Baptism of Fire 80

by **Obrela** » Thu Jan 19, 2023 3:22 pm

Obrela 2 - 0 Varavel

Down by the sea again at the Keer's Dock Pitch, the Obrelan team breathes in the fresh breeze blowing off the sea. A line of buoys bobs up and down in the water with numbers painted on them. The stadium they are at is a strange one, with one stand completely missing, and it facing open to the sea.
Lineup -
1. Ige Hiroki
2. Bobby Fujita
3. Koichi Shira
4. Ire Cornog
5. Drogo Ichiru
6 Duncan Frances
7. Sylvester Kano
8. Zach Miyashimo (C)
9 Nobuko Miller
10. Yuko Miyura
11. Lonnie Garza

Ichiru is shown a yellow card in the 16th minute for foul play and shortly after, Player 8 from Varavel also gets a yellow in the 22nd minute. Later, in the 35th minute, Player 2 of Varavel also gets a yellow. Sylvester Kano gets a bit riled up and some pushing ensues, with him getting a yellow card. In the 40th minute, Miyura punted the ball at the goal, it flew wide but hit the buoy numbered 100. The stadium went into uproar, with fans shouting at the ref to give them the win. The referee looked as impressed as the players, but unfortunately had to wave away the cries for points with a rather rueful expression. The cheers retarted again though when Miyura scores right on the cusp of halftime.

In the second half Obrela came out fighting with Frances getting a yellow in the 53rd minute. Then Hiroki in the 72nd minute with a foul on a Varavel forward following a corner. THen in the 76th minute, Frances blew the roof off the place with a stunning header from a corner. Final score, 2-0.

Naixi 3-1 Obrela

Staying overnight in Keers, the Seafarers head down to the stadium at 1 for their most difficult game yet, top of the table and unbeaten Naixi. The game started strong, with Cao being shown a yellow in the first minute and Lin in the 11th. A substitution had to be made early on, with Minoru off for May. Dai scored soon after for Naixi and it went into halftime 1-0 to the table toppers.

Whatever Ohashi said to the Obrelans in the dressing room at halftime, it worked, because Miyashimo produced a wonderful solo goal for the Dolphins right after halftime. The fans' hopes were dashed once again though after Cao and Hsieh netted two more for the dominating team, and after a yellow for the Obrelan captain, it finished Naixi 3-1 Obrela.

by **Al-Tamazgha** » Thu Jan 19, 2023 3:38 pm

Cop Limy Stadium, Neorudo

The match was slowly coming to a close, as the Mertagnian sun had blasted down the stands of the Cop Limy Stadium in Neorudo. Laurent Assidon had started to question his own decisions to be on board with sending the senior national team, who had already taken part in the AOCAF Championship just three weeks prior to the competition, fly straight to the 80th Baptism of Fire, but he knew that there were merits to it.

For most part it was a competitive match, even though the relative lack of availability of media coverage and fan presence by those of Borisuelan faithful (OOC: I am basing this on the relative lack of RPing by Borisuelo, as well as their roster's self-explanation as a weak footballing nation) had suggested that that the favoured Tamazghans, whom many had considered to be the favourites heading into the match, were rather disappointing themselves. Laurent and Moussa, more vocal assistant of his who had been talking back and forth, were able to make right tactical adjustments, but even then, they were not exactly able to execute either.

'Shots keep flying over, Joumari's not really in the form right now,' Laurent commented, as he raised both his eyebrows as a gesture of frustration. 'We should get Rachida ready for a warmup right?'

Moussa gave a nod back. 'We better, she's not converting it like on the practices.' His assistant then gave a quick gesture to the 24-year-old striker of l'Etoile-Verte a nod, indicating that it's time for her to start getting ready for the substitution.

'It's time, Rachida!' Moussa shouted, as the tall, dark-haired striker with a red-ish streak of hair turned around and shouted back in affirmation. 'Go get it!'

Well, only if things were that easy. It was seventy-eighth minute, and both coaches knew that the match was having anything but the energy needed to pull through the tough stretches. Substitutions, even with their likely elimination with one match left to be played after this, were more of a damage control and to try different players for utilisation purposes. It was apparent in their earlier wins, and even difficult losses, that they had the ability to win the kind of matches that were needed to be won. Even more so considering the relatively-similar stature of the sides without a returning nation from the metal and the dust of the pasts long bygone. Facing teams like Kirungabi, a side that had come short on a strong Copa Rushmori group like themselves just months earlier, was one thing to consider.

But it was clear, even in the world of international football where there is a relatively strong parity among the nations, that there were some serious work to be done when planning out the national team program. The team's strengths and weaknesses were clear as a night and day, and their shortcomings appeared fixable. The team did not exactly lack defensive steel, the five-back formation and Jules Ekoko being a stable presence, and controlled the midfield well. The latter part, one thing that they had improved much over the recent couple of years he had been in charge, was a good news - one could not run forever under counterattacks, and being able to dominate by possession and build-up were important.

But the issue right now was lack of finishing, and on a team that had eight Q-Leaguers, this was a particular problem. Dominating possession against the likes of Super Top, Sapretia and Borisuelo, all perfectly beatable opponents, were one thing, but their inability to convert on the national team level, even as they would do so fine and square on the domestic level, were concerning. Laurent and Moussa knew that they would have to figure this out, at least with their clock ticking soon enough.

by **Mertagne** » Thu Jan 19, 2023 3:45 pm

Matchday Nine Scores

Group A
Naixi 0–0 Aureumterra III @ The Ring Tank Stadium, Ostosaide, kick off 10:00. One team literally 'parked the bus' in a loading bay, causing a shipment of food meant for the sharks to be unloaded outside the team's bus. When they returned, it had gone bad and started to smell.
Varavel 1–2 CONGOlese Republic @ Keers Dock Pitch, Keers, kick off 14:00.
Archalit 1–0 Obrela @ Spire Campus, Blackave, kick off 18:00.
Inkwellistan 0–2 Ile de Richelieu @ Crater Field, Claviers, kick off 22:00

.   Group A                        Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
 1 Naixi                            8   5  3  0   10   1  +9   18 - Q
 2 Archalit                         8   5  1  2   18  13  +5   16 - Q
 3 Ile de Richelieu                 8   4  2  2   10   7  +3   14 - Q
 4 Illiryja                         8   4  1  3   10   5  +5   13 - Q
 5 Obrela                           8   4  1  3    8   6  +2   13 - E
 6 Aureumterra III                  8   3  4  1    8   6  +2   13 - E
 7 CONGOlese Republic               8   2  3  3    9  12  −3    9 - E
 8 Inkwellistan                     8   1  1  6    5  12  −7    4 - E
 9 Varavel                          8   0  0  8    2  18 −16    0 - E

Illiryja qualifies ahead of Obrela and Aureumterra III due to a superior goal difference.
Obrela and Aureumterra III were tied, and experienced a tie in their head-to-head result. An IC coinflip (OOC: scorinated game using only RP bonus) was performed to determine who placed 5th. The result of the OOC game was: Obrela 1 - 0 Aureumterra III. Therefore Obrela are awarded 5th place but are sadly still eliminated.

Group B
The Cannaland Islands 0–1 Greater Kamilistan @ The Ring Tank Stadium, Ostosaide, kick off 22:00.
St Saratoga 1–0 Patriotlandia @ Keers Dock Pitch, Keers, kick off 18:00.
Depivik 0–3 Lionsroar @ Spire Campus, Blackave, kick off 14:00. Students had found an industrial level PA system and had set it up in the housing opposite the stadium, playing dance music throughout the match.
Novaros 4–3 Tanirinthia @ Crater Field, Claviers, kick off 10:00

.   Group B                        Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
 1 Novaros                          8   5  2  1   26  19  +7   17 - Q
 2 Greater Kamilistan               8   5  2  1   13  10  +3   17 - Q
 3 Tanirinthia                      8   4  3  1   21  12  +9   15 - Q
 4 Patriotlandia                    8   4  2  2   22  12 +10   14 - Q
 5 The Cannaland Islands            8   3  2  3   12   9  +3   11 - E
 6 Lionsroar                        8   3  2  3   14  12  +2   11 - E
 7 St Saratoga                      8   2  1  5    7  15  −8    7 - E
 8 Depivik                          8   2  1  5    7  16  −9    7 - E
 9 Oflia                            8   0  1  7    3  20 −17    1 - E

Group C
Super Top 0–1 Kirungabi @ Cop Limy Stadium, Neorudo, kick off 10:00.
Aeragny 0–0 New Portland Republic @ Origas Arena, Kurtz, kick off 14:00.
Al-Tamazgha 0–0 Gran Saguaro @ Nine Star Arch, Webster, kick off 18:00. An amateur glider pilot suffered a near miss with the arch during the match, scrambling security thinking it was a terrorist incident. Nobody was harmed.
Ryfenia 0–1 Borisuelo @ Il Tendone, Papillio, kick off 22:00.

.   Group C                        Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
 1 Kirungabi                        8   5  3  0    9   4  +5   18 - Q
 2 Saperetia                        8   5  1  2   11   4  +7   16 - Q
 3 New Portland Republic            8   4  2  2   11   7  +4   14 - Q
 4 Aeragny                          8   3  4  1    7   4  +3   13 - Q
 5 Al-Tamazgha                      8   2  3  3    3   3   0    9 - E
 6 Borisuelo                        8   2  3  3    4   4   0    9 - E
 7 Super Top                        8   2  2  4    6  10  −4    8 - E
 8 Gran Saguaro                     8   0  5  3    4   9  −5    5 - E
 9 Ryfenia                          8   0  3  5    6  16 −10    3 - E

Al-Tamazgha and Borisuelo were tied, and experienced a tie in their head-to-head result. An IC coinflip (OOC: scorinated game using only RP bonus) was performed to determine who placed 5th. The result of the OOC game was: Borisuelo 0 - 3 Al-Tamazgha. Therefore Al-Tamazgha are awarded 5th place but are sadly still eliminated.

Group D
British Covelandia 0–1 Katterimunk @ Cop Limy Stadium, Neorudo, kick off 22:00.
United Bongo States of America 1–3 Ascvalion @ Origas Arena, Kurtz, kick off 18:00.
Okerne 1–2 Srubnaya Culture @ Nine Star Arch, Webster, kick off 14:00.
Lozho 1–1 Strayan Rus @ Il Tendone, Papillio, kick off 10:00. A circus show was performed during half time.

.   Group D                        Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
 1 Ascvalion                        8   6  2  0   15   6  +9   20 - Q
 2 Srubnaya Culture                 8   6  1  1   20   9 +11   19 - Q
 3 Katterimunk                      8   5  1  2   21  14  +7   16 - Q
 4 Lozho                            8   4  2  2   15  10  +5   14 - Q
 5 Strayan Rus                      8   3  3  2    8   8   0   12 - E
 6 British Covelandia               8   3  0  5    9  13  −4    9 - E
 7 United Bongo States of America   8   1  2  5   14  23  −9    5 - E
 8 Bubiyan and Warbah               8   0  3  5    4  11  −7    3 - E
 9 Okerne                           8   0  2  6    5  17 −12    2 - E

Round of Sixteen Matchups

Below is a table containing the full results of all qualified nations. This table will be used for seeding.

Qualified Nations                   Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Ascvalion                         8    6   2   0    15    6   +9    20
 2 Srubnaya Culture                  8    6   1   1    20    9  +11    19
 3 Naixi                             8    5   3   0    10    1   +9    18
 4 Kirungabi                         8    5   3   0     9    4   +5    18
 5 Novaros                           8    5   2   1    26   19   +7    17
 6 Greater Kamilistan                8    5   2   1    13   10   +3    17
 7 Katterimunk                       8    5   1   2    21   14   +7    16
 8 Saperetia                         8    5   1   2    11    4   +7    16
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 9 Archalit                          8    5   1   2    18   13   +5    16
10 Tanirinthia                       8    4   3   1    21   12   +9    15
11 Patriotlandia                     8    4   2   2    22   12  +10    14
12 Lozho                             8    4   2   2    15   10   +5    14
13 New Portland Republic             8    4   2   2    11    7   +4    14
14 Ile de Richelieu                  8    4   2   2    10    7   +3    14
15 Illiryja                          8    4   1   3    10    5   +5    13
16 Aeragny                           8    3   4   1     7    4   +3    13

Based on these results, the Round of Sixteen matchups are as follows:

Ascvalion (#1) vs Aeragny (#16)
@ The Ring Tank Stadium, Ostosaide, Harridan (Capacity, 54,000)

Saperetia (#8) vs Patriotlandia (#11)
@ Origas Arena, Kurtz, Touchpoint (Capacity: 52,000)
Patriotlandia and Archalit swapped to avoid group stage rematch.

Naixi (#3) vs New Portland Republic (#13)
@ Flynn Ar3na, New Fligsive, Plitterland (Capacity: 88,750)
New Portland Republic and Ile de Richelieu swapped to avoid group stage rematch.

Greater Kamilistan (#6) vs Archalit (#9)
@ Spectrum Stadium, Dannin (Capacity: 37,000)
Archalit and Patriotlandia swapped to avoid group stage rematch.

Srubnaya Culture (#2) vs Illiryja (#15)
@ Keers Dock Pitch, Keers, Plitterland (Capacity: 68,750)

Katterimunk (#7) vs Tanirinthia (#10)
@ Il Tendone, Papillio, Hardcastle (Capacity: 66,500)

Kirungabi (#4) vs Ile de Richelieu (#14)
@ Cop Limy Stadium, Neorudo, Touchpoint (Capacity: 96,300)
Ile de Richelieu and New Portland Republic swapped to avoid group stage rematch.

Novaros (#5) vs Lozho (#12)
@ Nine Star Arch, Webster, The Forkelands (Capacity: 66,500)

EDIT: Team matchups have been moved to better reflect future bracketing. No matchups have been changed.

Your prompt for the Round of Sixteen concerns DECEPTION. Deception, while considered immoral by many, sometimes just works. Mertagne has had to deceive many to stand where it does today, and while it looks back on his history with the power of hindsight, there is little that it would change. Has a lie ever caused a large scandal in your nation? Have your athletes had to lie to get to where they are today? Is your nations' press likely to lie about your result here in the Baptism of Fire?

by **Archalit** » Fri Jan 20, 2023 2:46 pm

ARCHALIT IS THROUGH
Archalit vs Obrela
When two nations of equal strength collide, and when one only needs a draw, what happens? This is the question the Archalitian football team was pondering in the lockers before the match, knowing the only way to guarantee a spot in the round of sixteen was to draw or win. Will Obrela push them until they lost? Would Obrela choke and give away a goal? There was only one way to find out, and within the next two hours, everyone in the stadium would know the answer.

Straight out the gate, Kanoa Faye and Ethan San began barreling through the Obrelan defense to take the first shot of the game in the third minute, only for an incredibly precise shot from Kanoa to be successfully stopped by Ige Hiroki, the Obrelan goalkeeper.

The tide quickly turned, with Zach Miyashimo delivering a perfectly placed pass through the defense to Lonnie Garza, only for his shot to be stopped by Archalit's Roland Baker in the 7th minute.

The game proceeded, with several opportunities on both sides. However, over the course of the first half, neither team was able to find the back of the net.

In the second half, the tension among the stadium was at it's peak. The Archalitian's were watching patiently and excitedly as they knew a draw would guarantee them moving to the elimination stage, while the Obrelan's were patiently waiting for Garza to save them and score. Possession continued to switch for much of the second half.

The game continued into overtime, when the subbed in Cynthia Harmonia managed to score a header out of nowhere in the 117th minute, with Hiroki unable to react fast enough, giving Archalit the 1 - 0 lead that they held onto for the last few minutes of the game.

Archalit left with an ecstatic team and a hyped up crowd, ready to face their next opponent Greater Kamilistan from Group B.

Deception
Kanoa Faye: WE'RE THROUGH!

Duke Sondas: I'm unbelievably happy right now :lol:

Ethan San: Yeah, and now I don't gotta lie about us qualifying.

Kanoa Faye: What do you mean?

Ethan San: Remember when Archalit participated in that small football league years back?

Jose Gee: That's the one where we lost every game, right?

Ethan San: There was this huge rumor that got propagated across the media cause every Archalitian called rigging.

Duke Sondas: So, you're saying...

Ethan San: In front of a crowd like this, no question they would start doing the same thing.

Kanoa Faye: I guess we'd have had to lie about the tournament conditions when we got back home...

Jose Gee: Well, hang on, Archalit has progressed immensely in recent history. They may not ask us to do it.

Ethan San: It really doesn't matter, it's just nice that we don't gotta worry about it.

Lyndon Nightmare: Guys, why are we worried about this? WE'RE THROUGH!

The room erupts into cheers, mostly the team shouting "we're through" over and over.

by **Ascvalion** » Sat Jan 21, 2023 12:39 am

Ascvalion Qualifies and Leads with most points!
Celebrations across the United Commonwealth as Ascvalion defeats the United Bongo States 3-1, securing their place as leaders of group D, but also with 6 wins 2 draws enter the round of 16 with the highest points in the tournament at 20, effectively putting them on top of the table. Asano scored at minute 16' and 67' while Hale scored at 87' all with a pass the ball back and forth tactic designed to confuse the hell out of the opposing team, The UBS goal came at minute 78' in a chaotic run that resulting in the ball bouncing of of Hakeems shoulder into the goal, in review it was clear that the deflect ploy wasn't even intentional, basically it was an accidental goal.

Deception

Jean-Pierre Chaufourier, the coach for the Ascvalian National team, couldn't help but smirk with a smug satisfaction when the "New Ethen Eden" and the "Tiny Asian Kid from Riverside" scored some of the most creative goals he'd ever seen, With Hale doing a madness Header by leaping over 5 opponent players to head a cross from De-Paul and Asano straight up did a scorpion kick at minute 67' to score, much to the bewilderment of literally everyone.

Jean-Pierre Thoughts: Well Brooks, I guess i definitely owe you those #3 Credits ($1,800) Huh?

Brooks made a bet with Jean-Pierre that Asano would be an insane asset to the team and his short stature wouldn't hinder him.

During the Match one the announcers said something along the line of Deception and/or scandals, which made him grumble something in French. It was 'Curse You Foden' a reference to Ozzie Foden, the most Infamous Ascvalian Manager in the nation's history.

Ozzie Foden initially had a great rags to riches story, he was a refugee from Bigtopia fleeing poverty, gang violence and a hilariously obvious corrupt government. He tried to make it big by becoming a professional Fifa player, and preceded to have woeful stint after woeful stint for any club he tried to play for and straight up got kicked out of his last club and got blacklisted but he did get to learn some insight on Fifa tactics. And By Learned I mean literally stole the Vallengard United Playbook.

However crucially for later he happened to make some important friends, Diego De Le Vega the owner of FC Saint Sullivan who was pretty eager for a chance to hoodwink his 'Rivals' Vallengard United and Notre City, The Actual Legendary Rivalry that occasionally includes Oured City as well. Now Diego De Le Vega despite owning a massive club, did not have a rats ass clue about the slightest bit of Fifa Tactics nor competent management, so you can imagine when this Bigtopian ex Fifa player guy arriving with the 'knowledge of Vallengard United's Book' He must been an Archangel sent from the heavens in De Le Vega's eyes. Foden was hired on the spot in 2006 and Quickly bought the best rated players spending nearly three million Credits ($1,800,000,000) which is still unheard of to this day, dominated the Valeria League (Tournament for Runner ups), and Infamously started the public trust fund for the club that basically was a "want your team to win? donate for the Champion's League!"

in 2009 while FC Saint Sullivan had won the Champions League, their season was quite sketchy especially in the Super Final. With the ref making a-lot of calls that favored Saint Sullivan over Notre City, with several Notre City players being sent off for stepping on Saint Sullivan players toes (yes really) and Saint Sullivan free kicks being put unusually far up the field as the tip of the iceberg. it's widely considered the worst Super Final in History.

in 2010 FC Saint Sullivan and Ozzie Foden were at the top, challenging the Likes of Vallengard United and Notre City, and he was set to lead the national team Foden felt like he was going to be on top of the world. until the Champions League Super Final (basically the super bowl) February 18th, when quite crucially the United Commonwealth Fifa Leagues Association (Shorten to UCFLA for sanity sakes) President Lawrence Jefferson chose the popular incorruptible Referee Vincent Lemaître to manage the biggest Match in the year. The day before the match Lemaître went to Jefferson and the press that a grey coated man had approached him, offering an insane #5,000,000 (Credits = $3,000,000,000) to Match fix in favor of FC Saint Sullivan. Lemaître is an ex Marine and Ethrian war veteran so any threat that the Coated man gave didn't faze the ref, who proceeded to knock him unconscious and threw him to police custody.

What was concerning was that while this looked like an organized crime gang just wanting to win bets, no gang in Ascvalion had that much money let alone any major influence due to police activities and a cheap yet wildly effective welfare program. So Mafias and gangs had to be ruled out, which led to the few people who could realistically have that much money like our old buddy Diego De Le Vega. After some investigation Diego De Le Vega was found guilty of Tax evasion, but was found to be innocent in the Match fixing. This however opened the Saint Sullivan Dyke and every started to spill, Ozzie Foden had promised a 200 Credit weekly wage ($120,000) to the players but had actually been giving them 20 credit weekly wage ($12,000), the Public Fund had been going to him exclusively, and he was discovered to been bribing referees to match fix since the beginning. And to add a cherry on top he straight up bribed his way to the National team Manager position and hundreds of other crimes.

Jean-Pierre remembers how he felt when he heard of the Scandal, he was the star Player of Notre City and they were actually close to qualifying for the 2010 Super Final but had loss to Saint Sullivan in the Semi Final, and the year prior Notre City loss to them as well, in the Super Final of All Matches. So to discover that Saint Sullivan had been cheating the whole time? You better believe Jean-Pierre was beyond comprehensible levels of Pissed, as well as current Co-Coach Connor Brooks who was about to face them in the Super Final and was just outraged of the sheer audacity of Ozzie Foden. the Public Backlash was Insane with the city of Saint Sullivan going into a full blown Riot which led to them storming and trashing Ashfield, the home stadium of FC Saint Sullivan. FC Saint Sullivan was Disqualified and Suspended as a result, with the 2009 Championship being handed to Notre City and The 2010 Super Final being rescheduled to host Vallengard United and Notre City for the Actual result.

Ozzie Foden was Arrested on Multiple accounts of Fraud, Match Fixing, Underpaying Employees, Sexual Abuse, Theft, Extortion, Bribery, and involved in unregulated Gambling. His legacy has given Migrants and Immigrants in Ascvalion a really bad name, and almost got Ascvalion permanently banned from international Fifa, he's not fondly remembered if you cant guess.

Jean-Pierre Thoughts: Calm Down Je-
Connor Brooks: Calm down Jean-Pierre that was years ago and behind us.

Jean-Pierre looked at his old Rival now partner, from Brooks Expression the mention of Scandal had also brought back those bad memories. Jean wagered that he must had been making his 'bothered face' as his beloved Wife calls it, for Brooks to perfectly guess what Jean was thinking about.

Jean-Pierre: Its hard to forget that mans Audacity! We almost got forbidden from playing at the top of the world!
Connor Brooks: That Past still stings for many Ascvalians, but-
He gestures to the Team gathered around each other to look at the round of 16 matchups
Connor Brooks: - We have a great future to look forward to.
Jean-Pierre: Oh Come on Old friend surly we must be Mod-
George Asano: We got 1st!! We Got The Most Points!!!
Jean-Pierre: Okay... maybe we can be confident.
Connor Brooks: welp you lost twice.
Jean-Pierre handed the Three Credits to Brooks
Jean-Pierre: maybe I should be losing these bets more often
Connor Brooks: Hope you don't go into debt to get us to win!

by **Naixi** » Sat Jan 21, 2023 5:00 am

Underground Naixese hip-hop blaring in his earbuds as he picked up his sea blue duffel bag, Jen-Ta Jin looked into his locker in the dressing room. There were only two things left: his phone, and his brand new sunglasses. The rest of his fit was already set: a Scandinavian-looking blue sweater with the sleeves rolled up, a bright red beanie, and washed-out, torn blue jeans. He had worked on this outfit for days. Everything was perfect. It was exactly what he'd envisioned.

It had been a good day, if he thought about it. Their Ostosaide hotel was pretty fire - they had his favorite type of instant oatmeal (dinosaur egg) at the continental breakfast that morning. Now, that being said, he had not appreciated how early they had to get up. Gan Liang always insisted on arriving at stadiums early before matches ("just so that nobody feels rushed"). Which, like, that's fine, Jen-Ta thought... but when the game kicks off at 10 in the morning, it makes for a very early 6 o'clock alarm. But yeah, the dinosaur egg oatmeal had been fire, and he'd had a conversation with his new club manager on the phone while they were on the team bus on the way to the Ring Tank Stadium.

"Yooo," he'd said upon receiving the call.

"Hello, am I speaking with Jen-Ta?" Xiao-Cheng Li had spoken back.

"Yooo," he had said again.

"Uh, yes, Jen-Ta?"

Old people were like, frustrating, bruh. Jen-Ta knew that at seventeen (the youngest member of the Naixi national team), he was going to have communication gaps with the many older men and women around him. Still, though.

"This is Jen-Ta speaking."

"Hi. I wanted to touch base with you and say congratulations on the professional contract!"

"Yeah, I'm, like, excited."

"I have a lot of plans for you," the old lady said seriously. "I'm very happy that the lottery sent you to Chongjibo. I think you have splendid potential and I love your dribbling. But, Jen-Ta, I have to make sure... do you think you can wear pink for a living, young man?"

"Yo, pink is like, a very *it* color right now."

Anyways, that had been the gist of the conversation. She'd repeated a bunch of the stuff that Chongjibo's legal people had already talked to him about, and then talked for entirely too long about how the club had already embedded itself in the radical feminist activist community in Chumeichang, blah blah blah. Like, Jen-Ta was progressive and everything. He just wanted to get this little discourse over with. But people just kept talking to him about it. The team bus ended up parking in a weird place outside the Ring Tank Stadium... not the same place they'd dropped the team off the previous time the Blues had played there. So when Jen-Ta and the rest of the team had gotten off of it, they had to walk a fair ways around the stadium, which took them directly past a crowd of media and press.

"A word, a word!" the journos had shouted at all of them. Most had seemed to be seeking the attentions of the big name players: Lao-Che Cai, Pei-Hsi Dai, Yue Hsieh, Kian-Zhi Yuan and the like. But one of them had called out to Jen-Ta directly - skipping over his older brother, who was actually playing at the Baptism!

"Jen-Ta, Jen-Ta! A word! As a straight cishet male, how do you feel about being drafted into a club team that has already become such a meaningful symbol to young women in Naixi? Are you intimidated?"

He'd been wearing the sunglasses that he could now see in front of him in his locker. "Actually," he had said smoothly, "I'm poly."

That had impressed everyone, apparently. Older generations were really weird about sex stuff, or so he'd noticed. His generation was just... cool about it.

Things had gotten even better, though. After having had a pretty tough game getting the Aureumterran center back pairing of Valla and Andresen to wander out of position, Kuang-Yin Cao had to be hooked by Gan Liang. An assistant coach had marched over to the subs bench. "Jin... Jen-Ta Jin... warm it up."

His older brother Tak-Hing Jin, who'd been used as a bit of a super-sub for most of the group stage, seemed surprised, but gave his little brother a hearty slap on the back and cried out: "ten, maybe fifteen minutes to go... go get this!"

So there he was, standing on the sideline at the half way line, Gan Liang muttering instructions in his ear while the fourth official held him back. Above, the beautiful stands of the Ring Tank rose into the pretty blue morning sky. That was how his international career had begun.

He'd gotten a fair number of touches in the match, as well, as Aureumterra had really been the better team in the second half, and all Naixi had been able to do was wait until they retained possession, then chuck it long for Yue Hsieh and Jen-Ta. A couple of times, Hsieh had gotten her head to one of those long balls, setting up situations where Jen-Ta had been able to just dribble one-on-one at the center halves. Finishing, as always, hadn't quite worked out, but a draw suited the Blues and everyone seemed impressed with him as he and the others walked back into the tunnel.

And there he was, having showered and dressed, in his perfectly cultivated look. He'd studied the fabric patterns and quality of the materials... the wool of the sweater, the stitching on the hat, the exact style of the chemical wash on the jeans. It all mattered to him.

He put on his shades, grabbed his phone, and picked up his bag. He and the others walked out of the dressing room. A Mertagnian staff member led them down a service hallway, going a different way back to the bus. Presumably this was to avoid the media they had brushed with that morning. Jen-Ta was staring at his phone the whole time anyway. He'd gotten a troubling text during the game.

The staff member turned to his right, opened a locked door, and there they were, back at the bus. Something, everyone noticed immediately, was wrong.

"Oh man!" the center back Chun-Lan Shao exclaimed. "What is that smell?!"

"It's like the wharves in Qiawutian," said Kee Tian as he breathed through his mouth, fingers pinching his nose shut.

They all could see the culprit right away: large plastic bins full of chum and fish guts, stacked on top of one another like stinky skyscrapers, just feet from the Blues team bus.

"How did this happen?" Gan Liang cried with tears of joy in his eyes. "How?! Hehehehe!!" The old fellow clearly thought this was all very funny.

Many of his players had the same reaction, while a couple were so horrified by the wretched smell that they were in no mood to laugh. Jen-Ta, meanwhile, had a different reaction entirely. "I know what that's for," he said quietly to his Chongjibo comrade Kian-Zhi Yuan. "What's it for?" Kian-Zhi asked.

"That's shark food. It's got to be for the sharks in the tank. We parked in the loading bay by mistake."

"Oh," Kian-Zhi said dully.

"Hang on one sec," said Jen-Ta. He handed his bag over to Kian-Zhi, who promised to store in under the bus with the other luggage. Then he dashed over to a man in overalls, smoking a cigarette by the bins of stinking fish matter. Jen-Ta made sure his cool sunglasses were perfectly set over his eyes.

"Hi, you're with the shark food vendor?"

"Yeah."

"These guys parked the bus in the way so you couldn't deliver the shark food, right?"

"Uhhhh, yeah."

"Sorry about that. I'm stadium staff," lied Jen-Ta. "We'll pay for the shipment here, even though it's gone bad. Can we add another order, though? This time shipped to another city?"

"Son, you... are not Mertagnian. You don't work here. You're one of the Naixi players."

"No, like," Jen-Ta fidgeted with his sunglasses, "my dad is Naixese, but I'm Mertagnian, I work here, no cap."

Behind him, Gan Liang was trying to ferry everyone onto the bus. "Jen-Ta!" he shouted, "let's get moving, little fella!"

The fishmonger guy was not impressed. "As I said, you are not Mertagnian."

"Okay, fine, so I'm not like Mertagnian, I'm one of the Naixi players. But I still need to know, how do you ship this stuff? Are you taking new contracts? Do you ship internationally?"

"Son," the guy said with exasperation, "why would you need shark food, in the quantities that this stadium needs. This is a massive infrastructure project. Do you know how much it cost? Do you know how much they pay my company? You don't have the money, kiddo."

"I know people who do, though. Come on, man, help me out here. Where do you get this chum? Just tell me where you get it!"

The man put out his cigarette, annoyed. He pointed with frustration in the direction of the ocean, not saying a word. A moment passed, the man glaring irritably at Jen-Ta. The silence was broken by the voice of Gan Liang over by the bus. "Jen-Ta, let's go!"

Matchday 9 (Ring Tank Stadium, Ostosaide)

Naixi 0 ⇨ Cai, Lin, Shao, Dong (Tan), Tian, Xun, Dai (Fen), Ti, Yuan, Cao (J.T. Jin), Hsieh
Aureumterra III 0 ⇨ Jensen, Aarflot, Valla, Andresen, Strommen, Strækar, E. Kanja (M. Kanja), Tvone, Royse (Farnes), Dalgaard, Osterholt (Judi)

25' Yellow Card ⇨ Dai (NIX)
40' Yellow Card ⇨ Shao (NIX)
40' Yellow Card ⇨ Tvone (ARM)
57' Substitution ⇨ Dai OFF Fen ON (NIX)
60' Substitution ⇨ Royse OFF Farnes ON (ARM)
61' Yellow Card ⇨ E. Kanja (ARM)
67' Substitution ⇨ E. Kanja OFF M. Kanja ON (ARM)
70' Substitution ⇨ Dong OFF Tan ON (NIX)
76' Yellow Card ⇨ M. Kanja (ARM)
81' Substitution ⇨ Cao OFF J.T. Jin ON (NIX)
94' Substitution ⇨ Osterholt OFF Judi ON (ARM)

by **Novaros** » Sat Jan 21, 2023 9:17 am

New TV

VICTORY!

Novaros has finally qualified after winning 4-3 against Tanirinthia!
Sohel Leel, Mohammad Ramzi, and Mohammad Kobaissi each scored 1 goal.

The Novaars, proud of their victory, swarmed the streets with pride after the qualification.

Novaros is going to play against Lozho next.

Deception, and Novaros.
Even though Novaros is a bit authoritarian, lying is considered a crime. The Islamic Republic never lies about its performance in the B.O.F.
The Islamic Republic also rarely lies about its casualties in war.

Assalamu Aleikum

by **Srubnaya culture** » Sat Jan 21, 2023 1:29 pm

Its time to win the BOF

After Amatticus Saulius and Chersonesus Lapadasues scored two goals in both halfs to defeat Okerne. The Srubnaya team had managed to secure the 2nd spot in the tournament bracket.

Everyone was excited for Srubnaya as the players began their training regiments and made plans to beat the other powerhouses in the tournament should they win their first round of 16 match. Everyone had their hopes up as they did their training and social media posts, hoping that they wouldn't mess anything up and that everything would be perfect. Some Srubnayan social media influencers that managed to come had even made promises to their fanbase that would only happen if the Srubnaya team reached certain milestones in the round of 16, the pressure was definitely on. The Influencers would make sure the government didn't lie about the outcome of the BOF due to how popular they were but the national pride is soo high due to just making the tournament, that government news agencies will still celebrate the fact they made the tournament, due to it being such a huge leap contrary to expectations. So deception isnt something to worry about for this tournament.

Vladmir Ivanov gave his team a speech about how proud everyone was of the team; he thanked the players for listening to his advice while Uxamatxa voiced his concerns about Ascvalion. To which Vladmir told him to use the same tenacity but a different stratgey. One that wouldnt be revealed unless they got to play Ascvalion in the tournament. However, the only thing Vladmir actually cared about was the cash prize he and his team were going to win. The President of Srubnaya promised to give the entire team a lump sum of 15 million dollars for making it to the elimination round and 30 million for winning the whole thing. With this money he could not only buy himself a new house with his cut, but he could also afford to upgrade and rebuild any training facilities that were destroyed back at home.

by **Greater Kamilistan** » Sat Jan 21, 2023 9:02 pm

A great accomplishment by the Kamilistanis

With the final match against The Cannaland Islands, the Kamilistani team won a 1 against 0 during the last minutes of the match. Thousands of Kamilistani fans, if not millions were celebrating the winning of the team, cities streets were filled with supporters celebrating, cars honking throughout the night with some, a bit special blasting their AK-47 onto the skies. The team had secure their place in the Round of Sixteen, with them going up against Archalit.

Arriving at the briefing room, Coach H congratulate the team on their effort of getting themselves of the Round of 16, this is no game, this round would see which team are the most talented and the most elitist teams out in the world. A new strategy was given by the coach, new formation, attacking strategies and the defense was the key importance for them. In their homeland, hundreds of billboard were advertising about the team accomplishment, with the words "The new round will be achieved" is all of them.

Everyone needs a day of "accomplishment" after their last match, right? Well, for the Kamilistanis there was no day for such event, you can say that for some players, like only 2 of them. Tavit decided to spend half of the day with his fiancé, Naida. She is a designer and the secretary-president of a luxury clothing brand based in Kamilistan, both of them had been together for around..let's say for awhile now, both of them post their time together on their social media.

In the training pitch, Yunis and the others were finding other tactics to use throughout the game, is best to have more planning when it comes to stuff like these, ain't none of them gonna be slacking off in the game, never. New outlet about football began to interview and document live about their training, only during in the fields, but when it comes to discuss newer tactics, they were not allowed to hear as it may ruin the secrets.

by **Lozho** » Sun Jan 22, 2023 10:55 am

Lozho 1-1 Strayan Rus

Droozle 20'

De Jong (o.g.) 67'

Crunch Time for Pelicans as Clash against Novaros Looms

Sponsored by Theranos

After yet another dire result, in which the Lozhoan National Football Team almost bottled knockout qualification after scraping a draw against Strayan Rus, the Lozhoans will have a mammoth task awaiting them: overcoming Group B-toppers Novaros in the Baptism of Fire Round of 16.

On the surface, the Lozhoans appear to be doing decently, with a 50% win rate and a place in the 80th Baptism of Fire's knockout rounds. However, the statistics don't tell the full story of Lozho's embarrassing displays, which have only been salvaged by diving and the occasional Pazron Droozle wonder goal. Yesterday's match against Strayan Rus was a prime example of this, as the Pelicans were hammered by their opponents. A lucky break from Droozle in the 20th minute gave the Lozhoans an opener, but that was the only good chance they had the whole game. The uninspired attacking display combined with an exhausted defence to create a disasterclass of football, only saved by Bonzo De Jong's presence between the sticks. Even then, it was his mistake that led to an own goal in the 67th minute, giving Strayan Rus the equaliser they needed. Whilst Strayan Rus' finishing left something to be desired as their barrage of attacks on the Lozhoan goal could had easily given them a 4-goal lead, the worrying display by the Pelicans themselves will not assuage fans leading into their forthcoming fixtures. A defeat against Strayan Rus would had knocked the Lozhoans out at the group stage, and they had just narrowly avoided.

As the Lozhoans struggled against weaker opposition, Gezald Ponzo will certainly be terrified of their next ones: Novaros. A strong team that already scored 26 goals in 8 games, Novaros topped their group with outstanding displays. As a nation known for their wrestling prowess, their physicality may just overwhelm whatever life was left in the Lozhoan squad. With this daunting task ahead, it may just be wiser for Ponzo to hand in his resignation now to give him time to hide from the legions of angry fans and bookies. Don't bother watching this space: you already know the result.

by **Saperetia** » Sun Jan 22, 2023 12:28 pm

5-goal Thriller As Saperetia Loses First Match
Saperetia 2-3 New Portland Republic

With the team already going through, the next two matches were seen by fans as formalities, but there was more to play for: The matches would determine where in the round of 16 Saperetia would be placed, as the best performing teams would play the worst performing team. Mouthenio seemed to understand this, as he put out the normal starting XI in SAP: 4-3-3 against the NPR: 4-3-3, only after the extensive tour of the museum located in the stadium.

Saperetia: GK Yakim (C), DEF Ipatiy, Celso, Diyan, Achille MID Lacy, Knobes, Vilfredo ATK Gordie, Antoon, Titus

New Portland Republic: GK Cooper (C) DEF Owens, Blair, Daniels, Bush, MID Shaw, Padilla, Hubbard ATK Mcbride, Williamson, Lindsey

With the NPR being more offensive than defensive, they began attacking us in the first half, like so many other game. But unlike the other games, in minute 21, a shot from about 20 metres by Mcbride dipped just under the bar and Yakim's best strech didn't keep it out. Spirits were still high as this was only the first goal that the Crimsonites had conceded, and we switched to a slighly more offensive style. Despite a switch in style, nothing interesting happened for the other 24 minutes in the first half. But immediatly off the mark in the second half both teams began a fierce battle that would last until the bitter end. Saperetia was the first to stike with a 49th minunte goal by Antoon, leveling the score to 1-1. Another counter by NPR saw them taking the lead again as Williamson put a 2nd in the net for a 1-2 score in the 56th minute. A play on the left wing by Lacy and Gordie saw a second fall in the net for Saperetia, once against levelling the score at 2-2, but the final goal would come for NPR, with the 3rd striker Lindsey putting it in after a pass by Padilla. The 78th-minute goal seemed to take the steam out of both sides and the match eneded in the first loss for Saperetia: 2-3.

Despite the loss, it's only the first loss and many hope that we can bounce back in our final match against Kirungabi, a nation that is 3rd and has a chance to top the group above us.

Final Group Game Ends In Defeat
Kirungabi 1-0 Saperetia

Despite the loss against the New Portland Republic, the Crimsonites still keep hope for a top of the group finish. We now play our last group stage match against 3rd place Kirungabi, who may overtake us if they get a win today. With no unjuries or yellow cards in the previous match, the lineup is nothing different from that one as the SAP 4-3-3 lines up against the KIR 4-4-2:

Saperetia: GK Yakim (C), DEF Ipatiy, Celso, Diyan, Achille MID Lacy, Knobes, Vilfredo ATK Gordie, Antoon, Titus

Kirungabi: GK Bugasera (C), DEF Uzanabiryo, Gatera, Rurangwa, Mutoni, MID Nduwayezu, Habimana, Sindikubwabo, Nzafashwanimana, ATK Mutabazi, Gatabazi,

With both sides are focused on defense the first half was, like most of our games, pretty dull. No side wanted to be the first one to make a mistake and concede and for the first 45 minutes this was so the case. After the break, Saperetian winger Vilfredo made a run for the goal but was stopped by Sindikubwabo, which resulted in a Kirungabian counterattack which saw the Crimsonites concede their 4th goal this tournament. The goal was scored by Mutabazi, assisted by fellow attacker Gatabazi. Despite the concession, the Saperetians were still fierce and treid their hardest to get one back to at least end with a point. Sadly, this did not happen and the final game in the group stage ended with a dissapointing 1-0 loss, putting us in 2nd place in group C.

The group stage has ended and we go now into the knockouts, starting with the round of 16. Saperetia, being the 8th best performing country, has been drawn against Patriotlandia, the 11th best performing country. With the difference being 3 places in the performance ranking, this is sure to be a close match.

by **Aeragny** » Sun Jan 22, 2023 12:42 pm

After yet another disappointing, and above all, boring 0-0 draw - which barely deemsbeing described, Airannia has successfully qualified as the 16th team - landing the Cabelians the lowest seed. Though group C was seen by many as the toughest group in the tournament, and qualifying out of Group C is an act of skill and defiance, it's nonetheless disappointing to the overall Airannian population that, despite any true losses (beyond the 0-2 defeat versus Saperetia, of course..), that the squad somehow has only ranked in the 16th position after the group stage concluded. Already, in the popular TV show Vicoque Estudy (Studio Vicoque, a pun on the city of Vixoque and the word vic, meaning sport), jokes are being made that Brodan has built a wall, rather than a football team. Perhaps the best parody against the heavy defensive strategies employed by the national team comes from Videm Osquádh, a comedian, who wrote the following song, and performed it live on the show:

Uoty snicre, uoty gamochré
Je celle varay, arra uoty ibré
Catch festible, osseix festible
Drábáv festible, ica chaye fest

Eric bi-crackiette, Khriss bi-chaunatte
Colman bi-ykkétte, Sam bi-annette
Ype Lio, arbétt'ica, ype Pascale qué pecha,
Vilcinile chery Nicklassenn

Quichlatt'ica fehier, arra flutyotte starádhicu
Stattint á chelle, galidau, chaye douéy!
Ype snichuéde j'acy, ossy snichice
Gulett'icint valiser, scallacha aveon

Ir chra chamme, tangre oçnayer
Ir chra chamme, dhylle vártoyer
"Filliyne celle sibey, obá juicre
Ocinde Mertagnissu!"

Vilcinile chery Nicklassenn
Filitre Nicklass cherioitte
Prastináuna ninne, aperçuna, sillouna
Scié quice yoly édrey

In English:

All in all, it seems that Nicklas needs to show a little more than what he has up until now to keep the public support for the World Cup qualifying matches. Whether the NAPÉ agrees is unknown, but anyone could rest assured that they will also be watching with great interest. The Airannian 11, as the ones who played the first match against Kirungabi, will be tasked with defeating Ascvalion in the Ring Tank Stadium today - with the exception of Lio Trofois, who is not yet recovered, and will be replaced with Colman Umuitau. Coverage will be done live, by Biolo Hédae, on VIGNET 1.

OOC Note: The song is not just an elaborate reference to a Dutch song, but also intended to be set to the same music! I'd link it, but I doubt it would serve the point of the song.

by **Kirungabi** » Sun Jan 22, 2023 1:00 pm

SPORT | SIPORO
(S)uper Top 0 – 1 (K)irungabi
(K) Pascal Mutabazi (70')

Caution was the name of the game on the final BoF group stage matchday, as a disciplined Kirungabi managed to fend off a Super Top onslaught for the better part of the match until their rivals fumbled a regroup, after a clean dive from previously yellow-carded Thomas Gatera. Though the Super Top players were quick, the Kirungans were quicker, and a slick crossing pass from Patient Habimana beyond the midfield allowed "Umuku" to set up the assist for super-sub-turned-starter Rungayindo Gatabazi. The Garçons forward scored his third goal of the tournament, matching his Imyuzure teammate's record and launching Kirungabi to the top of the Group C standings, as the only undefeated team in the group. "It's an unprecedented result and we are all immensely proud of how far we've come," manager Cyril Kamembe said. "Our Copa experience was highly valuable to learn where, and just how much, we needed to focus. So we doubled down, we committed to our boys, to forming the synergy on the team like we promised — and it's all starting to come together. But okay, now comes the crucial stage; we're confident, but we must keep our heads down."

Understanding Kirungabi: What does it mean to be Kirungan?

Throughout the first installment of the Understanding Kirungabi series, the concept of a Kirungan nation, and the demonym "Kirungan", has been widely used as referring to people or things related to Kirungabi. At the same time, the cultural differences between Kirungans of different backgrounds, origins, and ethnicities have all been explicitly laid out, ranging from the banalities of what it means to be a Sport Kawakiyambu fan to what the language of a person's name says about their ancestry. To express this conundrum, Kirungan politicians, scholars, and normal citizens have all been approached with a simple, yet far-reaching question: what does it mean to be Kirungan?

Sara Nyamutembe, anthropologist and University of Imisozi professor who featured on the first Undertanding Kirungabi article, takes a technical approach to the question — and assures that one can be Kirungan without necessarily choosing to identify as such. "I can personally say I have never met a person who feels at odds with their Kirunganness," she explains. "It's quite possible for a person to feel betrayed by their country, or to not be nationalistic or patriotic, but not only is this rarely the case in Kirungabi, it also doesn't mean that for those reasons a person will feel less attached to their nationality." As a Barebare woman, Nyamutembe feels she is in a prime position to confirm this sentiment. "My parents were forced into exile during the regime of Democratic Kirungabi, and they were born in the time of the Dominion of Thousand Hills. Clearly, at that time, they did not feel proud to be Kirungan, or did they see themselves represented by the state they should have been able to call home. But when it came to anything from supporting Kirungan athletes to cooking the food they enjoyed as children, their Kirungan identity arose. For me, being Kirungan has little to do with one’s own experiences or feelings. It’s a state of being, defined by one’s customs and traditions; to me, whoever eats fried cassava with black coffee for breakfast, whether they like it or not, must be Kirungan!”

On the other hand, Blessing Bwanakweli, Kirungabi Itangira Guhera Sporting Commission undersecretary, dissents with Nyamutembe. For her, also a Barebare woman, few people truly feel Kirungan. “I like to challenge the idea that Kirungans must identify with a common nationality,” she says. “Barebare and Fupi share blood, skin, a language, and our beautiful country, but for many people the civil war left incurable scars. It is quite clear that not everybody will be able to put their scars aside and feel like they can call themselves 'the same' as their neighbors of a different ethnicity.” For Bwanakweli, this sentiment is universal, among both Barebare and Fupi alike, but she believes it mustn't necessarily be a negative feeling. “I am a genocide survivor myself,” she explains. “Victims and perpetrators can’t suddenly leave their differences aside with a smile and a hug under one flag. What they can, and must, do, is realize that these people that they feel are different to them are working towards their same goals. We’re a divided nation with deep-rooted differences — maybe some people don’t feel Kirungan as much as they feel Barebare or Fupi — but we share our land, our cities, our communities, our schools, and our entire livelihoods. Perhaps, Kirungan identity is a fragile concept, but Kirungabi itself is very real. We must realize that we all share a common goal — from winning a sporting tournament all the way to building the future we want for generations to come — and that that is what makes us Kirungan."

For First Lady Musabyimana Uburiganya, Bwanakweli’s words ring true. Herself speaking as a woman who has both endured exile as much as earned the love of her people, she recognizes the differences identified by the Sporting Commission undersecretary."It's a perfectly healthy and necessary conversation to have," she assures, while also reminding of Kirungabi’s brief existence. "Kirungabi, as a fully independent nation and under its present name, has only existed for less than fifty years; the older members of our society were not even strictly born ‘Kirungan’, or to ‘Kirungan’ parents. Once the country finally took on the name Kirungabi, it was under a regime which hunted Barebare, and sometimes Fupi who disagreed with their genocidal views.” As such, the First Lady admits to the tumultuous and violent history of Kirungabi having made building a national identity a colossal challenge — one that she and President Innocent Uburiganya are committed to achieving. “We want Kirungans to be able to proudly call themselves Kirungan, without hiding their identities and by recognizing and embracing their differences. After all, we all live under one flag, across one territory, and according to one simple motto: 'separated, but united, by blood; bitandukanijwe maze binyabumwe n'amaraso.'"

Understanding Kirungabi is a series devised by the Kirungabi Itangira Guhera Cultural Commission, with significant input from the Sporting, Tourism and Recreation, and Societal Affairs commissions, destined for the enrichment of Kirungan culture across the multiverse. Join Radiotélévision publique de Kirungabi in exploring the culture, customs, and traditions which the Barebare and Fupi people of Kirungabi keep dear.

Muhanga Kampororo, KIG Cultural Commission undersecretary

by **Mertagne** » Sun Jan 22, 2023 3:04 pm

Round of Sixteen Scores

Ascvalion 2–3 Aeragny
@ The Ring Tank Stadium, Ostosaide, Harridan (Capacity, 54,000)

Saperetia 0–0 Patriotlandia (0–1 AET)
@ Origas Arena, Kurtz, Touchpoint (Capacity: 52,000)
A controversial mural had been painted on the side of the stadium the morning of the matchday.

Naixi 3–2 New Portland Republic
@ Flynn Ar3na, New Fligsive, Plitterland (Capacity: 88,750)
Fans were treated to a performance from a Mertagnian military band at half time.

Greater Kamilistan 1–3 Archalit
@ Spectrum Stadium, Dannin (Capacity: 37,000)

Srubnaya Culture 2–4 Illiryja
@ Keers Dock Pitch, Keers, Plitterland (Capacity: 68,750)

Katterimunk 3–2 Tanirinthia
@ Il Tendone, Papillio, Hardcastle (Capacity: 66,500)

Kirungabi 0–0 Ile de Richelieu (1–0 AET)
@ Cop Limy Stadium, Neorudo, Touchpoint (Capacity: 96,300)

Novaros 3–0 Lozho
@ Nine Star Arch, Webster, The Forkelands (Capacity: 66,500)
Players had 10x the amount of sports drink bottles accidentally delivered before the match, causing several to be piled up on the bench.

Quarter Final Matchups

Aeragny vs Patriotlandia
@ Il Tendone, Papillio, Hardcastle (Capacity: 66,500)

Naixi vs Archalit
@ Nine Star Arch, Webster, The Forkelands (Capacity: 66,500)

Illiryja vs Katterimunk
@ Origas Arena, Kurtz, Touchpoint (Capacity: 52,000)

Kirungabi vs Novaros
@ The Ring Tank Stadium, Ostosaide, Harridan (Capacity, 54,000)

Semi Final Matchups
Winners of the Quarter Final matches will progress.

Aeragny/Patriotlandia vs Naixi/Archalit
@ Cop Limy Stadium, Neorudo, Touchpoint (Capacity: 96,300)

Illiryja/Katterimunk vs Kirungabi/Novaros
@ Flynn Ar3na, New Fligsive, Plitterland (Capacity: 88,750)

Your prompt for the Quarter Finals regards DREAMS. The dreams of Mertagnians vary wildly, but for its football players, there is one dream that unites them all - to win the World Cup. Your athletes likely share that dream, but what are their aspirations outside of the game? Do they want to live in the nicest house in the city? Start a family? Travel the multiverse? Tell us about the dreams (felt asleep or otherwise) of the people surrounding your national team.

by **Srubnaya culture** » Sun Jan 22, 2023 3:43 pm

A crushing and controversial defeat 4-2

Srubnaya FC players after losing the first round, instead of being good sports, many of the players threw insults and curse words at the referees and the Illyrians when heading back to the lockerooms. Not only did Uxtamazata Neapolis receive a red card after a small celebration for his second goal, Sakā Armesius ended up with a broken foot due to a dirty tackle from Zejd Martin. Leaving the Srubnaya team without their best two players. So, when the Illryians started going on the offensive, they were able to score 4 goals with Srubnaya having no answers. The Srubnaya fans also threw slurs and objects at the Illryian fans and Zejd in anger. A couple of fans had to be thrown out of the stadium as well. When the news reached the capital, the Media focused on Sakā Armesius and blamed what happened to him for their loss. While many were very upset about this, many more still celebrated the fact they ended up winning 6 games, so not all was bad.

Uxtamazata Neapolis wasn't a part of the initial bad sportsmanship but did criticize the referee for kicking him out of the game so early, asking if he had been payed to do such a thing on social media. He then stated that he and his team would return for the next Baptism of fire, and that such a game like this wouldn't happen when they returned.

by **Ascvalion** » Sun Jan 22, 2023 3:48 pm

Ascvalion Defeated in a Shock 2-3

Ascvalian Fans couldn't believe it

they lost...

Hakeem knelt in shame, he allowed three goals in especially the death blow from Gary Goppré
Mark Hale, George Asano, Saul De-Paul could not get that extra goal in. Stergauce ja Dony just kept getting exactly where he needed to be.

Hale was stooped, He thought Aeragny would be an easy team even with their more defensive style. The Nation put their hopes on him, and he failed them

Back home the Ascvalian Media was Furious with Phoenix News Calling Team Airannia as total Cheaters, SBN Ranting about the Refs calls, and ABC Staying Neutral and saying the news as it is, but their distain was quite noticeable. Regardless of Cheats, Bad Plays or Outright Bad Luck, Ascvalion was out and soon to be sent home. After cleaning up the Stadium the mind blown Aeragny Fans left in a tornado like mess, Team Ascvalion and their fans went back to the Hotels to pack and head home. But the team and fans decided to have a low key celebration about how far they've went and toasts to success in the Future, No Valeria League or Champions League trophy will feel so satisfying to earn ever again but they drank to the crazy memories this Baptism of fire had left.

Jean-Pierre: Don't beat yourselves over this, this is not your fault.
Mark Hale: This is only the beginning, We got more in the Future to rise to.

the Team Murmured in agreement

George Asano: Lets prepare for the Next one

by **Novaros** » Sun Jan 22, 2023 5:39 pm

Kormaan News

VICTORY!
The Islamic Republic of Novaros won today's match 3-0 against Lozho. This takes us to the Quarter Finals!
The Panthers trained furiously. As we can see, the hard work paid off.
Mohammad Kobaissi scored 2 goals, and Ayoub Fallah scored 1.

Interview with the players.
We asked some players what are their dreams, other than winning the world cup:

Ali Jaafar: To have more free time.
Hafiz Soboh: The best for the National Team.
Mahdi Jawad: To become a religious scholar.
Adam Khanefer: Becoming Rich.
Hassan Abbas: To become a special forces operative in the Novarosian Army.
Mohammad Kobaissi: To make the Novaars happy.
Kazem Khanafer: Getting married.
Sohel Leel: World Peace
Abdallah Kobaissi: World Peace too.
Ayoub Fallah: To make the Novaars happy too.
Mohammad Ramzi: To see his son becoming a great person.
Georges Naseen: To become a doctor.

by **Greater Kamilistan** » Mon Jan 23, 2023 12:11 am

An embarrassment defeat of 1-3

Hopes were high for the match, but the outcome was a.. disappointment for them, the Kamilistani had lost a 1 against 3 to Archalit

The team were in shame, some of the team were in disbelief that they lost. Hassan Abdullah, the goalkeeper of the team blamed himself for letting the opponent to score 3 points. The team captain, Yunis knelt in disappointment that he had let his team to lost, he was in a verge of crying before his teammates came to comfort, telling him that he tried his best, he felt that he let the whole country down, his team, his coach, basically everyone. Tavit felt embarrassed and ashamed of himself that he failed to defend properly.

The Kamilistani fans were distraught by the score, a huge burst in anger can be felt throughout the stadium, with them throwing slurs and items against the Archalit fans, worst of all that they attempted to have a huge brawl against the opponents' supporters before some of them were being pulled away by security, the fans called them "Dirty Dogs" which in Kamilistani referred to a slang to describe a corrupt politicians. A young supporter was seen throwing two water bottle against the Archalit football team in anger. The whole stadium was a whole mess after the Kamilistani left, even outside, some of the fans were trying to have a fight with the Archalit fans.

The team was sent back to their hotel to pack their team up, although they lost, but the good things they came this far, they have trained so much for this, even though they did not got through, at least they got this far. A small celebration was held for their small victory of coming this far.

Coach H handed a bottle of Elsoki to Yunis and sat beside him.

"Is okay, you tried your best, you're not a failure Yunis, you have given your everything, we'll get them in the future.." '

"Thanks coach.."

For Tavit, he sat in his room alone, as the others celebrated he just sat there, his fiancé Naida came into the room to comfort him.

Tavit: "Not in the mood Badarshanke, not in the mood..."

Naida: "Dear, is me.."

She went next to him, knowing that Tavit felt like he was a failure, she hugged him as his tears fell from his eyes.

Naida: "You are not a failure Tavit, you tried your best. The fact that you made it this far makes me happy, you've been through a lot, those days where you were training each day nonstop. Listen to me, is okay, don't boil it up, is okay to cry, I'm right here. You make us all proud from your effort, even me, I'm proud of you Tavit, I don't care how others view of you, but I'm just proud of you."

Tavit slowly burst into tears and hugged her like a child hugging his or her mother. The team had already one vision today, is to try their hardest in the future.

by **Katterimunk** » Mon Jan 23, 2023 8:47 am

Allsports Katterimunk

Into the Quarters

And that is it. The Katteri has made it through to the knockouts of the 80th Baptism of fire, and beating the Tanirinthia, got into the quarters. Thanks to the amazing 5-1-2 WDL record and a 3-2 win against Tanirinthia, the Katteri fans are really happy with the team, with the KWP acknowledging the national team and publicly commending the team, offering prizes as they return home. The scores and the individual records talk as well, as the strikers Lorenz and Priestiv showed their prowess throughout the second half.

Katteri played their 5th game against the Srubnaya Culture, a strong team and a formidable opponent. The game was enjoying as well, but slightly disappointing for the losing Katteri team. The game started with a goal from the Katteri Striker Priestiv, scoring his 9th in the tournament, bringing the Katteri ahead in the 24th minute. But the equalizer came soon from the Srubnaya as the opposing striker Saulius took a low shot into the net from an amazing assist from the skipper Neapolis. The score was level at the 36th minute, and remained the same till the end of the half. The second half began with an unfortunate yellow for defender Khan, who fouled Armesius 27 yards from the goal. The foul was not too dangerous, as none was injured, but it was close enough for Lapadasues to take the strike. The shot, however was saved by Soraski, as Srubnaya got a corner. And not long after, a header went into the goal. The skipper Neapolis used his head to way in the ball for the leader goal. This lead was retained and later increased at the 71st minute with another goal from Saulius, this time off of a volley crossed in by Lapadasues. The Katteri tried to comeback by a goal from Lorenz, but it was already 86' on the clock, too late for a comeback. The game ended 3-2.

The next game wasn't too great for Katterimunk either, as the team faced another loss against Ascvalion. The team was strong and the Katteri knew it. And with this mindset, the team entered the field with a tactic to be pacy, get an early goal, and then stay quiet for the rest of the game. This worked as the first goal was scored by Lorenz at the 13th minute. But this proved quite fatal as well as the enthusiastic Lorenz punched an opposition in enjoyment. A clear accident was still shown a red card by the referee. The fans at Mertagne as well as the fans at home, all protested. But the decision was announced, and on the field, refs decision was final. Lorenz had to go. The game then went more equibly with Katteri maintaining an edge with the lead. But soon the Ascvalion started catching up, but none could score. And as most Katteri thought a win was sure, goals were conceded back to back at the last minute. The Katteri were baffled. They could not believe what just happened. The team lost 2-1.

The next game the Katteri faced Bubiyan and Warbah. The game was to be comparatively easier, as the opposition was not too strong. And this did prove to be true, up to some extent, as the Katteri managed to have an edge, yet no Katteri was able to score this game. The only score in Katteri's favor was scored by a Bubiyan defender off of a deflection in a corner, judged as an own goal. The only game in the history of Katteri football where the team won a game without scoring a goal themselves.

The final game of the group stage, Katteri got to face British Covelandia. A team that were already disqualified, Katteri had to defeat them to make sure of it's qualification. On paper it seemed easy. But when it came to the game, Katteri panicked. Allowing multiple shots, they realized, Covelandia had not gave up yet. The pressure was on Katteri, and many fans feared a loss. But the Katteri skipper Yuzman Aftar ensured qualification with a goal in the 68th minute, scoring from a high shot deflecting off the crossbar into the goal. The Katteri managed to defend the score till the end. 1-0, the Katteri made it to the knockouts.

BOF Round of 16

The Katteri were scheduled to face Tanirinthia. Nothing much about were known on them except their roster and their record of 4-3-1. The team, even being considered one of the weak ones, ended with an amazing record losing only one game. The team even made Katteri give a run for the money, as the stars somehow made it through with a 3-2. The game started with the Katteri amazement Priestiv scoring the first. An amazing corner curved in by Lee for Priestiv to head in the ball for the first goal at the 22nd minute. The team even managed to lead it up by 2 as the cap Yuzman scored a goal in the 37th minute. The first half ended 2-0, a lead of 2 for the Katteri in the first half. The second half, however was different. In response to Katteri's speedy and spread out play, the Tanirinthians went for a more divide-and-rule approach. The offense was more fast with a quicker build-up. On the contrary, in defense, the team would go for an isolationist type defense, isolating the ball carrier from the rest of the team, cutting off the options for the pass. This worked, and the first score came in at the 58th minute. An amazing move forward, and a shot at the top corner of the goal by Payne scored the first. Payne also came with a second goal, a volley from a pass off Wheeler. The game seemed to go opposing the Katteri, but a miracle happened at the 84th minute. A controversial foul was awarded to the Katteri at the penalty box! Medina, apparently, fouled Ahiko in the box earning him a yellow. The penalty was utilized and a goal was scored by Lorenz. And with this the Katteri cemented the score of 3-2, allowing them to make it through to the quarters.

The Quarters

Katterimunk were drawn in to face the team of Illiryja, Just like the previous opponent, nothing much is known of them, except for the fact that they beat the Srubnaya Culture, a team Katteri lost to, by 4-2! This clearly indicates Illiryja is to be a formidable force. But the Katteri will fight till the end to win. As far as we have researched, Illiryja, in the topmost group qualified as the 4th placed team, winning 4 losing 3 and drawing a game.

The Journey

MD 1: 6-3 win against United Bongo States
MD 2: 4-2 win against Okerne
MD 3: 3-1 win against Lozho
MD 4: 3-3 draw against Strayan Rus
MD 5: 3-2 loss against Srubnaya Culture
MD 6: 2-1 loss against Ascvalion
MD 7: Bye
MD 8: 1-0 win against Bubiyan and Warbah
MD 9: 1-0 win against British Covelandia
Ro16: 3-2 win against Tanirinthia

The Cup of Dream

Of course, every football player in this multiverse has a unified and single dream - to win the World Cup - the oldest and most prestigious award the world has to offer, not just as a footballer but as an athlete. And nothing is more grand than to win the world. But that is somewhat of an unreachable goal, for the current players atleast. So what are the aspirations for the top stars of the Katteri team.

The Skipper Yuzman has a clear dream - to win all that he can domestically and internationally. Yes that includes the world cup, but currently it's mostly limited to regional championships like Campionato Esportiva, or smaller scale event like the Baptism of fire or the Cup of Harmony. As for domestically, the man has led to his club Ipheburn to every domestic title except for the Clenston Cup. This trophy will complete his domestic domination.
"As for money and fame, I don't care much. I play only because I want to. Yeah everyone loves money, and everyone wants fame, but that is surely not what's driving me"

The star player Lorenz, unlike his public perception and appearance has a pretty down-to-earth goal. He just wants to quickly settle down and secure a future for his kids. Yes he loves football. But coming from a poor household, the man knows the value of money. And even though he has passion for the game, he might rethink if money is offered to him.
"I dunno. I just wanna collect as much as I can, ya know like a salaryman. That might sound boring, but that's just how it is. Yeah currently im enjoying it all, but one day I gotta settle down."

The midfielder Lee is, as everyone guessed, pretty low profiled as well. The man has many aspirations, but his main one is to see his nation and his club at the top. That is all that he dreamt of. Starting off in a middle class family, Lee started football as he watched a game of his local club Cotmond beating every other team in the Clenston Cup, becoming the first team to finish the cup unbeaten. This made him aspire the team and his Idol, Yurkan Gest, the star playmaker.
"I just wanna win. Yeah I know that sounded kinda egoist, but I don't think I could have said that any better."

The star player Garf Shinoda is next in suite, as the man has quite good aspirations down the line - to become the best playmaker. Yes that's farfetched, but that is all that he has dreamt about - to own the number 10 jersey as if it was made for him, making the number synonymous with himself. Watching star playmakers like Wolker and Raygarh playing in the local leagues made him believe that even though the striker scores, it's the playmakers who decide who is to score, making them the superior one on the field.
"I've always aspired to be the best. Of course the team comes first. But that doesen't stop me from dreaming of being the best"

Fame. Many believe no one should play the beautiful game just for fame. But that dosen't stop Ahan Khan from dreaming of gaining fame, and publicly announcing it as well. He clearly stated that he wants to be the most famous in all of the nation as well as the region of Esportiva. He wants to have a lot of money to boost his fame, living the most luxurious life and going down in history as a legend.
"Brand. That is what I want Ahan Khan to become. A brand. That is my dream"

by **Aeragny** » Mon Jan 23, 2023 2:28 pm

"And, now, let's switch over to Ostosaide, in Mertagne, to watch the remainder of this match - half-time: 1-1, though the Ascvalian pressure is mounting. Take us there, Biolo." -- and once the cameraman lowers his hand to indicate the studio is off the air, Pellez sighs. While the first half was full of pressure put on the Airannian goal by the Ascvalions, the standing is still 1-1. The attack that was set up, from Allbhy into Brittagny, straight through the middle, was both creative, and gave good hopes for the future. Which; as one of very few Aerá watching the match today, comes as bad news for Pellez Réjisy and Hélu á Yof. After all, the show the two have set up for the full hour's worth of post-game review, which would transition into a post-tournament review. After all, the editors of the show all agreed that, coming from the lowest spot in the round of 16, there was no way Ascvalion wouldn't defeat the Aerá team. And even though it seemed a goal by Ascvalion, who have been sending cross passes for the last 10 minutes of the first half. Basically since Mark Hale's equalizer, the Airannians haven't even gotten anywhere near Olajunwon. But also, as Pellez knows all too well, it's the score that counts...

Airannia 3 - 2 Ascvalion
10': Eric Brittagny 1-0
24': Mark Hale 1-1
47': Khriss Garyabh 2-1
62': -- Çontre Colminge
70': Gary Goppré 3-1
71': -- Sam Allbhy
72': Eric Brittagny <> Galho Éram
72': Viveró Décibeq <> Uillten Tillabois
80': Saul de-Paul 3-2
85': Só Kezhinár <> Gérand Brassa
90+1': -- Gary Goppré

"And all I see here is, nothing but utter elation on the faces of the players - I'm signing off for tonight, back to Vixoque"; and with those words Biolo Hédae went off the air. The studio, meanwhile, was also elated. With the exception of the leader of debate, Pellez Réjisy. He suddenly couldn't rely on the 20 minute "highlight reel" of "highlights" from the Airannian Baptism of Fire. He suddenly had to speak with renewed hope, and look towards a game against either Saperetia or Patriotlandia. Already he blessed the commercial break that he had to introduce right after Biolo's signoff. Slightly caught off guard by suddenly being live on air, he recapped "With a confident 3 against 2, Airannia has qualified for the quarter finals of the Baptism of Fire! Here with me today are Henric Évilinge, Claudh Fouldy and of course Hélu á Yof to review this match with me, and to look ahead towards the quarter finals. But first, these commercials." -- and cut to commercial break. Quickly he rushes off-stage, to confer with his editors- this was not expected and the team needs to come up with a solution now.

A timely Airannian history lesson
It isn't common for an Airannian television host to be quite as negative towards any common Airannian goal, but in the case of Pellez Réjisy, there is a justification. A political, historical justification, to be exact. After all, Airannia is a relatively young country, founded formally on July 1st 1967, after the unification of two states: Parzhinia and the Southern Cabelian States. As of that moment, two nations became... four? Four nations. Unified as one. But still four nations!
How did this happen? In the old days, the territories that are now known as the kingdoms of Parzhinia and Rellebois were controlled by a much larger empire - the Rivagien Empire, formed out of the Franquese colonial Empire, after the Franquese abandoned control over these Tarephian territories. And, in the south of the island, there were three smaller, native controlled kingdoms there, being Ajurton, Hmal King and Eldava. The Rivagien Empire exerted its power over these kingdoms, eventually having the Eldava kingdom be nearly entirely taken over by Ajurton, and imposed its vision of the Aerá language on them, to varying success. As the Rivagien Empire collapsed around the Cabelian holdings (editors note: The island on which Airannia lies is called Cabelia), it eventually reformed into the Republic of United Cabelia - and using the last remaining political power it had in southern Cabelia, sought to create the state of the "Southern Cabelian States". Unlike what one might expect from a country with such an origin story, there were actually 10 states; 9 when Vieck left - though of these states, the states of Ajurton and Hmal King were the largest, most powerful ones, to the point where basically, two cliques formed - the Ajurton clique, and the Hmal King clique. See also this image. One the other side, the country of Parzhinia fought itself free from the Franquese nation of the Republic of United Cabelia, and conquered the vast majority of the island from French rule. In 1961, due to a military coup, part of this remaining Franquese-majority territory came under Parzhinian rule. When the unification happened, therefor, the Franquese parts of the SCS, known as Victoria, united with the Franquese parts of Parzhinia to form the Rellebois kingdom. Parzhinia itself formed another. And then, the Ajurton and Hmal King formed the latter two. And, while they united into a single country, it should be noted that various offices and organizations one might consider "national" are now, actually, sub-national. Such as football associations! Ever since, the four kingdoms of Airannia are united as one - but not at football competitions. In fact, the rivalry between the kingdoms is palpable during regional tournaments. Though the Airannian associations opted to act as a united kingdom for multiversal tourneys such as the BoF, the rivalry is very much still there.

And that brings us to Pellez. While it's obvious he's an Airannian, there's one thing he's even more so - an Ajurt. An Ajurtonian, if you prefer. And if there's one thing he, as an Ajurt will have noticed, it's that the overwhelming majority of players on the Airannian squad are Parzhinian. When Nicklas Brodan, who is also a Parzhinian, showed off his selection that would travel with him to Mertagne, Pellez caught on right away. Garyabh over Barrosinj? Victoria éys on the bench so that ja Dony can play? Fichomcéls in the starting 11, rather than Arton Seuny? It's his way to prove that Parzhinia well and truly is the superior kingdom. You bet that Pellez, a bitter old man who, during his time on the Ajurti national team barely lost a Tarephian finale against Parzhinia no less, will do his best to use the inevitable failure of Brodan to steer away from this Parzhinian football dominance. Though now, it seems like the quarter finals might already be enough to have proven him wrong...

by **Kirungabi** » Mon Jan 23, 2023 11:46 pm

Baptism of Fire Match Report
(K)irungabi 0–0 (I)le de Richelieu (1–0 AET))
(K) Cyera Umucukuzi (119')

Kirungabi advances to the Baptism of Fire quarterfinals! For the entirety of the match, the third-placed team in Group A skilfully defused the threat posed by star forwards Rungayindo Gatabazi and Pascal Mutabazi, while also being careful not to leave egregious gaps or make serious mistakes on offense to annul the chance of an explosive Kirungan counterattack. In response, the Kirungan defense was vicious — perhaps excessively so, as a dive in the box from Jean-Luc Uzanabiryo conceded a penalty to Ile de Richelieu in the latter part of the second half. However, Bouthillette missed the goal in his attempt, a divine lifeline for Cyril Kamembe's team as the game went into extended time.

After 90 minutes, Ile de Richelieu upped the ante, increasing the intensity of their attacks against the Kirungan defense strengthened by veteran player Hadrien Ubuzima, but their frenzied attacks produced the oversight Kirungabi needed to break through at the very last minute. An eleventh-hour goal by extra-time substitute Cyera Umucukuzi, standing in for a tired Pascal Mutabazi, eventually sealed the fate of the match. The Thousand Hills City star, well acquainted with leading midfielder and teammate "Umuku"'s playmaking, made the most of his fresh form and quick and tall Barebare frame to sprint towards the goal and bounce an awkward header past Grendahl-Kalberg. "We really wanted to avoid the shootout," admitted coach Kamembe. "It's always better to finish the game on the pitch than to leave it to the Virgin Margaret, and thankfully, we managed to break through. Ile de RIchelieu has been a difficult opponent, and now we must prepare for Novaros: they won their group and have come off of a dominant victory in their quarter-final, but we won't change our strategy. We will play to our strengths and focus on keeping our synergy and our determination; yes, they came first in their group as well, but if you look you will see they have conceded a lot of goals. We are not afraid, but as always: head down."

"What does it mean to be Kirungan?"

Curiously, until Cyril Kamembe had read the question in the Radiotelevision Publique de Kirungabi article, it hadn't ever really crossed his mind. It seemed like an absurd question; he was born in 1976, so every legal document ever issued to his name had said the same thing: 'nationality: Kirungan'. It was as simple and trivial as that, Never mind the changing flags, or the changing currency, or the losing of the zeroes after the significant figures of those new currencies, or the questionable uses of RTK for propaganda that did little effort to hide its hateful messaging, or the conflict, or the genocide, or the change of leadership, or the plastering of the triangle logo of the Kirungabi Development Front — who eagerly ignore the fact they were formed as the Kirungabi Barebare Liberation Front ― on every hut and methane generator and stoplight and 'road work' sign on rutted national routes. Despite all of his country's, and his people's, flaws, he'd never felt nationality dysphoria. Still, the premise that anyone ever did feel that way was interesting in and of itself, so Cyril continued reading, or rather, skimming through, as it was late, and he had better get some sleep for the quaterfinals.

"I can personally say I have never met a person who feels at odds with their Kirunganness," she says.

Yes, exactly! he thought. As he continued to skim the article, he found he was at ease with the conclusions reached by — he looked back up to double-check who had contributed to that section — Sara Nyamutembe, the Barebare professor from the naming origin piece he'd quite enjoyed. Even after so much hardship, he felt Kirungan, absolutely 100% purely Kirungan, and little could ever change that love for his country, and the pride he felt when looking at the colors of his national flag; the design, well... The hammer and hoe of the flag of Democratic Kirungabi were ingrained far too deep in his early memories to let it be fully replaced in his conscience. He smiled, too, at the fact his feelings were shared by someone entirely different to himself, a Barebare and presumably Anglophone woman from the far western town of Mutembe, if her surname was anything to go by, who still chose fried cassava and black coffee as the quintessential Kirungan breakfast option to name-drop for relatable points.

Lying down in a dimly-lit room, the sleepiness began to set in, so he continued skimming the article at a quicker pace.

"For her, also a Barebare woman, few people truly feel Kirungan."

He frowned, but backtracked a clause to double-check who had said that. 'Blessing Bwanakweli' he read — oh, the Sporting undersecretary; his boss. For a moment, he considered confining his phone to the bedside table and calling it a night for good. The article had suddenly turned controversial; like many other Kirungans, especially his fellow Fupi, he quickly shied away from controversy: what if he read something he had rather not...? Well, but Bwanakweli — with the, so he'd heard, reluctant go-ahead from the First Lady — had hand-picked him, the Fupi coach of the Fupi-run Garcons du Port team in the Fupi-majority city of Imyuzure, to spearhead the revival of the national team. Surely she couldn't hold a... grudge, against Fupi. No, that would be nonsense, and that self-reassurance was enough to enable him to continue reading.

"We must realize that we all share a common goal — [...] winning a sporting tournament [...]."

That's it! thought Cyril, smiling. He'd zoned out of much of the section, anyway, but that was exactly the conclusion he hoped dearly in his heart that the Sporting Comission undersecretary would reach. That was exactly the whole point of the Kirungabi Itangira Guhera program, or so he'd been told! He'd spotted some commentary on the war and the genocide earlier in the paragraph, which all fed back into the central point she'd appeared to be making at the end. The inner monologue of his drowsy head went rampant, at too-late-o'clock for such euphoria, speaking Cyril's thoughts to himself as if presenting a thesis on the success of the Kirungan national team. What better way to build a national identity than through sport? Just think of all those people we've seen throughout the Baptism of Fire, the handful of Kirungans fortunate enough to fill the stands with their colorful wigs and long banners and garish tunics, united in cheering under one flag for eleven tall and short and stubby and lean guys in green shirts. Now that is healthy, blind, and jovial nationalism.

His resting state had already prompted one of his eyes to flutter shut, so he quickly scrolled down towards the end of the article, when a phrase struck his other, still-cracked-open eye.

"'separated, but united, by blood; bitandukanijwe maze binyabumwe n'amaraso.'"

His inquisitive frown from earlier quickly, but subtly, turned disapproving. That motto, he really didn't like, and he didn't even need to skim back to check who had said it. He didn't feel... disgust for the First Lady, but he did for the motto she'd popularized and eventually managed to get officially adopted. It embodied the ideology of the Kirungabi Development Front, one he knew well from his daughter Arianne's peculiar questions in elementary school turned homework assignments she needed help with in year 7; she was adamant that he was just an old fart who wasn't "brought up with modern sensibilities", or that he was "not empathetic" with Barebare. But he swore otherwise: that Barebare and Fupi needn't be constantly reminded that "differences" — in his mind, perpetuated colonial stereotypes — exist between them. Of course he felt it was healthy to encourage Kirungans to celebrate their differences — but were there any real differences at all, or had the civil war, or the colonizers, created them?

He was too tired to continue ruminating on the thought for much longer, so he locked his phone and lobbed it at the faux-wood bedside table as his eyes faded shut, and his sleep-deprivation headache pulsed calmly to lead him to sleep. As he approached the threshold between trying-to and fully-asleep, the long-lost voice of his grandfather whispered into his conscience.

"Where there is a Barebare, there is trouble, muhungu."

by **Naixi** » Tue Jan 24, 2023 10:00 am

At an expensive African fusion restaurant in New Fligsive, the Naixi national football team, players, coaches, and staff, all gathered along two long tables. Special dishes were laid out on white tablecloths, and the mood was jolly. They had left it late, but they were through - a moment of pure class from Kuang Yin Cao had been enough to book the Blues' place in the quarterfinal in spite of a merciless fightback from Portlandia. Gan Liang, dimunitive in figure (and with posture that made it worse) but tall in spirit, rose from his seat and began to speak.

"I wanted to say," he said before pausing as the crowd needed a moment to wind down. When the room was finally fully silent, he continued. "I wanted to say, well done to all of you. You had to dig deep for that one. You had to play a way we do not normally play! You had to pass, and possess, and make forward runs. I knew this squad was capable, but I didn't know if you all knew. Now I'm sure!" His wide smile was irrepressible. "I know that it's not customary to look at other participants' results. But some of the other seeded teams, the ones who might have been well-positioned to win this tournament... a fair number of them were eliminated today. It was a brutal round. But you all weren't. You went into half time on level terms when you might have felt like you should have still been up by two, and you made it right!"

"Only because Kuang Yin can volley with the outside of his boot, coach!" The teenage Chong Xian Ye was so excited that he hadn't been able to resist the urge to cry out.

"It was a great shot, yes! It was great. Outside of the boot, and from such a tight angle. My, my, my."

The squad all took a moment to look at Kuang Yin Cao in wonder. Cao looked around, then realized it was expected for him to make some kind of comment. "Keeper was off his line," he said sheepishly. "I knew I had to take the shot then and there... didn't have time to get set, so I just... improvised, I guess."

His humility induced a round of applause and a smattering of the odd "hoorah" from the team. "Well," Gan Liang continued, "that was some improvisation. That was something. But it was all of the rest of you, too. Even the ones who wanted to play, but didn't. It was a great team effort. Let's also remember," and at this point, he gestured to an empty seat at the players' table, "that we're a man short tonight."

This was a reference to Guo Liang Lin, who had shattered his tibia in a horror 50/50 challenge with Portlandia's Amos Shaw. It was never Shaw's fault - he'd had a right to fight for possession and the referee had acknowledged that - but the weight of his sliding tackle took Lin off his feet and broke the leg of the veteran defender.

"Guo Liang sends his regards from a local hospital. He's going to go into surgery tonight," and this caused a few dismayed gasps around the restaurant, but Gan Liang simply spoke over them, "and he wants you all to know that he's proud of the result you got. We got!" The mood, which had become pensive upon arriving on the topic of Lin's injury, rebounded.

"So, enjoy dinner tonight. Enjoy, as well, and yes I'm serious about this, some hard beverages, if you like. The assistants and I have discussed it, and we think you're entitled to a night off from the strict regimen. Be responsible!" He looked sternly at the younger men and women in the team at this. "We'll be playing Archalit in the quarterfinal before you know it."

And so bottles of fine wine were brought out by the wait staff, all of them diligent Mertagnians whose job it surely was to look as enthusiastic as their guests. Glasses full, the players began toasting one another, then toasting the coaching staff, and before long the mood had risen from jovial to rowdy. Tales of miracle goals scored in practice were being told, and every embellishment was examined with a grin by a clique of nearby friends-turned-investigators trying to spot a lie. A song that Naixese fans had been videotaped singing back home spread around the room, and those who didn't know the words simply made them up.

After ninety or so minutes of this veritable carnival, and with bellies full, Gan Liang rose again. "Lads - and of course, lasses - I wanted to take one more moment of your time, if I may. I am, as you can see, an old man. I've got another few trips around the sun in me before the tank runs dry. But I have been, in a sense, many men along the way. Many men. What do I mean by this?" He was slightly tipsy. "What do I mean by this? I mean, I have been as many men as I have had a great ambition. You see, I didn't always want to win the Baptism of Fire. This is but a recent desire... something I didn't know I wanted to win until I fully understood what it was. No, no, no, when I was a younger man I dreamt of other things. I wanted to become a soldier, for one! I wanted to be a part of a revolutionary army. That was a dream I became disabused with when all the real violence and civil conflict started. Then I became a dreamer in another sense. I dreamed that the boys and girls of Naixi would all have pitches to play this great sport upon," he said with fervor in his voice. Eyes around the room became wet.

"And that dream, I'm happy to say, I was able to realize. That dream came true. Because here I am. And here are all of you. Once boys and girls, and now you're here. In the quarterfinals. What a wonder it is, this life."

"We love you, Gan!" somebody shouted over the sounds of noses sniffling.

"I love you too!" he grinned once again. "All the hugs and handshakes and encouragement I've given have been worth it. Now, this is not all about me, though. It truly is not. So," he said, raising his glass of wine. "I want each of you to share what your greatest dream is. There's no wrong answer. I want to hear it from each of you!"

So they began to make their way around the room in one long serpentine arc, person to person sharing their ambitions, hopes, and dreams. Some offered dreams already realized: "I wanted to play for a Naixi national team," or "I wanted to live in a free Naixi." Others offered dreams that were perhaps impossible: "I want to take a piss on the moon." Others still listed off many different dreams they had had over the course of their lives, as Gan Liang had. Xiao Niao Dong told a touching story of once dreaming - as a little girl - of having a little sister. Finally, the loop was nearing its end. Kian Zhi Yuan was second to last in the queue.

"Well," the captain said with a wry smile, "this might seem a bit predictable and unoriginal, but here goes. My dream is to win a trophy with the national team."

That aroused a chorus of "here-heres" from the assembled crowd. It seemed to be a shared ambition.

Last in the queue, standing in between Kian Zhi and Gan Liang, was the young Jen Ta Jin. He was, as always, reserved and aloof, but he'd partaken in the distribution of wine like everyone else, so he was displaying an uncharacteristic grin. "Am I up next?" he asked. "Well, uh... I uh..." He seemed to need a moment, and an awkward silence fell.

"I've always dreamed of... yeah, like Kian Zhi said, winning a trophy with the national team."

It seemed as though the same refrain of "here-heres" was going to issue once more, but a loud voice shouted over them. It was Tak Hing, Jen Ta's older brother. "No, no! Tell them the real one! That's not your real dream!!"

It was quite clear that Tak Hing had had a bit too much wine. This could have been reported by the players sitting closest to him, Chun Lan Shao and Hang Ki Tan, who had been getting an earful of his over-exuberant clamoring for a fair while, but now it was known to all. He wasn't done, however.

"Your real dream is hilarious!! It's so stupid! You guys gotta get a load of this! Tell them, Jen Ta!!"

Gan Liang tried to intervene. "I think we've all shared some vulnerable things, Tak Hing."

But Tak Hing wasn't having it. "Oh, it's gotta come out. His real dream is so funny. He's had this stupid dream, this, like, plan, for a few years now. He wants to," he had to briefly pause because his laugher had him in fits, "he wants to start a fashion label."

He was in stitches. A few of the other players tittered with him. "I don't think that's that stupid," Kuang Yin Cao, the hero of the night, said abruptly, and several others vocally agreed. Tak Hing fell silent, drunkenly annoyed. But the damage was done. The shy smile had dropped from Jen Ta's face. He seemed emotionless.

"Coach," Jen Ta said quietly, "do you mind if I use the restroom?"

"You don't have to ask for permission, Jen Ta!" Gan Liang said with a smile that was not reciprocated. Jen Ta replied, "thank you," then stood from the table and left. Kian Zhi knew Jen Ta wasn't headed for the bathroom, so he also rose from the dinner proceedings, and followed his Chongjibo Chumeichang teammate out the door and onto the New Fligsive street.

"Jen Ta, hold up, man."

Jen Ta finally stopped, rolling down the cuffs on his trendy denim jacket. The air outside was humid and pleasant, but the breeze gave it an oddly chilly feel. Autumn was coming.

"Wait up, Jen Ta. Talk to me, brother."

"You don't want to be my brother right now," Jen Ta told Kian Zhi bitterly.

"You don't want to be my brother either," Kian Zhi said, rolling his eyes.

"Why, what did he do?" Jen Ta asked.

"You promise you won't tell anyone?"

"Sure."

"Seriously, I don't want you to say a word."

Jen Ta pulled an imaginary zipper across his lips.

"He's locked inside a bathroom at a nightclub back in Claviers," Kian Zhi said with embarassment.

"That's your brother?! That weirdo?!" Jen Ta asked incredulously, trying not to smile.

"Yeah."

"Why did he lock himself in there?"

"Because he clogged a toilet and didn't want any of the, and I'm quoting, 'hot girls' working for the nightclub to find out that he clogged it."

"You're shitting me," Jen Ta said, shaking his head and unable to repress the smile any longer.

"Nope."

"Wow," Jen Ta said, looking back out to the cars in traffic, "that is crazy."

"Yeah." Kian Zhi looked out at the traffic too, and the two of them let a moment pass. A bus across the street stopped a let some Mertagnians off. As it zoomed off down the lane, Kian Zhi spoke once again, this time delicately.

"Kuang Yin's right, your fashion label dream isn't stupid."

"I know it isn't stupid," Jen Ta answered quietly.

"It's just hard because your brother doesn't take you seriously?"

"My brother, yeah. The whole rest of my family, too."

"Wow. None of them think you can do it?"

"They just think it's a fad. Something I got into because it's, like, trendy or whatever. They think I just won't ever have the determination to put it together. Or the money. And our family isn't, like, rich, so they're basically right."

"You know, we're professionals now, Jen Ta. The both of us." Kian Zhi pulled open the lapel of his blazer, revealing a well-fitting pink T-shirt. The message was clear: we play for Chongjibo now, and we've got it made.

"Yeah, I know."

"Don't let them tell you it can't be done, pal."

"Do you really think I'll have time once the league starts and we're playing full time for our club?"

"Sure. You've got evenings off, haven't you?"

Jen Ta was quiet. Kian Zhi nudged him with his elbow.

"Keep on dreaming even if it breaks your heart, kid."

Octofinal (Flynn Ar3na, New Fligsive)

Naixi 3 ⇨ Cai, Lin ✚ (Yep), Shao (Tsung), Dong, Tian, Xun, Dai, Ti, Yuan ⚽x1, Cao ⚽x2, Hsieh (Ling)
New Portland Republic 2 ⇨ Cooper, Owens, Blair, Daniels, Bush, Shaw, Padilla, Hubbard ⚽x1 (Green), McBride (Lucas), Williamson ⚽x1, Lindsey (Tran)

8' Substitution ⇨ Lin OFF Yep ON (NIX)
18' Goal ⇨ Cao (NIX)
18' Yellow Card ⇨ Ti (NIX)
20' Yellow Card ⇨ Padilla (POR)
25' Goal ⇨ Yuan (NIX)
25' Yellow Card ⇨ Yuan (NIX)
25' Yellow Card ⇨ Cooper (POR)
32' Goal ⇨ Hubbard (POR)
35' Goal ⇨ Williamson (POR)
38' Yellow Card ⇨ Xun (NIX)
41' Yellow Card ⇨ Cao (NIX)
86' Substitution ⇨ Lindsey OFF Tran ON (POR)
88' Goal ⇨ Cao (NIX)
88' Substitution ⇨ Hubbard OFF Green ON (POR)
90' Substitution ⇨ Hsieh OFF Ling ON (NIX)
90' Substitution ⇨ McBride OFF Lucas ON (POR)
92' Substitution ⇨ Shao OFF Tsung ON (NIX)
94' Yellow Card ⇨ Tsung (NIX)

by **Saperetia** » Tue Jan 24, 2023 11:07 am

Saperetia Out
Saperetia 0-0 (0-1 A.E.T.) Patriotlandia

After the group stage, many were hoping that the team could make a deep run into the knockout stages. Their first opponent in the round of 16 was Patriotlandia, the team that finished 4th in group B and was the 11th best performing country that qualified for the Ro16. Saperetia itself was ranked 8th, so this was going to be a close match. Before the game, a mural was painted on the stadium. Local authorities decided to increase security for the match, and the suspect(s) who painted it are still at large. Anyway, the SAP lined up in their normal 4-3-3 against the PTR 4-2-1-3.

Saperetia: GK Yakim (C), DEF Ipatiy, Celso, Diyan, Achille MID Lacy, Knobes, Vilfredo ATK Gordie, Antoon, Titus

Patriotlandia: GK Lataupe (C), DEF Vaillancourt, Bromont, Ranger, Laflèche, MID-DEF Lachapelle, Manahan, MID-ATK Desrives, ATK Langlais, L. Graham, Rodin.

Like most games, Saperetia was the more defensive side and so, the Patriots were more attacking and were pounding the Saperetian defense in the first half. Nothing new in this tournament. But a weird change was that Mouthenio decided to substitute Achille for Eugene during the break, doing away with his normal strategy. Furthermore, after no real highlights until then, in minute 68 Gordie was substituted for Paavali. The game heated up slowly as the game came closer to extra time, as both sides wanted to score a late winner. Shots from both sides came closer and sloser to going in. A few hits on the bar and post and two goal lines clearances (one from both sides) later, and the referee blew the whistle. The score was still 0-0 so the sides prepared for 30 minutes of extra football. Mouthenio decided to use this break to get Vilfredo and Celso off for Nikolaus and Pascal. Both sides were a little cautuious in the first five minutes of extra time but the match got traction late into the first half. Diyan tackled Langlais in minute 104 and got a yellow for it. The second half finally brought the deciding goal in minute 111 as a quick few passes between Rodin, Desrives and H. Graham saw the latter one hit a shot into the back of the net. Despite our men trying to despreatly score a very late equalizer, nobody managed to find the back of the net and the game ended at a very, very dissapointing 0-1 as Saperetia were officially out.

Despite being out of the BoF, the world cup qualifiers are right around the corner. Fans and players alike hope that a first participation in a WC is also coming, but some are more skeptical. Mouthenio said that his men were saddened by the loss, but had courage as they all see the dream of a world cup. Of course, nobody is even talking about into the knockouts of the wc because that is a dream that might be just a bridge too far.

by **Archalit** » Tue Jan 24, 2023 12:52 pm

THE PIRATES SAIL FORTH
Archalit 3 - 1 Greater Kamilistan

In a widely anticipated match for the Kamilistani and the Archalitians, the Pirate's Kingdom defeated the Islamic Republic in a 3 - 1 victory.

The first goal of the match was scored by Hazy Marbula in the 13th minute. The goal came as a result of a well-executed attack by Archalit. The play began with Terry Yang and Ethan San controlling the midfield, moving the ball up the field with quick passes. As they approached the Kamilistan penalty area, Yang made a precise through pass to Marbula, who was making a run down the right wing.

Marbula, known for his speed and agility, quickly controlled the ball and dribbled past Kamilistan's Khosrov Zayranyan and Imeda Imedashvili. With only the goalkeeper, Hassan Abdullah Ravarevkov, to beat, Marbula calmly faked to his left before striking the ball low and hard to the right corner of the goal. The ball sailed past Ravarevkov's dive and into the back of the net, giving Archalit the lead. Hazy had scored the first goal of the match and set the tone for Archalit's dominant performance.

The second goal of the game was a stunning strike from Kamilistan's Yunis Azadsoy in the 23rd minute. As Azadsoy received the ball, he quickly took a look at the Archalit defense, which was lined up deep in their own half. Spotting an opportunity, he decided to take a shot.

Azadsoy took a couple of quick steps forward and unleashed a powerful shot with his left foot. The ball sailed through the air, leaving Archalit's goalkeeper Roland Baker rooted to the spot. The ball hit the back of the net with a thunderous roar, leveling the score at 1-1. Azadsoy's goal had not only leveled the score but also gave Kamilistan a much-needed boost of morale.

The third goal of the game, once again scored by Archalit's Marbula in the 47th minute, was the result of a perfectly executed direct free kick. The free kick was awarded to Archalit after Kamilistan's Muhammed Aburahim Sawara committed a foul on Archalit's August Armburst after a bad tackle just outside the Kamilistan penalty area.

As the referee pointed to the spot, Marbula stepped up to take the kick. Marbula had been training exactly for this moment. As the Kamilistan wall lined up to block the shot, Marbula took a quick look around, and then took a deep breath.

He then struck the ball with precision and power, curling it over the wall and into the top corner of the goal, leaving the Kamilistan goalkeeper Ravarevkov with no chance of saving it. With a satisfying thud, Marbula found the back of the net, giving Archalit the lead once again.

In the 73rd minute of the match, Kamilistan had a close call when they nearly scored the equalizing goal. The opportunity came from a corner kick taken by Sawara. He sent a high, curling ball towards the back post, where his teammate Viktor Badarshanke was waiting to head it towards the goal. Badarshanke made a powerful leap and connected with the ball, sending it goalwards.

The ball was headed towards the top corner of the net, but Roland Baker made an incredible save, diving to his right and pushing the ball over the bar with his fingertips. The crowd held its breath as they watched the ball sail over the crossbar, narrowly missing the goal. Preventing this equalizer was a critical moment in keeping morale for the Archalitian team high and sailing through the last bit of the game.

The final goal of the match, scored by Kanoa Faye in the 83rd minute, was the result of a creative and well-executed play by the striker. The goal sealed the victory for Archalit and put the game out of reach for Kamilistan.

The play began with Archalit's Terry Yang, a central midfielder, receiving the ball just outside the Kamilistan half. He spotted Faye making a run down the left wing and made a quick pass to her. Faye, with the ball at her feet, began to dribble past the Kamilistan defense. She used her quick feet and agility to outmaneuver the defenders, leaving them trailing behind.

As she entered the Kamilistan penalty area, Faye faked to her right, causing Kamilistan's Revas Biharili to bite and leave an opening. Faye then quickly shifted to her left and shot the ball, sending it past Ravarevkov and into the net.

The goal was the final nail in the coffin for Kamilistan, who had been trying to come back in the game but had been unable to recover Archalit's offense. Faye's goal had sealed the victory for Archalit, with the final score at 3-1. The Archalit supporters were in a frenzy, celebrating their team's victory, while the Kamilistan fans had been furious, throwing items and slurs at the Archalitian team and their crowd.

Archalit will be moving on to face Naixi, the winner of group A and the third-highest seeded team in the knockout round. Perhaps an upset is in order after their 1-0 loss from matchday four? Or perhaps Naixi will stomp the team like all others before them to fight for a medal…

Dreams - The Forwards
Jose Gee, Kanoa Faye, and Hazy Marbula are having a conversation after the match

"I'm still in shock," Jose said, eyes wide, "we're actually going to the quarter-finals."

"Yeah, yeah, we're probably gonna get wrecked by Naixi anyways." Kanoa retorted. "Still, it's nice to move on."

Everyone knew the unfortunate facts of the team, but Hazy found it imperative to declare "listen, I know you've got reason to be less hyped up, but come on, that was such a great game."

Of course, this is because Kanoa is going to the Cenian Open to begin her Tennis Season on the 25th, which means she won't be participating for the final day of the BoF should they make it. "Honestly," she started, "I would stay to support you guys at the very least, but it's always been a dream of mine to compete in the Grand Slam, and I just happen to be Archalit's wild card this year."

"Dude, DUDE, it really doesn't matter,” Jose Gee quickly responded, “we're going to the quarter-finals with you anyways. Also, we're going to the quarter-finals!"

"He's right Kanoa, we're all going to compete in different sports after this World Cup, this is our one and only chance to take home a trophy anytime soon," Hazy added, "let's not worry about who's going where in the next few days."

"I guess you're right," Kanoa replied, "I mean, your seasons are still quite a ways out though, aren't they?"

Of course, she's referring to Hazy being an olympic-level sprinter, being just about capable of taking a spot in the finals, as well as Jose being a top-class marathoner with a PB set in the Archalit Athletics Championships beating the actual Olympiad record (admittedly on the very fast Charkara Marathon course with favorable winds).

"Who knows, I need to start training basically..." Jose started, "well I already have, but I'm focused on purely running training the second we get eliminated from the World Cup."

"I mean, it's basically the same for me," Hazy said, "I'm actively training alongside football matches. Not that it's impaired my abilities, don't worry about that."

"To be honest, I don't think I'm playing at my best..." Kanoa mumbled. "Whatever, it doesn't matter, we just have to play Naixi and then I'm gone."

Jose furrowed his brow at this. It really seemed like Kanoa's enthusiasm had been dissipating. "Kanoa, are you okay?"

"Honestly, I'm way too nervous about the Cenian Open to think about anything," She replied. "I really just want this next match to be over with so I can shift my focus."

It had now been Hazy to chime in. "Hey," he began to say, "we just have to focus for a few more days, alright? We all want to focus on our dreams, but we also have a responsibility to the team to give 100% for as long as we can. Let's try our best against Naixi, then we'll go from there."

Kanoa looked down and softly responded, "no, you're right. I'll do as much as I can before I leave Duke to lead the team."

"Hell yeah! Until then, let's go celebrate with the rest of the team!" Jose exclaimed, acting oblivious.

"Yeah, let's go," Kanoa confidently declared.

Coach Booker's Journal
Date: January 22nd, 20XX

Honestly, it’s a miracle we’ve made it this far. Half the team plays OTHER professional sports as a PRIORITY over football. You’d think Jeff would’ve screened for that kind of thing, but whatever, this is what we’re dealing with, and we’re here now. Regardless, with a team like this, basic strategy is critical, and it’s really all we have against the experienced might of the Naixi Football Team.

As we look ahead to the quarter-finals, I've gone over some basic notes on Naixi with the team that we'll need to keep in mind during our next match:

We'll need to push these guys to their limit if we want to even think about beating Naixi. We'll be working on our tactics and strategies in the coming days to make sure we're ready for the match. The team is determined and motivated, and we'll give it our all on the field.

by **Mertagne** » Tue Jan 24, 2023 3:46 pm

Quarter Final Scores

Aeragny 2–0 Patriotlandia
@ Il Tendone, Papillio, Hardcastle (Capacity: 66,500)

Naixi 1–2 Archalit
@ Nine Star Arch, Webster, The Forkelands (Capacity: 66,500)
Promoters were selling a new cloudy cider - the Hazy Marbula.

Illiryja 0–0 Katterimunk (1–1 AET) (2–4 pen.)
@ Origas Arena, Kurtz, Touchpoint (Capacity: 52,000)

Kirungabi 2–0 Novaros
@ The Ring Tank Stadium, Ostosaide, Harridan (Capacity, 54,000)

Semi Final Matchups

Aeragny vs Archalit
@ Cop Limy Stadium, Neorudo, Touchpoint (Capacity: 96,300)

Katterimunk vs Kirungabi
@ Flynn Ar3na, New Fligsive, Plitterland (Capacity: 88,750)

Your prompt for this matchday is about NEIGHBOURS. Mertagne revels in the victories of its neighbours, even when it hasn't done so well itself. An easy way to find glory can be off the backs of those close to you! What nations are considered neighbours to your own? Will they be revelling in your sporting prowess, or seething with bitter resentment? How do your neighbours get on with your nation outside of sporting events?

Baptism of Fire 80

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