Copa Rushmori XLIII (IC Everything Thread)

[Naixi]

"You can leave me here, I'll walk the rest of the way," Jen Ta told his chauffeur at the corner of Kumquat and Olive.

"You sure, boss?" His chauffeur was always worried that something bad could happen. With good reason, Jen Ta supposed.

"I'm sure. Trust me, I know this neighborhood. Family ties."

His designer sunglasses perfectly secured on his nose, faded and stone washed jeans sagging along his legs, and drowning in an enormous green T-shirt that read "ZEZT: GULP IT DOWN" on the front, Jen Ta Jin stepped out of the limousine and onto the curb on a hot summer day in Qiawutian, the largest city in Naixi. He was home, in a certain sense: he'd grown up in this part of town as a kid, but of course that felt like eons ago. He was here, just days before jetting off to the horse-breeding capital of Nyowani Kitara - the city Bujukamba - where the Naixi national football team were to play their first two matches of the Copa Rushmori. But first, he had come to see an old friend.

With wondrous green mountains lifting the horizon to infinity not so far to the west, Jen Ta turned his head down the street. There, in faded paint, was a portrait of his brother, kitted out in a white and orange tracksuit. They loved Tak Hing around these parts, because "these parts" was Hai's Ferry, a wealthy historic district in Qiawutian on the other side of the river from downtown. Hai's Ferry was where all the Sheshou supporters lived, and Tak Hing played as a striker for Sheshou.

Jen Ta, on the other hand, played for Fuchou. He made more money than Tak Hing. He was more famous than Tak Hing. He got more assists than Tak Hing, and scored as many goals as Tak Hing. And yet, he thought as he gazed through the blueish black film of the sunglasses, it still seemed that Tak Hing had it better than him. With frustration, he turned away from the mural of his brother.

The spotless tan and white pavement ahead ran up a slight hill, and large gates rose up on either side, protecting luxury tower blocks from the rabble. Jen Ta headed for the gate on his right. He was here to see Gan Liang, the recently-retired manager of the Naixi football team, the wizened old fellow who had in many ways given Jen Ta his start. Liang wasn't from Qiawutian - on the contrary, he was a native of the Naixese capital Chumeichang, a ways east along the ocean coast - but he'd chosen to retire here to be closer to his son, who worked in Naixi's largest city. His wife had passed away two years ago, or so Jen Ta understood, and there was nothing keeping Liang in Chumeichang anymore.

Having reached the gate, he looked at the priceless-looking touchscreen to call up to Liang's condominium unit. Silly little gadgets like this were common all across the country, a result of the tech industry's recent, but former, dominance over the economy. A pleasant, whirring hum issued from the terminal, and then an electronic female voice told him: "Please, meet the guard in the driveway. You must immediately declare possession of weapons." Then the gate clacked and began to swing open for him.

Jen Ta strolled up the driveway. There was no issue with the security guard; the guy recognized Jen Ta instantly and, having seen his name on the visitors list Liang kept updated, had waved him through. He entered the ornate lobby, in which all of the windows were open to let in the toasty summer air, and took the elevator to the 8th floor.

Liang's unit was one of just two on the 8th floor. Jen Ta clapped the door knocker for 801 (it looked like it might be made out of silver), and only had to wait a minute or two before his dear old friend answered. As always, Gan Liang was dressed humbly, in a simple white T-shirt and khakis.

"Jen Ta! Come in, come in, so glad to see you!"

"How are you, boss?"

"You can't call me that anymore, kid! You know I'm retired now! You have a new boss!"

"Don't I ever," muttered Jen Ta.

"I know, I know, I'm sure you'll want to talk about it," Gan said peaceably. "Why don't you sit down, first, though. It's too hot over here by the front door. I've got drinks ready out on the veranda, where it's much cooler. Oh," he scoffed in response to a quizzical look from Jen Ta, "if you think I'm pouring the contents of my wine fridge down the sink because of some absurd new law, think again. You look great, by the way!"

"Thanks, you too," said Jen Ta though ever-so-slightly gritted teeth. He didn't actually think Gan Liang looked great... he was an old guy. He supposed that, if he was going to be charitable, Liang wasn't the worst-dressed old guy he'd ever seen.

Out on the veranda, the bright, hot sun was shining once again, but Gan was right: there was a breeze that seemed to cool the air a bit. On a table next to some Adirondack chairs, Liang had dropped three bottles of white wine into a bucket of ice. "Come on out, Jen Ta. Come on out to my patio of illegal substances and foul lechery! Sit down, sit down. How's a riesling sound?"

"Sure." Jen Ta sat down. The sunglasses were going to come in handy out here... if only he'd brought some sunblock.

"So," Gan said as he handed Jen Ta a glass of the clear yellowish illicit libation, "you got another call-up! That's good!"

"Yeah. That's the positive way to look at it."

"Well," mused Gan as he put on sunglasses of his own and sat down, "it's good to look at things positively."

"I guess."

"If you were going to look at it negatively, which you should never do," Gan said with a chuckle, peering over the edge of his shades, "how would you look at it?"

"I'm not starting. When you were the national team manager, you had me starting. Were there one or two times where my name wasn't on the team sheet? Okay, yeah, there were, but you always came back to me. I always felt like you were a fair manager. Kwan? I don't know. Never worked with him before. All I know is, he's in the job now, and right off the bat he's dropped me without saying a word. I think he's buying into all the media-driven bullshit, that's what I think it is. The media all say I got unsettled at Chongjibo. That's a lie. They're saying now that I'm unsettled at Fuchou. That's a lie. They don't know my life. They don't know what I'm dealing with."

"Sure," Gan answered cautiously. "So you feel that Run Ming Kwan isn't being fair in his selections?"

"I... yeah. I guess that's one way of putting it. You were fair. When you were the manager, you were fair. I don't know if he's fair or not. He hasn't talked to me; I just don't know, Gan."

"Hmmm." Gan thought for a moment. He had never met the man who replaced him after he retired, but he had always heard Run Ming was a good man manager. This didn't sound like good man management.

Jen Ta broke the momentary silence. "Can I ask you something, Gan?"

"Of course you can!"

"Why did you quit? You could have kept going. There was no pressure from the FA for you to leave the national team job. Everyone knows there was no pressure."

"Well," said Gan as he looked across the skyline of the city and took a sip of his wine, "I guess it was just a feeling of tiredness. It's tiring to represent this country, to be an icon of this country. You must know that," Gan said, almost imperceptibly lowering the volume of his voice.

Jen Ta nodded. "Absolutely."

Gan continued. "I just got so tired by the end of World Cup qualifying. If I'm honest, I was tired at the end of the Baptism of Fire! But at that point, after we had gone out in the quarterfinals, there were people clamoring for my head! I didn't want to give them the satisfaction. So I stayed on when the FA said I was welcome to, even though I was... tired, yeah, that's the only word I can think of. And of course, there were all the fans. Even when the FA gave me their vote of confidence, I was always hearing on the news, or" - Gan paused to pull his cell phone from the pocket of his khakis and gestured with it - "reading on my phone, oh the fans hate Gan Liang. Gan Liang isn't serious, Gan Liang isn't professional, Gan Liang doesn't understand tactics. It became toxic by the end."

Jen Ta looked over at his old friend. Over fifty years separated them in age, and yet he knew exactly what Gan meant.

His former coach continued. "Everything you see on these things is toxic, Jen Ta. I know that your generation picks up a phone like this and says: 'Aha! My portal to the rest of the world! To the rest of the multiverse!' But there's never any good news to find on here."

"I know, I know."

"You've heard about the assassination, I assume?"

Jen Ta nodded as Gan shook his head dramatically with disbelief. One of the eight members of the Celestial Council, a descendant of General Xu, had been killed in a bombing the day before yesterday. News coverage had been continuing at a breathless pace all day. An inquest into who was responsible quickly found that a security contractor, one of an international team hired by the Celestial Councilor himself, had planned and orchestrated the bombing. The man's motivations were unknown, but it was clear that the guy was ruthless. Not only was the Celestial Councilor himself dead, but so were all of the other contractors. He'd killed one-eighth of a Naixese head of state and a shitload of his own countrymen... his own coworkers.

Still shaking his head, Gan ranted on. "I read in an article I saw this morning - I see lots of articles when I log onto Facelook while I have my morning coffee out here - I read that he might be connected to a cult. An organized crime cult. They go by a couple names. Sometimes they call themselves the Sanhehui, sometimes the Red Lodge. They're seditionists and criminals - a triad. They're a triad. Very dangerous."

Jen Ta shifted in his seat. This topic made him uncomfortable.

"What is it? You look uncomfortable, kiddo. You don't like the wine? Topic make you uneasy?"

"Yeah... it wouldn't surprise me if it was something like that. Like, an assassination. There are all kinds of people who will do what you tell them to for money. You just find them on the dark web. The cybersecurity laws are so lax here, since the government was trying to keep all the tech firms from leaving."

"Pfft," Gan Liang rolled his eyes. "Some good that did. They all left anyway."

"Yup." Jen Ta took a sip of his wine. It was fabulous.

"When do you fly up to Nyowani Kitara?" Gan seemed to be changing the subject, thankfully.

"Tomorrow night."

"Well, pal. I hope you all stay safe up there!" Gan Liang gestured wildly with his phone again. "You wouldn't believe the stuff I read on Facelook about how dangerous it is..."

[Graintfjall]

This roster recycles a lot from past editions (including this disclaimer) ((though not that disclaimer)). New players are marked and some of the bios are updated. As before I apologize for its unwieldy size.

43 word roster

Græntfjall / Græntfjallers / “Snow Wolves”

Manager: “Thor”

Kit: Blue / white

Goalkeepers

Hanif
Ásólfur
Sana

Defenders

Hermione
Eyvar
Asbjørn
Jan
Anarr
Ayaan
Jasmijn
Hrútur
Klængur

Midfielders

Danny
Erin
Kæja
Rebekka
Sara K
Kristmar
Lotte
Sara V
Vanessa
Varða

Forwards

Röskvi
Amandara
Joel
Járngrímur

Style: +4

---

Kit credit (IC: Ferideia; OOC: Tikariot)

Team name: Græntfjall
Trigram: GRÆ [GRF when not available]
Demonym/adjective: Græntfjaller
Team nickname: Snow Wolves

Coach: Ingþór Auðbjörnsson
Assistant coach: Saxi Dómaldsson

For those who aren’t believers in nominative determinism, Thor seems a superficially unlikely pick for Snow Wolves coach, with an attacking philosophy and sophisticated approach somewhat at odds with the team’s history of producing lumpen BFG biffers. That said, his results are hard to argue with: a World Cup bronze medal and another quarterfinal, two Copa Rushmori finals – one ending in victory, the other in a penalty shootout defeat – and most lustrous of all, an Eagl’e’s’ Cup win. He was brought in partly because of his expected rapport with Jason Þórhallursson, but said striker hasn’t been on the international scene for a while, and instead the team’s star player is Kæja Finnvarðsdóttir, with whom his native Pasarga suddenly enjoys considerably frostier relations, so how this next chapter will unfold remains to be seen. Former U18 assistant manager Saxi Dómaldsson continues, impotently but inoffensively, as his assistant.

Squad: A 26-person squad has been named for the tournament, with the expectation of using 5 substitutions in 3 windows + half-time/full-time per match.

• Names. -son names are men, -dóttir names women, -bur named non-binary. Græntfjallers are comfortable having their first name used instead of their surnames, though there’s no consistent standard on this. Players without a patronymic surname are Kamdyr, members of a minority nomadic community; all of the Kamdyr in this squad happen to be women. Hanif is sometimes referred to as Hanif Anwar and Ayaan as Ayaan Kabir, and Hermione as Hermione Hui, in preference to their clunky forced patronymics.
• Sex. The Græntfjaller Premier League is open and it is seen as uncontroversial for men and women to play alongside each other. If you find female players immersion breaking, you have my permission to choose an all-male side from the squad. Owing to difficulties of managing open squads in tournament play, I am revoking this permission, but contact me if you still find the presence of female players too immersion-breaking and we'll work something out.
• Transfers. The financial status of football in Græntfjall is declining because of successive IFCF bans. Most quality players are fleeing the country. I normally conduct transfers through the Transfer Window but if you have a desire to sign a player I am usually open to arranging a transfer outside that; send a TG/DM. I am particularly open to such deals when linked to an ongoing RP story.
• Style of play. In general, Græntfjaller players are athletic and have excellent whole-match fitness, disciplined, and not prone to violence or emotional outbursts. They are, however, not tremendously skilled. A particular type of footballer, nicknamed “BFG” (Big Fucking Græntfjaller), is associated with the country, normally playing in roles such as center back, defensive midfielder, or center forward. The new crop of, predominantly though not exclusively, female central midfielders somewhat eschew this stereotype and there have been growing attempts to get more skilful players into the lineup, most notably Sara Kristoffersdóttir and Kæja Finnvarðsdóttir.
• Captaincy. Sara Kristoffersdóttir has been named as permanent captain, moving away from the elective model sometimes used in the past. Unless she is suspended (which is not out of the question) she should be expected to wear the armband.
• Timing. In my timeline this occurs 2 years after the last CR and 1 year after the WC. It occurs during TW39 and all players will be with their new clubs; players on foreign teams will be assumed to be given leave.

Goalkeepers
Goalkeepers in Græntfjall had traditionally been pure stoppers, with little culture of playing it out from the back, but a gradual expectation for keepers to be able to play with the ball at their feet has emerged under the influence of foreign managers. The long serving Björnólfur Ernestisson was brought back for the last World Cup but may have played his last game in blue-and-white at the semifinals, as Hanif and Ásólfur compete for the #1 role, with Sana a distant third.

1. Hanif Anwarsson el-Said (27) Tekstil Ibon
Appearance: Tall and gangly. Short cropped curly black hair, no beard. Dark skin compared with the rest of the team.
Personality: Rather shy off the pitch, contrasting with his exuberance on it, waving to the crowd for energy or yelling at his defenders. Not religiously observant.
Profile: He made his name in the Di Bradini Cup with his flying saves, but as a former striker who converted to goalkeeper he’s already comfortable with the ball at his feet. He's developed into a solid starter in the highly regarded Mytanar Top League, but sometimes back in Græntfjall off-field issues seem to overshadow any assessment of his goalkeeping skills.

12. Ásólfur Nilsson (25) Crisisbless United
Appearance: Tall, slender build, snowy hair, pale complexion, ice blue eyes.
Personality: He looks like he's been chipped off an ice shelf and he keeps like it too, with a very calm head on young shoulders. Off the field he's comfortable socializing with his teammates but honestly prefers a quiet night in reading a book, watching old black and white movies, or listening to the latest KijaniBeat world music recordings.
Profile: Maybe the next big thing. His performance at the Under-18 World Cup that the Snow Pups won earned him the MVP award with his high-flying saves and excellent management of his defense.

NEW PLAYER!
25. Sana Emiliosdóttir (28) Lunas FC
Appearance: Tall, lithe, perpetually bouncing on her toes. Straw colored hair in a messy ponytail and slightly ruddy cheeks.
Personality: Frantically chewing gum and forever bobbing up and down, Sana doesn’t look like she will bring calm to proceedings, but she’s a journeywoman – she’s played in SWR, Xanneria, Brenecia, and Pasarga – with a sensible head on her shoulders.
Profile: An acrobatic presence in goal, albeit less comfortable bringing the ball out at her feet, Sana is something of a throwback in goal. Traditionally the third string keeper has been more of an informal social secretary than a genuine threat to see the field and she’s experienced enough to know how to manage things off the pitch.

Defenders
Center back is the team’s traditional strength, although Thor’s never seemed likely to experiment with three of them at the back. Eyvar and Asbjørn can justifiably claim to be one of the strongest pairings in the world. Except when trying to defend Nepharan set pieces. Both have battled injuries but are fit for this tournament. They’re flanked by an attacking wing-back option in Hermione and more traditional left-back in Jan, both of whom play in Chromatika.

NEW PLAYER!
2. Hermione Báisdóttir Xiǎo (20) Wirr Tsi
Appearance: A pocket missile. Petite but explosive, with an impressive leap that somewhat makes up for her small stature. Not terrific upper body strength but makes up for it in scrappiness. Her black hair and eyes (with epicanthic folds) and tan skin immediately mark her out from many of her teammates, and she has a tattoo on her left forearm in her native script.
Personality: Very intense and competitive. Occasionally snaps at her teammates, and always willing to square up to opponents even if they may tower over her.
Profile: Right-back has been the least settled position in the Snow Wolves’ history: at just 20, the hope is Hermione Hui might just have put an end to the revolving door for a while following a commanding display through World Cup qualifying that secured the starting role for her. With good football IQ and both flat-line pace and a quick lateral step, she is also a genuine option at set-pieces. She’s not the most solid defensively but the hope is she can simply overwhelm the opposition wing and have any errors covered by the bigger bodies inside.

3. Jan Játmundsson (25) Alnio
Appearance: Medium height, slim build, but with well muscled arms. Short, snow-white hair; with his absence of facial hair, he still looks younger than his listed age, and his green eyes only add to the impression. Tattoos on forearms and midriff.
Personality: A composed, sensible lad with a good head on his shoulders. Can be trusted not to embarrass team or country. Despite his innocent looks he is a hardy southerner with mountain ice water in his veins.
Profile: Jan was an Under-18 World Cup winner and has developed into a top young player, making the 1st Team All Red League selection in Chromatika's highly regarded and influential top league. Something of an all-rounder who lacks express pace, top physicality, or a really clinical touch on the ball, but has good football IQ and defensive awareness, a strong commitment to the team, and is comfortable playing off both feet. He has struggled with injury issues and is rapidly acquiring a reputation as “Sicknote” among skeptical fans.

4. Eyvar Mathiasson (28) Ulsa
Appearance: Just 6’ but his bull-like build makes him seem taller. He’s now shaven his dark hair, which seems to suit his bullet-shaped head better than his previous mop and fit his wise-beyond-his-years physiognomy, densely freckled pale skin, and serious dark eyes. He has tattoos up and down both arms and across his chest and back. Can’t grow facial hair to save his life.
Personality: A natural leader, calm, composed, and surprisingly intelligent for someone whose main qualification is his ability to slam his head into a moving leather ball and/or his opponent’s faces.
Profile: Eyvar is the captain who led the Snow Pups to their DBC title, and has grown into the challenge of taking over the hallowed #4 shirt from his idol, Hjörleifur Reynarsson. He was integral to the defensive unit that showed renewed composure in WC93 qualifying. As well as the intangibles of leadership he can provide solid defense with excellent fitness and an OK passing game. Having developed in the academy project to get better ball players into defensive positions, he’s not just a physical prospect, but he can definitely put in a tackle (or elbow) when needed. Very long, powerful throw.

5. Asbjørn Vilbjörnsson (28) North Hall
Appearance: “...and like a lot of dreams... there’s a monster at the end of it.”
Personality: Leadership material. Not shy about voicing his opinions. But he's not a fascist. He considers them a bit of a soft touch, after all.
Profile: The first true second-generation Snow Wolf, the son of BoF winning captain Vilbjörn Hjörleifursson, he has long been groomed for success. He is, to those who despise his right wing politics, an irritatingly competent footballer: tall and strong, but also intelligent and a capable ball player. For a man of his size he also has impressive end-to-end fitness and, unlike his father (who would regularly get gassed at the end of games) will be running the pitch to the very last minute. Frequently assigned to the opposition’s best striker as the Snow Wolves often use man-coverage (or woman-coverage, when he memorably shut down Felixe Vetiver).

6. Klængur Ulfarsson (28) Anomalies
Appearance: The tallest player in the squad. Shorn head but a huge scraggy red-brown beard. Appears to be made mostly out of rock.
Personality: Friendly and very mild mannered despite his imposing looks. A model professional. Protective of his friends.
Profile: A much more traditional BFG without any of the finesse of those ahead of him on the depth chart. But just try scoring against him.

NEW PLAYER!
17. Ayaan Kabirsson Haque (27) Pearlham SC
Appearance: Medium skin, black hair generally buzzed short, immaculate designer stubble, handsome with piercing dark eyes. His stylish and elegant top half is a total contrast to his bottom half: squat, with wide hips and very powerful thighs and calves. He looks like it would take three people to tip him over.
Personality: Enjoys posting on social media and partying, doesn’t take life too seriously. Not highly religiously observant but he does identify as a Muslim and will pray before games.
Profile: Possessing a cannon of a right boot, Ayaan is another attacking option at right-back, albeit in slightly unusual fashion. He doesn’t possess Hermione’s pace or tricky skills but he loves to have a pop at goal from distance. A good throw-in taker and an enthusiastic if not polished tackler.

NEW PLAYER!
18. Anarr Ebergsson (22) Montreal Koreana
Appearance: Tall and broad shouldered with a splendid mess of fine dark-blonde hair. He’s usually somewhat unshaven. Stare at him long enough and you’ll start to think his left ear is a little lower than his right ear. However, in light of his bulging forearms, ham-sized hands and powerful chest, you may not wish to stare any longer lest your own ears find themselves being adjusted.
Personality: He’s actually fairly easygoing and not likely to inflict bodily harm on anyone, except if he thinks it’s funny or something.
Profile: Anarr burst onto the scene at the last World Cup: an afterthought in the selection pool at the start of qualifying, by the end he was making the trip to Tumbra for the finals and battling for a place in the starting line-up. He’s proved a very capable defender and also an inviting target at set-pieces, with his immense wingspan helping him get the space to line up powerful headers.

NEW PLAYER!
19. Hrútur Melkíorsson (19) Brasta
Appearance: An even 6’ with a fairly balanced physique, and carrying less muscle than most of the other CBs. Already sporting several tattoos, most prominently a heavy metal inspired crucifixion scene on his right shoulder. Scruffy blonde hair and darkish gray eyes. Clean shaven.
Personality: Maturing fast and trying to grow out of the reputation he picked up when suspended for breaking curfew to go drinking. Still definitely has a fun loving side.
Profile: 19, indeed. A Snow Wolves team that has been criticized as too old in the past is definitely calling in all hands as it seeks to bring in the new generation. Hrútur is a promising prospect who can play as a center back but also has the fitness to fill in more of a holding midfield role; in both cases, he has good ball skills and is an intelligent, if sometimes rather brutal, tackler. His exact best role is best to be determined, but here he’s probably going to see mop-up duty late in the game.

26. Jasmijn Spiderlair (30) Tanrısal
Appearance: Typical Kamdyr features: darker than Græntfjallers with dark, slightly slanted eyes, and long dark hair worn in a complex plait. Medium height, wiry build.
Personality: Intelligent, reserved, likes to speak second so she can get someone’s measure.
Profile: The first Kamdyr to ever represent Græntfjall in international football, Jasmijn is a member of the Kamdyr nomadic community. In the past she completed a loan spell at AC Olarria in Astograth, but has since moved to Tanrısal in Pasarga. She’s an attacking left wing-back, prone to the odd defensive error, but with good skills on the ball and a powerful throw. She lost her place as a starter, but her versatility in both defensive and offensive roles means she remains an important bench player.

Midfielders
The team is led by two very different women: the voluble and passionate Sara K, the quiet and undemonstrative Kæja. Who is the better player remains in the balance: Sara led the scoring and won the Golden Boot at the last CR, but Kæja drew the plaudits and won the Golden Ball. Perhaps more interesting than either of them is Erin, playing a very different kind of HM role to that previously seen in Snow Wolf teams: instead of a bruising destroyer, she’s an intelligent deep-lying playmaker, though also capable of helping out on defense as the wingbacks overlap. Rebekka or Vanessa, meanwhile, just kinda do their own thing out on the right.

7. Sara Kristoffersdóttir (31) Wirr Tsi
Appearance: 5’3” with a fairly stocky build. Long blonde hair, worn in a ponytail. Blue-eyed. Sleeve tattoo on her left arm.
Personality: Loud, boisterous, impossible, crude, trouble-making. If she weren’t good at football…
Profile: …but, she is. She’s no one’s favorite person but quite a few people’s favorite -footballer (including, very obviously, herself). One of the few national products to marry speed, skill and vision to aggression and determination. Though she can play just about anywhere, and usually occupies a central attacking midfield role at Wirr Tsi, one of the world’s top club sides, for the national team she more often slides into a left wing position to accommodate Kæja. Her maverick playmaking touch can get away from her at times, but she’ll run the field relentlessly wherever she’s deployed. As captain she will get in the referee's face whenever she feels like it. Turns out she feels like it pretty frequently.

8. Danny Oddkellsson (28) Aminey CS
Appearance: Lean, 6 foot even frame topped by a bird’s nest of black hair. Blue-gray eyes, sometimes rocks some less-than-designer stubble. Tattoos across his body and even, unusually for a Græntfjaller, onto his hands and fingers. Scar on his temple.
Personality: The living embodiment of “lads lads lads”. Loves a cheeky Nandorsson’s. Top bantz.
Profile: A bustling harrier of a player who’s got great energy on and off the ball. Plays anywhere from holding to attacking roles but best used as a box-to-box guy in support of slightly more skilled creators. Powerful shot but doesn’t score too many. Relentless, gives his all, bit lippy when decisions don’t go his way. Fan favorite, but hasn’t quite delivered for club or country.

10. Kæja Finnvarðsdóttir (25)* Bastion
Appearance: Quite short and slender. Pixie-cut blonde hair and blue eyes; very pale.
Personality: From Altendalur longshoreperson union stock, Kæja's humble beginnings are reflected in her quiet personality, but she's coming into a more assertive sense of her self as she takes on the mantle of leading the midfield.
Profile: Now generally regarded as the best player in the team, Kæja is a creative attacking midfielder, with an excellent set-piece but concerns about her lack of size and confidence. Nonetheless, after leading the Snow Pups to a Di Bradini Cup title, playing key roles in the World Cup and Copa Rushmori victories, and putting in a starring season in Pasarga, she has emerged as the offensive lynchpin of the future. Her move to Bastion was, however, hugely controversial and she need to prove herself more than a mercenary to newly skeptical fans.
* Kæja has somehow been mis-aged at some point, but in order to restore consistency this is now canonically her IC age.

NEW PLAYER!
11. Rebekka Kajsdóttir (20) Sabrefell Athletic
Appearance: Medium height, stocky build. Dark brown hair, blue eyes, pale skin. She has a number of tattoos but all are covered by a standard football kit. Pale freckles come out in the sun.
Personality: Hard on herself. A relentless trier and a perfectionist who can get frustrated and down when things aren’t going her way.
Profile: Not a breakaway speed merchant but possessing excellent ball skills, Rebekka is learning the trade in Nephara, where wide midfielders tend to come slightly rougher than in Græntfjall. In addition to the physical side of her game she’s improving her set-piece play and fitness, but is still the most likely starter to substitute early.

NEW PLAYER!
13. Erin Marshlily (21) Maigburg
Appearance: Medium height with a slightly slender built. As a Kamdyr her skin tone is a little darker than the rest of the team and she has slight Kamdyr facial features, though not as pronounced as Jasmijn. Her hair is cut short and dyed pink and pale blue. Her eyes are silver-gray and speckled green-brown.
Personality: Very serious, with little time for whimsy and frivolity. A bit of a martinet when it comes to training. Spiritual.
Profile: Erin is one of the best long passers Græntfjall has ever produced. Strong enough to hold up the ball and cover defensive assignments, but possessing enough touch to be a threat to score, she can play in a box-to-box role but is more comfortable slotting in behind the defense as a holding midfielder.

14. Vanessa Marvinsdóttir (30) Stahlburg City
Appearance: 5’2” and very fit. Long dark wavy hair; mixed race so much darker skin than the average Græntfjaller. Style queen off the pitch; on it, usually wears a hairband and rolled-up sleeves.
Personality: Energetic and intelligent. Exuberant and loves to party and socialize, though she doesn’t let this get in the way of her football career.
Profile: A specialist winger who’s fast and agile, Vanessa can play on either flank for club; for country she can be expected to a specialist right-winger. Her elevation to regular starter was something of a surprise but she’s been very effective, and hearkens back to an older age of speedy wingers whipping in crosses for roaming BFGs to head in. Her brother is defensive midfielder Valtter.

NEW PLAYER!
15. Lotte Leonardsdóttir (24) Tihon
Appearance: Tall, angular built, with a head of short, spiky brown hair and brown eyes. She has several small tattoos on her arms and one large one on her red thigh, of the Lanar club logo. Despite now playing for Tihon.
Personality: Extremely serious and can’t really take a joke. She was a natural leader as a youth player and sometimes struggles to fit in when she’s not the focus of the team’s players.
Profile: Lotte doesn’t have the physical gifts of Sara K or silken touch of Kæja, but she’s a determined battler who would run through fire for her team. Always giving her all, geeing up flagging teammates, willing to make the professional foul when needed but disciplined otherwise, she’s an exceptional professional who’s been well suited to the Red League where she has shone.

NEW PLAYER!
16. Varða Vígsteinsdóttir (20) Crimsonhawke AFC
Appearance: Image credited to Tikariot
Personality: Ambitious and excitable, but with an intelligent head on her shoulders for one of her callow years.
Profile: Varða has been a sensation in the TPL, and despite her age has been banging on the door for selection for quite some time. A left-winger who can run, pass, shoot, assist, score, and repaint the field’s lines afterwards, perhaps the biggest question is how she fits into the NT set-up with Sara K ahead of her at the LW position and whether she should adapt to fit the team – or the team adapt to fit her.

NEW PLAYER!
20. Kristmar Raknarsson (26) Stilinkeep FC
Appearance: Very tall, with a surprisingly boyish face set on top of a ferociously strong body. He has dark blonde hair, short at the sides, longer on top, and a short darker blonde beard that doesn’t entirely cover his Vincent Adultman vibe.
Personality: His halting voice which doesn’t quite seem to have broken doesn’t help with the impression he’s a touch immature. Very loyal to his friends, though.
Profile: Made a great impression this season with Stilinkeep, helping them to one of the best defensive records in Pasarga and catching the personal eye of Thor, who has brought him up as the team’s sole specialist DM. More of a destroyer than Erin, he’s likely to be used to close down games late on.

NEW PLAYER!
21. Sara Vatnarsdóttir (25) Urrheddiao
Appearance: 5’3” with a slim build. She has long blonde hair usually worn in a ponytail behind a rainbow alice band, which she wears in support of LGB rights. She has hazel brown eyes. Slight ski-jump upper lip. Some mystical and occult tattoos down her spine and across her shoulderblades, and down her left arm.
Personality: Bubbly, wholesome, enthusiastic. Perhaps slightly naive and occasionally the butt of jokes, which she takes in good humor.
Profile: You might have picked up: for all their superficial similarities, Sara K and Sara V could not be much more different as women, and as players. Sara V is much more controlled and measured than her namesake, and perhaps lacking her speed and powerful boot, too, relies more on craft and guile than pure physicality. She’s more or less a straight swap for Kæja so can expect to see playing time as a substitute for her, but probably not ahead of her. Good at set-pieces.

Forwards
And so, as mysteriously as he arrived… Mímir Waltheofsson’s fairytale rags-to-riches story ended up in the moderate riches of a World Cup bronze medal, but frustrations over his inability to reproduce his Red League goal scoring form and a solid World Cup campaign from Röskvi have seen him lose out. Though the team has generally fielded a single lone striker under Thor, Amandara offers such attacking innovation that she could play alongside him in a different formation.

9. Röskvi Tyrfingsson (29) AFC Treason
Appearance: One of the most strikingly ugly players ever to have graced a football field, Röskvi has an extremely badly broken nose that resembles nothing less than a squashed strawberry. With an untidy mop of shaggy red hair and a misshapen brow, he bears a more than passing resemblance to a ‘Chucky’ doll. Except he’s six and a half feet tall.
Personality: A selfish player who demands service and gets frustrated when the cross isn’t perfectly delivered onto his forehead. But off the field he’s happy to be one of the lads. He tends to read as a little camp. Enjoys fishing.
Profile: Röskvi looked to be the next big thing in BFG forwards, but has simply never scored frequently enough. He enjoyed a strong domestic season in the Zenith and with Jason gone hoped to be back in #9 but was eclipsed by Mímir's undeniable form; nonetheless he showed his professionalism as a willing substitute and has won his place back. His heading should be a lethal weapon, he has a nose for goal that inspires many obvious puns given his less than model-like appearance, and he’s fearsomely strong, but he has a poor disciplinary record and tends to give up when the game goes against him.

NEW PLAYER!
22. Járngrímur Náttúlfsson (20) Coret Hawks
Appearance: Tall, powerfully built. Handsome in a sort of “you can tell he’s a complete shit but probably pretty good in bed” way, making him an absolutely natural successor to Jason. Blonde hair and a few tattoos.
Personality: He does not lack in confidence.
Profile: Járngrímur was one half of the DBC strike partnership that ripped up the U21 World Cup (until they didn’t) and appears to have the entire future of the Coret Hawks franchise resting on his (admittedly broad) shoulders. (I overuse that metaphor, don’t I?) He’s a classic Græntfjaller center forward and though he’s young, Thor clearly wants to see if they’ve found the next big striker.

NEW PLAYER!
23. Amandara Navinsdóttir Thakur (24) Atletik Tessia
Appearance: Tall, slender and graceful. Dark skinned, with dark hair and dark eyes. Wears a silver bracelet on her left wrist.
Personality: Very quiet and reserved, but speaks sense when she does speak up. She’s not shy, she’d just rather stay quiet and be thought a fool than speak up and mangle a probably apocryphal Abraham Lincoln quote.
Profile: One of the most intriguing players to come from the Græntfjaller youth system and one of only two Græntfjallers to win both U18 and U21 World Cups, Amandara has excelled in Mytanija but been ignored for national selection… until now. Fast, skilful, a natural scorer, she can play as an out-and-out striker, a support striker or a winger.

24. Joel Wolfgangsson (28) Montreal Koreana
Appearance: Just 5’10” and not especially strongly built. His shirt always seems too big for him. Untattooed. Has dark hair and dark eyes.
Personality: A popular dressing room guy who doesn't take anything too seriously. Unusually for a Græntfjaller he is Jewish, though not especially observant. His sisters Lilly and Julia have both played for the Snow Wolves.
Profile: As a replacement for Jason, a small dark haired Jew might be an unusual pick, but in a lot of ways he's actually the closest thing they have to a like-for-like replacement. A pure poacher with a goal scoring instinct, his heat map doesn't show much outside the six yard box but he's a lethal finisher.

Penalties: Kæja, Sara
Free kicks: Kæja, Sara, Hermione
Corners: Kæja, Hermione
Throw-ins: Hermione, Jan, Eyvar

RP permissions:

Choose My Scorers: Y
Godmod Scoring Events: N
Hand Out Yellow/Red Cards: Y, but be sensible; I use a self-enforced rule of a 1 match suspension for 1 red card or 2 yellow cards, but I won’t apply this to your players without your permission.
Injure My Players: Y, you can say they are injured but let me decide the severity and consequences.
Godmod Other Events: N, but if you ask first I’m open to any roleplay angles you have in mind.
Additional permissions:

• Please don’t have my players, staff, or fans engaging in violence without my permission.
• If you use non-photoshopped photographs, please don’t say they’re my players without asking.
• In general I’m open to most things so long as you ask.

Style modifier: +4

[Astograth]

The Astograthian National Football Team

Wiki article

All white away, all olive green home, all blue third

Style: +3
Formation: 4–3–3
Nickname: Olibondeka (The Olives)
Captain: Baraxil Muhaburu
Vicecaptain: Hurko Germain
Free Kick Taker: Baraxil Muhaburu
Penalty Kick Taker: Olentzaro Karazatorre

Manager – Xiao Cheng Li – Age 73
Legendary Naixese manager Xiao Cheng Li has just been lured out of her recent retirement by the prospect of managing an erstwhile champion of the Copa Rushmori. Does she know a whole lot about Astograth? No. Does she have a working relationship with any of the players? No. Has she followed the local league closely the last few seasons? No, but then again seemingly no one has.

Despite fielding players from some of the best clubs in the world, the Astograthian national team has been in a slumber as of late, stumbling from one fixture to the next under precarious management and no clear plan. Li has arrived to clear house and imprint her style. Her first squad has been dubbed 'chaotic' by the gentlest of Astograthian journalists, due to its apparent britleness in midfield - plenty of players that can move the ball around in clever ways, but not much in the way of getting it back unless the opponent is already up against the box. There are also a number of eyebrow-raising inclusions and many notorious exclusions - such as Mâ Âlâmëómë's Alarabi Labeaga, longtime national team centreback and close friend of the raucous Baraxil Muhaburu. Especially complicated given Muhaburu was chosen as the successor to the captain's armband at the end of World Cup 93 qualifying; that may go down as one of the most ill-advised decisions in Astograthian national team management, but Olibondeka captaincy rituals aren't something a new manager can revert.

As it stands, Astograth's starting lineup is a solid core of Mytanija-based defenders, the pairing of a brilliant but fading Muhaburu with rising star Lore Kartery as its key playmakers, and a forward line of widely-acclaimed veteran strikers. On the bench, Echepare Rospide, Potz Gambor, and Eskuin Nekol have plenty of international experience, Hustaz Urresti is a surprise call-up after being top scorer of the Euran Silver League, Mytanijan-descended striker Nikita Apostolov has gotten the call after a good season with Iturributa United, Garbie Inorreta played a key role in Urbizania Wanderers' title win, and Yaunzuria Urgoiti makes a return to the side following several seasons better honing her craft in Farfadillis.

Starting XI:
#1 – GK – Unax Goyenola (he/him) – Age 27 – 1830 Cathair (Audioslavia)
#3 – LB – Bakar Gerrikabeitia (he/him) – Age 29 – 1896 Ebor (Mytanija)
#5 – CB – Uhin Elizabe (he/him) – Age 25 – 1896 Ebor (Mytanija)
#4 – CB – Hurko Germain (VC) (he/him) – Age 28 – Liria Prizren (Mytanija)
#2 – RB – Oxarra Peira (he/him) – Age 30 – Lajuno (Eura)
#16 – DM – Xuban Sarasketa (he/him) – Age 27 – Kingsgrove (Brenecia)
#15 – CM – Lore Kartery (he/him) – Age 23 – Myana (Chromatika)
#8 – CM – Baraxil Muhaburu (C) (he/him) – Age 33 – Rülândéá Kôstä (Farfadillis)
#10 – LW – Nahia Legarra (he/him) – Age 28 – Atletik Thessia (Mytanija)
#9 – RW – Yokin Erdokiain (he/him) – Age 30 – AC Izotz Zubia (Audioslavia)
#7 – CF – Olentzaro Karazatorre (he/him) – Age 34 – KT Moreazerua (Audioslavia)

Substitutes:
#13 – GK – Echepare Rospide (he/him) – Age 32 – KT Itzalovalle (Audioslavia)
#23 – GK – Edur Yraola (he/him) – Age 23 – Bakartirla Buccaneers
#19 – LB – Urrecha Lizaraso (she/her) – Age 25 – Athletic Club Olarria
#12 – CB – Azeari Iturria (he/him) – Age 27 – Blue Mountain Range
#6 – CB – Irakusne Hecharri (she/her) – Age 28 – Sporting Iturributa
#25 – CB – Marchelin Mezkiriz (he/him) – Age 28 – Gortz United
#21 – RB – Ekaitz Pana (he/him) – Age 25 – Iturributa United
#14 – DM – Potz Gambor (he/him) – Age 33 – Canbix Muses (Zwangzug)
#24 – DM – Inoki Legisamon (he/him) – Age 28 – Blue Mountain Range
#26 – CM – Yaunzuria Urgoiti (she/her) – Age 25 – Rülândéá Kôstä
#11 – LM – Eskuin Nekol (he/him) – Age 31 – AC Izotz Zubia (Audioslavia)
#17 – RM – Soter Duraniona (he/him)– Age 28 – Club Atlético Bexar (Valanora)
#20 – AM – Garbie Inorreta (she/her) – Age 25 – Urbizania Wanderers
#18 – CF – Hustaz Urresti (he/him) – Age 32 – Marketville (Eura)
#22 – CF – Nikita Apostolov (he/him) – Age 22 – Iturributa United

RP Permissions are yes to everything that isn't career–ending. I encourage TGs for questions or collaborative RP.

[Schutzenphalia and West Ruhntuhnkuhnland]

Team name: Schutzenphalia and West Ruhntuhnkuhnland
Trigram: SWR
Demonym/adjective: Schutzenphalian*, Schutzi (colloq.)
* Technically, players such as Srðan Verdnik are Ruhntuhnkuhnlander, but in practice, ‘Schutzenphalian’ is used as an omnibus descriptor for everyone from the United Iron Principality.
Team nickname: Mountaineers

Staff

Head coach: Max Renner
Assistant coach: Oliver Uhe

Renner is a coach who likes adaptable players capable of covering multiple positions. As such his formations can be fluid, at best putting the best players on the field regardless of position, at worst forcing square pegs into round holes. Uhe is a young advocate of analytics who never made it to professional football after spending some time in the semi-pro ligen.

All players play in the Schutzenlige unless otherwise stated.

Goalkeepers

1. Niklas Kaplan (Obernbrück)
12. Basti Glöckner (Saalstein Freihöring)
21. Thomas Bauer (Lengenbrück Gudenfeld)

Defenders

2. Max Muster (Lengenbrück Gudenfeld)
3. Xaver Bruckner ( Sporting Transvers)
4. Stefan Kandel (Obernbrück)
5. Benjamin Schlager (Sankt Margrethe’s)
6. Aaron Pfeifer ( Hofvinger)
16. Nathanaël Ndòsi ( Corinthians No Longer)
18. Daniel Fischer (Obernbrück)
23. Arno Reger ( Korsbach)
24. Christoph Vogl ( Hagejoki)

Midfielders

7. Lukas Wolf ( Starling)
8. Tom Klor (Lengenkamp SC)
14. Luca Geyer (Lengenbrück Gudenfeld)
15. Jan Egger (Obernbrück)
20. Kasper Engel (Saalstein Freihöring)
22. Nico Auer (Mistelstein 1882)
25. Srðan Verdnik ( Caralanian Caralania)

Forwards

9. Kai Röthke (Wolfzeller FV)
10. Daniel Reiter ( Maigburg)
11. Noah Frankenberger (Saalstein Freihöring)
13. Branimir Bulganin ( Korsbach)
17. Lucas von Wolfberg ( Hamiltonian Cambria)
19. Tommy Bernauer (Lengenbrück Gudenfeld)
26. Kareef Hamidou (Saalstein Freihöring)

Captain: A. Pfeifer
Penalties: Wolf, von Wolfberg
Free-kicks: Klor, von Wolfberg, Geyer
Corners: Klor, Muster

RP permission box

I grant you unlimited permissions with respect to fußball. You may choose scorers, assign yellow and red cards, and hand out injuries, though I will decide the long term consequences thereof. You may godmode wacky events. The only thing I ask is that you do not use photographs and say they are my RL players.

Style modifier: 0

[Mytanija]

RP PERMISSIONS 
If my opponent role-plays first they may:
Choose my goalscorers: Y
Godmod scoring events: Y
RP injuries to my players: Y, you may comment on severity although I shall have final say
Godmod injuries to my players: N
Hand out yellow cards to my players: Y, Mytanars are notoriously passionate and prone to gamesmanship so may accumulate these at an extremely high rate
Hand out red cards to my players: Y, see above, although no more than two in one game please unless in the knockout stages of a tournament in which case this could increase
Godmod other events: Y

Style modifier: −2.0

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE: MYTANIJA SQUAD FOR COPA RUSHMORI 43

“Ladies and gentleman, Mytanija will be playing four-four-fucking-two…”

##  Pos.    Name                     Age  Caps/Goals  Club                         
01  GK      Semir Besak              28   106/0       Mipojoseon (QUE)
02  DL      Asmir Milosevic          27   21/0        1896 Ebor
03  DC      Bosko Pestotnik          23   30/1        Mipojoseon (QUE)
04  DC      Bigger Mbala–Ekakia      30   104/10      Atletik Težia
05  DR/L    Patrik Odonelec          31   126/2       CA Paulinthal (PAS)
06  MC      Nurija Papez             22   31/2        1923 Esca
07  ML      Luka Vujanovic           21   24/6        West Couno United (TMB)
08  MC      Denis Ovsyannikov        21   31/17       Atletik Težia
09  ST      Drazen Skara             23   55/35       Sabrefell Athletic (NPH)
10  ST      Damien Gannot            30   91/38       Sabrefell Athletic (NPH)
11  MR      Mirko Hranilovic         24   28/4        AFC Corvistone (NPH)
12  GK      Anton Puzin              28   21/0        Bastion (EUR)
13  DL      Vuk Bajalica             29   26/1        Kyethas Rivermen FC (TKT)
14  DC      Grigorij Savicevic       34   135/9       AC Izotz Zubia (AUD)
15  DC      Adnan Sulejmanovic       27   52/2        Sabrefell Moths (NPH)
16  DR      Neo Susec                24   0/0         Ararat Severyan
17  ML      Tadej Roskar             20   6/2         Aries Chariots (NPH)
18  MC      Mersudin Smajic          32   93/4        Stahlburg City (NPH)
19  MC      Dordo Urbanc             27   55/8        Spartangrad (EUR)
20  MC/AMC  Omer Kuhar–Arh           30   76/25       Brinemouth (NPH)
21  MR/DR   Sacir Milosevic          28   18/0        1830 Cathair (AUD)
22  ST      Jezdimir Ocokoljic       35   188/116     Newrook City (NPH)
23  ST      Fran Prpic–Bosanac       27   45/21       Bastion (EUR)
24  GK      Robert Laure–Suprinovic  21   0/0         Z’ai’ai (CMT)
25  DC      Elmedin Suljic           24   5/0         Atletik Težia
26  ST      Milica Prokopljevic      21   18/10       Atletik Težia

TACTICAL INFORMATION: In recent years Mytanija have played a variety of different tactical systems. Now, under Misel Ravnjak, they are returning to an old variation on a theme, the 4-4-2. This is mainly the team’s defensive shape, when they lose possession they will hurry back into the 4-4-2 shape within their own half, forming neat and narrow little lines to minimise spaces between teammates and constrict spaces for the opposition. When the team has the ball there will be an emphasis on trying to get it forward early, up to Drazen Skara and Damien Gannot and for either of them to hold the ball up until the other can get closer to them and then play the ball wide to one of the wingers. Denis Ovsyannikov will be given licence to join attacks from midfield, allowing Nurija Papez to stay deeper, recycle possession and shield the defence in the event of a counterattack. The fullbacks on both sides will not venture forward too often, preferring to remain in the solid defensive shape the back four provides. Only occasionally, if there is a tempting opportunity or if the team are chasing the game will they look to overlap and join attacks.

The only other quirk to note is Ravnjak’s penchant for using fullbacks as defensive wingers. It is something he has regularly employed with Ararat in his legendary spell as manager there, most notably with Ermin Urankar, but he has managed to get one into the squad with the national team too – 1830 Cathair’s Sacir Milosevic brought in to play a very specific role as a defensive winger on the right. This will allow the left-sided midfielder, either Luka Vujanovic or Tadej Roskar to play further forward, almost as a third striker. Ravnjak may be fairly traditional with the national team’s base formation, either 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1, but a club level he has employed a variety of formations, including 5-3-2, 5-4-1 and even 5-3-1-1 to great effect – he retains the tactical flexibility that has come to characterise Mytanar coaching in recent years as much as anybody else.


TEAM ROLES
Captaincy: 1. Bigger Mbala-Ekakia; 2. Patrik Odonelec; 3. Semir Besak; 4. Jezdimir Ocokoljic (Ocokoljic will take the armband anytime he is on the pitch); 5. Grigorij Savicevic
Penalties: 1. Drazen Skara; 2. Denis Ovsyannikov; 3. Bigger Mbala-Ekakia; 4. Omer Kuhar-Arh; 5. Nurija Papez
Corners: 1. Nurija Papez; 2. Patrik Odonelec; 3. Mirko Hranilovic; 4. Omer Kuhar-Arh; 5. Tadej Roskar
Short free kicks: 1. Denis Ovsyannikov; 2. Nurija Papez; 3. Omer Kuhar-Arh; 4. Tadej Roskar; 5. Bigger Mbala-Ekakia
Long free kicks: Usually one of the wing-backs to put it into the penalty area and take advantage of Mytanija's relatively tall team

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Brought to you by Kirola, the official Sportswear Apparel Partner for Mytanija

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NOTES:
• Misel Ravnjak (aged 63) has had a storied career as manager of Mytanar club Ararat Severyan, lifting two league titles as well as leading the team to its infamous National Cup and Rushmore Copa de Campeones double-winning campaign - considered by some to be the greatest single achievement by a Mytanar club side given the odds Ararat had to overcome to achieve such a feat. The Rauchik club had to overcome the horrors of the Mytanar Conflict, the ethnic cleansing and ghettoization of their people, deal with the long shadow of the conflict in the intervening years and Ararat acted as a constant for them - allowing them to dream once again. For many this essentially lionised Ravnjak, made him into the leader of a people, as well as a football club and his spirited, bordering on abrasive, personality allowed him to instil something of a siege mentality in his players. He always argued that he and his sides never got enough credit from the media for the manner in which they won games, arguing they played better football than the picture painted by the media (and they often did, with Copa Rushmori stars like Nephara's Lindse Kvasina and Mytanija's Omer Kuhar-Arh not renowned for their lack of inspiration or creativity) and that perhaps the media didn't want to give a provincial club the credit it deserved.

He also said that if he managed a more 'fashionable' side, he may have been in the picture for the Mytanija national team coaching job more often. The FSM always cited his direct media style as more of an issue than anything else, but they have finally turned to Ravnjak following Dzvezdan Kitanchev's disappointing spell in the hotseat. What can be said for Ravnjak is that his players have always loved him and he's always had unity in his teams, that might be what the FSM is wanting from him at this point in time. Ravnjak has turned to some familiar faces, promoting Bosko Pestonik to a starting role, retaining Asmir Milosevic in the starting line-up, handing Neo Susec his first cap. He's a very loyal man and rewards those who are loyal to him, the Ararat connection might well run deep through his Hoops reign, whether it helps or hinders him remains to be seen.

• Mytanija has qualified to 15 World Cups, most recently World Cup 92, the country's biggest achievement in that competition is reaching the quarter finals in World Cup 68. Mytanija has won the Copa Rushmori once (XVII), to go with two victories in the Cup of Harmony (56 and 59); and a Di Bradini Cup win (DBC40). Some of these achievements were made under the names Mytannion/the Mytanar Region, Mytanija is ICly the exact same place.

• Mytanars are renowned for being passionate and therefore will not be afraid of confrontation if they feel they're on the end of a particularly rough tackle. At the same time Mytanars are not afraid of gamesmanship and may perform some questionable tackles of their own, along with tactical fouls to prevent the opponent from gaining momentum. Furthermore, diving, crowding referees and even intentional handballs (OOC: so Maradona's Hand of God and Suarez for Uruguay versus Ghana, that sort of stuff), to influence the game are not beyond Mytanar players. They will argue that winning is the most important thing and will do anything they can to achieve victory. Some might call it dirty, Mytanars don't, that won't stop them complaining when things go against them naturally.

• Mytanar fans are well-known for being hooligans, causing problems wherever they go and being prone to violence. They also make outstanding choreographies for their domestic sides and occasionally the national team (if they aren't fighting each other), so pyrotechnics, flags and lots of noise and alcohol are common place. Corteos (organised marches from a specific place to the stadium), are also common, these can lead to areas being shutdown as the sheer numbers of fans walking along roads block traffic and can lead to issues as police attempt to marshal supporters too. Given the ongoing political situation in Mytanija, whether ultra groups are able to put aside differences regarding politics, ethnicity etc for the national side is a pertinent question and the answer to it may change even from game to game.

[Cassadaigua]

A new era begins for Cassadagan soccer,
by Caitlyn Dufresne, Concord Heights Times

The cycle for World Cup 93 will go down as notable in Cassadaigua for several reasons, the primary one being that of disappointment as a milestone World Cup for us ended without us even advancing to the playoff. It marked the second time in three World Cups that had happened, and it theoretically cost Brittany Byers her job. We know the CASE loves to patient with managers, and when Brittany's back was against the wall on other occasions during her tenure as manager she always seemed to step up with a strong effort on the rebound. This time, there would not be such a chance as Byers would announce that she was resigning following the end of the Cup of Harmony, an announcement that occurred at the end of the World Cup qualifiers. This brought on much speculation as to whether or not CASE President Stephanie Sweeney, who has always been a good friend of hers, wanted to give Brittany a chance to have the more preferable ending of her career being a resignation that looked like a retirement, instead of a full-fledged firing. We'll never know the answer, but as my mother pointed out in an article that looked at possible successors, it was thought that if someone like Hannah Shanley or Jessica Tolson did not get the job, that it meant that CASE went to clean house of those in high ranked positions.

About a month ago, CASE formally named Chen Huikang, a 56-year old from Yuezhou, to be the new manager. Unlike Byers, Chen was able to qualify his nation to the World Cup by mainly utilizing an attack-minded system. It was a surprise to some that he was let go by the YFA, though many will simply say it is par for the course for that organization. They opted to go with Nephara's Elaine Ashdown as their new manager, and therefore Chen was an available target. Reportedly, CASE received a few international candidates to consider, but felt there were several factors that made Chen the best person for the job. Working in his favor was certainly his usage of the 4-3-3 with Yuezhou, a common formation used by them, and what the Fillies will figure to use until they can get their midfield woes straightened out. Stephanie Sweeney said of the decision to hire Chen that, "We thought that an influx of new ideas and tactics could be good in this position. There is certainly plenty of capable people within Cassadaigua that we could have hired, but I wanted to go in this direction just as long as I felt that the right candidate was available to us. With Chen Huikang, it was. I welcome him fully to Cassadagan soccer and am confident that he will get us back in the World Cup as soon as the next edition."

On the surface, there is nothing wrong with Chen's resume and he should have our support. He did a great job with Yuezhou, and his time with CSKA Quebec is appealing because there is a lot of back and forth between the Quebec league and the CSL. Simply look at the roster that is going to play for us in the Copa Rushmori, and you will see that there are four people that play domestically within Quebec, and other than the 18-year olds, they were named to the team by Brittany Byers originally. Many have pointed out that Cassadaigua has only hired two international managers to its many sport teams: Alexander Pappas in soccer and Maddie Polanco in baseball and both ultimately won their respective sport's highest prize. Chen will certainly be looking to prove to the YFA that they made the wrong decision in getting rid of him, and I personally have a lot of confidence that this move will work out well.

However, not everyone was a fan of this move, and two of them were candidates to get this managerial job as well. We'll start with Hannah Shanley, because I feel that she is a little simpler. Hannah was a long time assistant to Brittany Byers, and part of the speculation was that if Shanley was not named as the new manager, that CASE was likely wanting to fire Byers. I do not personally agree with that, but also do not think it is a far fetched idea, either. Shanley is the manager of Starksville United, and has led the side to a championship, with young Lexi McGregor being an integral part of that title run. McGregor is just starting to get more responsibilities with the national team now, so hiring Shanley would have been logical. Or would it have? McGregor's colorful personality, which I will not get into right now, has been something that Shanley has turned a blind eye too, both when she was the manager in the Di Bradini Cup, and in the CSL with Starksville United. As the manager of the senior team, it might further encourage McGregor to show that side of her that many do not like, and that could cause a rift in the locker room. Shanley is rumored to have been offered to come back as an assistant, but told CASE that it was the head job, or she would not return.

Jessica Tolson, the manager of Victoriaville South End, is a more interesting story. Mostly everyone in the CSL believes that when it comes to tactics, that Tolson is the absolute best manager in the CSL. She also exceeds at getting players to play to their full potential, and there were several players on the World Cup 93 roster that play for VSE. However, Tolson and CASE have not always seen eye to eye, and it started when Tolson stopped being named to the national team as a second assistant to Brittany Byers. CASE gave reasons for that, and we can agree or disagree with those reasons all we want, but the fact remains that Tolson was bypassed in that role. She also stopped being given chances to manage junior teams on occasion, but did serve as an assistant there a few more times. Jessica was seen as the #2 domestic candidate behind Shanley, but was not happy with how the process went. In a recent comment, Tolson told a Victoriaville news outlet that, "I went into the interview thinking that I had a chance to be named the next manager of the Fillies. But right away, it was pretty clear to me that CASE was just interviewing me for show, and I didn't really like that. I went through the motions on the off chance that I was wrong, but I knew then and there that I was not going to be given the job." Tolson was offered the assistant position to Chen, but said, "It's not about Chen, he's a good manager and for our country, I will be rooting for him to do well. But when Stephanie Sweeney handles the process in the way that she did, in regards to my own interview for that position, then I am not just going to play second fiddle. I love my country, but will focus on South End."

The drama did not end there though, because there were a couple of interesting roster moves with this Copa Rushmori side involving people that play for VSE. First of all, being former CSL MVP Rachel Bolden, who decided to opt out of the Copa Rushmori. It is not unusual for Cassadagan players to do this, so Bolden would not have really had to provide an explanation for her decision, but she didn't hold back in saying why she did, "I am not happy with the way my manager was treated. I will not be playing in the Copa Rushmori." That came first, then came the pecking order of the roster and seeing Brianna Ward listed as a substitute defender even though she has been a starter from World Cups 91-93 and Copa Rushmoris 40-42. This has been labelled retaliatory by some, but that's a push. Three of the four starters from the last World Cup on defense will be back in their roles for the Copa Rushmori, and the one new face, Tiffany Brown, is a 23-year old who absolutely sparkled in her time off the bench in the last World Cup and in the Cup of Harmony, so her being given this chance is not a stretch at all. Ward is 30 years old, and all four of the starters on defense are younger then her. This is a team that did not qualify for the World Cup, and also did not qualify in World Cup 91 when Ward started as well, so there should not be an assumption on her part that she would be back in a starting role. She could also be listed as a substitute just so the team as a late game shut down defender with experience. So, I don't think that has anything to do with VSE drama.

Do we have to go there with Cynthia Kerr? The 32-year old Victoriaville South End keeper has been a mainstay on the roster, too, and was a starter before Stacie Thornton took over her job. Stacey Schalberg is coming off a dominant season with Grande Mountain and earned her spot, and I don't think it would have been right to make Kerr third string. Not as many people are mentioning Cynthia Kerr in all of this, but it is something that should at least have a mention when talking about the team.

There is a lot more than can be talked about, such as the honoring of a group for Stacie Kerrigan, and we'll get to that and other things in a later article.

[Nephara]

For the Cormorants, this was going to be an awkward one.
It wasn't that they were bad travellers. They were seasoned professionals, and many of them played and lived abroad. And, in theory, it wasn't any issue with Nyowani Kitara itself. But when the group draw came out, there was no sense here that every group was made equal, for their own - dubbed Group Michael Brandon, after the Euraphile Nephar who perhaps symbolised the nation's Rushmori ties better than any other footballer - happened to be far, far from the cozy confines of what was still, in the common imagination, KPWC territory. They would have to survive three rounds in Port Viljan, watched by local crowds who had probably known cousins and colleagues gunned down by Nepharan soldiers. Of course, this was not the worst of it. They still had to go to Inhalo down the track.
Suffice to say, the Cormorants soon got used to the sound of firecrackers going off outside the hotel. They knew, as well, that not many of their own fans would venture here. Dewayo? Dewayo was a whole different thing. Sure, it was its own kind of hellscape, but the stronghold of the horse they'd backed... even if she hadn't been able to carry the subsequent elections. Which suited Corvistone just fine. Nafuna was backed because of incumbency, not because anyone liked her.

Geography aside, this was sure to be a significant Copa Rushmori for the Nepharim. They needed to prove that they, the ultimate tournament team, under Igrene Cantor, a consummate tournament manager, could get it together. Cantor needed silverware, desperately, and the side needed to remember what big, narcissistic, emotionally insecure dogs they were, ripping throats out.
There was an element of melancholy to it, too. There was a tacit awareness it would be the end of the line in the green and black for Radeka Lind, still their captain, and the last vestige of the World Champions of 84. The players wanted to do right by her, make sure she could leave on a glorious high.
And from a practical concern, they were in a group with plenty of pedigree. Eastfield Lodge were no mere meme team, and could put noses out of joint on their day, while Pasarga were... Pasarga. And Elmyia had made some headlines early on, with a couple of their players having made good early impressions in Nephara - and Tricia Cray, a former Cormorant, having been sufficiently impressed by the footballing project over there to have her head turned.
So this one mattered, then, for a whole sheaf of reasons. Nephara were wounded, and their pride damaged. That, perhaps, was when they were at their most dangerous.
... Well, that, and their most self-destructive. And Cantor knew her job was not secure enough to weather a genuine disaster here...

[Tikariot]

Darkness...

Nyowani Kitara - a nation that has a deep connection to Tikariot. Many, many years ago a bloody civil war tore through the nation, threatening to tear it apart. The earth drank blood and many lives were lost - for what?

Images of wartorn Nyowani Kitara flicker across the screen, missiles being launched, tanks driving through cities, buildings exploding and collapsing, the empty shells of houses, refugee camps.

It took an alliance of nations to end the bloodshed even though the suffering was far from over. Tikariot was instrumental in hosting the peace talks and ensuring the fighting truly would end.

Tikariot came for peace...

Images of the nation being rebuilt and life normalizing replace the disturbing imagery.

Now, Nyowani Kitara is opening a new chapter in its history: The Copa Rushmori 43. Rushmore once more is looking towards our eastern neighbour but for vastly different reasons. Positive reasons. A region united with one goal in mind: The Cup.

An image of the Copa Rushmori is superimposed.

The Copa Rushmori - the pinnacle of Rushmori football, one of the most competitive tournaments in the multiverse. Difficult to win, even harder to defend. In its 42 editions so far, only six times did a champion manage to retain the trophy.

Images from the Copa Rushmori 42 glide across the screen, showing Tikariot's national team defy the odds more than once to lift the much coveted trophy for the first time.

Eleven men and women will take to the pitch in Dewayo in the first step on their journey to defend the Copa Rushmori against The Askari Union.

- = - - = - - = -
- = - - = -
- = - - = -

This time is different...

OOC Disclaimer: Images are courtesy of Midjourney.

[Gatchingerrak Union]

Football Federations of the Gatchingerrak Union of Nations (FFGUN)

Gatchingerrak Union Football Team
Trigramme: GGU
Denonym: Gatchin/Unionian
Nickname: Seven Stars

---

Gatchingerrak Union of Rushmori nations, shortened as the Gatchingerrak Union, is a cultural and political alliance of four countries of the Quebecois Commonwealth located in mid-southern Rushmore (Norrskie Zasousti, Norrehavn, Gatchinovo and Novopetrograd). The three kingdoms and the citystate, while independent nations of own, do have the Gatchingerrak Union as a way to establish their common zone, where their main goals are to advance co-operation in military, cultural, economic and energy matters. It shares land border with Vaugania and Norrhem to the west, while bits of the east touch Phoenigetzusta. Combined population of the union are estimated to be around 81 million.

While its trio of nations have always fought with one another for centuries, Gatchingerrak Union is a culturally diverse nation with growing importance outside to that of the Quebecois Commonwealth. Its population is ethnically diverse, with the eastern, Novopetrogradian half of the realms primarily Slavic, while the Western half is divided to primarily Nordic Norrehavn on north and slavic Norrskie Zasousti on the south. Somewhere in middle of the lake, which faces all of the three nations, stands the island that is nowadays known as the citystate of Gatchinovo, the ancient place known for its significance on trades and diplomacy among the Rushmori realms of the Quebecois Commonwealth. It is where the Accord between the 4 states were signed in year 2030 (around the time of WC78), to promise co-prosperity among the rivalling states whose cooperation is needed more than ever. Its economy is a mix of natural resources and heavy manufacturing for it.

A no stranger to international sport, Gatchingerrak Union does have a past history of international football and hockey, where its western realms were represented as Norrehavn. It has hosted a Copa Rushmori and a World Cup of Hockey, and both sports are extremely popular. Unfortunately, the long years of absence from the international sporting circuit does mean that it is expected to be a long way back to relevance for the seven-stars.

---

Formation: 4-4-2
Style Modifier: -2

Manager: Levi Gazdanov, 54 (NPG)

Major Stars: GK J. Furman, DF M. McGrath, MF M. Haraldsson, FW L. Svorzil
Emerging Stars: GK P. Belohlavek, DF S. Romanchouk, MF B. Kaniatarii, MF S. Gouseff, FW E. Kjaer
Playing style in nutshell: Slow-paced, long-ball. Mid-block engagement and low defensive line. Strong on counterattacks. Fullback use is strong. Sweeper keeper used to support.

Captains: GK Julien Furman -> FW Lukas Svorzil -> DF Mary McGrath -> MF Marina Haraldsson
Penalties: E. Kjaer, L. Svorzil, K. Nam, S. Goussef, M. McGrath
Free Kicks: K. Nam, E. Kjaer, S. Romanchouk
Corners: E. Kjaer, P. Ssekendi, B. Kanitararii

No. Pos. Nat. Name                 Age  Nat. Team
01  GK    NPG  Julien FURMAN C       28  QUE  Montreal City
12  LB    NPG  Gennadiy POLUNIN      20  QUE  CSKA Quebec
03  CB    NHV  Jan SIGURDSSON        29  QUE  Zenit Attawapiskat  
04  CB    NHV  Mary McGRATH          25  QUE  Montreal Koreana   
06  RB    ILY  Stepan ROMANCHOUK     22  ILY  Armada Petrograd
11  LM    NZS  Patrik SSKENDI        33  NZS  1857 Lubossa
08  CM    NHV  Marina HARALDSSON     28  NHV  Österby FF
05  CM    NPG  Serguei GOUSEFF       19  NPG  Armada Petrograd
07  RM    GVO  Kiril NAM             23  GVO  Gatchinovo IFK
10  CF    NZS  Lukas SVORZIL VC      35  NZS  Atalanta Lubossa      
09  CF    NHV  Emilia KJAER          23  QUE  Wansan Noksaekjeonsa
--
20  GK    NZS  Patrik VELOHLAVEK     21  NZS  Sokol Deblín
29  GK    NHV  Marianne SJOLUND      23  NHV  Boldklubben 1947
02  LB    GVO  Vassili SCHMIDT       28  NPG  Partizan Ivangorod
15  CB    NPG  Andrei SCHNEIDER      24  NPG  Club Avangard
22  CB    ILY  Davide MOZIC-PRIAMO   18  ILY  Belmorets Palmyra
06  RB    NHV  Rasmus PETTERSON      27  QUE  Nakdong Athletic
18  RB/DM NHV  Beka KANIATARII       20  NPG  Partizan Petrograd
16  DM/CM NPG  Karina SUNG           26  NHV  Boldklubben 1947
24  CM    NHV  Filip GRANBERG        29  NHV  IF Kristiansund
13  LW/AM NZS  Svita LASKOVA         21  NZS  Atalanta Lubossa
17  ST    NPG  Anatole ZUBOK         27  QUE  Olympique de Rimouski
19  RW    NPG  Vyacheslav SHARIPOV   25  QUE  Agawa Athletic
--
14  DF    NZS  David MRAZEK          31  NZS  Atalanta Lubossa
23  MF    GVO  Claudio BARRETA       24  NHV  FC Langeland 
21  FW    NHV  Jules KABONGO         20  NHV  Boldklubben 1947

RP Permissions
Choose my scorers: Duh
Choose my scoring events: Y
Godmod scoring events: N
RP injuries to my players: Y
Godmod Injuries to my players: N
Give Yellow Cards to my players: Y, 5 at very most
Give Red Cards to my players: Y, 2 at very most
Godmod other events:N

[Pasarga]

Inconsistency. It has been ever the watchword and the burden of a curse laid low upon the Wanderers of Pasarga since their performances back in the early seventy editions of the World Cup upon where they were at the pinnacle of their power that they made three straight Finals and did manage to win the second of those three. In a bit of a ironic twist, it would be none other than a fellow Rushmori nation that would prevent the Wanderers from pulling off a historic double and inadvertently ushered in an era of suffering for the Wanderers that has yet to cease its being. That fellow Rushmori stalwart would be none other than the famous Eura, whose exploits in sports are nearly matched by their exploits in the field of political machinations and military triumph, making them a dominant force in nearly every sense of the word. When two forces of great magnitudes collide, the result from that clash is sure to bring about some sort of explosive change, though those back those decades before would not have believed that the turning point of Pasarga greatness to mediocrity would come while at the very height of Pasargan ascension.

Fast forward some near forty years and the curse of a lack of consistency from good to great to even a few elite players that have yet dared to don the national colors on the pitch have at oft times left both fan and pundit alike tearing out their hair trying to understand it all. It has become clear to those who are able to reach a certain level of serenity and understanding of the situation of a nugget of truth that is perhaps oft overlooked though when it comes to the support and/or involvement in the sporting arena. To involve ones self in sport, that means that you are marrying yourself off to pain and misfortune, to that bitter taste of defeat and countless hours of wondering what might have been had situations been different somehow. You are bound to suffer in the most hamulating and gut wrenching of ways, to know heartbreak in ways that feel might yet feel like the loss of a loved one when results are gone against you and you have found your form has been lost, squandered into the whistling sands of time. To embrace sport is to embrace pain, all for the brief moments of that nectar of the gods when for all the toil that has been done you have achieved glory and success.

What could then account for success for the Wanderers here in the Copa Rushmori, when having so spectacularly crashed out of the World Cup group stage after having to have once again needed a minor miracle to earn a spot in the playoffs after an awful first half of the qualifying campaign? For a team that had been quite accustomed to a certain level of success in the regional trophy, that two of the last three tournaments have seen the side who is among the most decorated in the tournament be eliminated before the end of the group stage has have to lowered the bar that has been set for the PFA to believe the team to have had success. Plainly, merely getting out of the group stage at this point seems a greater task than what might be accomplished regardless of rank or the ability and talent level of the players assembled to represent the nation on the team. That the bar has been sunk so low that the side might yet be satisfied with merely escaping out of the groups when in times not that long ago getting out of the group stage should have been the bare minimum truly signifies the decline that the team has had over the last few decades.

That the group that the Wanderers will take on here in Nyowani Kitara is one filled with peril is then perhaps quite the concern for the staff and fans who had hopes that it might be time to cast aside the troubles that have been their plague of the last four decades, particularly the last six or so years. The most obvious of obstacles is this little old nation by the name of Nephara, the second ranked team by way of the regional rankings and a perpetual thorn in the side of the Wanderers, whom along with Savojarna were the usual cause of the Wanderers elimination from the Copa for several editions in a row. Nephara is laden with talent up and down their roster and if you are to beat them, you must need frustrate them and bring out their desperation, lead them to the mental errors that teams under duress are prone to do. Elsewhere there is also dormant power of Eastfield Lodge who would love to see their recent return of fortune, by their elsewise terrible standards ergo Logical Losing, from the Qualifiers into the regional, while Baptism of Fire darling Elmyia waits in the wings. Hurdles at every corner, challenges of all different kinds, and a team who are still trying to adapt to a new strategy. It is an odd brew but it is the one we are served and must keep down.

[Ketiou]

RP PERMISSIONS
If my opponent role-plays first they may:
Choose my goalscorers: Y
Godmod scoring events: Y
RP injuries to my players: Y, you may comment on severity although I shall have final say
Godmod injuries to my players: N
Hand out yellow cards to my players: Y
Hand out red cards to my players: Y, see above, although no more than two in one game please
Godmod other events: Y

Ketiou is a young nation located in south-west Rushmore on the Goose Coast, next to Djocoranga and Mwembamba. The Ketioulais were colonised by Prahecq centuries ago and are still recovering from the scars of colonialism, a bloody revolution managed to push the Prahecqois out and the key dates of 1093 and the whole month of August – regarded as a revolutionary month – are venerated across the country. Ketiou’s relationship to the colonial metropole can be seen in the make-up of their national team, with 18 of their 26-man squad playing in the Prahecqois Championnat, most of these players being born in Prahecq to Ketioulais parents. Only six players play for domestic sides, with the other two – Antoine Mushiya and Damilola Camara – plying their trade in Mytanija’s Druga Liga.

Ketiou is currently run as a federal Utilist-Tolikist one-party socialist republic, with political dissidence harshly punished. The lack of political freedom has been somewhat mitigated by the country’s economic and social development under this system. Revolutionary President Amidou Kassambara’s ambitious policy programme has seen the country nationalise all land and mineral wealth; launch a nationwide literacy campaign; redistribute land to peasants; large-scale road and rail construction; and a drive for agrarian self-sufficiency. Public health has also been an important area, with enormous vaccination programmes; newly-built medical dispensaries in every city, town and village; and the outlawing of female genital mutilation. Kassambara has pursued an anti-imperialist foreign policy, shunning foreign aid, pushing for debt reduction and regularly criticising Prahecq for their colonial terror.

The best players in the squad are towering Étoile Rouge centre-half Maxi Dumont and tricky Douanes’ winger Manu Bethuna. There is a wealth of promising young talent sprinkled throughout the squad, particularly midfield creator Ghislain Nana and young strikers Connaissance Mambeka and Kanga Mbo Mbo.

##  Pos.    Name                  Age  Club                         
01  GK      Émeric Dubuisson      28   1093 AS Sankara
02  DL      Francois Sardou       23   Stade Yvelines (PRH)
03  DC      Maxi Dumont           24   Étoile Rouge (PRH)
04  DC      Didier Lanoie         32   Marianne (PRH)
05  DR      Tanzetanau Modibo     25   Étoile Noire
06  DMC     Sennet Béland         29   Perros-Guirec (PRH)
07  MC      Jean-Marie Corné (c)  30   Che Che
08  MC      Jean Michel Prophète  24   Bassé Santa Su
09  ST      Damilola Camara       29   SK Port Jarko (MYT)
10  AML/R   Manu Bethuna          29   Douanes (PRH)
11  AMR     Antoine Mushiya       30   NK Thessia (MYT)
12  GK      Formose Sene          19   Champex du Lac (PRH)
13  DL      Youssef Hamou         31   Clichy-sous-Bois (PRH)
14  DC      Franck Bonnel         26   Champex du Lac (PRH)
15  DC      Cheikh Diédhou        20   Clichy-sous-Bois (PRH)
16  DR      Mamadou Guèye         18   Douanes (PRH)
17  DMC     Ilyassa Bina          22   1093 AS Sankara
18  MC      Zoumana Kaboré        19   Che Che
19  MC/AMC  Ghislain Nana         18   Epinal (PRH)
20  AML     Jean-Eudes Lindor     20   SS Plumelec (PRH)
21  AMR     Gabriel Huot-Bonnet   33   Espérance (PRH)
22  ST      Connaissance Mambeka  20   Douanes (PRH)
23  GK      Abdou Karim Benga     18   Douanes (PRH)
24  MC      Aly Ba                19   Union (PRH)
25  ST      Kanga Mbo Mbo         20   Marianne (PRH)
26  ST      António Lutonda       19   Étoile Rouge (PRH)

Head coach: Anatole Bandza - 46

Captain: Jean-Marie Corné
Vice-captain: Didier Lanoie
Penalties: Damilola Camara
Free-kicks: Manu Bethuna
Corners: Manu Bethuna

Style modifier: +1.0

[Brookstation]

BROOKSTATION NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM

TEAM INFORMATION
Nickname: Dreamers  
Demonym: Brook
Style Modifier: +4
Association: Football Brookstation
Most caps: Leon Michael Robes 
Top scorer: Leon Michael Robes
Trigrame: BRO 
First International 
Brookstation  3-2 Qzvarkian Qaz 

Biggest win 
Eraman  0-5 Brookstation 

Biggest defeat 
Nephara  7-2 Brookstation 

JERSEYS

MANAGEMENT STAFF
Manager: Marius Popescu (67)
Assistant manager: Julian Warner (36)
Goalkeeping Coach – Starc Johnston, (44)
Defensive Coach –  Narayan Das, (39)
Offensive Coach – Bighnesh Mullick, (51)
Physiotherapist – Sharon Bumberbatch, (48)

Billy Browne had duly resigned from his post, after Brookstation’s disappointing defeat to Eshialand in the Quarter Finals of the most recent Cup of Harmony and the Football Association is still in the process of finding a suitable replacement for Browne. With the annual Brevity Cup knocking on the doors, Marius Popescu,the well known former Other side of Paradise manager stepped up and agreed to guide the second team of Brookstation, although he has no intention of taking up the position of manager in the near future.


SQUAD
[Starters are in bold]

GOALKEEPERS

GK-Lance Logan ( 1830 Cathair) - Age 22
Lance Logan needs no introduction. Undoubtedly the star player of the team and the only Brook to have been nominated for the Testiculos till now, Logan keeps improving with every season in 1830 Cathair. Logan is renowned for his quick reflexes and calmness at the goal, which has made him quite the sensation in Brookstation by now.

GK-Joel Latibeaudiere ( Capital FC) - Age 29
Once the starting choice for the national team, Latibeaudiere has lost himself in the shadow of Logan, but still possesses the skills and potential which are good enough to make him the second choice goalkeeper of the team.

GK-Terrell Graves ( Space Coast Rockets) - Age 25
Called up for primarily for his performances in the Brook Football League, Graves will remain mostly as a third choice option for the team. Graves is still a young player and with quite some time still in hand, Graves might help himself up the ranks.

DEFENDERS

CB-Nate Harlow ( Dreamland City) - Age 32
Harlow has always been the quiding light when it comes to the Brook defensive. Undoubtedly one of the best defenders to have ever played for the team and a natural leader, Harlow plays a very crucial role in the club, combining his quick dribbling skills with his strength, making him one of the most influential players in Brookstation.

LB-Geovani Angeles ( Alnio) - Age 24
A young defender who recently made a transfer to Chromatikan side Alnio, making him the most expensive Brook transfer of all time. He has been a very important part of his previous Urrhed FC's defense and has a bright future ahead of him. He is looking forward to defend for his national side to the best of his abilities.

CB-Jayden Alonso ( Strange City FC) - Age 26
Alonso is a complete, dominant and eloquent central defender with physical power and immense strengh suited perfectly to put him in the defensive position. He might not be the fastest player one is looking for but his coordination and agility combined with his fit stature suit

RB-Travor Scott ( Halebid Warriors) - Age 34
One of Harlow's best associated and partner in crime, Scott used to be termed as one of Brookstation's best defenders, that was until he was faced with charges of sexual assault which saw him receive a two year ban. But now that he has faced the consequences of his action, he is back, as a changed figure, a figure who is ready to deliver for the national side once again.

CB-Mark Jamieson ( Space Coast Rockets) - Age 24
Mark was a talented and young prodigy who has been one of the key players of the Brook junior teams. Mark has received a recent callup from the national team following his performance in the TPL and the recently formed BFL. With his callup to the national side, he is expected to live up to his expectations.

LB-Rod Dick Jacobus ( Halebid Warriors) - Age 19
Jacobus is not your typical, stout defender. Rather, he is a concentrated player with a very clear understanding of the game. His intelligence, composure and the ability to read his opponent's next move makes him so celebrated in the country despite his young age.

CB/RB-Kearyn Caceres ( Steinaux) - Age 26
Caceres is a typical full-back and can play both on the left and right sides.He is quite the safe full-back, who never makes a mistake in defensive positioning.

CB-Lawrence Butler ( Halebid United) - Age 24
Honestly speaking, Butler has always been an aggressive player, not shying away from the dirty work on the field. Surely, this has put him in trouble in the past but he doesn't seem to care.

MIDFIELDERS

CM-Jean Pierre Polnareff ( Other side of Paradise) - Age 31
Instrumental in both of Brookstation’s historic wins against Nephara and Banija, the 6'2 midfielder has established himself as one of the most prominent midfielders in Brookstation. Shortly behind captain Robes, Polnareff holds the second most international caps for Brookstation. An all rounder in the midfield, he is Brookstation’s main free kick taker.

CM-Laron Veum ( Lublova Reds) - Age 31
Laron Veum is a promising young midfielder who plays for Squornshelan side Lublova Reds. He has spent most of his prime career in Squornshelan Remnant States. Veum tends to come deeper and get open inside the hole between the opposition lines. which has helped his team to get goals.

CAM-Rosario Riccobono ( Advance Alara) - Age 20
Having just passed his teenage years, Riccobono has gained quite a lot of fame in the domestic level although he awaits his national team debut, which will most likely come during next year's World Cup. Riccobono is a swift dribbler, renowned mostly for his speed and creativity while crafting attacks on the field. Most likely to become Brookstation’s next sensation.

CAM--Tavian Tudorache ( Vantanoch FC) - Age 26
Experienced, aggressive and arogant midfielder, played over 50 games with Other side of Paradise. With his recent call up to the Tikariot side Vantanoch FC, he has delivered whenever he received play time.

LM/RM-Louis Vassel ( Aspel) - Age 28
An orthodox, impressively fast midfielder who always has his eye on the goal and will do anything to find the right chance to shot. He maybe termed a bit greedy but as long as he stays in sync with his teammates, he will assist.

CM- Steve Dolphin ( AFC Richmond) - Age 30
Dolphin is an elegant player with a very impressive technique with the ball, short dribbling and a well controlled tempo on the field. All these qualities makes him quite a versatile midfielder.

FORWARDS

CF-Leon Michael Robes (c) ( Cednia Beach AFC) - Age 32
If you are a Brook, you don't ask who Leon Michael Robes is. In short, he is the top goalscorer, most capped and most importantly the captain on the current Brook side. Often termed the best Brook footballer ever, Robes needs no more introduction. An extremely versatile and talented striker, Robes always has his senses ready for the task. Some suggest that Robes' age is beginning to reveal itself but Robes still remains the head of all operations on the field.

LW-John J Johnson ( Space Coast Rockets) - Age 29
Currently the best player in Brookstation, John Johnson is on his way to overtake Robes as Brookstation’s top scorer. Johnson is a lethal finisher as well as an excellent assister. With his eyes always at the goal, Johnson is always on his toes to grab opportunities to strike.

RW-Moussa Wague ( Clyde Park) - Age 24
Undoubtedly, one of the best strikers of Brookstation at the moment. Wague has been the top scorer of his club for this season despite of his young age. Following the farewell of Cust from the team, Wague has become one of the starters for the team. Wague posseses the ability to plan out attacks and with the help of his speed,strength and dribbling skills makes his way towards the goal. Wague has been overshadowed by the likes of Robes and Johnson but whenever he gets a chance to make it to the goal, he is ready to prove his mettle. Wague is a fierce, hard working striker who is always on the look for chances and thus is a great addition to the front line of the national team.

CF-Oakley Gamble ( Strange City FC) - Age 19
Gamble has recently become a sensation in Brookstation mainly due to his epic performance in the Brevity Cup, where he played an instrumental role in helping Brookstation reach the finals in a pretty shocking manner. One of the youngest members of the squad, Gamble has displayed the potential to become Brookstation's next big star.

SS/RW-Roy-Allan Butterfield ( AC Dason) - Age 21
Butterfield is a tall player with a fit stature who plays mostly as a shadow striker. He is an offensive all rounder who can adapt to a variety of positions up front such as winger, attacking midfielder, support striker, and centre forward. A young talent, Butterfield has become one of the top scorers of the domestic league.

RW/LW-Ga Yong Lee ( Halebid United) - Age 31
Lee is an advanced playmaker, able to play in both the wings as well as any playmaking position. Lee is a creative player with a pretty stabilised technique with the ball, great acceleration skills and a good passing ability.

My opponent, if they RP first, may do the following:


Choose my scorers: Y
Give yellow cards to my players: Y
Give red cards to my players: Y (Not more than 1)
RP injuries to my players: Y (Be sensible)
Godmod scoring events: Y (Ask me first via a tg or discord dm)
Godmod injuries to my players: N
Godmod other events: Y (Ask me first via a tg or discord dm)


Style modifier: +4

[Southwest Eastnorth]

SWEN PIONEERS/FRONTIERSMEN ROSTER

FORMATION 3-4-3
Style Modifier +4
COACH: Chris Houton (Age 48)
ASSITANTS: Dennetter DiMore (Age 56), B.J Rotheborune (age 54),

FORWARDS

#7 Keon Crust (25)- Montreaux Jazz
#11 Chris Houton (48) - Unattached
#4 Hoyer Harbors (30) - Synetica AC (SQUORNSHELOUS)
#17 Ulysses Barnett III (30) - Auberlein Originals
#40 Ian Gordon (30) - Montreaux Jazz
#99 Austin Navarro (23) - Auberlein Originals

MIDFIELDERS

#2 Mark Sternes (34) - Oasis Blur FC
#5 Ben Jackson (22) - Hartlespool Hurricanes
#10 Jermaine Preston (23) - New Baltimore City
#13 Ken Luckworth (24) - AWAC Express
#19 Alexandria Collins (19) - Amarock University
#20 Roberto Fillipe (31)- Hartlespool Hurricanes
#49 Jimmy Thompson (21) - Chester Engineers
#60 Sixto Zaracudo (25) - New Baltimore City

DEFENDERS

#4 Mike Donaldson (25) - Virginia United
#13 Mary Gill (26) - Chester Militia FC
#14 Allison Benson (210) - New Baltimore City
#38 Jacque Labrador (31) - Southwest Rangers
#50 Jace Arnold (31) - Rutland FC (CASSADAIGUA)
#92 Dino Andretti (35) - Eastria FC (ATHERIA)

GK

#1 Orenthal Onassis (28) - Virginia United
#0 Jessica LaRioux (31) Galaxy SC (XANNERIA)
#01 TreyVon Hoag (26) - Auberlein Originals

My opponent, if they RP first, may do the following:
Choose my goalscorers: Yes
Godmod scoring events: Yes But keep it infrequent
RP injuries to my players: Yes Typical injuries, that will not result in heavy losses
Godmod injuries to my players: No
Hand out yellow cards to my players: Yes
Hand out red cards to my players: Yes Keep it infrequent
Godmod other events: Yes

[Polar Islandstates]

Iosef Miroshnichenko was not an idiot. He just wanted to make that clear first and foremost. He was not an idiot. He wasn't. He'd heard all the whispers, all his life, and he was just... choosing to ignore them. That's all.

Moving from his little town to the big city as a youngster, with people wondering if he'd make it. And then, when hanging out with the younger Otkupshchikov brother at the academy;

"Oh, Iosef's not quite as good as the other two, is he?"

Fine, but he'd gone on to big things with the talent he'd had. The elder two might have left for pastures new, but he'd stuck with East Franz Athletic. Or, well, was he just not as marketable? East Franz wouldn't have had the money to replace him at the time even if he had left, and even though he tried to ignore paper-talk, he knew the pundits were all saying the same thing;

"East Franz are stuck with Miroshnichenko..."

Nonetheless, he had caps, didn't he? A decent handful of caps for his national side. A very different kind of national side to the one he was now watching go through their first ever training session in a foreign field - and indeed only their tenth ever as a group - but his national side nonetheless. Iosef was used to being shadowed, and he knew the assembled Protection Officers would be there watching them all either way, but there was also a smattering of international press present that had provoked in the watchers a mild flutter of caution that Iosef didn't recognise, but all the same chose to consciously 'un-see'. Press. Press from an interested regional journalist corps keen to see what had become of the Terns for the first time in decades. They were, after all, a national side with a great vintage, particularly in this regional competition. A name to be feared, once upon a time, and Iosef had played for them towards the end of that last period of international cooperation;

"Not one of the great Terns sides by that point, though, was it..."

Rumiatzi. Swangard-Metropolis. Montbenoit. La Popular. Franz Josef City. Five wins in Copa Rushmori tournaments before now, though all over twenty editions ago now, and a history like that could begin to feel like the allegorical albatross around your neck. The irony that the Terns' old home kit used to feature a strikingly similar visual metaphor wasn't lost on Iosef - (See. He was clever...) - but he was also acutely aware that simply removing it from the kit wouldn't remove it from the mentality of his players;

"Do we think Iosef knows what he's getting himself in for?"

Truth is, probably not. Those wins had been long before his time, and even though he'd done his research, and he had all the DVDs - he remembered in particular watching the footage of that first win with his dad: ten goals for the Terns' captain in what was dubbed "The Time Skye Tournament" by, well, Timo Skye mostly. But he'd been fascinated by the idea of stopping him. Studied his movements. Inspired him to become a centre-back in the first place. There was something just more satisfying about stopping people trying to do you bad. Something the Party knew all about, and had played upon as they rose to power;

"We've been gone for so long, are we doing the right thing trusting our international reputation to a relative nobody from Brighthelmstone? We will need to keep a careful eye on proceedings, Commander..."

So it didn't help that Sargossa were in the group with them. Not really. The nation upon which the Party's entire rhetoric was based... fear of, jealousy of, inspiration from... the only other five-time winners of the Copa, right here in the same group, and not stained by decades of inaction;

"This better not come back to bite us, General..."

First, The Big Freeze, then almost a decade of 'multiverse-event' that created paranoia and fear in the populace, and then almost thirty years of isolationism. All the speeches, marches, arrests, and prosecutions had led to a very different country now to the one Iosef had grown up in. He had learned not to have an opinion on this. He might ignore the whispers, but others wouldn't. Particularly those in navy uniforms. Or, more terrifyingly, without. He had learned to ignore the whispers, but also not to whisper himself. And now that image - the strength of the Tern, an emblem of a nation that was now looking down over the rest of the region it considered itself to be superior to, rather than upwards to the skies in ambition and hope - had been entrusted to him.

"This could be embarrassing if we're not careful."

And yet, for all the implied threats, the risks, and no small amount of personal jeopardy, it would never have occurred to him not to sign on the dotted line of the contract when the VFA approached him. Not that he'd had a choice anyway, not really, but even if he'd had one, he would have signed either way. Underachiever or not, idiot or not, it was a chance to prove himself to his nation, become a True Valhallan, and pick up the banner of a procession long since stalled. Even if he did end up failing with this team of players he'd been forced to pick, he would never have passed that opportunity up. No, the whispers from the corridors of power didn't bother him. He'd learned the hard way not to let them...

"We remain confident of Miroshnichenko's ability to stay True with the right pressure, should the need arise..."

Instead, as he watched Aalto line the squad up for an attack vs defence drill, it was the whispers from some of the assembled foreign press that he was struggling to blank out;

"Oh, who even is that? Did they not fancy van Sorensen for it?"

Mm.

A sniff. A wrinkle of the nose. Eyes forward. Ignore it, Iosef. Ignore it.

"Well where is he, then?"

[Trans-Dniesters]

Basil Santa Cruz, current manager of the Pridnestrovian men’s national football team, takes questions from the Pridnestrovian Central News Agency for the pre-game press conference against Graintfjall.

PTsNA: Welcome back to the Copa Rushmori, Basil, and welcome to Nyowani Kitara. We’ll be asking you a few questions about the competition and your coming opponents, if that’s all right with you.

BSC: Of course. Go ahead.

PTsNA: Your previous Copa Rushmori campaign ended in a disappointing manner, with Pridnestrovia failing to advance from the group stage for the first time in four Copas. Given that the expectations for this team to challenge for the title are significantly high, have you made any changes to your approach this time around to make sure that we remain in contention this time around?

BSC: As far as tactics go, I haven't changed a lot. I know that my game plan is an effective one for the team I have in hand right now. Luck wasn't on our side two years ago, but that shouldn't be an issue for us moving forward. I've made tweaks to my plans which will hopefully minimize the number of times that we will have to rely on luck to get the result that we want.

PTsNA: Your new game plan will be put to the test almost immediately given that your first opponent for this Copa will be none other than Graintfjall, currently the highest ranking nation in Rushmore. How confident are you that your tweaked game plan will lead you and your team to victory over your coming opponent?

BSC: If I wasn't confident at all in my game plan or my team then I wouldn't have become a manager in the first place. I've had six years by this point to see and observe the Pridnestrovian national and mold it according to my vision to best suit the objectives set before me by the PFU [Pridnestrovian Football Union, or Pridnestrovskaya futbol'naya soyuz] when they hired me to do the job. Yes, Graintfjall may be the number one team in Rushmore right now, but at the end of the day they're just another football team like us. In a few hours, we will find out who has the better game plan to deal with the other team.

PTsNA: Thank you for your time, Basil. We will let you go back to your team now.

BSC: You're welcome.

[Eura]

EURAN FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION
Copa Rushmori 43 Squad

STAFF

Manager: Glen Merson (43, Eura)

Glen Merson watched with horror like many Eurans as another disaster unfolded when Eura failed to qualify for World Cup 93. Simultaneously, his Harkdown team were getting relegated from Gold League in their first season back for many years. But Merson’s stature was enhanced by getting them there in the first place, so the EFA thought he would be worth a punt as caretaker manager for Cup of Harmony 85 – they were blocked from making a permanent appointment while the Euran government carried out a review of the EFA during the Cup of Harmony. In line with Merson’s preferences at club level, Eura played a rather old fashioned and very Euran 4-2-2-2 formation…and it worked. Eura recovered from a poor start to the tournament to finally win it for the first time, having lost their previous three Cup of Harmony finals, defeating Eshialand. With the government review prolonged by political factors and his appointment having been vindicated for now, Merson has been offered a full year extension.

Assistant Manager: Roland Hopkins (47, Eura)

Merson initially kept on Rose’s assistant Roland Hopkins for the duration of the Cup of Harmony but has decided to retain Hopkins for as long as he has the role.

STYLE AND PERMISSIONS

Style Modifier: +3

My opponent, if they RP first, may do the following:

Choose my goalscorers – YES
Godmod scoring events – YES
RP injuries to my players – YES
Godmod injuries to my players – YES (But only how the injury happens, not the extent of the injury)
Hand out yellow cards to my players – YES
Hand out red cards to my players – YES
Godmod other events – YES, provided you keep events within the realms of realism, so no deaths etc.

SQUAD
Shirt number – name (F if female) – position – age – international caps – international goals – club

Goalkeepers

1 – Tom Hammond - GK - 27 – 51 caps - Directus

13 – John Hewitt – GK – 29 – 23 caps - Farrenton Athletic

30 – Sam Norman – GK – 24 – 1 cap - Spartangrad

Defenders

2 – Ana Mason (F) - RWB - 28 – 76 caps – 6 goals - Spartangrad

3 – Lucy Almwood (F) (VICE-CAPTAIN) - LB - 32 – 147 caps – 16 goals - Brinemouth (Nephara)

4 – Jack Menard (CAPTAIN) - CB – 30 – 195 caps – 9 goals - 1830 Cathair (Audioslavia)

5 – Morgan Hart – CB – 28 – 28 caps – 1 goal - Farrenton Athletic

15 – Kevin Sherwood - CB - 28 – 117 caps – 3 goals - 1830 Cathair (Audioslavia)

19 - Quentin Phillips - CB - 27 – 54 caps – 1 goal - Holdenberg

21 – Kingsley Mills – RWB – 26 – 3 caps – 0 goals - Makosile United (Vilita)

23 – Molly Taylor (F) – LWB/LB – 25 – 5 caps – 0 goals - CF Outineau (Kelssek)

25 – Martin Pearce - CB - 25 – 14 caps – 0 goals - Starling (Nephara)

27 – Jack Bedford – CB – 28 – 3 caps – 0 goals - Revolutionaries

Midfielders

6 - Jermaine Gates - CDM/CM - 27 – 78 caps – 4 goals - Directus

7 – Adam Woodman – LW – 30 – 122 caps – 42 goals - Directus

8 – Oscar Vincent - CM – 28 – 108 caps – 16 goals - Holdenberg

11 – Owen James - RW/LW – 26 – 54 caps – 18 goals - Chromatik (Chromatika)

12 – Dean Barnes – RAM/RW – 23 – 24 caps – 3 goals - Directus

16 – George Stewart – CM – 31 – 52 caps – 3 goals - Raynor City United (Valanora)

18 – Ben West – AM – 26 – 32 caps – 7 goals - Falourr

20 – Marvin Cole - CDM/CM - 23 – 15 caps – 0 goals - Rene Skae (Farfadillis)

22 – Robert Marshall – AM – 27 – 31 caps – 5 goals - Oakstone

24 – Ed Clarke - CM/CAM - 27 – 12 caps – 1 goal - Unioneers

28 – Flora Brown [F] – CM – 28 – 37 caps – 1 goal - Sabrefell Moths (Nephara)

29 – Trent Roberts – LM – 27 – 0 caps – 0 goals - Spartangrad

Forwards

9 – Alex Sharp - ST – 25 – 71 caps – 31 goals - 1830 Cathair (Audioslavia)

10 – Sophie Singh (F) - AM/ST - 26 – 82 caps – 35 goals - Chromatik (Chromatika)

14 – Kate Archer (F) – ST – 26 – 4 caps – 3 goals - Crossroads (Chromatika)

17 – Tess Miller (F) - AM/ST - 22 – 14 caps – 5 goals - Brinemouth (Nephara)

26 – Owen Holden – ST – 23 – 3 caps – 1 goal - Brigham

Preferred starting lineup
Note: this does not take into account suspensions, injuries or any other change.

GK - 1. T Hammond
RWB – 2. A Mason
RCB - 4. J Menard
LCB – 5. M Hart
LWB – 3. L Almwood
RCM - 6. J Gates
LCM - 8. O Vincent
RW - 11. O James
LW – 7. A Woodman
RS - 10. S Singh
LS – 9. A Sharp

Player Roles

Squad Captain: Jack Menard
Vice-Captain: Lucy Almwood
Direct free kicks: Lucy Almwood (Left footed), Sophie Singh (Right footed)
Indirect free kicks: Lucy Almwood (Left footed), Sophie Singh (Right footed)
Right corner: Sophie Singh (Right footed), Lucy Almwood (Left footed)
Left corner: Sophie Singh (Right footed), Lucy Almwood (Left footed)
Penalties: 1. Alex Sharp 2. Lucy Almwood 3. Sophie Singh 4. Oscar Vincent 5. Owen James

Stadium

Eura play their international home games at the Bastion Arena, the 110,000 capacity all-seater stadium at the heart of Eura's capital.

Kits

[Graintfjall]

Yuezhou – 1 (1)
Jiang (45+3’), Lu (72’)

Græntfjall – 5 (3)
Hanif; Hermione (53’) (88’ Ayaan ), Eyvar (11’), Asbjørn, Jan; Rebekka (55’ Danny ), Kæja (14’) (65’ Sara V ), Lotte (38’) (55’ Vanessa ), Sara K (c) (35’) (65’ Varða ); Járngrímur (45’ Joel ), Röskvi (73’ pen.)

Younger. Browner. Queerer.
A changing team reflects a changing nation

Less old, less white, less Catholic. Ingþór Auðbjörnsson’s squad for Copa Rushmori 43 may be the most diverse Græntfjaller national team ever named – but as last year’s census comes into focus, it could also be seen to accurately reflect an increasingly diverse nation. The results of the 2033 census show a nation that is younger and increasingly racially diverse; and, explaining both changes, the share of the national population who are immigrants or children of immigrants is far greater than ever. Fewer Græntfjallers identify with Veridian Catholicism than at any point in any previous census, while non-Catholic Christian denominations and Islam have seen sharp increases. More Græntfjallers identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual than ever before. And those trends seem to be matched in Thor’s squad. Two Muslims and a Jewish player, two Kamdyr and two people born overseas; players who identify as gay, lesbian, and bisexual, all will be making the trip to Nyowani Kitara. There’s still room for a few BFGs, but the conception of the ‘G’ is changing forever.

Perhaps most illustrative of the change is that it took more than a decade of international football for any non-white player to represent the Snow Wolves. Now, if Amandara, Vanessa and Jasmijn were to join Hanif, Hermione or Ayaan, and Erin on the field – a distinct possibility given the change to the use of 5 substitutions per game – the Snow Wolves would be fielding a team that would be majority non-White Græntfjaller.* Also striking, for a team whose last CR squad had an average age of over 27 and featured no players below the age of 23, is the inclusion of seven players under the age 23, including teenager Hrútur Melkíorsson. The dramatic shift reflects strong campaigns in recent international youth football, including the Di Bradini Cup and Copa Rushmori Juvenil, and the ageing out of some of Græntfjaller’s older talismans.

Græntfjall’s general record on diversity has been under scrutiny for years after a damning Culture Ministry report on “systemic racism” in youth sports infrastructure, though to date ice hockey has born the brunt of the criticism. Other sports, such as volleyball and basketball, have adapted more swiftly to the country’s changing demographics and incorporated players of color faster than have football. The issue first came to prominence during a heated Cup of Harmony encounter with the Sonnelian Quemorr Isles, where cephalophobic abuse by Græntfjaller fans was condemned. But few players were willing to speak out, and criticism of Græntfjall’s attitudes on race and religion generally came from outside sources, such as Montvertanesque defender Amadou Duret and Eastfield Lodge midfielder Lalo Allred. Maigburg faced heavy fines as KG tried to rein in fan behavior, fearing international action, which duly came when the IFCF levied a competition ban that deprived GPL teams of needed television rights revenue, in response to KG’s failure to address Islamophobic, xenophobic and racist chanting from fans.

For some, then, this new look team represents a more positive vision for Græntfjall’s future. “From the Kitaran Crisis to the Verdean Civil War to the Steinaux terror attacks and Græntfjaller War on Terror, Græntfjall has not covered itself in glory on these issues,” says sociology professor Marsa Arinbjörnsdóttir, “But there is something to be said for the image of young Græntfjallers of all races and ethnicities, religions and creeds, genders and sexualities, coming together to play football.” Others are less convinced. “The national team composition is a poor metric for assessing assimilation,” says Rahim Mizarsson, spokesperson for the Græntfjaller Campaign Against Islamophobia and Racism. “At grassroots level, there is still endemic discrimination, a complete lack of representation. There is not a single non-white coach in the entire Græntfjaller professional football pyramid. Young immigrants and children of immigrants still face overwhelming obstacles in attaining academy spots. One extra brown face on the NT doesn’t do much for tens of thousands of young players being denied the opportunity they deserve.”

Thor and his team have had little to say on what is clearly still a sensitive subject. In response to comments that the team was “browner than ever”, Eyvar Mathiasson joked that that wasn’t the case because his central defense partner Asbjørn Vilbjörnsson “counted twice”. (Vilbjörnsson, a supporter of the Kick Them Out campaign, which should definitely not be confused with the Kick It Out campaign, smiled silently throughout the press conference.) Hermione Hui said she didn’t think her identity “mattered at all” in why she was picked, while Hanif Anwar said when asked whether becoming the first Muslim player to be a starter for the Snow Wolves was an honor that “becoming the regular starter is the part that’s an honor”. Mühlrich striker Luxolo Zaminkosisson Mpumlwana meanwhile posted on social media that despite the praise zero of those selected were “black”, and criticized the government’s investigation into the finances of Græntfjaller Black Lives Matter.

Responding to the broader census trends, Prime Minister Kaija Michaelsdóttir said she recognized the census painted a “complex portrait of a complex nation” and that “nuance” was needed in discussing trends. Such nuance was notably absent from the press release by new National Democratic Front leader Skorri Sveinbjörnsson, who charged that the census demonstrates that “two decades of open borders have been a demographic disaster for native Græntfjallers”. Government spokespersons dismissed the comments in public as “unfair and uncharitable”, while in private, sources familiar with the Cabinet’s thinking said that Sveinbjörnsson was displaying the behavior of “a swivel-eyed loon”. The Order of Græntfjaller Maccabæns meanwhile highlighted the “concerning” decline in Jewish ethnic identification in the census, almost all down to emigration to Ha’Yarok, which they attributed to a “deeply troubling rise in antisemitism in public life”.

While immigration has been attributed for the changing demographics on age, race and ethnicity, and religion, it doesn’t explain every aspect of Græntfjall’s transition from the 20th to the 21st century. LGB identification, identification as non-binary (after years of political debate, the inclusion of a non-binary option under gender identification was included in the census, but no additional ‘third genders’ were recognized) and identification as transgendered (which was not officially recognized in the census but saw an organized campaign to force a change, with over 50,000 people ‘writing in’ their transgender status in the employment information, the only section of the census that contains a write-in option) does not track with immigration; indeed, all three were significantly lower among non-White Græntfjallers than among those identifying as White Græntfjaller. Sana Emiliosdóttir, who is openly lesbian, said that Græntfjaller society “still had a lot to do” on LGB rights but that she was “very encouraged” by some recent measures taken by the government, including equalizing full parity in pension rights for same-sex partners.

For football journalist Olle Tobiasson, though, the biggest change evident in the national squad had nothing to do with census categories. “One, just one, player on the entire squad plays for a GPL team,” he said. “It’s great that Græntfjallers are sought out by foreign leagues, and understandable that several playing in Pasarga have been personally picked by Thor; Chromatika and Nephara are wonderful cauldrons for the development of talent. But it must be concerning that so few international standard players want to stay here and it’s a very worrying indication for the future of the GPL. And it’s cyclical, because now those who do stay won’t be playing against the best, and won’t have the chance to develop themselves.” Erin Marshlily, the defensive midfielder for Maigburg’s Cat-Bears who is the lone holdout, admitted she too “was thinking” about a move overseas next season “if things in the GPL keep heading the way they are”. Talented young Græntfjallers leaving the country may be the most worrying demographic trend of all reflected in this new squad.

* White Græntfjaller is a census category which specifically excludes Kamdyr and Hómin. In other countries, Jasmijn and especially Erin might pass as or be considered ‘white’.

Also in the paper:

• NEWS: Racial wealth disparities revealed by census “a matter deserving thoughtful reflection” according to Prime Minister
• BUSINESS: Airline baggage handler strikes disrupt Græntfjall’s busiest airport
• POLITICS: Left-slate finances “in disarray”, auditors report
• OBITUARY: Stefánný Hákonsdóttir, long serving MT, died doing what she loved: defrauding party accounts
• SPORT: Snow Wolves crush United Republics in one-sided friendly

Lineup for MD1:

[South Jeolerina]

South Jeolerina's 23-player squad for CR XLIII

Goalkeepers
#1 - Celsus Becket, 36 (M) - GK - Hangshire FC
#12 - Alèxia Mahoney, 33 (M) - GK - Manclester City
#23 - Peadar Reinders, 35 (M) - GK - Holy Kangarsta FF

Defenders
#3 - Ayokunle Christian, 33 (M) - LB - Holy Kangarsta FF
#4 - Den Benjaminson, 36 (M) - CB - Manclester United
#5 - Adolf Stenger, 34 (M) - CB - Manclester City
#2 - Lenz Kowalczyk, 34 (M) - RB - Hangshire FC
#14 - Ayokunle Christian, 33 (M) - LB - Holy Kangarsta FF
#15 - Campbell Belo, 35 (M) - CB - Manclester United
#16 - Hartmut Garnet, 35 (M) - CB - Hangshire FC
#13 - Jokovor Quick, 31 (M) - RB - Manclester City

Midfielders
#6 - Christianne Årud, 33 (F) - DCM/CB - Hangshire FC
#8 - Carley Van Bokhoven, 31 (F) - CM/DM - Manclester United
#17 - Leontiy Caulfield, 35 (M) - DCM/CM - Holy Kangarsta FF
#19 - Tarmo Hoefler, 35 (M) - DCM/CB - FC Tyrani
#11 - Marino Barros, 33 (M) - CF/LW - Holy Kangarsta FF
#10 - Tilisia MacLean, 30 (M) - ACM/CM - Manclester City
#7 - Cyneburga London, 34 (M) - RM/RW - Manclester City

Strikers
#22 - Teodor Quick, 33 (M) - CF/LW - Manclester City
#21 - Love Vestri, 37 (F) - ACM/RM - Holy Kangarsta FF
#18 - Kazimierz Beckett, 36 (M) - CF/RW - Manclester City
#9 - Györgyi Lomidze, 35 (M) - CF - Hangshire FC
#20 - Dragoș Lindsay, 37 (M) - CF - Daris Si Solam

(#1 - #11 are starters, remaining are substitutes)

Eetu Eichel, 65 continues to take the reins for this upcoming Copa Rushmori. The manager was appointed as manager following the formation of the South Jeolerina football team. Previously, he served as a co-manager of Manclester City alongside Tashir Haines, leading them to a strong performance over his 20-year tenure between Season 1 and Season 20. During his joint tenure, he won 2 GFL titles, 3 Liga Hallirina titles, as well as 3 Royal Gothanita Isles cup, which is a remarkable achievement in a system where talent is spread among many big clubs. He favours a very defensive strategy, supported by the fact that the team has produced multiple defenders which are regular players for the TGI national team, and the country likes a "safety-first" approach in football.

Demonym: Gothanitan (Referring to people of the Gothanita Isles in general); Jeoleri/Jeolerinas (Refering to people of South Jeolerina)
Style Mod: -1.753
Formations: 4-2-3-1 (Standard), 4-1-2-1-2 (Alternate)

I give permission for opponents to:
- Pick my players and substitutes, with preference to the starters in bold.
- Pick my goalscorers, RP and godmod my goals, subject to realism.
- Hand Yellow Cards to my players
- Hand Red Cards to my players, subjected to a maximum of (1 + how many red cards your players get) per game.
- RP/Godmod Injuries to my players, subject to realism. You describe the extent of injury, I determine the severity.
- RP/Godmod any other events, excluding any pandemic-related RPs.

[Nyowani Kitara]

Expectations high for the Copa Rushmori on Home soil


Nyowani Kitara players celebrate an Owino Odede winner against Tikariot at World Cup 93

DEWAYO, NYOWANI KITARA- Historically, Nyowani Kitara has underperformed at the Copa Rushmori. They find themselves as one of those nations who have clearly found much more success in WCC competition than the CR- and that is clear from the rankings for both competitions. Nyowani Kitara finds themselves, almost incredibly, in the top 10 in the multiverse in the KPB rankings, after having made the knockout stages at back to back World Cups. Yet, in the Rushmori rankings, the team sits at just 14th in Rushmore. Quite a discrepancy. "We want to ensure that, in front of our own fans here, that we can make a run that can make the country proud." Said the team's manager, Liang Wei.

And with a team that is certainly getting older, with the original generation of players possibly reaching their final international tournaments, it will be interesting to see how it can get done. Many crucial players. Armoni Okombo, who has just been voted the Testiculos LB of the year(widely known as the #1 LB in all of football) has retired from the NT following World Cup 93. The longtime elite LB and team captain wants to continue to extend his club career, and now going into his upper 30s, cannot take the wear and tear of the modern left back position in international football. But so many familiar faces for Nyowani Kitara fans do not have much more to give to this national team.

We might be soon entering an era of change. Wang Jiahui, a crucial star winger for this NT ever since he switched allegiance from Yuezhou to Nyowani Kitara during the civil war, is 34 years old. Olaf Svante, the other starting winger, is 33 years old. Their #9, Odede Angonga, the all-time leading goalscorer for Nyowani Kitara, also sits at 33 years old. Not to mention their goalkeeper, Odour Bigombe, the longtime #1 in net, is 36 years old. "Some people may say that we're old and creaky, that we're past our prime." Wang Jiahui told reporters. "I say to them- watch us on the pitch. While we assuredly won't be playing at CR 50 or World Cup 100, I think we're fully capable of going out and kicking ass in this group."

Nyowani Kitara will open the tournament with their toughest match- a game against 17th ranked Darmen, who are in Pot 2. "The Revolutionary Grounds are going to be overflowing with supporters- I expect Darmen to walk into an environment unlike one they've ever seen before. This is a country that feels that we can taste football success on the horizon- we're building towards greater and greater things. This tournament is a fantastic way to build towards that." Said the team's brand new captain, and all-time leading goalscorer, Odede Angonga. "These regional tournaments, they're crucial- they get you used to high-stakes, tournament, international football, and they're the most interesting games against your neighbors."

[Nyowani Kitara]

First Cutoff of the Copa Rushmori

It's Matchday 1! We all have high hopes for this CR, right? This is the one where all of our dreams will be achieved. This is your year!

MD1 RP Prompt: Tell me about your nation's capitol city. Why was it chosen to be the capitol? What's the culture of the city? What makes it unique? What makes it fun? Is it a young city, an old city, an expensive place to live? Any and all details are welcome.

As a disclaimer, there is no rule that you must follow RP prompts. You can diverge from or completely ignore the prompt. There is no bonus for responding to the RP prompt, nor is there a penalty for ignoring the RP prompt.

Matchday 1 Scores

Group Dei Ormache
Marianne 0–4 Southwest Eastnorth
Nyowani Kitara 3–2 Darmen

  Group Dei Ormache                           Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Southwest Eastnorth                           1   1  0  0    4   0  +4    3
2 Nyowani Kitara                                1   1  0  0    3   2  +1    3
3 Darmen                                        1   0  0  1    2   3  −1    0
4 Marianne                                      1   0  0  1    0   4  −4    0

Group Lee Sharp
Klakahollin 1–3 Oberour Ar Moro
The Askari Union 3–3 Tikariot

  Group Lee Sharp                             Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Oberour Ar Moro                               1   1  0  0    3   1  +2    3
2 The Askari Union                              1   0  1  0    3   3   0    1
  Tikariot                                      1   0  1  0    3   3   0    1
4 Klakahollin                                   1   0  0  1    1   3  −2    0

Group Robin Hjik
Yuezhou 1–2 Ketiou
Gatchingerrak Union 0–0 República Guanacasteca

  Group Robin Hjik                            Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Ketiou                                        1   1  0  0    2   1  +1    3
2 Gatchingerrak Union                           1   0  1  0    0   0   0    1
  República Guanacasteca                        1   0  1  0    0   0   0    1
4 Yuezhou                                       1   0  0  1    1   2  −1    0

Group Ausilio Calabrese
Ceni 1–2 San Isidro Labrador
Brookstation 1–4 Cassadaigua

  Group Ausilio Calabrese                     Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Cassadaigua                                   1   1  0  0    4   1  +3    3
2 San Isidro Labrador                           1   1  0  0    2   1  +1    3
3 Ceni                                          1   0  0  1    1   2  −1    0
4 Brookstation                                  1   0  0  1    1   4  −3    0

Group Michael Brandon
Elmyia 1–1 South Jeolerina
Pasarga 5–4 Eastfield Lodge

  Group Michael Brandon                       Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Pasarga                                       1   1  0  0    5   4  +1    3
2 Elmyia                                        1   0  1  0    1   1   0    1
  South Jeolerina                               1   0  1  0    1   1   0    1
4 Eastfield Lodge                               1   0  0  1    4   5  −1    0

Group Stacie Kerrigan
Sargossa 1–0 Kirungabi
Gnejs 2–0 Polar Islandstates

  Group Stacie Kerrigan                       Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Gnejs                                         1   1  0  0    2   0  +2    3
2 Sargossa                                      1   1  0  0    1   0  +1    3
3 Kirungabi                                     1   0  0  1    0   1  −1    0
4 Polar Islandstates                            1   0  0  1    0   2  −2    0

Group Ralf Álfarsson
Græntfjall 3–2 Pridnestrovia
New Gelderland 4–5 Naixi

  Group Ralf Álfarsson                        Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Naixi                                         1   1  0  0    5   4  +1    3
2 Græntfjall                                    1   1  0  0    3   2  +1    3
3 New Gelderland                                1   0  0  1    4   5  −1    0
4 Pridnestrovia                                 1   0  0  1    2   3  −1    0

Group Armoni Okombo
Schutzenphalia and West Ruhntuhnkuhnland 0–1 Cabo Azure
Thibaea 2–4 Valladares

  Group Armoni Okombo                         Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Valladares                                    1   1  0  0    4   2  +2    3
2 Cabo Azure                                    1   1  0  0    1   0  +1    3
3 Schutzenphalia and West Ruhntuhnkuhnland      1   0  0  1    0   1  −1    0
4 Thibaea                                       1   0  0  1    2   4  −2    0

[Cassadaigua]

Huikang wins debut,
by Caitlyn Dufresne, Concord Heights Times

For the first three games of the Copa Rushmori, the Fillies will be playing in the city of Karora, at the North Rock Stadium. The facility seats 34,000, and will be hosting each of the games played in the group named after Ausilio Calabrese for the first three matchdays. Cassadagan fans knew that they had to jump on the opportunity to snag tickets, especially with the team's bye day coming on matchday 2. It is a perfect scenario for those who wanted to take the time to get to know post-civil war Nyowani Kitara. This city has a nice location on the shores of Lake Viljan, so why not take the day in between to enjoy some time on the beach and getting to know to culture of this nation. Personally, I am feeling very spoiled by the Concord Heights Times with the beautiful views from the hotel that they set me up in.

There were two matchday one scores that caught my attention right away, and many of our great fans certainly caught on to it too. Not only did Chen Huikang win his debut for the Fillies as he begins the next chapter of his career after being dismissed by the YFA in Yuezhou, but the 2-1 victory by Ketiou over Yuezhou also had people talking. Sure, no one is going to say that Elaine Ashdown's career with the Dragons is about to be a failure, but for one day, Chen's supporters will have something to talk about on social media and make memes over. Following the victory, when that other result was mentioned, Chen was very diplomatic, "I want nothing but the best for my country, and the players that play for them." Which is understandable, we wouldn't want to see Brittany Byers take a new job somewhere and suddenly act as though she doesn't remember where she came from. Still, our own fans will have fun for at least one day over these results.

As for the team, the attacking tactics were on display right away, and Lexi McGregor was all over the place. It's about time that the player who declared, at 16, that she was the best player in the country (and was not just joking) was given the keys to car, so to speak and lead this team. She has been a part of the national team before and has had some starts, but never where she was declared as the go to player. During that time, she has been very impressive, and many have called for her to be given as much playing time as possible, but with the other players at her position, it wasn't a role that was going to be handed to her so easily. In time, it looks like her chemistry with Shannon Cunningham has grown, and the two of them have only had consistent, lengthy minutes together on the junior team. And Lexi wasn't exactly taking the RTC and Di Bradini Cups are seriously as one would want her too. Publicly seen getting wasted on the day before games, and then even being quoted that wins and losses really didn't matter that much as long as she was having a good time, McGregor's character issues only grew. On the flip side was Cunningham, the studious forward who has a work ethic that is off the charts. They're not going to hang out with one another after games, more than likely, but on the field, they need to be able to work together, and that is something that has been coming along pretty nicely. Then there is Lacey Sherwood, the other attacker who's personality is somewhere between McGregor and Cunningham. All three of these players are still eligible to play in a Di Bradini Cup (it is not known if they actually will still play in the upcoming one). Chen Huikang knows that Lexi McGregor is a big part of the future of the team, and feels that any drama that may come about with her can be worked on, "From what I have seen out of Lexi is that she is very passionate," he began, "CASE told me from the start that she does practice and train hard, and that has been true. She's a young player who's biggest flaw is probably a massive amount of self confidence. But we have talked about things, and I know that she wants things to be successful here. We'll take her God-given talent and exceptional vision for the field and anticipation of plays and work out anything else."

While McGregor had a strong game, many eyes will be on the play of the midfield, since that is where the team's biggest struggles have been of late. With new personnel, and youngsters on the way, the question that is on the mind of many is whether or not players like Kaitlin Millikan and Jenna Stokley are starting lineup caliber or if the team really needs to tell time to hurry up and get the Engles and Rachel Wyman out on the field. Or else, they may have to have their development rushed, and I really don't think that CASE wants to do that. Fortunately, for at least one game against Brookstation, Millikan and Stokley looked really good out there, and the one returnee, Krystal Sherwin, played like herself. Sherwin is never going to be a playmaker, that's not want got her on the team. She is best in a defensive role, and then sneaking her way into an attack when the defense has their focus on other people. Therefore, it needs to be Millikan and Stokley that serve as the go-to players there, and Kaitlin was especially strong.

The Fillies took control of this match right from the start, not looking like a team that wanted to be conservative. We should have expected that out of a Chen Huikang coached team, and he definitely would want to make a great first impression about the type of manager he was. It would take twelve minutes for the first goal to be scored, but not before the pink and black had other opportunities to stick one in the net, only to be stopped by 1830 Cathair's Lance Logan. This goal was scored by McGregor, showing the brilliant footwark that Starksville United fans have come to love. Along with that, Lexi did well to make the defense worry about whether or not she was going to pass to Shannon Cunningham, and the way that these two seemed to anticipate what the other had planned is an example of their growing, on-field chemistry. McGregor did one of her patented backflips after the goal, and the Fillies were on their way. Eleven minutes later, Kaitlin Millikan set up Lacey Sherwood to make it 2-0.

Cassadaigua controlled the pace of play for most of the first half, but the Dreamers were at their best in the final fifteen minutes of the first half, and would get themselves a goal by the captain, 32-year old veteran Leon Michael Robes, to make it 2-1 and that is where we were at halftime. Brookstation fans had to like where they stood at that point, using the proverbial "it could have been a lot worse" mindset.

But, for them, it would get a lot worse, as the Fillies scored a pair of goals in the first ten minutes of the second half to put the game away. Shannon Cunningham, assisted by Lexi McGregor, scored in the 49th minute, and then their roles were reversed in the 54th minute on Lexi's second of the game. It appeared as though Lexi picked up a hat trick in the 69th minute, but was ruled, correctly, to be offsides. Still, it was a great display of skill that she showed on the field, and those around her certainly made it happen. Lauren Engle did get into the game in the 79th minute, but did not really do anything of note. In this game, she didn't have to as the team was dominant from start to finish against a pretty good opponent. That wasn't lost on McGregor after the game, "The guy (goalie Lance Logan) plays for 1830 Cathair, probably the best domestic team in the entire world, and we were all over him. I was a step away from having a hat trick in this game. I think we have all earned the right to have a relaxing bye day!"

It will be up to the coaching staff to make sure Lexi and company do not pick up any bad habits on their upcoming bye day, but they could probably spend at least one day soaking it all in. San Isidro Labrador will be waiting for us on the other side of this break.

For complete coverage of all of our games, and throughout the Copa Rushmori, be sure to download the official Concord Heights Times App, where there is plenty of exclusive content, including a nine-minute face to face interview that I had with Shannon Cunningham before the competition began, talking about her unexpected rise to stardom, and playing in Chromatika. You can get more than sports coverage on the app, so if you wanted to do something like learn why Concord Heights is the capital of the nation, you can do that on the app!

[Republique Mariannoise]

[Gnejs]

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8

Part 9: A decade or two of intermission

Segeltorp is really not that different from Finntorp, although the locals would most likely vehemently disagree. Both cities are roughly similar in size and geography; they could even trace their founding as fishing settlements to around the same point in time. There was - and still is - a fierce rivalry between the two biggest cities in the north. It was a quarrel of status, with both claiming to be the «capital» of the north. Such a statement was hard to objectively determine though. Being the seat of a County Municipality, with politicians and administration, and/or a County State Governor’s Office was often used as a tiebreaker in such local disputes, but both cities were such seats, because they belonged to different counties. Even their main sports associations - including the biggest football teams - were founded within a few years of each other.

The matchups between Finntorp IK and IFK Segeltorp in Allgnejsan - where they had been more or less permanent fixtures since the inaugural season of 1924 - were always heated contests, and for many years they were hard to separate based on results, both of them usually lingering in the mid-table. The great Finntorp era - with him in charge - of the late 1980’s and the 1990’s had changed all that though, and at the start of the new millennium the hierarchy was firm in the eyes of mostly everyone, with IFK Segeltorp decisively being the little brother, and by proxy so was also the city the team was named for, although you’d struggle to get any Segeltorpian to admit as much.

It was mostly coincidence that led to them relocating to Segeltorp. He had finished up his degree, and the city was hiring. He could’ve probably gotten a similar job with the City of Finntorp, or maybe something at Ecpatia University or a government agency, but he also felt a need to get away. The team had had a string of more unfortunate results the last couple of seasons with him in charge, and even more so after he had left. But nobody blamed him for any of that, the problem was rather the opposite and he was once again viewed as a sort of messianic figure that could offer salvation; the disappointments of his last seasons in charge apparently forgotten.

He longed for a greater sense of anonymity when walking the streets, while he at the same time had no wish to leave the north he had grown so fond of. Ane had been reluctant to move at first. Being a native Finntorpian, she harbored a natural skepticism against «the other» city, but he managed to convince her to try it, and she had no trouble securing a teaching position at one of the more prominent schools in the north of downtown. The kids were opposed to the move, of course, reluctant to leave their home and friends. But kids are adaptable creatures and they soon made new friends and came to love their new house on the east side of town just as much as the old one.

His new job was a junior position within the City’s Department of Finance and their Fiscal Control Unit, and he was to work with the yearly budgets. He’d always abhorred maths, so spending his days compiling numbers, calculating costs and benefits, filling out cells and columns and working with various scenario models was perhaps not where one would’ve expected him to end up. He did struggle at first, initially just barely able to hide his panic at the thought of performing the kind of numbers tasks he was expected to master. But he quickly came to love the concepts of spreadsheets.

Because more or less everything he was expected to do, someone else had done just that - or something fairly similar - before him. Meaning there were sheets upon sheets with old calculations and formulas lying around that he could study and use. For example, when someone asked him to distribute the budget cut sector-wise and proportionally with the average sector budgetary framework for the last three years, he was completely blank, until he found one of Olaf’s old spreadsheets from an earlier year, that showed him how. He was a quick learner and didn’t need much time to absorb the collected knowledge hidden in old sheets.

As the years went by he grew into a key part of the Unit and in 2006 he was tasked to work with implementing a new resource allocation system for the boroughs of the city. Following an organizational reform a few years earlier, the city had been divided into nine administrative boroughs, much like Port Kejm and other big cities had been for a long time. The new boroughs were responsible for providing health, social and care services to their residents, and the budget framework per service area adopted by the City Council were to be distributed among the boroughs based on demographical and socioeconomic statistics, to try and capture likely target groups for borough services and where these groups resided.

The aim was to construct a system that made sure all boroughs would have equal opportunity to provide services to their residents, because there was a variation between different residents' needs for borough services. The oldest and the youngest residents, naturally, were those who used the services to a particularly large extent, so a borough where the elderly made up a large share of the population would obviously need a bigger cut of the Health Care Allocation than a borough mainly made up of young adults, and so on.

In general, the outer boroughs had a larger proportion of children and the elderly than those close to the city centre, but factors such as education, income, housing situation and health situation were also known to have an impact on service needs, and roughly speaking it was the southern boroughs and parts of the city centre that had the biggest challenges in this regard. He found it very interesting and rewarding researching potential indicators, and while he would’ve struggled to actually construct the system from scratch himself, they could rely on a similar preexisting system from Briskeby that they only needed to modify to build their own. The system they ended up with achieved support from across the political spectrum, was deemed fair and legitimate by the boroughs, and at its core is still used to this day.

He lost both his parents in 2007. His mother had remarried at the start of the millennium, and moved out into The Interior with her new husband to live on his family homestead. They were based in the northern parts, on the high plains where the cloudberries grow, and she visited him, Ane and the kids regularly. She lived six beautiful years the Interior way before she died of food poisoning after eating spoiled elk meat one winter. His father never remarried and instead moved south to Norrholmia to live out his retirement comfortably. He didn’t visit them as much, but the family usually travelled down to visit him during school holidays, something that brought much joy to all parties. His father’s heart gave out on the first day of spring, a few months after his mother’s passing. He buried them both in Port Kejm.

Most of his free time - the time off work not dedicated to his family, like late nights, early mornings and during his daily commute - in these intermittent years were devoted to writing fan-fiction sequels to the grim high fantasy series A Song of Slab and Gravel, a story spanning four novels set in an old island world shrouded in darkness, where stones in themselves and the ancient arts of stonecarving are revered above else. While the supposed forceful magic qualities of the stones and stonecarving are seemingly lost to the tides of times, or simply myth to begin with, the slivers of magic still remaining continue to be a potent source of status and power.

He had loved those books since he was old enough to read, and had always harbored a dream of continuing the story. The first book, The Stonecarver’s Heir, kicks off the story of a young girl who discovers she has the ability to hear the stones speak - something mostly thought long lost - and becomes embroiled in the ongoing struggle for dominance between rival houses and the powerful Stonecarvers’ Guild. It is probably the most widely read, but it’s not until The Mating Rituals of Stone Worms, the second novel in the series, that we get properly introduced to the mysterious Stone Worms of ancient days (allegedly the source of stone magic as such, and a lasting Union cultural icon). The second and third book - The Scions of Ore - chronicles the beginning and duration of the devastating war between the great houses, and have been much acclaimed for their gritty and innovative battle sequences, whereas the fourth and final book - A Dream of Pebbles - delves into the political and social aftermath of the great war in a world where the Stone Worms are returning and magic truly re-emerging.

He had always felt the ending was lacking, and of course it was, because those dreams of pebbles were never meant to be the true end; the author had plans of at least two more books at the time of his tragic death in the late 1940’s. What role would the revamped Guild play in post-war society? Would humanity be able to truly harness the powers of the Stone Worms? What of the conquered East? Would they rise? Who was that mysterious Wanderer who guided the protagonists towards the end? He wrote hundreds of pages between 2002 and 2012, and subsequently self-published a somewhat edited novel called The Return of The Rock in 2014. He relied heavily on old Gnejsian folk tales for plot points and moral lessons, focused on military strategy over political games and completely omitted the kind of highly explicit and morally questionable sex scenes that the original works were so famous for. It gained some buzz and traction, mostly due to his name, but was panned by critics and deemed an unworthy continuation of the Saga.

He had no interest in the domestic football scene during these years, and was completely oblivious to the «Northern Shift» at around 2009 and onwards, where IFK Segeltorp developed into a top Allgnejsan team while Finntorp IK fell even deeper down the hole and had to fend off relegation several times. It didn’t mean he had lost all interest for the game, but instead he started looking abroad and for the first time since the 1980’s he started following the World Cup cycles. He studied the different big teams and the plethora of playing styles employed outside Union borders, and took a particular liking to teams like Audioslavia and Ko-oren, finding it funny that something very similar to what he’d been championing and implementing all these years already had a name Internationally: post-football.

This was also a time when the Union’s governing football body - PUFF - cautiously started turning their eyes towards the «outside world». While the official discourse had long been one of Union exceptionalism and competing internationally deemed «below» the Union, it was known it mostly came down to self-conscious insecurities and hurt pride lingering since the initial lackluster attempts at competing in the World Cup during the 1980’s. Slowly, the discourse shifted, and at around 2017 talk emerged from PUFF about fielding a national team.

It didn’t come to be until the 40th Copa Rushmori in 2020, but when PUFF decided to truly start developments in 2019, they called him to ask if he would interested in coaching a revamped and defensively minded Dandelions. He said yes.

[Oberour Ar Moro]

Mychel de Guine-Vile, Jean-Pierre Asce and Peterne de Courbueil each scored against Klakahollin, leading the Dragoons to a victory that gives them sole first-place in Group Lee Sharp.

---

A History of License Plates in the Dominion: Part One

License plates may date back to a few years after the first automobiles started to drive around the Dominion of Oberour Ar Moro, but the idea of registering modes of transport is much older. In the late 1300s, ships had to pay for the right to use Azoria's ports. Beginning in the mid-1400s, wagons and horses began to be registered to use city streets. After the introduction of bicycles, many cities attempted to clamp down and demanded that they be registered for a fee as well.

Self-propelled vehicles had been invented before the bicycle but were mere impractical steam-powered oddities. It was once the internal combustion engine began to shrink and improve that the true automotive era began. While the modern home of automotive manufacturing in today's Dominion is Sericia and Tylis, the Dominion's birthplace of the automotive industry was Genulca. While no companies at the turn of the 17th century were mass-producing automobiles, at one point 37 firms in Genulca were at least producing custom-built vehicles for sale.

The first automotive traffic jam was decades in the future, but the Genulcan government had begun to notice the number of automobiles on their streets, automobiles that were driving with absolute impunity. So, in 1606 Genulca introduced a Public Safety Ordinance which stated that "each motor vehicle operating within Genulca shall bear a plate with a legible and distinctive authorization number issued by the City". The automobile's owner was responsible for creating and affixing their own license plate, but the precedent was set.

In 1610, Genulca assisted their gendarmeries by standardizing the plates and expanding this small but growing tax stream. The price to register a vehicle more than tripled, but in return, Genulca would offer vehicle owners a plate manufactured by the city. Beginning in 1611, Genulca gave each vehicle owner an enamel-on-ceramic plate, issued for one year, with that vehicle's "distinctive authorization number" stamped upon it. Cities across the Dominion had followed Genulca's lead in registering vehicles and soon introduced their own standardized plates to vehicle owners.

[Southwest Eastnorth]

Pioneers peel the apples of Marianne!
source: http://www.SWENSports.swe

NYOWANI KITARA - Keon Crust had himself a day as the Southwest Eastnorth national team. The Pizzaman as he has been nicknamed, scored a hat trick in a 4-0 win over the apple lovers of Marianne. Crusts first score came a mere 15 minutes in when he took a pass from Hoyer Harbors and knocked the ball in right past Marianne keeper Zachary Courschene. A simple goal to put the pioneers in the lead. Hoyer Harbors has been the main scorer for the Pioneers but he had some issues in this game as Loïk Sirois took on the striker and kept him at bay for most of this match. After three extra minutes of gametime in the first half the game went into halftime with a 1-0 byline. It wouldn't be long before Keon Crust got goal number two when Harbors took a deep pass, but couldn't coral the ball in to make a shot so he passed it back towards Crust and Crust scored it in from the goal area. Next up for Crust was garnering an assist. He did so in the 79'th minute when he hit Barnett on a cross and gave Ulysess his first goal of the cycle! Barnett looked ecstatic too, doing a sliding celebration so powerfull you could see his mud tracks in the grass. Finally in minute 90, Crust got his trifecta! his hat trick! Keon took a cross himself this time from Sternes and thanks to an unfortunately bad read on the ball by Courschene he scored while the poor hapless Marianoise goalie dove the wrong way. Crust had a 4th goal for the team and a hat trick himself. A good performance to start off the Copa Rushmori for a team that still has to deal with Darmen and the Host Nation in future games.

Ghraham's Gold deemed "Nectar of the Gods"
source: http://www.SWENSports.swe

NYOWANI KITARA - One thing the AirBnB owners of Nyowani Kitara have noticed is a surge of beer imports into their nation. Supporters of the Southwest Eastnorth national Team have been shipping themselves large quantities of Graham's Gold Lager, a popular beer that is mostly sold in only Southwest Eastnorth. Grahams Gold has been imported in such large quantities that some grocery stores in rural Southwest Eastnorth have been suffering delays on their beer shipment's One fan interviewed about the situation said

Man i'm sorry to hear that is happening back home, but you can't have downtime at these BnB type places, with out grilling up some mini chickens and each person needs at least 4 Graham's a piece to properly expirence the SWENNIC way of cooking.

When asked about it, a PR person from Graham's Brewery stated the following

The Brewery has been getting a lot of messages and twii.tur messages about our product. There very well could bee more Graham's Gold all over Rushmore soon.

SOUTHWEST EASTNORTH - 4
Crust 14' 51' 90'
Barnett 79'

---

REPUBLIQUE MARIANNOISE - 0
NONE