Di Bradini Cup 56/U21WC77 RP And Scores Thread

[Aphrilia]

GK to FW, L to R
Aphrilia Starting XI: [4-3-3] Karnwell (C); Miller, O'Truffet, Christonson, Jackson; Trimm, Eizor, McPreston; Williams, Lacey, Evans
Tikariot Starting XI*: [4-3-3] von Yxkull ; Iturrain, Bidaurrazaga, Thorstvedt, Aguirregurreta; Muir, Prycross, Gombessa; Vercauteren**, Plasencia, Patriarca**

* = Captain unspecified.
** = Uncertain which player plays on which wing.

Their first win. Everyone on the team knew that they could win a game and had a feeling that first victory will come sooner or later.

Before the game had even began, they knew Tikariot's Snowy Owlets were going to be a tough opponent to beat. Despite losing on the first matchday, they still had that tenacity that the Junior Anchors knew they had to watch out for. It didn't help when the Snowy Owlets and their fans brought out the well-known Thunder Clap to the stadium. The team respected the tradition, but they knew better than to let it scare you... Afterall, what's a long life to live if you're afraid? Either way, Aphrilia started this match with a few switch ups, notably on the left wing, in the midfield, and amongst the full-backs. Other than that, the main roster stayed intact for this potentially deciding match up. Tikariot also brought out their starting eleven in the hopes of gaining points. With both sides looking to get things rolling, everyone knew this match would be a delightful treat.

Not even ten minutes into the game and Aphrilia had already conceded a goal. On the 9th minute to be exact, scored by Giacomo Patriarca. Aphrilia, showcasing a repeating pattern, at first struggled to get things together. But as the game progressed, the team started showing proper cohesion in the defense, attack, and the transition in between among the midfield. The first half ended with a 1 - 0 lead to the Snowy Owlets, but all of the people who were watching knew that this match had a feeling of tension within it. And that exact tension had became somewhat obvious when Kevin Lacey and Phillip Karnwell were seen arguing with each other as they headed onto the field to start the second half. Based on what was heard, apparently it was due to a chance wasted on the 37th minute. Everybody was just hoping that this tension wouldn't escalate too far.

And thankfully that small argument did not escalate any further, as Aphrilia got into their possessive system. Thanks to a trick or two pulled off by Sebastian Williams, Kevin Lacey pulled off Aphrilia's first goal of the match with an inside-the-box volley on the 70th minute which equaled the game to 1 - 1. The Junior Anchors and The Snowy Owlets continued the fight to get the win up until the 86th minute, where the tide finally shifted in favor of Aphrilia as Joshua Evans curled in a nasty shot with his weak foot, giving Aphrilia the lead with several minutes to spare. And just like that, The Junior Anchors seized their first ever international win. Media praised the result as a, "Team effort fueled result" but some were worried about team harmony and Aphrilia's system being unsuitable to the players. Manager Anthony Christwell quickly responded.

Regarding Team Harmony: "Based on previous behavior from my observation, he (Lacey) has been the only problem when it comes to the cohesion of the team largely due to his emotions. While there have been several other issues regarding the matter, most of them were able to be resolved rather quickly, if I have to say. I am more than certain that Lacey has the team's interests above his rivalry (with Christonson), and I pray that it does not bite us back in the arse."

Regarding the Tactical System: "This team has only existed for two international matches, we had no chance to test it out due to the sudden decision to form a U21 team despite there being a senior team. That (the senior team) was planned out in advance. The NAFA's choice to join the DiBradini Cup was one out of surprise, which is why this team is not used to the system. Plus, most of these players never played with each other excluding Karnwell and O'Truffet along with Fender and Ericks. But I am certain this is the tactic that we will stick to, as I believe this will work as I have seen other international teams use this possession style game from my research."

---

KL: You gotta be kidding me ain't it?

KC: It's the manager, what do you expect? We can be blunt and honest.

SO'T: True. Plus, Phil had a point with your horrendously missed chance. Mate, don't be too egotistical.

KL: It's my responsibility to score goals.

PK: It's the team's responsibility to score goals, defend the net, and win. It's not a one man game.

KL: Ugh, whatevs. So, you got those calculations?

SO'T: What calculations?

KC: I think Kev is referring to Phillip's calculation on the minimum we need to do to go through to the next round.

PK: Kennedy's right. We need at the least a draw... I hope.

KL: What the hell do you mean "I hope"?

PK: I'm not sure of the tiebreakers, so even getting a draw may be rather risky. I want a win to ensure it.

KC: If a win is what we need, we'll get it.

SO'T: Trust us, Phil. Just as we trust you, I know we can do it! I'm certain of it. Oi, Kev, do you trust Karnwell?

KL: If he's number one then I trust him. Hmph, just don't be fuckin pessimistic.

PK: Fine... If you three trust me, then I trust you all.

[TJUN-ia]

Yep. We lost 3-0.

Imre Haaland got a brace and Caspian Garberg finished the job.

We are out. We must, however, play Qasden for 3rd.

It's that simple, really. GO JAGS!

[Huayramarca]

The "Baby Condors", as some in the media have decided to christen the team, have been a strong unit during the first two matches, as they featuring a one-nil victory against TJUN-ia and a 2-4 victory against Qasden, both matches featuring spectacular performances from Nafuna Congo (hat-trick vs Qasden) and Ferguson Lijerón scoring two goals in two matches. The manager and the press are in a state of satisfaction after both games, as the feeling in both is that the Condors have a dominant team, one able to put some fight to the strongest teams in this competition, perhaps with some of the players being able to raise their hands and ask for a call-up for the Senior National Team during the Confederations Cup, which might be the ideal testing ground for Aginsogno and his plans to the future.

Speaking of the manager, the Rulandese coach has been showing some strong confidence in the team, to the point that he stated "This generation has some exciting players, the kind of players I'm eager to test during some matches as soon as possible, perhaps in the Confederations Cup or during some matches in the World Cup Qualifier. I need to involve the pkayers in matches of the highest level of pressure as soon as possible, as they can adapt to the circumstances and learn from the older players, so we can ensure a swift and efficient generational shift." As the plan continues to work, being that of replacing the core of the team with some new blood popping up from the forgotten corners of the Huayramarcan National Football Pyramid, the FA president is still considering on creating a professional league able to submit players to international competitions, something they aren't as eager as fans "We will take some time for it. We want to do something good in the first try, we don't want to fail."

Although fans want some domestic action, and channels to bolster the chances of having a stronger generation for the next couple of cycles in the international scene, the Huayramarcan FA seems "not-so-interested" in creating a professional league, although there are rumours that this cycle is the last one without a professional league, as there's already a structure that will be formalised and implemented, which is in the lasst couple of details in the works.

[Captina Island]

Under-21 Team poised for advance

(TCCPA) Sabinal, Valanora--The Captina Company Under-21 National Team can advance to the knockout stage of the Di Bradini Cup with win over fellow Rushmori nation Græntfjall on the final day of the group stage here at Sabinal Stadium.

The Captini side have split the first two fixtures, winning 4-0 over Cabo Azure before dropping a 3-0 decision to Muralos; a score draw against the Snow Pups might be enough depending upon the result of the Cabo Azure-Muralos fixture but a second victory in their first ever appearance in the prestigious U21 World Cup would be another step forward for the rising profile of the Oro e Rosso.

The full spectrum of TCCNT's playing style has been displayed here in the Eternal Empire with a free wheeling offensive performance followed by a shutout defeat. Manager Roberto Tardelli will be looking for an effort closer to the former rather than the latter match.

[Graintfjall]

Græntfjall – 1 (0)
Annabella (c); Mattías (45’ Anton ), Dan (74’), Þjóðann (85’), Ástríður; Grímnir (55’) (82’ Kórekur (84’)), Benjámin, Auðkell (62’ Kolgrímur ), Snæbjörn (59’ Aríana ); Eiður (82’ Lars ), Friðgeir

Cabo Azure – 2 (1)
Beltrão (10’), Gomes (62’)

Selection of articles from Græntfjaller news media.

Crown Princess tours Arrosia in sign of shift in regional relations

While Græntfjall’s initial reaction to the formation of a new Arrosian regional bloc by former members of the Atlantian Oceania region was characterized by an emphasis on continuity, with assurances that the White Winter Queendom would still maintain diplomatic relations with the nations of the Vilitan Cove as well as having no plans to end its anti-terrorism operations in Jabal Akhdar and Mlima Kijani, the announcement of a visit to Arrosia by Crown Princess Kassandra is seen as a potential “pivot to Arrosia”. The heir to the Green Throne began her tour in Valanora, where she attended the Di Bradini Cup match between Græntfjall and Cabo Azure, and is subsequently expected to visit Farfadillis and Banija. Despite her status she holds no official role as representative of the government, but her international visits have often been used to exert soft power and signal potential changes in policy to follow, such as her visit to Cardenao before the opening of trade relations. Asked about her visit, she said, “It’s of course a pleasure to reinforce that no change in regional affiliation will disrupt the White Winter Queendom’s abiding respect for the people and culture of Valanora.” She then began to revise and extend her remarks before two aides bravely wrestled the microphone from her.

Snow Pups crumple again as Franklínsson already on the ropes after two games

A second abject showing by the Snow Pups that has all but condemned them to certain elimination from the Under-21 World Cup has done little for the hopes of Andrin Franklínsson moving up to manage the senior Græntfjaller national football team. The outclassed youngsters succumbed to Cabo Azure after spending much of the match on the backfoot following an early goal from Pedro Beltrão; Grímnir Sörlason gave the Snow Pups brief hope with a second half equalizer but Martim Gomes headed in the winner from a scrappily defended corner to seal the result, while substitute Sal Salazar had a third goal ruled out in the 3rd minute of stoppage time after a VAR review review review for handball, with the fourth official concluding that there probably wasn’t one but that it was borderline inhumane on the pathetic Græntfjallers to uphold the goal. Senior Creative Director of Orthogonal Thinking Sopo Chacuzca said of the performance: “On the one hand, we failed to objectively reintermediate interactive synergy. On the other hand, Dilbert was never funny even before Scott Adams went fucking crazy.”

All a question of age: Socialist Party poll numbers show sharp generational divide

Nusaiba Jihaadsdóttir el-Siddiqui’s political redemption arc that has seen her elected leader of the newly independent Socialist Party was always going to divide Græntfjallers, but few could have anticipated quite how sharply she has shown up the generational shift in voting habits. 75% of Socialist Party supporters under the age of 25 say they are now “very positive” or “positive” about her leadership, while just 22% of those over the age of 25 say the same; 86% of those under the age of 25 who voted Left-slate at the last election are “more likely” or “just as likely” to vote Socialist Party at the next, compared to a similar 22% of those over 25. el-Siddiqui’s unabashed rhetoric, critiques of Græntfjaller foreign policy, and republicanism have all appealed to a younger generation who have fewer ties to the monarchy and don’t remember the years of communism, says political science professor Hallvarður Mordekaísson, while columnist Íren Betúelsdóttir says that el-Siddiqui’s team has “used social media very skilfully” and contrasts them with a “rather dated” reliance on in-person campaigning by previous Left-slate leaders. A third explanation comes from University of Waltenberg political geographer Kristian Úlfgeirsson, who points to the impact of immigration on Græntfjall’s demographics: “99% of Græntfjallers over the age of 40 are white; for under-18s, that drops all the way down to 63%. This is a changing society, and it’s not surprising that a leader emblematic of that changing society will provoke tensions and contrasting reactions.”

Also in the news:

• Landmark “clean air act” proposed by government to applause from environmentalist groups, concern from farming, mining industries
• Next-gen nuclear submarine contract tendered
• Financial regulators warn over increase in love scams: “Hot single Jeruselem princesses (naked) are not really behind these emails!”
• Prime Minister christens son in private ceremony
• Meteorological satellite shot down in test of GANAX “space junk clearance” device

[Cabo Azure]

Princess Solveig and her parents rarely traveled officially, preferring to leave the statecraft to the experts, namely King Manuel, who'd come a long way in the decade-plus since learning he was the heir to the throne, and his mother Queen Abigail, professor emeritus in political science and the driving force behind one of the most robust power transitions in recent Rushmori history. Really, Solveig's daily routine didn't deviate much from that of her peers at Maritime in that she went to class, lounged around on the quad, and stayed up too late bingeing Cenian telenovelas. However, when fluid time allowed a school holiday to coincide with her father's official trip to the Di Bradini Cup in Valanora, he asked her to make it a family trip and she obliged.

In the stands at River City Stadium in Bexar, the royals were treated with standard hospitality, with David explaining the Valanorans Vanorians do this tournament every few years, maybe even every year depending on your timeline, and so couldn't afford to pull out all the stops every time. Nevertheless they enjoyed chilled beverages behind a glass wall with an excellent view of the field, where the Maçaricitas put together a decent match to keep alive their hopes of advancing out of the group stage. David had a few things to do in his capacity as the FAF's royal sponsor, but mainly the purpose of the trip seemed to be for the three of them to be photographed together supporting Cabo Azure.

If Solveig were being honest, she hadn't known that Graintfjall was the opposing team when she'd boarded the plane in Natal. She'd never had much loyalty to Graintfjaller international sports, and even as an elite competitor, she'd readily jumped ship for a guaranteed spot on the Olympic roster for Cabo Azure rather than the onslaught of auditions the Graintfjallers promised. Her father had followed the domestic game in Graintfjall, though he preferred hockey, and had adopted Villa Silva as his team upon arrival in Sao Simone, leaving Solveig to uphold the royal tradition of supporting Portelo solo. Still, there was something bittersweet about seeing her former country's flag next to her homeland; Cabo Azure was home, now and forever, but some part of her would always be Graintfjaller.

Solveig was finishing up in the ladies' during a particularly dull moment in the first half when another woman joined her at the sink, made eye contact in the mirror. The young princess held her gaze; she'd learned early on as an athlete and a princess not to look down when someone was staring at you. This woman was tall, conspicuously Graintfjaller, in her twenties or early thirties, and somehow familiar. Solveig wondered whether she had been a skater at some point, but the posture was all wrong; too upright, not athletic enough, and the fierce look in her eyes was too feral, not at all the icy control that Solveig expected from athletes.

"You're pretty," the woman observed, in a voice that made it clear it wasn't a compliment. "And it's clear you haven't let yourself go since the Olympics."

"Thank you," Solveig replied emptily, moving to wash her hands. The woman's gaze remained upon her, unflinching.

"Are you worried you won't be able to lead by yourself?"

"What?"

Now Solveig stood up straight, wheeled to face the strange woman. Who was she? Recognition teetered on the brink of her mind, but Solveig couldn't place her.

"Are you keeping in shape so you can attract a king?"

"Absolutely not." Solveig had caught on halfway through the question and was ready with a response. "Any consort of mine will have to attract me, Your Highness." The second part she said in Graintfjaller.

"That's the spirit." Now Kassandra was smiling, a lupine grin that displayed her rows of perfect, white teeth, like piano keys. "And will your consort be willing to play second fiddle to a cab driver?"

It took a second for Solveig to register that she meant Manuel; he'd always been king to her, his past as a commoner a distant memory.

"He'll have to," Solveig retorted. "Manuel has a long life ahead of him."

"Tell me," Kassandra said, making for the door. "How many great monarchs took over after their predecessors died of old age?"

[Polar Islandstates]

SOUR CHERRIES
Part vii.c)
Capacity/Clarity
i - ii - iii - iiii - v - vi - vii.a) - vii.b) - vii.c) - vii.d) - vii.e) - vii.f) - vii.g) - viii
Volume Two
** ** ** ** **

Carrying the balls back towards the storage unit on the training complex, Youssef Nijgaard wondered if this was what all captains were supposed to do. He’d never seen Oscar doing this with the senior national side, or back in Bjarnarey for that matter. Nic was at least carrying the bibs and cones back with him, but there was no way they weighed as much as the balls. Maybe being full captain rather than vice had some additional perks.

As the Chicks sat top of their, with two wins from two and progress to the next round assured already, the boss was suggesting that there would be some rotation in the last game. Certainly, they weren’t getting carried away. Maybe that was behind asking the player leadership figures to do the chores on the way back for the debrief. Solidarity. Community. Humility. There would be time for celebrations if and when they won the whole thing. Certainly, Youssef had never seen Emmanuele so focused, so determined.

Perhaps it was the two goals he’d scored himself to his strike partner’s four for the tournament, but Youssef was also dealing with a faint pang of jealousy. This was a new sensation for him. As a classic number ten, a support striker focused on linking play and dropping deep when needed, Youssef was used to not being the actual cutting edge of his sides’ attacks. He knew he was never going to be top scorer, and he was happy to support the team by playing to his strengths. All he could was himself, after all. But there was just something about the glint in Emmanuele’s eyes right now that all strikers recognised in each other. Form. Focus. Resolution. Any striker worth their salt wanted that form. Veins of it came and went as fleetingly as the seams of serviceable granite in the seabed below Bjarnarey, but that didn’t stop you searching for it, or trying to maintain it once you had it. Maybe it was this extra responsibility he was wearing on his shoulder that meant Youssef felt he needed to be leading by attainment as well as example. Maybe he just wanted to be the best he could be for the benefit of the team. Maybe it was a selfless kind of jealousy.

At least, that was what he was trying to convince himself of.

Conversely, he wasn’t sure that that trying too hard to match Emmanuele’s hot streak would have been advisable anyway. Frankly, there was enough going on at the moment, and he was running at pretty much full capacity already. Between the understandable press interest in Emmanuele, the Chicks in general and the potential moves abroad some of them may yet sign, the pending Copa and how the senior squad’s performances might contrast with their own, unnecessary ‘Zhamaletdinov vs Miroshnichenko’ debates to avoid, and people asking him how the Bargemen might cope without Pallasmaa next season, Youssef had enough on his plate from his new leadership role thank you very much. On top of which, he was attempting to maintain his own pretty reasonable form without letting any of the above distract him… and now, additionally, he was trying to keep the shadow government forces away from Emmanuele without either of them noticing what was going on. He didn’t need to stop the OO doing their job, he just knew he had to keep them out of Emmanuele’s sight without them knowing he was onto them, and he was quickly discovering that they were relentless in their pursuit.

Immediately, as if on cue, after dropping the balls outside the pavilion door, Youssef turned around to join the rest of the team, and; there. Over the shoulder of one of the new coaches, who was walking backwards and keeping the motivational chat up to the squad, there was a figure in the first floor window of the changing block that shouldn’t have been there. They had the place to the themselves, and, a quick headcount… yes. Everyone was outside. A silhouette that Youssef didn’t recognise. A shadow that meant trouble. He scanned the group for Emmanuele, and noted that he was getting closer and closer to the block, and was looking around aimlessly to boot. It was surely inevitable. Youssef broke into a jog. Emmanuele was a thoroughbred who didn’t need spooking.

Tapping his strike partner on one shoulder and dashing past on the other, Youssef laughed as Emmanuele expressed his disgruntlement with a choice phrase of language and a roll of his eyes. It was childish and puerile, yes, but it did the trick. Emmanuele’s eyes were back on the teammates around him, listening to the coach in his flow. Well, in the limited definition of ‘listening to a coach’ that applied to him, anyway...

Youssef risked a surreptitious glance up at the window. Empty. He breathed a sigh of relief. Emmanuele must be protected. For his own good as much as the campaign’s.

/

Back in the changing rooms, Emmanuele was still not really listening to anything that was going on. Instead, he was practising something his therapist had introduced to him. He had to admit, it was having an impact, even if he had initially been a cynic.

Taking one deep breath in, he visualised what he wanted to do with the ball in the next game. Zenic had already been dispatched. Saint-Jean-Jacques et Burnham-on-Stove, likewise. Next up, HUElavia, and then at least one knockout stage. He started bulleting the list of things he needed to work on. With clarity of thought and peace of mind, he released the breath. The list was minimal.

His first touch had let him down a couple of times in the previous game, and he’d squandered a good chance to double the lead before Youssef had done so himself, but, that was it. Visualising, pacing himself, and saving his anger and physical expression for the pitch was working wonders so far. Even the manager had commented on the lack of drama.

He had a score to settle, sure, but as he closed his ears to the hustle and bustle around him and repeated the exercise, he managed to feel measured, calm, and clinical. In order to achieve his goals, he had to know what they were, and know how to reach them. With this technique, he could go into games without any of the erratic behaviour that had dragged him down the path of distraction last time around. He had learned to understand how his innate desire to prove himself had come not from pride, not from anger, but from fear.

Right now, though, he felt none of those things. Stepping out onto the pitch was another matter altogether, of course; he wasn’t sure he wanted to dull his competitive edge whilst he was actually on the turf, but this? This meditation? This was key. He was in form. He was in his groove. He was in the zone. He wasn’t distracted at all. As long as he was playing, either on the pitch or training, he could be away from the outside world of politics, peddlers of rumours, and paparazzi.

What was going to happen at this tournament was between him and the DBC. All he had to do was make sure he kept his mind on the game by engaging it between them. No doubt the world out there was swirling with talk of the attention he was getting from foreign directors of football, or the OO he suspected would be analysing his every step from their television sets. But, he reasoned, as long as directed his emotions at the right pressure points – like a loose ball in the six-yard-box, for example, there was nothing he could do about all that anyway, so it was simply best to move on and not think about it.

With a clatter of boots and the hasty zipping up of track jackets, it was time to move through to the briefing room to analyse tomorrow’s opposition. Usually, Emmanuele would have been at the front of this queue. Jostling for position and woe betide anyone who decided to try and sit in his spot. Today however, he wasn’t going to do anything like that. Whilst his teammates went on ahead, he and Youssef brought up the rear of the procession. Steadily. Calmly. Serenely.

** ** ** ** **
Volume Two
i - ii - iii - iiii - v - vi - vii.a) - vii.b) - vii.c) - vii.d) - vii.e) - vii.f) - vii.g) - viii

[Valanora]

Matchday 3

Group A
TJUN-ia 2–2 Qasden
Huayramarca 1–0 Valanora

P Group A                                   Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Huayramarca                                 3   3  0  0    6   2  +4    9 Q
2 Valanora                                    3   2  0  1    4   1  +3    6 Q
3 Qasden                                      3   0  1  2    4   7  −3    1
4 TJUN-ia                                     3   0  1  2    2   6  −4    1

Group B
Xiaolin 0–0 Tikariot
Aphrilia 3–0 Kita-Hinode

P Group B                                   Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Aphrilia                                    3   2  1  0    9   5  +4    7 Q
2 Xiaolin                                     3   1  2  0    6   5  +1    5 Q
3 Kita-Hinode                                 3   1  0  2    5   7  −2    3
4 Tikariot                                    3   0  1  2    3   6  −3    1

Group C
The Kytler Peninsulae 1–2 Chromatika
Baker Park 3–4 Squornshelan Remnant States

P Group C                                   Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Squornshelan Remnant States                 3   2  0  1    8   6  +2    6 Q
2 The Kytler Peninsulae                       3   2  0  1    3   2  +1    6 Q
3 Chromatika                                  3   2  0  1    5   5   0    6
4 Baker Park                                  3   0  0  3    3   6  −3    0
SRS first on GD, The Kytler Peninsulae second on GD

Group D
Shieldstan 0–2 Quebec and Shingoryeo
Yuezhou 2–0 Abahnfleft

P Group D                                   Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Quebec and Shingoryeo                       3   2  1  0    5   1  +4    7 Q
2 Shieldstan                                  3   2  0  1    3   2  +1    6 Q
3 Yuezhou                                     3   1  1  1    2   2   0    4
4 Abahnfleft                                  3   0  0  3    1   6  −5    0

Group E
Sea Dome 2–0 The Ko-orenite Constellation
Elmyia 1–0 Semarland

P Group E                                   Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Sea Dome                                    3   3  0  0    8   3  +5    9 Q
2 Elmyia                                      3   2  0  1    4   4   0    6 Q
3 Semarland                                   3   1  0  2    3   3   0    3
4 The Ko-orenite Constellation                3   0  0  3    0   5  −5    0

Group F
Captina Island 2–3 Græntfjall
Cabo Azure 4–2 Muralos

P Group F                                   Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Cabo Azure                                  3   2  0  1    6   7  −1    6 Q
2 Muralos                                     3   1  1  1    5   4  +1    4 Q
3 Græntfjall                                  3   1  1  1    4   4   0    4
4 Captina Island                              3   1  0  2    6   6   0    3
Muralos ahead on GD

Group G
HUElavia 3–6 Polar Islandstates
Saint-Jean-Jacques et Burnham-on-Stove 1–0 Zenic

P Group G                                   Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Polar Islandstates                          3   3  0  0   12   4  +8    9 Q
2 Saint-Jean-Jacques et Burnham-on-Stove      3   1  1  1    3   4  −1    4 Q
3 HUElavia                                    3   1  1  1    7   9  −2    4
4 Zenic                                       3   0  0  3    2   7  −5    0
Saint-Jean Jacques ahead on GD

Group H
Khantari 3–2 Mytanija
Josifovo 2–0 Darmen

P Group H                                   Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Mytanija                                    3   2  0  1    7   4  +3    6 Q
2 Josifovo                                    3   2  0  1    5   4  +1    6 Q
3 Khantari                                    3   1  1  1    5   5   0    4
4 Darmen                                      3   0  1  2    1   5  −4    1
Mytanija ahead on GD

Round of Sixteen Fixtures
Huayramarca v Shieldstan @ Caddo Park, Caddo
Aphrilia v The Kytler Peninsulae @ Raynor Memorial, Hondo
Squornshelan Remnant States v Xiaolin @ Aranfield Bridge, Everlin
Quebec and Shingoryeo v Valanora @ Hatire Memorial, Capri
Sea Dome v Josifovo @ Tiradir, Gladerial
Polar Islandstates v Muralos @ Castle de Mot, Wexax
Cabo Azure v Saint-Jean-Jacques et Burnham-on-Stove @ Orange Gate Falls, Monaven
Mytanija v Elmyia @ Rose Gardens, Kareen

[Aphrilia]

GK to FW, L to R
Kita-Hinode Starting XI: [4-4-2] Hikari (C) ; Hawkings-Ryder, Kanagisawa, Nanaya, Gonzaga ; Tanamatsuri, Aoyun, Eltnum, Jackie ; Da Vinci-Hinodejishima, Pacioli
(OOC: If I got it incorrectly please TG or DM me).
Aphrilia Starting XI: [4-3-3] Karnwell (C) ; Miller, O'Truffet, McPavey ; Trimm, Byrnehill, McPreston ; Collins, Lacey, Riley

THEY ARE THROUGH!

Aphrilia's Junior Anchors were able to defeat Kita-Hinode's Vengeful Spirits by a scoreline of 3 - 0 to secure their qualification into the next round as the top seed for Group B. The match had many moments where fans held their breath, but Kevin Lacey opened up the scoring for the team by the 34th minute with a precise strike from outside the box. And unlike the first two group stage matches, The Junior Anchors were able to easily put their tactics and system into play with little struggle. Phillip Karnwell however received a yellow card when he came out his box to clear a through ball, accidentally tackling Lucca Pacioli in the process on the 42nd minute in the match. The first half ended up 1 - 0, which although Aphrilians were happy with in hindsight it still wasn't much of a comfort as Kita-Hinode still had another half to turn the scores around. Assistant Manager Jacob O'Sullivan even commented saying, "Nothing is truly over until it is." And before long, the second half of the match kicked off.

The Junior Anchors slammed in two goals within the span of ten minutes, on the 56th minute and the 62nd minute. Andre Byrnehill striked a header in from a corner kick with perfect timing to hit the ball into the net at the former time, and Christopher Riley did some dribbling magic before shooting the ball into the net at the latter time. The two goals had put Aphrilia 3 - 0 up, and it gave the team relief as they knew they were going through, it put comfort within the fans (Especially when time ticked until the final whistle) understanding that they would be able to see their national team play at least one more match in the Di Bradini Cup, and it gave the players some happiness in realizing that they would be playing as a team for at the minimum one more game. There were mostly positive notes to take away from this match considering that it seemed as if The Junior Anchors were able to find their form, but whether or not they could do it in the knockout round was another question only time can answer.

Either way, here are some questions being answered.

Kevin Lacey on his situation with Phillip Karnwell and Kennedy Christonson:
"Karnwell's the bloody captain well, I guess I get it why he's trying to resolve whatever me and him (Christonson) have between eachother even though it's none of his business in the first place. I can get around with it... But as for Christonson? We're only on speaking terms if either the captain or O'Truffet is around because we might get into a fight if we are left alone. So if you want a conclusion, I hate his guts slightly less now, but I only speak to him if either those two are around us. I still can't stand him."

Phillip Karnwell on the team moving into the next round:
"Honestly, it feels rather incredible. We started the group stage with a ridiculous 4 - 4 draw and now we're into the knockout stage. When I first was called up for the team I expected nothing much but now... I think we can do something. I guess it's been a fun tournament, though managing Kevin and Kennedy has been a bit of a challenge where I'm glad I have my best mate with me. And for the fans watching, don't worry about us. We as Aphrilia's representatives here will do our best no matter what, even if it ends in defeat. We'll be playing our hearts out, hopefully, and because of that make sure you continue to support us. So yeah, overall, I think it's been a personal success."

Anthony Christwell on the team's sync and knockout match:
"I think the team synchronized greatly this time around. With us getting into the knockout stage, this is the exact thing the team needed. To be able to get the tactics properly linked up with how the team played, perhaps the changes on the line up affected it or maybe the team just finally clicked after a while. I'm not certain for he reason of the team properly working with the set tactics hand in hand, but I'm fine with it. As for our knockout match against The Kytler Peninsulae at Raynor Memorial, we just hope to put on a good showing and performance. If we go through then that's fantastic, if we lose then I think it wouldn't be too bad. With how we performed so far in this DBC, I am certain NAFA will keep up it's interest within the U21 World Cup as it is still keen on the senior World Cup as well. We'll just have to see how things pan out in the end."

[Cabo Azure]

Lagostim, on the island of Dulce Muerte, is the second-largest city in Cabo Azure by population, a fact which is a common pub quiz question throughout Terranea since most assume the capital, Portelo, is larger. Despite its size, its prominence in Azurean affairs is limited by a confluence of factors including relative isolation and cutthroat local politics, which scares away outside investment. Located inland on Dulce Muerte, Lagostim’s primary connection to the outside world is the “Camina Açúcar”, a sixty-kilometer canal which connects its sugarcane plants to the port at Braga. More recently, a two-lane causeway has been constructed along the canal, allowing passenger vehicles to make the journey to the coast.

The primary industry in Lagostim is the processing of sugarcane from the outlying plantations. The plants fuel their furnaces with bagasse, a byproduct of sugarcane processing which has a distinct odor when burned, the “sweet death” for which the island is named. Excess electricity from the plants also powers the grid in Lagostim proper, and the barges which transport processed sugar down the Camina Açúcar are powered by bagasse. Between bagasse and hydroelectric power, Dulce Muerte is the only island in Cabo Azure that is energy independent.

Sugarcane production in Lagostim is controlled by a cartel known as the Empresa Real de Cana-de-Açúcar, ERCA, which consists of all the sugarcane growers and refinery owners on Dulce Muerte. ERCA was chartered by King Adolfo II after he disenfranchised the Dominguez family, former feudal rulers of Dulce Muerte. After overthrowing Adolfo’s great-grandson, King Reinaldo II, in a coup, the junta known as the Gang of Seven disbanded ERCA at the behest of Raul Dominguez, a descendant of the Dominguez family and the largest producer of sugarcane. The resulting price instability led overseas customers to seek other sources, sending the Muerteno economy into a depression.

Early in the decade-long negotiations that led to the reinstatement of the monarchy, Queen Abigail as the lead negotiator made the reinstatement of ERCA a major agenda item. Pushing for ERCA up front was a shrewd tactical move that yielded major advantages in the rest of the negotiating process. First, by presenting an agenda item that was unpalatable to one member of the Gang but inconsequential to the rest, she isolated Dominguez and broke up the Gang’s unified front early. Second, she brought the politically powerful sugarcane growers into her coalition by prioritizing their primary issue. Third, she tied the image of her “new” monarchy to an institution that was emblematic of Adolfo II’s reign, lending it some of the strength and stability of that era.

The modern ERCA runs according to the charter of its previous incarnation with minimal updates for modern technology. The king is chairman of the board and has veto power over price changes and price increases or decreases, but is otherwise uninvolved in the daily operations of the cartel. Most of the sugarcane plantations and production facilities are family-owned and have been in the same families since they were built; these families are also active in local politics. The Dominguez clan still controls the largest share of the market, although their ability to leverage their influence is limited by family in-fighting. The next-most important family is the Reyes clan, whose portfolio includes ownership of the Lagostim football club.

[TJUN-ia]

A 2-2 Draw? Really?
We actually managed to get a point here?

Wow. Josh Worrie and Lana Boreal scored for The UnderVans but both Diana Sharafutdinov and Odysseas Issigonis, in their final Young Jag games, managed to fight back to secure the point.

With that, we have to bow out...maybe for the best, to be fair. Issigonis is the only one going up to the Seniors while Jhoseline Davinia Soleto, Jerome Mawae, Zune Than Mo Nu, Zaine Bowry and Captain Sharafutdinov will join him in due course.

Fare thee well.

[Huayramarca]

Huayramarca continues moving forward at the Di Bradini Cup. After perhaps having the most solid performance of all participations on said tournament, the Condors are preparing for what Nafuna Congo calls “The Party where all try to dance with the Cup”. Congo, the top scorer of the team, and also who wrote in chalk the only goal of the match against the hosts, Valanora, is confident that the team has a lot of talent and discipline to put up some fight.

“We have come here to do our best, and we can do better. The party is starting, and we are aware of it. We mustn’t sleep on triumphs past (Group Stage) and we might better get working for the next match against Shieldistan.” Said Congo, who then added “We have had a solid block in defence, and our midfield has been performing at its best to deliver passes to Ferguson (Lijerón) and me, which has helped a lot… The substitutes have helped this team to keep at high level, or even improve the display at some games with their talent and creativity.”

The fans in Huayramarca are still optimistic about what has been happening in this tournament, as the victory against the Vanorians wasn’t a mere coincidence or the aligning of the stars. Coach Aginsogno is being able to establish a pattern of football that is easily recognisable for the players, the tempos have been managed accordingly with what is needed in every match. For example, against Valanora, the team didn’t go on full attack, instead, they decided to wait for the home side and analyse them, so the “Baby Condors” opted to go into a more counteroffensive mode for most of the match, working with wonders through Nafuna Congo’s goal at the 73rd minute, then the defensive block worked properly and kept the lines together to cancel any attempt from the Elves.

Dante Rumiñahui, who talked with the media after the match, told “Coordination and discipline is the name of the game for us, as we have been forging a tight knot, we all support our teammates, we try to not let somebody down, we are more than capable to react as a block and surprise our rivals with swift transitions to attack or defence.” Stats don’t lie and those support Rumiñahui, 9 of 9 points, the second (tied) best defence of the tournament, a low percentage of lost balls in the midfield are testimony of a strong grip from the Baby Condors when it comes to control the midfield, to generate the best and most occasions possible for goal.

Despite the numbers, Leonel Manosalvas considers that “This team has a long road up front, we can improve more and be able to as dominant as possible with our game plan, which is something we need to set, as the rivals in the next round and forward will be more demanding with those aspects, as more is at stake than in the previous stage.”

As the general opinion is in the same line, the team is focusing to play Shieldistan, a nation that many haven’t heard before but, according to Aginsogno, “It doesn’t matter if we know it or not (the rival), we must be as loyal as possible with our game plan, stick to it and show the best we can offer to progress in the knockout stages. Won’t be easy, but it is not impossible to achieve. Huayramarca is prepared for this, and this is the time to prove it and show it to the fans in the Multiverse, we are forging a solid generation as we want to rejuvenate the Senior National Team.”

[Squornshelan Remnant States]

After qualifying for the Di Bradini Cup for the first time, the debutant Squornshelan team has unexpectedly advanced to the second round from a group including Chromatika, Baker Park, and the Kytler Peninsulae. The end result of the group was actually a three-way tie on points, with all three teams involved having defeated Baker Park, and then beating and losing to one another in rock-paper-scissors fashion. Fortunately, by virtue of having the only multi-goal margin of victory in any match contested within Group C, the junior Black-and-Reds finished top of the group on goal differential.

Perhaps its unsurprising coming from a youth team, but the performance thus far has been a bit inconsistent. A pair of four-goal outbursts with slightly shaky defending bookended a 0-1 loss in which the team struggled to string passes together and hold the ball. The good news from that occasion is that the defense stood quite a bit taller. Had the Black-and-Reds surrendered two or three goals in that match, they very likely would have been the ones left out on tiebreaker in place of the Chromatiks. Korenak has seen fit to tinker with the lineup a bit, form being a mercurial thing with such a young lineup. Tatsinan has been excellent as predicted, though, ensuring that Brantisvogan will get a decent payday if they are indeed shopping her around this window, as rumors suggest. The initial starting front four have also been strong, aided no doubt by good chemistry between the pair of Syneca products, Khovkoitun and Starovoitov. The most turnover has been found in defense, where all but a couple players have seen at least a few minutes of play, as Korenak tries to firm things up at the back.

The opponent awaiting the Junior Black-and-Reds at Aranfield Bridge will be Group B runners up Xiaolin. Xiaolin advanced from the group stage by defeating Kita-Hinode and hanging on for draws against Aphrilia and Tikariot. This left them with the third-lowest point total of any advancing side, but certainly not a poor performance. Any way you can get through the group stage is good enough, as anything at all can happen once in the knockouts. Xiaolin has also shown plenty of ability to both score and defend, racking up six goals in their first two matches before a scoreless draw on the final day. In fact, four of their five goals conceded came in a single match against eventual Group B winners Aphrilia, so the statline certainly doesn't tell the full story with this team.


First Team selection vs Xiaolin:
GK Pran; LB Shiben, RB Hobeika, CB Ludviczak, CB Tarr; CM Detkov, CM Tatsinan; LW Arda, AM Khovkoitun, RW Starovoitov; ST Dubynin

[Xiaolin]

Desire sat at the desk in her hotel room, studying her notes from the group stage matches.

                Xiaolin   4-4   Aphrilia              
	   Akizuki 12', 17'         Evans 44'
	          Konno 22'         Lacey 51', 67', 81'
	         Hughes 29'

Coach's Notes:

Match One vs Aphrilia
Positives:

• Excellent opening thirty minutes; succesfully applied pressure in the final third -- particularly in the defensive right back zone (attacking left wing), which, combined with smart movement from Konno created many good opportunities in the left half-space and left channel.
  
• Konno shows great awareness of how to manipulate space in the final third; will be especially adept at creating openings off the ball against man marking systems.
  
• Suganuma's "Seeking Arrow Technique" was shown to be particularly effective against a mirrored formation; likely due to the opposition's inability to close him down quickly.
  
• Defenders are highly capable when isolated in one-on-one duels; it was not until the opposition found ways to consistently gain a quantitative advantage that our defensive fragility was exposed.

Negatives:

• Poor set piece defence, will need to work more on the perils of man marking in these situations; identify common gambits and prepare the players accordingly.
  
• Failure to adapt effectively when Aphrilia found a way to apply pressure to Suganuma; this is potentially a critical weakness in the system.
  
• Mental resilience is surprisingly lacking; players were quick to "let their heads drop" after the third goal; this could have seen them actually lose this match.
  
• Slow to react to the second ball in some situations; will need to specifically drill this, as the players' physical advantages are their main weapon.

Individual Notes:

• Konno - Shows tactical promise; encourage him to continue finding the correct movements to pull defenders out of position and create space.
  
• Suganuma - Need to drill him on finding space when pressured and work on one-touch passing; these measures should counter the possibility of neutralising him with an effective man-marker.
  
• Akizuki - Noted impressive finishing when cutting inside; encourage this movement in tandem with Konno's manipulation of space. Will need her to spot these openings quicker.
  
• Hughes - Encourage higher pressing. This approach (in the first half especially) effectively neutralised Campton Collins, and gave the team some respite from the Aphrilian possession game.
  
• Karasumaru - Be wary of his tendency to throw himself into tackles; tackles will happen often due to his aggressive positioning leaving gaps. Recklessness in the tackle is arguably worse than positional recklessness.
  
• Griffin - Improve ballwinning ability; worked well as a screen, and a late arrival in attack situations -- by diverting defensive resource -- but was the weak link in the press.
  
• Bevan - Work on improving the timing of her attacking movements. She was an effective ball-winner working in tandem with Konno or Akizuki, but often slow to spot the attacking movement on the left, and arrived too late to be effective in that second attacking zone at the edge of the box.

Looking up from her notes, Desire sighed heavily. This was going to be a tough job, wasn't it? "I need a break," she said, to nobody in particular. Her hotel room was modest, but she still had enough space that she needed to stand and walk across the room to her bed. She sat on the edge and reached for her reading tablet, checking that she had a strong data connection. Due to her nomadic lifestyle, she had become accustomed to having her favourite newspapers from Akach, Cobrio and Osarius all available digitally on her tablet. It was her way of maintaining a link to "home" ... whatever that meant for her now.

She checked her newsreader app and found "The National Herald", the most reasonable -- in her opinion -- of the many Osarian newspapers. She paused for a moment, thinking. Why did they call them newspapers? Nobody actually printed the news these days, right? She blinked and shook her head as if clearing it like an etch-a-sketch, and tapped her tablet to bring up the latest edition of the Herald. The front page was busy, as usual. Scanning the major stories, she rolled her eyes. "More nonsense about the royals," she muttered. "Why do these people care about them so much? They're just people." Something about the Princess of Fourge -- the heir apparent to the Osarian throne -- being caught up in some scandal dominated the front page, covering fully half of the spread.

Then, in the bottom section of the page, Desire noticed an interesting line: 'Scientists believe "functional immortality" may be achievable in the near future (pg. 7)'.

Well that was interesting. Desire was aware of some of the research on this topic and how it related to the various attempts to extend a professional athlete's "prime years". She had never been fond of it. Not just because she felt it was unnatural -- for lack of a better term -- but also because it could effectively destroy any real development chance for the vast majority of young athletes. With no prospects, no route into the professional arena, there would be much less incentive for a lot of people, which affects national health as a whole. Not only that, but if 90% of the athletes were the same from season to season, tournament to tournament, and so on... the entertainment value would plummet, surely? She read anyway.

Classified research  from the former Kryosi  Empire has been uncovered which some scientists 
believe  may hold the key to  functional immortality.  The details are  loose at the moment, 
but it is  believed that the Kryosi  scientists working in the  Ouroboros division had found 
a way to mimic the heightened telomerase activity found in cancer cells, without the runaway 
cell division that causes  tumour growth by synthesising  cells with these traits with cells 
taken from elves. The resultant cells were then injected into mice, and the mice placed into 
temporal bubbles and observed over a period of weeks -- which translated to years within the 
bubble. The mice all lived significantly beyond their normal life expectancy, and upon exam-
ination, showed no shortening  in their telomere length.   Scientists at  Firewood Tech have 
been engaged in advanced  testing over the past few weeks, and  believe they are approaching 
a stage where it may be possible to begin human trials. If their final round of testing does 
not expose any significant  risk, it appears  likely that  they will be  granted permission, 
though the  Kryosi research  indicates  that some  testing has already  been carried  out on 
humans.  The details of that  research have not yet  been released to the public, and remain 
secret "as a matter of national security", which raises questions over the long-term effects 
of such treatments.

Huh. The cynic in her found it completely unsurprising that the Osarians might want to create some way to prolong life indefinitely. If you hold all the power, and you don't have to worry about either your death or that of your peers and co-oppressors... That was why they had tried to hijack the pontemundus research, wasn't it? Live indefinitely in a virtual world instead of the material wor-

Desire had flicked back to the front page and noticed the line directly below the first she had noticed. 'Tech companies scramble for rights to manage the first "Oneiro-community"'. Oneiro was dreams. What nonsense was this?

The technology behind "pontemundi" -- the virtual realms operated by Ipele Prossimo Humanité 
(IPH) which bridge the gap between imagination and reality -- is rapidly becoming more affo-
rdable, and with it  comes the expansion of possible applications.  The latest concept being 
floated  is the  "oneiro-community", in  which one or  more people act  as the "architects", 
effectively "dreaming"  the pontemundus into  existence, while many others connect and exist 
in it.  Monday Alahunala, the lead developer on  the technology which allows this concept to 
exist, explained it as a "way to share control of a world; it's a little like the old colla-
borative world games from the early 21st century,  but with a lot more control and freedom". 
He went on to explain that his hope is that it will allow people to "create immersive envir-
onments for  teaching and research", but  it is  currently  unclear how the  thoughts of the 
architects will interface with the laws of reality as we know it. The initial phase of test-
ing  will require  immense processing  power and  data storage  capacity, but if successful, 
could herald a dramatic change in the way humans interact with the world.  The current bidd-
ing war includes several loose alliances  of companies, hoping that by pooling their resour-
ces, they can each be a part of a historic step into a truly digital age.

Oh. She couldn't be sure of the reason, but Desire felt that this was not a good thing. Something very very bad was coming.

[Valanora]

The Marauders have done well to earn their passage through to the knockouts of the Di Bradini Cup, although they came up a bit short at the end and were unable to win the group. Thankfully the side had recorded victories in their first two matches and had already secured their passage into the knockouts and thus a victory against Huayramarca was not needed, but the defeat has altered the course of the Marauders moving forward. It was a tense and tight game and one where it could have likely gone either way and on another day it very well could have ended in the points being split or that the home side could have pulled off the victory for a perfect group stage. Alas it was the guests who found the small difference between the sides and their leading scorer who managed to notch another goal that earned them the three points and the in theory easier path through the knockout rounds, where the Marauders will in theory have been handed a more difficult path for being the runners up in the group.

The Marauders have performed well though, with the defense in particular having been quite an impressive unit, having only conceded the single goal in the group stage and that coming in the tense last matchday affair with the aforementioned Condors. Defense is not traditionally a spot of strength for the Marauders and to see the side doing well in the defensive end is quite a shot of hope for not just this team but for the national team of the future as well. There is a huge belief that if the defense for the Marauders was able to more consistently be able to at least slow down their opposition and hold them to only a goal a game, that the significant scoring threats of the attack would on average be able to provide the necessary goals to see the Marauders to victories more often than not. That that inability to influence the game on the defensive end is what is the difference between them being a potential challenger for the World Cup and being able to go into a World Cup Final and feel confident that their game plan will see them through the day and that after the ninety, victory and the trophy would be theirs.

Also, three goals in three games for Imre Haaland continues to build up the hype around the young striker, who simply scores goals because he can. The way that he goes about his game and does not seem to invite attention like more flamboyant or ego driven players is already drawing comparisons with Laborious Hawk, which is quite the unfair comparison to make for a player as young as he. Yet after the season that Imre had in Pasarga and the way he has played with the under 21 national team, it is hard to ignore the sheer amount of raw, physical talent that the player has and how gifted technically he is but does not really show it in a flashy manner. Ruthless efficiency might not be pretty and might not have all the cameras flashing as they wait on baited breath for the next take of magic to be produced, but it is in its own way a form of artistry that is hard to not appreciate at some degree. Whether Imre turns out to be the next Hawk or the next Lothas Ludwig is its own story waiting to be written but denying his craft would be quite the shame to both yourself and him.

For the team, they advance to play against fellow Arrosia athletes in the form of Quebec and Shingoryeo, who won their group after a two to nil win over the previously perfect Shieldstan, who seemingly stole the second spot off of Yeuzhou after the first matchday upset over the aforementioned Rushmori team. Like the Marauders, the defense for Quebec has been quite spectacular, having only conceded the one goal while putting five on the board themselves with the only "blemish" to their record coming with a draw against Yuezhou. It is not the sort of matchup that the side would have liked to begin the knockout stages, however the quality of this competition is known for being extremely high and advancing out of the groups themselves is an accomplishment in itself, just look at those who failed to advance from the Group of Death in Group C. The first step on a long voyage is always the hardest, pulling up the courage and motivation to take it and set yourself on the path, but this is the path that the side has and finding a way past the Quebecois would be quite the first step towards a hopeful crown at the end of the journey.

[Josifovo]

Спортски Журнал
All the sports, by the people, for the people

STEEP GROUP STAGE GAMES SEE ZLATNI LAVOVI PROGRESS

The match against Mytanija saw the team enter the pitch with a lot of nerves. It is important to always try and win as much as possible as fast as possible in order to pace up and get solid rhythm to follow through in the rest of the tournament. It is also important to acknowledge that many of the Mytanar players already have experience in some of the world's best professional leagues, such as their own but also in the Zenith in Nephara and the Tikariotan Premier League. While not disappointing against Mytanija, the team saw itself lose 3-1 on matchday 2.

This could have gone much differently if the team had stuck to its plans from the get go. The Mytanars were acutely aware of the team's weaknesses in regards to fast gameplay, seeing as whenever the Josifski team was in possession, they would always assemble a wall that was just impossible to penetrate. Through-balls did not seem to work, as did crosses. While the Mytanars would liberally apply their own gameplay and dictate the flow of the game which in turn, saw them go ahead by 2 goals to none by half-time.

In the second half, things would unfold differently as the Josifski would manage to wake up. Uroš Tadić would find a gap through the Mytanar defence which freshly-subbed Mojmir Đorđević would convert to make it 2-1 and the game seemed to be getting interesting once again. While not as one-sided as the first half, the Mytanars came close to a third. However, the Josifski would come close with Đorđević once again on the 82nd minute. However, everything would crumble when on the counter-attack, Miran Zakubovnik would increase the difference to 2 goals once again, essentially sealing it for the Mytanars.

However, with one matchday to go, the team headed into matchday 3 against Darmen with an air of confidence, seeing as they had tied against Khantari, a team the Zlatni Lavovi had beaten previously. This confidence was also confirmed by the manager himself, Mirko Tomčić who expressed confidence in his players despite the hard result on matchday 2.

Indeed, this confidence would translate into performing on the pitch. Šarić would in fact be the one to break the ice from early on, taking advantadge of the gap left by the Darmeni players on the left side and with a swift run would take his chances at a long shot. A long shot that would end up being a rocket that would hit the top side of the post before getting nailed inside the net, leaving Matthews unable to react to it. This would in fact turn into a more favorable game in regards to possession for the Josifski that would then try and study the way the Darmeni players would approach the game. All in all, they would stick to their tactics and not give them much room to breathe, however they came close with Lovell on the 40th minute, with a shot that Trpeski would thankfully catch.

The "snajper" Tadić would find a way to make his presence known once again as he was the recipient of most of the possession in the second half as the team would try and find space to score goals and finish the job. Despite the Darmeni backline locking in efficiently, Grbić would earn himself a penalty following a cheeky Tadić in the box. Grbić would also be able to convert said penalty to make it 2-0. All the Zlatni Lavovi had to do now was to fall back, and hold the advantadge until the end. And hold the advantadge they did, despite the Darmeni wasting numerous opportunities and getting close to scoring.

Following the final whistle, the players stormed the pitch to celebrate a historic qualification to the round of 16 of the Under-21 World Cup, where they will face off against Sea Dome, a team which not only topped its group, but did so while remaining undefeated. In a matchday where everything is at stake, the Zlatni Lavovi are tasked with a mission that is not improbable, yet not impossible.

[The Kytler Peninsulae]

The Kytlerians are, it's safe to say, not expected to do much in international soccer out of the gate. But would that extend to youth teams?

Well, after two games the answer was an emphatic no. They were two bad games, two boring 1-0 wins, but they were wins. However, they were not enough to guarantee progress because a three-way tie on six points was possible, and indeed happened; Baker Park lost (a 4-3 barnburner) to the Squornshelan Remnant States, and a multi-goal Kytlerian defeat to Chromatika would send them out on goal difference in that scenario. And the Kytlerians duly came within a goal of doing just that and messing this up, and actually needed an 84th-minute "consolation" goal to do it, Vincent's corner headed in by Teun Donk. Because everyone knows what you want to do with a corner, right? You want to put a banging Donk on it. He'd also head away a stoppage-time corner at the other end to help protect the decisive margin.

Still, progress is progress. Aphrilia await in the octofinals at the Raynor Memorial, and Vincent - the standout Kytlerian performer so far, and doing so at only 18 - says he's very excited at the prospect. "Win or lose, every minute we get on the pitch is more experience for us to grow and learn from, especially in a historic venue like this one. It can only help both of our teams in the long run if we have a hard-fought and close encounter, but also I want the best possible experience because you never know when you'll go to a venue like this again with so much excitement and meaning."

Aphrilia's comfortable 3-0 defeat of Kita-Hinode will give them confidence, but the way the Kytlerians had to unexpectedly fight their way through this one - even in defeat over the 90 minutes - will surely help them too. "Every game is a learning experience," added Donk, voted player of the match, and following Vincent's theme which is quite evidently a team-level emphasis at this point. "We want to get more of them, it would have hurt so much to stop after three games, especially after winning two games because normally that is always enough. I feel sorry for Chromatika going out like this, but someone was going to have a painful experience and fortunately for us it was not ourselves."

[Valanora]

Round of Sixteen
Huayramarca 3–1 Shieldstan
Aphrilia 0–1 The Kytler Peninsulae
Squornshelan Remnant States 2–4 Xiaolin
Quebec and Shingoryeo 0–2 Valanora*
Sea Dome 0–1 Josifovo
Polar Islandstates 2–0 Muralos
Cabo Azure 3–3(4–3 AET) Saint-Jean-Jacques et Burnham-on-Stove
Mytanija 3–2 Elmyia
*Scorinated by Sylestone

Quarterfinal Fixtures
Huayramarca v The Kytler Peninsulae @ Sabinal Stadium, Sabinal
Xiaolin v Valanora @ Duran Palace, Valanari
Josifovo v Polar Islandstates @ The White Fortress, Gladerial
Cabo Azure v Mytanija @ Donna Cathedral, Mar Sara

[Polar Islandstates]

OOC: (Imagine this before the Ro16 match, sorry!)

SOUR CHERRIES
Part vii.d)
Duality/Dignity
i - ii - iii - iiii - v - vi - vii.a) - vii.b) - vii.c) - vii.d) - vii.e) - vii.f) - vii.g) - viii
Volume Two
** ** ** ** **

‘Dynamic duo’ was a phrase that Youssef was getting more and more used to hearing. He’d hated it at first. It seemed so cliché. But the facts didn’t lie, and the truth was clear for everyone to see up there on the electronic scoreboard: “NIJGAARD 23, NIEMI 30 62, DEMENTIEVA 49”. Four goals, and either Youssef or Emmanuele had been involved in every single one of them. Even Nic’s goal, the first scored at this tournament for the Chicks by someone other than the strikers, had had everything to do with the prowess of their link-up play; Niemi having run onto Nijgaard’s knockdown only to find his path blocked by two defenders, so delicately chipped it back to Nijgaard to lay off for the advancing midfielder. Sure, HUElavia had scored twice themselves, but Youssef was beginning to appreciate why there was such a groundswell of support for Zhamaletdinov to takeover as Terns manager. Compared to the football Miroshnichenko played, this was thrilling. Two up top? Flying wing-backs? It was a world apart from what was happening at the Copa, by all accounts.

Unless something dramatic happened in the last ten minutes of the game, the Chicks would be going through to the last sixteen of the DBC with a hundred precent record. That was a good start, but it was only a start. After the pain of the last installment, every member of the squad that had been in the last tournament was still walking around with a look in their eyes of unfinished business. And that was all down to Emmanuele's change in attitude.

At least, that was how Youssef saw it. Even he was finding himself inspired by the formerly hot-headed striker's shift in demeanour. He felt more attuned to the needs of his partner up front. Focused. More like he knew what to do and when to do it to give Emmanuele exactly what he needed, and that was bringing results. It was allowing them to play right through defences. It was letting them do this...

Leaving his marker for dust, Youssef jinked inside and suddenly stopped to pick up a cross-field pass from Mikkel. Holding off his recovering defender with ease, he swivelled on a pin and then darted back the other way. Without looking up, he played a through-ball to where he knew Emmanuele would want it. One step, two steps, and Emmanuele unleashed another thunderbolt of a strike. Surely this was the hat-trick. No! Blocked by the face on an unfortunate defender...

In a flash, Youssef was onto the loose ball. Emmanuele was open, he knew it. He was calling for the ball. The scrambling defenders were already trying to get close to him, and the keeper was rushing to get up in time for the rebound. Youssef knew that, too, and instead of doing the expected for once, calmly rolled the ball through a gap between limbs that existed for only a split second, and into the back of the net.

Two for Youssef, five for the Chicks, and was two each for the evening between the two strikers. Youssef grinned as he celebrated with his teammates, and allowed himself a quick smirk with Nic. He knew. A quick reminder to Emmanuele that Youssef was there to score goals, too. Turning to the bench with a thumbs up, Youssef was unsurprised to see his number go up on the substitution board. Protect the legs. Smart. No doubt Emmanuele's number would be up soon, too.

Youssef smiled and slapped the palms of Roald as he came on, the third time in three matches that this particular switch had been made. The Chicks were firing on all cylinders right now, with play orbiting around that increasingly scintillating partnership up front. Long may it continue into the knockout rounds.

/

This was all new to Emmanuele's playing career. What that, genuine pride and happiness for his friend at having scored, even though he himself had had the better opportunity? Honestly, he'd never known himself to be this level-headed.

Maybe it was the therapy. Maybe it was the meditation. Maybe it was the lack of distractions, the lack of drama. Either way, he was proud of himself. He'd gotten better at reacting less, and at knowing when and how to deal with too many stimuli. And now, he'd scored a frankly ridiculous amount of goals already.

Perhaps, after all, it wasn't that surprising.

Clapping Youssef off, he nodded efficiently at Roald as he came on. So. No hat-trick for Youssef today but, maybe he could still get one. He glanced at the clock. There was still time to score again.

Taking off directly from the restart, he surprised the HUElavian attacker who'd been more used to Youssef occupying that role, and easily dispossessed him. Advancing quickly, he looked for the counter-runs from Mikkel and Roald. Nothing. Jalmari? Wojciech? Nope. He paused mid-stride to check his run and wait for support, accidentally throwing two defenders off his line at the same time. Suddenly, an opportunity. Suddenly, he was through. Holding off the advances of one defender he outpaced a second, and then, just as he was able to pick out Youssef's laugh of disbelief at his desire to outscore him floating over from the bench, he was taken out by a third. Swearing, he collapsed in the box like origami.

The whistle blew. Penalty. He picked up the ball eagerly, and then, like fog of battle lifting, a moment of pure clarity. He'd never been a stat-padder. He used to be, but not now. Not this version of him. Looking at Roald approaching, in need of his first international goal, Emmanuele knew he couldn't go back to his old ways now. And wouldn’t.

He handed the ball to Roald, much to the surprise of everyone, and then watched and congratulated his young teammate in turn as the spot kick was calmly scored for the Chicks' sixth goal of the evening. He smiled as he headed back to the centre circle. That should do it. Sure enough, a substitute board. Alf was replacing him, and, for once, he wasn't mad about it. This was a long tournament - they weren't halfway through if all went to plan - and he was going to need to rest up and gain the support of his colleagues if he was going to get what he wanted. However he could help with that, he had to make sure nothing stood in his way.

** ** ** ** **
Volume Two
i - ii - iii - iiii - v - vi - vii.a) - vii.b) - vii.c) - vii.d) - vii.e) - vii.f) - vii.g) - viii

[Huayramarca]

The world and probabilities that give shape to what we have in front of us, and what we process with our eyes, can turn somewhat funny and have unsuspected coincidences from one place to other. Huayramarca has had a pretty interesting moment as of late, as the Condors have won CAFA, reached semifinals of the Confederations Cup and now they are reaching a surprisingly high stage of the Di Bradini Cup, that when it comes to previous participations from the Condors who turned to be flops or just a monument to the lack of interest towards youth football prior the arrival of Blâás Âgínsôgnó. A coincidence that has made Huayramarca find The Kytler Peninsulae in the Quarterfinals of this DBC, the same nation that happens to be the rival of the Condors in the next WCQ.

Three goals against have received so far the Condors, a rather low number considering that Âgínsôgnó is not a manager that emphasises on defending, being this a trend that he has implemented all over the football spectrum of the National Team of Huayramarca (from the Seniors to the youngest squads). The National Team Players have had other plans in mind, as we already have a strong base with Ian Narváez and Rubén Cochachi as centre-backs; this pair has been able to provide a relief to the manager, as they have been essential to reduce the workload of Leonel Manosalvas during the matches, as they both decide to either press together or define zones for each of them to mark… All according to the circumstances, but this pair seems that they are able to coordinate those duties naturally.

During the match against Shieldstan, they were key with Lex-Crowley Caicedo that the defence would work in the best way possible, as Caicedo switched sometimes with either Delgado and Aramburu to force the Shieldstani players to go to the middle, letting the centre-backs able to recover the ball with a cross right to the foot of Dante Rumiñahui.

Rumiñahui, the Barrio Alto player who has been the most significant revelation of the tournament so far for this team, has been able to replicate what has put him here in the first place, a fast-paced brand of football that is able to exploit creativity in quite unpredictable fashion, as he tries to serve both Nafuna Congo and Ferguson Lijerón with precious passes, right for them to score against the rivals. Rumiñahui has controlled successfully the tempo of the game, knowing how to handle it as he feels the flow of the match, either he asks to slow the game or accelerate the movements and being more offensive… Huayramarca has a promising player once the Condors need to do a replacement in the midfield.

Blâás Âgínsôgnó talked during the presser about the Quarterfinal against the Kytlerians: “The Kytler Peninsulae is a team that has a great past, and they will want to make themselves be heard, to be heard after they said ‘we are back’. That kind of teams will always be dangerous, because they are the kind of teams that want to send a statement towards the fans in the multiverse… But we also want to send a statement, we also want to show that Huayramarca is working from the bottom to the top, building a coherent game identity across all the different levels of football, a constant and fertile ground for an idea that will simplify adaptation in a future.”

Theriault Aramburu, one of the midfielders, consider that “the key of any match will be in our territory, in the midfield, as we need to win every single ball, we need to keep the rival away from our danger zone, so we need to press them as much as possible, to not give them any chance to damage our plans.” Then, he decided to add “This kind of matches need to be played with aggressivity, as there is a lot on stake, and we also want to do something good for the nation, henceforth we will seek to give our best.”

It will be a quite interesting match for the Condors, as they progress in the hopes of achieving a historical performance in this tournament, and don’t let aside the chance to give projection to new players from the national league in order to export them to different leagues across the Multiverse. That kind of initiatives will help Huyaramarca to have a more competent game plan, idea, that will help them to adapt to a variated set of alternatives that will cause havoc on rivals, from defending to attacking.

[Cabo Azure]

When King Adolfo II took the throne, one hundred and fifty-eight years before his great-great grandson King Manuel, he inherited a feudal monarchy with no middle class and no industrial base to speak of, at a time when Nephara had long since killed its king and most of Rushmore was in the throes of democratic revolutions. The majority of Adolfo’s subjects were subsistence farmers, serfs, and any additional value they produced was quickly gobbled up by a decadent aristocratic class which ruled with the full force of law on each of the islands.

Legend says that on his first day as king, Adolfo heard a widow from Dulce Muerte, who told him her son couldn’t afford to marry his fiance because he had to support her, but there is little contemporary reporting to verify this. It is more likely that Adolfo, as a young king with few allies, was afraid the powerful nobles would seek to overthrow him and so took preemptive action, likely on the advice of his praetorians. Whatever the reason, among the first proclamations from the young king was that taxation would be centralized. This significantly elevated the praetorians at the expense of the nobility.

Under the feudal tax system, a large portion of taxes collected on the islands were meant to go to the crown; however, over decades the nobility had grown accustomed to keeping larger and larger portions of the taxes for themselves, often causing them to over-tax at the expense of their serfs. The centralization of the tax system was immediately popular with the people of Cabo Azure; however, the logistics were significantly more complicated, requiring the use of praetorians as go-betweens that greatly increased the crown's reliance on them.

The consequences for the noble houses were dire; within a generation, all but the Silvas of Aho had sold their ancestral homes and integrated into the wider population. Tito Silva kept his house afloat and maintained possession of the ancestral estate, Villa Silva, by virtue of the Silvas controlling the largest merchant fleet and a robust commercial empire besides. The Silvas' mercantile spirit also meant taxes on Aho had been lower for generations, which stimulated the growth of what would become the city of Sao Simone.

Other houses reacted differently; some in the smaller islands were run off by their former serfs, while the house of Del Toro on Dulce Muerte continued levying taxes without the king's permission, integrating into the local organized crime.

[The Kytler Peninsulae]

There's been an awful lot of exciting developments in Kytlerian sport lately, what with the whole "coming out of isolation" thing and then actually doing rather well at a lot of different events after that. Coming out of their cage, and they've been doing just fine, to say the least.

Now, you can add a new soccer chant to the mix.

"1-0 to the Kytler boys" was the refrain from the green-clad supporters inside the iconic Raynor Memorial venue, as the Kytlerian under-21s secured a third win by that scoreline in four matches at this Di Bradini Cup and earned passage to a quarter-final with Huayramarca. How many players involved in this will be on the field for their senior sides when they collide in WC95 qualifying? Given the established nature of the Huayramarca senior side, one would assume not many of these youngsters will break that team yet; for the Kytlerians and their utter lack of inexperience, the question is more along the lines of how many older players will be allowed to break up this side. The split squad at the Copa Rushmori faced essentially insurmountable odds and couldn't defy them; the Brevity Challenge Cup side looked better, but that tournament is known for being a wild card and a great leveller.

One thing that's abundantly clear is that Vincent will be a fixture in the senior side for the forseeable future and that this future is starting now. Again he took control of this match in midfield, creating dangerous opportunities that forced multiple good saves out of Aphrilia captain Phillip Karnwell. Three minutes before the break, it looked like he might have laid the platform for his Junior Archers to secure a lead against the run of play when his long clearance was flicked on by Andre Byrnehill towards the onrushing Kevin Lacey, who beat both the high line and Reggie Foster in the Kytlerian goal. Or so it was thought. The offside flag was belatedly, but correctly, waved to denote that he hadn't, in fact, beaten that high line legally.

Just two minutes later, a 44th-minute goal that proved to be the winner; Vincent drifted wide to the left, dropped a teasing cross towards the far post, and Danny Markusson was too tall and too strong to be denied his clear header into the bottom corner. The second half was hardly fun for the neutral as the Kytlerians snuffed out any Aphrilian threats rapidly and seemed nervous to take any chances themselves, but at 1-0 up your first thought is going to be towards keeping the goose egg on the other side of the scoreboard, and the Kytlerians certainly did that. The defensive maturity of this side makes it seem even more likely that this will be the instant nucleus of the senior squad sooner rather than later. But Huayramarca should be a bigger test. Then again, when it comes to debuting Kytlerians, "should" is a pretty feeble word...

[Valanora]

The match against Quebec and Shingoryeo was supposed to be the Marauders biggest test, taking on a group leader who had seemingly found easy pickings through the group stage where as the Marauders had a slip up in the prior engagement. Not only that but the Quebecois national team on the senior level is renowned for being an explosive team who can score tons of goals in a hurry on you if you are not prepared to deal with their talented attacking players. While the youth national team had not shown that kind of lethality in front of the net, they had shown a stern resolve in front of their own net and preventing the opposition from getting many clear cut looks on net and the good scoring opportunities that come with them. While the Marauders might have had a special talent in the form of Imre Haaland, the team from Quebec was a special unit unto itself and stood as an high obstacle for the Marauders to try to find their way over or around and into the Quarterfinals of the tournament.

The Quebec side would challenge the Marauders early, with Rasmus Andersen failing to win a clearance from the Quebec keeper and Maude-Leanne Coupet taking it down, turning the Vanorian defender before testing the reflexes of Nikolai Simonsen in net. The Baskita FC keeper was up to the task and able to punch it around the post for a corner, then easily collecting the ensueing corner with ease as it was hit too close to him. It was a threat to the Vanorian defense but one that brought a certain level of focus from the defensive unit from that moment moving forward, as the Marauders midfield tries to apply their squeezing pressure to the game and assert the Marauders desired game plan into motion. Haaland would chest down a cross and then touch it forward for Aurora Nilsen to run on to, which she did and then put the keeper on the wrong foot before sliding home the opening effort a few minutes before the half time whistle. It had been coming but it was relief all the same to get the goal before the break and good for Nilsen to get her name on the scoreboard to show the team was more than just a one man show.

It seemed like the game plan for Quebec was to prevent Haaland from being the reason that they were going to lose, as he was constantly being pressed and double teamed by the Quebecois players. If the belief was that if you could stop Imre, then you would stop the Marauders from being able to do anything, it was a poor plan as the side continued to pepper the Quebec net in the second half with shots. Eventually Caspian Garberg would double the lead with being the last one to a scramble in the box after a corner, after Nilsen's attempted cross was deflected to the top of the box where the attacking midfielder met it with a first time shot into the near post that the keeper could not get down quick enough for nor see through the mess of bodies in the area. It was not the most clean of goals nor the most clean of victories, but both were welcome by the home fans as the side showed their strength and depth in overcoming what was supposed to be a superior opponent to advance into the quarterfinals.

The Marauders now travel to Valanari where they will be facing newcomers Xiaolin, who managed to put four past our regionmates of Squrnshelan Remnant States in a six goal affair. They were not the favored side in their group nor their knockout tie and yet here they stand ready to take on the Marauders team who will be coming off quite the high of managing to get past the Quebecois outfit. Unlike the Quebec side who were keen on preventing goals, the Xiaolin side seems one who is ready to throw numbers up into the attack and harry their opponents into making mistakes. They are like to try and grind the Marauders down through sheer athleticism, which may be the wrong avenue to pursue with the current Marauders youth team, whom have quite a few players with a lot of pace, stamina, and a fair amount of strength themselves. If it comes to technical acumen, then the Marauders should have the advantage, with so many coming through various academies in the Empire that emphasize the technical play. There is steady optimism that the side should be able to win and find themselves once more in the semifinals of the tournament where only two wins would separate them and lifting the trophy on home soil.

[Valanora]

Quarterfinals
Huayramarca 3–1 The Kytler Peninsulae
Xiaolin 2–3 Valanora*
Josifovo 0–1 Polar Islandstates
Cabo Azure 6–3 Mytanija
*Scorinated by Sylestone

Semifinal Fixtures
Huayramarca v Valanora @ Hatire Memorial, Capri
Polar Islandstates v Cabo Azure @ Angelotic Temple, Longview

[Polar Islandstates]

SOUR CHERRIES
Part vii.e)
Electricity/Entity
i - ii - iii - iiii - v - vi - vii.a) - vii.b) - vii.c) - vii.d) - vii.e) - vii.f) - vii.g) - viii
Volume Two
** ** ** ** **

Even on the training ground, Youssef hadn't seen the Chicks playing like this before. After Muralos had been beaten two nil, goals coming from Emmanuele and Mikkel, and then another goal from Emmanuele in the victory against Josifovo, they'd gone back to their base to prepare for the semi-final against Cabo Azure, and it was safe to say that things were going well. The squad were focused. Nic had barely any motivational responsibilities right now, let alone Youssef. All they had to do was point the squad in the direction of the practise pitches, apparently. The team had totally left behind their nerves and their immaturity.

Leaving the OO behind however, that was another matter entirely. Youssef felt like he was spending half his time keeping the evidence of their presence away from Emmanuele, although luckily his partner hadn't seemed to notice at all.

Every day, Youssef woke up in the room they were sharing together at the hotel and made sure he was the first to the window. He made such a show of flinging open the curtains each time for the benefit of those outside he knew would have their lenses trained in their window that he wouldn't have been surprised if either the OO or Emmanuele himself started to suspect he was suppressing a career in musical theatre by being a footballer instead. He was keen to make sure he loudly talked about anything and everything whenever they walked past someone he didn't recognise in the support team, and he was even risking answering Emmanuele's phone 'by mistake' right now.

Clearly though, this was a risk worth taking.

That astonishing volleyed finished against Josifovo was tipping Emmanuele's contribution to the tournament into the "okay, this is getting silly now" territory usually reserved for stories of tournaments long since gone. Times when a good centre forward could happily rifle in a goal a game at least and still not trouble the top of the goalscoring charts. It was a hot streak that even the Terns' very best would've been proud of: Kolehmainen, Saarinen, Irndtor, Larsen, Skye, van Sorensen... Names that nobody in the DBC squad there could hold a candle to just yet, but to be capable of something they'd be proud of, that was something worth acknowledging.

Right now, right now, Emmanuele Niemi might have been the best striker in the multiverse. Even if that only last for the duration of the tournament, it would be enough. So long as Emmanuele kept firing, Youssef was happy to keep doing whatever it took to keep the ever-watchful OO off his back.

If Emmanuele had even been flirting with the idea of doing another provocative celebration like last time, Youssef might have understood their presence, but no. Emmanuele had been taking it seriously this time, and so the continued watchful eye of the OO was a little heavy-handed, Youssef thought. He reasoned that everyone was being watched to some extent, but this was extreme. They weren't being subtle about it, and it was so hard to stop Emmanuele from seeing them sometimes it was almost like they wanted to get spotted.

Come to think of it, maybe that was the point...

If that was the case, Youssef really was interfering with their plans. He didn't really want to face the wrath of The Party, not given the number of operatives he kept seeing, especially that one guy... But there would be a time to worry about that in the future. Right now; Emmanuele was the centre of everyone's attention, and was once again in the zone.

There was a crowd gathering: Youssef included, a number of players had paused their drills to watch what Emmanuele was up to in his. Dodge, side-step, lunge, two steps; bottom left. Even some of the Vanorian staff at the training complex were stopping to watch. Dodge, side-step, lunge, two steps; bottom right. There was something in the air. Youssef felt the hairs on his neck starting to stand on end slightly. Dodge, side-step, lunge, two steps; top left. And he knew he wasn't the only one feeling it, otherwise all these people wouldn't be watching too. Dodge, side-step, lunge, two steps; top right. And amongst it all, Youssef saw him. That shadowy figure. An OO agent who dared come closer than the rest and who was by now beginning to look all too familiar. Nerves shot through Youssef like a jolt, but Emmanuele wasn't paying attention to anything other than the ball right now.

Youssef let them watch. Even if the OO had been aiming to put Emmanuele off, it wasn't working right now. And besides, greatness needed an audience. Timo Skye had 'his' Copa, and Emmanuele was two games away from having 'his' DBC. So long as the OO let him...

/

He was his own person. That was the mantra. Going through the drills, he was visualising his part in the victories up until this point. His place in the system. The praxis. The way the team worked together to achieve their goals. He knew he was only one player amongst twenty-three, and amongst eleven at any given moment, but he was treading a fine mental line between assimilating his role into that of the greater good and making sure he kept ahold of that personal responsibility. He was there to score goals. That was his job. Not to abandon his teammates, or to work selfishly without them, but to provide the killer blows that only he could. Youssef could do it too, he wasn't there trying to win everything by himself, but he was his own person. Not one of two, or one of eleven, there was nobody else he could blame if they failed. Just himself. Just one.

And failure wasn't an option. Not now he'd come so far. Not after everything he went through last time. All that energy and effort, all those hours on the operating table and the psychologist's couch. He would do anything to make sure that he achieved his goals. Mentally and physically, he had to make sure he was in prime condition.

If that meant blocking things out, then fine. He was dreaming about the accident, recently. How had it happened. He was sure something dodgy had been going on, and now his imagination was working overtime, even in his sleep apparently. He was able forget it, mostly, but in his quieter moments, his weaker moments, that anxiety came back. Those worries. He mostly had it under control, but they had the ability to come back just like 'that'.

And that didn't mean his happier moments were easier to deal with either. Even now, as his drills carried on in monotonous and ruthless displays of goalscoring, he was visualising winning. And not in the "setting yourself targets" way, either. In a piece of his brain, and small dangerous neighborhood of hubris existed. There, he'd already won. As goal after goal went in, he could almost hear the fanfares already, taste the sparkling wine, see the confetti...

Which is exactly why he'd called his therapist last night. He didn't want to get ahead of himself. Assuming victory once you'd reached a certain point was a guaranteed way to induce lessening your effort. You've won already, right? So why try harder? And that only led to one thing: defeat.

Ignoring the crowd, he didn't even look around. He just kept going. Goal. Goal. Goal. Swivel, twist, goal. Leap, bound, goal. He had to remind focused. Goal. To rely on himself. Goal. To banish his demons. Goal. To make his parents proud, to make himself proud, to win that golden medal at last and prove to the slimeball that he should be allowed to celebrate however he wanted. Goal. Goal. Goal. He was thinking of one thing and one thing only: achieving victory.

** ** ** ** **
Volume Two
i - ii - iii - iiii - v - vi - vii.a) - vii.b) - vii.c) - vii.d) - vii.e) - vii.f) - vii.g) - viii