World Cup 91 [roleplays]

by **Vilita** » Sat Jun 11, 2022 8:15 pm

Hope leads to Opportunity for Rebels in Sting Operation

New Skoðarhüb, Hartburg, Græntfjall :: It was a critical matchup for the Rebels who relocated through the mountains to Hartburg where they would contest a loser-go-home matchup with with the Commonwealth of Baker Park. Just one cycle prior Vilita and Baker Park were at the center of the sporting multiverse as co-hosts of World Cup 90. Now the two Atlantian Oceania nations were nothing but bottom feeders. Matchday One Losers fighting against each other for the honor of not finishing last in their World Cup Group. With a win, one team would emerge with a slim but mathematical chance of advancing through to the Knockout Rounds, while the other would earn the knowledge that they would still have to stay in Græntfjall for another few days despite having no more meaningful matches to play. A draw would likely spell the end for one team while the other would still be in control of their own destiny with a win on the final matchday. It just wouldn't be clear which team would be which without knowing the result of the Pemecutan v. Drawkland matchup.

For Endur Rotropii, it was an important moment of reflection. Just as they had lost their first two matches in charge of the Vilitan National Team in World Cup Qualifying, they had now lost their first ever World Cup matchup as Vilita National Team head coach.

The Rebels remarkable combination of unity and hard work over the stretch of World Cup Qualification that produced a famous victory over the Empire on the Ice Slopes of Hothicii and given the team and their fans a level of confidence that Rotropii's young band of Rebels from the Old Tivali Jungle had already matured into the full performance footsport club that everyone hoped they would evolve into. Yet with every drop of confidence one risks absorbing one drop too much and dipping into the realm of overconfidence, and the real test along the journey from apprentice trainee to master of footsport is how one responds when their bubble of confidence is popped in a humbling moment much like the Rebels experienced on Matchday 1 against Drawkland, the lowest ranked team competing in the Græntfjaller half.

Before the World Cup began, Rebel Leader Endur Rotropii had impressed upon their players the importance of winning the opening match against Drawkland. The importance of getting it right and how difficult it would be to advance without earning three points against the Kick Corps. So naturally, when the Rebels were defeated, the mood in the Locker room was that of despair. Now, it was up to Rotropii to re-vector the troops and impress upon them the fact that the job was not yet done.

While the odds may have been long, there was still hope. The Vilitan National Team wasn't competing at the World Cup 91 Finals just for fun, they were there to win. However, with defeat against Drawkland, many pundits had already closed the book on the Rebel Academy experiment and were ready to move on to other stories for the World Cup 91 focus. Rotropii was confident, however, that the Rebels still had a story to tell. Rotropii would tell the players that now was the time to Rebel against the expectations that they would fail. To Rebel against the expectations that they could not win two consecutive matches against higher ranked opposition to advance to the World Cup Round of 16. It was time for them to Rebel against the idea that they could not win. While the odds were stacked against them, there was still hope, and so long as the players had hope, they had a chance. Rebellions, as Rotropii would say, are built on hope. Much like the Rebel Academy itself built on the hope of establishing a brighter future for Vilitan Footsport, the hope now had to permeate through the Vilitan National Team Roster. If the players had hope, they had motivation and if they were motivated to achieve something then there was no reason they couldnt do just that.

As night fell in Hartburg, and chills came upon the air, Rotropii reminded the team of what they had accomplished at Wamtaun Peak in colder temperatures against a more highly rated opponent that had the ability to mutate in a totally "normal" but completely unique fashion. If the Rebels could take down an even stronger opponent in a more forgiving environment, they could swap away a bundle of Bees at a stadium with a chill somewhere in Rushmore.

There were many things that Rotropii's Rebels did well but getting off to a fast start did not seem to be one of them. Christa Vuckovic had scored the opening goal of the game for Baker Park just 11 minutes in and the Rebels were on the back foot from that point trying to recover from the early sting. The Bees dominated the possession the first half at levels nearing 70% but head coach Endur Rotropii was not concerned, encouraging their players to withstand the pressure, hold their lines and not to let the enemy get inside their heads. The back line - led by Baker Park based net minder Ukamai Talingri, would withstand the pressure and despite all the possession Baker Park would manage just two quality shots on target in the first half, scoring on one of them.

Rotropii would have a long conversation with the team at half time and wasn't terribly concerned about the scoreline. For the Rebel Leader it wasn't just about winning on this day, but about ensuring the team was playing with a purpose, playing as part of the plan and not simply being reactive. Rotropii would make one change at the break, introducing Antiviv Davaflei in place of Khrusan Mlianko and the change would seemingly have an instant impact after the restart.

Davaflei settled into a position just behind the Tlikara siblings and was charged with distributing the ball to whichever of the Tlikara's was in the most open space. It was a simple direction but in practice many would struggle to make the right decisions in the heat of the moment. Rotropii was hoping that Davaflei had reached the point in their own training that such distribution had become second nature, and the right pass could be made before the young attacker had to thing about which pass needed to be made. It worked.

The very first touch of the ball for Davaflei in the second half was a quick distribution pass up to Treasvo Tlikara who had just enough space to get around Alan Wiseman then fired it past Jaguar Moreda goalkeeper Kelsey Vickers to level the scores. Just minutes later, Davaflei was at the source of another goal, this time distributing up to Kunaro Tlikara as the other sibling got in on the action putting the Rebels in the lead with an audacious outside-foot effort that curled just inside the upright to give the Vilitan National Team a 2-1 lead.

With the substitution having done its job, Rotropii shifted into expectation management. The Rebels were no longer behind but had a lead to defend. They didn't need the spark as much as they needed the discipline so the Rebel Leader drafted in Sami Samii'i to help control some of the bleeding in the midfield and help the Rebels gain back some possession. With more of the ball in midfield came more chances and while they weren't all necessarily great chances, Rotropii emphasized regularly that not all chances have to be great to produce a goal. If there were no better options in the field of view, but a low percentage shot was one of the options, Rotropii encouraged the Rebels to take the shot. Even One in a Million shots go in ever 999,999 attempts or so, and "why not this time?" the Rebel Leader would say. It was that exact inspiration that led to Jakku'u Naboyavi's 73rd minute goal from long range. Kelsey Vickers was actually positioned well to defend against such a shot but as Naboyavi connected with the shot, Vickers lost her footing attempting to make the turn and that split second hesitation was all it took to create the space the ball needed to find its way into the back of the net. 3-1.

While the Commonwealth of Baker Park would close the gap with a goal in the 84th minute, Rotropii's Rebels would hold on for the 3-2 victory and turn Hope into Opportunity, taking control of their own destiny and earning a chance to secure a place in the World Cup Knockout Rounds with one more win in the World Cup 91 Group Stage.

 Vilita 3 - 2 Commonwealth of Baker Park	
	Vilita Goals:	:: 47' Treasvo Tlikara:: 51' Kunaro Tlikara:: 73' Jakku’u Naboyavi            
	Stats :: Vilita 	:: Possession: 40%:: Shots: 4:: Corners: 6 :: Commonwealth of Baker Park :: Possession: 60%:: Shots: 4:: Corners: 2
	Vilita Lineup :: 	Ukamai Talingri, Narri Sebapilo, Injyua Klizlo, Awukchu L’bakka, Letirpsi Vulitn, Fyin Miateal, Jakku’u Naboyavi, Trezisi Rokopolis, Khrusan Mlianko (Antiviv Davaflei 45'), Treasvo Tlikara (Sami Samii’i 68'), Kunaro Tlikara

World Cup 91 - Group C :: Matchday 3 Preview :: Vilita Jungle Rebels v. Pemecutan White Myna

While there is not a long, extensive history of matchups between Vilita and Pemecutan at the World Cup Finals, there is absolutely no question that when the World Cup 91 Group Draw was completed, fans of the Vilitan National Team circled the Matchday 3 Fixture against the defending World Cup Runners Up as the one game they wanted to win the most. When the Football Association of Vilita applied and were awarded the right to host the 90th World Cup Finals along with the Commonwealth of Baker Park, there was a high level of anticipation across the entire Vilitan Cove region. It was the first time in 30 cycles that the World Cup would be contested in Vilita and many fans also so it as a last chance to get one more World Cup Title out of the Vilitan Generation of Champions - the youngest players of whom were set to wrap up their National Team Service. The Group Draw appeared favorable for the Vilitan National Team with expected victories possible on paper against Pemecutan on Matchday 1 and Huayramarca on Matchday 3 with a difficult fixture against the highest ranked team in the group, Græntfjall on Matchday 2.

It was supposed to be a celebration - and it was, but the celebrations on Lighthouse Point only lasted as long as the opening kickoff of the World Cup 90 group stage and did not last well into the night as party goers had hoped. Belmari Snowala, the chairman of Lonngeylin Coast had put together a massive opening ceremony after beating out cross town rival venue Lonngeylin Coliseum, home of Jungle Strike FC for the right to host the opening game of World Cup 90. The pre-game celebrations were big as it was the first ever World Cup Finals game hosted at Snowala's brand new Lighthouse Stadium project. Rumor has it that Snowala had twice as big of a show planned for the post-game party - under the lights under the deep Vilitan Cove night sky. That Party never happened thanks to the White Myna.

Having qualified for just their second ever World Cup Finals, Pemecutan were a relatively unknown name in the world of sport coming out of the Melayu Archipelago. Pemecutan had been quietly impressive in their World Cup debut, advancing to the Knockout Rounds of World Cup 89 before being eliminated in extra time by Squidroidia. Still, the White Myna were not projected to advance from Group A in World Cup 90 with most pundits picking Vilita and Græntfjall. 90 minutes into World Cup 90, the group had been turned on its head as both of the favored teams had been defeated. At Lighthouse Point, the silence in the second half was particularly poignant. After a goalless first half, Vilitan fans remained optimistic yet tentative as time continued on without a goal. When the games first goal came from Pemecutan's star Rama Karyadi in the second half the tentativeness grew firmly into nervousness and fear. The fans remained optimistic that the Vilitan National Team would come back, but the fight simply wasn't there. The Jungle Cat Army tried urging their team on but the fight came to an end in the 88th minute when Leo Olivando doubled the lead for the White Myna, ending all hope of a Vilitan comeback and sending the home fans to the exits.

There were reportedly hundreds of pounds of Fireworks that were not lit that night, and entire fleets of lighted flying drones that never took to the air. The celebrations that were set to light up the skies of the Vilitan Coast were thwarted by Pemecutan and the fireworks were never ignited as the Jungle Cats would crash out of the group stage at home without a single victory. While the Jungle Cats had to watch the remainder of the World Cup Finals from their living rooms, Pemecutan would be the lone survivor from the Vilitan half of the World Cup 90 Finals. From the opening game of the World Cup where two roughly evenly matched teams, Pemecutan and Vilita, Squared off, one team would advance all the way through to the World Cup Final and the other would earn just a single point from three games. Many Vilitan fans still wonder what could have been. If their players hadn't been so overconfident and laxidaisical on the field in the group stage, it could have been the Vilitan National Team fighting the Holy Empire for the World Cup Title at Lunar Park in Seraai.

With many Vilitans associating the teams poor performance at home in World Cup 90 as a symptom of the opening matchday defeat suffered at the hands of Pemecutan on the opening matchday, they are now looking forward to seeing how this new generation of Vilita National Team players can accomplish against the very same Pemecutan side that had ended Vilita's Generation of Champions one Cycle before. Endur Rotropii and the Vilita Jungle Rebels from the Rebel Academy Base in the Old Tivali Jungle had already demonstrated their improvement throughout the World Cup Qualifiers, having improved from a team that was handily defeated by The Holy Empire on the opening matchday while conceding five goals to a team that by the end of World Cup 91 Qualifying had defeated the #1 Side in the Multiverse, defending World Cup Champion The Holy Empire. Knowing that they can defeat the Empire, Rotropii's Rebels will certainly have the Confidence to believe they can get a result against Pemecutan and possibly extend their stay in World Cup 91. If the Jungle Rebels can defeat Pemecutan on Matchday 3 they will be assured of progression through to the Round of 16 regardless of the result between Drawkland and the Commonwealth of Baker Park. However, even a draw with the White Myna could still potentially see the Jungle Rebels through to the Knockout Rounds if it is coupled with a multi-goal victory by World Cup 90 Co-Hosts Baker Park over the Kick Corps of Drawkland.

Whatever the result at the Grander International Arena in Háttmark, Endur Rotropii's experiment in the Old Tivali Jungle has provided a much needed resurgence within the Vilitan National Team. After initial skepticism of the total refresh and the inexperienced players from the Rebel Academy - the players have shown that belief in a system of play and familiarity with a core group of teammates can at time be a more powerful combination than individual pockets of randomly assigned raw skill. Now, with one major hurdle in their path, the Rebels will take on the White Myna with a place in the World Cup 91 Knockout Rounds on the line.

by **Saint Eleanor** » Sat Jun 11, 2022 8:19 pm

World Cup 91 - Group A, second game
Saint Eleanor 4 (Melcheta Pazorzal goals 28' and 55', Steve Pilchard goals 49' and 80', Harriet Williams missed penalty 71')
Nyowani Kitara 2 (Wang Jiahui goal 43', Catarina Malmquist goal 62')

Brian Tarrant: "I was honestly fortunate only to concede one - but I think I shouldn't have"
Chief Football Correspondent Jamie Rodgers asks Army and Navy's goalkeeper where to from here - and, for good measure, from there
Originally published on Tuesday 4th July 2000

It is, by now, well known that Harriet Williams' father was a bus driver for Eleanorian Transport. Brian Tarrant's works for them, too - but he is one of several hundred taxi drivers operating around the city instead. "He's been working for them for as long as I can remember, but the strange thing is that our playing styles in no way resemble either of their driving styles. I mean, Dad's gotten more than a few complaints, hasn't he?"

Although Jack Tarrant did fight for the National Liberation Front when his son was in his youngest years, he showed no interest in staying on after independence and the Tarrants stayed rooted to Newbanks district. "Mum and Dad had good jobs in the community but they weren't the most interesting ones; they both moved after I joined Army and Navy, but they're still doing pretty much the same jobs. Before you ask, and you've asked this of a lot of people, the Community School was pretty good, I liked all my subjects - even the boring artsy things - and made a couple of good friends. Number one would be Lucy Wright - nice, caring, always said what she meant, would have made a good central midfielder over in the League if she wasn't hellbent on becoming a civilian council worker." He was, of course, a member of Newbanks' 1989 Charles Trump Shield squad along with Wright, which was "better than the Army School! I know I shouldn't be saying this, but we made it all the way to round three after defeating a couple of weaker schools where I wasn't really tested much - then we bumped into Trident. They were pretty defensively-minded but when they came up against one of the little guys like us who weren't linked to anyone in the league, they'd try their damnest to beat them. We lost 1-0 but that was a lucky 1-0 because I'd completely lost count of how many shots I had to put up with. I even caught most of them, which is apparently good."

What three games does Tarrant believe shaped his playing career the most? "Okay, so I only really joined the club in 1992, so a bit after the whole invincibles saga - and didn't have a noteworthy first season. So onto '93, 2-0 win against Grand Beach, about midway through the season with very little to play for - although that was, at the time, the best Grand Beach that ever played. Dramatis personae: Susie Michaels and Greg Farmer in defence, Patrick Budd as the big guy up front, Gordon Wills and Jane Thorne on the Dolphins' wings, and then me. The centreback partners were pretty adept at answering whatever those lot teased them with, they kept Pat quiet, and I would definitely say they didn't need much convincing - I don't shout that often, you know. Anyway, what I had to look out for was Gordon and Jane shooting from wide areas, like Wang's [Jiahui] excellent goal against Saint Eleanor last weekend, and I knew that was one of my weak spots. I told myself 'don't panic, put off your reaction until the last moment, keep your eye on the ball and generally don't be so rash,' they hit a few in but I was able to deal with them more than capably with no mistakes whatsoever. Would I say I've gotten better at protecting against all kinds of shot since? Obviously, but Grand Beach was the eureka moment."

His next choice brings us to 1995, when the Soldiers lost 1-0 against Sword and Shield. "And keep in mind that this was an okay Sword and Shield team - most of the ones after that year were shit. The basic front four, however, you know them: Jess[ica] Martin, John Parkinson - he's with the Creston Wolves now for obvious reasons - plus Stan[ley] Longley and Maddie Gordon. Quality then and, for the most part, quality today. We called them 'shapeshifters' in the New Barracks dressing room whenever we played them because the front line was given authority to switch around, confuse the defenders, and then take aim - and that's when it's my job. After a challenging first few minutes, they almost reverted to a 4-2-4, having the wingers get balls into Stan up front and yes, Maddie; more of a traditional setup, if anything, but by no means less dangerous. Given the circumstances, I'd say I was honestly fortunate only to concede one - but I think I shouldn't have. Stan was a classic type, get the ball, move into a good position and - when Ken and Susie slacked on that question - fire; I would definitely say his shots came right out of the textbook, which is old and knackered and should have been revised in 1982. Maddie was more of a second striker, of course, so more of a danger there, and indeed she got me from outside the box when she let a low effort off that I tried to get my fingertips to. She scored anyway."

Finally, "I think I'd go for the 1-1 against Athletic [Saint Eleanor], last day of the 1997 season. Had they won that game, they would have won the bloody title. Again. What I am not going to do is take 100%, full credit for that not happening: I respect a lot of people at Independence 1975, who did win the title; I respect more than a few people who were around Athletic then, especially [Katie] O'Donnell and [Harriet] Williams. But not - definitely not, under any circumstances - Fred Newton, who wanted Priscilla [Evans] out of the national team hotseat before almost anyone else did. Suffice to say that, once more, those three were on their very best behaviour that day. First off, you have Hattie swinging in a couple of free kicks - we were harder than they were, so to speak - and then all of a sudden, right on the hour mark - bang, twenty yards out, I try to get to it but the ball's swerving way too much and 1-0 to those guys. Then attention switches to Katie and Fred, who are just absolutely relentless. When they get past our defenders, which happened more often than anyone at the club was willing to tolerate at all, they become my responsibility for obvious reasons. And yes, they hit their efforts all over the shop. I got to them, although they didn't seem too interested once we took them down a notch after the break."

Tarrant hinted earlier that he, as a goalkeeper, is not particularly fond of risk-taking. "Most of us aren't around these parts. The big idea in Saint Eleanor is that if you're in goal, you're supposed to be looking after your goal, not trying to prevent literally every opportunity the other team gets. You have centrebacks for a very good reason!" How would he describe his relationship with the Soldiers' current centreback trio: Ken Wilkie, Susanna Michaels, and Denise Livingston? "Fairly well-established, to say the least. Susie's the quiet, sensible one who likes going for tackles when necessary, but won't get into too much trouble unless you ask her really impolitely. Ken's the aggressive fucker who's mellowed a bit, but should still provide adequate relief as a very last resort. Denise is the new girl but she's won a Golden Backpack - they don't just give those out willy-nilly - and it sometimes feels like she knows what the next guy's going to do two or three touches before he actually does. They are all nice to hang around and we should probably be going to the local Willis [fried chicken restaurant] together more often."

Despite being in the squad for two of their three qualification cycles, Tarrant has still not been capped for Saint Eleanor, and - in light of recent performances - his position as Saint Eleanor's third goalkeeper looks incredibly shaky. "Priscilla is probably going to kick me off the squad after the summer, but it's not that we're bad defensively - we aren't. The attacking players just have not been getting forward enough in key matches, with a couple of exceptions, and that's hurt us a lot: the best example I can think of was during one particularly bad spell last season, we only got three points out of twenty-one. That is one third of the entire season, wasted." When asked who he'd select to replace him, he suggests "Carla Hawkins: Golden Backpack winner, unfortunate not to be picked up until [Newbanks] United came along, a bit crazy, a bit hot-headed - she almost reminds me of Julia Atherton at her peak - but actually more than competent." However, for the time being, "I'm friendly with a few national teamers - Liam is iconic as he is, Jessica Martin won't shut up for anything, the other goalkeepers are fairly nice to deal with - but even I'm not sure what I'm doing there."

Brian Tarrant is a distinctly good goalkeeper in an era when the Eleanorian game quite frankly deserves better. He tries his best to keep a good chain of command running in defence (and might well be obsessed with structure), to get to the most dangerous shots in a manner befitting him and his team, even to avoid the sorts of performative nonsense employed by the Emmely Aaronsdóttirs of the multiverse - but the end for him is probably nigh, closer even than his 2007 discharge date. We must pray for him.

by **Farfadillis** » Sat Jun 11, 2022 10:12 pm

Off I cut, late.

by **Saint Eleanor** » Sat Jun 11, 2022 10:45 pm

World Cup 91 - Group A, third game
Græntfjall 1 (edit 13-Jun-2022: Grænt's prerogative)
Saint Eleanor 0

OOC:

Teletext source.
Boring fact: Every single Pot 1 and 2 team except Banija, Mytanija, and Baker Park finished in the top two of their group.
Jamie Rodgers' Squad Interviews: what now? The staff will be interviewed at the start of WCQ92, along with rebel John Parkinson and the several new players I intend to introduce to the squad in that cycle. I'll then be piloting a new Rodgers interview series (you'll find out what it is when I post my first WC92 roleplay).

by **Squidroidia** » Sun Jun 12, 2022 8:29 am

World Cup 91 on SBN Theme Music

"With the frost associated with the White Winter settling in, so is the knockout stage of this World Cup. No time for second chances, no possibility of one more shot, it's win or go home at this stage as 16 teams are left to fight over the trophy which so many football players want to lift. To open up the knockouts, it's a rematch of the World Cup 89 Quarter-Finals, and the now reigning champions in The Holy Empire have a new trick up their sleeves. Ungodly mutations caused by training on the planet named Shayol have left this once ordinary squad of players to become monsters beyond most comprehension - And this was a side who fielded eldritch monsters when Squidroidia last played them! It's the best in the multiverse, for better or for worse, against the Inklings and Adam Johnson, who might be in his last ever game as a manager, which we'll know fully once this showdown is over. The curtain raiser for the knockout stage is upon us.

"I'd like to formally welcome you to the beautiful Grander International Arena in Háttmark, my name is Takanaki Osa. Squidroidia enter the knockout stage with 3 wins to their name in the group stage alongside 3 other teams after their 2-0 win over Nyowani Kitara to cement their spot in first place. Cast your mind back to the World Cup 90 Final between Pemecutan and The Holy Empire, and both teams made the title decider having also not even dropping points. To be fair, the other teams that have done this feat, Turori, Tumbra and a Nephara team who inflicted The Holy Empire's first loss since losing to Vilita in qualifying, are some of the best teams in the multiverse. Squidroidia sit in 16th in the current WCC rankings heading into this match against what is far and away the best team the multiverse has seen in a long, long while in The Holy Empire.

"Three consecutive World Cup Finals between 88 and 90. More Finals than any nation in the history of the tournament. The only nation from the inaugural edition to remain in the tournament, and tied for the most World Cups with Vilita, Valanora and Starblaydia. If that doesn't say anything about the rich history of this Holy Empire team, let me say this. Juan Tzimisces? Most World Cups won as a manager. EVER. Simeone Di Bradini, perhaps the greatest person to ever kick a ball? Most World Cups won as an assistant manager. EVER. You can't seperate the two of them from this team, otherwise I swear reality's going to cave in. They've managed all sorts of players, won World Cups with most of them, and have even handled this recent Shayol situation with relative ease. Let's take a look at their starting XI for today.

"This reads like the results of living in a highly radioactive zone. In goal: Isaac Paraspondylo, two heads on the front, one on the back. For the defense, Basil Scleruso: 31 hands on EACH of his hands, radiating out from the fingers. Jorge Sphrantzes: 6 hands on his butt. Michael Comneno is a literal giant, he had a torso put up in between his head and his original torso. Now for the midfield, John Pselluso has three lungs outside of his body in between the Qualifiers and making it over to Græntfjall. Miguel Zarides likewise has a necklace of ears and the captain Constantine Lascaro came into the World Cup looking like a true monster. Michael Ducaso has eyes running down his arms and Romanos Adrianuso has six legs. Up front it's Jose Miguel Arianites with feet on his wrists and Manuel Palaeologo with a leg on top of his head. And I am not going to go over the bench because I have to go over the Squidroidian team.

"In goal for Squidroidia remains Kaede Akiyama, he hasn't let in so much as a goal fly by in the group stage, Nick Barker from Tumbra is the only other one with that honor. The backline remains unchanged from the game against Nyowani Kitara, Meeuwessen, Bertolini, Toki and Korin will start, although it is believed that the latter will be subbed out for Herbert Byström. Another interesting change, Kabuto Tadataka will be replaced by Tomomi Hamasaki for at least the first half, but depending on whether or not Squidroidia need the 33 year old that may or may not be the case. Nevertheless Quatro, Brooks, who scored a brace against Nyowani Kitara, and Tetsuo remain, and so do Sho Itō and captain Makino Hideo. Adam Johnson is once again the manager, but this may be his final game for Squidroidia if they get eliminated.

"When we come back, rumors about Johnson's retirement are swirling ahead of this crucial match - What does the boss have to say amidst a changing of the guard when it comes to who takes care of the national team? And later we look ahead to the rest of the knockout slate and wonder who's gonna win it all in Ferdullaele. Don't go anywhere, THIS is World Cup 91 on SBN 1!"

by **Nephara** » Sun Jun 12, 2022 9:55 am

Radeka Lind always liked rooming with Latona Basilisk.
Basilisk was wild, brash, not terribly bright and very energetic. Basilisk did stuff without getting herself into too much trouble, and they could reminisce over 87 together. They were senior players, even with Lind only being in her mid-20s, and they complemented each other well. Basilisk kept Lind on her toes, Lind kept Basilisk out of jail. It worked.
So that was the plan going into the tournament, but then Basilisk was out and Vetiver was in. So, great, even a natural civil servant like Lind couldn't help thinking. It was time for babysitting.
Ahh, but that was harsh. Vetiver was fine, really. She didn't say much, she kept to herself, and she seemed basically content in her shell. She spent a lot of time on her phone, but it never distracted from her on the pitch; that single-mindedness was something she shared with the captain, and the two of them often found themselves the first in and last out of training... or, rather, competing with each other to be. The arms war got to the point where at one stage, the hulking Sven Copperhead took each by the collar and dragged them off their treadmills.
Still, after a while, Lind became confident in the assessment that it wasn't just shyness. Felixe Vetiver was an honest-to-God introvert.
Well, that couldn't stand.

A couple nights after Adab, a few before Flavovespia. Enough time to have warmed down, enough time still to warm up, a break off training tomorrow and that meant an opportunity to overcome a hangover. Pretty much everyone was going to be out on the town, millionaires braving the hail and sleet in search of a decent experience.
But Vetiver hadn't expressed any plans, or any desire to do much of anything, really. So when Lind got wind of a couple plans striking up after the team lunch, she told them to hang about, because she had something to take care of back in her room. And then a clarification, when people started sniggering.
"Hey, Vivi!"
It was also important to make sure everyone stuck to the same contraction. Lind had heard a number of different ones for Vetiver already. Veti, Fifi and Lixi had all been tried, and all seemed wrong for the dour, sour teenager. But as a captain's call, Lind had started calling her 'Vivi', and that had stuck. People followed her lead.
The hottest prospect in the universe peered up over her phone. "Hm?"
"Hey. Some of the lads are off to hit the town."
"Mm?"
"Well, Tami, Harps, Davo, Demi, Niira and maybe Nea got a craving for a decent drink - just beer, mind, not, you know, alcohol - but Linds--"
"I thought you were Linds."
"I'm Rads," said Lind patiently.
"This whole time I thought you were Linds."
"Linds is Lindse. Anyway, Linds wants to go see if she can find some authentic kraken calamari, and Tosc, Smudger, Sevi, Dusa, Naxi and maybe Nea got interested. Or, Copps and Natsi and Fletch mentioned something about an art museum. Some exhibit on a lot of different paintings of snow. You want to come with?"
The names flowed over Vetiver, few seeming to stick as she stared blankly at her captain for six long seconds. Then she said, "D'you know why the boss hates me?"
Now it was Lind's turn to look blank. Not through lack of comprehension. She knew exactly what Vetiver was talking about, she just didn't want to tackle it right now. But she was the captain, after all... "Hate's strong."
"Well, fine, 'resents'."
"She pu--"
"And I don't want to hear any bullshit about 'she pushes you harder 'cause she knows you're tough enough to take it', okay?"
"I was going to say," lied Lind, "'she pu... ts a lot of stock in experience. And in having a settled plan."
Vetiver grunted, put down the phone and gathered up her knees against her chest. Lind could see it was genuinely bothering her. Enough for her to, God forbid, open up.
She sighed, and sat down next to her on the bed, feeling rather like an elder sister. "Look, Koeller's a technocrat. She wants to be left alone to do her thing, and then wants everyone to respect that she put together the plan. Ramsey was a lot more laissez-faire, but Koeller's... well, she's kind of what we needed, I think? To kick on that extra level, get back to our best? She always respected you. She just wanted you to rise up steadily through the ranks, not be pushed into the spotlight so soon... and she didn't think you were as good as you are. It's hard for her to admit she was wrong about you, but she knows, believe me. She isn't blind." Lind shrugged. "Look, she takes it out on you a little, and that isn't... great."
"I can take it," muttered Vetiver. "Just tired of having to."
"Sure..."
"It's always shit like, 'hey, Golden Girl, go pick up the cones'. Or 'oi, Golden Girl, do a lap for cracking a smirk'. Or, 'hey, never said we were doing the crossbar challenge, ya cunt'. Or... whatever. I work hard. I'm getting results." Vetiver sniffed. "Not my damn fault I'm better than everyone else."
God give Lind strength. She managed to hide any sign of rolling her eyes before patting Vetiver on the shoulder. "You're making a good impression, alright? On the pitch, certainly. And in training. Look... the lads all like you. Or at least want a chance to get to like you! We want to get to know you better, is all. Because, uh... based on the way you're playing, you'll be in the setup longer than any of us."
"Mm." But she seemed a little placated.
"And against Flavovespia? Trust me, in the form you're in, you'll be the third name on the teamsheet after me and Nea." Lind chuckled, softly. "Trust that Koeller loves winning far more than she could ever hate you, yeah?"
"... Guess so."
Lind stayed there a few minutes. Neither said anything. It was a fine moment just the way it was, and when Vetiver finally did break the silence, it was to say, "Museum."
"Huh?"
"I'll go to the art museum. If you are."
"Sure," said Lind with a smile, pretending she hadn't been praying to fucking God she'd gone for anything else. Ah, the sacrifices she made for the green and black...

It was a frustrating game for the Cormorants. Not quite a dead rubber - the result turned out not to matter, but only after Adab had held the Holy Empire to a point - meaning they couldn't treat it as a rest, and it exacted a grim toll. In the first half, Reed clipped in a lethal cross that Vetiver only just missed driving in at full stretch... then went down, clutching her leg. The physios at least got her to walk off instead of needing the stretcher, that was something, but it still seemed like a long shot for her to be ready for the next round. Meadows picked up her second caution of the group stage early, Constantine late, ruling both out as well.
But Reed's injury was arguably a blessing in disguise, for not five minutes later, replacement Kestrel Anharbour had an assist. She'd had her sights set higher on a goal, taking a low and dangerous but probably savable shot from outside the box that took a vicious rebound off Gardner. Muhammad reacted with catlike agility to turn quickly and claw the ball away, into the corridor of uncertainty, with Lansdell and Gardner turning in agonisingly slow motion to try and deal with the ball, each managing to swivel just as it passed them by in a second that seemed to stretch out for minutes.
Perhaps it was her newfound bond with her newfound family in the Cormorants. Perhaps it was inspiration after witnessing such winter masterclasses as 'Snow in Flight', 'Flake, Snow, Slurry: A Melting Triptych' or 'an Ode to White', or maybe it was just the killer instinct of the high-class forward, but Vetiver followed in the shot and rammed the ball into the unguarded net.
It was a slightly fluky goal, but more or less deserved - it wasn't Muhammad's first great save of the match, just the first to prove fruitless - and the second half went basically to plan. Flavovespia's direct football was handled well by the towering Clevinger and Scales, while Robert Totten, the wild card in midfield handed his first World Cup start, was dealt with by Constantine. Sturdy defensive work from the Hornets kept Nephara from doing much of anything up top, as well, but it always looked likely to petre out to a 1-0 that suited the Cormorants perfectly.
When the time came for substitutions, Koeller was confident enough to already be thinking of next round, as even a sudden two-goal turnaround would probably be alright. She thought about the names and faces on her bench and, well, it would be good to know if her first-choice striker was really as good to go as she claimed, if the screaming nightmares really had lost their bite. "Throw on Harps," she muttered.
Scylla Vyntra, her assistant, cocked her head. "What was that?"
"Throw Harps on."
"Ah." Vyntra grinned. "Want to keep her sharp before the knockouts, eh?"
Koeller leaned back, looked into the sky, just now starting to spatter bitterly cold rain that bit sharply against her skin. 'Clear' by Græntfjaller standards could still mean a downpour by the standards of the arid Marches, though at least the frigid winds whipping at people's hair made for a nostalgic feeling. A deep breath hissed out between her teeth... and then she whirled around to face her assistant. "Sharp for the next round? What the fuck are you talking about? I'm just looking to give my best striker a damn rest!"
"Uh--"
"Six fucking goals, Scy!"
"Right," said Vyntra, chastised, wiping her brow before keeping the shit rolling downhill. "Alright, hey! Harper, get that fucking jacket off! It's a lovely fucking day, this! Are you ready to play some fucking football, huh?"
"'Want to keep Harps sharp'..." Koeller turned back to the pitch, shaking her head as Vyntra barked orders at Harper. "Fuck me. Surrounded by idiots..."

Nephara 1 - 0 Flavovespia
(4-2-3-1) 1 - Provost; 17 - Meadows, 5 - Clevinger, 6 - Scales, 3 - Lind (22 - Levering 86'); 4 - Constantine, 15 - Ulmer; 13 - Reed (7 - Anharbour 36'), 23 - Kvasina, 16 - Crowcombe; 21 - Vetiver (10 - Harper 71')
NPH: Vetiver 41'

Suspensions: Constantine, Meadows
Injuries: Reed (thigh)

Lineup vs. Græntfjall
(4-2-3-1) 1 - Provost; 2 - Kovac, 5 - Clevinger, 6 - Scales, 3 - Lind; 19 - Southsea, 8 - March; 7 - Anharbour, 23 - Kvasina, 11 - Marinca; 21 - Vetiver

by **Tumbra** » Sun Jun 12, 2022 11:19 am

Zeta Reka and Hügeltaldom 0-1 Tumbra

TMB (4-2-3-1): 12 - Andrew Taylor; 18 - Nicholas Moss, 4 - Stephen Kerr (14 - Ian Ashburn, 72'), 20 - Raymond Perry, 3 - Nigel Harris; 6 - Trudy Harrison, 8 - Vincent Hicks, 10 - Phil Cole (23 - Susan Monaghan, 79'); 17 - Valerie Wells (7 - George Hilton, 85'), 21 - Lynne Crossley, 22 - Bruce Nolan

TMB scorers: Lynne Crossley (14')

Player of the Match: Lynne Crossley [TMB]

One goal was all it took for Tumbra to finish top of the veritable minefield of a group they'd landed up in; and against a defensively-minded Zeta Reka and Hügeltaldom, one goal was all that was needed. A rotated lineup featuring Andrew Taylor, Nicholas Moss, Raymond Perry, Lynne Crossley and Bruce Nolan standing in for the regular starters meant that Zeta Reka were going to be a bit more dominant; but still the Tumbran defence held strong, Stephen Kerr dispossessing Fen Schwartzhammer in the eighth minute to shut down a quickly-evolving Rekan attack.

It would turn out to be Tumbra breaking the deadlock; Lynne Crossley, Robin Vaughn's understudy and the designated successor to Captain Tumbra at the right-wing spot, at least, toeing the first — and only — goal in after an unruly goalmouth scrabble. Zeta Reka's numbers in defence would prove to be a strong impediment to Tumbra's offensive hopes, with their best chances coming off set-pieces; Phil Cole's free kick in the twenty-seventh minute after Valerie Wells was tripped just outside the box would force a save from Zlatko Wukowić, but otherwise opportunities were limited. The remaining minutes of the game would prove to be a droll affair, with Zeta Reka's attempts at attacking stopped by the imperious Perry-Kerr duo, while Tumbra's own attempts at counterattacking after dispossessing the Mantises proving unfruitful as well, due to the Rekans' strength in numbers. The last attack of the game would see Bruce Nolan's cannon of a shot ricochet off the upright; but instead of bouncing into the goal, it would instead land in the hands of Wukowić. The game would end, 1-0; bringing an end to the Rekans' first World Cup campaign, while a 2-1 victory for Valanora over Jeruselem would also see them go through, even after their opening-day loss to the Black Eagles.

Not that the Marauders would've wanted to win the group, mind, seeing the match-up in store for them; because Tumbra's opponents in the Second Round would turn out to be...Pemecutan.

Pemecutan
Previous Appearances: 2 First/Latest Appearance: 89/90 Best Result: Finalists (90)
Captain: Satya Putra Laksamana Key Player: Dewa Putu Mahardika
vs Tumbra: Second Round @ Þingsnitz

THE RISING STARS: Pemecutan's rise to second in the world rankings came as a shock to many. They've appeared in two World Cups — the same number as Tumbra — but their surprise run to the finals of the previous edition displayed just how good they were. It was only due to a vintage display by the eventual champions and Tumbra-beaters, The Holy Empire, that Pemecutan were stopped from lifting the trophy; but even then, the world was treated to a brand new shining star on the stage of world football.

Since then, the White Mynahs have gone from strength to strength. Finishing undefeated in qualifying, scoring an eye-watering sixty-five goals in twenty matches (that's three and a quarter per match, for those wondering), the White Mynahs threw down a gauntlet for the rest of the world to follow. Two draws against Drawkland and Vilita in the group stage, however — both considered coups against a team as strong as the Kings of Melayu — meant that they would finish second in their group, with Drawkland getting the somewhat pyrrhic reward of a match against Valanora. A 5-4 barnbuster against Baker Park, widely regarded as a testament to their offensive prowess, was their other result.

When Tumbra line up against Pemecutan in Þingsnitz, they'll be treated to some old friends. Leo Olivando, who put Tumbra to the sword during the Eagles' victorious Di Bradini Cup 51 campaign, is likely to start at striker. Dewa Putu Mahardika, the 21 year-old wunderkind who earned himself a move to the Banijan club Kitara AA, will likely start behind them as an attacking midfielder. Make no mistake, Tumbra's ninety minutes against Pemecutan will likely be a match where the Black Eagles will be subjected to a barrage of attacks from a side that, well, has already proven they're pretty good at it. The flip side?

The Black Eagles have proven so far that they're pretty good at defence. With the tried-and-tested duo of Kerr and Henderson likely to start, and Ashburn waiting in the wings, there's every chance Tumbra's perfect clean sheet record stays intact. Will it? Bookmakers aren't keen on the odds. But the belief of a nation carries; and they can only will Robin Vaughn and his band of merry football players on.

PREVIOUSLY ON DEFENDER MEETS MIDFIELDER

It's time to head home. Midfielder, (former) heiress and player for Chromatik Football ClubTrudy Harrison and her world-class team-mate, defender (and also boyfriend) Stephen Kerr left her father's estate after they both refused to join his multi-billion dollar media empire. Which, fair; there was a lot of trauma there, and Trudy does hate her father. The departure, though, meant Trudy's been feeling quite empty since. Which, also, fair; it did form the first seventeen years of her life, too, and despite her hate for all that her father stood for, there were memories there that weren't all bad. The choice was made, though; Trudy would no longer be part of the family she so despised. In return, she got her freedom. Despite Charles' cryptic words at the end of their last meeting, things have gone alright so far; and the only thing for her to worry about is meeting Stephen's family...

Link to previous part | Link to arc home
defender meets midfielder: season 6, part 10
home

Straton

Straton was considerably sunnier than Kingsbury. That was perhaps an obvious statement to make, considering it was the late afternoon when Stephen and Trudy reached, but Straton did seem considerably brighter, nicer than Kingsbury when the two stepped out of Straton's main railway station, luggage in tow. Trudy's expression was still somewhat vacant; but Stephen was there. Soon, they were in a taxi.

Trudy had never been to Straton much. Bar that one summer where she was negotiating with Chromatik, much of her life had been spent in Georgia. Be it Gleneagles, the Steppenham Public School (ironically, a private school, and one that the nation's richest usually went to), or Kingsbury, the nation's capital had been an afterthought in her mind, really. Yet it was here that their friendship blossomed; after winning the Under-18 World Cup, in the month before she'd signed for the Capitalizt. Stephen had brought her to all the sights; the Botanical Gardens in the north, all the museums of the civic district, the gentrified areas of the south...

Well, Straton wasn't exactly the most fun of cities. Sure, the country's best university was located here, but the "fun" cities of Tumbra were Couno, Harren and Bencoolen; not boring old Straton. Here was where the machinery of government revolved; this is where politicians screamed at each other across the aisle, where civil servants ensured that whatever policies they put in place were carried out to a tee. It may have been sunnier, but it was also a bit greyer than Kingsbury.

The taxi sped along the expressway, showing the massive monolith of the National Stadium being covered in scaffolding in preparation for its eventual demolition. Now it was Stephen's turn to look away; Straton hadn't exactly treated him fairly after he'd decided he wanted to leave. All he'd wanted was a decent paycheck, and they'd tried to wring him for every penny possible. Looking back, Stephen couldn't believe how naive he'd been; but the past was the past, now.

And in no time at all, they'd reached Stephen's house. It was positively spartan compared to the lavishness that had been foisted upon them in the last week or so; but Trudy found herself beaming when she looked at the two-story building coated in white paint.

"It's not...much," Stephen sheepishly remarked as he hauled the two suitcases out of the boot. "I mean, certainly not compared to your...old place."

"Shut up!" said Trudy. "I love it. It's...well...home. It feels like it, anyway. More than that place."

"I'm glad you like it," smiled Stephen as he moved next to Trudy. "Uh, we'll be having dinner with my family tonight. Just enjoy the place, really; I mean, we'll both sleep in my room; both Mom and Dad know we're dating. Or, at least, they will, after tonight..." his voice trailed off, awkwardly.

"Everything'll be fine. Best behaviour. I promise."

"It's not that, Trudy. I know you'll be great. It's just that, uh, my sis is home too. And she's brought a friend of her own. Well, I say friend, but really they're dating, and have been since a while ago. And they're intending to tell Mom and Dad too."

"That's great!" Her smile melted away when she saw Stephen's unclear face. Isn't it?"

"Uh, well, we've planned this for a bit, but the thing we're not sure about is how they'll react to the news that Steph has a girlfriend. So, uh..."

"Ah. Hm."

"Yeah, it's...yeah. So just enjoy Mom's hospitality; she can be a bit much, but all she wants to do is take care of you, and try not to fall asleep when Dad tries to explain what it is exactly that a chartered accountant does."

"Will it be more or less boring than you trying to explain how financial amortisation works?'

"No promises. Anyway, let's move. Probably better to talk about it my room."

"Your room?"

"Yeah. I mean, you've seen it before. When we were chatting online. Right?"

"I've never been in there, though..."

"What? No, my room is fine. Don't worry about it."

"If you say so..." Trudy giggled as she began rolling her suitcase towards the house.

"Hey! What's that supposed to mean?"

No sooner had the two of them arrived at the door of Stephen's house had the door slammed open, with Stephen's mom Sylvia enveloping her son in hugs and kisses. To be fair, she hadn't physically seen her son in years; as much as he'd been tempted to break curfew whenever they were in Straton, he'd always resisted the urge to do so. For Trudy, it was a rather uncomfortable twenty seconds as she tried not to look too much at Sylvia and her son; and pretty much try to melt into the background, too. Eventually, though, Stephen managed to extricate himself from the hug, and introduced the awaiting Trudy to her. Sylvia seemed to treat Trudy like she was her own daughter almost immediately; and after they'd been invited into the house, tea was served, and then biscuits, and then cake, and then...

The house was cluttered, but in a good way. Pictures of the Kerr family were on the walls and on shelves; various books, drawings, pictures of them on holiday, various pieces of kitsch...it felt like home. Gleneagles was big, sure, and most people liked big houses; but it was also empty, business-like. It was a house — a veritable mansion, for sure — but it wasn't a home. Trudy hadn't lived in many homes; the apartment in Kingsbury and the Chromian place with Stephen were the two places where she'd properly felt at home, and even then it took a while for her to warm up to it. But this?

It just felt like home. It was a feeling that couldn't be explained; it was a sense that she was safe, that she'd be accepted no matter what happened. This was a home; and as the family dog, Cook came running up to her, tail wagging, she couldn't help but smile. After a few pets, Cook ran off to Stephen once again.

After washing up, sinking into the sofa in the living room and grasping the cup of tea on the table, she finally felt at ease. Stephen seemed to understand; and very kindly left her to lounge and enjoy the hospitality while he moved their luggage up to his room. After a while, when he hadn't come back down, Trudy's curiosity began to bubble; and she tiptoed up to the second floor.

It wasn't that hard to find Stephen's room. For one, it was the only door that was slightly open; on the other hand, it had a huge sign with "Stephen's room" on the front door. Slowly, making sure she wasn't intruding, she knocked; and then walked in, embracing Stephen from behind.

"You haven't come down for a while," she whispered.

"I know," he whispered back. "I was just...taking in a moment of peace."

"So this is your room, hmmm?", Trudy playfully asked, casting a glance around. Band posters, football shirts, a tidy bed...the room looked like it hadn't been touched since Stephen had moved out of the house. "Bit empty."

"Duh. I haven't lived here in forever. I think I left quite a few items here when I left, though..." Stephen slid open a drawer, then just as quickly slid it shut. "Uh. Nothing here, of course," he muttered unconvincingly.

Unconvinced, Trudy slid open the drawer; and, Io and behold...

YEAR 201X
WESTVIEW SECONDARY SCHOOL
YEARBOOK

"Oh my God," Trudy whispered. "It's your yearbook."

"Ack-no-don't look at that! It's..."

It was too late to stop Trudy, who'd already begun flipping through the pages with a big smile on her face. Resigned, Stephen smiled, simply basking in his girlfriend being, well, happy for the first time since they'd left Georgia. Finally, she seemed to find what she was looking for; and the smile turned into a beam.

"Oh my God," she yelped again. Beaming, she pointed at one specific picture; and Stephen didn't even need to know which picture she was pointing at. It was him, of course; him in all his goofy-looking, sixteen year-old prime. His hair had been cut a smidgen too short because his mom had insisted he needed short hair for his picture day; and as a result, his ears were a tad too big. The awkward smile on his face didn't help either.

Stephen just kept smiling as Trudy giggled; he was simply enjoying the moment. As the yellow glow of the setting sun shone through his window, all he could focus on was how beautiful his girlfriend was. Shifting over, he lifted her off the chair she was now sitting on — to a surprised yelp from Trudy — and placed her on the bed, cuddling her.

"God, you're beautiful."

"I love you, too. I wanna...God." She pulled away.

"What's wrong?"

"Maybe tonight. Plus, your door's open."

Stephen sat up, looking slightly crestfallen. "Yeah, there's that. C'mon. Let's head down. Mom'll be wondering where I am, considering I volunteered to help her out with the cooking." He caught Trudy looking at the yearbook, fixated on that one goofy picture of Stephen.

"Can we bring that back to Chromia once we're done with all this?"

Stephen huffed out a laugh. "Sure."

Lineup for Tumbra v Pemecutan; World Cup 91, Second Round

Starters: 1 - Nick Barker; 2 - Ryan Hughes, 4 - Stephen Kerr, 5 - Harry Henderson, 3 - Nigel Harris; 6 - Trudy Harrison, 8 - Vincent Hicks, 10 - Phil Cole; 7 - George Hilton, 9 - Robin Vaughn, 11 - Nick Riordan

Bench: 12 - Andrew Taylor, 13 - Victoria Jones; 14 - Ian Ashburn, 18 - Nicholas Moss, 19 - Chris Carter, 20 - Raymond Perry; 15 - Mark Finnemore, 16 - Andrew Fisher, 23 - Susan Monaghan; 17 - Valerie Wells, 21 - Lynne Crossley, 22 - Bruce Nolan

by **Ko-oren** » Sun Jun 12, 2022 11:59 am

Post-season Talking Points

Another season, another story. First of all, we have a new first-time champion: the defensive powerhouse in the northeast, Straudum VV. Maethoru's hegemony was broken by Aminey last year and while the Capital club finished second this time (and last time), they haven't found their way back to the championship. In true Maethoru fashion, there won't be consequences while they're still up there, but the way they let other clubs pass them by in the mid-season will surely raise some eyebrows.

Anyway, there we go talking about Maethoru again - the club dominating international headlines whenever Ko-orenite club football is concerned. Interestingly, in domestic media, you'd swear that Aminey are the biggest club. But this is about Straudum VV and how they got here. So here we go.

Straudum VV are one of the eight oldest clubs of Ko-oren - one of twenty clubs active in the first season of a national football league and only eight of those are still alive (Maethoru, Branvon, Alara, Tanques, Katashi, Miradela's predecessors, and... Cresthill FC) and yet they never managed to win a title. Time and time again, they would get close, but they'd never get on top. Maybe it was their playstyle, unchanged through the years: fiercely defensive (and a blueprint for the fledgling Ko-orenite national team!). Maybe it was the fact they're from the periphery with limited ability to attract talent from all over to their town. Maybe it was the fact that they favoured local talent anyway, but only as long as they were willing to play their style, and all of a sudden they made their potential player pool very, very small. Until about a decade and a half ago, when they became a pipeline for defensive talent nationally and you'll find plenty of players on the Dragonflies, on class foreign clubs, and so on, to have been developed in Straudum. It was high time they finally got their title.

The congratulations have been coming in all day from their ex-players, both retired and active at other clubs. Analor Avalor (ex-Dragonfly), Ingmar Linderood (ex-Dragonfly), Minne van Schelven (current Dragonfly), Odde Aandal (current Dragonfly), for instance.

@AvalorA
@StraudumVV @KFA @TopLeagueKOR CONGRATS! Wish I was there! Can't believe our club finally did it. Congrats from Kirkenes!

@IngmarInBanija
@StraudumVV @KFA @TopLeagueKOR Insane stuff, make us proud!!

@MinneVS
@StraudumVV @KFA @TopLeagueKOR Park that bus! Can't wait to march out in the blue and purple again!

@PrettyOddAandal
@StraudumVV @KFA @TopLeagueKOR Celebrate! Congrats over there in Straudum, see you soon! Hoping for better times in Arboren.

We've already mentioned a few other clubs, so let's zoom in on those. Maethoru, as said, not happy about missing another title but then again, they won about five in a row so they'll have to be ok with not winning it for a change. Aminey, however, has different ideas. The francophone club climbed up to the top of the Top League half a decade ago, with promises of big names, big signings, big sponsors, big everything. And most of all, big media. The Aminey entertainment industry is the biggest in the country, and players of the local CS must therefore be fashionable, presentable. Being good at football ranks somewhere in the top 10 but certainly not top 3 for most Amineyans. That said, the city has come to expect pretty big things, and so coach Millet must do something. Who will go? The un-Amineyan Rurindhaunden (too political in his interviews)? The sweet Lavigne? Shy yLorbhwl? The club always has a way to tear itself down instead of being patient and developing a vision and a plan, so we'll see. The experiment of Aminey being an actual good club might come to an end with this.

Completing the rest of the table: Schemerdrecht SVV had invested millions and millions and have finished third because of it: not Champions League-level, but close enough and the club must certainly be happy with their steps. The eastern greats, Alara and Katashi, surely can't complain either. After some yo-yoing between the top and bottom six, they're now firmly in the top - at least Katashi. There will be questions in the Miradela camp, who, after Schemerdrecht-style investments, still can't crack the top 6, and on a bad day look like relegation fodder. The proud club (also in that historical eight group) have little else to sacrifice - it's not a bad team, the pundits say, the coach is very well compensated bringing in Banijan viewpoints to the relatively closed world of Ko-orenite football. If there's one thing to work on: their squad is older than any other in the league. Unfortunately for them, the oldest players also bring most to the table, yet of their most used 11 players, just one was under 24. Will Costello build upon the old squad or will he inject fresh blood into a team that's mostly settled and well-rounded?

WSR AFC is the Advance Alara of a few seasons ago: young, exciting, and rearing to go. The club from Eaglebury have had trouble fitting into the highly competitive Top League at first, signing whatever rejects they could get just to stay in the game, but now that their first few talent buys are panning out, it's a completely different club. While most talents start on the bench, we see a lot more of the under 25s now, and another year of sifting through southwestern talent should do the trick. Whether they can stay in the top 8 to 10 remains to be seen. Arboren, for instance, had a clear plan coming into the Top League and are forced to abort their plans already, relegating back into the second tier.

Looking at said second tier, which clubs are most Top League-ready? Of course there's Sterrenwolde FC, who will promote, with a young squad of mostly locals, and only one or two positions to patch up before facing off with the likes of Maethoru and Aminey. Huthwich Et Iduloren FC are also a candidate, with a squad at least as good as Sterrenwolde's, but without the luck needed to get a shot in the top division. And honestly? That's kind of it. All other teams have severe flaws to patch before making a run. Myaranowra had a plan, recruiting young players, fielding the youngest squad week in, week out, with an average squad age under 23 (!) and they're getting a trip down to the third division to show for it. That's the problem: the Second Tier is good enough that you have to put in a lot of effort squad-building, balancing ages, experience, positions, personalities, but without the resources to max out your potential - so any new approach is either a cheat code to promotion or a straight drop down, and Myaranowra guessed wrong.

That opens up the debate about the unlikelihood of promotion. From the fourth tier to the third? You need to win your division - while three clubs relegate from each third tier. Going up is difficult, tumbling down is very, very easy. And for every club promoting, one has to make place. The KFA is listening, and are looking to create playoff opportunities, so clubs that show they have a place in a higher tier can show it versus a mediocre club from said tier. The Top League has seen relegation for about half a decade - and now the risk of going down might increase twofold, even. More turnaround could be good for rewarding ambitious programmes in the lower tiers, but it can be a way to get all of the old, big clubs down in the dumps in no time. We'll see.

Oh, and the Casaran Cup last year showed promise, and the KFA will make that a regular part of the calendar next season. As the previous edition was completed halfway through this season, it couldn't be held twice - so the second half of this season was slightly empty. There will be a cup, tailored to a country that doesn't exactly like or respect the format.

by **Drawkland** » Sun Jun 12, 2022 12:37 pm

Below is an excerpt from the Elite Eleven's social media, video in which each member is given eleven seconds to state their opinion about making the knockouts of World Cup 91.

Nicholas Kingston: We've made the playoffs for the second time! I know it's been hard to be a fan of the Elite Eleven Kick Corps in recent years, but we hope that fans can appreciate the run we've put together this season. It's all for you guys!

Trevor Garnet: First we got sweet revenge on Vilita to start the group stage, then we proved we can duke it out with the world #2. Then we needed to win a game against a top ten team, and we did just that. It's great to be clutch again.

Septimus Xander: It's been great all around. Our goalscoring has gotten better, but more importantly, our defense has really tightened up. I've had some of my best performances in the net this cycle.

Mike Rodney: Ha, Pemecutan? More like PemeWHOtan? Never heard of em! Held em to 1 goal and picked up a point against the World #2 ... from MelaWHO Archipelago? Whatever!

Ross Hunter: It's been a blast from start to finish. Our defense has tightened up, but more importantly, our offensive production has skyrocketed. I've had some of my best goalscoring performances this cycle!

Richard Hanson: I'm just enjoying the ride. First it was the silver medal run in the IAC, and now this! I'm excited to see what the future holds for us now. ... wait, how much time do I have left?

Dominic Southers: A lot of the discourse is talking about how our defense or offense have really improved, but I've been most impressed by our midfield. We've been a lot more versatile, and we're creating chances on both ends. What more could you ask for from your midfield, huh?

Roger Apollo: We played #8 Audioslavia twice, and didn't lose either game. We played #2 Pemecutan, we held them to a 1-1 draw. We played #8 Baker Park, and we beat them in a barnburner. So who cares if we have to play the #3 now?

Elias Keys: I told you, just like our win streak in qualifiers, we're simply clicking on all cylinders. See, this is what happens when we put our heads and hearts together and really concentrate on doing our jobs. We're the same unit, but now we're reali

Craig Bakker: Sorry, we have to play Valanora in the first round? THE Valanora? The 3rd ranked team in the multiverse? After we won our group and everything? The other shoe has finally dropped.

Jaxon Madison: Some of us have taken the success more gracefully that others, but ultimately, it's great to be back in the playoffs. I can only hope that we can do this cycle what we couldn't on home soil in World Cup 86.

by **Pemecutan** » Sun Jun 12, 2022 7:54 pm

Part 4.13

Bhagawanta, the capital of Rarungan. A small nation which located southwest of Cakranegara. Just a few kilometers south of Gili Anakan, which is still a part of the archipelago. This is the last place that Patrayasa has to visit in his mission given by Kusumajaya. Many called the nation as little Pemecutan because of its many similarities. Their capital city is rather quiet with low population. It is located on its own island which have a land area of less than 50 km2. However Bhagawanta still become a presentable capital for the tiny country. Pemecutan have had a long history with the country. It was once part of Cakranegara and became the last stand of Pemecutan army when the area was taken over by the Dutch during the colonial era. Rarungan have been under Pemecutan protection from 1984 as a result of Cakranegara Revolt which change the country into republic. Rarungan decides to remain as monarchy.

A man around his 40's walk hastily to the lobby of the mansion as Patrayasa get off from the car that escort him. The man is Rarungani Prime Minister, Agung Kelakan.
'I'm so glad you finally make it,' greet Kelakan with a warm and rather energetic handshakes.
'I'm sorry about it. We have some things to do,' answer Partayasa.
'No worries. I've heard about it. Please,' say Kelakan as he take Partayasa into the mansion.

The vernacular-style luxury mansion is the resident of Prime Minister of Rarungan. The country doesn't have a lot of big buildings. But even though with ordinary exterior, the inside of the Prime Minister Mansion is quite luxurious. The decorations and furnishings are all high standard. PM Kelakan take Partayasa to one of the small meeting room which is look more like a nice and cozy living room. As they're both sit, the maid immediately serve the drinks and snacks. It does feel likes home.

'So what's the ocassion?' ask Kelakan straight to the point after he is sipping his tea.
'Honestly, I came here to give you a formal invitation from our Patih Agung,' explain Partayasa.
Kelakan twitch his eyebrows.
'Is it something to do with Cakranegara situation nowadays?' ask him again.
'Oh no. Not at all. It's just a simple meeting. You see, our Patih Agung want to strengthen the cooperation with the neighbors. Economy, defense, humanitarian, everything. It's that kind of meeting,' say Partayasa before he take his tea.
'Ah alright. I thought it is about Cakranegara. You know, I'm so worried after the Gili Anakan incident. I'm afraid that we are their next target,' reveal Kelakan.
'I don't think they will do that. They know their limit,' argue Partayasa.
'The government, yes. But not the extremists. You should be careful with them,' remind Kelakan.
Partayasa nodded. In his heart, he hope nothing bad will happen in the near future.

IT'S DECIDE

The situation in Patih Agung's office is rather tense. Cakranegara government will announced their referendum result officially. Although the poll have indicated the result but still, waiting for the official announcement can be very frustrating. Patih Agung Kusumajaya is monitored the television hanging on the wall of his office. He scanned every channel especially news related to Cakranegara. While on the other hand, he kind of feel a little sorry for himself. He forgot about his appointment with Soracana's King. Hope the Majesty is okay with rescheduling.

He feels King Karsiyuha II is having a great burden on his shoulder. Not just because of his nature but also the opposition around him. Kusumajaya still remember how violent the coup in Soracana which happen less than 5 years ago. And in such a young age, King Karsiyuha II has to witness it. How his people are suffer just because of him. Well, at least that's what the coup leader said to justify his action.

Suddenly his attention is back to the television. A live footage from Cakranegara capital broadcasted by the national channel, GBC-2. It is the announcement of the referendum result. They start the announcement by announcing each province result. Kusumajaya looks closely to each province result as one by one is announced. He quite surprise at the end as there are 2 provinces that reject the idea of full sovereignty. Gili Anakan and Pejanggik. It is a landslide victory to the 'stay at it is' option in Gili Anakan and a slight victory in Pejanggik, less than 5%. While the 2 eastern provinces, Selaparang and North Selaparang have a landslide victory for 'full sovereignty' options. More than 70% of the voters choose that option there. And the main island result. Both provinces in the main island, Cakra and North Cakra have a slight victory of under 5% for 'full sovereignty' option. North Cakra have the lowest difference between the options with less than 1% in favor of 'full sovereignty'. The overall results show a victory of 'full sovereignty' option with 53.33% of the voters choose it. With the result, it is clear that Cakranegara will no longer need Pemecutan defense protection. The transition will be underway.

Hambali's mansion are crowded with a huge of ecstatics group. They are overjoyed with the result of the referendum. That is the result that they're looking for.

'We won! We won!' shouts someone in the crowd.
While Hambali is smiling widely as he watch the result. In the euphoria, a tall slender man who is leaning to the wall give Hambali a sign. Hambali then approach the man. They are both walk away from the crowd into one of the room in that huge mansion.

'So do you agree with my proposal?' the man ask Hambali as they enter the room.
'Yes, I agree,' answer Hambali with a firm tone.
'Good. Prepare your Presidential speech then. You'll be straight to the Palace,' say the man.
They're both glance one to another before the man walk out of the room. Hambali can see the man is vanished in the crowd.
'It's time,' he murmured.

In another place, Kelakan pat Partayasa's shoulder as they're both watching the referendum announcement together. It seems like Kelakan give some strength to Partayasa as the result will give him a huge task. Kelakan seems to understand the hardship that Partayasa will face. After all, Kelakan already neighbored with that country as long as he can remember.

by **Kandorith** » Mon Jun 13, 2022 2:52 am

Shinonome Kyoai - International

Kandorith beats Trolleborg, with large changes and debuts

While the duel against Trolleborg was critical, it did not stop Kaya Michiyu from experimenting with the starting eleven or the bench. While many fans might have preferred a larger victory, there was not a single bit of disappointment on and off the field. After goals from Hideto Kanaga and Yoburo Yoshida, Mekahi cruised to victory with a comfortable 2–0 lead, sealing the deal in Group G.
By Natsumi Miyasaki
Sports

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 P  Group G                          Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Turori                             3   3  0  0   11   5  +6    9
2 Kandorith                          3   2  0  1   11   8  +3    6
3 Savigliane                         3   1  0  2    6   9  −3    3
4 Trolleborg                         3   0  0  3    0   6  −6    0

A solid win, but it was no spectacle, nor was it entirely terrible. The match was plagued by slow pace, absent-minded play and a few critical mistakes, almost deemed rookie mistakes, that could have swayed the match to the advantage of Trolleborg. This is something Michiyu had counted on as the Kandorese defense remained barely unchanged and would be the more experienced side to keep the opponent away from the goal. The tactic seemingly worked, but at multiple moments it appeared to be working on the nerves of the Kandorese fans.

After Yoshida scored 2 - 0, the match would not be much for almost twenty minutes. While the Kandorese would still get a few chances, they would all miss the target by a large margin. The best chance to get another goal would come at the effort of Takeshi Honda, who replaced an injured Kanaga, but even this chance would end up behind the lines after hitting the post.

Before the match, Michiyu already made it clear that they would be playing with a heavily rotated squad and was quite criticized for it. Completely unphased by the criticism, the starting eleven against Trolleborg saw six changes in the usual roster. While Michiyu had planned to rotate the squad somewhat more, they just did not think the previous matches were the right matches for it.

After losing the opening match against Turori, the team had been all but shaken and was determined to make a comeback. Having fought off both Savigliane and Trolleborg, the proud team will be headed towards the round of 16. For Michiyu, the upcoming round is the least the team wants to achieve and will be looking to again snatch a spot in the quarter-finals. The road to there will see the Kandorese face off against the number 17 in the rankings, Brenecia, who topped the heavily fought Group F where they and Ko-oren emerged as the two teams to head to the next round.

Cheerful victory

With the recent victory, Michiyu refused to use the term "b-team". "They have the exact same training routine as the normal starting eleven, and today they have proven to me that they are just as capable of winning as what the people call the A-choice", Michiyu remarked. While the Kandorese style seemed missing during the first half, eventually the team did get their tactics together and had an easy time playing around the midfield looking for any gaps in the Trolleborg defence. While not on the same level as the usual team, today's selection got the job done and can praise themselves for being responsible for securing the next round for the Kandorese.

Reaction to accusations

While refusing to comment on earlier accusations, Michiyu was more prepared to do so today. Foreign media have been talking about the controversial draw between Kandorith and Ko-oten during World Cup 90. Michiyu now reacts in a lighter tone. "Let them think what they want," Michiyu said. "There have been no match fixings, no so-called secret agreements, but honestly nowadays I just laugh at it. The entire situation was just a weird coming together of events, and indeed, when looking at words that have been spoken, one might get the impression of rigging, but I think there have been more strange results throughout the entire history of the World Cup. The fact is that I, among many others in the empire, have a long-standing respect for Ko-oren and letting something as rigging matches come between us would be something unforgivable."

First large gains made by Imperial Kandorese Forces

After more heavy strikes on multiple tactical hotspots, the Imperial Kandorese Navy announced the "second phase" of the large-scale operation aimed at liberating Meiyi-occupied territory.
By Hiromi Sugihara
War against Meiyi agression

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The town of Himioka, situated to the west of the greater Arasutsi region, has been the scene of battle since the early morning. With heavy machinery, cruise missiles, and boots on the ground, the Kandorese forces have been tasked with taking Himioaka and acquiring a crucial position on the ground in the greater Arasutsi area.

The two cities of Arasutsi and Himioka are the major points to be taken in the coming days. Both are separated only by large open fields and the Harato river. For the past few days, the Imperial Kandorese Forces have conducted heavy airstrikes on fortified Meiyi positions to break the line of defence. Now that phase two of the operation on Arasutsi has been called, it is up to the Marines to capture major strategic targets and prepare for the assault on Arasutsi.

Thousands of civilians are stuck

As diplomacy between the Kandorese Empire and Meiyi broke down after the initial invasion, the ministry of internal affairs has now warned that thousands of innocent lives might be lost in the coming days if the Meiyi government keeps barring any evacuation or safe corridors. Where the Kandorese government and mission to the WA have urged the Meiyi government to resume talks to at least save innocent lives, any statement made seems to fall on deaf ears and is met with further reports of cruel treatment of the Kandorese nationals in occupied territory.

The Kandorese Navy's repeated bombardments appear to be having an effect, and it is expected that Himioka and surrounding towns will be liberated as early as Tuesday, though the Imperial Army expects heavy resistance and urban battles to last until every last Meiyi soldier is either killed or captured.

Admiral Yoshiro Sato stated that the effectiveness of the Kandorese army is unparalleled and the first Meiyi defences have completely disappeared from Kandorese lands, although Admiral Sato did state he was "worried" the Meiyi reinforcements might be on time to try and further fortify their positions in central Arasutsi. "The Imperial Kandorese Navy is more than adequately equipped to take the fight to whatever their navy throws at us," Sato said, referring to reports of the People's Republic's main naval fleet moving towards Kandorese waters.

by **Turori** » Mon Jun 13, 2022 6:14 am

Turori Tame Tuzzio to Top Table

Grand René Skaé, René Skaé, Szoirsia, Farfadillis :: The Turori National Team arrived in Szoirsia with the clear directions of "Head to the Grand René Skaé, named after René Skaé, in René Skaé, named after René Skaé" and prepared for an important group stage matchday 3 fixture against Savigiliane. The weather was forecast to be warm but thankfully not quite as hot as it could have been on a different day - or if perhaps one was playing at the Stadium on Fire.

There was already plenty of buildup prior to the match due to the allure of former Farfadillis National Team and Vilitan League hero Ichi Tuzzio returning to Farfadillis to coach a National Team (Savigliane) against one of the Nations for which he had previously spent so much of his career and life in. A former player for Turori's biggest club, Cednia Beach AFC, Tuzzio was now tasked with a must-win matchup against the #4 ranked Turori National Team if their Savigliane side was to have any hope of advancing through to the Round of 16. A win alone would not necessarily be enough, however, as it would depend on the result in the matchup between Kandorith and Trolleborg. Single goal victories all around would see Savigliane out of the competition, the only way the Swans could proceed would be if they bettered Kandorith's result including if Kandorith lost by more goals than Savigliane lost by, or, simply by defeating Turori by 2 goals or more.

With Tuzzio and another Farfitimal legend Friekder Dandalleion on the sidelines, the local crowd certainly found it within them to support the Red and Blues and the first 20 minutes or so of the match Savigliane showed they could hang with the Eels and put up a fight. The momentum changed in the 21st minute when Nua'oma Aikiki - one of the successors to Friekder Dandalleion at Jungle Strike FC in Vilita, was fed a ball through by René Skaé's own Tulaki Rauogba. Aikiki would make no mistake firing the ball past Nicodemo D’Ambrosio to give Turori a 1-0 lead. From there it was as if the flood gates were open.

Tuzzio and Dandaellion watched helplessly as their dreams of leading another National Team to the World Cup Final in Farfadillis were dashed in front of their eyes over a fifteen minute period that would see Cednia Beach AFC attacker Turaki Diijelhma score twice to increase Turori's lead to 3-0 heading into the half time break.

Having dominated the play in the closing stages of the first half, Tarek Edgeli wisely kept the Turori National Team unchanged for the second half and was hoping to possibly see the team add another goal or two to increase confidence in front of what now seemed to be an inevitable appearance in the knockout round. Whatever Tuzzio and Dandaellion said in the locker room, however, seemed to be effective as the Red and Blacks looked much more lively in the second half of play. The introduction of 28 year old Paolo Rinaldi at half time seemed to be part of the spark that the Swans were flying on and the Gunzlach attacker would be rewarded for their energy in the 58th minute with an inch perfect delivery from La Nueva Avenida midfielder Óceane Chastain. Rinaldi would make no mistake breaking Derizi Amatopa's shutout and pulling Savigliane back within two and within reach of the Eels.

Unfortunately for the local fans, the Swans seemed to use up much of their free energy just to get the goal and had little left in the tank to continue pressing as the Eels locked down their defense and freshened up their look with a trio of substitutions over the remainder of the second half. Loala Inkabu, Kinabo Telioa and Naraiza Ruaplal all would come into the game at separate intervals for the Eels, breaking up the match and injecting life back into the Turorian side. Seeing their World Cup dreams slip away, Savigliane began an aggressive push over the final 8 minutes which included sending goalkeeper D'Ambrosio up for a corner kick in the 89th minute. The ball was punched out by Amatopa into space and the fresh-legged substitute Inkabu was the first to reach it for the Eels. With an empty field in front of them, Inkabu took a heavy touch and outpaced the Swans defense before eventually lining the ball into the back of the net for Turori's fourth goal of the day, sealing the result and the Eels passage through to the knockout rounds as Winners of Group G.

In closing out with the victory over Savigliane, the Turori National Team also completed their first 'perfect' group stage performance since the Infamous World Cup 85 Cycle. Of course, World Cup 85 was also the previous and only World Cup ever hosted in Farfadillis and Turori, like this cycle, also competed on the Farfadillis half of the draw. When the Eels comfortably defeated the host nation on Matchday 2 thanks to goals from Kentu Umaka'a, Wiztsana Iretziia and Mirana Gotuai, anticipation began to build back in the Island Emirate. At the end of the Group Stage many of the big names had been knocked out at the Group Stage leaving Turori with a seemingly easy path to the World Cup Final as they still sought out their first ever World Cup Title.

A Pair of goals from Meldi'ita Mungwaii and a topper from Naraiza Ruaplal saw Turori breeze past 47th ranked Kelssek in the Round of 16 and then it was controversial nation the Free Republics up next in the Quarter Finals. Historically, the Quarter Finals might have seemed to be a free victory for Turori's opposition but the Eels had just recently broken that glass ceiling during World Cups 81 and 82 and were now on the matching path for more.

The World Cup 85 Quarter Final matchup is well documented. Rule Theriault's side used every underhanded tactic they could find to stay in the game and after four goals on each side, the Free Republics would outlast the Eels in a penalty shootout en route to their first and only World Cup Title. The disappointment throughout the Island Emirate was overwhelming - particularly as the Free Republics went on to Win the World Cup and then quit the internationstatal scene for good never bringing their trophy or their belt back to competition since. Yet, like in the Group Stage of World Cup 91 in Farfadillis, the Turori National Team never lost a match in open play during World Cup 85 in Farfadillis either.

 Turori 4 - 1 Savigliane	
	Turori Goals:	:: 21' Nua'oma Aikiki:: 30' Turakia Diijelhma:: 37' Turakia Diijelhma:: 90' Loala Inkabu           
	Stats :: Turori 	:: Possession: 65%:: Shots: 9:: Corners: 8 :: Savigliane :: Possession: 35%:: Shots: 5:: Corners: 1
	Turori Lineup :: 	Derizi Amatopa, Amakli Inuro'o, Moumouni Verre'elali, Karek Edgeli (Naraiza Ruaplal 79'), Planio’o Nrujsa (Kinabo Telioa 76'), Cuoabaza Orani’aoa, Daliora Toru'u, Tulaki Rauogba (Loala Inkabu 69'), Kiidallen Aeroluzzi, Nua'oma Aikiki, Turakia Diijelhma

World Cup 91 Group G
                                   Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Turori                             3   3  0  0   11   5  +6    9
2 Kandorith                          3   2  0  1   11   8  +3    6
3 Savigliane                         3   1  0  2    6   9  −3    3
4 Trolleborg                         3   0  0  3    0   6  −6    0

RO16 :: Turori v. Ko-oren

Who is Turori's Most Feared Opponent, and why it might not actually be Audioslavia :: Ask any casual Turorian fan on the street which team Turori has the worst record against in National Team competition, All Time, and they will likely respond with "Audioslavia'. The Turori National Team's record against Audioslavia is absolutely abysmal. Now referred to as the 'Bulls', at one point Audioslavia was responsible for over half of Turori's early exits from the World Cup. World Cup 19 Quarter Final. World Cup 21 Round of 16. World Cup 25 Quarter Final. The remarkable thing about all of those results was that they were all 1-0 scorelines. In fact, in all the games that Turori and Audioslavia have contested at the World Cup Finals or Qualifying there have been fewer goals scored than total games played and not a single game the two sides ever played had more than a single goal, total. However, while Audioslavia typically was the one scoring the only goal in the game between Turori and Audioslavia just as they had done to take the third place medal away from the Eels during World Cup 89, Turori actually did defeat Audioslavia at least once in their history - namingly the second matchday of the World Cup 86 Group Stage - a 1-0 victory for the Eels.

While the sample size is smaller, there is another National Team opponent waiting in the wings to take over Audioslavia's title as Turori's toughest-to-defeat opposition: Ko-oren. Although the two sides have only met twice in the World Cup Finals - during the group stage of World Cup 74 and again in the Group Stage of World Cup 84 - both matches ended with the same result. A Ko-orenite victory. Just as with Turori's historical matchups against Audioslavia which have nearly always ended with the exact same scoreline, so have Turori's two prior matches at the World Cup Finals against Ko-oren: 3-1 in favor of the Dragonflies.

However, Turori's inability to defeat Ko-oren doesn't just stop at the World Cup Finals. The two sides contested home and away matchups during the 13th Cup of Champions and Turori couldn't win any of those matches either. Turori did manage to leverage home field advantage to hold Ko-oren to a goalless draw on Matchday 4 of that cycles Cup of Champions but still lost the opening leg by a much more Ko-orenite scoreline of 1-0. Of course both Audioslavia and Ko-oren have something in common - the style with which they play. The Dragonflies motto is "If they can't score, they can't win" due to their ultra-defensive style while Audioslavia also typically play in a defensive tactic even if not quite as extreme as that employed by Turori - who also tend toward defense.

While the Turori National Team's "System Turori" Tactic has seen the Eels rise from mediocrity throughout the 80's World Cup Cycles back into the constant internationstatal threat that they had been in the 20's, they still hadn't quite figured out how to defeat teams that were even more defensive minded than they were.

Tarek Edgeli and the Turori National Team will get another shot at it in the signature matchup of the World Cup 91 Round of 16. In what some have called a "Potential World Cup Final" being contested in the first knockout rounds, the matchup between the 4th ranked team (Turori) in the multiverse and the 5th ranked team (Ko-oren) is the only Round of 16 matchup containing two Top 5 or even Top 10 ranked nations facing off against each other, a situation that came about due to Ko-oren's uncharacteristic 2-2 draw on the final matchday of the Group Stage that saw them drop behind Brenecia to second place in Group F. Despite having still conceded the fewest goals of any team on the Farfadelightful side of the World Cup Finals, the 4 goals against certainly would seem to indicate that there are leaks in the usually tightly sealed Dragonflies defense and potential opportunities for the Turori National Team to exploit as they seek their first ever World Cup Finals victory over Ko-oren. The high-profile matchup will take place in the dangerous Farolera Forest at La Gran Avenida - Turori's second match of the cycle at the venue.

by **Pasarga** » Mon Jun 13, 2022 11:58 am

The media was quick to cover the attempted assassination of the crown prince and princess, as within twenty-four hours of the event it was all over the news. Candle light vigils were being held in most metropolitan areas, the populace wishing for a speedy recovery for the prince who had been injured in the attempt. Thankfully for Azra and her team of diplomats and councilors, the news about a potential impending attack on Torgos by forces unknown of origin or quantity had not been leaked to the press yet. That information was likely to start major panic throughout the capital and make a difficult situation quite the more troublesome to try and solve. A small army detachment had been moved to Torgos discreetly, but it was likely not enough to repel a true assault.

"Your Majesty, I simply must insist that you abandon Torgos and instead seek shelter elsewhere in the nation or abroad if possible. The attempt on your lift and your brother shows that these people are willing to go to great lengths to get what they want, we can not risk your safety by staying here." Enzio Sylveste, one of parliament members who voted for her urged in a council meeting.

The lack of sleep and worry was painted across the face of the twenty-four year old woman, bags under her eyes and having trouble staying awake through the meeting.

"We have been through this before, if I leave Torgos it will alarm the populace and may tip off our adversaries that we know an attack is imminent. Would you that I look weak and cowardly in front of those I am meant to rule over and impulsive to those who would do me harm?"

"If I may your highness, we know next to nothing about this threat. We don't know the capabilities of these alleged mercenary companies, their composition, or even what direction they are meant to be attacking from. There is far too much we don't know to risk your life by making you an easy target." Aziz Rayegan interjected, the highest ranking general in the army, thus holding the position of Minister of Defense, with some force. The loyalties of the army were up for some questioning but Aziz had remain steadfast in his support for the siblings.

"That is exactly my point, we know nothing of this alleged imminent attack on the capital. Our intelligence agency has been unable to find any leads as to where they may be based or where they are from. We are completely in the dark and so I believe it is better to show resolve by staying here than scurrying away to hide from shadows."

"If I may cousin, I believe that there is a compromise here
Travel to Lunas or Stilinkeep, say that you are visiting Peynol to meet with your people and reaffirm that both islands are important, not just Pargis. It gets you out of Torgos and perhaps if you are the target, puts off the attack or diverts it. The Air Force and Navy are already are on high alert and would potentially be able to intercept a transport of troops and equipment." Aslan suggested, looking the calmest of the gathered individuals for the meeting.

"That could work but it would leave my brother unprotected, wouldn't it?"

"A detachment of the Royal Guard would remain behind in Torgos to guard the crown prince as well as the army detachment should the attack actually proceed. It is not the most reassuring of plans but I believe it is the best option given our circumstances.".

by **Drawkland** » Mon Jun 13, 2022 12:49 pm

E N D L E S S . . .

"Let's just get out of here. This infinite abyss trench thing is giving me the creeps." The words had just come out of Jack Hoy's mouth, and suddenly the ground shifted under the feet of the Grid Corps trio. No words had to be said, no looks exchanged, all three guys immediately started running to a cavern tunnel a few yards away. As they started running, the overhang over the unknown darkness started collapsing and falling into the abyss.

"Shit!" Riley Hoyt's voice started at ear level, then dropped before he could even finish the word. It caused both Jack and Leo Cross to turn and see their friend, the retired tight end, slip right out of view. Jack didn't realize it until it was too late, but thankfully Leo saw what was coming and got an iron grip on Jack's wrist. Just moments earlier, Riley had tied his arm to Jack's ankle, in a tongue-in-cheek measure to prevent them from being separated again. Now, that very same rope was about to doom them both.

Leo was pulled to the ground by the weight and momentum of both Jack and Riley. Thankfully, he had stopped just at the edge of the cliff. He was secure, but his torso was partially hanging over the edge. Both of his hands held onto Jack's wrists, just enough to hold him in place. A dozen feet below Jack, Riley hung with all his might to the measure of rope connecting him to Jack, his lifeline. For a moment, nobody could speak, everybody just held for a second in complete fear, every single muscle tensed.

"This is easily the scariest fucking moment of my life!" Jack yelled, his words echoing through the narrow ravine. "Can you pull us up man?"

Leo tensed his arms and tried to pull them up, but he couldn't muster the strength. He was laying on his stomach with half his body hanging over the edge, doing his best to not drop the weight of two professional athletes. His face was straining, and all he could give Jack was a pained shake of the head.

"No way he can pull us up," Riley groaned, trying his best to not look down. "Too much weight. We're lucky he's even able to stay up there without getting pulled down with us."

"C'mon, Leo, pull out the beast mode strength," Jack pleaded. "You can get us up, I believe in you. And please hurry, because I think the circulation in my rope ankle is about to be cut off. No way I can play in the league with only one foot!"

Again, Leo said nothing, only giving a grunt of pure effort. Jack and Riley raised by a few inches, but dropped back down again. Leo shook his head, true panic starting to well in his face. It was an expression Jack had never seen before and never wanted to see again.

"He can't do it." Riley's voice was shaking.

"We're fine!" Jack insisted, even though his voice was wavering just as bad. "The ravine wall is only a few feet away. We could swing over and try to climb our way up!"

"Look at Leo!" Riley poked upwards with his chin. "Any more strain and we're going to fall right into this abyss together."

"There must be something we can do!" Jack huffed, but in the pit of his stomach he knew there was only one other thing.

"I'm gonna cut loose." Riley said, before Jack could even finish the thought in his own head. "He can lift you up just fine, I'm just dead weight here."

"Don't you fucking dare!" Jack shot back immediately. "We're in this together. If we're gonna die, for fuck's sake, we'll do it as brothers."

"I'm not going to let that happen." Riley took one of his hands off the rope he was hanging from to start loosening the knot holding him.

"Riley! Stop this shit right now! I mean it, man!"

"It's okay, Jack." Riley's voice was still shaking, but he held an unmistakable tone of resolve underneath. "It's fine. I would hate myself forever if you died because of me."

"Are you forgetting that you'll die if you do this?!" Jack's voice was quickly becoming hoarse with desperation.

"No. I know. Just don't let it be in vain." Riley said simply. He had just finished undoing the knot, and the only thing tethering him to Jack was his own grip on the rope.

"Please," Jack whispered. He looked down at his friend of almost twenty years, the tears already forming in his eyes.

"Kick ass, man. Do it for me." Riley put on the bravest smile he could, and he let go. He dropped like a rock, and within seconds, his body disappeared into the dark.

Nicole Warren was starting to get antsy. The first couple hours of Cam's sleep had been relatively fine. The break had been a little nice, actually. Nicole was able to relax, as much as one could in the maze, and review some of her notes. After awhile, though, the inactivity was starting to eat away at her. Her leg started bouncing, fingers twitching, goosebumps riding up and down her neck. She felt like she had to run away, or fight, or do something. Nobody, friend or foe, had gone down their path at all.

At first, the silence was nice. The constant sound of footsteps, after days or maybe weeks of hearing it, was getting a little aggravating. With both Nicole and Cam resting, there were no footsteps. No sound beside the barely-perceptible noise of their breathing. The silence, as it were, didn't last. As Nicole got antsy, the maze itself got louder. The noise wasn't in an explicitly noticeable way, instead, it felt like whispers. Echoes from encounters miles away, whispers of ghosts, taunts of those that haunted the maze, did it matter where they came from?

Nicole had unpacked and repacked her things several times to make some noise, distract herself, just to do anything. Plus, it would ensure everything was in place if she and Cam had to flee. She absentmindedly played with the pommel of her sword hilt in her hand. She would look at Cam to see if she was still sleeping. Cam's face seemed to be slightly scrunched, almost aggravated. Nicole knew she was probably experiencing some sort of maze-breathed nightmare or vision, but she dare not wake her. It was already difficult enough to tell what was reality and what was imaginary in the maze, it's best not to blur the line between conscious and unconscious at the same time.

All the distractions Nicole could think of were quickly running their course. Before long, the faint whispers and echoes of the maze were starting to get louder. She knew that it was probably just a trick, but that didn't make them any easier to ignore. Even worse, she was starting to understand what they were saying.

Why are you here? The whispers seemed to ask. Young love, it seems? How quaint. How wholesome. They were almost taunting her. Where is your lover? He isn't here. So many lovers have come through here, and yet, you stand alone. Nicole knew that it was the maze trying to weaken her resolve. It was trying to whittle away her motivation, make her a sitting duck.

It still hurt. She knew why Mike didn't come. The trauma of coming through the maze the first time was so great that he couldn't even think to return to it. He never told Nicole to come, it was her own decision. Most of the Elite had a lot to do in the offseason; it was surprising that Jaxon could even find time in his schedule to come along on the quest. She didn't blame him for not coming. She couldn't. She was doing it for him, after all.

So much doubt ... so much fear. You already let one friend die, how will you handle another? Nicole's blood ran cold. Instinctively, she reached her hand out to gently hold Cam's arm on the ground next to her. You brought so many here, only for all to perish. Silly, silly girl. It took all of Nicole's strength to not jump up. Whatever was there, taunting her, whoever it was, it wanted her to get up. She knew that it wanted her to leave Cam behind. She knew that she couldn't do that. Despite not meaning to, she squeezed hard on Cam's arm to ground herself.

"Nicole!" Cam suddenly shot up from her sleep, almost sending Nicole out of her skin.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to!" Nicole apologized immediately, figuring she'd woken Cam up with her grasp.

"What?" Cam still seemed a little sleepy. "Nicole, I know where Sarah is. I found her."

"What?" It was Nicole's turn to be confused. "Cam, she died. We saw her ... y'know."

"I saw her in my dream!" Cam insisted. "I saw her lying in this huge chamber with water in it. I could even see a path to get there. Nicole, we have to go. We can save her!"

"Cam, snap out of it. It's just the maze trying to trick you. If that's even real, it's most definitely a trap."

"I don't care." Cam put her pack together and stood up. "We're going to be in danger no matter which way we go in this place. If Sarah's still alive, I want to help her. I need to help her. If we can get her back it will be worth it."

"You're crazy." Nicole sighed, but she stood up as well. "I have a terrible feeling about this."

"You've had a terrible feeling for three months now," Cam tried to laugh to lighten the mood. "Now c'mon, I don't want to waste any more time." She grabbed Nicole's hand and yanked her forward, starting to jog through the cavern tunnels. At least it was satiating the fight or flight feeling Nicole had been battling for several hours now.

Cam seemed to have a nose for where she was going. They encountered a few forks and side passages, but Cam didn't even hesitate choosing which one to take. Nicole was hanging with her as best she could, and praying with all her might that they weren't about to run into a catastrophe. Then, Cam slowed down, pointing forward.

"This is it." Cam said simply. The tunnel in front of them had a dim light, almost like moonlight, coming from it. It clearly opened up to a large chamber, at least a dozen stories tall, and at the bottom, twelve equally-spaced bridges converged on a central circular platform. Underneath the bridges churned a small lake of dark blue water.

In front of them, at the center of the platform, was Sarah Arrowsword's body.

"Wait!" Nicole started to say, but Cam had already taken off. Nicole swore to herself and chased after her, running into the chamber and along the stone bridge to the central platform. If there was a trap in place, Cam was sure to spring it.

"Sarah!" Cam cried out. She slowed in her sprint and trotted to a stop on the central platform, where Sarah was laid on the ground. Nicole got there a moment later. They both leaned over the body of their friend.

Sarah wasn't moving. She didn't react to the call, and it honestly looked like she was dead. Her right leg, the one that was crushed under the stone ceiling, still looked grossly mangled.

"How did she get here?" Cam wondered, crouching down to take a closer look. She held out a tentative finger to Sarah's neck to check for a pulse.

Nicole, meanwhile, was nervously looking around the chamber, expecting something terrible to happen any second. She heard noise coming from one of the tunnel exits, and turned that way with her sword drawn.

"She's alive!" Cam exclaimed. "Nicole, I can feel a pulse!"

"Cam, we have company." Nicole was glad that Sarah was technically alive, but she was sure that something was off. Why was Sarah here? How was her entire body not crushed? Who was that coming out of the tunnel onto one of the bridges.

"Dammit," Cam replied, and she drew her sword as well. The duo both turned to face the two figures approaching, ready for a battle.

"Hey!" One of the voices called out. Almost immediately, Cam and Nicole recognized it as the voice of Andrew Arrowsword. "Nicole? Cam? Is that you?"

"Andrew! You're alive?" Cam put her sword away and beckoned for the Cenians to come closer.

"In the flesh." Liam dipped his head in acknowledgement, and the duo closed the gap to come to the center platform. "We just got out of this harrowing experience, and now we're here. What luck!"

"Oh my ..." Andrew looked past Nicole and Cam to see Sarah's body sprawled on the floor. "Is that Sarah? Is she-?"

"Alive, we think." Cam stopped Andrew before he could say the words. "We thought she died, but she's here for some reason." Cam stooped back down to Sarah's level, and Andrew followed.

"Sarah?" Andrew whispered. "Sarah, wake up. It's me." He tried nudging her on the shoulder, but there was no response. Nicole and Liam came closer to see if anything would happen, though Nicole was still looking over her shoulder every few seconds.

"Nicole, you know magic, right?" Cam asked, suddenly. "Is there something you can do to wake her up?"

"Hah," Nicole scoffed. "I know, like, two and a half things about magic. Certainly nothing about healing or anything like that." She saw Cam's pained expression, and changed her tone a little bit. "I'll try, though."

Carefully, Nicole shuffled forward to be right next to Sarah. She extended her hand, placing it right over Sarah's heart. She truly had no idea what she was doing, but perhaps just pulsing her aura a bit would do something. Nicole closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and remembered the lessons Kanyo had taught her years ago. It took a moment, but eventually a very faint green vapor started flowing down Nicole's arms. As soon as it appeared, it disappeared, and Nicole sat back.

"Did that do anything?" Andrew asked, and Nicole could only shrug.

Suddenly, Sarah's eyes shot open, and she sharply exhaled, like she'd just been underwater. Her expression of fear was immediately replaced with confusion when her eyes came into focus and saw the people sitting above her.

"What the- oh shit, did we all die?" Sarah coughed out. She suddenly doubled over in pain, as if remembering the fact that her right leg was totally destroyed beneath the knee. "Nope, definitely alive. No way my leg would hurt this much in the afterlife."

"Sarah!" everybody in the group exclaimed. Cam and Nicole both came in to hug Sarah, and they helped her sit up.

"How did you get here?" Nicole asked, still looking around the chamber for something.

"I don't know." Sarah replied, breathing deliberately and trying really hard to ignore the pain shooting up her leg. "I just remember seeing you guys get out of the corridor in time, and then nothing. That's the last thing I remember before I woke up right here."

"Hey!" The group heard a voice coming from the end of one of the bridges. It was Jaxon Madison. The group waved, excited to see him. Then they saw another figure come alongside him, it was Katie.

"Hey! Come over here!" Cam called out, happy to see more people that were still alive.

"Look out!" Jaxon replied simply, pointing above the group.

Everybody looked up, and were immediately filled with dread. As they'd been attending to Sarah, a creature had emerged from the waves of the water below the bridges. It was a massive serpent of sorts, with six eyes and a gaping jaw that had many sets of teeth. It looked like a horrifying amalgamation of a shark, spider, and snake. Its body, thicker than the fuselage of an airplane and covered in scales, slowly slithered upwards out of the water, until it towered above the central platform by several stories.

The group quickly drew their weapons, all except Sarah, although they had no idea how to attack this thing. It was massive, and could probably fit all five of them in its mouth at once. Nicole paused, and sheathed her sword. She clasped her hands in front of her, and shut her eyes in concentration.

On the other end of the chamber, Katie and Jaxon both drew their weapons as well. Jaxon immediately grabbed Katie's wrist to stop her.

"Don't shoot that thing. Those scales are like steel, all that gun is going to do is draw attention to yourself."

"So what do we do?" Katie asked indignantly. She knew Jaxon was right, though.

"I don't know. Maybe a distraction would be good." Jaxon replied, and he started running towards the center of the platform.

The creature paused in the air a moment longer, then lunged downwards directly at the group. Its maw was open, every single razor sharp tooth staring back at the terrified group in the center. It rushed downward like a falling freight train, and it seemed like it was all over.

Nicole opened her eyes, staring right back at the creature, and whipped her arms out to her side. In an instant, a faint green field surrounded the group. The creature ran into it a split-second later, and bounced off of it like it was made of rubber. The impact sent its head into one of the stone bridges, and it slowly slipped back underneath the waves.

"What the hell was that?!" Somebody exclaimed, and the group broke into various chatter of fear, confusion, elation, and relief. Jaxon, who was a few steps away from the center platform at that point, breathed a sigh of relief. He also had no idea Nicole could do that.

"We gotta get out of here." Jaxon strode up to the group with a steely expression. "That thing is going to be back any second." A few seconds later, Katie arrived in the center as well.

"How do we get Sarah out?" Cam asked immediately. "I'm not going without her."

"We'll carry her together," Nicole replied. "Once we're out of this chamber we should be able to take her through the tunnels. I don't know why, but I feel like I can feel the center is close to here."

"It might be residual effects from that magical blast you created." Jaxon rubbed his forehead. "That'll probably fade soon, so it's best to strike while the iron is hot. Grab Sarah and go."

Nicole and Cam helped Sarah to her feet, gingerly letting her injured leg dangle. They put Sarah between them, and Sarah put her arms around their shoulders to stay upright. They started rushing out of the chamber immediately.

"We'll follow them, then?" Andrew asked, and Liam nodded as well.

"Yes. Go." Jaxon replied, and the Cenians took off as well.

"We're gonna follow as well?" Katie asked, and Jaxon nodded to her. They turned to follow down the bridge Nicole and Cam had taken. Even with Sarah in tow, they had already almost made it to the tunnel. Andrew and Liam weren't far behind.

Then, Jaxon and Katie saw the serpent creature breach the waves again. It was raising up again, all six eyes pointed directly at the fleeing Drawkians with Sarah. It was poised to strike at any moment.

The serpent lunged forward. Jaxon yelled for the Cenians to duck. Katie immediately unholstered her pistol and fired a shot into the air.

The serpent just missed the Cenians and crashed over the bridge, blocking their path. The gunshot caught its attention, and turned to regard Katie and Jaxon, still at the center platform.

"I hope this was worth it," Katie breathed, and the serpent starting slinking towards them.

by **Alasdair I Frosticus** » Mon Jun 13, 2022 2:24 pm

FURTHER PRELIMINARY REPORT ON THE DROMOZOA OF SHAYOL

Dear Mr Tzimisces,

At your request I have undertaken further tests on the impact of the dromozoa of Shayol. I note that your concerns were raised by reports in Squidroidia media referring to our squad as 'unholy mutations' and 'monsters beyond most comprehension', and that the team sheet 'reads like the results of living in a highly radioactive zone'. This despite continued insistence from the Holy Empire Football Association that the squad are in all other regards completely normal - an assertion that you have supported, privately referring to the team as 'decent lads', 'fine lads', 'good lads', and 'maybe going through a temporary spot of medical bother, but otherwise nice lads'.

My team - all wearing sealed hazmat suits so as to protect us from contact with the dromozoa - travelled to Shayol to take tissue samples from the giant man-volcano that was previously known as the planet's discoverer Go-Captain Alvarez. You may remember that the Go-Captain first came to imperial attention during the First Chap Olympiad 'tug of hair' event:

Alasdair I Frosticus wrote:TUG OF HAIR

... the by-now familiar format of randomly-drawn knock-out rounds with a three round medal round robin. Rules are identical to RL tug-of-war, except teams are using a giant greased moustache. ... this is a real mustache; this is the Dreamed Realm, after all. It's been recently removed from the face of the Go-Captain Alvarez on the Instrumentality punishment planet of Shayol.

This remarkable reference from the imperial archives demonstrates extended contact with Shayol, and does make one wonder why no one predicted the consequences of selecting the planet for the squad's pre-World Cup training camp.

Notwithstanding discussions of whether it was wise to select Shayol for the latter purpose, we were successful with our mission. We can confirm an observation previously made by noted Imperial scientist Dr Von Madscientisto that:

Alasdair I Frosticus wrote:Dromozoa are seeming to be so powerful that they are transcending Ordinary Reality, and can implant bits on imperial citizens - though rate of growth of new body parts is being both slower and unpredictable. This is also being reason why dromozoa bits cannot be dreamed out of existence in Dreamed Realm, thereby providing utterly unique and very, very exciting example of species from Ordinary Reality that is impacting imperial citizens, subject which is demanding further study!

Indeed, it was our pleasure to be able to undertake these further studies suggested by Dr Von Madscientisto, even if they came at your request, rather than from the Imperial Academy of Sciences or one of our institutions of higher learning.

But as to your question over whether you can expect 'any further nasty surprises' after 'barely scraping through to the second round' (though what an epic comeback against Adab the other night! From 2-0 and 3-2 down to snatch the draw the team needed to get through; heart-stopping stuff, if you'll forgive the digression). The honest answer is that now that your squad are no longer in contact with the dromozoa, no further mutations should result, and that your players should be able to have the mutations surgically removed the day after the World Cup final.

You also included the following questions in your letter requesting the further studies on Shayol:

"How am I supposed to get this bunch to follow a tactical plan given their changed physical form?"

"How do I protect against accidental handballs by two of my now very handsy defenders?"

"Just what footballing advantage does a bifurcated torso convey anyway, beyond a little extra width in defensive walls?"

All I can say to that is that you're the five-time World Cup winning footballing genius with some sort of poorly understood past with your ex-lover Margaret and a mysterious intangible extra-dimensional relationship with the spirit of football. I'm just a scientist and explorer. Maybe you're better-placed to answer those questions than I am.

Yours,

Leo Comneno
Imperial Ordinary Reality Geographical Society

by **Brenecia** » Mon Jun 13, 2022 2:32 pm

People talk a lot about 'grit', 'spirit', 'heart', who wants it more.
Who wants it more? Fuck that, you're professional sportsmen. You should all want it, anyone at the pinnacle of the game wants it. Anyone who even makes it to professional status 'wants' 'it'; they've given up far too much not to, even the ones who don't always track back, even the ones who get frustrated or tired.
You all 'want it', and nothing will make you so special to want it more than the other cunt.
But it's an easy rhetoric to make.
Outplanning? Hell, that rarely makes much of a difference. The old saw is that a manager can only make a side a little better, but a hell of a lot worse; that goes triple for the international game. Put the right pieces in the right places, give them some basic framework and let 'em get on with it, that's the best thing you can do.
No, what really matters when you're sliding out of the World Cup on your arse is having Katua Byrne glide past four despairing men in the dregs of injury time and slide the winner past Shimski.
That's what makes the difference. That's what turned a failed World Cup into a successful one in the blink of an eye.
Still... listen to them post-match and they'll make out like it was pre-ordained. But they would, wouldn't they? It's in all their interests. But Byrne will go to sleep, and she'll know, and the players, really, will know.
They didn't want it more. But when the crunch hit, they were just that sliver better.

Brenecia 2 - 1 SRS
(4-3-3) 12 - Tanner; 17 - Lovibond, 18 - Killen, 5 - Shrine, 22 - Culpepper (3 - Haywood 54'); 23 - Sitko, 19 - Mikoliunas, 11 - Covolan (13 - Garrard 86'); 15 - Wake, 21 - Lofthouse (9 - Baker 77'), 10 - Byrne
Goals: Lofthouse 59', Byrne 90+3'

Suspensions: Mikoliunas, Killen
Injuries: Culpepper (heel)

Lineup vs. Kandorith:
(4-3-3) 12 - Tanner; 17 - Lovibond, 5 - Shrine, 6 - Giltanan, 22 - Culpepper; 8 - Conway, 4 - Briggs, 11 - Covolan; 15 - Wake, 21 - Lofthouse, 10 - Byrne

by **Zwangzug** » Mon Jun 13, 2022 2:39 pm

The Arlington Moon-Tribune

One consequence of the nonstandardized time scales around the world is that it is very hard to celebrate birthdays. International observances like the Champions' League entry deadline may have coordinated countdowns, but good luck getting people to agree on which year it is or how old someone's turning. It's enough to make plenty of societies, even relatively statistically-minded ones like ours, throw up their hands.

Yet, not for nothing is it a natural inclination to give ordinary individuals a day to celebrate themselves or their loved ones. Not necessarily a religious holiday on which the entire country slows down, but a time for festivities and small-scale merriment--hence the local "Birthday Party's" moderate conservate approach. If large-scale history is troublesome, small-scale milestones are worth the party.

Thus, it happened that a Banijan fan of indeterminate age who had made the trek to Grand René Skaé had the audacity to hold up a sign in one of the myriad Farf languages saying, essentially, "I came here for a birthday celebration and would like to see the Kadongo Kamu win!" This might not have gone over well, given that most parts of Farfadillis (Szoirsia included) tend to have a negative view of Banija after the whole nuclear bomb accident thing. And also, probably, football fans are more used to coordinated sign-holding displays than their baseball counterparts.

However, the Zwangzugian fans seemed to appreciate the thought. A few hastily-scrawled impersonations followed: "I'd like my birthday present to be a round of 16 match but we kind of need a result today," "Who ate all the cakes," "Time dilation means twice as many birthdays, etc." And then the song parodies came out. Even though they weren't really allowed to the opposing fans' section of the seats, in case of violent clashes, the Farf security was fairly lax and by the end of the night, fans were good-naturedly swapping snacks.

That took away from the action on the field, in which Zwangzug won to top the group and advance to the round of 16 against Pasarga, sending the first-seeded Kadongo Kamu to an early exit. Zwangzug took the lead in the fourteenth minute, with Nancy Puyo-Sachar setting up her domestic teammate Kayla Haugen, but Banija would equalize twenty-five minutes later. With Kausalya Vizirani and Simon Gannett both focusing on targetting the driven veteran Kausu Dione, midfielder Gereh Kama was able to approach from distance and score with a chip shot.

Pamela Scott's side took their momentum into the second half, with Dembo Savaneh assisting Abel Wesoloski-Okafor in minute 51. They did not sit back but pressed on, trying to secure their lead in case tiebreakers came into play. (Quebec and Mytanija were playing the simultaneous game; the Grim Reapers wound up winning 2-1 to advance in second place.) However, this boisterous attack backfired; only two minutes later, Meghna Imomenba was able to come forward, against the run of play. The Namirite defender equalized, and scores were level.

It would be another Forest player who came up with the winner; Farrokh Sokhi, in minute 77, converted a cross from Esther Axelrod-Conway. In true Farf (and Namirite) style, the local fans celebrated with fire, although fortunately it was restricted to the candles on their birthday cake.

Kate DiMarini, Scott's compatriot from Baker Park, spouted off the normal cliches about how their homeland has produced many great tacticians and any of these teams could have made it through, before emphasizing that Pasarga would pose a stern but not insurmountable challenge.

"We're glad we could get the win, not just for whoever was having their birthday today, but for everyone else too," said Vizirani. Reserve goalkeeper Ketevan Igreli concurred: "I think I might be celebrating my birthday during the Pasarga game, although who knows with the time zones. Obviously I'm expecting to sit back and watch and not need to be called upon, but hey, if for whatever reason they need to put me in, there's that narrative symbolism right there!" At press time, DiMarini was asking her to hold off on the cake just in case they needed her this week.

by **Farfadillis** » Mon Jun 13, 2022 2:58 pm

The Ç's still at it: Edmün Çídh and Vâásk Çêwé continue the Ç streak

A match between two teams that had already punched a ticket to the next round ended up turning surprisingly violent, with the hosts amassing two red cards towards the end. Furthermore, all eight goals scored by la Vherderoja so far have been scored by players whose last names start with 'Ç'. Yes, a useless stat.

The unforgiving Szoirsian desert is not a great place to play in: anyone who follows the S-FPL closely knows that. However, it is considerably more forgiving when you have little to play for. With an agonizing temperature of fuck-you Celsius, neither Farfadillis nor Pasarga looked especially interested in clinching Group E's top spot. This, however, did not make for a dull game.

The game started out with both teams focusing mostly on keeping possession and not running too much. The kick-off was at 19:00 local time, so both teams were focused on getting to the point where the sun doesn't shine. Fittingly, Farfadillis would open the score after the sun went down thanks to a failed clearance by Michel Sarrazin: it bounced off Vâásk Çêwé's posterior. The ball's unexpected trajectory left Szescõ Mezei dumbfounded, and he was not alone. Nobody's still quite sure how he managed to make the ball bend like that. Still, Farfadillis were securing an easier route to the round of sixteen (maybe; finishing atop one's group can backfire, just ask the Tumbrans!) with minimal effort. There was also a certain degree of irony to the goal, as his ownership of nude pics of Lele Manguele—most of them focused on his humongous ass—was what got him a spot in the starting eleven in the first place.

Still, Farfadillis' first goal had come only half an hour in, and the Wanderers had plenty of time to equalize. With a slightly rotated Farf defense, the Pasargans were more-or-less bound to equalize, and that's exactly what they did in the dying minutes of extra time. A long ball from Rudy Yáñez was expertly controlled by Farfadillis-based Asztrik Biró. The young left-winger then made it all the way into the Farf box unmarked, before going for a low cross. Elek Salai got to the end of it, and that was that. Both teams went to their respective dressing rooms with a coin flip looming.

As the game restarted, it became readily apparent that, once again, the hosts' opponents wanted things a little more. Pasargan pressing went from annoying to tiresome to overbearing, and the Farf defense naturally cracked eventually. It was twenty minutes into the second half, and the Pasargan goal came from a great piece of individual play from Elek Salai, who feinted no less than four times to get rid of the entire Farf backline, before passing sideways to Asztrik Biró to return the favor for the first goal. The young winger fired home, and could be seen in tears after scoring his first World Cup goal. Pussy.

The minutes that followed were mostly filled with apathy. Pasarga were content with the scoreline, and Farfadillis were not that bothered with it either. They're aiming to be champions⁠—however deluded that might sound⁠—so they'd have to beat any team Margaret would put in their way anyway. Alas, even with the team's generalized apathy, there was time for one more goal, which of course came against the run of play.

In the seventy-ninth minute, Eslejes Aljojí managed a clutch interception in midfield, passing it to Íngîgo Çí Xôrí with the same touch with which he'd made the interception. The Mâ Âlâmëómë star then only had to look up to find Röémün Çídh running towards empty space. With the figurative flick of a finger and the literal flick of his right foot, he sent the younger Çídh through on goal with an inch-perfect pass. The younger Çídh, faced with a fast-approaching Mezei, took a page from Elek Salai and passed the ball sideways. An incoming Edmün Çídh then mercilessly bazooka'd the ball into the goal. Two-for-two, not much time left.

The goal had demonstrated what a Farf side could do when 'in the zone', but they wouldn't replicate anything like that for the rest of the match. Indeed, both teams, presumably tired out by the inclement weather conditions, sort of settled into the final scoreline, with no relevant chances for either team in the final minutes of play. In the end, a draw was slightly unfair to the Pasargans, but not any more unfair than Farfadillis' two previous wins had been.

In the end, a coin flip was needed to separate the two teams. The two captains, Márió Szölösi and Ígnîgo Çí Xôrí, were called by the referee to pick a side of the coin. First, somewhat redundantly, a coin flip decided which of the two captains would choose heads or tails. Çí Xôrí won the coin flip. He chose the side of the coin, and then proceeded to waste his luck for the rest of the year on actually getting a 1-in-6000 event to happen. And so, Farfadillis topped the group.

Now, Québec awaits. It's been a very long time since both teams last faced each other, but the match won't be any less fierce for it. Both teams are well-known for taking no prisoners on the attack, and for offering plenty of prisoners when defending. Chances are it will be a goal-fest, and one can only hope la Vherderoja will come out on top.

TODAY'S TOP STORIES
1: An in-depth analysis of Rulandese supremacy in football
2: An in-depth analysis of why Rulandese are plain prettier than other Farves
3: An in-depth analysis of why the Rulandese political system is the superior political system in Farfadillis
4: Farolera scatter hundreds of thousands of well-equipped troops across their various borders
5: An in-depth analysis of why the Farolerans would roll over us in the case of an invasion

by **Independent Athletes from Quebec** » Mon Jun 13, 2022 4:24 pm

OOC: Second part of Part 10. On this RP thread, Part 11. The quoted section from 'A General History of the Delte Valley', unless put in a tiny-ass font by me, are credited to Delte the user and not me.

Avalon

PART 11 - Airplanes-II

Then the room was silent for a solid minute as Christine tried to absorb the words about Búa or Juan Tzimisces, while all that her grandfather was doing was to look back at her.

'You see, I never intended to die so early,' Henri said, looking back at her granddaughter. 'But nobody intends to choose when you could die, my granddaughter. I remember asking the similar questions to Emperor Yeomra (note for non-Korean speakers: यमराज/Yamarāja), along the lines of 'You see, dear Emperor of the Dead, I have a wife and a bratty little son and entire nation back home, and he scolded back at me, saying that however long my life could run was long decided before my birth.'

His explanation, bit too colloquial, seemed to work well enough to break the ice of silence that had bothered everybody else in the room, allowing the noise of the spirits to resume in the room. 'So that's how I found out about it. Of course, what I did intend, back when I was a living man in an actual flesh, was to complete what I was asked to do.'

'To say nothing, to do, or to think...' she answered.

'I never said that either,' Henri added, noticing that his daughter's not getting the exact gist of it. 'I came to Delte, or so should we say Sam-Gak-Ju, back in 1994 because I, too, was in a search. Your grandmother was ill during a trip, and the time was running out, so I had to find whatever it takes for her to recover. That's exactly what you saw on the television after all.'

Oh, so he was indeed walking in the water, Christine nodded along, remembering that specific sequence where a man was walking in the water. Of course Christine wasn't really a practitioner of Hebraistic faith, and neither was Emperor Henri VIII, who was best for his devotion to Mahayana Buddhism and Taoism, but the allegories were clear enough. 'So that was indeed you on the waters. On the years immediately after the so-called Great Smite Bay Disaster. How was it like back then?' she asked.

A General Hitory of the Delte Valley wrote:'The second incident, in 1990, was The Honourable North Pacific Company’s final dubious gift to the valley: Great Big Smite Bay Contamination Scandal - which started as the Great Big Smite River Contamination Scandal, and just flowed out from there. A secret fluid time refinery in the next valley along, the Smite Valley, exploded after a mishap with a temporal wrench in the works, causing vast swathes of destruction from ‘retrological induction’. The city of Smite-on-Sea was decimated, and the whole valley remains empty and contaminated with time paradox swamps. The explosion followed years of cover-ups about the state of the refinery and the competance of its operators. It marked the end of The Honourable North Pacific Company, and the beginning of vast financial reparations to the neighbouring valleys - or that is, the one valley that survived almost intact thanks to the climatic and geological good fortunes of the day: it was blowing a gale over the eastern hills of the Delte Valley when the refinery went up; that combined with the natural ‘bauxite shield’ of the hills between the Delte and Smite rivers caused the destructive temporal induction wave to flow in the opposite direction, largely away from the Delte valley.' It is rumoured that approximately 3,000 to 5,000 locals, who had once resided in the Garga Springs and the Marshes for millennium, were silenced in a matter of hours to save the Valley, and sometimes their voices are heard in middle of the night....

'Well, exactly as you may have heard about it on the books and the travel guides,' his grandfather answered. 'Anyways the hut itself had the guardsman - not exactly my predecessor because I'm only here as a guest, mind you - and I asked him the same questions! He, a man dressed in every shape and form of gallantry as a 17th-century Bel Epoque knight would, said that he had to freeze the marshes in order to prevent the radiation from contaminating it all.'

'I see,' Christine nodded, as she too remembered that the spirits, controlled by some magic beyond their control likely did not know where they were going. 'So they are really here, in altered form, but resting in a specific from of chronotope really, like what they teach on comparative literature courses.'

'Sure, something like that,' Henri shrugged. 'I see that you have continued your studies well. Just like what your father had originally intended from the square one, unlike me, who did not do that for your father....' There was a sad piece of truth with how Henri VIII, who did not expect to become the Emperor for so long, had given such a little time for Jacques. 'Of course the professors at St. Croix's taught you well, no matter how pompous they may have been back in the day. Of course, the said Dr. Heo and I have had conversations before - charming fella I may add...'

'Sounds like you have been keeping the record of stuff back home well,' Christine smiled back at her grandpa, as she softened a little. It was then that she remembered to ask about the life on the other side of the fence. 'How is life over there?'

'Well, it could be worse. Most will mind their own business, but it's kinda hard to grow out of your mould from your last days on your earth, and you only get age added up to it. So you could imagine being treated like a child every now and then,' Henri answered, still looking concerned. 'So sometimes I stay here, read and wander about in the place I enjoy visiting, and actually help a stranger now and then. Just like how the guardsman once did for me.'

'So you are saying that...'

'Well, yes, you are looking for this indistinguishable vial or medicinal root isn't it?' he said, as he felt a single raindrop land over his head. 'Hm, I see that the roof needs some fixing...or maybe it doesn't. So it has been about three weeks since you had arrived here, and now the state trip's almost done...some are heading to Pasarga, some of course will have to extend the visit...and the other you and the Prince will have to return home. Ah, the mortal problems.' Henri chuckled, before realising that he was speaking to a living person, who wasn't amused with the matter of life-and-death.

'Yes,' said Christine, to confirm that it involves Eileen de Ramaut. 'I hate to say it, but every bit, yes.'

by **Graintfjall** » Mon Jun 13, 2022 4:44 pm

Howl! Hey kids! Did you know that the number of substitutes allowed might change soon, from 3 to 5? This will make the game safer from injuries! Howl!

Ro16 cutoff

Results

by **Valanora** » Mon Jun 13, 2022 6:13 pm

Lothas Ludwig had spent far too much time with Laborious Hawk, the striker and sometimes winger had developed a similar drive for improving himself and trying to make himself better that the legendary captain of the Marauders had. While far from the same sort of intensity that Laborious Hawk had, there was no denying that the young superstar had picked up the trait and now was feeling the need to push his boundaries while he was still was able to. At twenty-seven, he was about to be entering the prime of his career according to all those around him and who had studied his game from when he had graduated from the academy to making the senior team with Felsenkirchen and then making it onto the national team. The next few years were supposed to be the years in which the striker was supposed to shine the brightest and be at the peak of his abilities and if that was truly was the case, then the striker knew that he had to make a change in his career and move on to something that was going to facilitate that change and be able to harness it to the best of his ability.

While en route to the Marauders next destination for their round of sixteen fixtures in the Winter Queendom, it was with a heavy heart that he sent his transfer request to the Felsenkirchen staff. They had a large hand in his development, had helped him rehab through a potentially devastating injury when he was still a teenager and had him lift his first every trophy with the Rising Stars Cup that same season. Felsenkirchen was always going to be a part of him and it was always going to be special but the situation in the domestic league had not turned up well and for the past two seasons the league failed to submit their teams for the IFCF. The most elite of the international domestic competitions, not submitting to those tournaments was not putting the teams against the best competition, it was not putting Lothas against the best in the sport and that simply was not good enough. He could not in good conscious allow his career to stagnate despite all the attachment that he had to Felsenkirchen, the time was now or never to make a move and put his talent to the test once more.

He wondered where he might go, what clubs might decide to put in a bid for him and meet whatever evaluation that Felsenkirchen decided was an adequate asking price. The market was always hard to tell and he decided that he would let the club and his agent figure out those specifics, though he hoped that he was at least worth double digits in a small amount of pride and ego. Going back home was always an option, though would any club besides Raynor City United offer him a season in and season out opportunity at playing in the IFCF? While there were other big clubs in the Empire, Lothas knew that they were prone to a bad season or two and would miss out of IFCF qualification completely even a season after qualifying for the Champions League. He was not so egotistical that he needed to be in the Champions League every season, although it would be a definite boon, going to a club that was consistently qualifying for the Challengers Cup and trying to work them into a title contender could definitely be a move that Lothas felt was worthwhile.

It was a distraction though, a situation that he would need to put to the back of his mind at least for the next two weeks unless his agent said that an offer too good to refuse had been tabled. His focus needed to be on the here and now, which was the knockout stages of the World Cup, which he and the rest of the Vanorian team were thankful to even be contending in after the shock opening loss to Tumbra. Yet thanks to Hawk's leadership and finding their groove, the side had been able to navigate the last two fixtures in the group and been able to get six points and see themselves through to the knockouts. Lothas had grabbed a goal in each of those fixtures but he felt like he could have and perhaps should have contributed more to the team if he was truly this elite level talent that he had believed himself to be and how everyone described him to be. Though if he was truly elite, would he and the rest of the team been completely confuddled and betwixed by the Tumbra side in the opening matchday that kept them off the scoresheet and why they needed to win those last two fixtures in the first place?

Goals and good performances in the knockouts would help ease his own criticism of himself Lothas knew but it was not going to be easy, nothing about this entire World Cup had been. Through the entire qualification campaign that had been chasing the group, right up until the last matchday of the campaign and had needed a goal difference tiebreaker to see themselves through, which they had the best goal difference not just in the group but the entire campaign. Lothas and the rest of the squad had scored in bunches and been solid in defense the whole way through, had even had one of the best records in all of qualifying and still needed a tiebreaker to advance. The group stage and opening upset had been a difficult space to try to escape and yet they had been able to. Now they were saddled with another beaming nation, Drawkland of the stars, Drawkland of the upset, Drawkland of the opposition. They had all to play for with nothing to lose, they were not expected to be here and yet they were. Lothas was going to have to navigate another escape if only to set his own mind at ease.

by **Graintfjall** » Mon Jun 13, 2022 7:02 pm

Græntfjall – 1 (0)
Mikkel; Alyssia (71’ Sigurbergur ), Grímúlfur, Hjörleifur (51’ Eyvar (58’)), Emeli; Valtter; Vanessa, Amanda, Sara (64’) (89’ Kjárr ); Kæja; Röskvi

Saint Eleanor – 0 (0)

When Hjörleifur Reynarsson, moving with all the liquid grace of a rusted crank shaft, took nearly 90 seconds to trudge from the penalty box to the sideline, embracing Eyvar Mathiasson and then heading off down the tunnel without a backwards look, it was a substitution that seemed to signal a final and definitive moment in Græntfjaller football. Reynarsson, the captain who had taken the Snow Wolves to the World Cup, and back, the only homegrown player who could be legitimately considered among the world’s best – not a Testículo, perhaps, but within a curly hair of being one – was leaving the field for the last time, to be replaced by the captain who had taken the Snow Pups to the Di Bradini Cup world Under-21 title, who was considered the cream of the forthcoming crop and had announced his intentions to leave underperforming Hagejoki and seek a foreign berth in Transfer Window 36. It was the end of an era, a changing of the guard, a triumph of the clichés.

And yet, the actually more impactful substitution came nearly 40 minutes later. As time ticked down and Ernestisson peppered the crowd with long range kicks to drain the remaining seconds, little Sara Kristoffersdóttir jogged off, pausing only to insolently ping her headband into the crowd to be clutched at like a foul ball at a baseball stadium or decapitated head at a gladiatorial arena. Kjárr Þorfinnsson took her place, lumbering onto the field with a dead set look in his eyes, and sure enough spent the entire four minutes of added time brutally dissuading any Saint Eleanor from so much as postulating the existence of the football, much less trying to make contact with it. “Sara K”, as she has become known in her standout career in Chromatika with Wirr Tsi, was leaving, not in defeat, but in triumph: she had done exactly what she had long promised, and sent Græntfjall back to the World Cup playoffs. Igrene Cantor’s gesture in subbing her off and allowing her a moment of individual acclaim was quite apt.

The deliciousness of the ironing awaiting the Snow Wolves – as it turned out, their Round of 16 opponents would be Nephara, against whom they generally performed in the first knockout round with something less than stunning ineptitude – was not on consideration that night at the Grand National Arena. And head-scratching about how a team that had scored one goal in 270 minutes of football had made it into the last 16 of the world’s greatest football tournament could also wait (it seemed to have something to do with also only conceding one goal in 270 minutes of football). Vanessa Marvinsdóttir, whose cross threaded the box in the 65th minute and found Sara K in space and time to coolly slot home from 7 yards out, was named Player of the Match, but there was no doubting whom the Snow Wolf Pack saw as their savior. Hoisted onto the shoulders of Grímúlfur Gunnþórsson, who put in a titanic* shift in defense, she was led around the ground to cheers from the fans in the stands.

Perhaps they wouldn’t have been cheering so loud had they seen the scenes in the treatment room as Reynarsson’s body was critically assessed. It was no longer even fit to be broken down for parts, except at the knacker’s yard. A pensive Jason Þórhallursson sat down with him and made an unconvincing case that he should think of his future and sit out the next game; given the desperation to play written across the face of the out-of-favor striker, who had practically ground his teeth to dust watching as Röskvi Tyrfingsson was marked out of the game by the defensive pair of Liam West and Sam Newbridge, his argument was sunk by its own hypocrisy. Of course there was no question of Reynarsson not playing. The only question was just how full of painkillers he was going to have to be pumped if he wanted to do any sort of daring and provocative movements like standing up, putting one foot in front of the other, or blinking.***

For the next game, the team will be buoyed by the return of Tinni Grímólfursson, their best player through the two first games, though Valtter Marvinsson was very nearly their best player in the third, and will now make room for him. Johanna Álvgeirsdóttir is still out, so Amanda Guttisdóttir is still in. Röskvi Tyrfingsson has been anonymous, but “anon” is still listed on the team sheet as the starting forward. And Igrene Cantor one more game, has to lead the team against her own country. Not for the first time. The first three times have yielded three defeats. No one mentions this at practice. They were the looks of the condemned who expected to die, and who have been unexpectedly gifted a whole packet of smokes. And yet they can’t stop burning through them.

* In Græntfjaller history, the Titanic was a steamship so big and strong** that it bust right through an iceberg and completed its journey without any major incident, so ‘titanic’ is a really good thing.

** Is it weird how obsessed I am with big strong men given I ricked my back moving my daughter’s playchest?

*** The answer: very full.

“So, Ingþór fucking Auðbjörnsson.”

“No, Kæja fucking Finnvarðsdóttir, but it’s an easy mistake to make, we look very much alike.”

Amanda Guttisdóttir smiled. These kids and their memes. Though Kæja could certainly drink like the longshoreman’s daughter she was, throwing back another wodka like it was water. Amanda tapped the bar and ordered herself a soft drink.

“Oh god, you’re not pregnant again?”

“No, but I’m playing a World Cup knockout game tomorrow so I’d like a clear head.”

“Aye, I’ll drink to that.” Kæja burped and waved her empty glass in the direction of the bartender (or where she thought the bartender was standing, i.e. in the direction of a particularly misleading potted plant.) She sighed as the bartender leafily refused her a refill. “I went to school with a Ingþór Auðbjörnsson.”

She was not alone in that. Ingþór Auðbjörnsson was as common a Græntfjaller name as John Smith in Candelaria and Marquez or Ȳ̀ǟēŷȭš Æ̀q́ῢh́ʌ́ in Farfadillis. In fact, when Ingþór Auðbjörnsson was announced as Græntfjall’s new manager, GBS had phoned him up to comment and found a different Ingþór Auðbjörnsson in the Molding phone book, who had given a confused, rambling, and strikingly antisemitic interview before trying to sell them a replacement vacuum cleaner motor. Clarity had been restored that it was not an electrical goods wholesaler but rather the Ingþór Auðbjörnsson, formerly of the Pasargan national team, and late of GT Molding, that had been picked to take over from Igrene Cantor. The announcement had leaked (reflecting KG’s lack of confidence in the result of the Saint Eleanor game) and talk radio and the TV channels were ablaze with conversation.

“I’ve never met him. You must know him?”

Kæja played in Pasarga, and before that, a couple of GPL seasons as Ingþór Auðbjörnsson had taken over GT Molding and taken them to their long awaited title.

“I’ve met Thor,” said Kæja. “I’m not godmother to his kids or anything.”

“Wonder why they announced it now instead of waiting. Seems rude to Igrene. Ungrateful.”

“I think it’s more they expected us to get shitcanned against Saint L. Ron Hubbard,” said Kæja, frowning as she tried to work out her own mispronunciation. “Saint… Elon Musk. Saint… Elementarymydearwatson… wait, I’ll get it in a minute.”

Twenty minutes later a now horizontal Kæja had not quite got it. Amanda looked around helplessly. “I really need to get this girl into bed,” she said to herself. She looked around, and tried again.

The magic words worked. “Hello,” said Jason Þórhallursson.

She nudged Kæja with her foot. “Saint Elocution Lessons,” she burped, then resumed snoring. “Help?” asked Amanda.

With Jason holding Kæja’s shoulders and Amanda her feet, they maneuvred her to the elevators, where Amanda gave up the pretense of even needing to help. Kæja was thrown over Jason’s shoulder, and they stood side by side, watching the numbers to tick down. Silence between them, interrupted only by the ‘bing!’ of the elevator arriving, the dull muzak inside, the whine of the motors as they ascended, Kæja’s dreamy burbling. “Saint … Eisoptrophobia …” And not a word as the elevator arrived and disgorged them. They found Kæja’s room, but a quick shuffle through her pockets failed to turn up the key. Amanda nodded towards her own room instead. Inside they laid her out on the bed in the recovery position, tactically positioning the ice bucket near her head and stuffing a pillow into the small of her back so she wouldn’t roll over. As they tiptoed out, they paused at the door.

“Saint… Elliptical noroviruses… zzzzzzz…”

Kæja always looked stylishly dishevelled, but she had never looked less shevelled than at breakfast when she appeared, picked up a full pitcher of coffee about as big as her torso, and dragged it back to Amanda’s room to inject directly into her bloodstream. Which made her appearance by game time all the more remarkable. Young people’s powers of recovery were remarkable, and infuriating. She chewed pink gum and jogged from foot to foot, watching as Sara did her keepie-ups, and not even needing to join Sigurbergur in the toilets.

“Hey, thanks, by the way,” she said to Amanda. “I feel so guilty though, did you find somewhere to sleep?”

“I, uh, did.”

Ingþór Auðbjörnsson confirmed as new Snow Wolves manager

Former Pasargan international Ingþór Auðbjörnsson will leave GT Molding following this season and take over from Igrene Cantor as manager of the Snow Wolves, KG confirmed today. The all-time leading goalscorer for the Wanderers will continue the trend of Rushmori managers following Cantor and Yue Kang Guilin, and will take over ahead of the next Copa Rushmori...

by **Farfadillis** » Mon Jun 13, 2022 7:28 pm

Cut-off. On time!

by **Independent Athletes from Quebec** » Mon Jun 13, 2022 8:57 pm

OOC: Many thanks to Baker Park, Delaclava, Farfadillis and Hapilopper for allowing this wonderful event to occur. Can't wait for more in future! :bow:

World Cup 81/82/83/84

Mark Tolbert: "We're into the final minute of added on time and a glance at the screen to my left where Vilita and Pemecutin are about a minute behind with an additional minute added on, still locked at 1, will mean that the results as they stand will see the Sonnelians and Pemecutin through to the round of sixteen at the expense of the co-hosts of World Cup 90."
Craig Snyder: "From hosts to guests who've worn out their welcome in one cycle."
MT: "The final whistle here at the OptiFone Arena in Folte. The Commonwealth of Baker Park National Team have made the the World Cup Finals twelve times, but will exit this most recent edition without any result in their favor. For Craig Snyder, I'm Mark Tolbert, it ended up Baker Park 3, Drawkland 4. Leslie Van Horn, so long for now.."

Leslie Van Horn: "Thanks Mark and Craig. A bittersweet end for the Baker Park National Team, as they will leave the World Cup without a single point for the first time. Gary Kostka, Aiden Donnan, Will Barnard joining me here in Folte. Guys, the same spirit, the same commitment was there tonight as it had been in the other matches. The talent isn't lacking. So why are Baker Park going home?"

Gary Kostka: "It's a cop out to say "bad luck", but there are a lot of things that could've played out differently that intersected to create this ending. Oh, maybe I am saying it was bad luck..."(laughter)
Aiden Donnan: "Four goals per game allowed. One of the weirdest stats in one of the weirdest World Cups after not allowing a goal in 40% of the qualifiers."
Will Barnard: "It's hard to see if there had been a different squad makeup that there might've been different results. The greatest keeper in Baker Park's history got yanked at halftime of the first match, and it almost felt like that was the turning point of the whole tournament."
LVH: "Three of the top four nations in the AO rankings are out of this World Cup. The region has continued to be the strongest in the multiverse post-Foxchester, but is this the beginning of a downward trend?"
AD: "I think it's a blip. We have a solid core of players that will bounce straight back, as do Banija and Vilita."
GK: "Agreed, because there are some other nations that are on the rise that will be making noise in the near future."
WB: "I'm not one to comment on the state of Atlantian Oceania as I'm a Rushmori club boss, but I do agree that the region isn't in danger of losing its place at the top of the pecking order. The Indies are gaining on all of the major regions and that's going to make the international soccer landscape look different in the future."
LVH: "Let's take a break, stay with us on CBC1 Soccer Night as we'll be back after these messages."

World Cup 91 [roleplays]

WC91 Matchday 2 v. Baker Park

Brian Tarrant on Brian Tarrant

Out I am, early

Eleven Seconds with the Elite Eleven

WC91 Matchday 3 v. Savigliane

Endless, Episode 8

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