World Cup 93 - RP Thread

by **Brookstation** » Tue Feb 14, 2023 7:48 am

UNFORGETTABLE MATCHDAYS

HOW MICHAEL BEVERNEY BROUGHT GLORY, DOMINANCE AND THE UNFORGETTABLE HAT TRICK ON HIS DEBUT

One of the most fascinating things about the game of football is the massive fan following of the game. Dave Nirisarike is one such fan of the game. He was there in 1987 when his club Towning nearly got relegated to the third division. He has been with the club in both the clubs eras, in River Alley as well as the JKM Tyres Stadium. He has followed the club in almost every major and minor match and cherished every bit of it. He has seen the club with their maiden Harrison Shield and he will be here this season as well. But let us assume that one particular day, the 19th of March, 1990 is erased from his memory. Ask him about what happened next and he will give you an entire journal of events that followed. The two consecutive cup finals, relegation, Marin and his tactical brilliance and the massive fights with Michael Finch and Josh Wavell but perhaps none of those events hold the significance as that of 19th March, 1990. In fact he knows what happened before that date as well. An enormous shock in his own words. The very team who had been panting to get a stable player into the team had suddenly seen a massive gain in profits, finding enough funds to pay 8 million at their disposal to bring someone who had scored in the very previous season’s Harrison Shield Final.

Just a year earlier, Michael Beverney was at his prime, playing alongside Luis Steffen and Tim Ritchie. Just twenty minutes into the final of what was supposed to be the “most contested” match of the year he’d found the net in the opening goal for Other side of Paradise against Dier’s Dason and even if Radu found the net for Dason a few minutes later, it would be Beverney’s masterclass which made Other side of Paradise win on penalties.

But the Brook giants had different plans. They had been eyeing Alan Krul and Alex Berardi for a long time and thus Beverney could take her leave. It took an enormous sum of money, the fourth highest transfer in Brook history and the highest wage pack at the time but the fact that Towning manager Robert Robson had managed to persuade Beverney to join the Deer is worthy of appreciation.
The days following the transfer were just unbelievably great. Towning had finished 14th the last season, a disastrous season by all accounts. But this year, with the signing of youngster Fernando and of course De Maestro himself, their efforts were surely meant to yield desirable results.
Fate saw Towning face Norwegian wood in their first match of the season and within just five minutes of the new campaign, Norwegian wood had Towning trailing by 1 goal thanks to Soo finding too much comfort in the box. It was the typical start to a Towning campaign. But then just minutes before half time, Beverney arrived to the rescue, a penalty resulting from a deliberate attack on Fernando by a host of Norwegian wood defenders.

As soon as the second half began, Towning were down again, this time it was Barney. Then, Beverney struck again, pacing up to meet Gareth Vukovic’s cross from the left. Funnily enough, Towning lost the lead yet again. Well, it seemed as if it was really Beverney’s duty to rescue his helpless team that day. As soon as the game reached its final hours, the Towning players swarmed forward like a group of bees to try and find the ball and of course, it was Beverney once again who found the ball at his disposal and tapped it smoothly past Tom Reva. What a relief.

Neither of the three goals were particularly impressive, but let me remind my readers that it was a hat-trick after all, a hat-trick by a Towning player against the pretty much invincible Norwegian wood. After all this hype with Beverney, it seemed as if Towning were en route a revolution but the happiness would last just for a short span of time. Towning lost to Dason but drew at Waffen but backed up the losses with three consecutive wins as well. But it just didn’t last. Other teams performed better. After getting the benefit ahead of Richmond, Towning failed to register a win for almost a month.

On the other hand, there was the unsatisfied Beverney who had scored only ten goals that season. Beverney was desperate to depart and begged his manager to transfer him to a club, even if that meant playing in the second division. He constantly complained, not without justification though, of missing the training atmosphere that he used to enjoy back in the day.

Hardly had the season finished when he was off to Hacienda and even if his parting words were way too harsh, it made absolute sense. “ If I see Towning win the Trophy, I am going to leave football” he said , “There’s no way a club can improve with such poor management.”
Dave Nirisarike was only 17 that day back in 1990 and he clearly recalls all the buzz, the pomp, the joy and all the cheerful atmosphere, the feeling that he hadn’t experienced for almost a decade. He remembers shouting slogans and chanting anthems everytime the glorious Beverney struck at the goal. He remembers how on that remarkable day, it felt like a God had stepped on the stadium to help his beloved team.

Despite playing only one season, Beverney is remembered vividly. He scored 28 goals in his maiden season for the club, a record that took too long to be broken. But it was the temporary atmosphere that he created in the club that meant everything. He manifested a feeling of glory and supremacy in the teeming crowds of Towning and while his memories keep fading in the dust, it was his remarkable hat-trick on his very debut against the best club at that time that made Beverney a club legend. For Towning that season, everything seemed possible, but in reality it wasn’t.

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by **Valentine Z** » Tue Feb 14, 2023 7:52 am

Part 5 – The Tale of Two Clarissa Alanis Star Samantha.

Exuberant Superintendent T-2000/2904-3 Surveillant Clarissa Alanis Star Breya « La Amoureux Chéri » Millie Taissa Butterfly Mélody Coraline Jolijn Trini Clementine Hollie Samantha Zeta Harumi was wearing her blue blouse with the heart on it, along with her black hair. She walked into the pristine and clean laboratory, with Valentijn, Marcus, Jenny, Gwen, a few other Sixtys, along with the Valentian scientists, all working and crunching out the sims and numbers, triple-checking every single line of code to ensure that there is nothing going awry. “Ahh, hello, dearie!” Valkyrie Valentijn waved and gave Clarissa a hug, along with taking her slowly to the bed that they have set up for her, “This will be quite exciting, ain’t it? First time, getting yourself cloned.” Clarissa nodded cheerfully, herself also anticipating and enthusiastic about this new venture. It has been told and established before that smart AIs in Valentine Z – like Clarissa, Adriana, and Tiffany – have not seen themselves being replicated and cloned with multiple instances running at once. Indeed, there was a case of Clarissa using a smaller chunk of herself, loaded with specific instruction sets for international football, to take over while the actual Clarissa is away for NSSCRA. This time, however, the Valentians (with Clarissa’s approval) would like to see if they will be able to clone an AI, for the very first time, and have them run parallel to each other and, when the time comes, back to the original’s body through means of committing the memories of both. Marcus, always in his brilliant and large towering armour, went over to everyone to specify and confirm a few things, along with the general rundown of the procedure. “So, if all goes well, it should be like you going to a basketball match and a football match, both at the same time and in the same timeframe. To be absolutely frank, this has not been done before. Yes, we have established the idea of parallel universe, and how you could be in one place in one world, and another place in another world. That is absolutely fine. This, however, is a test and measure of merging those two memories, and to somehow convince yourself that you have indeed been to both of these places at the exact same time. For computers, it will be a little different.”

Marcus then walked over to Intelligence Officer Jenny, who in turn was running a few diagnostics on her own computer, followed by then talking to Marcus, “That is true, yes! Still, I have a bit of hope on this one. We have run up to and exceeding 500,000+ different tests and scenarios, and 95% of them have turned favourable results. Though, of course, I must also note that we tested on just the bits and pieces of Clarissa’s code fragments – with clearance. And this is where we all come in – and Gwen to be the failsafe as always in case something goes wrong. This would be the very first time in Valentian history to clone an AI, THEN merge the two together. The latter part, first time.”

With a few more reassuring words – though Clarissa was more than confident on her friends around her – the Valentians took the last few moments to check everything, with the actual Clarissa on one bed, and one more on other bed, one with orange hair. “This will help ensure that we are able to, well, distinguish and tell who is who. Although, it is a bit redundant when both of them have an equal footing, and, you know, they can change and shapeshift at will thanks to their body’s properties,” Marcus remarked, followed by prompting Jenny to push the buttons and run the commands, “Ready when we are, Jenny! And hey, Val, don’t worry about it. We have backups just in case!”

And then with just a few button presses, Jenny, Marcus, Valentijn, and the rest of the Valentians watched as the data is carried and copied to the other Clarissa. Valentijn watched in anticipation, with Jenny becoming a little bit too excited for her own good while she looked at the lines of codes. After 15 minutes of transfer – considering the sheer amount of data, but helped by the advancement in data transfer technologies, Clarissa is then ready to tackle both WC and NSSCRA, the former of which she is only coaching, while the latter involves her driving the car itself, and she obviously could not use a remote control device or any such methods for it. The two Clarissas, in turn, took a gander at each other and smiled. “Hey, Clarissa! It’s me, Clarissa! It’s nice to meet you!” “Same to you too, Clarissa! I am so excited that we will be in two places at the same time!” And so they went, the main Clarissa making her way back to Valentine Z in order to get her NSSCRA things in order, while the cloned Clarissa (the one with the orange hair) was soon to be coaching the Valentian Kittens, hopefully to the post-qualifications. “Gwen’s Angels have definitely qualified for their Round of 16 in IBC 37, so hey, no pressure but let’s hope to do the same with us, and to get as much goals as we can towards these opponents! The Valentian Kittens was not told that it was the second Clarissa who was with them, perhaps as a test of some sort. “Let’s give them a while before they finally found out that it’s the second me, hehe!” Clarissa said cheerfully, much to the agreement from Valentijn.

by **Saint Eleanor** » Tue Feb 14, 2023 7:52 am

World Cup 93 - fifth matchday of qualifying
Saint Eleanor 1 (Jessica Martin goal 73')
Darmen 2 (Kennard Hale goals 52' and 68')

World Cup 93 - sixth matchday of qualifying
Safiloa 0
Saint Eleanor 1 (Natalie Monaco goal 78'. Welcome back, Lydia!)

OOC 1: The story of Priscilla Evans' match ball was cleared with Myt.

OOC 2: Have I not named Bridget Coombe's parents yet? No. No, I haven't. He's Michael and she's Amanda.

If you could take just one object from your house with you for future adventures... what would you take?

Assume that all members of your close family are safe and you haven't left any identification behind.

John Bailey: Robert's school books. He's just started this January and he needs those more than I need whatever trinkets I've picked up from the world of football. Those amount to about three trinkets and several million prizes, by the way. Don't ask me how I have so many of them.

Cathy Winchester: One of the leather jackets I have somewhere in my wardrobe. I've told you the story about how I got one for Bridget a few years ago after I tried to get her a pint at the local and she said she didn't do alcohol. No, I didn't give her one of mine; she's eight inches taller than I am and she definitely wouldn't have fit. With that said, the other reason I did that was because I had a few in my possession already and found them to be pretty nice in general. Not grungy or even cool - that isn't my vibe - but just... nice, relaxed, a bit calm. Like Bridget. Maybe a bit chaotic, too, which is definitely unlike her. Fashionable, iconic - and, in a sense, a reminder of the national team.

Exandra Davies: The electric guitar... although it's a completely different matter entirely whether I'd get to the leads in time or not. I have picked it up an awful lot better than I did when I last made a big deal of it in public... what, four years ago? If people in Jolbonopolis didn't recognise me by now, I'd even do live performances in public from time to time - although I do that sometimes anyway. I wouldn't dream of bringing it into the changing rooms, mind; the last thing anybody wants before a match is me deafening them.

Sam Newbridge: Obviously my Cup of Harmony winners' medal. It just seems like the obvious thing you'd take: my reminder that I was here, I did important things, it all worked out and now I've proven my worth. That and I don't think I have a lot else worth shouting about in my house; taking anything else would seem like a big waste of focus in comparison.

Liam West: The keys to Gordon's mate's shop in Carpentersville. I'd probably live upstairs that place if I had to; it's the closest thing I have to a life outside football.

Bridget Coombe: Most people would say that, when Occidental Olympic won the league five years ago, it was as a result of yours truly getting her head to an inswinging stoppage-time corner before anyone else on the final day of the season. Obviously, it was divine providence that got us there. Tim Wise, the legendary photojournalist, was at the right end of the Parkside on that dady and photographed the scene a few times as it developed; it wasn't the best - that would be Stephen Davids' angle for The Advertiser - but they were some of the most iconic, for various reasons. The Wednesday after the game, he knocked on my parents' door and asked "is Bridget here?". My dad said yes, but he didn't even need to ask me to come down - it was a large, framed print of his shot of me getting my head to the ball, at that exact moment, with his signature on it! The gesture was greatly appreciated and the print is one of the few things I took with me to Latrobe when I moved there. If I had to take one thing with me for my next move, it would unquestionably have to be that.

David Newcastle: The one economics textbook Cathy handed me a few years ago. It sounds interesting - she thinks she does, even though she never went to the University and probably just got it from one of the bookshops around there - but I have never gotten around to reading it! My wife is much more into this whole real-world nitty-gritty thing than I am, however, which is rather astonishing when you think about it - so if I can't like it and take away some lessons from it that I can baffle some of my other mates with, she can do that instead.

Sylvia Hollenberg: My university degree. It's more symbolic, if anything - but a lot of what the royal family does, in and of itself, is symbolic. It is a reminder of myself and some of the connections I've made with Saint Eleanor; a piece of paper, but one that can go to a lot of places in the unlikely event that I absolutely needed a new job - and one which shows that I can succeed, and have already succeeded, on my own merits.

Dekamela weMexala: For the past six years since he was born, my husband and I have been collecting photos of my son, things he's collected - memorabilia, really - and similar things he can look back on when he grows up. I'm taking that; he deserves to have the chance to look at them and I'd feel bad about myself if I can't keep reminding myself why he's the one that makes my world light up.

Steve Pilchard: If I had to pick one thing... interesting. Probably the 1998 league gold medal. Olympic are a million miles away from winning another one right now, I'll admit. The difference in 1998 was that we had a manager the fans hadn't yet turned on, a solid squad that should have been on the verge of getting turned over in the interests of maintaining the good-enough-to-be-quite-good talent factory, and the determination to see every single game through - especially after the hurt of repeatedly missing out on the IFCF. Obviously Dekky and I aren't leaving the club, but we've seen a few people leave over the years and I can only hope the new folks coming in are three-quarters as good. Any better and we might win the league. Again.

Jessica Martin: From time to time, I have meetings with General Mitcham; I couldn't possibly tell you why - it's probably a combination of family, the cult status some people have ascribed to me in football, and all the movements I've tried to launch - and I definitely couldn't tell you what we talk about. Mostly boring things, however. It should suffice to say that a few years ago, after a particularly engaging discussion about the Cup of Harmony squad breakdown of 1998, I was given a china set his parents bought from an antiques store in the 1960s for fifty dollars. He didn't know how it cost that little, but he insisted it was priceless and ask that I keep it - partially as a symbol of Eleanorian unity, somehow, and partially as a good-luck talisman for the entire national team in the hope such disintegration never befalls us again. It's served us well so far and it would be wrong of me not to keep hold of it. I insist that it be returned to the Mitchams upon my death, however.

Tim Brandon: Tough call... really tough. When she isn't doing Army things, Diana has been writing a history of the matchfixing scandal that almost destroyed the Army League in 1977 and forced President Mitcham's last major intervention in SEFA business. At the time, serving in the Army was not as cushy - to the outsiders, anyway - as it is now: it was hard, long and relatively scantly-paid work where you had to do all sorts of things just to keep the country in order. Most soldiers were War of Independence veterans who stayed in the Army either because they could or they hadn't found jobs elsewhere; the Army League was their escape. Towards the last few games of the season, some foreign matchfixing ring had been fucking around with the relegation and promotion races; it got so bad the final round of games was cancelled, the clubs involved in matchfixing dropped to the second division - which was a lot of them - and the ones that weren't got promoted. It was an astonishing story that turned the League upside-down, saved it, but nearly spoiled its reputation. Diana's almost finished with her manuscript so that's got to get moving with us.

Georgia Wood: If I can't take my entire collection of novels - which I probably can't, given that I have several hundred of them - then I'd probably just take the one I was reading last night, Beyond the Pale by Catherine Dudley. It would almost be reasonable to argue it's a tale of forbidden love; it focuses on an NLF supporter who falls in love with the daughter of a Tinhamptonian colonial administrator in the spring of 1974, immediately before and after the war begins. Incredibly enough, Dudley puts enough skill and generally tender loving care into the storyline that, instead of being a tale of certain ignominy, it just seems... boring, with a hint of armed conflict in the background. With that said, I've noticed a few paid-for advertorials in the Northern Mail about the Two Pine Press's Mertagnian Classics Collection; it sounds interesting, from what few ads I've seen, and I think I might call their international hotline to order the set at some point.

Hugh Roanoke: The Reporter, dateline June 24th 1975 - the Victory Issue. Everyone knows what happened the day before, but the mailmen were literally running around the entire country trying to throw a copy of this one in people's hands. There were more copies than people! My dad got a few himself and insisted I keep one for myself as a souvenir of the day independence was declared, the day I was born - really, just those things. There's a big segment about the "Victory Babies" who were born on the day of independence. I was one of them; I've heard of a few others and I'd be interested in hearing about where the rest of them have gone.

Lydia Nicholls: The Holy Bible. I quite honestly could not see myself living by any other book or code of conduct - and I've gone through a few instructive ones in my time. Put simply, it is a tale of history, philosophy, theology, ancient politics - and Jesus himself. I'll leave the elaboration to more involved people.

Esther Launceston: The wedding ring. Most people have diamond; Stephen got me emerald, partially because it looks nice and partially because of... other concerns. Shan't state them here. Not only is it unduly neat, but it is a reminder that I have one husband for all life, that we shall never be divided - and that God will bring us back together if we do. It's a bit of a challenge - my parents divorced when I was five - but one I'm very confident I can live up to, and something I think takes priority even over football. But if you were wondering, I do leave it at home during matches.

Adam Denby: Nothing. The Olympic ultras give me all the adventures I need for the time being. After that, I'd either stay there forever or have absolutely no idea what to do next, which most likely sounds like me long before I had anything to do with football. Sorry, guv.

Aaron Francis: The Cup of Harmony medal. I've had very little else to live for in the world of football; being part of that squad was a seminal experience in all aspects, from how we missed out on the playoffs to when we didn't really step into gear until extra-time in the semis - I've been told - to just surrounding myself with relentlessly positive people who believed in themselves and each other. It's been a few months but I'm still proud I was there, and I'll still be proud when I'm old and dying on an EHS bed somewhere. If the Golden Unicorn could pick up 20% of that spirit, we'd be in big. Really big.

Harriet Williams: I am still on the best terms imaginable with Alice Christopher, quiet though she's been recently. The Eleanorian Academy, where we went, differs from most schools in that Head Boy and Head Girl are directly elected rather than decided in School Council negotiations. When I was running for Head Girl in 1987 - really the end of 1986's school year - she was the obvious co-candidate for deputy. The big reason why we won our respective elections was firstly because we gelled really well together in a sense that no other pair of candidates in that race could hope to match, even though there weren't that many. Besides that, I used up multiple cartridges of printer ink producing Harriet and Alice for a Better Future leaflets that we printed double-sided on a normal bit of paper, folded in half, then distributed to just about every eligible voter. I mean student. I still have a copy of that particular PR success in a cabinet somewhere - it's my favourite memento of our friendship together. Sorry, twelve-year-old newspaper clipping about how Athletic midfielder and her Independence counterpart break through traditional tribal expectations with their unshakable friendship.

Naresmet taFrexala: Look, I think there's a fuckton of things about that we love, we cherish, we look after - and I don't think it would be fair just to choose one! But if I had to pick one, just one, it would be the certificate of congratulation the FA President, Mr Lucas, gave everyone in the Athletic side three years ago for being the first team not only to make an IFCF group stage - but the Champions' League group stage. It was a milestone for me, the nation, and the club, which was struggling a lot a few years ago. Sure, we didn't make it out alive, but who does on their first go? It was worth having a shot at it, for sure.

Christina Fulton: The computer tower. I keep a lot of things on it... and I back up regularly. At this stage, it's probably where I keep most of my life; I still write things down but they're mostly not that important. What am I if I can't take my memories with me?

Rick Goldsmith: Probably the Golden Backpack of 1997. You don't get many people from Queenston - never mind anywhere outside the feeder schools - playing well enough that they scoop the big prize. I used to think I wasn't really the best player on the team, but that's changed now I've been thinking about how much it meant to me and how it pretty much kickstarted my proper football career. You think Celestia would have noticed me without my performances there? Means a lot, Donny L. Love you.

Arielle Richardson: The Eleanorian University Press publishes a series of books every few years - Politics Around Anaia, Politics Around Atlantian Oceania, Politics Around Rushmore, and so on - which talks about the systems of governance in all the nations in the region, current controversies and crises, major political figures, economic, cultural and religious breakdowns, and so on. The latest issue of Politics Around Rushmore - published at the heat of the Cooper River Delta crisis and towards the tail-end of the Nyowani Kitara conflict - is as provocative as it is informative. I would take that with me, even if only because I seem to learn something new every time I read it. And it's a few years old already!

Corporal Denise Livingston: The Army uniform. If I'm moving, it'll likely be because I've been assigned to a new base.

Natalie Monaco: My dad was in Goldsmiths in April 1962 when the Great Tornado swept from Allington to North Seville. He decided to pick up some debris from a few streets across and take it back home, but - this being the 1960s and an underpoliced area for obvious reasons - he was never caught. In fact, the response was so badly managed some people are entirely convinced it was the shot that gave us the chaser of Eleanorian independence. For some reason, he took that with him and it passed down to me. It's not the kind of educational artifact you really want to be taking with you... but in this case, why not?

Melcheta Pazorzal: Daddy took an A-frame road sign home once that says ELEANORIAN ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS ON SERVICE. He wasn't supposed to do that for a few reasons. First, he's just with United Road Management. Secondly, I probably shouldn't be using it: the Engineering Corps are pretty much involved in all the big infrastructure projects - they're the country's largest construction firm! I suppose it would be a nice thing to take, however. A bit weird, okay, but nice.

Priscilla Evans: The match ball from Tinhampton's Cup of Harmony quarterfinal win. I have no idea how I ended up with it; I scored the winning goal in that match, by all accounts, but the ball found its way to Mohamed al-Khazr's hands after the match for some reason. I don't know where else it went, but the last person to have it before me was a Mytanar, an Atletik supporter who managed to track me down before their Champions' League playoff defeat in 2000 and said "this ball belongs to you." It's a less obviously sentimental piece, but it is still a landmark in Tinhamptonian football - and my career, obviously. I think I'd just pass it onto someone completely different when I get the chance in my next place, mind.

Lieutenant Stephen Mitcham: I have to leave my house but everybody in the family is safe? That sounds extremely unlikely.

by **Montana Verde** » Tue Feb 14, 2023 8:04 am

Atheara – 1 (0)
Nourenzi (46’)

Montaña Verde – 0 (1)
Ingeniero; Alcalá, Mandito (57’ Juan Venegas ), Mercedes (45’), Juderías; Schutzán (66’ Covarrubias ), Coco; Aramis (57’ Tatiano ), Primitivo (74’ Cristo Díaz (84’)), Camilo; Tino (74’ Osito )

Montaña Verde – 2 (1)
Ingeniero; Alcalá, Cambeiro (59’ Juan Venegas ), Mandito (20’), Juderías; Coco (45’ Cristo Díaz ), Schutzán (27’) (59’ Israel ); Monaguillo (45’ Covarrubias ), Aramis, Camilo (51’) (76’ Osito ); Tino (71’)

Mancomunidad de la Parque Panadero – 3 (1)
Harris (6’), (65’), (90+5’)

Article from Verdean football magazine Cuatro-Cuatro-Dos.

Condors hopes already waning after double blank weekend

~~head~~

On this day in Verdean history!

1453: The peace of Cúcuté unites the warring Araidi, Podo, and Ciw tribes
1824: The Silencioso slave ship is sunk with the loss of all hands following a mutiny
1885: The Second Verdean Republic falls after their defeat at the Battle of Jucuameca
1915: The “Verdean unicorn” hoax photograph causes a brief explosion of interest in cryptozoology before it is debunked
1948: The second Verdean constitution is adopted, bringing in separation of branches of government for the first time
1980: The Coronels’ Coup overthrows the civilian government and institutes military dictatorship
1984: The first Verdean shale oil extraction site opens for business
2008: A Græntfjaller supertanker runs aground off the Costa de Tortuga causing a massive oil spill
2015: The punk song “Tiempo di Terror” is released, becoming a popular anthem of discontent against the Republican government
2023: Popular discontent erupts over the fate of President Santángel

by **Independent Athletes from Quebec** » Tue Feb 14, 2023 8:10 am

Dr. Heo and the Portal of Madness

PART 27 - Death Stranding

It was in the evening that Isabel would come to disrupt Joon-Gweon and Hannah.

'It must be nice to be able to enjoy the world,' she said to the pair, as the Professor would find her student and the young lad looking at the streets outside the world. 'Especially when you can't really feel the world falling apart...just yet?'

'The lights of Joongyeong are truly legendary,' answered Joon-Gweon. Being isolated from the outside eyes, and being able to view from the distance afforded by the magical barriers, he was busy. Not to think about the world ending, but to enjoy the views of the colourful, classical boulevards and pavements of Quartier Calanien's famed bistros and antiques stores on an eight in the evening. Nothing better than to prepare for something worse than that, especially if things were going to go down in a more dramatic manner. 'And you have been living here for twelve years now, Professor?'

'Why, yes.' answered Isabel, as she stopped for a bit before trying to push for the narrative shift. If this were any other, faster-paced storyline she would have seen the finish-line of the matter already, but Isabel, who was generated out of a single piece of hair from her own meta-creator (to separate herself from her creator, once-almighty but long-missing Búa), found herself stuck on the Marshlock Marshes of pacing (Marshlock Marshes are a proper noun, used as an extraordinary risky situation in ancient English somewhere out there -e.d.-).

Right now, the world of The Creator, whose name is now canonically a Paddington Bear, seemed to be suffering a slowdown in pace, with past-life stories and first romances taking priority over matters considered more serious like fixing the regional schisms and Plough Islander school of inflexible, 1G-tech cartography. For the most part, even those who survived the earlier battle seemed to be unworried, with them either lost in their moment of leisure or pleasure.

'But don't forget that you will be expecting visitors any moment, and those are the people neither of you would not exactly expect,' said Isabel, herself slightly uncertain on what kind of fellow magical folk would be coming to this place. They better not destroy my carpet, thought she, though admitting this possibility was not something that was on her alleyway. I mean, when your occupation requires you to travel with such regularity, worst-case scenarios were to be expected at all times.

And that included the carpets getting spoiled.

'I could sense them for sure, especially with their trajectories flying from another safehouse near Tulcan. It's a lodge.' Hannah said, her checking the radar of fellow magical folk activated by the Live (Human) Flight Tracker on her Ewatch. 'There's a bigger trajectory of people escaping though, apparently, the Kargenodi Lodge's managed to break through the outage that locked the denizens out.'

'Don't look at the Lodge, the Lodgers aren't the ones we are looking for,' said Isabel, the sharpness in her eyes coming back again. 'I figure that the Lodgers are either too new to exercise their power on the afterlife or they aren't practitioners. A reminder that a major difference exists between possessing an ability versus actually being able to exercise it,' She then continued to speak. 'But let's go back to those from Tulcan - how many do you see coming all the way here? Is it a scheduled (Human) flight or a charter? Or to be clearer, are they looking for us? I doubt they are going to the Daemyeongoong Palace - apparently, the Queen hates that, according to our friend (Dr. Heo).'

'Well, it's not exactly what I had expected,' said a familiar, deep voice as he opened the door to the room. 'I used the Torch, only to find myself ending up on the Blood Sea, only to see the Creator and his friend, the Wolverine.'

It was Dr. Heo, the professor looking even more..affected than how he was just hours before. While he didn't exactly hold doubt over the existence of a higher being, the experience of ending up on the Pronghorn Island, where he was offered a rather generous sum of coffee, fruits and a golden cigar box before the cynical encounter, was taxing on him.

'How was it?' Isabel asked, her looking at the worn-down state of her colleague.

'Exciting, perhaps too exciting for our age.' He said, quickly grabbing breaths a couple of times. Once confident Dr. Heo was no longer feeling so sure if he had a good idea on how to handle the situation, rather overwhelmed in realising that they, in order to fix the interdimensional cracks all over Quebec and Shingoryeo, would likely have to deal with an effort that's lot bigger and multilateral in nature. 'They seemed nice and whatnot, aside from their bizarre habit of enjoying vacationing over the Hyeolhae (血海) and Wolverine wearing Michigan Wolverines 2023 CFP Champions. Like we all know that isn't going to happen,' Dr. Heo said.

'What are those Michigan Wolverines?' Joon-Gweon asked, slightly confused over this fictional collegiate team. 'Are their fans as bizarre, high on copium, as those in St-Gabriel-Richard (Univ. de St-Gabriel-Richard, based in Erielhonan Free State, have a famous athletic program with nicknames Wolverines -e.d.-). Or are they more like urban cowboys in Pahkatequayang? (Latilutakówa National University, based on a certain RL school my brother is a recent alumnus of, has the nickname Mustangs -e.d.-).'

'Maybe it's an inside joke that we don't know.' Hannah answered.

'Probably.' he nodded. Fortunately, Hannah and Joon-Gweon had an excuse - young lad and lass were yet to be told about the life on the other side of the fence, though they would soon hear about it.

'First, I do not know what in the world are Michigan Wolverines,' Isabel answered, trying to set the turf straight. 'Second, we don't care about gridiron football, at least not in my house. Most importantly, however, you have met the Creator of your world and I assume some another superpower. What did he say?'

'He just said "be prepared, and do not venture into this alone,"' answered Dr. Heo, who was given relatively little instruction on what's about to face them all. 'And that to fix the interdimensional crack, he said it's like governmental work, relatively straightforward but with lots of work volume.'

'Interesting,' Joon-Gweon answered. 'Because that's not how I would expect a government to function.'

'That's not what it matters, I don't think,' Hannah replied. 'So The Creator said that right as every magical folk in the country remains confused, in leisure-filled denial, or heading under a trajectory. Is that correct?'

'I'm afraid so, yes.' replied Dr. Heo. He was now clearly out of depth and wanted to go home, only fifteen minutes metro ride away from this flat.

'Looks like we'll have to get ready for our visitors then.' smiled Isabel. 'It looks like they may be able to bring us to your so-called Creator now.'

works? · by **Abanhfleft** » Tue Feb 14, 2023 8:11 am

DISCLAIMER: Gaelic Gamers is an independents sports blogging website created by four cousins with a common liking and passion for sports of all kinds and is in no way or form affiliated with or organized by any official news organization in the Democratic Republic of Abanhfleft. All statements and opinions posted here are our own and not anyone else's.

Gaelic Gamers
Presents...

The Football Fallacies
with The Man from Markovsky

FOOTBALL IS A F***ING WEIRD SPORT

Hello and welcome to The Football Fallacies. Right, so, uh, football really is a bit of an unpredictable game, isn’t it? Like seriously, how do you go from being beaten up by some of the best football sides in the multiverse and then turn things around, even just a little bit, against perhaps one of the worst teams in the group? I mean, I would hope that even in our own bloody piss-poor state, we would have been able to beat a team like Lashnakia, and we did, but that isn’t really the issue that I have with this team. The issue that I have is that how do we go on from this? Look, we got screwed by the scheduling of the qualifiers, plain and simple. I’m not even going to contest it. The only way we would have been more unlucky in these qualifiers is if we had both Flavovespia and Valanora as our first two games in the qualifiers! Third and fourth is really quite bad as well, but at least losing those two games wouldn’t have set the tone for the rest of the whole bloody qualifiers! Not that losing against bloody Estorvipa and Estorpiva did us any favors as well, but you get my point! At least now that we’ve got the bloody top two seeds in our group out of the way, maybe we can now focus on finding ways to get as many points from the rest of the games as we could! Then again, knowing Abanhfleft, we’re going to drop the ball absolutely hard in these qualifiers. Doesn’t matter if it’s in the first half or the second; we’re not getting back to the World Cup anytime soon! Heck, don’t even expect a trip to the Cup of Harmony after this!

Abanhfleft had to find a way to recover from those back-to-back losses against Flavovespia and Valanora, and it really did look like Lashnakia was going to be the perfect rebound for this Revolutionaries side that had been manhandled by both the Flavos and the Marauders (I don’t know what the Flavovespian team’s nickname so deal with it). However, if you’ve been following Abanhfleft for as long as I have then you would know that this is literally a trap. Lashnakia was probably going to play the game of their lives against us and get literally only their second win in this qualifying cycle. That’s literally almost always what happens to the Revolutionaries no matter who’s playing for them or whoever is against them! But maybe the most surprising thing about this international break is the fact that we actually won this game! And not only did we win but we won it in pretty convincing fashion if I do say so myself! Bloody hell, we might have even had our first ever clean sheet in this qualifying cycle if our defense didn’t suddenly get afflicted with a desire to score own goals just for the heck of it. Like, sometimes I think that there’s some sort of machine out there that generates these scores and if one team isn’t pulling their weight in achieving that score then someone else has to put in the effort to fulfill the ordained scoreline, but maybe that’s just me.

Honestly though, it was refreshing to see the Man-Machine, Sven bloody Fahrni, the bastard Forsbjorg Terminator himself, finally back to manipulating the strings from the midfield as he pleases. Y’all probably think that I’m sucking off his robotic D right now, and you all are probably right. Doesn’t stop me from being right though, does it? Man doesn’t even need to score to get back to form, even though he did in this game. All he really needs is for his teammates to get on the end of his passes and everything’s right in the world once again. It’s almost enough for him to delete those memories of that loss against Elmyia in the DBC from his memory banks. Almost. But real talk, the three points that we got against Lashnakia was all thanks to Sven pulling the strings in midfield. Again though, if it hadn’t been for our defense suffering a collective brainfart in the last fifteen minutes of this match then we would have got the clean sheet too. All those armchair statisticians with their expected goals nonsense would be foaming at the mouth at the fact that Lashnakia scored two goals when their xG was something crazy like 0.19 or something that low. Honestly, that game should go down as being 6-0 in our favor because those should be six goals for Abanhfleft and not four goals to us and two to our opponent. Those bastard football gods, man, I’m telling you all.

Then we were all off to Pasarga and I was like, damn. It was bloody good while it lasted. Going to one of the countries on my shit list in the middle of one of the worst runs of form in the national team’s history? Sounds like a recipe for disaster, if you ask me! And it actually was a fucking disaster! Well, almost. For some reason or other, we managed to walk out of that place with a single point. A single point! Of course, three would have been much more beneficial to this team, but the mere fact that an Abanhfleft team still managed to get one point off of Pasarga in a game of football was most definitely not on my WCQ 93 bingo card! I mean, the Wanderers had the upper hand in the first half, but then things literally turned around in the second half and we were now the ones dominating the contest. Heck, I’m actually surprised that we got a draw out of all of this because when we’ve been dominated in one half and dominant in the second, it doesn’t usually result in any goals for us! I don’t know if it’s just because we have Sven Fahrni in the team or if Levi Baak has actually done something to this team to change things around for the better. I mean, the best case scenario would have been us scoring three goals in the second half instead of two, but beggars can’t really be choosers now, can they?

I can’t believe I’m even actually saying this, but our subs actually did magnificently against Pasarga! Who would have thought that having quality players not only in your starting eleven but also your bench would actually be beneficial to your team during World Cup qualifiers? Okay, maybe I’m getting ahead of myself by calling the likes of Bradley Aquino and Drew Alonto superstars, but they got the job done in the end, right? At least this time they were actually serviceable Plan Bs who could actually put the ball into the back of the net, unlike some of our previous subs in World Cup qualifiers past. Heck, some of our starters in previous World Cup qualifiers couldn’t even hit the back of the net if their lives depended on it! Sometimes it’s just good to have an option or two in the bench to change things up, shake it up a little. It didn’t really matter that Drew Alonto isn’t that different to Sacit Közalmaz in terms of how they play as wingers; Alonto had fresher legs and different ideas and that was apparently enough to throw Pasarga off the scent just long enough for him to start the bloody Fleftic comeback! You don’t always have to have world-beaters on your bench to change games when they’re not going your way. Sometimes all you really need is something different.

Four points out of six is a pretty respectable haul of points for this international break, but given the context, three would have been the absolute minimum in order for me to consider this one a success. We really should have been able to beat bloody Lashnakia, and we did, but those bastard own goals really put a sour note on all of that. And I never really expected us to get anything out of Pasarga, but guess what? We got a point! I’m still bloody shocked that that actually happened, as you can see. I guess the curse only applies to the under-21 team then? Or did I just jinx us in our next meeting with the Wanderers? Anyway, that’s all that there is from me now. If you’ve got any thoughts or comments of your own about our qualifying matches against Lashnakia and Pasarga then feel free to leave them down below. Until then, I’ve been the Man from Markovsky, still somewhat disappointed in my own country because of those bastard own goals.

         ABANHFLEFT 4 - 2 LASHNAKIA           
  CARLOS LADO (16')       THONET (56' o.g.)
       FAHRNI (28')       MANICAD (75' o.g.)
   BENSOUSSAN (33')
       THONET (49')

       PASARGA 2 - 2 ABANHFLEFT      
  MAGANA (10')       ALONTO (78')
  PÁLFFY (39')       AQUINO (90+3')

by **West Barack and East Obama** » Tue Feb 14, 2023 8:16 am

BARACK OBAMA'S NEXT TOP MIDFIELDER

Our Third Episode!

Welcome to the THIRD ever episode of Barack Obama's Next Top Midfielder! The talent show for these ten lucky people to display their talents in the middle of the park! After our second ever contestant, Kemarbama Huth, got in through an astounding kick to the Moon which landed during a special episode, the pressure is on for our eight other remaining contestants to prove to the judges why they should be named Barack Obama's Next Top Midfielder! For this third episode let's welcome... Boris Doobama!

Boris Doobama is a twenty-six year old circus performer from East Barack. Known for his juggling as a clown and his trapeze walks, Doobama is multi-talented, and his foray into football is just one more avenue to show the world how well he can entertain with his skills!

Master of Ceremonies: Please welcome our third ever contestant, Boris Doobama!

[audience applauds loudly]

Boris: Hey everyone! I'm so happy to be here!

Sergei: Welcome to the show Boris! Glad to see that you're enthusiastic. How will you plan to show everyone that you are Barack Obama's Next Top Midfielder?

Boris: Well, I'm going to juggle four footballs... all at once!

Sergei: That does sound impressive!

Wolfgang: Juggling? What, with your feet?

Boris: Oh, I can't do it with my feet. Gets too tiring. I'll do it with my hands.

Wolfgang: Your hands? How does that prove that you're a good midfielder? Midfielders don't use hands.

Boris: Ah. But here's the real impressive part: I'll be doing it on the trapeze!

Zoey: What... the flying thing? Midfielders don't really fly.

Boris: It's not about the literal skill, it's about the strength, the balance, the focus and-

Zoey: Nah, I've heard enough. None of this even sounds remotely appropriate to being a midfielder. That's a nay from me.

Chuck: Hang on, hang on. The poor guy hasn't even performed yet!

Sergei: Why should he! This talent show is for serious applicants who wish to be seen as Barack Obama's Next Top Midfielder, not a circus show for muppets. Well, that's a no from me as well.

Wolfgang: Same here. NOPE!

Sergei: Well, that's a majority. Sorry bud, but you gotta go.

[Boris shuffles quietly to the end of the stage as the audience remains silent]

Chuck: Wait, wait! Are you interest in trialing as a goalkeeper for the team at least? Juggling can be pretty useful to that.

Sergei: Are you kidding? This guy clearly isn't serious. He's a literal clown. He can't play any role for the team.

Chuck: Okay, what about a, um, being the fourth official? Holding up that giant board can get pretty tiring, and we need someone who has the strength to hang onto a trapeze all day!

Wolfgang: No way man. Refs need special training. This guy clearly has no experience whatsoever! We can't let these guys make the crucial decisions that impact our performance.

Chuck: Okay... okay... being the mascot? Bazza the Bald Eagle is certainly acrobatic and entertaining. You'd be perfect!

Wolfgang: Hmm... that's actually not a bad idea.

Zoey: Yeah! I mean, if we could decide such a thing, I'd vote for it.

Sergei: We can probably get it done. I think we all vote yes to the idea right? What about you, Boris?

Boris: Fine, whatever. Sure.

[the crowd goes wild with applause as gold confetti rains on Boris]

Master of Ceremonies: Well, that marks the end of this... very brief episode of Barack Obama's Next Top Midfielder. Even though Boris Doobama has been eliminated from midfielder contention, he's in the race to become Barack Obama's Next Top Mascot! Stay tuned on Sundays, and stay on for the next 25 minutes of commercials to win a special prize!

by **The Gothanita Isles** » Tue Feb 14, 2023 8:18 am

If there is anything captain Celsus Becket can tell you about the 6 WCQ games the Yellow Lions have been playing, it is that the team isn't playing for themselves. They are playing to unite an entire nation, trying to show how united the nation is, even if there is an argument/conflict/revolution/whatever you call it going on in North Handoria led by Joanne Petersburg.

The results by the Yellow Lions, a team that is basically relying on barely enough funding, and came in without any coordination training whatsoever, with players only invovled in their small circle in the Gothanitan Football League, is absolutely stunning and unbelievable. Otksarin may be quarterfinalists in the recent Mandalanusa Cup, but it never crossed the minds of Rudolf Rostami, the coach that brought Otksarin into the Mandalanusa Cup, that this TGI team can defeat heavyweights Pemecutan 1-0 in Bongali Park. While TGI couldn't keep the goalless draw they did against Sendhang when the played on matchday 6 in the North Pekatanan Stadium, 3 wins from the opening 6 games was definitely an unexpected twist in the Yellow Lions' journey in the World Cup Qualifiers. There was no expectations for this team, if you were to trust Celsus Becket, or vice-captain Lola Katona, or the co-coaches. These people were here to tell a story. Regardless of whatever domestic troubles there are, the people of TGI have their hearts together, willing to overcome any issues that stand in their way.

Speaking of vice-captain Lola Katona, her feelings are definitely one of the most messiest of them all. Her brother, Jacob Katona, quit his job as a civil servant to participate in the Democratic Movement of Wokean. While she plays for the entire country overseas, his brother is risking his life trying to fight for more civil rights for the whole nation. "We stand for the people" is a common catch-phrase of the Movement. Wokean wasn't exactly there when the North-South divide (known as the Handorian-Jeolerian divide in North Handoria) happened and 2 nations emerged from it, but the people there represent a new generations who learnt about the split, and decided, "Hey, why can't we have the same democratic function as our Southern neighbours". They are probably right to some extent, but not much. South Jeolerina and North Handoria did split because of differences in economic policies and the way the people prefer to be ruled. North Handoria has been in a top-down approach for a very long time. President Jokowi Handras, who has been President for around 20 years now, has never seen such a huge opposition to the decisions that he made, or how his predecessor, the late Carlin Caestro, ruled the country. North Handoria established, on the nation's formation, that North Handoria should be a President Knows Best state. The people want to interfere? Make their way into the People's Council, and then help the President make decision. This is North Handoria's rule of government. South Jeolerina is more of a standard democracy. Not the direct democracy we would see in Hallikshire, but at least, some form of democracy with first-past-the-post elections, ability to send in petitions to the State Council (technically you could send in petitions in North Handoria, but they often don't get recognised), and also the ability to protest. In North Handoria, you might get jailed for life. Such is the difference.

Lola knows her parents are basically worried right now. Worried about their son, who is risking his life to campaign for this entire notion of "more civil rights", and about their daughter, who is out there spreading the message that "the people of TGI is united". But she can't stop right now and give up. The entire country is looking at this national team. The team that could continue to hold their flag. Even if the Sultan of Otksarin, Chief Minister of South Jeolerina, or First Citizen of Hallikshire, cannot do anything to stop the ongoing violence in North Handoria and Wokean, at least the football team can symbolically make a difference out here. If TGI doing well in football can be a way to resolve the conflict in Wokean, all is well. If international support can come into the country and the people can get better economic support, all is also well. This is not a matter of playing for her own glory. Its about the journey of her trying to show her loyalty to the people of TGI. Playing for the honor of her country.

by **Graintfjall** » Tue Feb 14, 2023 8:22 am

Græntfjall – 2 (1)
Björnólfur; Sigurbergur (69’ Alyssia ), Asbjørn, Eyvar (87’), Jan; Valtter (90+3’ Reidar ), Erin, Kæja (59’ Lotte ); Þrastar, Röskvi (59’ Joel ), Sara K (c) (31’ pen.) (69’ Leona )

Kirunwhatsit – 0 (0)

Gyatso-kai – 1 (1)
Yu (10’), Hashimoto (71’ o.g.)

Græntfjall – 4 (1)
Mikkel; Alyssia (70’) (73’ Sigurbergur ), Eyvar, Asbjørn, Leona; Steinar (33’) (56’), Valtter (90+3’ Klængur ), Danny (73’ Lotte ); Vanessa (57’ Þrastar ), Mímir (44’), Sara K (c) (52’, 75’) (90+3’ Erin )

MD7–8 squad: 1. Björnólfur, 12. Mikkel, 23. Hanif; 2. Alyssia, 3. Jan, 4. Eyvar, 5. Asbjørn, 6. Klængur, 17. Tom, 20. Reidar, 22. Anarr, 24. Sigurbergur, 26. Leona; 8. Danny, 10. Kæja, 11. Valtter, 13. Erin, 15. Steinar (suspended for MD7), 16. Lotte, 18. Tinni; 7. Sara K (c), 9. Mímir, 14. Rebekka, 19. Röskvi, 21. Þrastar, 25. Joel

Jason Þórhallursson may have left Banija, signing with Sivolvia Capitalizt in the Squornshelan Remnant States after years playing in Banija with, first, the Busembe Timberwolves, and then Herzegovina City, but a part of him remained there. For one thing, he’d fathered a son while he was there (one, that he knew of); more than that, he’d made friends, he’d come to learn and love the Banijan people. As the news began to unfold, as the word “unsurvivable” made its way into the press, as newspapers and blogs and radio stations and TV stations began splashing images of the cruel Blood Sea’s unforgiving cold depths, he felt, more keenly than most Græntfjallers, an awful sense of loss. The radar intercepts from the Græntfjaller base in Cabo Azure made it clear enough: the plane had fallen off course, then off radar altogether. Of the princes, nothing more had been heard.

“You shouldn’t be reading those,” said Kaija Michaelsdóttir, frowning critically at him. He put the file down with a guilty smile.

“I didn’t see them marked ‘top secret’ or anything.”

The Prime Minister came back to the couch and folded herself into the crook of his arm. His shirt was long on her, reaching down to her knees. She could have worn it as a dress. Admittedly, probably not to a state reception. Reaching out, she flipped closed the cover page. There it was, stamped in red lettering, TOP SECRET.

“Oh.”

“Did you know them?”

“The Princes?” he barked with laughter. How strange that she should assume the Gunzlach street kid whose mother had brought him up in shabby state housing, barely able to afford a pair of football boots, would be hobknobbing with royalty. How strange that her assumption wasn’t even entirely off base.

“No,” he admitted. “I think I might have met them, at the wedding. But only to shake hands with. They wouldn’t have picked me out of a crowd. You?”

She shook her head. The White Winter Queendom and Banija had never been especially close, even though for her the country would always have warm memories, of the Summer Olympics. Against the shivering sea, perhaps the two monarchies should forge closer links.

“We’re mulling what sort of response to make. Brynjúlfur,” she said, referring to Brynjúlfur Brynjarsson, the Foreign Minister, “Wants to send a giant letter ‘F’.”

F
Scale model of the proposed missive

“Hmm.” Jason was sceptical about how that would be received. “Maybe a muffin basket would go down better…”

“You see,” she said. “This is why I rely on your expert counsel.”

by **Turori** » Tue Feb 14, 2023 8:30 am

Turori Sport Report

World Cup 93 Qualifying Matchday 5 :: The Turori National Team would get what many considered to be their first real test of the World Cup 93 Qualification Campaign when they traveled on the road to face off against Atlantian Oceania Regional Rivals the Commonwealth of Baker Park at the BBP National Stadium. 72,000 fans flocked to the Bees Home Nest in hopes of seeing their team take a slice out of Turori's Group 13 lead. In what turned out to be a thrilling match with multiple lead changes, the Turori National Team would ultimately prevail 3-2 thanks to Moumouni Verre'elali's 75th minute winner that completed the scoring in a game the met all the expectations and warranted its position as the featured match of the day on AOSN, the Atlantian Oceania Sporting Network.

Things were looking great for the Gold & Black early on when veteran midfielder Christa Vuckovic scored from a free kick in a perfect delivery that found the top corner with World Cup winning goalkeeper Derizi Amatopa having no chance at keeping the ball out of the net as the home side took the lead just 12 minutes in. It took some time for the Eels to get rolling but once they did they got a pair of goals in quick succession with Nua'oma Aikiki flipping the script and stinging back to give Turori a 2-1 lead at the half. Baker Park head coach Jennifer Prescott made a pair of substitutions at the half, one attack minded and one changing the look of the team introducing defender Magda Kucera into the match.

Kucera, who plays their domestic footsport for Inland Peaks FC in the Vilitan League, would get in on the action very quickly, converting on a header from a Vuckovic delivered corner kick just 6 minutes into the second half for just her second career internationstatal goal, leveling the scores once more and setting things back to square zero. It would stay that way until Testiculos Nominee Moumouni Verre'elali had the final contribution, blitzing up the right hand side on a charge along with Loala Inkabu and then, deceptively getting the final touch when the entire Bees defense was expecting a return pass to Inkabu, sealing the 3 points for the Eels.

 Turori 3 - 2 Commonwealth of Baker Park	
	Turori Goals:	:: 27' Nua'oma Aikiki:: 35' Nua'oma Aikiki:: 75' Moumouni Verre'elali            
	Stats :: Turori 	:: Possession: 58%:: Shots: 6:: Corners: 5 :: Commonwealth of Baker Park :: Possession: 42%:: Shots: 4:: Corners: 9
	Turori Lineup :: 	Derizi Amatopa, Karek Edgeli, Amakli Inuro'o (Tsinuzpa Rana’aiao 45'), Moumouni Verre'elali , Biliki Rona'atu'i (Tulaki Rauogba 77'), Cuoabaza Orani’aoa, Kiidallen Aeroluzzi(Loala Inkabu 45'), Naraiza Ruaplal (H’munao Cagomia 45'), Kinabo Telioa, Nua'oma Aikiki (Kala'a Yuliizala 45'), Turakia Diijelhma

World Cup 93 Qualifying Matchday 6 :: It would be yet another game for the Turori National Team at Eels Park in Eelandii, and yet another victory for the Eels as well. Perhaps more promising for the Turori National Team is the future of their Goalkeeping position is looking stronger and stronger as Terasin Moravuao has picked up a third victory of the campaign and their second via means of a shutout. While the opposition was not the strongest, Strayan Rus coming in ranked just 227th in the multiverse, it was still an outstanding opportunity for the Eelandii Academy youngster to build confidence on the biggest stage in front of 68,000 Turorian fans. Moravuao even earned themselves a customized chant from Nigel's Army after being named as one of the players of the game as announced on the PA system at Eels Park after the final whistle. Turori got their goals from Lumlao Noauryua and Naraiza Ruaplal, the latter coming in stoppage time to finally allay any fears of a late Strayan equalizer that had lingered for the majority of the second half. The win would also allow Turori to keep up their perfect start to the World Cup 93 Qualifying campaign with six wins from as many matches, though difficult games against Krytenia and Tikariot still remain ahead on the schedule for the Eels.

 Turori 2 - 0 Strayan Rus	
	Turori Goals:	:: 42' Lumlao Noauryua:: 91' Naraiza Ruaplal             
	Stats :: Turori 	:: Possession: 52%:: Shots: 6:: Corners: 4 :: Strayan Rus :: Possession: 48%:: Shots: 2:: Corners: 4
	Turori Lineup :: 	Terasin Moravuao, Moumouni Verre'elali (Trenian Omalizo 69'), Planio’o Nrujsa (H’munao Cagomia 45'), Biliki Rona'atu'i, Karek Edgeli (Amakli Inuro'o 69'), Kiidallen Aeroluzzi (Turakia Diijelhma 45'), Tulaki Rauogba (Naraiza Ruaplal 29'), Lumlao Noauryua, Cuoabaza Orani’aoa, Nua'oma Aikiki, Tsinuzpa Rana’aiao

World Cup 93 Qualifying Group 13 :: A crucial matchup with playoff implications took place on Matchday 6 when a pair of geographical rivals clashed with sole possession of 3rd place in the Group 13 table on the line. Long time Turorian rivals Krytenia hosted Atheara with both sides entering the game level on 12 points for the 3rd position in the standings. 90 minutes later it was the home side that prevailed, Krytenia winning the game 1-0 to take sole possession of third place in the table and the last projected World Cup Playoff slot. The win also allowed Krytenia to stay within 3 points of the Turori National Team ahead of their highly anticipated World Cup 15 Era Rivalry home and away later in the Qualifiers.

The next set of matchdays should be incredibly revealing as to whom Turori's main challenger for the Automatic Qualification Spot in Group 13 will be as the Commonwealth of Baker Park, the struggling second seed in the group will face off head to head with current 2nd and 3rd place teams Tikariot and Krytenia. The Bees will absolutely need at least one win from the two matches just to stay in the conversation regarding World Cup Qualification but realistically will be looking at needing to win both high-profile matches to stay on pace for a shot at the Group 13 Automatic Qualification Spot. Defeat in both games would be disastrous for Baker Park who would then find themselves up to 9 points outside the playoff zone.

by **Banija** » Tue Feb 14, 2023 8:37 am

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

The Kabaka, at Mujaguzo Palace in Busukuma

... "They WHAT??" The Kabaka exclaimed. He was stunned- probably the most shocked he had ever been. A lot of things could be said about Kabaka Mwanga- but for a modern-day monarch, he had certainly lived a life of tragedy now. His father shot straight in the heart, assasinated- and then, now, this happening to his son and grandson, his heirs to the throne. He had just received the news that had so much of the world up in arms. The flight to the Commonwealth Assembly, in Nyhavn, had gone terribly, terribly wrong. Phones were going crazy. Xolile Lubabalo, the Katikkiro, was still there.

"Get me the Katikkiro on the phone- pronto." He told an aide. Remember, the Isebantu was the Waziri- and his deputy was his heir. So the Kabaka was pulling basically all sorts of extra duty, while trying to get things sorted with his sons. He called the Katikkiro in Nyhavn, and he spoke to her at length at what was going on. A security briefing was quickly pulled together, as they let everyone know what was going on.

"We need to make a public statement, your Majesty." Said the Minister of Finance, Kabonesa Kakooza, who was the Deputy Leader of the largest party in the Coalition Government. "As you can see, twii.tur is going crazy. Statements are being issued, in public. One can't hide a plane disappearing, your Majesty- especially when their destination was so public, and flight radar is so prevalent these days."

"No- what we need is a rescue operation." The Kabaka said. "There's no need to officially declare them dead yet, either. Yes, survival rate is fairly low at this point-" He broke off after saying that, as he shed a tear. The Kabaka was an old man, yes- but not only were these Princes, they were his oldest son and his oldest son. It was a tragedy that, for him, was extremely personal. "We need to operate a search & rescue mission in the Blood Sea. We need to discover their bodies. Even if for constitutional purposes- the facts need to be understood."

Everybody in the room understood what was going on. "Here are my orders- we're going to keep this tight to the vest, for now. This search and operation rescue is going to need to get going basically immediately. Air Force General Beword, get on the phone with the Quebecois and ask them-"

"Your Majesty, already done." Air Force General Basirou Beword told him. "I just got off the phone minutes ago with the High Commissioner in Quebec. He told us that he has already spoken to the Prime Minister in Quebec City, and they offered us use of their Air Force base, in Iqaluit, to base operations for our search and rescue."

"Alright. Next- we need to make sure that we have all the relevant information. The Eurans apparently were able to track the flight? We..." The Kabaka looked around. The Waziri, and his Deputy, of course, were both on that flight- they were first and second in line to the Banijan throne. "Omugaba Immaculate, my daughter." She was the Chairwoman of the Guardian Council- she'd have to do the job for now. "Contact the Eurans with immediacy- ask for any relevant information they have regarding the pinpointing of the flight, that will help us ensure that we're looking in the right places."

"I want search & rescue jets in the air, immediately." The Kabaka looked at the Air Force General- who nodded, and left the room. "But we might want some help in the air..." He briefly considered it. The Prime Minister of Baker Park, Rebecca Schoenlein, and the Kabaka went way back. From all the way back in his younger days, when he was merely Isebantu, and they worked together to help secretly deliver aide to Busogans during the drought, and basically fight against the Banijan dictatorship of the day. A lot of personal relationship there- a lot of trust. "We're gonna call Belle Haven. And President Otamendi. They will surely contribute to our search & rescue mission."

He thought about it. He had brought Omugabe Ssekamanya there as a young child, on a state visit, to understand the importance of the Banijan-Baker Park relationship. And now? The young Prince was- well, he did not want to think about that. But he placed a call to the Banijan Ambassador to Baker Park. The Commonwealth had always come through for the Kingdom in our hour of need- and there could be no greater hour of need than this, could there be? And as for President Otamendi... Cardenao military were making rapid progress, according to his people, and with the big stretch of water separating their own nation, they had some expertise in large water search & rescue missions, at least for civilians.

The Kabaka then knew he needed to find Princess Muirne. This was the reality of monarchy- the ability to mourn those who were lost was overtaken by the needs of the state. Princess Muirne's twin son was now first in line to the Banijan throne. She was probably in a right state- her husband was lost to sea, so to say, with no knowledge if he was dead or alive- although, he was presumed dead by many. The Kabaka knew that he could not publicly say that the Princes were presumed dead, either. That would officially make Princess Murine's son the heir to the throne- and the son was barely a month old. The Kabaka, in contrast, was 90. He'd need a Regent- and appointing a Regent came down to the Kabaka.

That would be a process. He held out hope that he would not have to do that, although he was realistic that was very likely, especially considering his own advanced age. There was no 'formal' process to appointing a Regent- that would fall to the Kabaka, or if he had failed, to the elected Government of the day. But would His Majesty have the ability to find the young Princes before that had to happen?

Banijan Ambassador to the Commonwealth Of Baker Park, Grace Katumbi, in Belle Haven

Ambassador Katumbi had just gotten off the phone with the Kabaka. His instructions were clear- ask Hannah Delaney for help. And she did not need to do much to do that- the Kabaka's faith in Prime Minister Schoenlein had always been a source of inspiration.

To: Foreign Minister Hannah Delaney

Dear Hannah,

I appreciate you receiving this message. Obviously, considering the events, we will need to meet in person, at your earliest convenience, so we can fully brief the Commonwealth on what is happening in Banija- and what this might mean for the future within my country.

But in the meantime, I apologize for the briefness of the message. But we will be operating search & rescue operations from Iqaluit in Quebec, led by the Banijan Royal Air Force, and the Banijan Royal Navy. Our urgent message is this- can Banijans ask for help from the Commonwealth? As we continue to gather information, Banijan and Baker Park cooperation in times of need has always been crucial, and we believe that Baker Park sea and air assets can help us find this plane in the Blood Sea.

From,

Grace Katumbi
Ambassador of the Kingdom of Banija to the Commonwealth of Baker Park

To: President Mihaly Otamendi of Cardenao

Mr. President Otamendi,

I am sure you have heard, but these remain very difficult times for the Kingdom. With Omugabe Ssekamanya and his father, Isebantu Mutungi, missing out at sea, much of Banija has gone into mourning.

The friendship of the Republic of Cardenao has been invaluable for Banija for the past years- and it will only continue to be. Mr. President, my Kabaka has a request for the Republic. We, as you would understand, are operating search & rescue missions for the lost flight. As I understand it, Cardenao should have experience in this realm- would you be willing to dispatch some of your own search & rescue people, to Iqaluit, to help us find this flight, as well as rescue any potential survivors?

From,

Toyuwa Okafor
Ambassador of the Kingdom of Banija to the Republic of Cardenao

To: Prime Minister Evan Barnham

Prime Minister Barnham,

I am sure you are well aware, but obviously, the loss of Executive Two Flight 1649, with the two highest-ranking Banijan Princes on it, has been devasting for Banija. It is very difficult, in these dark times, to try and process- but work through it we must.

I apologize for the frankness of this letter. But we are aware that Eura's flight radar systems are among the most sophiscated in Rushmore, and we believe that the flight was lost over the Rushmore portion of the Blood Sea. As rumors have it, would the Euran government be willing to share tracking data with the Banijan military, in order to help narrow our search & rescue coordinates within the Blood Sea? If so, Banija would be in a great debt to Eura.

From,

Omugaba Immaculate
Chairwoman of the Guardian Council of the Kingdom

MUJAGUZO PALACE
KABAKA OF BANIJA

Update from the Kabaka regarding Executive Two Flight 1649, to the Quebecois Commonwealth Assembly of Nations

BUSUKUMA - His Majesty, Kabaka Mwanga of Banija, provided an update to the people of Banija, both home and abroad, and its allies, and other interested parties, on the status of Executive Two Flight 1649.

"As many of you know, Executive Two Flight 1649, carrying Isebantu Mutungi and Omugabe Ssekamanya, who are first and second in line to the Banijan throne, has disappeared over the Blood Sea. We have lost track of it, unfortunately, and the flight most certainly did not land in Nyhavn, where it was supposed to land for the Commonwealth Heads of State and Government meeting- where they were all attending on my behalf.

My heart breaks that we have reached this point. We understand the fear that many people have. First and foremost, we ask that the nation pray for the health of the two Princes, as well as anyone else on board- diplomats, aides, the pilot, etc... To be lost in the middle of the Blood Sea, is something that hurts. In particular, the nation should pray for Princess Muirne, the wife of Omugabe Ssekamanya, and the mother of his twin children- Omugabe Sekakama and Omugaba Zalika. This is a marriage that has only just began, and it is a marriage that, indeed, was going to be a model marriage. And we still hope that it will be a model marriage.

That said- we have no information to determine if they are alive or dead- so, for the moment, they are very much alive. While the people should turn to God in these dark times, know that the Government is working to ensure that we can determine answers. We have already established cooperation with Quebec, with the use of their Air Force base in Iqaluit, and we have already reached out to a couple of other nations for help in our search. There will be no stone unturned- and hopefully, we can find them in time to help ensure and rescue the lives of anyone on board."

by **Tumbra** » Tue Feb 14, 2023 8:37 am

All posts beneath this one shall be graded for the next cutoff.

by **Audioslavia** » Tue Feb 14, 2023 10:54 am

IMPRISONING REPUTABLE BROADSHEET SPORTS JOURNALISTM BEHIND A PAYWALL SINCE 22XX, IT'S

'SMASHING TROPHY' TO BE AWARDED TO ANY AUDIOSLAVIAN TO SCORE IN WIN OVER VALENTINE Z
Bulls Gear Up for Top-Of-The-Table Clash

“It’s been too long” says Bulls winger Marc-Antoine Trigintillion, regarding the lack of victories in big matches for the Audioslavia national team. “Valentine Z have become a strong team” says Obadele Volonte, adding that his Audioslavia side will be ‘more than ready’, while fellow centre half Archer Flat has been noted as saying “get that camera out of my face” and “I’ll headbutt your gran you fud”

Indeed, over the last two qualifying campaigns, the Bulls have failed to take any meaningful victories at all against the stronger sides of their group. Thus far, you can add a further name to that list with the Bulls disappointing home defeat to rivals Squornshelous.

After eight matches, three teams sit on 6-1-1 records, with a short gap down to Strayaroos, Boring Paradise and the ghost of Astograth.

Favourites for the group, Squornshelous bounced back from their embarrassing defeat against the Olibondeka to take two victories from their last two games, a feat equalled by Valentine Z, while the Bulls became one of many sides to take only a point from an Eshialand that, for long periods, looked the favourites to take all three against Audioslavia.

In a vital phase of qualifying, Audioslavia look forward to two home games at the National Stadium. Struggling newcomers Ryfenia come second, with Valentine Z visiting at the weekend.

It is must, must win. To allow Valentine Z to stay level, or force their way ahead, at the mid-stage of qualifying would be nothing short of disastrous, with this gift of two home matches in a row reversed to two away ties at the end of the second phase of qualifying.

As a way of encouraging the squad, the Project Sports Museum has promised an unlikely prize for anyone scoring during an Audioslavia win against Valentine Z: You get to re-smash the Under 21 World Cup 1 trophy.

Rebuilt in an act of eco-terrorism weeks ago, there have been growing calls for the Museum, or the FFA, to return the glass trophy to its rightful entropic state. But who should do such a thing? Who would be qualified to smash a glass swan? Well, why not the kind of person who’s already famously smashed a glass swan? An Audioslavia national team footballer.

Entry to the Project Sports Museum is free, though donations are accepted

Marc-Antoine Trigintillion, who supplied Audioslavia’s equaliser in last week’s qualifier against Eshialand, has concerns over playing the Valentinians.

"I've played against Cassadaiguans before" says Marc-Antoine, sipping a sparkling water, "but this is something else". Indeed, standing at around six feet and seven inches to a man - or more often a woman - Dagan footballers tower a full foot over those of Audioslavia, but that really is nothing compared to the folk from Valentine Z. Averaging out at over eight feet tall on the pitch, the physical mis-match can be too much for most football teams, and Audioslavia are generally shorter - if grumpier - than most football teams.
"I mean" says Marc-Antoine, furrowing the bit where his brow would be, "this national team, Audioslavia, we've beaten teams of bears in the past. Bears Armed are all seven, eight foot. We'll have to keep the ball on the deck, no crosses, pass it around.. it's maybe not our strength but, I can assure you, come eighty-five minutes, ninety minutes, we'll still be full of running. We'll see if they are too. I mean, all of us can run 2.4km in well under eight minutes. Can any of them do it in under ten? Or double that?”

That famed Audioslavian stamina and tenacity may have to be in full effect come the weekend. The Kittens have never qualified for the World Cup, and a group with a misfiring Audioslavia and Squornshelous dropping points may be their best opportunity to qualify so far.

by **Yue Zhou** » Tue Feb 14, 2023 11:47 am

Yuezhou and Græntfjall have had a complicated relationship, punctuated by a number of international football matches.

When the two teams met in World Cup 86 qualifying - the first cycle for both nations emerging from footballing dormancy - their governments were, at least on paper, sworn enemies. Since the fall of communism in Græntfjall, the mainlanders looked at the socialist islands to their west with suspicion, while the People's Federation mourned the days of a Red Pavola. On the pitch, Yuezhou avenged their 3-0 home defeat with a key 1-0 victory late in the qualifying cycle. Excitingly, the victory gave the then-Red Dragons a convincing four-point lead on the playoff spots with just four matches to play, leaving the door open for Yuezhou to immediately qualify in its return to international football. They would proceed to collapse against Alba and Cymru before watching the Snow Wolves pip them to the spot.

While relations between the two governments remained frosty, their geographical proximity, as well as the first contact of that spirited qualifiers run, sparked a period of footballing exchange between the nations. Li Jing became a Steinaux fixture, with the likes of Tao Beiliang and Dai Qiu also heading eastwards. Kang Guilin would even coach both national teams in succession, although he achieved only middling results with both. Admittedly, when the two teams next met (towards the end of the Yue Civil War, which Græntfjaller corporations all promise they didn't meddle in despite rumors otherwise), you couldn't really tell that relations were warming up. But in a mirror of the previous cycle, while Háttmark cozied up to Nangang, the Dragons imploded after their Round of 32 defeat to Græntfjall, earning a small mountain of bookings in the ensuing flare-up.

While the two nations were nominally on the same side (or at least shared the same enemies, although Yuezhou never cared much for the DFLK) during the Kitaran Civil War, the Varakoula Accords saw Yuezhou take a surprisingly conciliatory tack. By leveraging a newfound willingness to negotiate with the "big bads" of Eura and Nephara, Yuezhou stood out from the Pavolan pack and earned itself widespread recognition. But their compromising ways didn't sit well with hardliners in Háttmark, and by the time the two teams met next, relations were on the downswing again. The United Republics' decision to join the Common Rushmori Community rather than pursuing closer ties with their Pavolan neighbors surely didn't help, either, although the two governments have remained relatively close, if less so than they were after the Yue Civil War. This time, while the football wasn't exactly bad-tempered at the Copa Rushmori 42 Round of 16 in Mytanija, Yuezhou probably would've preferred to not be pasted 5-2.

Now, for the first time since that debut cycle, the two teams are again sharing a group. Yue fans might point to the two Pavolans being the two best-ranked teams in the group as a predictor of another hard-fought, well-contested qualification, especially with only one automatic qualification spot up for grabs. Græntfjallers might reply with a point to their superior rank and a trophy cabinet that is not only non-empty, but also contains a BoF, CoH, CR, and World Cup in it. Still, while the Snow Wolves may continue to own the overall rivalry, Yueren can still look forward to the continuation of a complex and intertwined footballing history.

by **Sylestone** » Tue Feb 14, 2023 1:19 pm

Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR SENTIENT

Part Five

The Sarcav-Jones House, Avondale

Cheers erupted from the room as the Tumble Dryer passed the ball back into the midfield, signalling the beginning of the match. Inside that room, a 16-year-old Brett and a few rough-looking boys began to party in earnest. It had been 7 years and 275 days since Sylestone had fought out a 0-0 draw at the conclusion of World Cup 89’s qualification cycle - the last time the nation had participated in and hosted a qualifier. For many Sylestoneans, the Campionato Esportiva in South Newlandia didn’t necessarily feel real, despite their team’s sublime performances that included thrashings of Gouvanarch and Macbon, as well as a seriously impressive triumph against Brenecia in the round of 16. But here international football was, directly beneath their eyes. Sure, Brett and his four mates weren’t at the game at Betham’s Bay Reserve, but even through the television, the vibrating atmosphere could be felt by the boys in the room as the entirety of the city of Betham turned out to watch a mixed squad of men, women and Sentients to fight it out against a far superior opposition. Frankly, no one watching the game seemed to really give two shits about the result. Finally, football had returned to the shores of Sylestone, and that was enough for them.

Ultimately, that was probably a good thing. Sure, the final result wasn’t a bad one for the hosts - a 2-0 loss as an unranked team, no matter their results in the recent regional tournament, was certainly acceptable against the 42nd-ranked side in the multiverse. Although the Sentients hadn’t been able to “get them to put their fucking clothes on” (quote Josh Steele, another of Brett’s mates), they’d certainly held their own and if they’d taken their chances when they came, an upset win may well have been on the cards. Especially if Eden Holt had put away the cross in from Abigail Jones at the back post in the dying moments in the first half but chose the safe route, playing along the ground instead of giving it a bit of air - something that proved costly as Jeruselemite goalkeeper Diana Princess was able to get a hand on it and flick it around the outside of the post, keeping the scores level at nil-all.

In the end, strikes from Natasha Bush in the 59th minute and Chloe Dallas a quarter of an hour later put the visitors 2-0 up and although the Tumble Dryer found itself in a one-on-one only moments after the second goal, another superb save from Diana Princess - nicknamed “Wonder Woman” for a reason - ensured that the two-goal deficit was maintained. With an expected goals count of 1.12 from the fixture, Brett felt as though a piece was still missing as he flicked the television off, most of his friends leaving as soon as the full-time whistle blew - the school year was beginning tomorrow, and they had to get their “shit together”, as they said while thanking him for hosting.

“Take notes. I wouldn’t be surprised if you find yourself among that group in a few years time.”

With everyone else leaving, Brett had forgotten that Jayden had simply gone to the (non-Sentient) bathroom, giving his mate the shock of his life as he returned to the living room. “Mmm, maybe. Probably not. I’m not very good.”

“Bullshit”, Jayden responded. “I’ve heard about what Pyo told you. Fuck man, Pyo Seung-Hye. You’re sixteen years old; you’ve got another decade before you reach your full potential. John Lawson wants you in the senior team this year and one of the biggest signings to have ever graced the Toilet League has literally just gone and told you that you have massive potential.”

“Well, er, yeah? Once they forget I’m only sixteen I’ll be shoved everywhere. Look at me”, Brett said, indicating his scrawny body.

“Yeah, and look at me. I’m 190 centimetres tall, and about 85 kilograms. I’ve seen enough of you play to know that if I tried to ram into you right now, you wouldn’t move anywhere. Centre of gravity, mate. Without you realising it, you’ve been able to use that to your advantage. When was the last time you were pushed over in a game?”

Brett thought about it momentarily and with nothing coming directly to mind, he tested his friend. “Go on then, if you don’t think you can push me over, give it a try. Full strength.”

A moment’s hesitation indicated that Jayden wasn’t wholly comfortable with the idea but knowing that it would be the only way to convince Brett, he ran headlong into him.

Brett tumbled to the ground, rolling into the kitchen as Jayden stood there, hands on hips. “You’re not even trying. We’ll do that again. Don’t just let me push you over. Pretend the ball is at your feet or something, I don’t know. Game situation.”

Brett nodded, hoping he wasn’t too bruised. One or two little patches of purple was likely to surpass attention, but any more and he’d be questioned by someone at Avondale City. What would he say to that? “Oh yeah, Jayden was just testing my physicality.”

“Last one, okay”, Brett said. “I don’t want to go to management to explain why I’m covered in bruises.

“Only if you try.”

“Yeah, yeah. Will do.”

And sure enough, despite the full weight of Jayden’s body ramming into his left shoulder, a little stutter was all he managed, the imaginary ball still at his feet following the encounter.

“Jayden, you’re a fucking prick.”

“I’ll remember that for our game next week.”

“You’re on.”

New Gelderland vs Sylestone @ Olympic Stadium, Nassau Bay

New Gelderland (4-4-2): Sorrento; Engstrom - Fensby - Calder - Apollo (Ryan 65’); Nesheim - McKenna ( 48’) (Auren 65’) - Proulx ( 89’) - Engstrom (Prescott 87’); Aphelion (Swan-Weiss 65’) - Longreach

Sylestone (4-4-1-1 → 4-2-3-1): Brick Wall; Holt ( 83’) - Mornington - Washing Machine (Faucett 53’) - Dishwasher; Henling - Blair (Rodway 73’ ( 80’)) - Bar Stool - Fullers; Fleetwood (Love 73’); Tumble Dryer

New Gelderland 1-0 Sylestone
                                              Apollo 13’

Sylestone vs Bongo Johnson @ Sunlife Stadium, Halpenley

Sylestone (4-4-1-1): Callum Holmes; Davis (Holt 66’) - Damasekara ( 9’) - Pearson - Keller; Stanton (Cayden Holmes 77’) - Paterson - Rodway (Brown 77’) - Jones; Keyes; Strathfield (Hightower 66’)

Bongo Johnson: Unknown

Sylestone 1-0 Bongo Johnson
                                        Keller 74’

Starting Lineup vs Rouyoute @ Somewhere, Rouyoute

Fuller; Davis - Hand Sanitiser - Faucett - Toilet; Stanton - Bar Stool - Brown - Fridge; Love; Hightower

Starting Lineup vs The Cordian Isles @ Sentient Oval, Kirkham

Cavendish; Ironing Board - Pearson - Washing Machine - Dishwasher; Henling - Rodway - Lawson - Jones; Fleetwood; Tumble Dryer

by **Nephara** » Tue Feb 14, 2023 2:06 pm

Savojarna 0 - 0 Nephara
(4-3-3) 1 - Strand; 2 - Rake, 18 - Copperhead, 6 - Scales, 25 - Xu (3 - Lind 76'); 4 - Southsea, 15 - Constantine (19 - Rosziter 63'), 8 - March (26 - Kvasina 76'); 13 - Brewer (7 - Anharbour 76'), 21 - Vetiver, 11 - Loeher

Nephara 0 - 0 Elmyia
(4-3-3 -> 4-4-2) 1 - Strand; 2 - Rake, 18 - Copperhead, 6 - Scales, 25 - Xu (17 - Levering 77'); 4 - Southsea (10 - Harper 77'), 15 - Constantine, 8 - March (26 - Kvasina 61'); 13 - Brewer (7 - Anharbour 77'), 21 - Vetiver, 11 - Loeher (16 - Hauser 61')

THE HERALD
GOVERNMENT STANDS BY BRINDLE AFTER HOT MIC GAFFE EXPOSES DIPLOMATIC FAULT-LINES
Valeri Albrecht Political Correspondent

The Progressive Democrat government have stood by Minister for Foreign Affairs Drusilla Brindle after her recent gaffe, with Margrave Alisander Pike producing an unconvincingly mollifying statement in her defence.

"The Minister for Foreign Affairs spoke in a casual manner in a private conversation," said Margrave Pike in a press conference today, "and while it is unfortunate that elements of the foreign press have taken her words as disrespectful in nature, we have conferred and don't feel there is reason for further censure."

"Minister Brindle has performed her role exceptionally. While we all greatly regret the overwhelmingly likely loss of prominent Banijan diplomats, and we understand that her colleague, the Waziri, was a man of principle who commanded great respect across the diplomatic sphere, it would be a disproportionate injustice to rob the country of a brilliant Minister who has worked tirelessly for the benefit of the whole region."

Brindle herself rose to speak, though only fleeting. "I apologise unreservedly for the comments, and understand how they've been taken in a negative light by the foreign press. My best wishes go to the bereaved family, and of course I hope against all hope that those missing are found safe."

The comments in question were picked up by a hot mic when Brindle first received the news, while in public and surrounded by press to celebrate the joint planting of a tree in the Yue embassy with the Yue ambassador. Taken to one side by an aide, after the main photo ops were complete, Brindle heard the news.

BRINDLE: A shitty little plane like that, over the Blood Sea? (chuckle) That's tempting fate.

AIDE: They haven't found bodies, or the wreckage, but they're already producing statements, and...

BRINDLE: Yeah, I mean, how many missing planes turn up again? They're fucking dead.

AIDE: ... Yeah.

BRINDLE: So, what, it's that decrepit old man and then... ? What, the fucking baby?

AIDE: There'll be a regent, of course. Mwanga can't fulfil all the duties, that was the reason they sent the Waziri in the first place.

BRINDLE: Fucking ridiculous system. God willing, it'll force their hand.

The disappearance of the Waziri's plane has been a minefield in Corvistone from the start, and this is not the first time that government correspondence from Nephara has been found wanting by foreign observers, who often underestimate the degree of Nepharan zeal against monarchy.

Nepharan government organisations, including even embassies, cannot refer to titles of Monarch and Prince, or their equivalents - in Banija, Kabaka and Isebantu. Mutungi Katende does carry a legitimate political title in 'Waziri', roughly analogous to a Foreign Minister, but his son Ssekamanya is merely 'Mr. Katende' in official Nepharan correspondence. In casual conversation, it is considered acceptable, if slightly vulgar, to refer to royal titles for the sake of convenience.

Nevertheless, the stylisation has lead to Corvistone seeming out of step with other nations, who were free to preëmptively mourn 'Isebantu Mutungi' and 'Omugabe Ssekamanya'. The twii.tur account of the Nepharan Embassy in Busukama, meanwhile, expressed condolences to 'the Waziri and his son', while other Nepharan government officials have referred to them as merely 'diplomats'.

It is unlikely to mend the significant rifts that have long existed between Corvistone and Busukama, which plunged to their nadir when Busukama threw their weight behind the KFF in order to destabilise Nyowani Kitara, just as Nephara poured in money and manpower to shore up the government, effectively creating a proxy war.

Even during the peace talks, the normally mild-mannered Mwanga was reportedly driven to distraction by his persistent referral as 'Mr. Katende'. This, then, is just the latest setback in relations that show no sign of healing over anytime soon, and it appears that they are a sacrifice the government is willing to make to keep ahold of a rising political star.

NEPHARAN NATIONAL TEAM SELECTION - FORTNIGHT 5
Goalkeepers: 1 - Medusa Strand (Chromatik, CMT), 12 - Toxothea Sebring (Crisisbless), 20 - Chary Longstreet (CA Paulinthal, PAS)
Defenders: 2 - Solblindi Rake (Sabrefell Moths), 3 - Radeka Lind (Jinja City FC, BNJ), 5 - Vetta Roback (Sabrefell Athletic), 6 - Anaximander Scales (Brinemouth), 17 - Kyri Levering (Northern Union, BRE), 18 - Sven Copperhead (Crisisbless), 22 - Ettard Mitteager (AFC Treason), 25 - Tanith Xu (Myana, CMT)
Midfielders: 4 - Cassander Southsea (Brinemouth), 8 - Renate March (Herzegovina City FC, BNJ), 15 - Demeter Constantine (Crisisbless), 19 - Chandra Rosziter (Dynamo Sjoedrhavn, SVJ), 23 - Kurtis Swainsona (Revolutionaries, EUR), 24 - Bellona Sebold (Crisisbless), 26 - Lindse Kvasina (Istria City FC, BNJ)
Forwards: 7 - Kestrel Anharbour (Crisisbless), 9 - Vasya Reisinger (West Cuono United, TMB), 10 - Bravura Harper (Ulsa, EUR), 11 - Arachne Loeher (Wirr Tsi, CMT), 13 - Madita Brewer (Northern Union, BRE), 14 - Konrad Balmoral (Aries Chariots), 16 - Xanthe Hauser (Crossroads, CMT), 21 - Felixe Vetiver (1830 Cathair, AUD)

95X 0 - 1 Nephara
Nephara 1 - 0 Caribbia
Ziwana 3 - 4 Nephara
Nephara 4 - 2 Baggieland
UBSA 0 - 1 Nephara
Nephara 2 - 1 TJUN
Savojarna 0 - 0 Nephara
Nephara 0 - 0 Elmyia
Varavel vs. Nephara
Srednjaci vs. Nephara
Nephara vs. Archalit
Nephara vs. 95X
Caribbia vs. Nephara
Nephara vs. Ziwana
Baggieland vs. Nephara
Nephara vs. UBSA
TJUN vs. Nephara
Nephara vs. Savojarna
Elmyia vs. Nephara
Nephara vs. Varavel
Srednjaci vs. Nephara
Nephara vs. Archalit

by **Stevencousin** » Tue Feb 14, 2023 5:21 pm

MD GAME STADIUM CITY SPONSORSHIP
MD1 Stevencousin 1-3 Graintfjall Federal Unity Stadium Cassaholm VioletFalcon
MD2 Qasden 0-0 Stevencousin NA NA NA
MD3 Stevencousin 2-0 Natanians and Nosts Federal Unity Stadium Cassaholm Anthro Capital
MD4 Kirungabi 3-2 Stevencousin NA NA NA
MD5 Stevencousin 2-3 Gyatso-Kai Federal Unity Stadium Cassaholm KeyCommerce
MD6 Canadian Dominion 2-3 Stevencousin NA NA NA
MD7 Stevencousin 2-4 Adab Federal Unity Stadium Cassaholm Fairborne Computer
MD8 Dod Rava 2-2 Stevencousin NA NA NA
MD9 Stevencousin v. Yuezhou Federal Unity Stadium Cassaholm Arthurlie Foods
MD10 Ceni v. Stevencousin NA NA NA
MD11 Stevencousin v. Talamia Federal Unity Stadium Cassaholm Glenwolf Trading
MD12 Graintfjall v. Stevencousin NA NA NA
MD13 Stevencousin v. Qasden Redfort Camp Brigketh Sabretooth Investment
MD14 Natanians and Nosts v. Stevencousin NA NA NA
MD15 Stevencousin v. Kirungabi Redfort Camp Brigketh BlackOxygen
MD16 Gyatso-Kai v. Stevencousin NA NA NA
MD17 Stevencousin v. Canadian Dominion Waxwood Circle Holmdock Spitfire
MD18 Adab v. Stevencousin NA NA NA
MD19 Stevencousin v. Dod Rava Waxwood Circle Holmdock Sentinel EC
MD20 Yuezhou v. Stevencousin NA NA NA
MD21 Stevencousin v. Ceni Readymann Ground Fixmouth Fingerworth Lubricant
MD22 Talamia v. Stevencousin NA NA NA

Stadium Data
Stadium:: Federal Unity Stadium
Nearest City:: Cassaholm
Capacity:: 98,500
Brief Data:: The biggest stadium in Stevencousin, located in the Carmenzon District to the south of the city center of Stevencousin's capital city, Cassaholm, is an all-seater multi-purpose stadium for international concerts, weddings and sporting events and the home ground of the Stevencousin national football team. It was built by Posquieiras Heavy Engineering and designed by Billingeburg & Co. Interestingly, the stadium is not public property, nor is it managed by a sports association. The owner is the Federal Unity conglomerate group. They sponsor and cover the construction and renovation costs in full, but they also get various government mega-projects afterward.

.  Group 5                              Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Græntfjall                             8    7   0   1    21    7  +14    21
 2 Yuezhou                                8    5   3   0    27   14  +13    18
 3 Ceni                                   8    5   1   2    15   10   +5    16
 4 Adab                                   8    4   3   1    19   13   +6    15
 5 Qasden                                 8    4   2   2    10    8   +2    14
 6 Gyatso-Kai                             8    3   2   3    13   15   −2    11
 7 Natanians and Nosts                    8    3   0   5     6   14   −8     9
 8 Kirungabi                              8    2   2   4    11   12   −1     8
 9 Stevencousin                           8    2   2   4    14   17   −3     8
10 Dod Rava                               8    1   4   3    11   12   −1     7
11 Canadian Dominion                      8    2   0   6    18   22   −4     6
12 Talamia                                8    0   1   7     6   27  −21     1

MD 07::: Stevencousin 2-4 Adab
Stadium:: Federal Unity Stadium
Attendence:: 73,902
Stevencousin Scorer:: Jelle Peeters ֎ min. 35 & Leon Voloshyn ֎ min. 53
Adab:: Enlilbani YARGAB ֎ min. 10 & Nadje BARZANI ֎ min. 51 (pen.), min. 69 & min. 80

MD 08::: Dod Rava 2-2 Stevencousin
Stadium:: Górski National Stad.
Capacity:: NA
Dod Rava:: Arek Milka ֎ min. 10 & August Wilimowski ֎ min. 40
Stevencousin Scorer:: Válter Folha ֎ min. 67 & Gerard Kallstrom ֎ min. 81

NEXT MATCH
MD	GAME                                	STADIUM           	CITY         	SPONSORSHIP
MD9	Stevencousin v. Yuezhou             Federal Unity Stadium      Cassaholm	Arthurlie Foods
MD10	Ceni v. Stevencousin                Westgreen Park Stadium     Westgreen        [42,500]

De Schutter
Boa-Morte - Bernstein - Mjelde - Ali
Boi 
Snajdr -  Jayamanna (C) -  Peeters
Voloshyn - Kallstrom

by **Baggieland** » Tue Feb 14, 2023 6:40 pm

The Lodge Strikes Back

Apprentice Alswitch: "All rise for the Grand Master."

Grand Master Lei Siulung: "What is the first order of business?"

Journeyman Fletcher: "The condemnation of Baggieland."

Apprentice Alswitch: "I doubt it's anything to worry about; most Baggies are proud of our condemnation, in fact, the Gnejsians seem more troubled about it than we are."

Grand Master Lei Siulung: "Our friends from Gnejs are right to be concerned as this is indeed bad news for us. Our want is to covertly control world financial markets, but this puts a very unwelcome spotlight on the base of our operations. Journeyman Fletcher, you will have to cease the HMS Onslaught programme for the time being, at least until the international fall-out has died down."

Journeyman Fletcher: "That will be no trouble at all at the moment."

Grand Master Lei Siulung: "Why do you say that?"

Journeyman Fletcher: "Well Grand Master… we've… umm… lost the Onslaught."

Grand Master Lei Siulung: "WHAT! How can you lose a submarine?"

Journeyman Fletcher: "We were jumped and taken by surprise… by Øystein Øye, Hannah Øye and Killer Bob."

Grand Master Lei Siulung: "You were jumped by an ageing assassin and two Gnejsian pen-pushers?"

Journeyman Fletcher: "They were armed!"

Grand Master Lei Siulung: "Where is the submarine now?"

Journeyman Fletcher: "We're not sure, it's definitely not in Gnejs, the Rock Lodge members have been looking for it. It has to be somewhere in Rushmore though."

Grand Master Lei Siulung: "Send out probe droids to every corner of Rushmore, I want HMS Onslaught found. Furthermore, deploy every assassin from both Lodges to hunt these submarine thieves down, we'll show them that no one takes our boat and gets away with it. One more thing, who proposed the condemnation to the World Assembly?"

Apprentice Alswitch: "It was Millenhaal, but they had help from Concrete Slab and… Electrum."

Grand Master Lei Siulung: "I should have known! Electrum, where you will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. We'll show them that no one disrupts our project and gets off scot-free."

by **Cabo Azure** » Tue Feb 14, 2023 6:45 pm

News of Paulinho’s death reached King Manuel as he ate breakfast in the galley of his yacht, the Bejia-Flor II, with Noah Rathbone, his intelligence attache, and Yancy Calderon, his chief of staff. The two men usually collaborated on an ad-hoc daily briefing for the king to receive with his breakfast, a ritual they’d honed over the past years of working mostly aboard the yacht. While Manuel had originally been opposed to the construction of a new royal flagship, of late he spent more time aboard than in the palace. He appreciated how it simplified his routines and afforded him the flexibility to move between islands without prior arrangement and without inconveniencing anyone on shore.

“Are we giving Paulinho a state funeral?” Manuel asked.

“No, sir,” answered Yancy quickly. “His widow declined, citing specific instructions in his will. You are of course welcome to attend his service, but there isn’t any ceremonial role for you.”

Manuel turned his attention to Noah, who took the cue perfectly. “I talked to Seth this morning,” he reported, “He says the church service will be small, intimate. Borges will be there, but I don’t think anyone expects you.” Seth Rathbone was Noah’s cousin, a midfielder for CF Portelo and the national team.

“I’ll respect the family’s wishes, then.” said Manuel evenly. “In the meantime, we need to prepare for what’s next. Tell Vito to change course for Sao Vicente, and one of you, call ahead to let Leo Andrade know I’m coming.”

Yancy and Noah shared a look, then stood up from the table, the rest of their briefing forgotten. Both men knew it would be futile to continue their briefing; when the king got an idea, it was wisest to go along with it until he was satisfied. Noah made his way to the ship’s helm to direct Vito, the pilot, and get the king’s security detail spun up, while Yancy sat down and opened his laptop to look up contact information for Leo Andrade, chairman of CF Sao Vicente.

When they arrived in Sao Vicente late that afternoon, Manuel’s two-man security detail borrowed an SUV from the local police, which they drove from the marina to the Stadio Sao Vicente. A lifetime ago, when he was just Manuel Fonseca, underachieving son of two divorced academics, he had gone to matches at the stadium with his father while visiting on school breaks. Even now as King of Cabo Azure, Manuel remained an ardent Pastorinhos supporter, eschewing the usual royal favorite of CF Portelo. He made a point of attending at least one home tie per season and every away match at Portelo.

The village of Sao Vicente in some ways seemed to be a time capsule from the days of Reinaldo I, Manuel’s grandfather who’d ruled half a century before. The streets were paved with pea gravel, the buildings built of corrugated steel and concrete mixed with centuries-old mortared stone. The stadium was the largest landmark in town; built in Manuel's father’s day, it could seat five thousand in a single grandstand on the home side, with its concession stand and restrooms underneath. The massive steel skeleton towered over the town’s skyline, visible even from the marina.

Leo Andrade, club chairman, was better known as the proprietor of the town grocery store, a powerful position in a place where mail and packages were delivered to one spot. As far as Manuel knew, the club was run out of the store’s back office, but when his people called ahead, Andrade said he would meet the king at the stadium. Leo had grown up with Manuel’s father, making him one of the few who could claim to have known both Manuel Fonseca and King Manuel.

The 4x4 parked in the gravel lot adjacent to the stadium, in front of a steel building that hadn’t been there when Manuel was last in Sao Vicente. Leo stepped out, a heavyset man in a collared shirt and slacks, salt-and-pepper hair slicked back, gold chain necklace winking in the sun. Less the gray hair, he looked the same as Manuel remembered him from childhood. One of the two frogmen protecting Manuel walked past Leo with a curt nod and entered the building while the other stayed by the truck and kept a respectful distance as Manuel approached Leo. The club chairman and grocer bowed to his king, who embraced him.

“Your Majesty,” said Leo, his tone casual. “I’m assuming this is about Paul. May God rest his soul.”

“It is,” Manuel confirmed. “We can talk inside, once my man’s had a look.”

A minute later, the frogman came out and gave the all-clear, and the four men entered the building. The room they came into was something like a team store; branded apparel hung on the walls and on racks arranged on the floor, and there was a small till on a counter in the back wall. One corner of the room held a display of distinctive black-and-white pinstripe kits and scarves from Ponta Flaca, the tiny second-division club on the far end of the island. Leo led Mario and his men past the till, through a backdoor into a small office.

“New digs,” Manuel said approvingly.

“Transfer fees and IFCF money have changed the game, Your Majesty,” Leo confirmed. “I don’t dip into the piggy bank to make payroll anymore.”

“That’s good to hear. I’m interested in keeping it that way.”

“With Paulinho gone, you mean.”

“With Paulinho gone, I mean,” Manuel agreed. “I’ve been a football fan a lot longer than I’ve been king, Leo. What Paulinho accomplished–in the Copas and Cups of Harmony, and Cleto winning the Golden Boot in Tikariot, for God’s sake–is what we’ve all been waiting decades for. I can’t let it go by the wayside.”

“What do you need me to do?”

“Tell me what day it is,” Manuel said simply. “No one else will give me straight answers, so I need you. What kind of shape is the FAF in?”

Leo sighed. “In a word: rough. Your Majesty.” Manuel leaned back in his chair, studying the drop ceiling with his mouth slightly agape. Leo continued. “We’ve got the talent on the field, Your Majesty–there’s Azureans playing at the highest levels throughout the multiverse–but we’ve never been able to produce great coaches. Paulinho was a natural, but he didn’t even bother to get his license until he was up for the national team job, and I had to send Gabriel to Eura to get even the most basic education. Cost me a pretty penny, too.” Gabriel Mendes was a former national team center back who currently managed Sao Vicente. “I don’t pay him worth a damn, either, Your Majesty, if I’m honest. None of us do.”

“What about Paulinho?” asked Manuel. “What’s his salary like?”

Leo shrugged. “It’s a living wage in absolute terms, but not enough for the amount of work he was doing, nor the level at which he was coaching. He could have made ten times as much coaching in a top 32 league.”

“And his assistants?”

“Ademar Carriço helps out during training camps for gas money, and Carreira works with the goalkeepers. Everyone else is an intern or a volunteer.”

Manuel let out a long exhale. “And we beat Graintfjall with that setup?”

“It’s a fucking miracle is what it is, begging your pardon, Your Majesty,” said Leo. “And unlikely to be replicated. Bottom line, if we want to see the same results as we’ve been getting, or better, it’s going to cost.”

“Where does the money come from?” asked Manuel earnestly.

“There’s good news on that front,” Leo reflected. “The FAF’s cost structure hasn’t changed much since the days of the island leagues. The balance of the players still live with billet families and get paid what amounts to a stipend. The Banco Hidalgo sponsorship covers the league’s costs, officials and the like, and most clubs make enough on gate receipts to break even. The streaming money is good, but it’s got a limit; no one is going to pay a premium for the LHP when they can watch the Zenith or the Gold League. There's IFCF money, too, but nobody’s counting on that.”

“So it’s stable, is what you’re telling me.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. We’ve had the same twenty-four clubs since the foundation of the LHP, and none of them seems to be in any serious danger of folding.”

by **Zwangzug** » Tue Feb 14, 2023 7:16 pm

Kairothletes: Ominous Foreshadowing

Okay, so. We would rather not do anything that messes with World Cup 42 or 92, since both Hannah and William, who we've already played patches for, want those finals to go as they did in our timeline. We've already paradoxed World Cups 26 and 74 for Mayumi, and 45 for Héðinn. We could flip World Cup 77 to completely paradox 80, for Seung-Min, but that also messes with 78, which will frustrate Mayumi. This really doesn't leave us a whole lot of options.

But. In the beginning of the World Cup 59 cycle, Audioslavia won the Baptism of Fire, and Chelo Terrazas rose to notoriety in Aguazul. Audioslavia's double-double in World Cup 64, which Seung-Min needs, hinges on that, but it's already paradoxed thanks to the Kirola events, so we can't make things worse. And flipping that will also create a paradox at the end of the World Cup 59 cycle, when Terrazas somewhat infamously started a war with NSWC Signups. This is the rare situation where playing a patch over a paradox actually makes the timeline worse for most people, but it's still something we will need to do eventually. As a bonus, we can use the specific "hosting" inverter to mess with the BoF specifically. So here goes nothing; we flip WC59E, and this time around the Baptism of Fire is abandoned. Nobody can spell Licentiapacisterra anyway so it’s fine.

And we draw...the World Cup 80 patch that Seung-Min wants. Hmm. Let's think about this a little, we may be in a delicate interdependency situation.

We're really not at all close to resolving Seung-Min's timeline. We'd need to flip World Cup 33 (so Zwangzug don't enter their first World Cup on time), World Cup 77 (which would allow us to play the WC80 patch but set Mayumi back), and both 59E (which we just toggled) and 61 to get Audioslavia back on track. So let's keep that patch in hand and not play it. Instead, we're going to discard the World Cup 42c patch (c as in alternate versions a/b/c), in which the Archregimancy defeat Valanora in the final. Yes, Héðinn will require one of the alternate WC42' patches, but there are two others in the deck, and this one is only playable if both WC33 and 35 have been flipped, and we don't need to touch WC35 otherwise.

Discard, redraw. Ergh, and here, finally, is Seung-Min's World Cup 36 patch! Dare we spend a lot of moves flipping everything back? The only way to get the original WC64 is by flipping both 59E and 61. If we flip 61 back, the patch on WC73' is nullified and discarded, which means we'll never be able to get William home. Do we just go with a greedy-algorithm and get the most that we can, realizing that a perfect score is unlikely? Should we punt on this by asking other board game nerds what they think?

...That's probably always a safe option. You know us.

(Nguyen 37, Sokhi 84; Corte-Real 56)
(Imomenba 20, Waugh 45+1)

by **Elmyia** » Wed Feb 15, 2023 3:54 am

The Overlap
Squad Rotation Key as Elmyia Hit Form

As Elmyia bag a creditable 7 points from a possible 9, it's largely been down to some clever rotation of the matchday squad by Massi, keeping key players fit and having the right tactical mix.

Massi's clasp on the job has tightened as a patchy initial run has given way to an improved spell of form, seeing off solid Srednjaci and Varavel sides, before holding the top seeds to a gritty draw on away turf. We've seen Massi hit form in qualifying before, and again it seems this, rather than the cut and thrust of knockout football, is the one that suits his strengths.

Where before Massi has been accused of not knowing, or picking, the best 11 available, here this seems to have allowed for a much stronger run of results. Whilst in a tricky and near calamitous 1-0 over the UBSA he was panned for resting key players, it has since been a strategy that has led to the Octopi managing their resources well. In the two most recent wins he was able to give star player Jackie Froggatt some much needed rest as Elmyia were comfortable defending leads. Gina Whittingham has really stepped up to the plate for the national side.

She made her first start up against the UBSA, replacing Byng. Whilst Byng has been a decent servant for the national team to date, he suffers in being an incredibly similar player to Benedetti. He offers energy, linkup play and stretches the space in behind using his pace. Whittingham, meanwhile, offers superior hold-up play and is an excellent poacher, getting in good positions in the box where Byng or Benedetti might focus on moving the ball around instead. Subsequent off the bench appearances against Savojarna and Srednjaci didn't lead to any goals, but impressed enough to bag a start against Varavel. Whittingham finally replicated what she brought to the table for the under-21s, bagging a hattrick with her final goal in extra time.

Whittingham's superior goal scoring ability and target woman qualities might well offer a good option as an alternative to starting with Vesper Benedetti. He has done an excellent job offering legs for Froggatt, making runs to stretch the defence and create space she can operate in. Whittingham can also help to facilitate in a similar manner, but using a different skillset. By using her strength to hold the ball up, it again allows Froggatt to get into good positions in the channel where she can cause maximum damage. Whittingham taking up poachers positions in the box also offers Froggatt two things. Firstly, with two decent finishers, other teams will have a harder time marking in the box. Where before they might double up on Froggatt, they have to think twice now. Secondly, Whittingham also gives Froggatt another striker to aim at, boosting her assist numbers.

Massi displayed as well that he might call on Whittingham as more than a rotation option, against Nephara she became plan A. In a game where they expected to be pinned back, Massi focused on packing the side with more defenders, whilst having a couple of players who could drag the team back up the pitch. As a sole striker, she was outstanding as an outball, drawing comparisons to human velcro and allowing Elmyia to relieve significant spells of pressure. It was also notable that Rossi came into the side to start for Beluigi, with his ability to dribble up blind alleys and put the team either on the counter, or again to force the play upfield. Reid was also started for this game, tasked with sitting between lines and picking passes to the attackers on the breaks, but on the international stage he continues to look slow and plodding. Froggatt and Whittingham played the remainder of the game together, providing a decent outlet.

But in playing Nephara, the keystone of Massi's plan wasn't attack. As demands from the stands for more exciting football goes up, Massi has made an art of organising his defence. Grosso and Freschi remain the two key options, but Savalas has also come into the team to form a back three in certain situations, which is what Massi went for after about 60 minutes. The defenders have received a lot of praise recently, and all are in good form, but changes to the midfield are what might truly explain this.

In the Nephara game, Elmyia started with two CDMs, forming a 4-2-3-1 formation, as opposed to the usual 4-4-2. This meant the back two were screened by McLoughlin and Simmons, who deftly marked the space and with the full-backs forming a back six, they formed a stout rearguard. Struggling to get out, Froggatt came on for Reid, shifting to more of a 4-4-2, and this led to Elmyia's best period, with Nephara struggling on the counter. As Nephara came back into it, Massi switched to a 3-4-3, noticing that pace in behind was caused Freschi and Grosso to come close to making a mistake. Savalas ensured the side remained solid, aiding the team to a reasonable 0-0 draw.

Elmyia might look boring at times, but the defensive record speaks for itself, 5 clean sheets so far, the fewest goals conceded in the group and they've looked assured so far. Some might call for more attacking endeavour, but if Massi can find the right combination of options around Jackie Froggatt, don't count against them catching fire.

United Bongo States of America 		0 - 1		Elmyia
Unknown 					 Grosso (86')
Assists:
							Beresford (86')

1.  Butler
13. Awfield
3.  Grosso
14. Savalas
5.  Scoular  (Beresford 71')
2.  Katsouranis  (Froggatt 60')
6.  Simmons  (Chapman 71') 
19. Galli    
7.  Rossi 
9.  Benedetti 
26. Byng  (Whittingham 71')

Bench: 
12. Silver 
15. Flewin 
10. Reid
18. Chapman  71' 
11. Froggatt  60'  
13. Beresford  71'
20. Whittingham  71'

Elmyia 				0 - 1			 		TJUN-ia
Freschi, Scoular, Grosso 						 Malhrani al-Kalhrani (7')
Assists:

1.  Butler
16. Rossellini
3.  Grosso 
4.  Freschi 
5.  Scoular   (Beresford 52')
2.  Katsouranis  (Hightower 78') 
6.  Simmons  
8.  Speight 
7.  Beluigi 
9.  Benedetti  (Reid 67') 
11. Froggatt

Bench: 
12. Silver 
14. Savalas
10. Reid  67'
17. Beresford  52'
19. Galli 
22. Hightower  78'
23. Rossi 

Savojarna 			1 - 0		 Elmyia
 Viksborg (26')				Simmons 	
Assists:
Ehlers (26')

1.  Butler
16. Rossellini
3.  Grosso 
4.  Freschi 
5.  Scoular 
2.  Katsouranis  (Hightower 15') - Injured
6.  Simmons  76' 
8.  Speight 
7.  Beluigi 
9.  Benedetti  (Galli 76') 
11. Froggatt  (Whittingham 76')

Bench: 
12. Silver 
14. Savalas
10. Reid 
19. Galli  76'
20. Whittingham  76'
22. Hightower  15'
23. Rossi 

Srednjaci 		0 - 2			Elmyia
						 Froggatt (28')
						 Benedetti (68')				
Assists:
						Speight (28', 68')

1.  Butler
16. Rossellini
3.  Grosso 
4.  Freschi 
5.  Scoular  (Beresford 70')
22. Hightower
25. McLoughlin  
8.  Speight  (Galli 89')
7.  Beluigi 
9.  Benedetti  
11. Froggatt  (Whittingham 70')

Bench: 
12. Silver 
14. Savalas
17. Beresford  70'
18. Chapman
19. Galli  89'
20. Whittingham  70'
23. Rossi 

Elmyia 			4 - 0	 		Varavel
 Froggatt (7')				Girard 
 Whittingham (63', 76', 90+1')				 	
						
Assists:
Benedetti (7')
Hightower (63')
Rossi (90+1')

1.  Butler
16. Rossellini  (Awfield 64')
3.  Grosso 
4.  Freschi  (Savalas 80')
17. Beresford 
22. Hightower
6.  Simmons 
8.  Speight 
7.  Beluigi  (Rossi 64')
9.  Benedetti   
11. Froggatt  (Whittingham 58')

Bench: 
12. Silver 
13. Awfield  64'
14. Savalas  80'
19. Galli 
20. Whittingham  58'
23. Rossi  64'
26. Byng

Nephara 		0 - 0		Elmyia
					McLoughlin, Simmons, Speight, Rossellini 

1.  Butler
16. Rossellini 
3.  Grosso 
4.  Freschi 
5.  Scoular 
22. Hightower  (Savalas 60')
6.  Simmons 
25. McLoughlin  (Speight 60')
23. Rossi 
10. Reid  (Froggatt 45')   
20. Whittingham 

Bench: 
8.  Speight  60'
9.  Benedetti
11. Froggatt  45'
12. Silver 
14. Savalas  60'
17. Beresford
21. Beaugemont

by **Jeruselem** » Wed Feb 15, 2023 4:11 am

Jeruselem Manager Faye Swift and Naked News Jeruselem's Princess Mila in Eura:

Mila:
Hello, this is Princess Mila for Naked News Jeruselem reporting on the World Cup 93 qualification compaign. We're not at home but we're in Eura. I'm with the Jeruselem World Cup Manager Faye Swift once again.

Faye: Hi everyone
Mila: Just a reminder to everyone, tomororrow is Valentine's Day! And we're back home for the Valentine's Day home game. Suits me fine.
Faye: Well, still means I'm working on Valentine's Day
Mila: But you do get time off, after the game is over
Faye: Not much time
Mila: Well, today is qualification round 7. A clash directly between top of the top three teams - us vs Eura.

Faye: Yes, today was our first true test. We've been playing other teams but the true test is two teams ranked above us.
Mila: Eura recently lost their last game against a team they expect to beat, Gran Saguaro. Jeruselem is a team who they didn't not want to hand over 3 points.
Faye: Yes, we didn't want to hand over 3 points to Eura either
Mila: Well, it was a game that matters but Jeruselem could not overcome one of best defenses in group 8 and Eura found Jeruselem hard to break with both teams earning 1-1 draw/
Faye: It was a fair result, we made it hard to them and they were nearly impossible to break. Makes Gran Saguaro win look even impressive.
Mila: I guess both teams wouldn't be too disappointed

Faye: No, I'm fine. A draws with Eura is not a bad result.
Mila: Top seed Kandorith hosted the Gran Saguaro in a game which was dangerous to the top seed as they saw what Gran Saguaro could actually do. Turned out to be a rather exciting game wuth Gran Saguaro once again being a handful but no one could take the 3 points ending with 3-3 draw
Faye: A good result for Jeruselem and Eura, it is keeps the points of the top three seeds level.
Mila: Osarius at home scored win number three, the hapless Quakmybush lost 2-1.
Faye: Weird thing with Osarius, they still have the highest number of goals scored in the group. 7 in one game.
Mila: Yes, that was a weird once off result. Anyway, New Gelderland continue to press their credentials and took down the difficult Sylestone 1-0 at home.

Faye: New Gelderland started with a bang and they have held their form, we can't rest with them chasing our tail.
Mila: Bongo Johnson had another disappointing home game, going down to Tjorl 4-2. Tjorl are not fading off, maybe even starting to scare Eura and Kandorith a little now
Faye: I would be a little worried for sure, those teams put in their statement of intent and are delivering wins.
Mila: And finally Rouyoute didn't add any new points, losing to visiting The Cordian Isles 2-0.
Faye: I think we know the bottom 3 might be settled now.
Mila: So the top 3 seeds only managed draws and two contenders grabbed 3 points. The traffic jam in the top 6 is still unresolved.

Faye: Hopefully we can put some distance between us and others when the first half is done.
Mila: The table is still a little too close, with Jeruselem still leading with 16 points. New Gelderland and Tjorl in 2nd and 3rd with 15 points. Eura and Kandorith 4th and 5th on 14 points but nothing really to be that concerned about. Sylestone on 12 points in 6th. Gran Saguaro is still kinda stuck in 7th on 10 points. The others, really need to get their shit together as halftime approaches.
Faye: There's no time to rest, I can't afford to many errors even at this stage.
Mila: Next up, we play the The Cordian Isles at home on Valentine's day for round 8.

Faye: They have three wins so you can't just dismiss them. It's a good thing their defense is leaky.
Mila: But the next round has Eura at home against Kandorith.
Faye: It's pretty tough winning a game here in Eura, so I expect a close result. Kandorith really do need to win that one.
Mila: But for Eura, a win in that game is gone to be huge.
Faye: Yes, we failed to win here. But we didn't lose either. I didn't want to lose specifically.
Mila: Looking forward, The Cordian Isles game should not be an issue but it's round 9 and 10 which ... will be challenging.

Faye: I can only do my best, I can't guarantee the results in those games.
Mila: Well, we'd better get going! See you back home at Dazza Dallas Stadium for the game against The Cordian Isles.
Faye: Yes, we'd better get going.
Mila: So everyone, sure you're tuned in for Valentine's Day game.
Faye: I'll be too busy working to be Valentining this year.
Mila: She works too much

by **Mertagne** » Wed Feb 15, 2023 4:25 am

MERTAGNIAN GOVERNMENT DECLARES SUPPORT FOR INVADED FARF TERRITORIES
Declaration debated in National Forum over use of ‘War’ vs ‘Civil War’

The Mertagnian Government, the National Forum, has released a declaration in support of the current regimes within the Farf nations of Rülândéá and Induja, as their national territory was invaded a short time ago by the government of Farolera. Faroleran leader and self-styled President for Life Alex Terán declared a ‘state of emergency’ in the nation before the invasion, citing “aggression from foreign forces”. The Mertagnian government has claimed that this state of emergency was a diversion tactic to drum up support for an unprompted invasion of the Farf quasi-national entity’s closest neighbours, and that his second radio broadcast to the invaded nations revealed his true intentions, “a selfish land grab for natural resources such as lithium and uranium”.

The declaration of support for Rülândéá and Induja has with it pledged support to each of the governments in the form of training and military equipment, which while considered out of date by the latest international standards will likely be advanced enough to turn the tide. Furthermore, Mertagnians have been given permission to join the conflict as mercenaries. While this is not illegal under the Mertagnian Charter, for the government to explicitly discuss such matters shows that the Mertagnians may be willing to commit more than just equipment, and following talks with the Rülândéán and Indujan governments, may be willing to send in armed forces to defend the two countries.

Of course, all this talk of war seems fairly obvious coming from an island for which many believe a civil-ish conflict is simply the status quo. A Mertagnian national survey released last year revealed that 35% of Mertagnians polled believed that Farfadillis has been under a civil war for more than the last ten years, with another 24% of people claiming they weren’t, and 41% of people responding that they ‘didn’t really care about that sort of thing’.

This conflict comes at a time where Mertagne is really questioning its role on the World Stage. Regent Malcolm Noirot, leader of the National Forum by virtue of his Aurrera! party having the most seats, has suffered recent election defeats that have reduced his majority down to a slim margin, ceding ground to the more Interventionalist Unified Mertagne Party, who previously had control of the government under the tricameral system. This year’s elections, to be contested in the winter, could prove pivotal for Noirot to continue as Regent. It seems that this move from his government could be an attempt to appease the more interventionalist voters, of which an increasing number of people across Mertagne are identifying with. After successive international events have raised the profile of the Bekkside nation, many are beginning to question the status quo of playing second fiddle to larger nations such as Starblaydia and Eura. While the approach from each of these governments has been fairly ‘hands off’ in regards to Mertagne, the soft power these two nations project has begun to rub many Mertagnians the wrong way, with calls for the government to take a more active role in continental, regional, and international affairs.

PROTESTS FOR AND AGAINST GRÆNTFJALLER ROLE IN CORNCOB SUMMIT CONTINUE
Kaija Michaelsdóttir’s government rebutted for ‘cozying up to industry’ by Mertagnian citizens, as home government does similar

Protests have continued in Dannin concerning the lack of action from Mertagne at a Rushmori conference. The Convention Of Rushmori Nations on Climate, Oceans, and Biodiversity (CORNCOB) summit has been taking place in Altendalur, Græntfjall, and Mertagnians in Dannin are calling for the Mertagnians to ‘call out’ Kaija Michaelsdóttir’s government for conceding to corporate interests and believing that the talks will produce a weak climate agreement that will only serve to exacerbate the impacts of climate change. However, many other Mertagnians across the nation are worried that the agreement goes too far, and will result in the loss of jobs as nations move away from importing natural gas, which is a significant export of Mertagne owing to its eastern gas fields near the border with Starblaydia.

This divided national opinion has resulted in a weak showing from Mertagne to commit to CORNCOB, which while a pan-Rushmori summit is likely to have multiversal implications to business and government, as pressure is likely to mount for Anaian nations to adopt similar standards to those that will be agreed on at the conclusion of the Summit. Notably, Mertagne has chosen not to send a delegation to the summit in Altendalur, but prolific government figures from the Environmental Protection Block and the Free Market in Action Group have been booked to talk at the PC and the PC respectively.

OOC: This RP continues in the spoiler below.

Seen only by Mertagne's magical community...
DARK FORCES SPOTTED AROUND CALANIAN MARSH
Self-professed ‘Nozis’ claim to be looking for well-known cryptid Big Queen Clara

Thousands of muggle tourists are known to visit the Great Calanian Marsh each year to catch a glimpse of popular legendary creature Big Queen Clara, who in the muggle eye is a mythical large Calanian Marsh Alligator that has never been caught on camera. The magical community of course know that Clara’s existence is no myth but in fact, fact. The Calanian Marsh Alligator was involved in a magical ritual one awry nearly two-hundred years ago, where a group of Dark Marsh Warlocks tried to bind the soul of a young village leader, Clara Ozltwizl, to the body of a Calanian Marsh Alligator in order to ensure the beast would remain obedient. This naturally backfired, as the plans of dark warlocks often do, and “Big Queen” Clara has gained dominion over the Alligators ever since, co-ordinating their movements and being a key proponent of the Magical Folk - Alligator peace treaty signed over 130 years ago, that ensures that magical folk passing through the Great Calanian Marsh remain unharmed as long as they do not attack the alligators.

One of the agents used in the ritual was a large gem that appears to be involved in soul-binding rituals - a dark magic banned in Mertagne in one of the first Wizardsmoots to being together the folk of mountain and marsh. However, recently strange folk have been spotted trying to explore the Great Calanian Marsh (which, in reality, is much larger than the muggles believe due to the existence of wizarding space inside). These folk have even been able to infiltrate the enchantments that have been placed on several protected areas, claiming that it is “forbidden to forbid!” and that “nothing can stop [them] from experiencing these areas first hand”. When riddled as to their allegiances, many of these folk, dressed in black leather that would almost mark them as Calanian Marsh Alligators themselves, claimed to be “Notional Situationists”, or “Nozis”.

Rumour has it that these “Nozis” are looking to prize the gem out of Big Queen Clara’s chest, which would be by all accounts a declaration of war against the endemic Calanian Marsh Alligator population. This has not deterred the group, who have been seen across several areas of the marsh with guidebooks and measuring tapes, looking to find the largest alligator they can find. It’s only a matter of time that through measuring every alligator in the marsh and taking a picture of it, they will find Big Queen Clara. As Clara has never been photographed, it will be obvious that they have found her when the Nozis find themselves unable to take a picture of her. I am sure that this is known to the interlopers, who are rumoured to have come from a powerful magical realm well known in the academia of magic - The Dreamed Realm.

While oneiromancy is practiced in Mertagne’s magical communities, the state of the art is nowhere near the level of Dreamed Realm inhabitants, and if these Nozis are truly of the Scape of Slumber, then the alligators will likely need some help to deter these Nozis from their homeland. If you see a Nozi, do not comment on the stylish uniforms, as this will give them the upper hand in the battle of wits they will inevitably try to pull you into. Know that their entire platform is one based on logical fallacies, and official advice from the Dreamed Realm is not to engage with their silly notions.

by **Mytanija** » Wed Feb 15, 2023 4:53 am

BRUSSELDORF 0-2 MYTANIJA

MYT: Prokopljevic 13’, 26’

MYT: 12. Puzin; 24. N. Ovcina (sub. Ivankovic 82’), 25. Kapetanovic, 26. Suljic, 27. S. Milosevic; 28. Urbanc (c) (sub. Zmiric 70’); 30. M. Ovcina (sub. Skenderovic 70’), 32. Hajdarpasic; 18. Vujanovic (sub. Roskar 56’), 31. Prokopljevic (sub. Prpic-Bosanac 56’), 22. Bajic

MYTANIJA 1-0 DEPIVIK

MYT: Vujanovic 33’

MYT: 12. Puzin; 13. Ivankovic, 36. Miokovic-Cica (sub. Jaganjac 72’), 26. Suljic, 35. Vujovic; 28. Urbanc (c); 30. M. Ovcina (sub. Aganovic 63’), 32. Hajdarpasic (sub. Terziovski 63’); 18. Vujanovic (sub. Roskar 72’), 43. Prpic-Bosanac (sub. Asenov 86’), 22. Bajic

MYTANIJA HAVE THE BEST DEFENSIVE RECORD IN WORLD CUP QUALIFYING AS BANIJA LOOM

Mytanija have only conceded two goals in eight World Cup 93 qualifying matches to this point, a record which is currently the best out of all teams involved in qualification to the tournament. It’s also a record which might be even better but for a rotated line-up shipping two consolation goals to Ascvalion whilst already holding a strong lead. The Hoops won that match 4-2 without too many issues, something which has been a feature of this squad, they will get the lead and then keep the ball with an expert level of care. It has, so far, prevented any opponent from taking all three points against them and only in the dour 0-0 draw against West Barack and East Obama have Mytanija dropped any points.

It’s a different approach from Dzvezdan Kitanchev, one which is less exciting than the more direct style he was expected to bring to the national team, but one which has been extremely successful. The Hoops sit second in Group 12 on goal difference, matching Banija stride for stride through the first eight matches and looking good value to streak away from the rest of the competition alongside them. On current evidence, the head-to-head ties between the teams might decide who will take top spot and automatic qualification – making the first encounter between the two in the next international break especially appetising.

Kitanchev continued his approach of mixing up his starting line-ups in matches against teams Mytanija are confident in. As discussed in previous blogs this has been regarded as arrogant or complacent in some quarters domestically, but it has enabled the manager to identify players who can make a difference and who can be relied upon to come into the starting line-up for injured players. He has blooded younger players, providing the likes of Muharem Hajdarpasic, Tadej Roskar and Elmedin Suljic with their first taste of the highest level of the sport.

They’ve impressed, with Suljic in particular doing well during this international break, constantly organising his teammates and anticipating opposition passes to make a lot of interceptions. Some doubted the Atletik defender’s ability to transition from the three central defender system he plays in at club level to the centre back pairing which Dzvezdan Kitanchev has implemented with Mytanija. Suljic has demonstrated that he can and Atletik will be very pleased that he has burnished his reputation in this manner and added a few coruns to any potential price tag.

Another who impressed against Brusseldorf was Milica Prokopljevic. The big striker helped himself to a brace and whilst he might appear to be something of a flat-track bully at the moment, he’s at least an extremely effective flat-track bully. His record with the national team is a goal per game, but that’s only a part of his appeal, he can pin defenders and outmuscle them to get the team up the pitch if needed. His quickness allows Mytanija to retain the directness which is sometimes needed to attack against lower-ranking sides. If they sit back for the majority of the game but allow a couple of opportunities to counter, then you have to take advantage of those opportunities and Prokopljevic’s pace has been a key part of doing so thus far. Kitanchev will want Prokopljevic to develop his skills in the build-up, when his team have prolonged periods of possession, something which he should be able to do at the Novi Atletskistadion.

Luka Vujanovic got the winner against Depivik and his goal was another example of Mytanija’s most impressive moments coming from direct pieces of play. Fran Prpic-Bosanac started up front in this game and he was in a midfield position, winning the ball before sending Vujanovic in behind with one pass and Vujanovic’s speed got him to the ball before the Depivik goalkeeper. A simple touch around him and finish into the empty net secured the three points early on and then Mytanija settled into their steadier approach, ending up with a rather ridiculous 74% possession over the course of the game and countless numbers of short passes.

There are questions about this approach despite the strong record. It is highly risk-averse and that has worked, minimising the opportunities the opposition have to threaten the Mytanar goal, but there is a feeling that Mytanija should be scoring more goals – particularly against the likes of Brusseldorf and Depivik. Banija have already amassed 24 goals through eight games (for a +16 goal differential) versus Mytanija’s 13 (goal difference of +11) and those goals and goal difference could become increasingly important if the two teams cannot be separated.

The two will meet after Mytanija’s fixture against The Karodin Tetrarchy, a team which has become a favourite amongst fantasy football fans around the multiverse for their cost-effective showing thus far in qualification. That will be a difficult match away from home and Mytanija will have to show all of their nous to come through it, it would be very easy to look beyond it and focus on the huge game against Banija, but that is often when teams can slip up and the Hoops cannot afford that in such a tight battle at the top of the standings. Kitanchev’s tactical approach could actually benefit the team in doing this, Mytanija have suffocated teams, prevented transition goals and the mere possibility of upsets so far.

Banija will remain there in the background, and it will be a job for Dzvezdan Kitanchev to ensure that the team remain focused, whilst he and his team simultaneously prepare gameplans for both opponents. The match will be at the Novi Atletskistadion, a venue which will perhaps be a bit more familiar to the Banijans but will still provide a raucous home support which will hopefully be able to affect the game in the home side’s favour. This feels like the sort of game the FSM would have sent to a more provincial locale in previous qualifying campaigns, a ‘let’s ship Banija off to Severyan, Ibon or Port Jarko and see how they cope there’ sort of idea, but they’ve put it in Mytanija’s biggest city, one which is fiercely supportive of a unified Mytanija and was a site of major resistance to the divisive, repressive rule of Natella Kalinina before and during the Mytanar Conflict.

A lot is made of just how much home advantage can impact games, but players from the biggest nations tend to play for the biggest teams and they regularly play in hostile environments – in IFCF competitions, in domestic leagues and for their countries. They will be used to it to an extent, some might even have played in Mytanija before, but the roar of the crowd following a spell of early Mytanar pressure could lift the Mytanar players and cow the Banijans even then. There’s a saying about how every boxer has a plan until they get punched in the mouth. Kitanchev and co. will be hoping that the Thessian crowd can be that intangible, proverbial punch.

Banija’s impressive attacking record will provide Kitanchev food for thought in the run-up to the game. How do you slow down a team which is scoring goals at a rate of around three per game? It will be much more difficult to keep the ball in the manner Mytanija have so far in the tournament. Banija want to play progressively too, though they can also hit the Hoops in transition. The threat of the latter has resulted in Kitanchev’s approach to matches, now he will have to find a way of either maintaining that approach against the top-ranked team in the group (which, if successful, probably indicates that we have one of the strongest Mytanija sides in history on our hands); or finding a tweak to the current approach which will enable Mytanija to match Banija as best possible. More of an even game could see Kitanchev look to play much more direct, which could be the tweak, and he certainly has the players at his disposal to make that approach possible.

You imagine that Denis Ovsyannikov, Omer Kuhar-Arh, Drazen Skara and all of Mytanija’s wingers would relish having the handbrake taken off a little. There could be a question of young Nurija Papez amongst this too, he’s been good playing the controlling, metronomic ‘6’ role and has the ability to play forward as a deeper playmaker to impact the build-up too. At 1923 Esca he has shown that he has the mental attributes to sniff out danger when needed, though that’s far from his most important responsibility at club level given the strong defence Sava Grgurovic has built behind him. A regista rarely wants to get their hands dirty, but Papez will almost definitely need to against Banija, which could see Kitanchev prefer the experience of someone like Smajic, or the bite and aggressiveness of Dordo Urbanc (who has been superb playing as a 6 against lesser opposition).

For neutrals it could be the highlight of the international break, the two top seeds being level on points (if they match one another’s result on matchday 9) and going head-to-head for top spot in Group 12. Mytanija might not have been the most exciting team to watch of late, Kitanchev looking to minimise risk against lower-ranked sides by taking away their ability to counterattack, but this match should provide excitement enough to make up for that. Banija love to attack, they will want the ball and Mytanija won’t be able to rack-up the eyewatering possession stats. More of the ball for the opponent means that the Hoops can have more opportunities to win the ball and counter themselves however, and when they have played direct, they have looked exceptionally incisive. Those transitions and the question of whether Kitanchev can find a way to stymie Banija’s free-scoring attack might be the keys to the end result.

by **Gnejs** » Wed Feb 15, 2023 5:39 am

Former Senior Advisor and Landsman, now Faux Assassin, Øystein Øye buys cat food for Unsinkable Sam

It’s not at all unpleasant, these here parts of the electrumite heartlands. Quite the contrary, I could almost see myself living here. Maybe we should send for the kids, and me and Hannah and the whole family could start fresh. Buy a little bungalow. I could probably get a job within the municipal administration, preferably in sports somehow, but lacking that I’d likely do well in other departments as well; it’s all about proper implementation, after all.

Or maybe I could go into politics, take the step from bureaucrat to democrat, so to speak. I bet I could be mayor of this hamlet town, I’d just need a good campaign slogan. «Peace and Love»? Nah, that’s probably been done to death around here. «Peace and Prosperity», perhaps? No, that feels too fascist somehow, but «Peace» should really be in there. «Peace, Liberty and Everything for Free!». Yeah, that’s the one. Or we could just raise rabbits. And the kids could mass produce bead necklaces and sell to the locals; there’s a buck to be made there, for sure.

Oh, look there’s the little town now. Quaint. Is that the word? Yes, I think so. This is a quaint town. Look at that old man! He’s all wrinkly from living a full life under the sun! I wonder what the skin cancer rates are down here? Probably an elevated risk for a northern Tempalian like myself. I should buy sunscreen. I haven’t greased up since we left the north. Or maybe a hat. A nice felt hat, like the kids are wearing these days. Probably best to buy sunscreen as well, just to be sure. Hey, there’s the store Goran told us about. Should probably be able to get both cat food and sunscreen here, not sure about the hat.

Hmm, that’s a surprisingly large selection of cat food they’ve got there. I wonder what Sam’s favorite brand is. They don’t seem to be carrying Baggieland brands, but on the other hand Sam is a global pirate nomad, so I’m sure he’s used to all different kinds of food.

What’s in these things really? Fish mostly? How do I make sure the ingredient sourcing is ok? I don’t want to bring back something ethically problematic. Could potentially be brands using animal products sourced inhumanly, I guess, and that doesn’t sit right. Can you say “inhumane” when it’s fish? It seems like a catch-all kind of term, but still, very anthrapho, no, anthramo, no. anthriocentric? Close enough. Unsustainable is a better word than inhumane, maybe? Yes, but that’s something different, really. Sourced cruelly? Hmm, maybe. But is that putting too much agency in the fish? Sounds a bit over the top.

What about animal testing though? Do they test the cat food before releasing it on the market? I mean, I hope so, it’d be pretty irresponsible not to. How else would they know that it won’t be unhealthy for the cat in any way? Fillers, preservatives, you need test stuff like that before you introduce it to the world. But how, and on who? On other cats? What are the risks involved? I’m not sure how I feel about that.

Oh my, look at all these cans of cat food. And that’s just here, in this small part of nowhere. Imagine the stores in the big cities. The production and packaging of all this cat food must have a vastly negative impact on the environment, with the emissions and pollution from the industry, and probably some deforestation in there as well, not to mention the marine biodiversity. Can I really be a part of furthering this wholly unsustainable enterprise? Maybe I should just get Sam some biodynamic quinoa or a block of salt. Then again, what’s not unsustainable these days? The only real sustainable course of action is probably to just sit down and die. Huff, too dark. I’ll just get these pink cans with the smiling dolphins on it. Oh, are those felt hats?

It’s a great feeling, ticking every box on the list! Cat food, check. Sunscreen, check. Felt hats for the entire crew, check. Almost back now, they’re going to love their new hats. I really am going to this miss place when we leave. I’m seriously going to talk to Hannah about coming back here when we’re done with all this madness. I feel like we’re ok now. Well, maybe not totally ok, but we’re definitely getting there. We’ll get there; it’ll be a long journey.

Let’s take a look at that map the nice store lady gave me. Hmm, ok, so where here, and we need to move east before we can go south. Oh wee, that’s a lot of water. We’ll need to stop and resupply somewhere over here, in the north of Esportiva.

Thought Øye to himself, as he embarked the HMS Onslaught and started helping one of the teenage ninja surfers to prepare for takeoff, or whatever you call it when a submarine starts moving.

World Cup 93 - RP Thread

What do the White Stars think about... sentimental things?

WC93Q MD5-6 :: Baker Park / Strayan Rus

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