loophole, as it was the parties that belonged to the blocks, and there was no mandate for a new election in Besny province - the National Forum members still represented their party, and by Mertagnian Charter standards, they had done no wrong.

The results of the Touchpoint, the Forkelands, Freskovia, Hardcastle, and Harridan had been hard to swallow. The southern provinces of Touchpoint and The Forkelands often voted in a bitter lock-step with each other, the valley of the Forkelands simply echoing what the trend-setters in the nation's former capital of Neorudo dictated as the vogue party of the week. This week, it was Aurerra!, whose calls for change at any cost aside from violence had clearly struck a chord with a Mertagne that had decided that dragging itself out of the swamp of the Insulation wasn't nearly enough, and called for a better, more fair country that could afford to compete on the national stage.

Hydguera admired Aurerra!'s ambition. A true centrist at heart, simply through growing up and maturing in a world that didn't know any better, she as well as others in her political block had been stunned at the expansion of Mertagne's political appetite in a few short years. Like the jar at the back of the pantry that doesn't kick up a smell until your toddler stumbles in and opens it, it's as if the movers and shakers of this country hadn't had an opinion on anything until they felt that they had a place to speak it. And now, it seemed, her party was losing its seats at a rate of knots until a newer force came in to shake things up.

At the rate they were going, it looked like Alyson Hydguera could be Mertagne's third - and last - President.

Aurrera! Takes Majority in Key Regional Forums -- Now Second Biggest Block in National Forum
Aurrera! leaders call for Mertagnian Charter Reform, call on smaller blocks to vote to call 'Mertagnian Assembly'

Dannin, DANNMARSH -- The National Forum has changed hands once again, and now the coalition of the United Mertagne Party and the Workers Unions of Mertagne sits shakily in the hands of the 'free radicals' - the term for independent National Forum Members that do not belong to a political block. Progressive group Aurrera!, due to their recent resurgence in key Regional Forums such as Touchpoint, the Forkelands, and Sparth, have chipped away at the UMP's previous strangehold on the National Forum to become the second biggest political block in Mertagne's middle and most important level of the tricameral system. The progressive party, which for the last year has run for election on a manifesto prioritising the role of the average citizen in government, and looking to 'dismantle the overcomplicated tricameral system that takes power out of the hands of citizens', has announced in a recent press conference that they are calling on National Forum Members (NFMs) from across the political spectrum to vote on a new bill, which would allow for an emergency National Forum session to be called and for a radical new constitutional document to be drafted.

Aurrera! have one large roadblock in their way, however - current President Alyson Hydguera. As the head of state, Hydguera wields the power of Presidental Veto, and would be well within her political rights to kill the bill if it does pass through the National Forum. Doing so would draw the ire of much of the voting electorate, however, espeically after Hydguera's marred veto of a key transport bill last autumn, which flew directly against the wishes of her coalition's junior partner, the Workers Unions of Mertagne, and led to a walkout of one of the smaller parties that comprised the UMP block. It is possible that more of these parties may defect to Aurrera!, as the centrist nature of the UMP block means that while it has readily found allies in achieving its goals in government, it is just as liable to find dissenters.

Aurrera!'s published aims from a potential 'Mertagnian Assembly', the name they have given to the emergency National Forum session, include dismantling the office of the president and replacing it with a 'Meritocratic Council' of policy experts that oversee key government departments, appointed by the head of the National Forum, which serves as the Head of Government and State. The key part of the potential changes that could occur to the charter would involve replacing the third head of tricameralism with a 'Citizens Assembly', a form of sortition in which randomly selected citizens are educated by the Meritocratic Council on the specifics of each new law before given the option to veto it in a supermajority. It, and several other ideas, will be up for key debate in the event that the Mertagnian Assembly convenes. If Aurrera! are successful in their attempt to get key figures from other blocks to vote for this event, the very face of Mertagnian politics could be irrevocably changed, and a leaner but more politically risky system could be put in place, opposed to the rigid state of the Mertagnian Charter as it exists now.

[Milchama]

Alexandria Times-Tribune-Sun-Moon-Sky-Picayune-Courier-Post-Pre-Forward-Current-Reader

Sports Section

Milchama Excited to win Atlantian Ocenia Qualifying Cup

Way back in World Cup 24 Turori created the entirely unofficial Colony Cup. Considering the number of puppets in Turori's group, they created a fake table that included only games the puppets played against each other and awarded a Colony Cup trophy at the end of the qualifying group to the team that won the most points. I think the competition was abandoned 3/4ths of the way through qualifying because the Turorian press forgot about it and that was that. However, Milchama remembers, Milchama always remembers. And so through 50 cups of playing we always thought about "could we create our own fake competition in the middle of qualifying based on qualifying results for an interesting RP angle?" And finally! FINALLY! In World Cup 91 we have our chance! So we're taking it! Here is the fake table:

Group 12
Lumbinipur
Sargossa
Brookstation
Mon Sold
Eraman
Banija
Quakmybush
Squornshelan Remnant States
Milchama
Efnakia
Aleirave

And here is the important table:
Banija
Quakmybush
Squornshelan Remnant States
Milchama
Efnakia


So we get 8 matches against our regional rivals to claim the Atlantian Ocenian Qualifying Cup! We shall see them starting in MD 3 and we'll be keeping track of tables throughout qualifying to help you understand where we are and where you are in the great Qualifying Cup!

In the meantime let's go through our main rivals for winning silverware and our unmain rivals for maybe qualification:
Banija - Our near neighbors. Who ever lets a Geisenfried in the middle get in the way of a good time? Anyway, we've played Banija a lot in a variety of sports since ending our Isolation before World Cup 89. Most importantly we played them in the last World Cup where we drew them 2-2 giving us our only points. They're definitely the favorites here and expect them to win the Qualifying Cup but we do have a punchers chance.

Quakmybush - Old old rivals of ours. Quakmybush are mostly notable for qualifying in their first two World Cup campaigns ever, including not qualifying in their second campaign but getting in after Raging Penguins withdrew for silly reasons. We're still angry at Raging Penguins about that. Anyway, since then Quakmybush have been around a lot without doing too much. We don't expect a lot of competition with them and we're ranked higher than them. So we should expect 2 victories, or at least a win and a draw.

Squornshelan Remnant States - Another sorta old rival Squornshelous was an old rival but these Remnant States that are kinda but not quite Squornshelous are something else entirely. We've never played them at a World Cup and may have played them at an AOCAF but we're lazy and are not going to fact check that statement. In any event, even if they are politically, they are not a remnant soccer wise and are a pretty good team. We should hopefully get a draw at home but expect a pretty bad defeat on the road.

Milchama - That's us! We over achieved last time which puts us in a weird position. How much should we expect from these guys? Realistically, getting to the playoffs would still be a pretty big accomplishment and qualifying would be above and beyond our wildest dreams. In general, I expect us to do slightly worse than last time and finish 3rd or 4th in our group before flaming out in the CoH. We will not win the Qualifying Cup except through shenanigans.

Efnakia - Newbies. We have never faced them and they are fresh faced out of the Baptism of Fire. However, they looked formidable there and will not be here simply to prop up the table for the rest of the teams in the Qualifying Cup. Expect an upset or two from them and it will probably be against us and Squornshelous. So you know we'll win one and lose one against them. I'm already angry about the loss. Goddamnit, how did we blow that game?! Anyway, yeah, Efnakia, watch out for them.

And now the unmain rivals:
Lumbinipur - Missed the BoF, no RPs so far. Should be weak. 2 wins easy. Woo hoo!

Sargossa - Basically even with but tend to have worse luck. We're better than them. We'll probably screw up once and not screw up once so two draws.

Brookstation - We're better than them at baseball which has no relevance here but I wanted to point it out. In any event, we'll win twice. Go team!

Mon Sold - New nation, still in a Pacific region. They should join the Atlantian Oceanian Cup! We'd love to have them! Though I'll admit it's mostly for the two easy victories.

Eraman- Island people and we all know that islands are terrible at football. That's why notable island nations like Turori, Valanora, Vilita, and Equestria have never won World Cups. In any event, we should do pretty well against these guys. 1 win and 1 draw.

Aleirave - A part of Ethane and it's unclear how or why. More importantly, it means they have a small population and since that gives us more chances to win we should put that to good use and win some games. Expect two wins here, or at least a win and a draw.

So we should finish in 3rd place in both the Qualifying Cup and the Group proper. We are very excited for the CoH and to see what damage our Warriors can do in that Losers Tournament. Come on You Warriors! Let's Go Milchama!

[Saint Eleanor]

John Bailey: "Mr Patrick asked if I wanted to start and I said why not?"
Chief Football Correspondent Jamie Rodgers goes through life, death and the odd rebirth or three with the White Stars' first-choice goalkeeper
Originally published on Sunday 10th January 1999

John Bailey is, without a doubt, Saint Eleanor's best goalkeeper. Nobody can hold a candle to him; nobody seems to want to hold a candle to him. But the man himself is insistent that "I'm here to have a good time, not a waste of my time."

Born in 1968 to two schoolteachers who he says "taught me a lot of things, not just the alphabet and whatnot, but really how to be a good bloke," Bailey's father was among the first to join the National Liberation Front's effort to free Saint Eleanor from Tinhamptonian rule in the spring of 1974, and among the first to die. "I'd say he went down fighting - must have been around Trident or Wellington where the occupiers got their boats to, nabbed a few enemy soldiers even when he was bleeding and apparently he didn't even want anything bandaged up because he was too busy trying to stop them from destroying the country. It was sad, yes, I got told about it and I wasn't happy but at least my mum still loved me."

That woman, Rachel Bailey, never gave up teaching, but had to combine those duties with caring for her three children. "I'm not going to comment on how easy or hard it was, of course she couldn't do everything. I had to put my own clothes in the washing machine and check my homework myself!" For his part, John spent a great deal of 1978, the penultimate year of secondary school, in his mum's class - and when he wasn't, he was having fun in PE. Perhaps too much fun. He insists that it gave him his start as a goalkeeper, but has no recollection of anything he actually did there other than "stop a lot of people from scoring, I guess. Also I shoved some annoying boy so hard I got thrown out once."

Memories of his sporting endeavours in secondary school are stronger. By February 1980, Bailey was a Year 8 student at the Eleanorian Academy when he turned up to an open training session for students his age after school - where, to his surprise, nobody in the party volunteered to go behind the sticks. Then "Mr Patrick asked me if I wanted to start and I said why not? Guaranteed starting goalkeeper, I liked it there at primary, again I'll bite your hand off for the chance, try and keep on denying those other kids, small-scale friendlies below the Charlie [Charles Trump Shield], I'd say most of them went well but that's part and parcel of going to the Academy after the war."

When the big stage arrived, of course, so did the big performances. In 1985's Shield, Bailey's Academy won the final 3-0 against their great rivals, the Whitehammer Community School - he describes the final as "boring," naturally, and claims that focusing on it "misses the entire point of what our time here was about." He prefers to think about keeping a clean sheet in every game - except a yo-yo quarterfinal against University College, where the Academy trailed twice before winning 3-2 after extra time - but could never, in good conscience, claim full responsibility. He insists that Golden Backpack winner Luke Elliott was the real star of the show, noting that while "he isn't like that now, he used to be a proper attack dog, get the ball, sometimes the man if he was unlucky, and - perhaps more infamously these days - get the ball up there for our strikers. Good stuff all round."

All that success - where next? Elliott was a good teammate, but they never crossed paths in most classes and the relationship was always tentative; Anna Glass was Bailey's date and (if the student newsletter at the time is to be believed) much closer friends, but had no interest in going professional despite playing out wide for that glorious class of '85. "I could have played for Liberty at the Charlie," the stopper reveals, "but didn't even pay attention to the invitation. Then Army and Navy wanted me to enlist and play for them after my school exams but I said no thanks this time, I love this place so much, I want to live here, I want to die here, all of that other nonsense."

Along with Elliott, Bailey signed onto Independence 1975, the Saint Eleanor League's leading club and one with close links to the Academy, after finishing his exams in time for the 1987 season. This was a time of reconstruction for the Liberators, with centreback Frank Walter being ignominously forced out of the game at the end of 1985, striker Joseph Perry - the only captain the club had ever known - hanging up his boots the following year, only one title since 1980 and "a lot of people just standing around there not knowing what to do. They couldn't even decide on a captain until two days before the first game when 'Big Gaff' Phil Farlane literally threw an armband at Lyds [rightback Lydia Sharp] and told her to sort the team out herself. Never mind that she was thirty-one already!"

Bailey, one in a fairly long line of players immediately dragged from the Academy to the first team, has proven to be better than most at the job - but believes he got there by "putting in the hard yards before games, showing people what I've been doing during them, actually paying attention to what's going on, putting off this ridiculous sweeper-keeper nonsense that's been going around for a few decades, mostly being sensible and listening to the back four. I'm not just screaming at them, that would defeat the point of the thing!" The theory is solid and most people who've watched a typical siege of Indy's defence wouldn't argue with it - but it's the practice, what really happens in sublime and extraordinary moments, that matter.

What were his three greatest games, or (more to the point) the games that shaped him as a footballer? His first choice is the 2-1 home win against dreaded rivals Athletic during Sharp's final game in 1991, which secured them the League: "we went two up in twenty minutes but they pulled one back before half time and were desperate to get the equaliser that would win them the title; all glory really goes to Liam [West] and Luke for doing the dirty work. Yeah, I get there were a few errors and I reckoned at the time I tried my best to defuse them but I couldn't believe it when I opened The Reporter the next day and they said I was the man of the match. Katie O'Donnell set up Athletic's goal, proper worker bee in the second half, bloody pest if you'd have asked me, probably deserves the award more - definitely deserves her place on the national team. Her last act was she tried to swing one from the other end of the six-yard box at the end, but I literally smothered myself, pushed the ball out somewhere, thought I'd injured myself with no idea what was going to happen next and then somebody's picking me up and throwing a massive pint all over me!"

Number two would be an otherwise unremarkable 1-0 loss at Sword and Shield. But this was in 1993, when the Collegiates won the title for the last time and Indy's new leadership, captain West and manager Derek Pittam, were trying to get to grips with discipline after an unremarkable - even torrid - year gone. "This wasn't like the 4-1 at home because this time we were united and we had a properly functioning gameplan," Bailey recalls. "This was a good, attacking, astonishingly focused team - I must have faced ten or eleven shots? I kept pretty much all of them out, however, saving them, punching them, flubbing them out somehow, even a sloppy effort that merited a proper clearance, whatever. In the end Maddie Gordon pitches a Jess Martin cross right as it hits the ground, slow and dippy, I literally couldn't clear it over the bar like I've done a couple of other times. She offered to shake my hand in the end and I obliged - more than can be said for some of the other people I played that year. Bottom line is I was in that squad, I'm in the national team now that Priscilla Evans' on a clearout, we aren't going to win three of anything in a row this time but I can only hope her reforms are going to work out."

He finally plumps for Saint Eleanor's first tie at the 81st Cup of Harmony in 1996 and possibly their greatest game ever, the infamous 0-0 draw against Banija in Avondale. "This was the moment we knew we could throw our lot in with the big boys," he proclaims: "everybody said it was crap and the Banijans were really wasteful but again, I let the defence sort out the efforts that don't really threaten me - everybody knows that's my ethos, what I expect of them at all levels - but that's what they did, well done to them. Best thing about it was Idai Uster, the other team's star striker, she got a penalty in the second half and I don't do ridiculous mind games during penalties normally but I pointed to my left as she was taking it and... I think she took me a bit too literally. I'd have to ask her the next time we meet, though." He tries to sneak in a quick reference to the 2-1 win against the Ochre Islands in the last sixteen of that year's Baptism of Fire, too but ends up going off on one about how "I'm looking forward to playing them in the qualifiers, they've improved a lot but we've been trying our best too and we'll see how we do."

Of course, he gets a few good words in for the people too: Sharp was "a nice, level-headed woman who knocked some sense into us, led us to two league titles, pretty good at keeping to her job - and I still talk to her from time to time." West, her successor as captain, is "a great bloke who nobody could possibly hate off the field and is really a slightly more dedicated version of the old Luke on it;" Elliott himself is "surprisingly attack-minded, looks out for his friends as a person - apparently I'm one of them now, which I'd never have guessed in the old days - and is so funny he once slapped me with a whoopie cushion to make a point about Gaff's decision to move to a 4-5-1 in '92." Henry Green, Perry's heir and one of Indy's few great attackers, is "good for a few beers, then he goes and pops up in the training ground the next morning like nothing happened." And Glass is his wife: "really a pleasure to be with and I'm proud to be bringing up little Robert alongside her, but I think she knows I'm expected to do most of the housework!" And as for himself? "I don't even like brass, mate. Don't trick me."

While all is nice and steady at club level, the Eleanorian defence has largely disappointed on the multiversal stage - with the 90th World Cup cycle in particular seeing the national team claim a subpar sixth-place finish in their qualification group before only winning one of their three Cup of Harmony games. All told, how much was he to blame? "It wasn't my fault and I don't think most players were really involved in it. Were we playing better opposition? Yes, I'd say we were, we weren't cohesive enough most of those times and we paid the price. Of course everybody has huge concerns about Paul [Ferry], Johnny P[arkinson] and the rest and I absolutely hated them when the end came about, but they're gone, they aren't fiddling about with squad harmony any more, we've gotten some new players in all over the pitch and I think we're pretty good right now."

Many have pointed to potential weaknesses in the reserves should starting centrebacks West or Sam Newbridge ever be ruled out, despite Priscilla Evans' recent overhaul, although adding to his earlier comments, Bailey says that Elliott today "can get a bit carried away with the whole ball-playing shenanigans but I'd say he's pretty solid, gets the fundamentals, I think he should use them more like he's done in the league" - while Laura Brown is "okay but I think she's peaked and I don't see her playing for the most part, really." Bailey could be offered further defensive support for his club by Tikariot's Layla Grover - "an untested quantity, perhaps a bit of a liability but we'll see about that" - but Saint Eleanor's main central midfielder, Harriet Williams, is somewhat more attack-minded. And she plays for Athletic. No bother: "Cilla's been telling people what to do, where and how to do it in our training sessions and I can't wait for all of that to pay off, I hope everyone's been listening."

By all accounts, Bailey is a diligent, conscientious, perhaps overly conservative goalkeeper; he has to be. His skills as a custodian cannot be doubted by any serious observer of the Eleanorian game, as has been the case for at least four or five years; the quality of his back four may be here and there, but he trusts them for the most part - and everyone else he's working with, for that matter. Long may he protect and serve.

[Gortolekua]

A full moon casts its light onto the vast ocean and sand. The sea's roaring crashes are deafening outside René Lorenzo's room. A cracked window allows a light sea breeze to enter the room. It hits René's shaved head, and his scalp feels colder now. He misses his long locks of hair, but that's beside the point.

René misses everything: his family, his friends, the convenience stores, the food, the record stores. At some point, he wondered if this is what he wanted to be doing. He knew he was a rule-follower to the tee. René maintained order in every sense of the word and in every aspect of his life. He was a goody two-shoes. There was no doubt in his mind, up until now, that helping Gortolekua and serving his country were two of the most tantamount duties he could fulfill in his life. René's father did, as did his grandfather and great-great grandfather.

This was a family tradition he could not break. He would have been ostracized as a failure by his loved ones if he did.

But the magnitude of what he was doing didn't really hit him until he laid there at night. Did he want to be hundreds of miles away from home—Oztapoa, in the Cerati province—doing something he may regret purely for what the experience encompassed? This was an unfamiliar feeling for someone used to

He wasn't alone, however. Cash Delgado was in the same place as René coming from a different situation. Cash was a rebel in his young adolescence. All of 74 Zuhaitz recognized his group of misfits as the rowdiest in the Ibaiaho province. They were all skaters, thrashing the town left and right. They flipped local goods. They had smuggled in products from the Exterior somehow, bribing border agents to let them exit the country to meet their distributors. Cash was the gang's ringleader. He lived up to his name, making sure their sporzes were all accounted for and their profits were maxed out. They lived like kings.

Of course, life before the opening (the aavekitze, as branded by the new Government) was strict for the country. And punishments were stricter for rule-breakers. Cash and company were always kept hearing the government would always figure out if anyone brought stuff in from the country, sooner or later. "Bullshit," the misfits thought. But then they got caught, and everyone got screwed. Except Cash, that is.

While the rest of his gang faced and accepted lengthy prison sentences for smuggling foreign goods into the nation without prior approval, Cash was recognized by his judge as smarter than the rest. "You can face a life of hardship like your buddies," she said. "But the Government knows you're a smart cookie. So we're giving you the option to repay your debt to us directly."

That brings us to Cash and René now: both in the same room, having lived lives that never would have intersected otherwise. They're two of the one hundred new Ranger recruits on Point Foothill, Adelaide Island's almost-mythical Ranger base for programs the Government has kept mostly classified due to "national security issues." The Arcatas, the province Adelaide Island belongs to, treats Adelaide Island with great reverence and held a parade in the capital, Goudini, to welcome this new batch of heroes. But the parade was long over. And as soon as the clock struck midnight, Ranger life would begin.

This wasn't home for either of them. It might be where they live, but it certainly doesn't feel homely for them, or the ninety-eight other recruits.

White noise from a helicopter inches closer upon the barracks, becoming more deafening by the second. The chopper touches down onto the island, with the whirrs slowing down by the second. A loud chime echoes across the Ranger base. Midnight. All the barracks' doors open up, and the intercom blares a message on repeat—harsh on the ears during first listen, somehow more soothing as you keep hearing it.

"All recruits are instructed to head out to Point Foothill's entrance immediately. Please stand at attention once you arrive."

Cash and René had not really spoken to each other in the short time they were in their barracks together. Both were freshly 18, and both took an initial glance at each other and realized the same thing: We don't have much in common. There's no point in talking to each other now.

René, though, decided to break the ice. "I guess this is it, huh?" Cash looked back at him, paused and shrugged. He had nothing to say because there was nothing to say.

Both were among the last recruits to arrive at the entrance gates, where the helicopter idled nearby. No one had come out of the helicopter yet, even though the chopper door was ajar. Point Foothill's Ranger Trainer, a tall woman named Cerys Hooper, examined the batch of young recruits. "They're ready for you, sir," Hooper told the person inside the helicopter.

A man in a bomber jacket and khakis stepped out of the helicopter. He was slightly shorter than the average man, but it was noticeable only to him. He saluted Hooper on the way out of the chopper before making his way to look at this new recruit class. His glare pierced across the one hundred people present, smiling as he finished looking before he started talking.

"You are the finest youth our country has to offer. As this country's premier, I commend you for your desire to serve this country," the man said. "Adelaide Island is at the forefront of our nation's top-secret developments in science. You will ensure both the protection and advancement of our classified endeavors."

"Welcome to Point Foothill. We're looking forward to you serving your country well."

---

GORTOLEKUA'S ROSTER SELECTION FOR MD 1&2
Starting XI
D. Douglas
D. Innes - M. Randal - C. Mäkinen
J. Partanen - K. Lynton
J. Saarinen - L. Lindsey - G. Toivonen - K. Scrivener
(C) M. Newport (GK)
Substitutes
R. Ragnvaldsson (GK) | G. Fishman | A. Travieso | E. Linna | I. Esteban | M. Salinas | A. Echevarría | J. Berge
MATCHDAY 1
Gortolekua v. Trolleborg
Home match at Fort Goudini, Goudini, The Arcatas, Gortolekua (40,297)
MATCHDAY 2
Acastanha v. Gortolekua
Away match at Estádio Estadual de Palidas, Amarelda Federal City, Acastanha (44,000)

[Valanora]

There has been a question that has been asked from time to time throughout the years in random conversations across the Empire. That question is, "Who is more popular, the Raynors or the national football team?" It seemed a question more about hypotheticals and merely matters of opinion or ones focus on the world be it more on entertainment or the political side of the equation. However next month we will inexplicably actually be able to have a firm answer to this age old.questipn once and for all. How is that possible you may be asking yourself, how can such an abstract question actually be on the verge of being answered? Well that is because next month during the same weekend as there will be international football matches being played in World Cup Qualifying so to will a royal wedding be taking place!

For those out of the know, it was announced this previous spring that the Empress Lathwen Raynor would be wedding the patriarch of the Soldar House, Faeron Soldarian himself. It will be a name very familiar with the common people, as Faeron was part of the "Hero Quartet" of the national football team that lead the Marauders to their record tying five World Cup titles. Having been retired from playing the game for some years now, Faeron had lived a mostly quiet life managing his family's vast estate as well as being the owner of Soldarian FC, both of which he inherited from his father after The Calling. However three years ago he was brought back to the game when he was appointed the royal Ambassador to the VSC, as well as being appointed the manager of the reinstated U21 national team, which he lead to a Final appearance in the last tournament.

It is rumored that it is around this time that Lathwen and Faeron began their courtship as they were seen numerous times at events, fancy diners, and at the Raynor mansion together. While they denied all claims.of such involvement at the time, the announcement of the wedding seems to give legitimacy to those rumors from that time and that the pair were merely trying to maintain their privacy at that time. Regardless a date has been announced and invitations have been sent out to family, friends, as well as the heads of state within Atlantian Oceania to attend the event in the late summer. While there will be a wedding on Saturday there will be a Marauders match halfway across the nation on Sunday, for the chance to prove once and for all, if the Raynors or the national football team are more popular in the Eternal.Empire.

As an aside, as Lathwen is the owner of Raynor City United and Faeron is the owner of Soldarian FC, Premiership guidelines will require the sale of one of the teams with two years of the official wedding date. It is highly believed that Faeron will opt to put Soldarian FC up for sale, being the relatively lower valued club compared to the historic Raynor City United.

[Alasdair I Frosticus]

A STATEMENT FROM THE HOLY EMPIRE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION

Dear Ordinary Reality,

We would like to thank you for your patience over many World Cups as the Holy Empire has fielded what must seem to you cute little mundies to be increasingly bizarre squads little rooted in the restrictions of what you consider to be reality.

Rest assured that we have taken on board your feedback, and have decided to field a squad of completely normal elite footballers in World Cup 91. There is absolutely nothing unusual about them. They play at the skill level that you would expect from the defending champions and top-ranked nation in the multiverse. They are utterly boring and unremarkable in their normality. You could meet them in the street, and would find yourself thinking 'gosh, what an utterly normal bunch of footballers'.

The team has trained in a camp on a planet named Shayol, an obscure out of the way place where they could train without much in the way of distraction. Other than reporting some unusual floating lights and the occasional pin-prick brought about by the unusual atmospheric conditions, training progressed wholly unremarkably.

We look forward to meeting the other teams from Group 13 on the field of play, and appreciate that the entire multiverse will be looking forward to the mouthwatering Holy Empire-Vilita clashes. We are willing to sell our broadcast rights to the latter for no more than ten barrels of hyperdimensional bungo beans, so do let us know if this is something that interests you, and we can sort out the details later.

Yours,

The Holy Empire Football Association

[The Cordian Isles]

The Cordian All-Star

---

The WCQs Preview

Pot 1: Mytanija
WC Ranking: 14
WC Cycle 90: [Q] 9-3-2, 2nd in Group 18 [P] Mytanija 4-2 Trolleborg [G] 2-1-0, 2nd in Group H [K] Round of 16: Tumbra 2–2 Mytanija (3–2 AET)
Recent History: The Rushmori nation ranks consistently among the world's best. Finishing second in Group 18 of WCQs, they took a 3-1 victory in the opening playoff match against Trolleborg and held on to that lead at home to advance to the Cup proper. There, they finished second behind Cassadaigua on GD to advance to the Round of 16, losing to Tumbra 3-2 in extra time there to end their run. They're now coming off a disappointing 2-3 loss in the Copa Rushmori Round of 16 to Cabo Azure after going 3-1-0 and winning their group in the Group Stage.
Expectations: This is a team that already has the firepower to go far, and early knockout losses in their last two tournaments will provide the motivation. Expect big things from the Mytanijan side this cycle.

Pot 2: Vdara
WC Ranking: 25
WC Cycle 90: [Q] 9-2-3, 2nd in Group 16 [P] Vdara 1-0 Poafmersia [F] 1-0-2, 4th in Group G
Recent History: After a solid qualifying cycle and a playoff victory that saw them make it to the World Cup Proper, Vdara hit a wall, going 1-0-2 and finishing 4th in Group G. For whatever reason, the Anaian nation didn't compete in their regional tournament, so there's not much of a recent picture of the team, but expect an aggressive team that looks to score a lot of goals, but might leave itself open to counterattacks. Also notable is Vdara's rise in the rankings, from 46th after WC88 to 25th now, post-WC90.
Expectations: This is a team that hasn't peaked, and will be looking to make a return to the WC to improve on last cycle's mark. They'll be competing with Mytanija for that coveted first-place slot in the World Cup.

Pot 3: Quebec
WC Ranking: 42
WC Cycle 90: [Q] 5-5-4, 4th in Group 9 [CG] 2-1-0, 1st in Group L [CK] Round of 32: Quebec 1-2 Valentine Z
Recent History: Nothing seemed to go quite the way it was supposed to for Quebec in qualifiers. Facing Pekoland on MD13 in a match where a win would have put them in position to make the playoffs, they lost 1-2. To add insult to injury, they then lost at home to Indusse 2-3, in a match that wouldn't have affected the eventual outcome but still hurt. In the Cup of Harmony, they played well in the Group Stage, taking one of the top seeds, only to lose 2-1 to Valentine Z and dash their hopes of salvaging the cycle.
Expectations: Coming off a bit of an off year, it remains to be seen if Quebec will come out guns ablazing or if this trend will continue. If it does, then Quebec is a bit of a low pot 3 and might not even make the playoffs. However, if they use Cycle 90 as motivation, expect this run to be branded as a comeback and for Quebec to compete for the group's top slots.

Pot 4: Qasden
WC Ranking: 64
WC Cycle 90: [Q] 5-5-4, 4th in Group 3 [CG] 1-1-1, 2nd in Group D [CK] Round of 16: Qasden 1–1 Krytenia (1–3 AET)
Recent History: Coming off a pretty solid cycle that saw them rise slightly in the rankings, Qasden enters WCQs from low Pot 4. This is one of a few teams that the Cordians have played. In the second international match in Cordian history, the North Stars pulled off a massive upset in the Mike Sarzo Memorial Trophy quarterfinals to defeat Qasden 2-0 and advance to the semifinals. The second meeting, in AOCAF 65, saw Qasden defeat Cordia 1-0 in a surprisingly close match. Given those performances, this is a pretty good draw for Cordia.
Expectations: Qasden is playing very well, coming off a 4th-place finish in AOCAF 66, so expect this to be another competitive team going for top slots. For now, they're on the outside looking in, but we won't know until qualifiers really begin.

Pot 5: The Licentian Isles
WC Ranking: 77
WC Cycle 90: [Q] 5-5-4, 5th in Group 14
Recent History: A qualifiers performance similar to what we've seen from Qasden and Quebec, nothing special. Oddly, the Licentians didn't participate in the Cup of Harmony that they co-hosted, so it was something of a short cycle for them. They got back into action at the Campionato Esportiva, leading Group 4 until the final matchday, where they lost to Burgburgh and barely slipped into the knockouts on GD. There, they played well, defeating Xanneria 4-3 before dropping 1-0 to Brenecia in extra time.
Expectations: A solid team from Pot 5, the Licentians are playing near the top of their game at the moment and looks like another team that will make the top half of this group pretty competitive.

Pot 6: Treekidistan
WC Ranking: 91
WC Cycle 90: [Q] 6-4-4, 4th in Group 14 [CG]
Recent History: A very performance in qualifiers last cycle, but that's about all we know. Treekidistan hasn't participated in any tournaments outside of the World Cup since the 88th cycle. They've gone down recently in the rankings with the loss of their Baptism of Fire points.
Expectations: We don't know! There's not much to tell. They play with pretty aggressive tactics; that's all we can say. However, if they play to the standards they did last cycle, this is going to be yet another dangerous team in Group 6.

Pot 7: The Cordian Isles
WC Ranking: 118
WC Cycle 90: [Q] 5-2-7, 6th in Group 2 [CG] 0-2-1, 4th in Group I
Recent History: Baptism of Fire quarterfinalists returning for their second cycle. This is a team that is capable of punching well above its weight, as evident in matches like their draw with Banija in AOCAF 66 and their victory over eventual WC runners-up Pemecutan in WC90 qualifiers. But when the time comes, they've consistently proven their inability to play well when they need to, such as when they took 1 point from their last three matches of qualifiers, and when they drew with Eraman when a victory would have sent them to the knockouts in the Cup of Harmony.
Expectations: Expect solid play, but nothing spectacular, and definitely don't expect the North Stars to qualify. Hopefully some interesting upsets.

Pot 8: Bongo Johnson
WC Ranking: 170
WC Cycle 90: N/A
Recent History: Easily the best-named nation in this tournament, Bongo Johnson missed the last World Cup Cycle. They made the World Cup in cycles 82 and 83 but have fallen off recently to a rank of 170.
Expectations: It's been a while since Bongo Johnson made a World Cup, but they've been there before. They're not likely to do a ton, but expect some competition from the Esportivans.

Pot 9: Gardelrya
WC Ranking: 239
WC Cycle 90: N/A
Recent History: New to the international sporting world, Gardelrya put up a solid performance in the Baptism of Fire, going 1-1-1 in the Group Stage and sneaking in on GD before upsetting then-undefeated Tekatus in extra time in the Round of 16. They lost in the quarterfinals against Efnakia to end their run.
Expectations: Expected to pretty much be a non-factor in qualifiers. They're somewhat aggressive. We'll see what happens, really. It's always tough to try and figure out what to make of these teams coming out of the Baptism of Fire.

Pot 10: Hopal
WC Ranking: 251
WC Cycle 90: N/A
Recent History: Hopal finished first in their Baptism of Fire group, but suffered a heartbreaker against Trollish Islands, allowing a goal in extra time that made the difference.
Expectations: Another BoF team we don't know what to make of. We'll just have to wait and see.

Pot 11: Beepee
WC Ranking: UR
WC Cycle 90: N/A
Recent History: Hey, we know these guys! The Cordian Isles have always had some interactions with the South Pacific, a region that Beepee is a significant part of. It'll be fun to meet them on the pitch. As for recent history, Beepee's participated in a few World Cup Cycles before, but nothing recent.
Expectations: All depends. You never know how well the unranked teams are going to do. Usually, pretty poorly, but you never know.

[Pasarga]

After the disappointment of last World Cup, it came as no huge surprise when the Wanderers relieved their coaching staff of their responsibilities. It had been a troubled tenure for the Kelssek manager and his team, struggling to show the consistency and good performances that had been promised with his hiring. While he did turn the struggling program around, taking them from not qualifying in back to back tournaments to making three straight, none of those qualifications had been easy and all needed help from other teams failing to perform than the Wanderers earning their way to the Finals. Couple that with back to back embarrassment in the Copa Rushmori, a tournament that Pasarga once dominated, the writing was on the wall and what had been expected came to pass.

Enter Kurtis Rakeruth from Nephara, who had the unfortunate pleasure of being the man in charge of the team in a one team league only to not win the title in Danford. It might seem an odd hire to go for a manager who failed to get it done with the largest fish in a small pond, as it would suggest that he can not get it done on a larger stage. Yet before his unfortunate time at Sanford Premier, Rakeruth had shown quite well and the tactics and style of play that the Nepharim has shown a liking to fit quite well with the talent pool available to the Wanderers. It seems a ready to go fit and both sides are looking for a bit of redemption heading into the World Cup Qualifiers this go around, both with much to prove.

What should give a lot of his skeptics in the dual islands some hope that he is the right man for the job is the recently completed Copa Rushmori. Being played in Pasarga this edition, the Wanderers entered the competition on a low point, not even a pot one team in a tournament that they were hosting and on the tail end of the Finals failure. Yet Rakeruth took the team through the group stage with a perfect record as well as winning a tough knockout fixture. Although the Wanderers would lose to Nephara in the Quarterfinals, the side showed massive improvement in just over a month from the end of the World Cup and renewed sense of belief I'm the team.

That belief and improvement will be put to the test as the side looks to navigate a difficult qualifying group. However looking across all the groups, there are few if any of these groups that can be called easy, especially with the for at that this qualifying will be following. The strikers are going to have show a level of consistency that has been absent from them for a few tournaments and why the team has not performed up to billing when you consider their talent on hand. If thenoffense can be solved with the new manager and consistency found, the Wanderers have quite the chance to impress and win the qualifying group.

[Macbon]

La gloria nazionale inizia oggi
(The National Glory Starts Today)

After what was a great debut appearance in the IAC and Baptism of Fire appearance, I leoni start their World Cup Qualifiers today. Due to being knocked-out in the Round of 16 of BoF 78, Macbon jumped up to only 251st. This also meant that they were seeded into Pot 9. They were then drawn with Valanora, Baggieland and Eastfield Lodge, Caribbia, Abanhfleft, Hapilopper, East Murbley, Euran Oceania Territories, Kelssek, and Savigliane into Group 15.

Among the best stadiums that were on the shortlist to host Macbon's qualifying matches, only five were picked: The Stadio Olimpico, Stadio Amatore Guerrera, Vélodrome de Carcalet, Stade de Fiumimura, and Parc Olympique Champilon. The Stadio Olimpico will host five home games two games at Stadio Amatore Guerrera and the rest will host one home game. Their upcoming match today is up against 156th-ranked Baggieland at Dartmouth Hill, where they will hope that their passionate fans can bring them luck once again.

The squad continues the tradition of having little changes to the lineup whatsoever, as coach Bernard Dieudonné restated that he believes the current team has the most firepower it can have. Attacking philosophy will most likely remain the same: attack-leaning play characterized by smart passing and organized build-up. Defensively, the squad will most likely execute high and tight pressing, which might sometimes lead to conceded goals due to lobbed passes. However, Mandel will definitely have some thoughts regarding the usage of risky defensive scheme on a number of way better offenses.

SCHEDULE

Matchday 1		@ Baggieland
Matchday 2		v Eastfield Lodge     [Stadio Olimpico]
Matchday 3		@ Caribbia     
Matchday 4		v Abanhfleft     [Parc Olympique Champilon]
Matchday 5		@ Hapilopper     
Matchday 6		v East Murbley     [Stadio Olimpico]
Matchday 7		@ Euran Oceania Territories     
Matchday 8		v Kelssek     [Stadio Amatore Guerrera]
Matchday 9		@ Savigliane     
Matchday 10		bye
Matchday 11		v Valanora     [Stadio Olimpico]
Matchday 12		v Baggieland     [Stade Vélodrome de Carcalet]
Matchday 13		@ Eastfield Lodge     
Matchday 14		v Caribbia     [Stadio Amatore Guerrera]
Matchday 15		@ Abanhfleft
Matchday 16		v Hapilopper     [Stadio Olimpico] 
Matchday 17		@ East Murbley
Matchday 18		v Euran Oceania Territories     [Stade de Fiumimura]
Matchday 19		@ Kelssek
Matchday 20		v Savigliane     [Stadio Olimpico]
Matchday 21		bye
Matchday 22		@ Valanora

[Eraman]

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Day 10 - Month 8 - Year 9

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FRONT PAGE

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The Prime Minister: I will propose a different name for the region to AMAN

Anara: The Prime Minister of Eraman, Tun Rendra Usin will hold discussions with Association of Melayu Archipelago Nations (AMAN) leaders to propose a different name for the region.

Tun Rendra Usin said, besides Eraman, there are other Melayu Archipelago countries such as Pemecutan, Sharktail, Southern Palm Islands, etc who were never part of the Meilawati Empire, which is where the current region name, Melayu Archipelago came from.

"I do not agree with the idea of using the name Melayu to name the whole region when in fact, nearly half of the region has no ties whatsoever with the neighboring ancient Meilawati Empire. I will discuss this matter with other leaders of AMAN countries who were never part of Meilawati in ancient times," he said in the People's Council.

He said this to answer a question from Nyoman Jari, the MP for Ketu from the opposition Mitra and Soma Reform Party who wanted to know if the government is comfortable with the meaning of the letter M in AMAN.

[Ziwana]

CHAPTER 3: THE AMACLASSICO YEARS,1945-1965

Part 1 and 2 : viewtopic.php?f=7&t=473341#p38774587, viewtopic.php?f=7&t=473341#p38774614

THE GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS AND THE RISE OF CHIUMAISM

AmaZanga FC and the Ziwana Liberation Front had all been founded under the ideas and ideals of Chikumbutso Chiuma. Other AmaZiwana viewed Chiuma's ideas as too extreme and formed their own movements such as the Zarabian Resistance Movement. After the death of Chiuma, his predecessors were more moderate in their ideas. They believed that it was imperative to stand against the oppressors who were the big companies and the Galeannan Colonial Government. Under these ideas the Ziwana Congress Party and Western United were founded. The extremist were still there in the new movement and football club but were not as prominent. Western United became synonymous with workers' rights. In their early years they stood against large companies, protecting workers. This led to the growth of the clubs fan base. Some of these fans were communists and followers of Chiumaism.
 
In 1929 the mismanagement and theft of Western United funds by their Chairman coincided with the global financial crisis which crippled the football club. Most Western United fans lost their jobs in the crisis, lost their saving and pensions. However for the love of their club they were barely able to save the club from becoming insolvent. With a struggling football team and problems at home due to not being able to provide for their families, most United fans turned to extremist ideas. Chiumaism became a favourite for most Western United fans. One of these fans was Wakisa Sivwimbi. Sivwimbi believed that the financial crisis had been caused by the greediness of capitalists which included the royal families of Ziwana, nobles, politicians and large company groups which he called 'Zikhwaya'. In 1930 he became leader of the Western United Fans Group. He used his position to create a fund to help fans in need and also begun to almost preach the works of Chiuma. When he contested for a Member of Parliament role for the West Teuila Constituency, he was supported by many Western United fans. He was very critical of the Ngwazis Government and pushed for Teuila West Constituency to become its own city. After being forced to resign from his position in 1931 he founded the Umodzi Party which was a Socialist-Chiumaism party. He would lead several protest against the Ngwazi in 1932 and 1933. He was thrown into jail on several occasions but released in order to keep peace. On January 2nd 1934, Wakisa Sivwimbi was voted in as Western United President. As president of United, Sivwimbi would hire Kondwani Phiri who would go on to help the club win 6 Liga Malicky trophies. In his two 14 year terms, Western United would become very socialist. An ultra-group called 'Ana aSivwimbi' (Children of Sivwimbi) would be born in his terms. The ultra-group would intimidate their Presidents opponents and beat up opposing fans. As Western United rose, so did Chiumaism. Seeing this trend, in 1944 to topple Western United, Ngwazi Amari IV provided financial support to all Birnin teams.
 
 
THE RISE OF BIRNIN ALMALAKI
The Royals had never been a bad team, they always performed very well in the league. They just never had the quality to win the league. Birnin Almalaki had a strict policy of only having players of noble birth or from 'Zikhwaya' families. This policy narrowed down the talent pool for the club. It also meant that the clubs restrictions stopped it from having creative talented players from poor backgrounds. In 1944, Ngwazi Amari IV provided money for the Royals to spend. The Ngwazi also took control of the club as Chairman. The ZFL was against the Ngwazi forcefully taking control of the club. The ZFL docked Birnin Almalaki 15 points in the league for the 1944 season. The Ngwazi would step down. An election would be held for the Birnin Almalaki board in 1945 with Prince Rame becoming the Chairman. With Prince Rame as chairman, he quickly hired foreign manager James Rooney from Galeanna. James Rooney was given 10 years to rebuild the squad and win at least 2 Liga Malicky trophies. Rooney was a good negotiator, with this skill he was able to poach striker James Mhango from Western United, left winger Kevin Dembo from Birnin Select and left back Thomas Mkumbwa from Eshan FC. Rooney had ended the Royals restrictive transfer policy with these signings. James Rooneys goal was to make the club, royals of the league. However this was just the beginning, in his first few years at the club he faced a lot of backlash from the Royals board who thought his way was striping the club of its identity.
 
In the 1946 season, Rooney would struggle to lead his team to their first major league trophy. Rooney had noticed in the first round that his defenders were physically unable to step up against the league's best strikers. In the 2nd rounds transfer window he tried to get rid of the players and bring in defenders who would help the team avoid leaking goals. The defenders came from influential families and had paid to play at the club. Rooney was angry with this set up and dropped the players into the reserve team and brought in defenders Lawi Moyo, Lizwe Chirwa, Dustin Chiuma and James Gondwe. All these players were bought from Eshan. With a solid defence and a poor 2nd round performance from Al-Quasim Athletic and Birnin Select, Birnin Almalaki won their first Liga Malicky 25 years after the league had been founded. Prince Rame Commended Rooney for the team's performance.
 
In the 1947 season Rooney found it hard to compete against the other sides. He had brought in several players to improve the team but the players had no chemistry with each other. Prince Rame had also decreased the amount of funding given to the club due to the country recovering from its participation in the Second Great War. Fearing that the team would struggle he decided to follow the approach that had helped Western United and Red Falcons gain prominence. In 1948 the Birnin Almalaki Football Academy was established. Rooney would personally travel around the country looking for young players in high school teams. He found several players such as Gift Mtawali, Jonah Chavula, Timothy Kafwafwa, Pike Kafoetek, Peter Kafwafwa and Joseph Kondowe. These players would help Birnin Almalaki became a true royal club in the 50's.
 
 
BIRTH OF THE AMAZIWANA DERBY
After the Birnin clubs had been bankrolled in 1944, Western United had found it extremely difficult to compete in the league. Birnin Almalaki itself although also being bankrolled had failed to dominate the league like its other Birnin counterparts. With financial support decreased for the Royals, they had to rely on their newly established Football Academy. James Rooney wanted the Royals to play fast paced entertaining football. The youth would provide all this. In the 1949 season, James Rooney would throw his youth players into the first eleven. The players would struggle, leaving the royals fighting for relegation. That season the board nearly sacked Rooney but he promised the Chairman that Birnin Almalaki would win the next season as he had seen great potential and promise in the youth players. Ainsworth Barracks would win the league that season, beating AmaWashindi to the title.
 
In 1950 the Anti-Corruption Bureau would launch an investigation into Wakisa Savwimbi's finances. Western United fan's and ultra's saw this as a direct attack on the club and a ploy to try and weaken them. In this season James Rooney's side totally dominated the league. The players showed great chemistry and confidence in their abilities. Jonah Chavula was a stand out, he bullied defenders and bagged himself 45 goals almost breaking legendary striker, Chikondi Gama's record. The Royals lost only 2 games, all of them to Western United. In the first round, the Birnin Almalaki players were rattled after they survived their bus being stoned and then a petrol bomb. Instead of postponing the match, the game went with Western United beating the Royals 4-2. It is said that the Royals players were threatened by Ultras that if they didn't lose the game they would not leave the stadium alive. Western United was punished by being docked 10 points, this stopped the club from winning the 1950 season. United had also been dominant in this season and the 10 points docked cost them the league. This would just increase the fans anger towards Birnin Almalaki. The Birnin Almalaki on the other hand gained a lot of fans due to their entertaining football and also gained sympathy from people who saw Western United as a club of thugs. In the second round, the match was stopped in the 80th minute after Western United fans started throwing stones unto the pitch after their play got an alleged unfair red card. Western United would still win the game 3-2. This was the beginning of a bitter rivalry between the two clubs.
 
 
THE AMACLASSICO YEARS
In January 1951, 3 months before the season would begin, the Anti-Corruption Bureau released their findings on Wakisa Savwimbi's finances in a report. The report was published in newspapers all around Ziwana. In the report it was found that the source of Wakisa Savwimbi's finances was from human trafficking. Western United immediately had Savwimbi step down and the AmaWashindi Ultra's banned. In the following months the club was raided and had its coffers emptied as it was using laundered money. Within the space of 22 years Western United had been unfortunate in having two criminal Presidents who were very much capitalists who exploited the proletariat for their own gain. A few weeks before the new season begun Western United board members and supporters groups met to discuss the future of the club. At the meeting the following was agreed upon;
-The club would distance itself from extremist political groups.
-The club would continue to support the working man against the big companies.
-The club would not tolerate violence from its fans.
-The club would continue with its stance of being against football teams financed by the royal family.
-The club would donate to the needy.
-The club would focus on developing youth players.
 
Western United would struggle to avoid the drop into the second tier that season after its key players had been sold. Birnin Almalaki on the other hand would have a successful season once again by retaining their title. Western United would lose in both rounds against the Royals, with an embarrassing defeat of 8-2 at their home ground.
 
Western United would fail to recreate its golden years with youths in the 1952 season, once again struggling against relegation. However, Western United would earn bragging rights against their rivals, the Royals by beating them in the first around at home 3-2 and drawing 4-4 away. Birnin Almalaki would struggle this season due to multiple injuries, finishing fourth with their city rivals Birnin Select claiming the Liga Malicky title. This season would be dominated by rumours of a Western United take over by various companies.
 
After months of speculation over take overs at Western United, on 5 February 1953, Red Sill Pvt Ltd took over AmaWashindi. The new owners of the club quickly rebranded the club changing its name to Red Sill United and changing the kits to red and blue. AmaWashindi fans were furious, Red Sill was erasing the clubs long proud history associated with the independence of Ziwana by changing the name of the club. Moreover, red and blue were the colours of their rivals Birnin Almalaki. Western United fans did not just sit as their club and history was being destroyed by the new owners they protested. The owners did not listen to the fans, the fans in retaliation boycotted all games for the rest of the season. The boycott hit the club and Red Pill company hard however the company did not budge. Even without fans AmaWashindi was able to claim the Liga Malicky in hard fought season. Western United had employed a defence style that was able to prevent attacking teams such as Birnin Select and Birnin Almalaki from claiming the title. However, the defencive style wasn't even enough to retain the title the following season.
 
In the 1954 season Western United owners would change back the club name and colours. AmaWashindi's lack of quality up front would affect the clubs ability to retain the title that season and it would end up with Birnin Select.
 
In 1955 Western United owners would invest 2.5 billion Silivas or 2,500,000 NS Pounds into the club. This was a record investment. The club bought a lot of star players from other clubs, enticing them with large wage packages. AmaWashindi would also break the leagues transfer records by signing Birnin Almalaki striker Zicco Banda. Zicco Banda was a Birnin Almalaki Academy graduate who had been instrumental in the clubs titles in 1950 and 51. His betrayal to the club increased the hatred between the two clubs. That season Western United totally dominated the league going the whole season unbeaten to claim the Liga Malicky title. Birnin Alamlaki came in second place. James Rooney the Royals manager was sucked after failing to win the title.
 
In 1956 Western United would was again win the league. Birnin Almalaki would struggle without James Rooney, fighting to stay in the league. In the derby match, fans fought in both legs. The following season Western United would win the league again after breaking the bank again. In 1958 James Rooney would return to Birnin Almalaki, he would trust in the youth side which he had built previous seasons early. That season the Royals would lift the title after a 7 year trophy drought. The following season the Royals would retain their title. The competition between Western United and Birnin Almalaki was stiff, both sides had to consistent to win the title. In 58 and 59 Western United had been gotten too many draws rather than wins which had cost them the title to a very attacking Birnin Almalaki side. In 1960 and 1961 Western United would switch its style to a more attacking. The change in style and investment in younger players would help them win the league against a now aging Birnin Almalaki side. In these years the city of Teuila also developed with social mobility on the rise. Most Western United fans moved from being in the working class to middle class. AmaWashindi had also solidified its place as the best AmaZiwana football club with 13 top tier titles. Their rivals Birnin Almalaki only had 5 top titles to their name, this became a contentious issue as Western United used this against the Royals. However Western United's success in the 1960s had come through overspending, this came to bite them later.
 
In 1961 Western United's debt from loans stood at 18 billion Silivas or 18,000,000. The owners of Western United, in an effort to pay back the loans cut back the spending of the club to save money. AmaWashindi could no longer compete as they had done previously. In 1962 and 1963, Western United failed to overcome their rivals who won the league easily under their manager James Rooney. James Rooney was eager for Birnin Almalaki to win more trophies than United. In 1964 Western United was able to once again win the title after 2 years. This was thanks to their new manager Hastings Phiri who's excellent man management was able to push squad again to a title. Birnin Almalaki would win the following year closing the AmaClassico years when two clubs dominated the league.

[Chromatika]

Matchday 1 @ (45) HUElavia and Matchday 2 vs. (58) Saltstead @ The Islander Dome, Myana, Myana Island, Chromatika (Cap. 133,000; 35,000 Seats)
Predicted Starting XI: (4-1-4-1) - Fillar, J. (C); Fillar, G. - de Aea - Anbient - Ighv; Zuniga; Wen - Hauser - Fillar, B. - Kuznetsov; Gainsbourg.
Reserves: GK Kathie Begley, GK Lorée Bautista, RB Victoire De Saint-Pierre, CB Klavida Régine, CB Moira Ansov, LB Ipati Aimée, RW Emilie Kruetzberg, DM Kaia Larriet-Cortes, DM Mare Si, AM Alissar Phoen, LW Edith Fillar, ST Hank Killian.

---

Sybill & Hellion Redux, Part 1: The Announcement and The Draw

Chromatik National Team Manager Sandra Sybill

The Capitalizt Dome
Chromia, Chromatika

It had been an interesting season for the Anomalies and the coaching duo of Sandra Sybill and Rachel Hellion. They'd failed to qualify after losing to Nyowni Kitara, at home, in dramatic fashion; then, they'd dumped so many of the veterans, including the team's Captain, and come together in defiance of everything that was affecting them, winning Cup of Harmony 82 and the first major piece of hardware in Chromatik history.

In the most recent CAFA, the team had languished to a group stage exit. Then, they had a decent showing of the prospects in the Eagles' Cup. All signs pointed to things needing to change - and so, Sandra Sybill and Rachel Hellion did. They shrunk the field from fifty names in this twenty-game qualifying cycle to forty, as they'd be the second seed and have to fight tooth and nail for the automatic qualification berth. To be fair, each and every second and third placed team would be in the playoffs, but...

What had surprised Sybill and Hellion was the amount of phone calls that had come in ever since the announcement was made to decrease the roster size. Olimpia Vidal, Kai Xiao, Kimberley Sayer, Valence Ilya, Jacob Descombes. All of them either said that their days of representing the nation were over or that they'd understand if they were cut. That level of awareness and team identity was great - and it made her job a lot easier when it came to cutting down the roster.

One of the names that did not call in, though, was Enigma Armageddon - which is where things got really interesting. Chromatika was split when it came to Armageddon. Half the crowd wanted his head - it made it very easy to blame the now ex-Captain when it came to the defeat against Nyowani Kitara. He had absolutely lost his cool and there was no denying the fact that if he hadn't been handed a red card, Chromatika would've had a much easier chance against Nyowani Kitara. Others said that it was enough that he had been banned from the national team for the Cup of Harmony and the CAFA, and that the team needed his leadership and prowess if they were to qualify.

Then, there was the fact that in his absence, Kateryna Zuniga had thrived. The Sabrefell Moths defensive midfielder had really come into her own and been the lynchpin of a defense that did just enough to help the Chromatiks win that all too important Cup of Harmony title. So, what could she do?

At the end, Sandra Sybill and Rachel Hellion decided to keep Enigma on the roster, but as a third string player. He'd have to earn his way back up the chart, and with the likes of Mare Si and Kaia Larriet-Cortes also asking for playing time, it would be a long road for the embittered player. She hoped that Enigma would rise to the occasion and let bygones be bygones. It had been he that had forced the Chromatik Football Federation's hand, not vice versa, after all.

After the confirmations and invites were sent out, the duo spent the rest of their time calling the likes of Anderson Pill, Amélie Ju, and the like. The downside of shrinking of the roster was that some players would not get that chance that they deserved. Well, hopefully, Chromatika would return to the stage where they could have a field of fifty again.

Two days later, the draw happened.

Sandra Sybill's heart sank when she realized that the first three games would be at the third seed, home against the fourth seed, and away at the first seed. HUElavia, Saltstead, and Pemecutan would be the three most difficult matchups, and the fact that they all will happen at the start of the two halves meant that the Chromatik campaign would be defined by those matches. If Chromatika did well in them, it'd really put them ahead of the group, while not doing well would put them behind and have them looking up at the rest of the group from the very beginning.

There were really no easy games in this group. Cabo Azure and Kimi-Suomi had experience upsetting the competition, while Raspotochje, Saterun, Thibaea, Stresia, and Al Qurija would all be land mines. To finish in the top three of the group will require concentration and prowess.

It could be far worse. Groups 14 and 15 looked worse on paper, and the Chromatiks would at least have a chance with this group.

They were in it for the long haul.

---

1. Sonja

In the dark streets of Alnio, Sonja Parelai Aniston trudged the street, sighing at her lot in life. Only two months ago, she had been a successful businesswoman specializing in bonds and loans. Then, the CP Sponsorship Project had seized her business due to her previous ties to the Chromatik Party, and after she'd been forced to pay reparations tied to her stature in the previous regime, she had nothing left. They told her that she'd be given a stipend until she got back on her feet, and as she was someone who wasn't married and didn't have any children, the stipend would have to do. Sure, the said stipend was enough that she wouldn't go hungry, but to go from having lots to having just a little because of a previous mistake was so dumb.

Henry Jackson had become the face of everything that was wrong with the prior regime. He'd confessed to everything, and was facing sentencing. The subsequent election had ended with the New Light Party gaining a simple majority in the Chambers of the Legislature, leaving Chromatika in a delicate place where the Premier was of the Rainbow Party but the Chambers leaned the New Light Party's way. The two of them saw eye to eye on a number of things, but there were other issues where the New Light Party were a bit more extreme - leading to some heated discussions.

There was no signs left of the enigmatic organization known as the Shadow Hand. The name disappeared as if it was an urban legend, their work completed. The CP Sponsorship Program was everything that they had been working toward, and people like Sonja Parelai Aniston was simply collateral.

"Feeling down on your luck?"

Sonja spun around quickly as she heard a low voice to her back. There was a hooded figure that was barely discernable in the darkness.

"I really have no patience for anything right now," she warned, "Go away."

"Is that any way to speak to friends?" asked the voice, "I know what's befallen you, and I know how to get back at them. Interested?"

"Not without any details, no," she answered, "I'm not going to be any Henry Jackson."

"Of course not," stated the voice, chuckling, "We would expect otherwise from the likes of you."

Then, in a split second, the figure moved at inhuman speed, closing the gap and pricking Sonja's neck with a syringe.

"We appreciate your cooperation," the voice droned, "You won't regret this."

Sonja Parelai Aniston became the 1,281st person to disappear from Chromatika since the CP Sponsorship Program began.

[Kelssek]

World Cup qualifying looms: Is a quick fix what Kelssek needs?

A trusted pair of hands is who FK has ended up with in appointing former CS Saint-Remy manager Jorge Guardia as the new national team manager. But Guardia is also being seen as a bridge appointment, with the advanced stage of his 69-year old’s career prompting speculation that FK were unable to get one of their longer-term targets to put aside their club ambitions.

Longtime alleged Kelssek manager in waiting Francois St-Louis is thought to feel that his quest to win a second league title for Strathcona Internationals is about to reach fruition. Burnaby’s Seth Harrison is strongly committed to building a second era of success for the club, although with the Centurions languishing at present speculation is rife about how long the club will be committed to Harrison. Another rumoured prospect is Shearwater’s Ryan Potter, but it’s apparently hard to prise him away while basking in a spell of success.

The appointment also signals the boardroom’s diagnosis of the national team’s downturn. They seem to think this is a team which is just short of some missing piece to succeed, and a quick patch-up is in order. But are they missing deeper problems in the structure?

After reaching the quarterfinals of World Cup 88, Kelssek have not won a match in the finals for two cycles. Part of the decision to move on from the Andrea Crowe era was a sense that previously successful methods, which took Kelssek back to its world ranking and World Cup quarterfinals ceiling, no longer worked. Much as fans have grumbled that the younger players aren’t as good as those who came before, it’s a squad whose overall level of talent and ability are unquestionably world class. At this level, the difference is not as much the pieces as how they’re put together.

Jorge Guardia is likely to give some other players who weren’t favoured by Crowe a chance (or a second chance). Pierre-Louis Laishram is perhaps one player who may get a second look, along with Clayquot centre-back Alex Morrison. Tactical experimentation may also be in order, with a back three one possible change that Guardia may try to institute given Kelssek’s strong options for wing-backs. One point of criticism was that Andrea Crowe was overly reliant on variations on a 4-4-2, and a change of shape and style might be the kick into gear this evolving team needs.

[Mercedini]

OFFICIAL MERCEDINIAN WORLD CUP ANTHEM

Syren & Rhythm DMZ ft. Charlie Donliffe - "2"
Tune: Snakehips ft. ZAYN - "Cruel"
Music: R. Mutso-Zemini, E. Dominica, C. Donliffe • Lyrics: C. Donliffe, A. Callanzaro

The lights go down on the audience as the song presentation fades out and the music begins on Mercedini's World Cup Anthem. The opening notes ring out as lights around the Sports City Stadium, with neon pinks and greens flashing around the stadium and reflecting off the tens of thousands of faces in Mercedini's national stadium. The three DJs stand on their setups above the stage, with Charlie Donliffe a step down from them on the main stage floor, with around a hundred or so dancers in the pitch, spread out to fill the entire pitch.

Charlie is standing in the centre of the stage on a long platform which stretches from the front to the back of the stage. The LED screens are completely black and a single spotlight is placed upon his head, save for the intermittent flicker of neon colours around the stage which is in time with the rhythm of the song. Charlie is wearing black jeans, white t-shirt, white trainers and a grey bomber jacket. His face isn't yet illuminated as he moves the microphone up to his face to sing the first verse of the song.

Out in the big city
You and me
Hold my hand softly
That's us as two.
My body's craving
I'd do anything
To see you smiling

As the tempo increases, the platform he is standing on starts to move, revealing itself as a conveyor belt. The LED lights of the stage light up to reveal a Tokyo-esque street, with many neon signs written in Japanese writing adorning the sides of the stage. As Charlie walks, the neon lights move down the street and into the distance (as if seeing the signs from his perspective). The normal lights on the stage and in the stadium flash to the beat of the song. The home crown in Zoloroni begin to clap along to the beat of the song, with even some of the travelling fans getting into it. The aerial camera above the pitch flies towards the stage as Charlie hold his hand out to hit, before action returns to the central camera at the front of the stage

Why don't you hold me?
'cause right now we'll break free
Leave the past behind us, just me and you.
Yeah, that's why we'll be
Together till the end, can't you see?
When you want anything, i'll be with you.

As the chorus kicks in, the moving platform picks up speed, causing Charlie to break into a brisk jog. He sings into the microphone while looking and pointing into the camera. The backing singers at the side of the stage assist in the singing of the chorus, while simultaneously clicking their fingers and moving their hips in sync. The camera angles switches to the DJs perspective, looking into the crowd while twisting some knobs, the camera captures part os the crowd dancing along and waving their flags in preparation for the match which follows this anthem. The camera focuses back on Charlie who is smiling as he sings the last part of the chorus, he waves his hands to the audience, wanting them to get involved and raise the roos of the Sports City Stadium.

Just me and you, girl
Conquering the world as two, woah (ah)
Yeah me and you, girl
Baby, we're onto something good (girl)
Ah, na na na na na.

As the first chorus kicks in, the pyrotechnics on the stage and around the rim of the roof fire, starting a spectacle of music and prompting a loud cheer from the crowd, which can be heard on the stadium microphones. First there were sparks and now there are flame jets shooting out, with lights flashing and circling the stadium in time with the beat of the song. The platform slows to allow Charlie to slow to a walking speed, he sings with more intensity and adds a couple of spins, fist clenches and intricate step sequences on the conveyor belt to keep up with the speed of the moving platform. The camera shows a close-up of Charlie's face as he sings with intensity as the second verse comes to an end.

Don't end this nirvana
We're flying high
Holding each other tight
That's us as two
When tides are calmer
Sailing in the blue sea
And we'll be caught in the moment
Just us

Charlie walks to the back of the stage to get off the moving platform. He walks to the side where the DJ set and the backing singers are, and then to the front of the stage towards the crowd and does some more pointing, but this time it's into the crowd of the main stand where the main cameras are to film the performance. The stage lights flash into the audience, illuminating the audience while the performers on stage all do actions in time with the song (whether it's pointing into the crowd for the main singer, shaking hips for the backing singers or twisting knobs and nodding heads for the DJs). The LED screen flickers as the song approaches the chorus.

Why don't you hold me?
'cause right now we'll break free
Leave the past behind us, just me and you.
Yeah, that's why we'll be
Together till the end, can't you see?
When you want anything, i'll be with you.

He sings the second time, but adds more intense movements and opens his body language up to the audience as the lights begin to flicker with more intensity to suit the higher intensity of the second chorus, a wind machine is turned on and Charlie's hair and t-shirt begin to blow in the wind. More pyrotechnics light up the arena as the song progresses and Charlie continues to sing in the pre-match warm up. As the chorus comes to an end, the backing dancers take their microphones off their stands and walks forward to the front of the stage where Charlie is.

In the instrumental, Charlie and the backing singers/dancers perform a polished dance routine. The camera angle shows above the stadium, where fireworks in blue and yellow are being let off to signify another major sporting event in Mercedini. Light is being emitted from the stage, while many fans wave their flags in time with the music, be that the Mercedinians, or the travelling fans.

Me and you, girl
Conquering the world as two, woah (ah)
Me and you, girl
Baby, we're onto something good (girl)
Ah, na na na na na.

The song slows down and the Tokyo-esque street is replaced with a completely black screen, except for galaxies and twinkling stars dotted around the screen. The bracelets given out by the Mercedinian organisers light up throughout the crowd to simulate each fan as a star, which combine to form a galaxy within the stadium, which is perfectly captured by the camera at the back of the stadium. There is a rather notable black hold in the away end, as those fins have either not been given one, or they have chosen not to take part, miserable gits. The camera moves up on stage and circles Charlie and the other performers as they bring their routine to an end and return to their original spots.

All that I want, All that I want.
All that I want, All that I want.
Is to see you smiling...

The performers move back behind their microphones and Charlie walks back to the conveyor belt as he sings the final part of the song. The camera follows Charlie as he moves back to the conveyor belt, as the camera orbits him to show the performer and the vastness of the pitch before the match begins. The camera moves quickly from the back of the stadium to the front, before giving a wide shot of the stage as the song builds to a crescendo once again.

Why don't you hold me?
'cause right now we'll break free
Leave the past behind us, just me and you.
Yeah, that's why we'll be
Together till the end, can't you see?
When you want anything, i'll be with you.

LED screen explodes into colour as Charlie does a final walk on the moving platform, moderate strobing is coupled with a moving LED screen as Charlie gives his all in the final chorus of the song. The crowd waves their flags in the foreground as the performers round out their performance with a final burst of energy.

Just me and you, girl
Conquering the world as two, woah (ah)
Yeah me and you, girl
Baby, we're onto something good (girl)
Ah, na na na na na.

Charlie gets down on one knee, and sings to the ground as he performs the final part of his song, he picks his head up and sings into the camera which is closing in on him. A single spotlight is placed on his head, mirroring the start of the song. As he sings the final line of the song, he lets out a wide smile to indicate his relief at finishing the song, as the large crowd applause him and begins to chant to get everyone hyped for another Mercedinian qualification cycle..

Your body's all I want
Don't know what it is
Human attraction
Me and you

He rises up from his knee, laughs and smiles as he greets the audience. "Grazij Zoloroni. Andiamo Mercedinia!" He takes a bow to the crowd who are still chanting, with stage hands ready to quickly dismantle the stage before the first Mercedinian home match begins and the cycle starts. The television feed switches to a couple of aerial shots of Zoloroni, with the Sports City Stadium in the back of the shot, illuminated in blue and yellow with lights shining into space. The final bits of commentary and punditry are delivered to each of the broadcasters in their native languages. With minutes until the pitch is ready and both teams take to the stage for the 91st World Cup Qualification Cycle.

[Eura]

INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY
Huayramarca 2–2 Eura
Scorers:
Woakes 37, Vivier 60
Lineup:
1. E Palmer
2. A Mason (sub Coffey 70)
15. K Sherwood
4. J Menard [C] (sub Phillips 65)
19. A Coles
23. E Reeve
24. J Gates (sub Stewart 54)
16. O Vincent
7. M Woakes [VC]
9. S Robson
26. T Vivier

INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY
Eura 3–1 Nyowani Kitara
Scorers:
Malone 35, Robshaw 41, James 90
Lineup:
13. T Hammond
5. T Green [VC]
25. Q Phillips
27. J Byrd
6. S Erskine
8. V Robshaw [C]
11. B Malone (sub Coffey 61)
18. D Bowman
12. A Woodman (sub James 75)
10. C Atkinson
14. S Singh (sub Sharp 82)

---

Wing play

10:15pm

‘Come on man, you’re an international footballer. You’ll be fine!’
Baby-faced assassin Adam Woodman was hurriedly sifting through his wallet outside of “Wheaties”, Bastion’s premier Electrum-themed nightclub. The staff were all from down south, all the cocktails came with a stick of Centralis plain barley poking out, and of course the logo featured that famous, glorious golden arse.
Not that young Adam was paying any attention to this. No, he was too busy sweating over whether or not he could get in without his driving license, despite being 27 and one of the most easily identifiable young men in the country.
‘I’m telling you, I’ve been ID’ed before. We should be safe.’
‘Stop being such a fucking pussy!’ said Bobby Malone, his opposite number on the Euran right flank who was always so delicate with his words. They were the same age but Malone’s hedonistic lifestyle back in Nephara gave him the aura of someone slightly older, and the massive tattoos probably helped.

‘Oh, give it a rest Mal, we get it, you’re so badass and cool because you smoke the weed or whatever.’
‘I- hold on, the weed?? Forget the ID mate, talk like that and they’ll think you’re fucking sixty.’
‘Alright lads?’ Damion Bowman had showed up, the oldest of the bunch, and true to form he barged his way into the queue and delivered a two-fingered salute to the group complaining behind them. ‘Let me guess, Woody is making a whole palaver. Absolutely typical that.’
‘Shut up! I just need a minute.’
‘Yeah, yeah. Let me fix this.’ Damion vanished again, exiting the queue and walking up towards the door.
These were Eura’s wingers, who had ventured out together a couple of nights before an upcoming friendly with Nyowani Kitara. Skorji Oslograd would castrate all of them if this were a qualifier, but for friendlies the notoriously unpredictable Euran manager allowed his players the freedom to do what they like up until 24-hours before the game itself.

Those three were not the whole group, though. Travis Coffey, now in the side as a wingback, had tagged along, and was as ever just here for the dancing. Accompanying him at the back of the group was Owen James. The 22-year-old was the kid of the group, relatively new to the national team, and the quietest of the bunch in his own time. Characteristically he was paying more attention to his phone than the petty squabbling of the others.
Damion returned, his eyes ablaze.
‘Alrightdickheadswhatstheplaneh?’
Adam looked to Bobby, Bobby looked to Travis, Travis looked at Owen and he ignored all four of them. Collectively, without saying a word, they decided to not push any questions about what had “changed” about their elder statesman. ‘Are we in then?’ asked Adam.
‘Yeahyeahs’allgoodmatenoworriesletsgo’ replied Damion. He bounded forward, they followed, and somehow, they got in.

10:34pm

‘Ok, everyone got their shots?’
They did indeed. Adam turned up his nose at god knows what kind of whiskey they had in front of them. He was already regretting making a rare exception to his abstinence. Bobby, who had bought them, continued his speech.
‘Here’s to us – the men, specifically men because Lily Shephard did her knee in - who create the chances. Score our share of the bangers. Give fullbacks nightmares. And to how we’ll do it all again in qualifying. Cheers!’
‘Cheers!’ Travis happily cried.
‘CHEERSLOVEITMATE!’ Damion spluttered.
‘Cheers.’ Owen whispered.
‘Eugh.’ Adam whined.
They all downed their shots, and with that the night truly began.

00:15am

‘…so, obviously, you know, living over there, it’s just a more enlightened lifestyle, you know? None of this heteronormative basic bitch stuff, its cultured. Dynamic. There’s, like, synergy. D’you know what I mean?’
Bobby had been boring the skin off some poor woman for the best part of an hour, pint in one hand and vape in another, and she was bravely sticking with it. ‘Mmhmm, yeah, totally. Could you get me another drink?’
‘Pfft, yeah, whatever, maybe I will and maybe I won’t. I don’t know. What even is a drink, really?’
‘Hey, I keep getting asked for selfies, can you- ah fuck!’ Adam had just returned from being mobbed by teenagers and, in blissful ignorance, accidentally knocked a full pitcher on the table over Bobby’s new pal.
‘Mate! What the fuck? Watch where you’re go- aw, now look what you’ve done!’
In seconds Bobby’s companion had wisely taken to the bathroom to dry off her ruined dress and escape his stories. Adam could barely suppress a giggle.
‘Her a favour, apparently?’
‘…oh, you piece of-‘

00:37am

‘Nah listen, yeah, I’ve got such a banging set ready. Seriously. You haven’t heard it, but you won’t forget it when you do. Its fucking biblical man. Why won’t you listen? Just move and fuckin’ listen mate. Seriously. There’s no time. Come on come on come on!’
‘Look guy, just because you’re some hotshot footballer, doesn’t mean I’m gonna’ let you in my booth.’
‘Oh yeah? Let’s test that theory…’ Damion whistled theatrically as he pulled a £100 note out of his pocket for the DJ’s eyes only.
‘Go away or I’ll call security.’
‘Ahhh, whatever. You’re boring.’
Damion waddled back onto the dance floor between odd looks and the occasional half-hearted request for an autograph. There he found Travis. Travis had two light sticks and a bunch of face paint from somewhere. He was dancing with his eyes closed, joined by Owen, who was still looking at his phone while gently swaying side to side.
Travis was having a good time. Owen was – presumably – having a good time.
Damion took something he really shouldn’t and joined in.
Now Damion was having a good time.

02:35am

‘This is what you call fine dining?’
‘Woooah – is this actually from a pig? Are you sure? It looks like a tentacle.’
‘Aw, man, can’t we go to the pizza place?’
‘Just stop complaining and eat!’ spat Bobby, whose exotic late night street food choice had left everyone unsatisfied. ‘Where is this taxi?’
‘Uh…I think that’s it.’ Owen pointed across the road to their ride home. Unfortunately, it had been commandeered by a hen party.
‘Balls.’
‘Fuck it, we’re walking.’
‘Walking?! This is a city of like, a bajillion people. How is that going to work?’
‘Everyone knows who we are. We’ll definitely get mugged.’
A passer by yelled something at Damion, alleging he was “past it”, just as he said that. Travis pointed and laughed. ‘Hey dude, looks like you just got mugged there and then.’
‘Yeah, yeah, laugh it up. At least I get off the bench sometimes.’
‘OHHHHH!’
For the first time that evening, all of them were laughing together. Until they spotted it. The holy grail. A sign from the lord himself.
Literally, a neon sign.
All night karaoke.

03:41am

‘…HEEEEE WAS TURNED TO STEEL, IN THE GREAT MAGNETIC FIELD…’
‘What is this old stuff, anyway?’
‘Old stuff? This is part of your history- oh hold on, FOR THE FUTURE OF MANKINNNND!’
‘Guys? Guys-‘
‘Piss off babyface. We’re not going home.’
‘I’m just saying, if we don’t leave now, we’re going to really struggle to get our hours. Training is tomorrow evening and I don’t want to be late.’
‘Who cares Adam? Skorji will probably cancel it and make us read philosophy or go on a hike or something. Its all wildcard shit these days.’
‘Hey, you shouldn’t disrespect the coach.’
‘Not disrespect, just facts brother. Now take a mic and- NOW THE TIME IS HERE, FOR IRON MAN TO SPREAD FEEEAAAR-’

Nyowani Kitara (Home)

It all went as you’d expect, though Damion Bowman’s ability to recover from a substance induced mega-hangover was truly a thing to behold. With forty-eight hours or so to get it all out of his system, and Oslograd assuming his jumpy nature was down to simply being more “up for it” than everyone else, the veteran attacking midfielder started against the Kitarans in a symbolically important game for the new Nyowani Kitara. He was rapid as ever, knew when to draw a foul, and gave the ref an earful whenever he could. However, he was exhausted after 70 minutes and ceased to play much of a role in the game.

Earlier he had assisted Bobby Malone in a fine opener in the 35th minute, cutting back for the Treason winger to stab home after a bolting run from the blue that took the Kitaran defence by surprise. Bobby was typically explosive throughout and demonstrated every trick in the book of skill and flair. Until the 57th minute, when he left a dent in a Kitaran defender and was lucky not to see red – in a friendly, of all games!

Four minutes later he was hauled off for Travis Coffey. Coffey played with the confidence of a man who knows his Ma Alamome vintage made him undroppable, but also with a carefree attitude – maybe a bit too carefree. He did the job tracking back, but his runs forward were aimless and led to little being created up front. He was fortunate Eura were 2-0 up and not desperate for a third…

…until the 66th minute, when Jamie Byrd’s under hit back pass was intercepted by a Kitaran forward and lobbed over a helpless Tom Hammond. Adam Woodman should have been available for a pass, but instead he had been caught up field, and now they had been punished ruthlessly. Adam had been quiet all game despite training meticulously, and was soon substituted, muttering something about being thrown off by the wind being off or some daft excuse. Oslograd was not having any of it.

And so, on went Owen James, the quiet yet joyful youngster who skipped onto the pitch like a schoolkid getting their first run out. With the lead at 2-1 it was going to be a nervy end to the game and an inexperienced player like James might wilt in such circumstances, even in a friendly. Yet, as Damion puffed and panted, Adam and Bobby seethed on the sideline and Travis ambled about, who was there to put it away when Alex Sharp teed up a 90th minute third to seal the win? Owen James of course. The other wingers all watched on enviously as the kid wheeled away to celebrate.
For all the fun and games they indulged in off the pitch, this lot cared a lot more than it might seem about what happened on it.

[Delaclava]

Ingram, 28, claims ageism kept him off team

Dathan Ingram had long been a constant on the Delaclava national soccer team, usually found streaking down the left wing and looking for a cross or perhaps a pass to Lukas Meyer. He made an impression throughout his tenure with memorable goals, assists, and corner kicks. But it wasn't a stretch to say that during the last qualifying campaign, his level was declining, and the forward who spent time in Nephara (Belgrave) before moving on to Krytenia (Casuals Osteria) gave way more and more to Damian Soto and other younger stars.

Nevertheless, for all his tenure and for his high level of play not so long ago, it was some surprise when new manager Boris Ishutin announced his 23-man squad sans Ingram - and the forward had a fringe theory on the cause of it.

"It's an age discrimination thing, I think," he claimed.

But... you're just 28?

"It doesn't matter what age I am, it matters what age he thought I was," he explained. "This new, clueless guy, he sees I'm nearly bald and thinks I must be in my late thirties or forties, and all of a sudden I'm not fit to get called up anymore. It's a damn shame."

Ingram stated the possibility of legal action, and technically, he has a point. Under Delaclav law, employment discrimination tends to be determined more by the actor's perception of the target, rather than the target's actual membership to the protected category. However, even if we believe Ingram, the problem isn't that Ishutin thought he was 40: the problem is that he played like a 40-year-old last cycle.

Perhaps Ingram, even off the bench (as he was in the Cup of Harmony), would have provided a valuable veteran presence. But when the Phoenixes only run four forwards, and Lukas Meyer is guaranteed to be one of them, there's hardly room for error - you can ask Dashaun Howard, Jack Sanders, Alexei Gusev, and even Soto himself about that. Mathias Gretler has long been considered the future, the answer; Soto is well in his prime; and Joey Muldowney is a fine choice to benefit from the mentorship of Meyer.

But Ingram is still frustrated, and said his height (5-foot-7) and hairline have long been a source of mistreatment. "It happens everywhere, you know? I get crushed on the subway, can't reach the top shelves at the supermarket. I go on the dating sites and even a rich footballer like me can't get any action. Girls literally only want one thing and it's fucking disgusting; a tall dude with a full head of dark hair. We can't all be Ryan fucking Keating, you know?"

"The football field was my one refuge, and now that's been taken away from me to an extent. But I'll keep working my way back. I'll make it back to this team, and then someone will swipe right."

The 23 men who have been chosen to play for the Phoenixes this cycle, because they're still good at their jobs, open their campaign in Manchester against Equestria. The Phoenixes are the sixth seed in Group 1 and will also try to fight off Ko-oren, Sharktail, Nyowani Kitara, Poafmersia, and Southwest Eastnorth for a spot in the top three.

[Kandorith]

---

Shinonome Kyoai - International

---

World Cup 91 qualifiers to start

As the entire team seems to be replaced and fairly unknown, one familiar name at least returns. The Kandorese Football Association has agreed that there is only one person fit for the job as the manager of the Kandorese national team
By Natsumi Miyasaki
Sports

^{SHARE THIS:}

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Kaya Michiyu was appointed manager of the Kandorese national team for the third time in a row. Together with the technical staff, we have come to know the last World Cup campaigns for the empire. The team consists of Kaya Michiyu as manager, Hijiri Yoshida as assistant manager, Haru Abe as second assistant, and Teru Nakaoka as goalkeeper trainer. The campaign for the World Cup will begin against Sannyamathland.

Kaya Michiyu: "To me, football has been a large part of my life, and I've always had a passion for the national team. Being the manager once again is once again a great honour and the key to further developing Kandorese football. I do believe that every match will be crucial in the upcoming qualifications and we will be giving our full one hundred percent. The run-up to the qualifiers is always an exciting time as we have to get used to playing with each other and carve out a working system in virtually no time. Honestly, it is good to be back as manager and I have already talked to many of the players and the technical staff. I am really looking forward to starting the next chapter in Kandorese international football."

Tetsuo Kazuki, director of football at the KFA, said: "We are on the eve of a gigantic job and that is qualifying for World Cup 91. We have had a long period of preparation and selection to put this team together. Of course, we have been looking for the perfect manager for the job — someone who has been exceptional in both quality and communication, someone who knows all the secrets of managing a national team. With their experience and service record, Kaya Michiyu has been a shining beacon in Kandorese football. The call to appoint Michiyu was a very swift and clear one. After that, many more calls did happen, and we have been able to establish a clear vision and goal for the upcoming World Cup campaign. We are absolutely delighted that Kaya Michiyu wanted to manage the national team once again."

---

Claim to fame

Kaya Michiyu (1988) has been the manager of the Kandorese national team since World Cup 89 and has been a phenomenon ever since. During their first term as managers, Michiyu managed to reach the quarter-finals in a very convincing display and knew how to win the hearts of the nation. It seems that Kaya Michiyu will become the longest-serving manager of the Kandorese team in history as the KFA seems to have them on speed dial for any manager job. 

Previously, Kaya Michiyu has enjoyed great success with teams like Hayazawa Vissel, winning the domestic league multiple times and even winning regional championships with the Hayazawa Blue.

---

Selection

Both the KFA and Kaya Michiyu agreed to completely switch around the selection process for the national team, and they have had extensive talks to select the perfect players for the 4-3-3 playstyle the manager enjoys deploying the most. With the team taking shape, there is an interesting balance in the national league origins of many of the players. The most notable, however, is that both Matsumoto and Hamada are still in the squad, but the rest of the team is significantly younger and built more towards counter-attacking and possession football. Most players in the national team play for Himakazawa Ravens, HIgaku Antlers, and Hayazawa Vissel, once again showing the dominance these teams have in the Kandorese domestic league. 

[Tikariot]

Musical inspiration: In Extremo - Verehrt und angespien

The picture starts out at night, a lone fire burning in the centre of a stone circle, all is quiet. Suddenly tribal drums start to sound and a few figures appear in the background, taking up position in a semi circle. One of them steps in front of the fire, silhouetted against the flickering flames, wearing what appears to be a long coat or cloak. Bells join the drums, followed by the sustained note of a lone bagpipe, then two, then three. As the bagpipes start to play, several torchbearers appear from the sides, bringing some more light to the area, which looks like a clearing, as both tree trunks and branches become visible in the light of the torches. The man in the front spreads out his arms and begins to speak in a strong and clear proclamatory voice:

Hear the story of the band,
Reaching for the stars.
They flew high to find their luck,
But fell into the dark.

Now they're back to rise again
To reclaim glories gone,
The Dark Tide, it is rolling in,
It's Retribution's Dawn!

As he finishes his proclamation, the torch bearers raise their torches and above them, previously out of view, the flames race around the outline of a flying owl. From the off the voices of Tikariot Sports TV's Michael Sandstrom and Danielle LaBrie can be heard, who don't seem to be at the location, but are covering the event.

Michael Sandstrom: The qualifying campaign for World Cup 91 is about to kick off and Tikariot is on a quest to reclaim their spot in the tournament after missing out last cycle. Welcome to Tikariot Sports TV's coverage of the team presentation for WC91!

Danielle LaBrie: A very unusual and impressive intro here by the Tikariot Football Federation for what will be a gripping campaign for the Snowy Owls to make the missed qualification at World Cup 90 a one-off experience.

Michael Sandstrom: Yes, that is the plan and they have declared the title of the campaign "Retribution's Dawn", which is both ominous and a clear marching order for what they are aiming for, which could be a very exciting outlook.

The man in the long coat that had been standing in front of the fire takes over again, with the burning outline of the owl the main source of light, causing flickering shadows all around, making it seem as if the shadows are dancing.

Man: The time has come now for the band
To exit the shadows and make their stand.

With this a line of torches springs to life along the edge of the clearing, illuminating a path, which's root is obscured in the darkness beyond.

Man: In goal, from Twin Saints in Brenecia - Brian Merson!

As his name is called, Brian Merson walks along the path, taking up a spot at the edge of the fire, with what appears to be black and burgundy war paint.

Man: In defensive four, to the left, playing for Port Rhovanyon AFC - Ximon Bergstrand!

Every time he introduces a player now, they come from the dark and line up in a half circle behind the fire in the centre, each wearing some pattern of war paint on their faces.

Man: Our centre backs, our Northmen, from Xanark City - Duncan McCariot and Xander Augustinsson!

On the right, playing for the Avanaroch White Wings - Stephen Mhor!

Danielle LaBrie: It is quite amazing to see the story of Xanark this season, sitting in fourth position in the table right now, same for Avanaroch after just having achieved the re-promotion into the TPL, reviving quite a few careers.

Man: In midfield, hailing from Miruan City, left midfielder Nicholas van Haar!

In the centre, the creative mind of the team. Our captain from the Oriannor Mountaineers - Celyn Monaghan!

And his right hand man, playing for Cyrene Bay in Oberour Ar Moro - Callum Baines!

Michael Sandstrom: Despite Miruan not having a good season, Nicholas van Haar is still one of the best we have out there on the left side, even though he is being pushed by youngster Easton Aird, but his experience can be so important in these qualifying games and Celyn Monaghan, as said, he is the leader of the team and even when he might not be putting up the big numbers, just his presence is so important.

Man: And upfront, ready to shred opposing defenses apart. On left wing, also hailing from Oriannor - Xasthur Fredriksson!

His congenial partner to the right, lighting up the scoreboards in Avanaroch - Alan Castanheira!

And finally in centre, boldly going where others won't, from Miruan City - Gary Conway!

Danielle LaBrie: One thing that strikes here is the absence of Morris Nighthorse, at least in the perceived starting eleven, he has been struggling this season so far, just like the whole Baraldhur team has, but Xasthur Fredriksson and Alan Castanheira have been in absolutely outstanding form so far this season. But the campaign is long, so I'm sure there will be plenty of time for those in the "second row", so to say, to get decent playing time.

Man: And the man who has to pull all the strings together to make it all come together - the manager - Brian McAllister!

With this the coach walks along the path, with the rest of the squad in tow, all of them wearing different kinds of war paint, showing a team that is ready to go to war.

With this the picture cuts to Michael and Danielle standing in front of the entrance to the legendary Temple of the Crow, underneath the huge protruding basalt crow head.

Michael Sandstrom: I think that this is a very clear message to the rest of group 9, Tikariot is not here to play around this cycle, but they mean business!

Danielle LaBrie: Indeed, it looks like they are doing their best to re-capture the intensity that had made them a veritable force on the multiverse's football stage and the first two upcoming games will show immediately if they are on the right path, starting out in Ziwana before coming right here to the legendary Temple of the Crow, when they will meet up Cardenao for their first home game in their second match.

Michael Sandstrom: Overall the Snowy Owls will be playing their ten home games in ten different stadiums this time, including some that they have never played in, such as Ravencroft or Varakoula, which is going to be interesting for the team as well and also give fans from those regions an opportunity to see some live action.

Danielle LaBrie: Tikariot Sports TV will be covering every game with pre- and postgame analyses and, of course, every second of every game live and without any commercial breaks. Until then we will leave you with some images from the team presentation!

[Yue Zhou]

the question before WCQ91 begins: was Farfadillis the peak?

While Yuezhou might not be heading to Southwest Atlantian Oceania after the dust settles on this qualifying campaign, Farfadillis will still remain heavy in the Dragons' minds if they head to the Cup of Harmony. The team's shock 3-1 upset of Farfadillis on MD3 of World Cup 88 may not have gotten them to the Round of 16, but it did represent the high water mark on Yuezhou's national footballing ambition. A team ranked sixty-second managing results against Turori and sending Farfadillis to the group basement was a tremendous success, and with Lu Jialan managing a high-octane counterpressing side, the sky seemed to be the limit.

Of course, Lu Jialan left just a year after that magical run to the World Cup proper after long-simmering resentment between him and the YFA finally bubbled over. The Kang Guilin era was objectively underwhelming, and while rolling the dice on Ken Hayabusa has produced the prettiest football in recent Yue memory, the results have yet to follow. With Lu hardly setting Esportiva alight with either Zeta Reka or Hugeltaldom, the Lu-Dragons split hasn't gone to plan for either side. And with World Cup 88 now five years in the rearview mirror, it's starting to look like that run was a fluke.

Compounding matters is the Dragons' murky future. The attacking quartet of Huang Shedong, Liu Huiying, Wen Xiaohui, and Li Jing is starting to show its age, especially as they've heavily featured in each of the team's last four qualifying campaigns. With the "Four Horses" all ranging between 30 and 33 in age, Hayabusa - or whoever replaces him - will need to replace four integral cogs of the team's attack very soon. Yet it's not clear where the replacements will come from. Luo Dan and Tao Beiliang, long on the periphery of the core four, are thirty and thirty-one themselves. Jiang Jieren and Ji Weibo have both shown flashes and are entering their primes, but the depth behind them is somewhat lacking. While the likes of Yuan Mingrong, Zhu Aiguo, and Li Jianguo may ensure that the Dragons remain defensively solid for at least a few more cycles, the goals could be drying up fast.

All taken together, WCQ91 represents a pivotal moment in both Hayabusa's tenure - which could end if they fail to at least make the qualifying playoffs - and the broader story of Yue football as a whole. With the glorious past rapidly fading, and the short-term future hardly secured, all Hayabusa's eleven have is the present. They had better make it count.

[Southwest Eastnorth]

Stadium Preview + Opponent Previews

Auberlein National Stadium

in blowouts players have been known to try and kick balls at the inflatable mustard bottles, near the coastal end of the stadium

Stadium: Auberlein National Stadium.
Location: Auberlein
Capacity: 40,000
Opponents: Ko-Oren, Nyowani Kitara

Auberlein is the Spiritual home of football in Southwest Eastnorth. Built just 15 years after the founding of the nation, at a time when Auberlein was the capital of the nation. Auberlein was eventually dropped as the capital as the government wished for a more centralized city, but for football it used to be the only stadium the National Team would play on. Two of the biggest opponents on the schedule, Nyowani Kitara and Ko-Oren will play the Pioneers here at Auberlein national Stadium. Hope they enjoy the coastal views.

Pride of Virginia Stadium

PoV generally leads the league in highest percentage of tickets sold, due to its prime location near the beach allowing people to spend a whole day of fun before and after games!

Stadium: Pride of Virginia Stadium
Location:Virginia
Capacity: 39,000
Opponents: Xanneria, Delaclava

The SWEN Football Association would like to welcome Squornshelous and Sendhang tot he Capital of Southwest Eastnorth, Virginia. Having to spend there first 4 seasons in a multi-purpose Baseball/Football/Gridiron stadium, Virginia United now play in the spacious Pride of Virginia Stadium. While Auberlein's National Stadium is the spiritual home of SWEN Football, the PoV is its crown jewel. A nice stadium, the PoV has everything a modern stadium should have, even solar panels on the roof to keep the stadium on its own grid rather than wasting the power of the local power station. Squornshelous and Sendhang will have fun time here for sure! Look out for the Xanneria / Southwest Eastnorth game! Two nations with a shared heritage look to duke it out for the first time!

Firebird Suites Stadium

Formerly Roth Family Stadium

Stadium: Firebird Suites Stadium
Location: New Baltimore
Capacity: 30,000
Opponents: Poafmersia, Equestria

Formerly Welcome Telecom - Roth Family Stadium, Firebird Suites has taken over sponsor given that new owners Alexandria City Football Company have a connection to a different telecom company. ALso the Roths name was taken off as there has been some sour grapes over the family bailing on the team after Jessica Roth, whose dad owned the team along side the Ripken River AA, sold the team. But despite Roth playing on the National team and concerns over locals harassing her, the SWENFA has decided to host games here at the FS Stadium.

PumpTV Oasis Dome

you can fit nearly 33% of the town of Big Sandy oasis in here.

Stadium: PumpTV Oasis Dome
Location: Big Sandy Oasis
Capacity: 30,000
Opponents: Sharktail

for the longest time Big Sandy Oasis was a small town next to an Oasis that produced Almonds and some tourism. Then about a decade ago the explorers came and found Oil. In fact a fairly large oilfield was discovered and claimed by the SWENs. Its size so large that the government had to redraw the borders to get the full claim. Now a days the town of Big Sandy Oasis is a rapidly growing town of 75,500, a growth of nearly 1500% over the last decade. Growth unrivaled by many areas of the multiverse! It's still the the smallest town/city by population to host a WCQ match. The Almond farming is still there and an outlaw casino was discovered nearby and has erupted the tourism industry even more as the casino started to legitimized itself. The Dome is the center of football in the desert and is a dome itself due to the prevalence of heat and dust storms. PumpTV the Sponsor is a company that produces Gas Pumps with video screens that force you to watch shows you sports highlights, life hacks, and various popculture news while you pump your gas.

Amazingly Low Rate Loans City Municipal Stadium

Ah yes, the token multisport stadium built for baseball but forced to host football and other sports that don't exactly fit.....

Stadium: Amazingly Low Rate Loans City Municipal Stadium
Location: Chester
Capacity: 20,000
Opponents: Sudilla, Gnejs
It was inevitable that Chester was going to get a Qualifying match. The biggest issue though is that Chester only has one true footballing stadium, the ChesBank Stadium in the Providence Heights part of town. it's a nice stadium and all but the stadium only host 10,000 people and is not exactly a darling when it comes to parking. So back to Municipal Stadium it is. Like with several other teams when the new Directional Premier league started, The Triumph had to deal with a multi-purpose stadium as its host, now in season 6 they are the last to play in one, but City Municipal is not a bad stadium. It also helps that about a decade ago the stadium did host a qualifying match, but that was a 6-2 disaster at the hands of the Krytenians. This time the stadium will host the matches between Sudilla and Gnejs and the home team, Southwest Eastnorth. Be warned, the stadium isn't known as having the friendliest turf (A common comparison is concrete)

Eastside Stadium and Events Center

It's a Party!

Stadium: Eastside Stadium and Events Center
Location: Graingerport
Capacity: 10,000
Opponents: Football Tiger
An incredibly small stadium, Eastside is a complex for more than just sports. A resort and dining hall complex, the Eastside is known as one of the nicer young and small stadiums in the state. Home of Grangerport Maelstrom, the low demand from Fans for the match against Football Tiger allowed for a match to take place between Southwest Eastnorth and Football Tiger

[Vilita]

"Jungle Rebels" Prepare to Take on the Empire

Rebel Training Academy, Forest Moon of Endur, Tivali Jungle, Vilita :: After skipping out on the Post World Cup 90 Cup of Champions and Eagle's Cup competition held nearby in the Island Emirate of Turori, the World Cup 90 Champion The Holy Empire will make their first on-field appearance since claiming their fifth all-time World Cup Title at home in the Dreamed Realm. In an interesting twist of scheduling abnormality, The Holy Empire's opponent in their first ever match played as a Five-Time World Cup Champion will be against another Five-Time World Cup Champion Nation: Vilita. The Vilitan National Team - trying to dig out of the massive hole created for themselves by missing World Cup 89 and failing to score a victory on home soil during World Cup 90 - crashing out at the bottom of Group A, the Vilitan's were handed the absolute worst possible Group Draw having been paired against the #1 ranked nation in the Multiverse with a ranking nearly over double that of Vilitan National Team. It is the largest gap in ranking between any two teams in the first three pots of World Cup 91 Qualifying and will certainly put Vilita well behind the curve in their hopes for turning their fortunes around and qualifying for World Cup 91 in Græntfjall and Farfadillis.

To make the challenge even greater for the Vilitan National Team, they will have to travel on the road to face off with The Holy Empire on the opening matchday of competition. After the near-total squad clean out that took place after the embarrassment of failing to win a single game in a home-hosted World Cup, there will almost certainly be a handful of inexperienced and uncapped players wearing traditional Jungle Teal and Coral when the Vilitan National Team take the field against the reigning World Champions with the Unofficial World Cup Belt on the line for the winner. There will, perhaps, be just a glimmer of optimism for the Vilitan faithful, however, as like Vilita - The Holy Empire have also gone through a total squad refresh during the offcycle. After taking the World Cup 90 title with a team full of Mad Cultists from the Multiversal Union of Cultist Kindred, the Holy Empire have vowed to field a team of "completely normal elite Footsporters" during World Cup 91 qualifying, Like many of the Vilitan players, these completely normal elite Footsporters will be representing the Holy Empire Footsport Association for the very first time and may have some familiarity issues on the field. If so, there could be an opportunity for some of the more experienced players on the Vilitan National Team to take advantage and give Vilita the UWC Title for the 14th time. Regardless of the result, it will be the 99th all time UWC Title Match for the Vilitan National Team.

In order to accomplish their goals of Qualifying for World Cup 91 and re-claiming the UWC Belt, the Footsport Association of Vilita have turned to a former player - Endur Rotropii - to turn their fortunes around. The reign of former National Team Head Coach and Turoki Tide midfielder Cavuna Aquafek had been tumultuous from the start - Aquafek had to pull a rabbit out of a hat for the Jungle Cats to qualify from their group during World Cup 87 after Vilita were held without a victory for three consecutive matches to start World Cup 87 Qualifying - a spell which included back-to-back goalless draws for the first time in Vilita National Team history. Under Aquafek's leadership, the Jungle Cats stormed back to go all but one game unbeaten for the remainder of the Qualifiers. After back-to-back World Cup Group Stage eliminations, however, there were already calls for change prior to Aquafek's embarassing World Cup 89 Qualification campaign which saw the Jungle Cats miss out on Automatic Qualification to Kandorith before a playoff defeat to Squidroidia resulted in a World Cup Finals being played without the Vilitan National Team for the first time since World Cup 58.

Rotropii was selected as head coach for the Vilitan National Team after the Footsport Association of Vilita decided to go 'all in' on a refresh of the National System, dismissing the entire coaching staff and making the decision to 'move on' from the weight of a number of World Cup 81 and 82 eroes that remained in the squad for the back-to-back failed campaigns in the World Cup 89 and 90 cycles. Rotropii had already attempted to position themselves as the lead of a new future generation of Vilitan National Team players when they set up the Rebel Academy training program in the Tivali Jungle after Vilita's failed World Cup 89 campaign. After a full cycle training youngsters in isolation and full engagement with the fundamentals of the game that Rotropii themselves demonstrated as a long time Vilitan National Team defender, the Rebel Academy received much attention following a twii.tur posting that would go 'viral' suggesting that the entire Vilitan National Team should be replaced by the youngsters at Rotropii's then-little-known Rebel Academy. Footsport Association of Vilita officials did plan a visit to Rotropii's Academy and, after being impressed by the program that they had put together, decided to offer the keys to the Vilitan Footsport Kingdom to Rotropii and the team of Rebels.

While twii.tur and the entire Vilitan social and communication media circuit were already abuzz with the whole-scale changes being set upon the Vilitan National Team for the 91st World Cup cycle, there was a whole new level of attention following the World Cup 91 Qualifying Group Draw which would see the Vilitan National Team drawn up against reigning World Cup Champions the Holy Empire. Having already been dubbed the "Jungle Rebels" by the fan base after Rotropii indicated they would be drafting players in from their Rebel Academy into the Vilitan National Player Pool, the group draw instantly saw the poundlink "#RebelsvEmpire" trending with popularity on twii.tur and other similar tag sharing platforms.

Of course, the "Rebels vs. Empire" Tag is a call back to the popular Vilitan Film series "Cove Wars" which was originally produced by the Tivaliwood Motion Pictures company during the late 70's and early 80's. The Popularity of Cove Wars has been on the increase again lately as Tivaliwood continue to expand the fictional universe and fans across the Cove Region were celebrating their fandom of the series during the same week when the World Cup 91 Group Draw was announced bringing further attention to the comparison between the lowly ranked Vilitan National Team's upcoming underdog fight against the mighty Holy Empire for the lone Automatic World Cup Qualification placement. Lopinka based toy manufacturing, distribution and sales company Toys '4' All has also been re-releasing many toys from the original Cove Wars trilogy as well as new offerings from the upcoming film to Cove Wars fans across the region.

Now, Rotropii and the Vilitan National Team have fully embraced the "Jungle Rebels" moniker bestowed upon them in the build up to their World Cup 91 Qualifying opener against the Holy Empire. The team have unveiled new uniforms that they will be wearing for the big UWC Title Belt game in the Dreamed Realm and have now signed a rights deal with the Tivaliwood Entertainment Group for a documentary crew to follow the team on their World Cup 91 Qualifying Journey for a production with a working title "Jungle Rebels versus the Empire." The special edition "Jungle Rebels" Uniforms are produced by Tropicorp Sports and are expected to go on sale just in time to capitalize on the start of Vilita's World Cup 91 Qualifying campaign and the coinciding release of the next spin-off film in the Cove Wars Universe with maximum cross-marketing potential seeming to emerge from the unlikely conjoinment. The Tivaliwood Entertainment company also set off to acquire the ten barrels of hyperdimensional bungo beans required as payment to the Holy Empire Football Association for broadcast rights to the matchup between Vilita and the Holy Empire.

[Metherwoll]

beans

[Efnakia]

BASS MOEM CCUFF
Dumo hom Ccahor prepare for difficult World Cup qualification campaign

MANKAM, Abmas – “No Looking Back” is the theme as the Blue and Golds look to build off a runner-up performance at the 78th Baptism of Fire.

MD1: @ Brookstation - Stadium unknown
MD2: vs. Mon Sold - Abmas Provincial Stadium, Mankam, Abmas
MD3: @ Eraman - Arupura Stadium, Arupura, Aru
MD4: vs. Banija - Western Line Stadium, Koff, Ub
MD5: @ Quakmybush - Stadium unknown
MD6: vs. Squornshelan Remnant States - Lake Dal Stadium, Kebmot', Ssedbam
MD7: @ Milchama - Stadium unknown
MD8: BYE
MD9: vs. Aleirave - Odra National Stadium, Odra, Anddof
MD10: @ Lumbinipur - Stadium unknown
MD11: vs. Sargossa - "Befha Kaccokeb" Memorial Stadium, Muhdet', Abmas
MD12: vs. Brookstation - Heroes of the Freedom War Stadium, Daffu, Abmas
MD13: @ Mon Sold - Marquis Hazra Manuel Field - Palaghast, Mon Sold
MD14: vs. Eraman - Mutddem Heroes' Stadium, Mutddem, Melham
MD15: @ Banija - Hangaza Unified Stadium, Aissa, Hangaza
MD16: vs. Quakmybush - Tamhu Provincial Stadium, Mo, Tamhu
MD17: @ Squornshelan Remnant States - Synesoft Arena, Syneca, Sivolvia
MD18: vs. Milchama - "The Cauldron", War Memorial Stadium, Musffu, Abmas
MD19: BYE
MD20: @ Aleirave - A field, Lahaira
MD21: vs. Lumbinipur - Ulde Provincial Stadium, Udfen, Ulde
MD22: @ Sargossa - Independienté, Goza

The Dumo hom Ccahor’s schedule for World Cup Qualification

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The Fukse Del ass Efnakia (FDaE) has announced a 23-man squad for the tournament, a reduction from the previous 30-man squads of other tournaments. This was announced at the last General Meeting of the FDaE, where that and other reforms in Efnak football were announced, including the announcement on the lifting of restrictions on Efnak players moving overseas. This changes the existing transfer policy (only national team players are allowed to move overseas) to allowing every Efnak player to move overseas, but only for an agreed transfer fee of at least Ł15 million (around 200k NSD).

The Blue and Golds were placed in Pot 9 for the qualification draw, and have been drawn with four other Atlantian Oceania nations – meaning the team will play for an unofficial Atlantian Oceania Qualifying Cup, organized by a Milchaman newspaper and supported fully by the major Efnak news sources, including Tedok.

The last outing for the team was a heartbreaking extra time defeat to Aleirave in the final of the Baptism of Fire, and the two sides have conveniently been drawn together again in World Cup Qualifying – with the first matchup being held at the prestigious Odra National Stadium on Matchday 9, following a bye for the Efnak side. Other matches to watch out for are the visit of top-seed Banija to the Western Line Stadium in Koff on Matchday 3, the Matchday 6 visit of the second-seed Squornshelan Remnant States to Lake Dal Stadium in Kebmot’, and the visit of third-seed Milchama (yes, all top three seeds are Atlantian Oceania nations) to The Cauldron in Musffu on Matchday 18. Expectations are low for the tournament, with foreign media expecting the Dumo hom Ccahor to provide some shocks but stay far away from even the two playoff spots in second and third.

“Bass Moem Ccuff” – “No Looking Back” is the theme the FDaE has announced for this qualification campaign, with the team fully focused on upcoming matches and providing the kind of defensive rigidity that Efnak sides are expected to have, even in the face of much higher quality opposition, as well as showcasing Efnak players to the world and potentially putting them on the transfer target lists of club in some of the biggest leagues in the world, with the visit to Hangara Unified Stadium in Banija a huge opportunity to show off to the Banijan Shango-Fogoa Premier League clubs, who ply their trade in what many consider to be the best league in the Multiverse.

Our editors, with the precision of throwing darts at a dartboard while blindfolded and after having had a little too much of the local Abmas whiskey, have attempted to make a predicted final table. We can’t wait to laugh at them when this is horrifically wrong.

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1. Banija
2. Milchama
3. Squornshelan Remnant States
4. Eraman
5. Sargossa
6. Efnakia
7. Aleirave
8. Brookstation
9. Mon Sold
10. Quakmybush
11. Lumbinibar

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All the best to the team as they travel to Brookstation before returning here to Mankam to face Mon Sold, and 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".

"Thanks dear reader! You can find this article in Efnak on our site here. This article was written in a foreign language under the guidelines of the National Oversight Act (Safety and Security) 395. This newspaper is based in Efnakia and is on the list of Efnak government 'trusted sources'."