World Cup 93 - RP Thread

[Natanians and Nosts]

In front of nearly 30.000 supporters at Stade Mutoni Mwanzilashi,Natanians and Nosts is defeated by Kirungabi.
The pressured match saw little to no action on the first period,the most impressing moments were shots by Ubuntu and García.Let's not talk about this borefest.
The second period started with Kirungabi amassing a great number of shots,which were different from the equilibrium of the rest of the match,and didn't lead to nothing.The best Natanians and Nost moment was Marius C. Mureșan-Antonescu's goal,at the twenty-eighth minute,who was annulled by the referee in an extremelly controversial decison.Two minutes later,after a confusion,Pascal Mutabazi received a pass from Nzafashwanimana,and scored Kirungabi's first goal.Ten minutes after Mureșan-Antonescu's entry,Kirungabi cahmged Rugira Rurangwa for Dominique Uwizeye.One minute later,the 36th minute saw Munyentwali Niyonzima score Kirungabi's second goal,once again with assistance from Nzafashwanimana.Natanians and Nosts thre away one last chance when Rodion Mihai Wafa missed a nicely positioned good shot,in a situation where the referee conferred advantage on a foul suffered by he himself,at The 43rd minute.

Johnny McJohnface's blog.
Serving you (questionable) quality,(un)funny sports content since 2011.

[Vilita]

Rebels Set for Group 11 Decider against Acastanha

Tivali Ring Stadium, Alikki-Corra, Vilita :: The Vilitan National Team got the revenge they were looking for against Hopal in front of their home fans in the Vilitan capital of Alikki-Corra. After being upended 0-1 on the road in their first meeting the Vilitan National Team came back with a similar lineup and a point to prove. More specifically, there were three points to make on the day and the Jungle Rebels got a goal for each point earned as Kunaro Tlikara, Diamoa Waviino and Trezisi Rokopolis would all get on the scoreboard in Vilita's 3-0 victory over Hopal. Goalkeeper Ukamai Talingri, who was on the losing end against Hopal in the first half of the campaign, would see a confidence boost in being named starter for the match and picking up the victory afte Eastal Lunar's Zelkki Milake Jr. had started three consecutive matches for the Jungle Rebels.

After the important home victory against Hopal, the Vilitan National Team would hit the road to play Super Top, a team they defeated comfortably in the first half by a 4-1 scoreline. This time the match would be much closer with Super Top taking a 1-0 lead into half time. it was slow going for the Vilitan National Team but after a slew of changes in the 71st minute Vilita finally got moving with goals from Jakku'u Naboyavi and Antiviv Davaflei late in the second half for a 2-1 victory and another three points earned. It would complete a full unbeaten run for Vilita whose previous defeat came against Hopal in the first half and the run of form allowed the Jungle Rebels to open up a 9 point advantage over Acastanha who were defeated on Matchday 17 by Delte. The Deltic team needed the result to keep in contention for the Top spot in the group though odds were that they would play out the remainder of the qualifying campaign in a tight battle for the playoff spots. A total of 6 teams were still in contention for those playoff spots with 1 guaranteed automatic placement to the World Cup 93 Finals and three looking at missing out entirely if they can't secure the results they need over the final four matches.

For the Jungle Rebels, it would be a top of the table clash with Acastanha on Matchday 19 that could make or break their campaign. A victory at home over Acastanha at the Lonngeylin Coliseum would secure the Top spot in Group 11 for the Jungle Rebels, while defeat would open the table wide open again heading into the final two matchdays. A draw against Acastanha would still leave the Jungle Rebels in a fairly strong position, needing only a single victory then in their final three games to take the Top Spot in Group 11 and the automatic qualification ticket that would go with it. Elsewhere in Group 11, all eyes will be on second seed Brenecia as they fight to avoid missing out and on bottom side Pratapgadh who had led the Group 11 table for long stretches but have now gone winless in their previous four games putting not only Automatic Qualification but also a potential playoff spot in Jeopardy for the group.

 Vilita 3 - 0 Hopal	
	Vilita Goals:	:: 30' Kunaro Tlikara:: 33' Diamoa Waviino:: 70' Trezisi Rokopolis            
	Stats :: Vilita 	:: Possession: 63%:: Shots: 8:: Corners: 4 :: Hopal :: Possession: 37%:: Shots: 4:: Corners: 5
	Vilita Lineup :: 	Ukamai Talingri (Altirii Touiniki 75'), Rojara Tiones, Awukchu L’bakka (Tukaara Milanzi 65'), Hothat Iciiplak, Riku Kasslin, Letirpsi Vulitn, Trezisi Rokopolis, Jakku’u Naboyavi (Injyua Klizlo 37'), Khrusan Mlianko (Fyin Miateal 65'), Kunaro Tlikara, Diamoa Waviino

 Vilita 2 - 1 Super Top	
	Vilita Goals:	:: 72' Jakku’u Naboyavi:: 79' Antiviv Davaflei             
	Stats :: Vilita 	:: Possession: 55%:: Shots: 6:: Corners: 10 :: Super Top :: Possession: 45%:: Shots: 4:: Corners: 1
	Vilita Lineup :: 	Ukamai Talingri, Hothat Iciiplak (Minjiakuj Sklinai 62'), Awukchu L’bakka (Antiviv Davaflei 74'), Kunala Jyvaiij (Mikele Alasita 71'), Fyin Miateal, Trezisi Rokopolis, Riku Kasslin (Khrusan Mlianko 74'), Letirpsi Vulitn, Jakku’u Naboyavi, Kunaro Tlikara (Enzoril Alabonni 71'), Diamoa Waviino

[Commonwealth of Baker Park]

Down to the wire
Scott McCrae
The Mail on Sunday Chief Soccer Writer

There is generally a measured expression of celebratory glee in the dressing room of the Commonwealth National Team after victories in World Cup Qualifying, but the scene following the 1-0 win over Krytenia was a definite change from the usual post-match congratulatory remarks from Manager Jennifer Prescott.
Zach Johnston's fourth clean sheet of the tournament was the catalyst for an emotional address to the squad from the normally even-tempered netminder who holds the record for shutouts both for the NT and the National League.

“That performance out there, I dedicate to all of the naysayers and all of the mouths who keep trying to wish us out of making the Finals, who snipe at us and forget that we can beat anyone in the multiverse on any day, anywhere. Let's Fucking Go!”
A clearly amused Prescott chimed in after the roar from the rest of the squad died down. “I'm not following that, let's get cleaned up and get the hell out of here!”

With four matches remaining, BP have climbed back into the top 3 of the Group 13 table with a four point cushion over the Dragons and still trailing Tikariot by five points as the Snowy Owls will head to the BBP National Stadium on matchday 19; the 4-4 draw in Oriannor in the first half remains the only match the Bees have neither won nor lost to this point, and while a repeat wouldn't be the worst result for the hosts, it would probably signal an end to the chase for automatic qualification and leave another playoff matchup as the sole avenue for making the field in Chromatika and Tumbra.

The FAC announced that the final home fixture against Raspotochje will be played at the CONAGCO Stadium in Shirley on matchday 21, the second WCQ fixture in this cycle to be played there.

MD 19-20 Squad List

lineup vs Tikariot @ BBP National Stadium
McCormack; Brooks, Onikambe, Schulman; Eichorn, Vuckovic (C), Vetter, Altman; Baum; Mc David, Diaz

lineup vs Guanacasteca
Callaway; Hardwick, Kucera, Bauer; C Logan, Olivera, Shanahan, McFairlaine; A Knight; Mack, Hardison

[Eura]

WORLD CUP 93 – QUALIFYING GROUP 8 MATCHDAY 17
Eura 3–2 Gran Saguaro
Scorers:
Miller 17, Douglas 30, Vincent 83
Lineup:
30. M Key
21. P Read (sub Mason 87)
15. Q Phillips
5. K Sherwood
3. L Almwood (sub Reeve 84)
16. L Holland
8. O Vincent (sub Stewart 84)
11. B Malone
10. S Singh
29. E Douglas (sub Woodman 72)
26. T Miller (sub Sharp 72)

WORLD CUP 93 – QUALIFYING GROUP 8 MATCHDAY 18
Jeruselem 2–1 Eura
Scorers:
Sharp 40
Lineup:
1. T Hammond
2. A Mason (sub Brookfield 75)
4. J Menard
5. K Sherwood (sub Phillips 60)
23. E Reeve
6. J Gates (sub Stewart 75)
8. O Vincent
12. O James (sub Malone 67)
10. S Singh
7. A Woodman
14. A Sharp (sub Robson 89)

---

Operation Klarheit came within minutes of succeeding without a hitch. Commander Hemlich had secured every building of the Principality’s armed forces in the capital city in just a couple of hours, supposedly with no deaths and no serious injuries, including the crucial Soldiers House in central Graz. It had been flawless.
Even the elimination of Interior Minister Lipka did not have to be fatal. A furious Hemlich had quickly come to the realisation that he could still fulfil the principle of the plan, to pre-empt the Chancellor’s betrayal of his wing of the security state and mount a coup to preserve the system, with Hemlich taking up the mantle vacated by Lipka. Once he’d blown a hole in Field Marshall Haeger’s head, Hemlich was the most senior living official in the country except for Chancellor Pult. The monarchy were long gone, living in exile elsewhere.

But the best laid plan is only as good as one unanticipated phone call. Supposedly, all the phones at Soldiers House had been cut before a warning could go out. Somehow, someone had reached Pult’s office before Hemlich’s officers could.
The news was delivered by a panicked officer. “Commander, he’s left the city!”
Hemlich was aghast. “How?”
“Two army helicopters just landed at the residence and whisked some people away – he must be with them. Who else would they be there for?”
“And where are they going?”
“We don’t know” the officer advised rather unhelpfully, “that’s not our department. We will try and work out where they are going. When they were last season airborne, they were heading east.”

Hemlich wanted to believe Pult had seen the writing on the wall and was trying to flee the country. Unfortunately, there was no way that such a grubby weasel of a man would do his nation such a favour.
“Anything on social media? Perhaps a member of the public has filmed them, and we could work backwards from there.”
“No, uh…we’ve been suppressing internet activity for a week, boss. On yours and the Interior Minister’s orders.”
“Fuck!”
For a moment, Hemlich considered what Pult might actually be trying to achieve by fleeing the capital, if not doing a runner out of pure survival instinct. Something still didn’t feel right. Why wouldn’t Pult have anticipated these moves if he was distrustful of Lipka enough to shaft him? Why the panic?

No matter. There was no turning back now. “Have we secured the TV-Three headquarters yet?”
“Our officers are arriving now boss.”
“Good. Take me there.”

----- ----- ----- -----

What a day it had been. A pearl coloured blanket of snow was draped over the heights of the eastern mountains bordering Austroslovakia with Eura, which Chancellor Pult gazed upon with the reverence that his beautiful nation deserved, regardless of how much it had let him down.
A small military base came into view and that is where his helicopter made landfall. Nervy conscripts and drafted men greeted him alongside a General wearing a fur coat that was surely not standard issue.
“You” the Chancellor barked, “you’re Novak?”
“General Novak, if you don’t mind me correcting you!” he responded curtly. “Thank you for joining us, Chancellor. I hope you don’t mind the conditions out here.”
Pult didn’t like this Novak’s chippiness, not one bit. Yet he was in no position to complain or be demanding. He would have to do what autocrats rarely had to do, staying his tongue and going along with it.

They retreated out of the weather into a warmly heated barracks building. “Chancellor, I understand you wanted us to contact the Interior Ministry directly. We did but the switchboards are dead and no-one picked up.”
“That’s no surprise.” Pult flopped into an armchair as his closest henchmen watched on, witnessing the 66-year-old leader exhibiting all the signs of true exhaustion. “And your situation? How are we doing around the country?”
“The Bürgerwehr stands by you Chancellor. As it always has. Whatever is going on in the capital is unfortunate, but we have many bases and troops dotted around the country, and our main airfields remain unmolested by the architects of this treason, tucked away in their holes in Graz. I suggest we form up an army and retake the capital.”
“We do not want a bloodbath. The people are already at a boiling point. If the army starts shooting up Graz, when the currency is flatlining and people are being hauled off the streets, then other cities will…drift…”

Pult had been in the full flow of speaking when he was distracted by a small television screen hanging from the wall in the next room.
“…what the…put the volume up. Come on, hurry up.”
Everyone in the main room of the barrack building shuffled through to where the television was mounted, and watched as the volume increased. A man in a Bundespolizei uniform was speaking to camera on TV-Three, the nation’s main news channel, which naturally was run and edited by people directly assigned at the behest of the Chancellery.
Except suddenly they were not following the party line.
“I said turn it up!”
“…citizens, this is the not the time to panic. However, I must bring you sad news. Our esteemed Minister of the Interior, Hans Lipka, has tragically been lost. Before he did so, he tasked the ABP with restoring law and order after illegitimate activities by very senior figures within the Principality, with his orders including a warrant of arrest for the former Chancellor. I intend to carry out those orders. Please remain calm, and remain in your homes.”

Jaws dropped as the words left the policeman’s mouth. Lipka? Restoring law and order? A warrant for Pult? Former Chancellor?
General Novak reacted how most wanted to – by throwing something, in this case a thermos, against the wall.
“This is outrageous! How dare they! Chancellor, I urge you to respond to this heinous act!”
Pult had gone very quiet indeed. After some time, he ordered everyone out of the room except for the General. Now only Novak would know his thoughts.
“I recognise him.” Pult replied, speaking of the policeman reading the statement. “He was one of Lipka’s men. He used to be at his retreat whenever I visited.”
The General’s form shifted. He went from being boisterous and loud to feeble and nervous. He had something on his mind. “Chancellor, I’m sorry to ask this, but now everyone is gone…er…did you really do it?”

“Do what?”
“You know. The Interior Minister. Off him.”
“…excuse me?”
“Well, you know, if he is dead, there would have to be an explanation. Of course, you will have had your reasons and I fully support you. I’m just curious. Sorry, I’ll-“
“No.”
“No?”
“Absolutely not. I had nothing to do with it. This shit on the television probably did it himself – if Lipka even is actually dead.”
Pult had a blank face as he said it. Did Novak believe him? The General was far from sure. He tried not to think about what might happen if Pult decided he was expendable too. At least I have a lot of men with guns did pop into his mind, which reassured him.
“I understand Chancellor. Please forgive my insolent behaviour and any aspersions I may have cast.”
“You are forgiven. This arsehole” he spat, pointing at the screen, “is not.”

----- ----- ----- -----

On the roof of the Chancellery, Hemlich stood overlooking Graz, with his eyes focused on the horizon.
Where are you, you fucker?
His chirpy subordinate officer popped up seemingly from nowhere. “Commander, you must come down from here. Its freezing out.”
“I’ll come down when you bring me Pult in handcuffs. Is there any update?”
“No boss. Sorry. We’ll keep you up to speed. We spoke to the staff and downstairs; they claim the security detail all went with him and didn’t say anything. They just up and left.”
Hemlich chuckled to himself. “God forbid anyone in this blasted country show some initiative, eh? They should have warned us.” The officer wanted to point out that this did not make a lot of sense, but he figured Hemlich was having an emotional moment and probably not thinking entirely clearly. “You’re right boss. I’ll leave you to it.”
“Wait! There!”

A small group of aircraft appeared over the outskirts.
“Oh shit, could that be Pult’s chopper?”
“Maybe – raise the alarm. Get everyone ready to apprehend him the moment they try to – wait, why are they flying so fast?”
It rapidly became clear that the low flying aircraft were not helicopters. They were F-4 Wolves, light fighter jets belonging to the Austroslovakian military. And they were not hanging around, skipping above the rooftops at screaming pace.
“Where are they going?”
“Looks like they are headed southwest. So-“
“The Ministry.” Hemlich did the mental arithmetic and saw unwelcome visions of what was about to come to pass. “My God, the Ministry! Quick, get a message over, tell them to evacuate!”

It was too late. The first two jets dropped down to street level and fired directly into the front of the Interior Ministry’s main building, cannons and rockets blazing, then pulled up and away. The second pair followed them in at slightly higher altitude and repeated the trick, only for one jet to leave it too late to come out of the dive.
It banked hard to its left to avoid the growing fireball that was the Ministry, only to slam straight into a neighbouring high rise. Another massive explosion followed.
Hemlich stood powerless, watching the entire catastrophe take place with a lump in his throat. “Boss?” The attentive officer was still looking to serve even as this madness unfolded.
“We need to find him as soon as possible and put an end to this. In the meantime, we need to control the flow of information. I’m going back to TV-“
Another series of explosions rocked the city.
“-Three.”
The pair stood in mutual disbelief as they watched the TV-Three tower, one of the tallest buildings in the city, take a slew of rockets right in the heart.

----- ----- ----- -----

Once the soon-to-be infamous ‘Bombing of Graz’ had taken place, events moved quickly.
The strike on the Interior Ministry had killed hundreds of police and state employees, crucially including the Department of Information Control, which managed censorship in the country. The controls put in place on social media platforms and other communications methods – already strict in normal times and tightened during the recent unrest – were suddenly gone entirely.
To the regime’s detriment, there was a lot for the newly liberated netizens of Austroslovakia to discuss. An irrecoverable mistake from one of the four jet pilots attacking the Interior Ministry had led to their plane striking a nearby building at almost top speed. It turned out that this building was, of all things, a shopping mall. Scores had been killed or wounded, and before long twii.tur and other social media platforms were being flooded with images and video of the disaster.

A peculiar series of unrelated incidents would arrive soon after. Austroslovakia’s energy grid was reasonably well dispersed, but Graz itself was heavily reliant on two nuclear power plants, both run by the same company – which was owned by the Chancellor’s second cousin, obviously – and both dependent on a single, interconnected, and badly outdated IT system to operate safely. On this occasion the operators and plant managers were already under extreme stress due to the events happening not so far away in the capital.
So, when both were hit simultaneously by an unprecedented cyber-attack, there was an understandable sense of panic. No-one knew who to report to or even what to report. This was unprecedented. The Interior Ministry, usually responsible for the management of security at the country’s nuclear energy facilities, wasn’t picking up the phone.

In a rare moment of clarity, an Austroslovakian official did what they were taught never to do – demonstrate initiative. The plants were shut down to prevent a critical safety incident at the reactor sites. The trade-off was that Graz was now plunged into darkness almost immediately. The other incidents seemed to conspire to create a perfect storm of instability.
The national highway network? Also hit by a cyber-attack, crippling the digital information boards that governed traffic, prompting jams and even accidents throughout the network. Graz would be throttled, situated along the narrow corridor of north-south trunk highways of the centre of the country.
The hospitals in Graz? Now inundated by the dead and wounded from the army’s airstrike, the already overstretched public health system of a city of seven million people was pushed to breaking point. Overwhelmed wards had previously swollen with beaten protestors and growing pre-crisis queues of longer term patients.

The army appeared to be operating in an un-coordinated, dazed and confused sort of fashion, failing to mount the kind of operation needed to seize key infrastructure but not sitting entirely idle either. They were quick to take over a key dam and reservoir at Grenzbrücke. But their conquest impeded operations, causing another safety shut down, a limiting of water supply, and before anyone knew it the taps were running dry in which city? You can guess.
The police were no more effective. Commander Hemlich was trying to get through to the people via radio, while his officers (who said people largely despised and feared) were desperately ransacking any locations in Graz that could be hosting Pult’s stooges. They desperately needed to make a move in other cities before Pult could come up with a plan and get all of the army onside but were also terrified of provoking wavering troops into siding with Pult, especially before control had been established over the capital, and international legitimacy sought.

Beset by chaos, battered by violence, beaten down by confusion and terror, the Austroslovakians had soon had enough. Before the last few days the protests against the regime had been large in scale and widely supported but many stayed home. The fear of reprisals was too strong and a lot of Austroslovakians worried about what an unplanned, anarchic future might look like.
Everything about these days of chaos washed away those inhibitions. Who in the security state was going to be paying any attention to dissidents when they were too busy fighting each other? And what was the point in cowering at the risk of instability when the country was already going to pieces?
Graz, in particular, was burning with rage. Its citizens had previously made things difficult, sure. What they were doing now was of an entirely different league. They were choking the streets with numbers so large that Hemlich snuck out of the city just twenty-four hours after the airstrike to set up his headquarters elsewhere.

Flags were flying and being burned in equal measure. The Euran refugee diaspora poured fuel on the fire as they broke into the offices of the unsympathetic State Agency of Immigration, and promptly burned it to the ground. In the heart of the capital, effigies of major figures in the regime, including Pult, were also being torched, or hung from mock gallows.
Finally, the disparate opposition groups gathered together to plot their next move. Their moment had come.
It was time to storm the Chancellery.

[Chromatika]

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

[Baggieland]

[PotatoFarmers]

Banija 2–1 Poafmersia
Goalscorer: Jordan Huerta 42' (assisted by Aapeli Shea)
Lineup (4-3-3): Nicole Potts; Kilikina Lee, Nacro Astro, Cindy Oriol, Xenophon Robson; Michael Jackson, Min Berg, Aapeli Shea (c); Tessa Bjarnesen, Jordan Huerta, Bolívar Tamura
Substitutes: Erle Sartini (Berg 55'); Dagur Lawrence (Jackson 71'); Jackson Handris (Tamura 80')

Poafmersia 1–1 Lionsroar
Goalscorer: Jordan Huerta 59' (assisted by Michael Jackson)
Lineup (4-3-3): Nicole Potts; Kilikina Lee, Nacro Astro, Cindy Oriol, Xenophon Robson; Michael Jackson, Min Berg, Aapeli Shea (c); Tessa Bjarnesen, Jordan Huerta, Bolívar Tamura
Substitutes: Erle Sartini (Berg 55'); Leonora Hall (Bjarnesen 64'); Valentin Gotti (Robson 64'); Dagur Lawrence (Lee 70')

Sporting Daily
WCQ93 microsite taken down, taking world by surprise
Fiskadaha - OptaPoaf has taken down the WCQ93 microsite, surprising many news agencies and sports commentators in Poafmersia and around the world, creating havoc in the sports scene.

In an unexpected twist, OptaPoaf's WCQ93 microsite was taken down sometime overnight as news agencies were awaiting for updates to the progression & elimination tables that the microsite has consistently updated the world with. This was done without warning as overnight, access to these microsites were turned off, taking news outlets like the Daily with surprise. "We did not receive any prior notice about the closure," said Sporting Daily Chief Editor Jordan Sanchez. "We have since established our own backups for the sports tables where we used to pull from OptaPoaf APIs, but we are still attempting to contact OptaPoaf about the sudden change." A check by the Daily found that all of the past World Cup Qualification microsites were also taken down, but the IFCF Coefficient microsite continued to remain up as of press time.

Page of Microsite at 4am this morning

Fans, however, are of the belief that this was done as a knee-jerk reaction to last night's home game against Lionsroar, where the referee team denied Poafmersia 3 valuable penalties for handball by the Lionsroar players. In a now-deleted chirp by the official OptaPoaf account, it contained what apparently looked like a rage post at the referee for ruling the "apparent" handballs as ball-to-hand situations, resulting in 3 missed penalties for the Poafmersian team and the inability for the Red Panjias to take home 3 valuable points in the race for the direct qualification spot.

Now-deleted Chirp made by OptaPoaf

The Daily has reached out to OptaPoaf to comment on the situation.

[Jeruselem]

Princess Stella and Princess Mila dressed in Kimonos at Dazza Dallas Stadium ...

Mila: Hello, this is Princess Mila once again cover the World Cup 93 qualification. We're back home at Dazza Dallas Stadium! But hang on, why aren't we naked? Because our visitors are Kandorith and we like dressing up like Japanese girls for some reason. I'm with my sister Princess Stella, she's the pregnant one. I mean, it's not hard to notice ...
Stella: Hi everyone!
Mila: It's round 20 of World Cup 93 qualification, and this means there's just two games left to determine who qualifies directly and who goes into the playoff.
Stella: Group winners directly qualify while 2nd spot on the group goes to playoff. Obviously, teams would prefer to just win the group because playoffs are as fun as being set on fire.
Mila: We're not the best team in a playoff, we're pretty crap in general.
Stella: Also means someone else can take your spot in the final if you have a bad playoff game.

Mila: Now, round 19 was quite interesting. The Cordian Isles didn't trouble us, we beat them at their home stadium 3-1. Rouyoute lost to Tjorl 1-0 at home. Sylestone went to Bongo Johnson and Bongo Johnson-ed them 4-0. New Gelderland had a lot of trouble Quakmybush drawing 0-0. Osarius drew with Gran Saguaro 3-3 at home. Top seed beat 2nd top seed, Kandorith beating Eura 2-0 so Kandorith get reward by having to travel to Jeruselem next.
Stella: A massive setback for Eura there and New Gelderland failed to win a game they should have won.
Mila: Quakmybush do have 5 draws, the most for group 8. Ignoring all their losses.
Stella: So today was really important for 6 remaining contenders! Mainly because with two games left, there's no room left for losses.
Mila: We're not going mention today's game here until later because ... you should have been here!
Stella: Hey even Crown Princess Bella turned up here today, she's a busy girl.

Mila: Eura got 3 valuable points, beating Osarius at home. Well, they really shouldn't have problems with a team like that.
Stella: They are still competitive, it's just one or two losses too many for them.
Mila: Gran Saguaro have proven to be a team that's difficult, and New Gelderland needed to go to Gran Saguaro to win. Gran Saguaro held New Gelderland to a 3-3 making other teams very happy.
Stella: You'd think New Gelderland should have won the last two games but two draws, that's 4 points dropped.
Mila: Saying that, they aren't out and they can still qualify from there.
Stella: You can't rule them out, they are still trying.

Mila: Quakmybush at home were crap, Bongo Johnson-ed to death 6-2. Yes, Bongo Johnson won 6-2.
Stella: How come we never win like that
Mila: No idea, at least we're consistent ...
Stella: Sylestone at home overcame a stubborn Rouyoute 2-1 to stay alive.
Mila: I'm amazed a team that scores like 19 goals in 20 games, is still in contention. But that's because they conceded just 8 goals.
Stella: They did beat us so I guess that's a plus for them.

Mila: Tjorl had little trouble with Group 8's worst defensive team The Cordian Isles, beating them 3-0
Stella: Oddly, The Cordian Isles have never drawn a game in Group 8 as yet.
Mila: That just leaves Jeruselem playing ... Kandorith. The last time we played them, we drew and we weren't complaining.
Stella: Actually their real nation name is Kanyori Yokoku but everyone calls them Kandorith.
Mila: Hence why we're all Japanese today!
Stella: Would the Rising Sun eclipse the Princesses? Sorry, Princesses reigh supreme! A famous 3-2 win against the 10th seed.

Mila: A big effort by the team! It seems our crafty unassuming manager had a plan today.
Stella: I guess we did learn from that draw last game.
Mila: So how does that leave the table? Princesses back in the lead on 45 points with Kandorith 43. New Gelderland and Sylestone back in 3rd and 4th on 40 points. Eura on 39 points in 5th and Tjorl are 6th on 38.
Stella: Given the table, Tjorl can only get to 2nd spot with two wins ... and they play us next.
Mila: In theory, 2nd to 5th can take top spot. They all have win twice - and we have to lose both games!
Stella: Jeruselem being only 2 points clear of 2nd are not safe, but a 5 point buffer back to 3rd is a lot. And Eura need a miracle just to get to 2nd spot.

Mila: So two more rounds, and let's see the key games!
Stella: Round 19 has Tjorl are hosting Jeruselem! The Cordian Isles hosting Sylestone in a game where Sylestone need to win. New Gelderland are hosting Eura which is probably not what New Gelderland wanted. Osarius hosting Kandorith, Kandorith should win that one.
Mila: And for the last round 20, Osarius come to Jeruselem for their game on this cup. And New Gelderland are forced to play in Kandorith! Eura host Bongo Johnson, easy game for Eura. Sylestone host rivals Tjorl.
Stella: Last two rounds - New Gelderland get shafted by playing Eura and Kandorith. Tjorl are also shafted because they play Jeruselem and then Sylestone. The other 4 get off lightly, playing one eliminated team.
Mila: We cannot rest, given Kandorith can get to 49 points with two wins. We need two wins to keep our spot.
Stella: I guess we find out when the dust settles, and the two rounds are done.

Mila: Actually, if our rivals drop points - it makes our 45 points look even more difficult to get to because they are playing each other.
Stella: That makes this win here today, maybe the win which allows us to qualify directly.
Mila: Our friends Quebec in Group 2 are in tight spot. They are 3rd behind Ko-oren and Ochre Islands by 1 point. If those teams win their remaining games, it doesn't matter what Quebec does. Group 2 is a tightrope for sure.
Stella: Congrats to the teams who have directly qualified! Juvencus from Group 1. Græntfjall from Group 5, with like 17 wins, 1 draw and two losses. Vilita from Group 11. Zwangzug from Group 15 with an impressive 17 wins, 2 draws and 1 loss. Nephara in Group 6 are 5 points ahead of TJUN-ia so we expect them to qualify next round.
Mila: Hopefully we can join them soon!
Stella: Yes, we like to avoid playoffs.

Mila: Don't forget to get team collectible trading cards.
Stella: They sure picked the most boring image for the manager Faye Swift.
Mila: That's because she wears the same thing all the time, unlike people like us.
Stella: No it wasn't accidental all the stadium attendants were dressed like Japanese
Mila: We do weird stuff like that a lot
Stella: Well, that's all from us. A GREAT DAY TOWARDS OUR PLACE IN WORLD CUP 93 FINALS!

[Cabo Azure]

"It's a high-risk, high-reward proposition, to be sure."

Joaquin Drake, chairman of the Partido Syndicalisto, the opposition party known colloquially as the Wolves, took a long drag from his cigarette as he studied Sonia across the table from him. They were seated in an overstuffed booth at the Cormorant, one of the innumerable historic pubs that lined the streets of Portelo. The establishment's unique claim to fame was being the social hub of Portelo's Long Marcher community, distant descendants of those Marchers who'd supported the king and fled in fear when the monarchy had been toppled. Some colloquially called them Nepharan, but the Marchers were quick to remind those people that their ancestors had left the mainland long before the Nephara polity took shape.

The Marcher community had been in Portelo a long time, starting from the early days when they had served as advisors and commanders to the Azurean kings, and they remained active in national politics. Drake was one the most prominent Marchers, a professor of mathematics at Maritime University and one-time member of the Maritime Mafia, an influential group of academics who had affected the end of O Interregno and the reinstatement of the Azurean monarchy. Most of Drake’s colleagues in the Mafia were active members of either the son Nacional or the Coalizão Nacional, bitter rivals on the right who had nevertheless come together in the last election to keep the Wolves, with Sonia as their candidate, from taking over the prime minister’s seat.

“After the election, what have we got to lose? We need a bold play, Joaquin, or we risk losing even more seats back to the CN and AN. People like winners.”

“Don’t lecture me, girl,” Joaquin said sharply, his dark eyes falling on her like a disapproving teacher to a disruptive pupil. “The last election wasn’t what you think it was,” he went on, in a gentler tone. “We knew you didn’t stand a chance of winning, but we had to make a good showing if we wanted to continue getting the kind of wins we have in the Assembly. The AN and CN needed to know they couldn’t ignore us.”

“What wins?” asked Sonia incredulously.

“Have you not been paying attention?” Joaquin took another drag on his cigarette, savored the moment. “Are you that wrapped up in your football? Small things. Bills we introduce getting passed, with support from the wings of the bigger parties. Tariff reductions, minor tax changes, reclassifications of goods. We’re building momentum. Free trade is good for business, after all.”

“You splash around in the shallows,” Sonia shot back derisively. “And when the tide goes out, you’re all going to suffocate. I’m offering you a chance to do something people care about."

"I can't tell you whether to bring the Copa Rushmori to Cabo Azure. I can't even tell you if it's a good idea, because I haven't seen the numbers. If it makes sense for the FAF, go ahead and do it, and we'll make the most of it politically."

That wasn’t an answer, Sonia knew. Bringing the Copa to Cabo Azure would be a significant undertaking, but political support, even from the minority party, would take it from a long shot to a possibility. Joaquin and his ilk thought they were doing the smart thing by settling for small, common-sense victories, hoping the people would see the benefits their policies wrought, but they didn’t understand how little people in the outer islands thought of politics. To get people like her brothers excited about something, you had to relate on their level, and nothing was more on their level than football. It was a fundamental disconnect in the PS, and theoretically it was the reason they’d brought her in from Sao Cristobal to serve as a disruptor. With her prime ministerial campaign over, they’d reverted to their old, elitist ways.

"I'm doing it, Joaquin," Sonia said, "But it'll be easier with your help, and better. And when it does come here, you'll be able to rub it in the AN's and CN's faces. People from all over Rushmore, coming here, spending money. It'll be a huge windfall."

"Go ahead and do it, Sonia, there's nothing stopping you. But we can't be associated with it. The FAF isn't a partisan organization, nor should it be." He took a breath. "We see what you're doing, Sonia, and we do appreciate it. The dual-nationals especially–you're going on a limb for the cause, and we're aware of that."

[Ochre Islands]

At a quiet airport in Bostopia (primarily used for cargo, though there were private flying clubs around the apron too) a frequently seen cargo plane was parked up and being loaded with containers full of plants.

'Mark?' 'Yes Ky mate?' 'We're definitely being paid for this?' 'Ayup' Mark replied, logging into his mobile banking app on his phone, then turning the screen to face Ky. 'Money's already in my account' 'Wow' Ky replied, not giving Mark the chance to finish his sentence. 'That's mortgage money that is!' 'Yeah, it is' Mark said rather impatiently, 'so we had better get on with it... considering...'

'Considering what mate?' 'Well the guy who came and spoke to me about it. He was a bit odd but had a dangerous look in his eye behind the comedy fake moustache and glasses he was wearing. Still had the price tag on too. He was clearly a bit mad, you know? Capable of anything I reckoned.' 'Ah yeah that does sound fishy' Ky replied, rubbing his chin as he spoke.

'Anyway' Mark said, watching the last of the plants be loaded onto the plane, 'the Ochres have got form for this, bombing their neighbours with cacti and that, so I don't think anyone will be looking our way and we'll be a few hundred thousand better off.'

Before long, the plane had took off into the blue Anaian skies and was heading north-west over Krytenia (ignoring the funny smell), then after a few hours finally finding themselves over yellowy-red sands, interspersed with patches of orangey clay where the sand hadn't quite yet spread.

Ky leaned forward and peered out of the window at the ground 'You sure this is the place, Mark? It all looks a bit... ochre to me'. 'Yep, convinced. Look at the roads – the Ochres can't do much right, but they drive on the correct side at least. The drivers down there are cack-handed. This is definitely Ko-oren. Or some other foreign country.' 'Alright, I'll push 'em out then. Open the door at the back for us would you?'

Mark pushed a button and left Ky to it, who had spent the early part of the flight unpacking the plants from the larger pallets and was now strapped to the plane via a very strong piece of cord, listening to the gentle rumbling of the door lowering itself open. Once it had been opened, Ky began sweeping the plants out of the plane with a broom, watching them tumble down toward the ground below them. Once they were all out, Ky confirmed this via the radio, and the plane turned and headed back out of Ko-oren's airspace and south back toward the Ochres.

[Brookstation]

---

UNFORGETTABLE MATCHDAYS

---

REMEMBERING THE NIGHT BROOKSTATION HUMILIATED AN INVINCIBLE BANIJAN SIDE

The stadium shone a blaze of red tinged with white in some parts. For those who weren’t familiar with the chant ‘You can’t say pop and forget the smoke’ became very well versed it by the evening. It was on that night, the Brook squad had firmly paid back its supporters who had made the national side proud for so many years. That night, Dreamland’s pubs would be filled to the brim just like every supporter’s glass of beer and the celebrations wouldn’t stop until the next day.

The World Cup qualifiers is always a tournament of immense significance and what makes it more thrilling are the stunts of the unlikely heroes. That night, it was Jean-Pierre Polnareff’s turn to gain something for the Dreamers and against the monstrous Banija, he turned immortal. His last minute goal made a shocking difference, snatching three points straight off the fifth ranked nation in the world, making an important step in Brookstation’s best campaign till now. As far as Brookstation is concerned, the massive fan following which never gives up on the hopeless team grab the headlines for their dedicated passion but tonight it was the squad’s turn to grab the headlines.

Banija is not a new name in the footballing world. Ever since their appearance on the world stage, Banija has remained one of the most successful footballing nations, having even championed the world once during World Cup 86. Brookstation had not even qualified to the knockouts of a World Cup, leave alone the proper one. The only time they would make it as far as the knockouts was that very year, before getting comfortably knocked out by Nyowani Kitara, a nation closely associated with Banija. The only aspiration Brookstation could find that day was from their very loyal fanbase.

The two teams stepped on to the Pop Smoke Stadium and the whistle began the game; signalling the Banijans that another easy victory awaited them. A strong lineup had been chosen by manager Pam Scott to not take any risk while ensuring a sufficient store of substitutes if required under any circumstance

The Banijans showed little interest in trying to fight against the weak lot of Brooks; a clean-sheet however was something the Banijans demanded and thus Dabo, Kinteh and Conateh would stay on their guard and have a pretty easy time, entertained with very little trouble from the unskilled Brook attacking duo of Dwayne Onfroy and John Johnson.

Brookstation might have lacked a strong team but they weren’t yet ready to give up and they tried their best at times to play the ball but eventually failed to make it past the impenetrable Banijan defense. Harlow once missed the goal by inches and Onfroy headed a ball just over the bar, making captain Leon Michael Robes swear in frustration. Brookstation kept attacking at fixed periods but always failed to find the right time to make an entry.

But today was definitely Brookstation’s day and nothing could stop them from scoring. Jean Jacks had brought the ball under his possession from Sarafina Ikpeazu from where he sent Veum down the right into the Banijan half. Having almost reached the robust Conateh, he waited for Lolong Bokate to advance towards him as well before playing the most ferocious ball with his left foot to Johnson. Loitering in the penalty box, Johnson soon intercepted the cross and slightly overstretched his right foot before killing the ball. Brookstation 1-0 Banija.

Gereh Kama found a tiny bit of space and hurled a shot at the box before Logan made his way out of the net. Kausu Dione found the net, with an amazing volley over the defense, misfortune for Brookstation giving them a reminder that they were playing against Banija at the end of the day and they needed to be much more careful.

Time moved on and eventually the second half had also began. By now, Brookstation had taken up a much safer method of play, trying desperately to keep things under control. With time, the game got intense with both the aggressive sides pulling onto each other’s territory. The players ran faster, the fouls got more dangerous and the noise in the pitch kept growing louder and the condition of the pitch would get worse. Browne would admit that the deteriorating condition of the pitch did help the Brook team at home to a certain extent but according to manager Pam Scott, “Brookstation played with a lot of valour. It was life or death but they would prove us wrong.”

The stadium kept getting nervous and eyes rolled constantly as the game progressed. Substitutes Mignolet and Dolphin brought some hopes in place of Jacks and Veum but there was just about ten minutes to go. Brookstation were so close, yet very far. Brookstation were at a freaked up situation. Substitute Abel Wesoloski-Okafor obviously didn’t make anything better as he swirled a magnificent strike from almost 20 yards that would just go past Lance Logan’s stretched arms and the whole crowd would leave out a sigh.

With minutes to go till the game reached its climax, Steve Dolphin received the ball on the left flank of the field and instead of running forward, he took the decision to wait, giving his teammates ample time to move forward before finally passing the ball with his right foot. The pass was brilliant though; it had evaded quite some players before curling right between the gap formed between Dabo and Bokate. The problem remained, there was no one in red to fill up. It was Jean-Pierre Polnareff, Brookstation’s six-foot-two defensive midfielder had set off to Dolphin’s aid. As soon as he received the ball, he didn’t waste a minute and fired a convoluted shot with his left foot, knocking the ball past the goalkeeper. 2-1 to Brookstation.

Polnareff could not hold back his tears to react to the miracle he had just created. The next few minutes of injury time seemed like a thousand and one nights for the boys in red until the referee finally took the decision to blow the whistle and bring an end to the game.

The Qualifiers, the World Cup in general have produced matches of way better quality. It has seen giant teams come together and compete on the greatest stage and an array of consistent talent have showcased their skills on their way to world domination during the tournament. But I can vouch that no team has tried so hard, reached so close to success and yet ended up failing so miserably as Brookstation. But they had finally done it. The country not even half the size of Banija, home to just half the population of Banija managed to gain the courage and deal a blow to their enormous opponents. Banija topped the group eventually and earned a direct ticket to the World Cup followed by Squornshelan Remnant States.

For Brookstation, there was still a long way to fight, lots of challenges to overcome and a game against Squornshelan Remnant States eagerly awaited them but that day, nobody cared. Brookstation had just achieved the impossible, a win against Banija. They had managed to make it to the knockouts out of a group comprising of Squornshelan and Milchama and if that’s not the indication for Brook fans to rejoice throughout, then there’s nothing else in the world that is.

---

MORE FROM THE BEAUTIFUL GAME :
"Even if we couldn't make it, I am happy with my boys" says Browne
Brookstation puts up a fierce show against Drawkland and Nyowani Kitara but qualification seems bleak
Meet Faouzi Omar, the man who collected over 1000 football jerseys from all over the multiverse

[Nyowani Kitara]

Current Leader of the Opposition, and former State President, Nafuna Akongo, at her estate

Nafuna Akongo had just woken up. She was no longer the primary person in NYK politics- not by a long shot. But as leader of the opposition, even as a polarizing one, she was still quite an important figure. She was one of those rare people in history- someone who won a civil war, yet were still jolted from power by it. Or, depending on your take, she was one of a long list of despotic rulers who never received justice for the damage that they caused. She had never retired from politics- doing the grinding job of becoming a leader of the opposition. It was a difficult task- much more difficult when you were not used to the democratic system in the first place.

She thought about what she had gone through. Gustav Isaksson- forever jailed up north, in Graentfjall, because she had sent him on, what she knew now, was a near suicide mission- to assassinate Max Ulf in the heart of his own capitol. It went about as poorly as it could have- Isaksson was captured, alive, and repatriated out of the country. IT had been probably her most fundamental error of the war. It caused her to lose her own right-hand man within the country- and her allies lost her faith in her to prosecute the war to her liking. She sometimes sat and thought about that moment, how things could have been different if she did not order that assassination.

But she did order that assassination- what was in the past, was in the past. She thought about her life right now. She was still in her 20s- and she had been through more than most 20 year olds. Although, admittedly, from a position of power. Both of her parents were dead. She was estranged from her brother- after he started a civil war that could have only ended with her swinging from the gallows. Hell, even the person she had become closest to, Isaksson- obviously, her poor decision-making had thrown him in jail. And even Ren Qiang, her close Yue confidante, was now dead as well.

She felt as if she was at a crossroads. What should she do with her life from here? She felt as if she was further from political power than ever. The Guanacastecan civil war could spill over into Nyowani Kitara further, which would bite into Muhoozi Kulan's popularity- the President was still fairly popular, of course, and she was such a polarizing figure herself- while her people in the KPWC were still huge fans, those who did not like her, really did not like her. It would be the political comeback of a lifetime if she ended up as the democratically elected President of Nyowani Kitara.

So that's why she was at a crossroads. She felt so alone in her life. No family. The friends she had made when she was head of state- mostly gone. Some in jail, as the Government had set up certain tribunals for crimes against humanity. Many soldiers, others leaving politics altogether. She needed to sit there, deep down, and think this through. She lit up her premium cigar, and began thinking. Was politics still for her? Or did she want to discover a new path in life? She certainly had the money- when you were a third generation ruler of a state, your family was certainly not going to be poor.

[Eraman]

II.VI
THE FOURTEENTH GENERAL ELECTION
THE HOT SEATS OF ERAMAN (PART 3)

v. Daula

Daula is the most developed state in Eraman located on the east coast of the country. Being the most densely populated state in the country, Daula has the most diverse population in the country comprising various ethnic groups, including Eramanese, Palmyran, Girian, Mandaran, Samuderan, Sharktailian, Mitranese, and Somanese. The state's capital is Daulapura, the second biggest city in the country, home to the state and national palace. The biggest city in the state however is the capital city of Eraman itself, Anara, the administrative and economic center of the country.

Daula is the state with the most seats consisting of 9 parliamentary seats with 7 seats (Penama, Ledan, Sarkesh, Anara, Perlam, Sanim) located within the progressive coastal belt and 2 seats (Malkan, Galra) within the Eramanese heartland belt. The state used to be a stronghold for the National Front until the previous general election where they lost the state for the first time in history, winning only 3 seats while the People's Pact won the remaining 6 seats.

The People's Pact had its focus in Daula in the previous general election by nominating many of its top leaders in seats in the state including names like Asin Adiwarman, the deputy president of the Labour's Justice Party (LJP), Nuri Rabima, the daughter of the opposition leader and Tuan Ghafur, the son of the chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). The strategy paid off for the People's Pact as they won the state for the first time in history. And in their bid to retain the state, the same big names were fielded again to defend their seats.

The hottest seat in the state will be Ledan, a seat that Nuri Rabima won for the People's Pact for the first time in the previous general election when she unexpectedly beat Seri Jeli, the Woman's Chief of the Eraman Nationalist Party (ENP) which earned her the nickname the Giant Killer. Challenging Nuri Rabima this time around will be another big name, Nong Petara, a top corporate leader in the country and also a member of the House of Petara.

vi. Vidya

Vidya is one of the two west coast states in Eraman located in the southwest of the country. The population is mainly Eramanese, Palmyran, Samuderan, and Sharktailian. The state's capital is Vidyapura, a historical city that is known as the home to numerous historical sites, universities, and cultural centers. The biggest city in the state however is the state's port city, Armo.

Vidya consists of 3 parliamentary seats with 2 seats (Armo, Vidyapura) located within the progressive coastal belt and 1 seat (Seri) within the Eramanese heartland belt. The state is one of the strongholds for the National Front having won the state in every general election. They won 2 of the seats in the last general election with the People's Pact winning their sole seat in Armo.

The biggest name to contest in the state will be Ria Petara, the Youth Chief of the Eraman Nationalist Party who is also the son of Tun Sengalang Petara, the fifth Bendahara of Eraman. The charismatic figure who many see as the future of the ENP will be contesting in Seri, a seat he won for the first time in the previous general election. Challenging him will be Melati Purnama, a famous veteran singer representing the Eraman Traditionalist Party (ETP) from the People's Pact.

The hottest seat in the state however will be Vidyapura, a semi-urban seat that had always been won by the National Front. The People's Pact has an extra eye for the seat, putting a lot of effort on it and nominating Samuri Kendiri, the political secretary for the opposition leader himself to challenge the incumbent, Adi Rustamanyu, the long-serving influential Hulubalang (Chief Minister) of Vidya.

[Elmyia]

The Beaucester Gazette
Opinion: The Siege is Over, But Government Credibility Will Not Be Restored
With Scuba Dave free, public anger may boil over

They held out for 37 hours in the end. Armed to the teeth but with little idea, the Scuba Gang's barely formed plans came to fruition last night as a stand down to the Assembly Building Hostage Crisis was achieved. With it the assembly members were finally able to leave, but they may find their terms cut short at the next election, with the concessions given tough to swallow for the watching public.

First to the outcomes of the siege. The initial exchanges saw non-assembly members in the building exchanged for a vast repository of beer and modelling glue. The second phase saw a long spate of negotiations over the position of National Team manager Benni Massi. The manager, to his immense public credit, offered to stand down as manager to bring an end to the situation. Scuba Dave, however, insisted he be rehired and then sacked in order to bring an end to the issue. The assembly acquiesced to both this, and his other demand to escape imprisonment.

The Chair of the Governance Committee, the de facto, if underpowered, head of Elmyian government Julian Coppola backed this decision. "Whilst we recognise the harm caused by David Morrison, it is important we restore proper governance and to do so concessions were required from us. Whilst David Morrison has certainly engaged in criminal acts here, we have concluded that he's actually just a bit naughty and the sentence given will rectify this."

So, after causing carnage across various areas of Elmyia's major cities, seizing military weaponry and holding the nations lawmakers to ransom, what is the punishment? They've been sent to a sensitivity course designed for people charged with antisocial behaviour.

Now, most nations suspect that their politicians are a self-serving bunch of avaricious cowards. The difference is Elmyia's have shown themselves to be. It seems to have provided a turning point already, even if it is a bit early to call. Instant polling reactions has shown a massive shift in support from the 7 parties represented in parliament towards either don't know, or parties without representation in parliament. The Communist Party, who lost their only seats at the last election, seem to have benefited the most, going from about 3% of the vote to 12% overnight. More generally there's a breakdown in trust.

Elmyians have tended to palm the idea of governing onto others, and have shown fairly little interest in mass political engagement. This is perhaps a legacy of the military dictatorship, who upheld a wary tolerance in a society divided into pillars, and passed this on to the structure onwards. Maybe apathy made sense to date, there never felt like much needed changing. People voted for parties that represented them as either English, Italian or Greek speakers, the ideologically left aligned voted Communist and business owners backed liberals. From there the parties representing the 5 pillars were required to be represented, at least half the seats assigned to each one. Lawmakers in Elmyia have tended to collaborate loosely, rarely bound by party with consensus dominating the decision making. But consensus can become strangling.

There's been rumours before around corruption, the divvying up of pork fat by assembly members, a racket of self-interest. There's been frustration around stagnant growth and a society who's dominant force appears to be inertia. The lack of bravery shown in the face of an actual threat to the nation could be the nail in the coffin for Elmyia's political consensus.

---

The Overlap
Putting Aside the Noise, It Was Probably Massi's Time To Go

Adieu Massi. Forced out of his job as the result of a surreal series of events, most are decrying the loss of him as a manager. They're quite possibly right to, Massi's record in qualification has seen Elmyia establish itself with a few decent results and some very reasonable performances. No one can possibly endorse the manner of his demise, at the hand of some football hooligans gone berserk. But, the question remains, was Massi's time up anyway?

The mood music coming into qualification was hardly positive. Massi had overseen three group stage exits in a row. The final one, in the Independents Cup, was particularly disappointing, with Elmyia downed after poor performances against Oscioru when progression had been somewhat expected. During qualification Elmyia have had moments, odd runs of form where it felt something might come together, but overall it has been a team treading water. Coming into this as 7^th seeds, Elmyia now sit firmly in 6^th, with their ceiling capped at 5^th. Essentially, they are performing at par and Massi hasn't managed to take the next step with the team over the last three tournaments to push on, or get this group performing as much more than the sum of their parts.

Firstly a word in mitigation. Massi has clearly improved Elmyia in one aspect, the individual players look fitter and more technical than they did before. His fitness programme has clearly been influential, and has been adopted by some Division 1 coaches, and likely will complete a revolution of domestic football. But tactically, trying to maximise the upside of the team's outstanding player, Froggatt, has backfired as she found herself injured and the team struggled for goals.

Some will argue that injuries are what have derailed the campaign. Katsouranis' injury was the first, but Elmyia seemed to weather it, but from there he lost key players in Kit Simmons, Jackie Froggatt and Mario Freschi. From there it became hard for Elmyia to convert promise to points, held to draws in key fixtures to TJUN-ia and Savojarna, they looked bereft of some of the defensive steel they'd found, and lacked goals from sources beside Whittingham and the centre-backs. The draw to Archalit that saw Elmyia's hopes of making the play-offs disappear once and for all was particularly disappointing. Maybe the aftermath of events involving Scuba Dave overshadowed things, the players looking shell-shocked, they failed to fashion a single clear chance for Benedetti or Whittingham to get on the end of.

Should Elmyia qualify for the Cup of Harmony it is uncertain who will take over the team, although given the conditions to end the siege we have to assume it will be a more attacking coach. Again their prospects seem unclear, and future hope of qualification remains dim.

[Banija]

Robel Ezera- Some insight on the man who wants to become WCC President


The long-time Executive Chairman of the RBSA, Robel Ezera

BUSUKUMA, NATIONAL CAPTIOL REGION- To some, this came as a surprise. But to others- this came as a joyous moment. Robel Ezera is the longtime Executive Chairman of the RBSA- and this is, stunningly, his 12th cycle at the helm of professional football in Banija. Nearly a quarter of a century- 23 years running the show. He's done a lot since he became Chairman, and has overseen all sorts of success. On the association level, he immediately brought the World Cup back to Banija(for the second time in three cycles) with bringing World Cup 83 to home soil. He has not bid for the World Cup since then, but he called being on that Committee a 'highlight' of his life.

He has done many more things. He was a member of the Orean/Istria XIV Olympiad Host Committee, one of the delegates chosen by the then Chairman of the Olympic Committee of Banija, Ousman Kaba, due to his expertise on hosting major events. He has overseen all sorts of ups and downs for the national team. Of course, since he took charge, we've won the senior World Cup, as well as having earned two regional titles. That does not discount success elsewhere(two podium finishes in each of the U18 and U21 World Cups, as well as back-to-back podium finishes in the Eagle's Cup). He's brought the AOCAFs a few times to be hosted in Banija, navigated peaceful relations between the RBSA and BISA- even when Banija and Busogan diplomatic relations were anything but.

He saw the team fall to its darkest depths- the shocking failure to qualify for World Cup 89, while ranked in the top 5 in the KPBs. But he oversaw its resurrection, making a number of aggressive hires, the chief among them being Pam Scott, to get Banija back towards the top of the game. And yet, he has not always been the most agreeable. He was a lightning rod for controversy by being a fierce advocate for the formation of the S-FPL in Banija, and being one of the primary movers and shakers for the move on the Banijan side.

Who is this man? We're gonna tell you all about who Robel Ezera is, and why he wants to be the next President of the World Cup Committee.

Younger life and playing career

Ironically, Robel Ezera was on Banija's first ever NT. First ever World Cup national team, anyways. That's where we'll pick things up. He came through the academy for the now defunct Herzegovina United, and played largely for AFC Kosactus throughout his playing career. He was the starting #9 for the World Cup 73 cycle- yes, that team that got a lone point in the Baptism of Fire, and lost all 12 of their Qualifiers. Yes, the same team that scored 5 goals across a 12 match qualifying campaign, and who's starting #9, Robel Ezera, scored none of them. A disaster of a campaign, yes. But the failures on the pitch molded him into the man he was today.

"I always had the passion, and knew this country had the potential." Robel Ezera would later tell a reporter later on in his life. "But I also knew- I clearly wasn't good enough for the international game." Famously, not a single player from that squad ever got another international cap, in any capacity, for Banija ever again. And he was one of them. Despite his disastrous role as a player, he was still somebody who had an incredible amount of smarts- and passion for the things he did. He got into coaching for some time, before deciding to really get into the business side of things.

Robel Ezera- The Politico

After calling it quit on his coaching career fairly quickly, he started to move into back office stuff. He quickly became the Athletic Director for Moravica International University, overseeing an unusually successful sporting period for them- a school that's generally known as one of the worst DI sports schools in the country. But his interest in sport continued. But he had other interests too- including politics. He ended up leaving his role as AD of MIU and running for election, getting elected to the Lukiiko. The front bench of his own political party ended up be indicted in a corruption scandal(that he personally had nothing to do with), so at the next election, his party was wiped out- including him losing his own seat.

He was very involved in the sports scene, however, as a member of the Lukiiko. Quickly rose to be the Vice Chairman of the Committee on Sports & Culture, handling all sorts of sporting issues on the all-party Parliamentary Committee. Despite him losing election, people saw his passion for sport. He was named the head of the Moravica High School Sporting Association(MHSSA), which ran all of the high school sporting competitions in Banija's largest state. He stayed there for a number of years, before getting the itch to get back into politics. But he did not want to go back to Busukuma- he wanted to stay local.

So he ran for Herzegovina City Council. The local kid, with quite a name for himself, was easily elected within the Moravican capitol city. And he quickly rose on the council, becoming the Chairman of the City Council within just 3 years of his first election to the council. Due to other positions held, he was able to help lead the council- great connections to both Busukuma and the state government. It was here where he got a role serving as a lay advisor to the Patriach of the Puritan Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints- also known as the Banijan Mormon Church.

Robel Ezera- The Exec Chairman

It was in this position when, following Adama Sowe's election as Vice President of the WCC, that the RBSA looked around for a new Executive Chairman. They cast their net far and wide, and found him. Now, talking about his election. Remember how the voting system worked then. Needed serious support from the colleges, as well as support from the various club owners, he campaigned on NT stability and league stability. And generally, he's been pretty popular- being re-elected every four years with massive majorities among the membership.

What has his term been defined by? For one, on the field success. Since he's taken charge, Banija's hoisted trophies like the World Cup, AOCAFs, Eagle's Cup, and the two youth level World Cups- U18 and U21. His term has also been defined by loyalty. Think of how long Banija ran with Marcus Waters- hired by Adama Sowe mid-WC80, going all the way through World Cup 89 Qualifying. Generally, been rewarded for it. Pam Scott, look at what she's done. There isn't much frequent switching of managers- unless things are an absolute disaster, he's going to keep his faith to see things through.

The other thing his term has been defined by- the radical re-structuring of the club game. Specifically, the formation of the S-FPL- combining the top flight with Farfadillis. Of course, this had led to a lot of success, on and off the field. He ensured that, with the explosive TV revenues on the Banijan side, there would be 'equitable' distribution of media rights revenues- with 30% of such revenues being sent down the tiers, including 'parachute payments' to recently relegated clubs. So everybody got richer. It did not come without complaints, of course. 10 Banijan teams in the top flight is far fewer than 20.

Of course, that was not all smooth sailing- but he stayed the course, pushed ahead, and generally speaking, people believe it has done wonders for club football. For about 5 years running, the S-FPL was univerally recognized as a top 3 domestic competition in the multiverse. Highlighted, of course, by Kitara AA(of all clubs!) winning the IFCF Champions League- the first, and still the only, club from the Basin to do so.

After 23 years running the RBSA, he believes it is time for a promotion. "I have dedicated the latter half of my adult life to football- and have overseen it successfully here at home. I have done what I set out to do here on home soil." He told reporters. "Now, like Adama Sowe before me, I wish to help give back to the global game, by being an effective steward of international football all over the multiverse."

It's not like you can poll these things- so it's entirely unclear if he can win. But he said, regardless of result, that he would step down from the Executive Chairmanship of the RBSA after the World Cup Finals. "Look- I have done everything I have set out to do here in Banija. I will work hard to get the support of my WCC colleagues- but if I do not, then I'll simply retire off into the sunset."

[Flavovespia]

This is Flavovespia takes a slightly more light hearted look at the regions of Flavovespia, and some of the stereotypes associated with them. Some of them are based in truth, others maybe exaggerated somewhat by their rivals or neighbours. Nevertheless, if you travel to Flavovespia, this is what other Flavovespians may think of each region:

Hadford Hill: Hadford Hill has a reputation as the capitalist centre of Flavovespia, and it’s often joked that most people who work there are financial advisors, strategic consultants, or some other white collar job. It’s often joked as well that people don’t intend to stay in Hadford Hill, but the traffic system is so bad, people can’t find a way out. The fact Hadford Hill remained one city, despite considerable suburban sprawl and some rural areas still within the same municipality causes some amusement. The failed period of being somewhat independent also causes mirth, but a majority of Flavovespians like to put past political tensions aside.

Centrelands: As a whole, the region suffers from the unfortunate reputation of being rather meaningless and corporate. Marthorpe, the largest municipality in Flavovespia being a very corporate city, doesn’t help that reputation. Stretching from North to South, it’s somewhat described as “not that bad, but also just kind of there”. Kings Lunsel and Abbots Lunsel have a reputation for the fiercest footballing rivalry in Flavovespia, due to the Lunselbury split, and for seemingly disagreeing for the sake of disagreement in the eyes of others. North Mayshop and South Maishop also have a more light-hearted “agree to disagree” reputation, especially given the spelling differences in the name, a source of local rivalry.

Waldster: The capital of Flavovespia, it’s maybe not a surprise that the city is famous for the home of politics in the nation. The town has also drawn envy with the historical perceived bias towards it, indeed it was only a little over 2 decades ago the nation was called Greater Waldster, a name a fair number resented. The city has a reputation for more efficient transport and planning, but also a bit of a sense everyone takes themselves a little bit too seriously here.

Eastlands: The Eastlands are known as the posh parts of Flavovespia, and that stereotype somewhat holds true. The demographics tend towards the affluent, and all the sailing, boating, surfing, vineyards and distilleries point towards that. A place that some Flavovespians say is “where that relative who struck gold retired to at the age of 50”. The good points are that it’s natural beauty and coastlines tend to live up to their reputation as some of the best in Flavovespia. The region is also sometimes known for a lack of a big city, no matter how hard Loxthorpe and Langmere Green try to big themselves up as a “big city”.

St Astons: St Astons is known for being the birthplace of Liberalism in Flavovespia, and for its general arts scene. St Astons City has something of a reputation for residents mentioning a lot that it’s the oldest city in the nation. Even within the city, there’s jones about only true Astonians living within the Vitarias Walls, everyone else is a suburban upstart. Whilst St Astons City is considered one of the Big 3, both residents of Hadford Hill and Waldster will consider it only the third city in the nation, with the other two ahead of it. Some of the other municipalities of St Astons that aren’t St Astons City have reputations of their own. Saxford is known for being one of the few noticeably religious parts of Flavovespia, and Aston Hills and Astons Woods as a collection of random villages that’s municipality status comes as a product of bureaucracy.

Westlands: Out in the West of Flavovespia, and with the bulk of the Flavovespian population in the East, it’s not a surprise that the reputation the Westlands have is something of a forgotten place, with slightly different accents. It cuts both ways, with Carston Green seen as a nice middle sized city for those looking to escape somewhere quieter. However Hopford has a reputation for being very insular, not helped by a voting record showing it often goes the furthest right in Flavovespia. Generally mountain climbing and hillwalking is a hobby associated with those in the Westlands.

Outer Waldster: The joke often about Outer Waldster is it’s so bad, Waldster refuse to take them. That’s somewhat harsh, even for the municipalities with slightly rougher areas. With just 5 municipalities in Outer Waldster (Galling, Radstye, Stanmorn, Towerhaite and Vale), outsiders often struggle to see the municipalities as particularly unique, and they do struggle with a bit of a “commuter belt” image. In terms of individual stereotypes, Galling and Stanmorn are the slightly more working-class, left-wing areas, Vale and Towerhaite the more affluent, yet still fairly left-wing parts, and Radstye one of the newer municipalities that not everyone thinks needed to be separate from Vale.

Hampridge Westwood: Hampridge Westwood, a bit like the Centrelands, has a reputation as 2 smaller regions clumsily stitched into one. Thus it’s hard to come up with much of a reputation for the whole region, although it is one of the “forgotten” areas at times. Garden City’s planned design and sprawling concrete means the “Garden” part of the name has raised eyebrows, even if the cycleways have won over critics. Westwood is known as a place everyone travels through, but not to. Linvale is known for Linwyn Lake, and that’s about it. Ellerstone is known as a seaside resort that tries to avoid being tacky, with Boleland Wood and Saltearth a rivalry despite neither town having much glory associated with it.

Torlands: The Torlands are basically “those hills between Waldster and Hadford Hill” to plenty in both cities, although with improvements to transport have become more viable as commuter areas. Farming and agriculture was what many of the municipalities, such as Apsbrooke, Frostbrook, Locksmith, Nailwood, Sandneston and Whittlesbury were known for. Cartswood has been rather harshly described as “not even Outer Waldster wanted it”. Narrock Wood and John’s Park meanwhile are known for strong localism, and residents who love to bring up their home towns regularly. The region as a whole also tends to be seen as a place where more bizarre news stories happen.

Henhaven Island: One thing defines Henhaven Island, partying. All summer long, there’s young adults from Flavovespia and abroad living it up on the island, with a “out of sight, out of mind” attitude taken to an extent. Other things the Island is known for is residents liking to remind others they’re technically not attached to the main land mass of Flavovespia, plus all the odd old time traditions the island has.

[Mertagne]

TWO PINE PRESS
presents...

THE MERTAGNIAN CLASSICS COLLECTION

#9

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In The Shadow of Lion’s Mountain
by Joksata

The most popular fictional text to come out of Leorudo in its time as a city-state, In the Shadow of Lion’s Mountain by Rudo poet Joksata is an epic poem chronicling the activities observed by an wisened farmer known as Clamora, who managed an estate on the northern side of the mountain. The epic poem, while penned by Joksata, is believed to be a collection of other native Leorudan folk stories, and the framing device of the farm was intended to be a memory aid to poets who would be singing and performing this work in communities across the mountain city-state of Leorudo and beyond. The text has been mostly preserved in written form through the fall of the Leorudo state, and much work has been done with leading Leorudo scholars and community leaders to provide as full a translation of the epic from the native Rudo language.

Plot Summary:

Clamora, a old farmer of the fields on the northern side of Mount Leorudo, a cause that she claims to literally be a ‘fruitless endavour’, sees much from the porch outside her house on the slopes of the mountain. Told in four parts, each corresponding to a season, she adopts the role of a carer and advice giver to a noble hero that is embarking on a series of trials to become accepted by the Great Lion, rumoured to live deep inside Mount Leorudo.
The hero, starting off as physically strong but with little knowledge of the outside word having grown up deep in the city, runs into a variety of problems that requires cunning and guile, which Clamora is more than happy to provide, as in return, the hero will help her plough the fields and tend to Clamora’s livestock.
The hero’s first dilemma occurs in the spring, where he has been tasked with slaying an evil beast that has hair made of snakes and a paralysing gaze known as a gorgon. Clamora suggests that he avoid the gaze through the use of a hand mirror, or that the hero clear her field of weeds, beasts, and debris, claiming the snakes that he would find there were strands of hair from the beast’s head. The hero chooses to do the latter, gaining the prestige of the city, and once word gets to the gorgon beast, it makes haste for the last known location of the hero, Clamora’s farm, but fails to spot the mirror that Clamora has placed on her own door. Turning to stone in the process, the gorgon is placed as a scarecrow in the field.
In the summer, the hero returns to Clamora, belabouring his woes concerning his latest task, which is to chase away an awful fire-breathing dragon that has been terrorising the southern side of the city. Clamora playfully discounts that the hero either try to tackle the dragon head on, wounding the hero’s pride, and then suggests he try a more sneaky approach involving challenging the dragon’s pride and goading it into a cave and getting it stuck there. The hero, seeing how he was goaded by Clamora, attempts the latter option and successfully manages to seal the dragon deep in a cave below the mountain. The dragon feasts on the beasts found within, constantly breathing fire, and heats the ground on the north side of the mountain, providing a more fertile soil for Clamora’s crops to grow.
In the autumn, the hero visits once again, his appearance changed after befalling the curse of a mighty trickster creature known as Lord Faerie. The Lord has changed the hero’s face, making him ugly, and has sapped his strength, making him weak. The only way to break the curse, according to the hero, is to ‘tame the forest fields and pluck the golden flax’ found to the north, which the hero has found impossible throughout the season. Choking, thorny vines that are impervious to being cut surround and inhabit the field, and those that do get close to the wheat seem to suffer a terrible fate, as screaming plants pop out of the ground and stun those that get too close.
Clamora, ever the sage, suggests that the hero wear something to defend his ears, and instead of cutting the choking vines, he tickle them instead so that they will move out his way. The hero, seeing the wisdom of her advice, instead treads this softer path instead of rushing into the fight, and is rewarded when the golden flax he picks is transformed into a shimmering golden linen cloak. However, upon leaving, the cloak is split in two by the thorned choking vines. The hero leaves one half of the shimmering cloak with Clamora, who uses it as a shawl. In return for her advice, the hero helps Clamora bring in a bountiful harvest, made richer by the presence and magicks of the golden cloak.
The final time Clamora meets the hero is outside of the farm, as she is walking from the city one winter evening. She slips from the mountain path and falls down into a precarious crevice, before crying out for help. The hero, able to hear her calls from afar, speeds into action and dives into the crevice as well, before realising that now the two of them are stuck with no way out. Clamora suggests the two walk deeper, hearing voices from a cave found in the crevice, and the hero carries her deeper into the cave where they meet a family that have entered the cave system under the rumour that gold is found within. After an adventure involving spelunking, the hero, Clamora, and the family venture into the lair of the dragon from the summer, who has survived by eating cave animals such as bats. The dragon, enraged, begins to attack the group, but the hero, using everything he has learned over the past year, defeats the dragon using cunning and guile, bringing the group to safety at Clamora’s farm.
Clamora goes on to write that the hero ventured out into the wilderness after that year, and became a person of great renown. He would visit every few years, however, and the two became fast friends for the rest of Clamora’s life. When she died, the hero returned, retired from adventuring, and continued her work at the farm, turning swords into ploughshares.

About the Author:

Not much is known about Joksata, the compiler of this work, but it is rumoured that he was male and lived in the city of Leorudo during the Classical Era. He was known to have written his own poetry work, but is most famous for his compilation of this work, which he acknowledges is not all his own in the original translation. It is believed that each of the season’s stories existed in a rudimentary form, and were culturally well known, before the work was created, and that Joksata simply compiled them and created the framing device surrounding Clamora. However, many scholars also claim that Clamora was real, and that Jokasta simply wrote down her interpretation of events, which are now believed to fall firmly into myth.
Joksata enjoyed a good life in Leorudo, and it is believed he owned a large house and had a big family. Five children are referenced in some of his personal writings, which are artefacts that have survived over the centuries. Joksata also served on the Tribal Council that ruled Leorudo at the time, and has been noted as a presence in council meetings. A carved bust of Joksata was recovered from a collapsed villa that was found deep in Mount Leorudo, giving us a good idea of what he looked like.

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Check out the entire Mertagnian Classics Colleciton from Two Pine Press:
Past The Point of Frozen by Victoria Emmerson
The Reach of the Endless by Andras Stocker
Verse Under The Lime Tree by Luke Latimer
The Cravannien Chronicles by Prince Arval of Wesaxe
The Old Ones & Other Short Stories by Alisdair Stannard
From Seed to Stead: The Principles of Increasing Agricultural Yield in Small-Holdings by Abigaile Farrer
The Krytenian Brooch by Marcoul Liadec
Professional Comedy: A Compilation of Popular Plays by The Baudelaire Public Players
In The Shadow of Lion’s Mountain by Joksata

[Gnejs]

One does not simply hand out a Rock of Friendship

The Issue
Recent years have seen the Union interact with the international community at an unprecedented rate, mainly due to an increased participation in a range of sporting events. This growing international exposure has made elements within and outside your administration bring up the subject of Friendship. Should the Union perhaps loosen up its diplomatic policy - an age-old dichotomy where you are either a Friend, or a non-aligned Acquaintance - and try to make some new Friends? Seeing as the last Rock of Friendship was granted around 120 years ago, is it about time to start handing out some new ones?

The Debate

"I can name several reasons why this is a good idea,” says Mr. Andersson, an importer-exporter. “For starters, it’s an ancient way of doing things, this dividing the world into Friends and Acquaintances. If we wanna do business with a Friend, the government supports us a 110%, and of course we appreciate that. But when we’re looking outside that rather short list of nations, there’s no state backing, at all. It’s detrimental to good business, and thats hurting the Union, plain and simple. However, there is a certain eccentric quaintness to handing out these rocks and declaring people Friends; it’s good branding and it makes them feel special. We just need to expand who we’re calling our Friends, massively. For starters, Rocks should be promptly sent to the economic powerhouses of Rushmore.”

Accept

"Just handing it out to everybody would of course defeat the Rock’s purpose, this is known,” intervenes the pale-looking Director General of the MFA’s Department of Non-Aligned Diplomacy. “But, it is true that our list of Friends is rather short, whereas the list of non-aligned Acquaintances we have dealings with grows larger rapidly. Despite this, the resource allocation between my own department and the Department of Diplomatic Friendships is extremely eschewed in their favor. Honestly, we’re on the brink of exhaustion here; it’s been over a 100 years, surely some of our Acquaintances have acted enough in a manner worthy of being bumped up to Friendship? How about Electrum or Ceni? They’ve always aided us during our time on the NSTT. That satisfies the criteria for Friendship, right? Kind of? What about Sylestone? That Sentient Map managed the corruption task force amicably, and they’ve even got the same flag! No? Bongo Johnson?"

Accept

"Too many resources? Have you seen Baggieland?!” gasps the Director General for the MFA’s Department of Diplomatic Friendships. “If anything, I should get my Crisis Management budget tripled. But that’s not the point. The point is that the Rock of Friendship symbolizes a sacred bond. This deep linkage is regulated by the Customs of Friendship, which obliges us to act ever in our Friend’s interest. This moral imperative can not be taken lightly, and it should go without saying that a Rock must not be handed out frivolously. Aiding the Union in an hour of dire need, or profound antediluvian ties, those have always been the criteria. One must not deny a Friend, and therefore one should only make new ones sparingly and when absolutely necessary.”

Accept

[Audioslavia]

IMPRISONING WORTHY BROADSHEET SPORTS JOURNALISM BEHIND A PAYWALL SINCE 22XX, IT'S

Read Alaba-out It
Does an Entire Country owe Ager Alaba an Apology?

In attempting to qualify for World Cup 91, the Audioslavian national team amassed just 1.85 points per game, finishing fourth in the group, missing out on even the playoffs and snapping a run of ten straight appearances in the final thirty-two. That team, managed by RJ Styrn, had won the CAFA Cup recently and, to their credit, would go on to win the Cup of Harmony, but the Bulls were back to struggling against the world's best the next cycle, hitting only 2.05 Points Per Game, eight points adrift of second, and being casually tossed out of contention in the playoffs. A fourth place finish in the Cup of Harmony would follow as Styrn's final act as boss of the Bulls.

Arriving into World Cup 93 qualifying as one of the weaker second seeds, after a very ordinary CAFA Cup and a string of defeats in the Dragonfly Invitational exhibition tournament, Audioslavia's standing on the world stage seemed to be at its lowest ebb, its supporters desperate for something - anything - to cling on to. What they've decided to cling on to is, apparently, a crystal swan of unproven magical qualities. It rather does the side's new manager a disservice.

Ager Alaba has taken a business-like approach to the national team. A far cry from his shoutier, pointier Audioslavian equivalents, at least in these advancing years of his, Alaba has poured his efforts into getting the best out of the slim slice of the import-heavy National League he's allowed to play with. The crux of the side remains the same, with Stelea, Volonte and Corkhill calling the shots, but risks such as the introduction of then-untested teenage winger Marc-Antoine Trigintillion and the inclusion of a whole two strikers in the same team, ahead of a midfield somehow comprised of two central midfielders and one winger, with full-backs pushing up into the centre somehow… it’s a confounding formation that Alaba has demanded work, and more often than not it has.

The formation Alaba has preferred for the back half of qualifying is confounding

Corkhill, a central-midfielder or central defender by trade, has turned out as an unwieldily tall full-back. Bolding, a full-back, plays RCB in his stead. The formation features zero defensive midfielders yet also about five of them, with Volonte more than capable of pushing up to play there, both full-backs tending to overlap towards the centre, Stelea comfortable dropping back and Bolding taking the occasional turn at breaking up counter-attacks himself. Roy, an attacking-midfielder-turned-striker, has been duly turned into an attacking-midfielder-turned-striker-turned-attacking-midfielder once more, with Zendagorta alternating either partnering him as striker, drifting out to to the right or playing the target-man on his own.

Is it effective? Well… possibly? Audioslavia do not score often - even a particularly dreadful Murphtannian team were only scraped by 1-0 - but the more Alaba persists, the more comfortable the side look. Eshialand and Valentine Z are both strong teams on their day, but that both were swatted aside 3-0 in crucial games shows that, despite the appearance of this mess of a formation, Ager Alaba knows exactly what he’s doing at this level.

And here we all are, giving every ounce of his credit to a glass swan.

Anyone remotely familiar with modern football is likely not too surprised. This is a multiverse where heart, dawg, mythos and testicular willpower are more often, and much more loudly, vaunted as sole reasons for why one team wins and one team does not. The average Audioslavian football enjoyer does not see an avant-garde 5-5-0 that morphs into a 4-3-3 when you least expect it, but rather a cunning goal or a match-winning save and a colour commentator more likely to divulge which actress the striker is bedding than which of the dummy-runs may have been most responsible for giving him enough space for a shot in the first place.

And even Alaba might concede that the swan has had an effect on his team. Renewed interest in the national team has made for louder home stadiums, more insistent away support, and a sense of belief among an otherwise ordinary squad. And though the crystal cygnet may be taking a lot of the credit, considering the meagre amount of work that its actually put in, one feels that, while his team keep winning, Alaba couldn’t care less.

The Bulls go into the final two games knowing that two further victories - IE the extension of the Swanbeaten Streak to twelve - will cement their place in World Cup 93. An ‘unfathomable’ loss or draw will mean they’ll be relying on Squornshelan Remnant States to drop further points, and one feels the Black and Reds have done more than their fair share of work in allowing the Bulls an unlikely toe in the World Cup 93 door.

[TJUN-ia]

By Peter Davis

After back-to-back wins kept the pressure on those behind, the Jagaurs of TJUN-ia entered the 2nd to last cycle of this WCQ campaign knowing that while they still had their fate in their hands, even just one slip-up could certainly change that. With things being as tight as they are, Li Xiu Ying knows full well that her Jaguars can't afford to make any more mistakes right now and she hoped full well that this team had enough in the tank not to make them. The question is, would it be enough?

Estádio do Pacífico was certainly hungry to see the return of the Jaguars and that is exactly what they got as we hosted the bus-based legends of 95X. The crowd was certainly hungry for a show to fuel the passion we all know they can produce and to that effect, they certainly got what they wished for as this game turned into a sudden goalfest with 10 goals in total and a fun day for all those in attendance. Jackson Smith-Scott managed a first-half hattrick that would be added onto by Yomakaji Shimigatsu and only countered by Jadyn Pond late in the 1st half. Pond would get a 2nd to give the visitors something to celebrate before things really turned ugly as Shinigatsu's 2nd was joined by goals from Kim Choi-ya, Fernandino and Regina McDuff that certainly put extra cherries on this cake. It finished 8-2...a scoreline that showed how much we destroyed them.

Then came our 2nd to last away trip against Caribbia and considering this late stage of the season, some people were understandably cautious of the current circumstances. Fortunately for everyone, there wasn't actually anything to be worried about as we actually managed a comfortable road win for the first time since...MD1, I think. Malhrani al-Kalhrani scored first, Petor Szektkovsky headed home the 2nd and al-Kalhrani managed his 2nd to secure a 3-0 win.

And so, we head into the final break with everything somehow still up for grabs...with Nephara ahead by only 5 and Baggieland behind by only 4. We must face the two teams that can still mathematically overtake us for 2nd in the form of Ziwana in Tiankong and Baggieland themselves on Dartmouth Hill. It certainly does sound like a painful end to this WCQ process, but we cannot just let these two take our spot away from us. Like our brothers in the Jungle, we will fight tooth and claw until we either rise or fall. And we will not accept failure this time. GO JAGS!

---

MD1: @United Bongo States of America (265) W 3-1 (1st)
MD2: @Srednjaci (101) L 0-1 (5th)
---------------Boot It!---------------
MD3: vs Savojarna (37) - National Stadium, TJUN-ia City W 1-0 (3rd)
MD4: @Elmyia (124) - Tollington Park, Mosfleet W 1-0 (2nd)
---------------Boot It!---------------
MD5: vs Varavel (284) - Salam Liljamie Stadium, Al Kalifa W 7-2 (2nd)
MD6: @Nephara (11) - The Farham Arena, Sabrefell L 1-2 (2nd)
---------------Boot It!---------------
MD7: vs Archalit (183) - Stade de la Victoire, Roi Ville W 7-3 (2nd)
MD8: @95X (159) - City Stadium, 95X City W 3-2 (2nd)
---------------Boot It!---------------
MD9: vs Caribbia (222) - Estadio Universidad Carlandas, Carlandas W 5-1 (2nd)
MD10: @Ziwana (82) - Ziwanicell National Stadium, Birnin-Likulu L 3-5 (2nd)
---------------Boot It!---------------
MD11: vs Baggieland (71) - Beregozera Stadium, Szensky W 2-1 (2nd)
MD12: vs United Bongo States of America (265) - Tallawah Stadium, Port Town/Portuaria W 3-0 (2nd)
---------------Boot It!---------------
MD13: vs Srednjaci (101) - Ke Kahua Pāʻani o Pua Aloalo, Kepu Manu W 5-1 (2nd)
MD14: @Savojarna (37) L 0-1 (2nd)
---------------Boot It!---------------
MD15: vs Elmyia (124) - Zebra Stadium, Toropo/Almadinat D 2-2 (2nd)
MD16: @Varavel (284) - Stadion Glendoorn, somewhere in Varavel D 4-4 (2nd)
---------------Boot It!---------------
MD17: vs Nephara (11) - National Stadium, TJUN-ia City W 3-2 (2nd)
MD18: @Archalit (183) - Archalit Olympic Stadium, Charkara W 3-2 (2nd)
---------------Boot It!---------------
MD19: vs 95X (159) - Estádio do Pacífico, Rio Pacífico W 8-2 (2nd)
MD20: @Caribbia (222) W 3-0 (2nd)
---------------Boot It!---------------
MD21: vs Ziwana (82) - Tiankong Stadium, Tiankong
MD22: @Baggieland (71) - Dartmouth Hill, Hawthorn

[Pemecutan]

MD 19
Pemecutan 1 – 2 Gnejs

Goal:
Komang Trisna Mahayana (42')

Substitution:
Satya Permadi <---> Agus Setiahadi (58')
Panca Suputra <---> Gede Arya Wisesa (62')
Leo Olivando <---> Wisnu Pramana (70')

---

MD 20
Indusse 0 – 1 Pemecutan

Goal:
Rama Karyadi (83')

Substitution:
Agus Kusumawijaya <---> Dwi Putra Ariana (49')
Komang Trisna Mahayana <---> Dewa Putu Mahardika (59')
Satya Permadi <---> Agus Setiahadi (72')

---

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Chapter 1 || Chapter 2 || News || Chapter 3 || Chapter 4 || Chapter 5 || Chapter 6 || Chapter 7 || Chapter 8

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Chapter 9

The one day plan to held the private meeting in Tandeg Suci comes out as not enough. I decided to extended my stay here. While I'm trying to arrange another meeting. Honestly, I'm not very comfortable with this extra security. It is too much in my personal opinion. Well, I'm facing my own colleagues. My people. Why do I need an extra security? No threats have been made towards me. But I'm just following the protocol. They insist me to agree or they will prevent me to do this talks. They are unbelievable.

Lucky enough that we are able to invite Lord Bongkasa here. He would be surprise. I have given him the authority to run the government will I'm absent. Yet I will meet him here for a private conversation. Hope he is not mad at me later. I do like working with Lord Bongkasa. He is older than me. Wiser and more reliable. I am glad that Nagari Sabha selected him to become Patih Agung. One of the two co-Prime Minister. Yes, you got it right. Pemecutan is unique. We have two Prime Minister instead of one. Patih Agung and Patih Madya are the position name. It is a legacy of our history where the king is accompanied by 2 advisors, one from nobility and the other from the commoner. Patih Agung is the title for the noble advisor. While Patih Madya is for the commoner one. This system of government is transform into modern time which create a co-Prime Minister system.

"Excuse me, Sir. Lord Bongkasa has arrive," informed my secretary from behind the door.
"Let him in."

The door is open wide and Lord Bongkasa enter the room. His face say it all. He feels tricked.

"Why are you here exactly?" And that's how he greet me. My smile skip a bit. I guess he is angry.
"Please be seated, My Lord. Let's talk," me saying.
Lord Bongkasa look at me with a strange look.

Finding the Truth
Part 2

His face hasn't change from the time he arrive here until I finished explaining why I invited him here. Maybe he does angry. I become nervous as he doesn't give any reaction. As if he already know something.

"So, what do you think?" I brave myself to ask.
Lord Bongkasa let out a heavy sigh. This making me more nervous.
"And here I am thinking you are going somewhere to solve world problems," he speak with a harsh tone. Yup, he does angry. While I'm grinning from ear to ear.
"Actually, I don't want to be like this. But these people are so scared that something might happened to me if I went to Mengwi," I explained everything to him.
Another heavy sigh from Lord Bongkasa. I wonder what will he says to me.
"I understand their concern. And yes, situation in Mengwi is not very good. It is calm in the surface but in the underground? No one's knows," he said.

I pinch my forehead. Realizing that the situation is really that serious.
"I believe you already read the proposal, right?" he ask. And I nodded.
"I don't think there's nothing wrong with the proposal. I just wants to know the reason behind it. What's the flaws that we have so this proposal comes out?" I pause a bit.
"I'm okay if they wants another change. But does every change that have been made is not enough for them? What kind of change that they want?" All of my concerns are spilling out here. And I hope he can help me to find the answer and the resolution.
"You need to learn history," he say calmly. But the calm makes me stun. And he mentioning history? Which part of the history?

"You do know the real reason of United Pemecutan establishment, right?" he ask.
I'm thinking about his question a little longer before comes out with the answer. "To establish a stronger country? If we were separated, we will be smaller and more vulnerable. Larger country could take us," I firmly answer.
He smile sheepishly. And I feel I've made a wrong answer.
"Well, you're not wrong. But that's how the historian and the textbook wants everyone to believe," he says.
"So that's not the real reason?" I eagerly questioning his statement.
He shakes his head which makes me whimper.
"My father was the Patih Agung for Kanginan Realm at the time. And he told me everything," he start his story.

---

Tamba Royal Family came into power after they depose the real ruler of Pemecutan Kingdom which at the time controlled by Karang Dynasty. The reason was about marriage issue. The engagement between King Karang XVI's daughter and Prince of Tamba was cancelled after the princess was propose by the Prince of Mengwi from Kanginan Realm. The deposed and usurped was not supported by many of the Pemecutan realm subordinate. Tamba Dynasty went alone with their cousin, Kerta family. Sida Linggih Dynasty, who ruled Satria petty kingdom, Pemecutan subordinate highly opposed the action. They even help to hide the rest of Karang Dynasty family members. After usurp the throne of Pemecutan realm, the new king, Tamba I laid eyes on Mengwi and decided to raid them. Kanginan Realm lost its southern island, Segaranusa and the other surrounding islands. This incident strained the relationship between Pemecutan and Kanginan Realm. Tamba Dynasty was also not popular in their own realm. The other subordinate seen them as a stealer and not suitable for the throne. But as Tamba military was very strong, the other subordinate failed to coup.

During the independence movement, Tamba Dynasty wanted to be seen as the hero of the movement. They actively persuade Terranean government to give the independence. They even made contacts with neighboring countries so they could established a larger nation. That is where the premise of establishing a stronger nation by uniting together is build up. Many turn down the offer especially nations in Cendana Islands. Soracana Islands and Petang Islands were two nations that made interest. But Soracana Islands then walkout from the agreement. Pemecutan under Tamba king then persuade Kanginan to be in the new nation. Kanginan ruler was decline at first because they will be the subordinate of Pemecutan. But Tamba's politicians persuade the leaders and even promising the handover of Segaranusa if Kanginan agree to join in. That last promise which made Kanginani leaders agree. And finally, United Pemecutan was born.

---

I am stunned with the story. It is unbelievable but it is the truth.
"So, you mean Kanginani leaders now wants their rights back? To become independent again?" I ask him carefully.
"No. Not really," he answer fast. I looked at him curiously. "The change that we, the Kanginani wants is ending Pemecutan domination. From the naming, the Ratu Hawir Bhuja and the parliament. Change the system from unitary into federal or even confederation. Stop the Ratu Hawir Bhuja term. We already have that in Kanginan. Don't use Pemecutan King as our figurehead. Their behavior last time had shame us all. Decrease the power of Paruman Agung and give more power to Kanginani parliament. That's the demands. Do you think you can do that?" he explain thoroughly.

Once again I'm stunned. Never cross my mind that this is their real demands. Well, it is mentioned in the proposal by that five youngsters but it is not well written. They just mention a complete change from top to bottom. But now I understand what's the meaning of it. The change from top to bottom. But it feels like created another country within a country.

"Isn't it make Kanginan somewhat independent from Pemecutan?" I ask him again to clear my thoughts.
He nod lightly. "Don't make us as a subordinate of Pemecutan. But make us as an equal partner," he explain his nod into words.

---

Lord Bongkasa left the room after we taking our lunch together. That is a whole lot of revelation. But the question that is still lingering in my head is where do I start? This is a huge change after all. It will change the face of Pemecutan. Huft I need a long break or my head will explode.

---

---

MD 21
Pemecutan v Kelssek
@ Tegeh Kori National Stadium, Tegeh Kori, Puradhipa Capital Territory

MD 22
Loyo v Pemecutan
@ Loyo

Starter
1 Septiandi Yusuf (GK)
2 Panca Suputra (LB)
4 Satya Putra Laksamana (CB)
5 Surya Brata Wijaya (CB)
3 Oscar Tri Atmaja (RB)
7 Agus Kusumawijaya (LM)
6 Agus Setiahadi (CM)
9 Rama Karyadi (CM)
8 Bayu Dananjaya (RM)
10 Komang Trisna Mahayana (AT)
11 Leo Olivando (ST)
Substitute on bench
23 Arya Dwi Prakasa (GK)
13 Gede Arya Wisesa (LB)
14 Vikram Shankar (CB)
15 Alvino Bastian (RB)
31 Pande Putu Sukarwa (CM)
27 Satria Wiradarma (RM)
21 Wisnu Pramana (ST)
Other Substitute in squad
34 Heriawan Yudha (GK)
16 Satya Adi Lesmana (CB)
22 Dwi Putra Ariana (LM)
18 Nengah Patriawan (CM)
23 Dewa Putu Mahardika (AT)
28 Raka Lokantara (ST)
Player role
Captain - Satya Putra Laksamana
Corner kicks - Panca Suputra (left), Oscar Tri Atmaja (right)
Free kicks - Rama Karyadi, Komang Trisna Mahayana
Penalty - Leo Olivando
Injury
-

[Natanians and Nosts]

Mikhail Mark Gheorghenescu prepares for minister's visit

The Minister of the Foreign Office will receive Ion Mihai Akaju'y,the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Natanian Republic of Cheetahs and reptiles Coalison.
The visit is going to happen later this year,and is scheduled to last for three days,with talks for possibly extending it for a total of five days,bound to happen during the Campionato Esportiva.The topics of the visit will include oeconomic matters,environmental regulations,science advancement and coöperation,amongst some region-wide topics,specially concerning foreign aid.
The upcoming visit will precede a reunion between the Consul/President of Natanians and Nosts,the entirety of the Supreme Soviet,and the King of the Northern Natanians,early next year.

[Delte]

---

Ile de Richelieu 3-3 Delte
Tug Boat Captain & Temporary Player-Reporter Austin Lyepolde in Port Saint-Jean for Stoic Magazine

---

I've been briefed not to dwell overly long on the finer details of our match but suffice it to say the Away Team Mission rather fluffed our lines when coach Perro had told us we must win this one to keep on the heels of the Brenecians disguised as Pratapgadhis, the Acastanhos, and now it seems the Actual Former World Cup Champions Brenecia, who seem to be making a late charge despite apparently lending all their best players out. Even though Enor scored a hattrick - after deciding to forgive himself for getting in an argument with himself about substitutions in the last away match a couple of days ago - we were helpless to prevent the Islanders from taking points off us. I wish the coach would forgive me too after panicking and refusing to come on against Bears! Great Big Bloody Bears! last week, so that I didn't have to watch all this from the 'coventry bench' where no-one speaks to you.

I hear the home team did rather better.

At the same time, or maybe a few minutes before...

---

Delte 4-3 Vilita
Sports Correspondent Kim Samrodd at Ildemorton Road for the Skimpy Matchday Report & Negligible Detail Express (Sports Section)

---

I won't dwell overly long on the finer details of this match, but certainly mention should be made of The Representatives fourth ever win against a Former World Champion, which at this stage of the team's progress still represents a major shock. Player of the match Kal Rayler's winning goal in the 73rd minute, after what one might call a traditional ding-dong battle in which both teams had surrendered a lead at one point or another - see the Vilita National and other respectable outlets for more precise details (this is your beloved Skimpy, after all) - was greeted with a chorus of "are you Brenecia in disguise" by the jocular if unusually unstoic home fans, who impressed with a layered irony from the Ildemorton Road stands.

---

Ready Player 15: Kal Rayler
Vignettes of The Representatives

---

Attacking midfielder, real age 22, for Ughmirren FC; rivers & canals worker:

When the Delte River Trust (DRT) told Kal he was to be apprenticed to Mick Lerkins on Leald Water he couldn’t have been any happier. His dream job, and his hero as supervisor. One time they were out on their old works vessel The Drum, a sturdy old dredger, digging out some of the bank up near the north pond when Kal spotted a human skull poking out of the alluvial point bar. They withdrew The Drum’s hydraulic digger, donned waders and went with hand tools to investigate. Soon enough, they found several more bones and a couple skulls to add to the first. “You call the archeologist at the River Trust,” said Mick, brushing his hair with his comb, “and I’ll get my contact at the Parish Advertiser.” Mick was a legend on Leald Water. He had several appearances in the Parish Advertiser to his credit, including the discovery of a hoard of gold coins of the Holy Rowboat Empire from millenia ago. That’s why Kal was so excited to work with him - he had been following the old digger’s exploits like a boys’ own adventure story. The Parish Advertiser were on the scene faster than the archeologist, and Kal soon had his first picture snapped in the line of duty with his grinning hero Mick Lerkins at his side. The archeologist turned up after lunch - all work was halted, of course - by which time the Advertiser hacks had lost patience and gone home. Mick and Kal assisted the woman from the DRT to carefully extract a further four skulls and many many bones piled up in a pyramid on top of the bank, with the seven skulls lined up neatly looking out over the north pond. Mick was a natural excavator of human remains as it turned out, working quickly but sensitively, though this did not surprise Kal. It was clear he and the archeologist had worked together before, and she had a great deal of respect for the gifted hydraulics operator, even speculating on the source of the remains with him as though he were a fellow professional. “Clearly a plague pit, don’t you think, Mick?” she said. She went on to suggest they had might not even have been from the same village, but were dumped in a mass grave during a local crisis. Mick wasn’t so sure about that, mind. “All from one family, I reckon.” They stood back and admired the line of skulls. The archeologist wondered why he came to that conclusion.

“I mean, they all look the same,” he said.¹

---

[1]OOC: The source of this joke was my uncle Mick Costello, 93, a champion digger operator as anyone coming by Butser Hill on the A3 in Hampshire can attest to when admiring the tiered excavation of the road cutting which he says he did all on his own; he also claims the skulls incident to be a true story. He discovered a hoarde of gold coins from the Roman Empire for which he made one of several appearances in the Portsmouth Evening News - that was back in the time when journalists could really write a good civil engineering report for the masses and digger operators were celebrities in the navigator's world.

[Ko-oren]

The Dragonflies beat CONGOlese Republic, then lost to already eliminated Naixi, while the Quebecois and the Ochres each win one and draw one, keeping the dynamics atop Group 2 the exact same with Ko-oren leading on goal difference over the Ochre Islands, with Quebec following by a point. Naixi were eliminated after a 2-0 loss at Fort McKinley, which means that from round 6 all the way until round 22, spots 1 through 3 are filled by the exact same teams. And neither can take advantage of another team's hiccups.

Ko-oren v Harry Islands (8th)
Geektopia (5th) v Ko-oren

Illiryja (11th) v Ochre Islands
Ochre Islands v Yakk (9th)

Yakk (9th) v Quebec
Quebec v Fort McKinley (7th)

The Dragonflies take on the Harry Islands, the brand new team that provided one of the World Cup's biggest shocks so far by defeating Ko-oren, not 1-0, not 2-0, but 4-1. We're not the only ones to have stumbled over there, but losing three in goal difference might have hurt us a bit too much in the end. The other game is against Geektopia, a team we've beaten previously in qualifying, which was the first meeting since the World Cup 87 Round of 16, where we were victorious 4-0. Does our perfect record remain?

The Ochre Islands only take on bottom 4 material in Illiryja and Yakk. The latter have been active throughout qualifying but still weren't rewarded with more than ninth place, even if they have been quality opposition for the entire top 5, and they played a particularly large part in excluding Naixi from the playoffs. Lastly, Quebec faces teams that are a little better than Ochre's opposition and a little weaker than ours, with the first fixture being Yakk (yes, they play both of our rivals in the last two rounds) and then Fort McKinley. That team will be remembered best by their round 13-14 stretch where they first drew the Ochre Islands 3-3 and then us 1-1. Fort McKinley's strategy has been 'go big or go home', with either ties or wins/losses of more than 2 goals difference - most of the time. 3-3, 4-0, 3-0, another 3-3, a 5-0 win after a 1-6 loss. The Quebecois will have to prepare for a goal-laden evening and hope that it's not another 3-3.

Effectively, for Ko-oren to qualify directly, we need six points and work on the goal difference. We don't have the easiest opponents to work with, but we should be good in the points department. We do control our own destiny, somewhat, as do the Ochre Islands, with only Quebec at a slight disadvantage. One loss could mean that the Dragonflies finish 3rd (or lower) in a qualifying group for the first time since World Cup 82 - also the last time we failed to qualify for a World Cup, but in return we made up for it by getting to the Cup of Harmony's semifinals and taking a stack of bronze medals away from it (making it the fourth event our national football team medalled in, after a third and a second in the AOCAF and a first in a previous Cup of Harmony).

---

"Emergency call, Vidal. It's the police chief of West Finisterre, and others."

"No... well, put me through."

(pressing one button on Vidal's phone) "You're on now."

"Good morning, everyone. This is Vidal Santiago, governor of Finisterre. With whom do I have the pleasure?"

"Police Chief of West Finisterre, Soledade Godoy. And with me is Air Force Lieutenant General Pieter Groen."

"Soledade, it's been a while, and pleased to meet you, Mr. Groen."

"Let's get to business. Around four AM this morning, aircraft from the Ochre Islands/Bostopia region has infiltrated Ko-orenite airspace and failed to answer air traffic control in Katashi as well as in Esporro. It was deemed too great a risk to scramble our jets and intercept the aircraft as it was flying over the Finisterran metropolises, as well as, I'm sure you're aware, the nation's defence policy and the allocated budget to the associated ministry."

"Yes, I'm aware."

"Flying in from an east-south-easterly direction, over southern Leleia, entering Finisterre over Zarucope, and flying over Ferrovente, avoiding Esporro and its airport, then making a sharp turn to the north over the vast region north of Tacuanio, it seems like the aircraft lost cargo."

Groen decided this was the right time for his first contribution of the conversation. "Lost? Given the reports of the amount of cargo, it was deliberatly thrown out."

"Right, what was it?"

"Plant material."

"Plants? You mean, drugs?"

"No, they seem fairly regular plants. The Department of Plant Health, with the Ministry of Biodiversity and Conservation, is looking into the exact species and the amount of specimens dropped."

"Any victims... of anything?"

"No, they were pushed out over the clay hills on the border of the Rosso and Paraíso regions. They made a sharp southwestern turn to exit our airspace and avoided flying over land from that moment."

"Hm, and now what?"

"Looks like the inhabitants of Tacuanio have had a rough night with how low the aircraft flew while they were pushing out cargo, so it's best if you meet with the mayor there, show your face, tell everyone you care."

"Mind you, I do care."

"While the Lieutenant General meets with the general, the minister of the air force, and the minister of defence. We must prepare a statement, and we can't wait too long. We must find out where the aircraft came from and what the hell it did over there, and why."

"At the same time, the police chief will aid the other departments in securing a perimeter as investigations continue. What these plants are, and how to dispose of them without creating an even larger biohazard. We'll talk again in two hours."

---

"We found some important information: the aircraft carried Ochre Islands insignia."

"The plants are... regular aloe vera."

"Which are perfectly suited to grow in that area."

"Seems like we finally found an industry of any significance for western Finisterre..? We'll have to wait for some more tests, still."

"I'll make sure the speech on the public denunciation of the Ochre Islands doesn't go out yet. Maybe we can get more details and solve this in a friendlier setting. A summit in Koroa City? Meanwhile I'm asking the nations around the Ocean of Ayes to keep an eye out. Maybe get that Anaian defence organisation going."

[Milchama]

"Wow! This is some crazy stuff"

"I know our cricket team can't buy a victory and is looking awful"

"Oh not that"

"Not that?"

"No this is about the football"

"Oh what about the football"

"We're in first place!"

"Wow! How?"

"Well we beat somebody"

"Who did we beat"

"Savigliane"

"Damn"

"I know it's crazy"

"How did that happen?"

"We scored more goals than they did"

"Thank you but I mean more specifically than that"

"Oh well the Warriors midfield was incredible. Filimitov, Kemet, and Cekarn were everywhere stifling Swans attacks and setting up our forwards. The other big thing was the play from Millie Kouriea"

"What did she do?"

"She assisted two goals and scored another"

"Damn that's a game"

"It was, in particular watching her maraud down the wing was a sight to see."

"So where does that leave us?"

"We're in first place with two games to go but I just told you that"

"You're right, I'm tired my bad"

"No worries"

"Have we clinched anything at least?"

"No, if we super choke than HUElavia could win both their games and catch us leaving us in 4th but assuming we can at least get a draw that would be nice"

"Wait, I have one more question"

"Yes"

"Even with the victory, weren't we behind Xanneria? What happened there?"

"Aust Scor drew them"

"What is with Aust Scor and weird points against big sides"

"I think they just play a different game against the big boys"

"Then how come they're in last?"

"They can't seem to beat anybody else. But also if you look at Aust Scor they only got one draw in the first half but since then are 3-2-6 in the second half of qualifying"

"I guess they just got better as the games moved on huh"

"Yeah just being a better team for the second half"

"Second half team!"

"Yep they just need to figure out how to bring that energy to the first half and they could become real competitive"

"Either way they helped us big time"

"After screwing us over"

"I mean, our loss was definitely our fault"

"Fair enough"

"So then all we need to do is win two games and we're good"

"Yep but we will need to beat HUElavia on the road"

"That's not ideal"

"Nope but it is doable"

"And it's for all the marbles"

"And it's for all the marbles"

"Well goddamn let's see what we can do"

"Exactly"