World Cup 96 - Rosters Thread

[Semarland]

SEMARLAND NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM, OFFICIAL WORLD CUP 96 SQUAD

NATIONAL STADIUM - Natunolstadion, Jansberg, 86,000


Home - Goalkeeper - Away
Kits kindly manufactured by VUCTI Kits

Cortell Carrasco's reign has been best described as a "mixed bag". A 32.1% win rate from his 56 games in charge isn't exactly much to write home about, but at the same time, it seems respectable enough given Semarland's stature in the multiverse. A strong showing at the last Summer Olympics and making it into the knockout stages of the last Brevity Cup have perhaps been the highlights so far, compared to the lowlights of some of the poor performances shown in previous World Cup qualifications and CAFAs 7 and 8. The SFA are rumoured to be looking up potential replacements for Carrasco, who may be thinking of retirement soon, but both parties are deep down hoping they'll be at least able to maybe contend for a playoff spot, or a respectable enough finish at best. 35 players in total are named, and should Semarland successfully qualify for the final stages, that number would be then whittled down to 23.

STAFF:
Manager: Cortell Carrasco, 66
Plucked from Sporting Saint Adrensburg by the SFA, Cortell Carrasco has been one of the league's most successful managers over the last fifteen or so years. With just the one league title to his name, some may think he wasn't the best choice, but his long-term transformation of SSA has been truly remarkable. A talented tactical mind who happens to be a close friend of his predecessor Kadell Stevens who reportedly nominated him for the job. Expect attractive football - not as high-pace as Stevens, but still nice enough to watch with a focus on defence as much as attack, a nice balance. Oh, and he's brought his entire SSA backroom with him as well, so if someone's going to enjoy this, it's the SSA fans...

Assistant manager: Devonte Northfield, 50
SSA legend who never really got to make his mark for Semarland internationally - Devonte Northfield was quite unlucky given he was actually half-decent as a player and he had a lot of talent ahead of him. But he made his mark for his club, which led to him getting a job as coach within the youth team - and you know the story. He rose through the staffing ranks the same way he did in the playing ranks and wound up assistant manager to Carrasco after the retirement of his previous assistant Martin Etienne. Developing his tactical mind through Carrasco's mentorship, many were hoping he'd take up the reigns at SSA rather than join the rest of the backroom team, he didn't want to pass up the opportunity to represent his country in the dugout.

First team coaches: Marcos Sevenoaks, 48 and Cyrone Eastwood, 40
Two players (also SSA legends, if you notice the recurring theme) who did get to make their mark for Semarland internationally. Marcos Sevenoaks was a powerful winger with a thunderous left boot and Cyrone Eastwood was a midfielder who was one of those midfielders who did the job and made things tick without everyone else really clocking what they were doing, but being aware...if that makes sense? Anyway, they're not bad coaches - not as good as they were players, mind, but Carrasco trusts them enough to come with him to the big stage. They might not have as much tactical input as Northfield does, but we're sure they'll throw a piece of advice in or too. Their experience as regular-ish internationals, something that Carrasco and Northfield lack, will come in handy too, especially considering none of these players have pulled on the Semarland shirt before.

Goalkeeping coach: Devane Marylebone, 54
The last of the legends (God, anyone would think the SFA were raging SSA ultras or something...) and like Sevenoaks & Eastwood, a pretty decent player for club and country. Might have been too old for the league title win, he played his part as goalkeeping coach and had earned his name in SSA legacy as a player beforehand anyway. We could write loads more waffle about his abilities as a goalkeeping coach, but we won't bore you - he does his job well and will no doubt pass on his experience well.

Fitness coach: Boscoe Baywood, 63
Physio: Maxwell Eirsen, 45
Okay, we can't really call these guys "legends", they never even played professionally, let alone for Semarland. Or SSA for that matter? Unless the 5-a-side league counts. But in seriousness they're good at their job. SSA rarely struggled with injuries during Carrasco's time as manager, and that was thanks to the training regimes and medcial attention of Boscoe Baywood and Maxwell Eirsen respectively. Hopefully Semarland won't struggle with injuries like they used to way back when. We might allow ourselves to get our hopes up...

PLAYERS:
All ages & statistics correct at the beginning of the 2053/54 season
GOALKEEPERS:
#1 - GK - Russell Boakye-Yiadom - Age 23 - FC Jansberg - 20 caps
#12 - GK - Gaetano Jorgensen - Age 29 - Kangemark Sport - 8 caps
#13 - GK - Kevin Yamoah - Age 28 - Sporting Solsholm - Uncapped
#24 - GK - Casper Winter - Age 31 - Molsbik Arkjet - 4 caps
Four goalkeepers are named, with young FC Jansberg custodian Russell Boakye-Yiadom the new #1 following Matthias Baxter's retirement. One of the stars of Semarland's successful Olympics campaign, it's arguable that Boakye-Yiadom has been better for club than country generally speaking, but the 23 year old will be looking to prove the doubters wrong as Semarland seek qualification for World Cup 96. Backing him up are Kangemark Sport's beloved Gaetano Jorgensen, a true fan favourite, Molsbik Arkjet's Casper Winter, another consistent shot stopper who has impressed especially in recent seasons for Arkjet, and will be a key member of their team in the upcoming IFCF competitions, and a new face - Sporting Solsholm's Kevin Yamoah. Like Winter, Yamoah has been one of the most reliable goalkeepers in the league these past few years, and is granted a long-deserved callup by Carrasco.

DEFENDERS:
#2 - DR - Karl Kvist (vc) - Age 27 - SK Nasjonale Hauker (PIS) - 33 caps, 3 goals, 4 assists
#3 - DL - Ecuador Sorensen - Age 26 - FC Nuholm - 33 caps, 1 assist
#4 - DC - Kortney Delaware - Age 24 - Eikborg Club - 30 caps, 1 goal
#5 - DC - Pascal Melbourne - Age 25 - FC Nuholm - 29 caps, 1 goal
#18 - DC - Gael Larsen - Age 28 - North Star Grímsey (PIS) - 25 caps, 1 goal
#19 - DR - Tyrique Ritchie - Age 28 - FC Jansberg - 16 caps, 1 assist
#21 - DL - Andre Driscoll-Glennon - Age 29 - FC Kolberg - 20 caps
#22 - DC - Donell Brandon - Age 29 - FC Nuholm - 2 caps
#25 - DR - Akim Hanley - Age 28 - Krsthaven - 7 caps
#26 - DL - Edgar Kangwa - Age 25 - Eikborg Club - 8 caps, 1 goal, 1 assist
#27 - DC - Stephen Boakye-Gyan - Age 26 - FC Jansberg - 17 caps
#28 - DC - Rahim Nallo - Age 22 - Krsthaven - 14 caps, 1 goal
Krsthaven fans were probably more hurt by the departure of Karl Kvist to SK Nasjonale Hauker of Polar Islandstates than they were because they failed to qualify for IFCF football two seasons ago which says a lot about Kvist's ability. The full-back will no doubt be a mainstay of the national team for years to come, and it's not hard to see why. Ecuador Sorensen takes the #3 shirt and the starting position on the opposite flank after Andre Driscoll-Glennon's injury issues resurfaced, whilst inn the heart of defence, Pascal Melbourne and Kortney Delaware have a blossoming partnership that has had some shaky moments - but there's no doubt the talent is there. Delaware is future captain material for club and country after impressing under the tutelage of former national team captain Shone Andrews, whose spot he takes after his retirement. The aforementioned Driscoll-Glennon drops to the bench after falling below Sorensen in the pecking order, whilst Tyrique Ritchie will be itching to add an injection of pace off the bench should the game require it. Stephen Boakye-Gyan was one of the more impressive defenders in the WC95 campaign, as well as one of the best in the league, whilst Rahim Nallo finally made his move to Krsthaven from Kangemark Sport in the summer. Wing-backs Edgar Kangwa and Akim Hanley are also alternative options to consider too, with the former the highest scoring and highest assisting full back in the league last season.

MIDFIELDERS:
#6 - DMC - Byron Mandanda - Age 23 - FC Jansberg - 37 caps, 1 goal, 3 assists
#7 - AMR - Kyrone Paris - Age 28 - FC Nuholm - 35 caps, 4 goals, 8 assists
#8 - MC - Jamal Barker (c) - Age 28 - Krsthaven - 40 caps, 3 goals, 8 assists
#10 - AMC - Chevone Clarke - Age 26 - FC Nuholm - 32 caps, 6 goals, 16 assists
#11 - AML - D'Jean Hamilton - Age 25 - Pamuk Trunca (MYT) - 34 caps, 6 goals, 15 assists
#14 - MC - Lyrone Eastwood - Age 30 - Sporting Saint Adrensburg - 21 caps, 2 assists
#17 - DMC - Rameses Kristoffersen - Age 27 - Molsbik Arkjet - 25 caps, 2 goals, 1 assist
#20 - AMC - Hakim Masters - Age 29 - Eikborg Club - 20 caps, 3 goals, 5 assists
#23 - MC - Johan Chevron - Age 28 - FC Nuholm - 21 caps, 2 assists
#29 - DMC - Carlos Bergmark - Age 28 - Sporting Solsholm - 5 caps
#30 - AMR - Chris Simmonds - Age 27 - FC Jansberg - 9 caps, 2 goals, 1 assist
#31 - MC - John Omrore - Age 27 - Molsbik Arkjet - 15 caps, 2 goals, 3 assists
#33 - AMC - Pascal Geneva - Age 25 - Brondby - 3 caps, 1 goal, 2 assists
#34 - AML - Nahom Teklemariam - Age 22 - FC Jansberg - 17 caps, 3 goals, 6 assists
New captain Jamal Barker could be described as the beating heart in midfield, a complete midfielder loved by the nation no matter what team they support. A threat going forward as much as he is capable protecting the defence, he offers a really solid presence on and off the pitch. Molsbik Arkjet's Rameses Kristoffersen has struggled with injury woes for some time and faces strong competition in new #6 Byron Mandanda of FC Jansberg for a starting spot in midfield alongside Barker, whilst the likes of Lyrone Eastwood, Johan Chevron and John Omrore are all useful alternatives also. Carlos Bergmark is a relatively new addition, with the Sporting Solsholm midfield maestro a set piece specialist and midfield general all in one, whilst creatively, Carrasco has the options of either Chevone Clarke, Hakim Masters or Pascal Geneva for the #10 role. Clarke is arguably the most talented midfielder in the squad bar Barker, and his statistics make good reading. In terms of wingers, D'Jean Hamilton and Kyrone Paris will likely start, with Hamilton perhaps the most technically gifted in the entire squad. Nahom Teklemariam was poached by FC Jansberg as a replacement for Hamilton who departed for Mytanar side Pamuk Trunca, whilst his new teammate Chris Simmonds has consistently contributed an impressive goals and assist record for the last few years at club level.

STRIKERS:
#9 - ST - Loick Sorensen - Age 28 - SK Franz Josef City (PIS) - 28 caps, 14 goals, 1 assist
#15 - ST - Kyren Yeboah - Age 20 - Eikborg Club - 6 caps, 5 goals
#16 - ST - Gennaro Christie - Age 29 - Emberton Hibernians (KRY) - 22 caps, 8 goals
#32 - ST - Bismark Boateng - Age 27 - Molsbik Arkjet - 13 caps, 7 goals, 1 assist
#35 - ST - Ramello Marshall - Age 21 - Krsthaven - 7 caps, 3 goals
Loick Sorensen and Gennaro Christie rival each other for the #9 shirt the same way they rivalled each other for years for the Premarligaen golden boot. Both have departed now, with Sorensen plying his trade in Polar Islandstates for SK Franz Josef City, and Christie featuring for Krytenian side Emberton Hibernians. It's fair to say Sorensen has edged it in recent years, and has been the more effective option so far internationally. Both are considered "complete" strikers, who don't rely on creative support and can score goals without them, but are no doubt more effective with a good team around them. Both are wary of the trio fo strikers hot on their heels - with youngsters Kyren Yeboah and Ramello Marshall translating their exciting club form to the international stage well, and Sorensen and Christie's closest rival from the Premarligaen days Bismark Boateng also managing an impressive scoring record on the international stage too. Perhaps now the strongest area of the team, with any of the five strikers selected proving more than capable.

STYLE MOD: +2

RP Permissions Box
If my opponent RPs our match first, I give them permission to:
Choose my goalscorers: Yes.
Godmod scoring events: Yes.
RP Injuries to my players: Yes, within reason and I reserve the right to change severity.
Godmod injuries to my players: Yes, within reason and I reserve the right to change severity.
Hand out yellow cards to my players: Yes.
Hand out red cards to my players: Yes - 2 maximum, but not to the captain or vice captain please.
Godmod other events: Depending on what it is, please give me a message beforehand just in case!

In terms of the Semarland footballing calendar, qualification will ICly take place throughout the 2053/54 season, the upcoming season to be submitted for the next IFCF cutoff.

[Pasarga]

Choose my goalscorers Y
Godmod Scoring Events Y
RP injuries to my players N
Godmod injuries to my players N
Hand out Yellow cards to my players Y
Hand out Red cards to my players Y
Godmod Other Events Y

Pasarga Roster
Nickname: Wanderers
Ranking: 18th
Most Caps: Mór Császár (196)
Most Goals: Ingþór Auðbjörnsson (124)

Kits

Stadium: Stade de Torgos, Torgos (90,000)

Home Away Third
Modifier: +1

Manager: Ingþór Auðbjörnsson, age 52
Assistant: Jürgen Eisenhower, age 50

Goalkeepers
GK: Tomáš Přibyl, age 33, Royal Jam FC
GK: Maja Topić, age 28, Brantisvogan (F)
GK: Olivér Szatmári, age 31, Sardin United
GK: Dalma Kollár, age 33, Tanrısal (F)
GK: Illed Chávez Sedillo, age 34, Santos Luega (F)

If there is one person who probably has their position on lock regardless of whoever is in charge of the national team, it would be Tomáš Přibyl, as the extraordinary keeper continues to make ridiculous save after ridiculous save at club and international level. The players who are backing him up seem to rotate on end but he has been the mainstay at the position and it is hard to make an argument against him giving how well he has played since he broke into the Royal Jam first team twelve years ago. In a theme for the team though, the players behind him have been shaken up, as Maja Topić gets rewarded for a good season with Brantisvogan and Olivér Szatmári gets recalled back into the national team after having helped Sardin have the best defensive record in the SuperLiga last season gone, being a pure shot stopper while Maja offers her lightning reflexes and a growing acumen for the game and ability to direct her defense quite well when afforded the opportunity to do so.

Defenders
LB: Jakub Svatoš, age 33, Mar Sara FC
LB: Slava Jakšić, age 28, Megabrantid (F)
LB: Kati Máté, age 29, Jaglan Royals (F)
CB: Frančiška Marija Žužinjak, age 32, Sardin United (F)
CB: Margo Szôts, age 26, Syneca (F)
CB: Ascensión Laureano Tórrez, age 30, Santos Luega (F)
CB: Joshua Ledesma Rivero, age 30, Santos Luega
CB: Kamil Schneider, age 23, Sardin United
CB: Irena Horvat, age 28, Concord Heights City (F)
RB: Remi van Blijderveen, age 28, Sardin United (F)
RB: Dagmar Valešová, age 29, Duke of the North (F)
RB: Mislav Ivančić, age 28, Alnio

As Thor enters into the fray and tries to sort out the national team, few players over the age of thirty have been able to retain their place, having needed to either be in a position of weakness and could not afford to be dismissed or be simply too good not to include in the team, Jakub Svatoš is among the latter as the captain has been a real bright spot in the defense over the years. While not a defensive fullback by any means, he has the ability to track back well and do a bit of marking but he's at his best when making diving runs into the opposition area and whipping in crosses and putting in through balls for the attackers. Žužinjak will hope her summer transfer to Sardin which is renowned for its defensive prowess will keep her in the national team for a few more years yet as she looks to be the anchor in the center of the pitch, being partnered by Margo Szôts, as like many players in the pool has had a remarkable domestic season in Squornshelous. On the right that Sardin defensive muscle is on display as well with Remi van Blijderveen, who is the opposite of Svatoš, a more stay at home fullback and hopefully the two will balance each other and the formation out going forward and tracking back.

Midfielders

RW: Sumaiya Zakiyyah Aswad, age 28, Stein-los Turkish (F)
RW: Kat Földessi, age 29, CA Paulinthal (F)
RW: Bendegúz Pálfy, age 28, Hellinic Rouge
A/MC: Ilona Kárpáty, age 32, CA Paulinthal (F)
MC: Moore Lafontaine, age 30, Stein-los Turkish
A/MCLR: Sebestyen Sallay, age 28, Club Stein-los
MC: Lara Pranjić, age 28, Hornchurch (F)
A/MC: Zágon Schmid, age 24, Tanrısal
MC: Danica Jukić, age 28, Grande Mountain (F)
MC: Mátyás Vass, age 24, Northbrook Diamonds FK
LW: Asztrik Biró, age 28, Mâ Âlâmëómë
A/ML: Gillen Madrigal López, age 33, Raynor City United (F)
LW: Dominik Sedlák, age 30, Baskita FC

The midfield has ever been the strength of Wanderers sides and yet despite the talent the previous team had, Thor has shaken things up here as well, dropping Földessi from her spot on the right and inserting Aswad from Turkish after their remarkable SuperLiga winning season. Offering a bit more balance that her CAP counterpart, Aswad will hope to impress and make sure she is in the team and in the starting conversation still once the Qualifiers rolls around. On the left is another one of those near nailed on spots regardless of tactic or manager, as Asztrik Biró has been a real revelation and their brillaince at having broken into the Mâ Âlâmëómë first team as a teenager has definitely see them hit their full potential into a superstar now in their prime a near decade later. Dangerous as both a supplier as well as cutting in and finishing off attacking movements himself, he will be a real problem for any opposing players set to try to mark him. In the middle there is no denying the playmaking abilities of Ilona Kárpáty, and she is defying her age keeping up her pace quite well, while Moore Lafontaine looks to be her partner in a more support role and screening for the midfield. Off the bench there is Sebestyen Sallay, whose versatility in the midfield makes him quite the weapon to have, able to play nearly anywhere in the middle or slightly further forward with ease and will likely be the first man off the bench when Thor looks to change things up.

Strikers

ST: Nawar Taqwaa Bazzi, age 30, Stein-los Turkish
LW/ST: Elek Salai, age 33, Hellinic Rouge
ST: Eustacio Corral Magana, age 33, CA Paulinthal
ST: Neci Lôrinc, age 28, Galatica
AMLC/ST: Bogdan Laszlo, age 23, Algolia
ST: Adelbert Mezei, age 28, Baskita

There is no mistake, the Wanderers have a huge collection of attacking talent, but most of it is here and now and there seems a dearth of it following those that are currently in the pool and it provides the biggest amount of worry outside perhaps the left wing spot for the national team moving forward once Salai and Magana are forced to hang up their boots due to age. Trying to prepare for that, Thor has decided to move Bazzi ahead of Magana, as well as the form the striker has had in the past few seasons including the last one where they were part of the SuperLiga winning effort with their goal contributions. The big story though is the inclusion of Under-21 star and Audioslavian born Bogdan Laszlo in the pool and listed as an attacking, although their preferred position is playing on the left or in behind the strikers. Their talent has been on display at the youth level and then with the first teams of Shamrock Cathair in Audioslava as well as the season prior with Algolia following their transfer. It might be that this young lad is the answer to the questions of the future of the Wanderers attack, though for now he looks to be a depth option for the team either in attack or in a more withdrawn position.

Tactics



Thor comes into the side and looks to merely right the ship rather than rock the boat like Orengo had when the Banijan took over, looking to build upon the stability that Mueller seemed to bring during their interim charge of the team. Thor maintains a four four two look but one where one of the midfielders often drops into a holding or screening position in front of the defense and allows the playmaker the luxury of moving forward with the more attack oriented players out on the wings. To make sure there is good link up, Thor is asking one of the strikers to play a bit more off of the other, which should allow both pressure on the opposing defense but also the potential for link up play with the midfield, so that the entire play of the team can be more fluid and less rigid than the previous systems employed seemed to dictate.

Captain: Jakub Svatoš
Corner Taker: Asztrik Biró
Set Pieces: Ilona Kárpáty
Penalties: Elek Salai

[Sylestone]

STYLE MODIFIER: -5

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WORLD CUP 96 SQUAD

NAME				AGE		SEX		CAPS		GOALS		CLUB
GK: Ryan Macleay		27		M		39		0		Pesfield Trees 
GK: Brick Wall			??		??		227		1		Kirkham Sentients 
GK: Emily Charlton		26		F		1		0		FC Conton 

NAME				AGE		SEX		CAPS		GOALS		CLUB
LB: Jade Wettenhall		26		F		27		1		Pesfield Trees 
LB: Eden Holt			32		F		59		4		Ararat Severyan 
CB: Hugo Mornington (c)		32		M		80		2		Hesham 
CB: Jake Blackall		23		M		19		1		Capitol Athletic 
CB: Alana Faucett		26		F		49		1		CSKA Quebec 
CB: Alexander Nutt		28		M		27		1		Tihon 
CB: Alicia Dowie		23		F		7		0		Sanar 
RB: Holly Statton		23		F		29		1		Perce Town 
RB: Matilda Molineux		25		F		9		0		Capitol Athletic 

NAME				AGE		SEX		CAPS		GOALS		CLUB
LM: Jack Ryland			26		M		49		4		Serrapince 
LM: Cameron Milligan		26		M		14		0		Capitol Athletic 
CM: Gemma Rodway		30		F		77		9		Newark Argyle 
CM: Jack Lawson			26		M		59		2		Avondale City 
CM: Thomas Hellyer		23		M		17		3		Urrheddiao 
CM: Charlotte Woodfull		25		F		6		0		Tihon 
CM: Morgan Gallagher		26		M		2		0		Couno Rangers 
RM: Abigail Jones		32		F		72		7		Pria City 
RM: Alexandra Arnold		25		F		15		2		Whitepool 

NAME				AGE		SEX		CAPS		GOALS		CLUB
CAM: Brett Sarcav-Jones		21		M		43		8		St John's Arsenal 
CAM: Kye White			23		M		12		1		Chalesm FC 

NAME				AGE		SEX		CAPS		GOALS		CLUB
CF: Charlotte Eastwood		25		F		41		15		Lakewood United 
CF: Riley Strathfield		29		M		49		14		Cleorough 
CF: Callum Beauchamp		31		M		0		0		Mid-Capital 

Due to a crash in SFA software in Avondale, it is unknown whether caps and goals for each player will be updated by MD1 kickoff. We apologise for the inconvenience.

---

SYLESTONE NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM

World Cup 96 Qualifiers

Located in the far east of Esportiva, Sylestone is an equatorial nation home to roughly 30 million residents and while the vast, vast majority are humans, Sentients and even a small cluster of elves live on specific areas of the island, which has a size of roughly 700,000 kilometres squared. For the very first time in the nation’s history, though, Mytanar football manager Mojmir Anac’s squad to the 34th Campionato Esportiva and following World Cup Qualifiers - marking the return of international football for Sylestone in over half a decade - was composed of both Sentients as well as humans. In ages past, managers would prefer to not mix the two races out of fear for how that would go and with the Sentient sides almost always receiving the opportunity to play in tournaments while the humans sat in front of their televisions and watches, the vast majority of the Sylestonean population began to become distressed about this obvious favouritism. In fact, aside from the one Campionato Esportiva in the Licentian Isles that saw the human side capitulate to one point from three matches, they never actually received an official go.

But upon the heralded return of Sylestone to football and football to Sylestone, the appointment of Mojmir Anac changed all of that. Although a match between a mixed XI against Quebec and Shingoryeo had occurred the year before as part of a friendly series containing some of the multiverse’s biggest names, last year’s 34th Campionato Esportiva marked the very first time the two races shared the same half of a football field in an official game, or larger tournament. Although a mini-cup between the Sentients, Evermark, Tikariot and Quebec and Shingoryeo in Chamberley that saw the hosts’ only points come in a 2-2 draw with Evermark, results ever since have been the exact opposite of disappointing, and culminated in Anac being nominated as one of five nominees for International Manager of the Year in one Testiculos and even more importantly, saw Sylestone qualify for their first World Cup.

In fact, aside from Sylestone’s first foray into the World Cup three years ago in Græntfjall (RIP) and Kelssek, there hasn’t been a single tournament where Mojmir Anac has not impressed. His first tournament with the Sentients was the 34th Campionato Esportiva four years ago, where the team’s only two losses came against eventual champions Tumbra - once in the group stage and a second time in the knockouts after Sylestone had pulled off a massive upset by knocking off Brenecia following an 8-2 triumph over Macbon. The following World Cup Qualifiers are technically Sylestone’s best ever, recording 44 points in 22 games with a single digit in the goals conceded column… until Huayramarca took over Chamberley by storm in what ended up as an 8-4 shellacking over two playoff legs. However, two years later and backed by a fourth place finish in a home Campionato Esportiva alongside another strong World Cup Qualifying campaign, Anac’s side were not about to make the same mistake against Nyowani Kitara. Instead of mimicking their opponents style of football, they held their own as Riley Strathfield’s second half goal proved the difference in Græntfjall, sending the Sentients through to their first World Cup just three years after their return to the international scene.

After four wildly successful campaigns across the regional and multiversal levels, it was about time Mojmir Anac suffered his first failure. And even in this case, it’s still a tournament that ultimately garnered more praise than criticism, particularly internationally. Although they were out after their opening two fixtures, a pair of 1-0 hard fought 1-0 losses to Ko-oren and Eura were hardly anything to laugh about - although the better team won both encounters, either result could have swung the other way and no one would have batted an eye. It was the matchday three loss to the hosts that really hurt, the Sentients conceding six and even with a team composed primarily of second string players, that kind of result still hurts on the big stage.

But two years later, Anac would correct his wrongs. In front of a packed house in Chamberley for the country’s first ever home World Cup, the Sentients would once again face Ko-oren on matchday one and impressively, turn the result from two years before on its head as they walked away with their first ever three points on the biggest stage of all. Although a 3-0 loss to Mertagne in Pesfield complicated things, a hard fought 1-0 triumph over Baggieland would seal a round of 16 berth for the Sentients and send the entire nation into a frenzy.

It would only get wilder, too, when Abigail Jones cemented herself as a fan favourite with a delicate near post finish in the 28th minute to score the only legal goal of the game as Sylestone’s widely reputed back line got the job done the only way they knew how to. The final eight, with just Tumbra in the way of the semifinals and a genuine shot at the title.

Yeah, they couldn’t do it. The main culprits of Sylestone’s lack of success on the regional stage struck again, defeating the hosts 1-0 in a contest between Esportiva’s two best football teams, and two of the best defensive outfits in the modern world.

In recent months, the search for Mojmir Anac’s inaugural trophy with the Sentients has continued as the side has fallen in both the Campionato Esportiva final to Fhulghamous Peninsula and then in the International Confederations Cup final to Squornshelan Remnant States - a side Sylestone actually beat earlier in the tournament before falling when it mattered most. Anac deserves a trophy after all he’s done for the side over the past few years and although it’s supremely unlikely, it would admittedly be pure comedy if it were to be here in Mertagne and Huayramarca, where the holy grail itself lies…

Nickname: The Sentients
Formation: 4-4-1-1 → 4-2-3-1 or 5-4-1


MANAGER

Mojmir Anac (M, 43)
He’s a cult hero in Sylestone, and he fully deserves every skerrick of praise he has received. Not even a year into coaching, to have already been nominated as a candidate for the International Manager of the Year is truly spectacular, and in reality, he’s only just getting started. A former centre back with Olympia Thessia, Anac has already built a reputation for coaching defensive-minded football, with a strong preference for letting opponents dominate and then attacking them on the counter, giving up possession but certainly not giving up goals. Originally, Anac was employed by the Sylestonean Football Association (SFA) to attempt to unify the two races but with the nation’s human footballers beginning to outshine their counterparts from the Sentient city of Kirkham, that’s becoming less and less of a problem each and every day. Anac will push his players to their limits and demand lots of them but at the end of the day, he used to be a player as well, and knows just how hard that can be day in, day out.

GOALKEEPERS

NAME				AGE		SEX		CAPS		GOALS		CLUB
GK: Ryan Macleay		27		M		39		0		Pesfield Trees 
GK: Brick Wall			??		??		227		1		Kirkham Sentients 
GK: Emily Charlton		26		F		1		0		FC Conton 
GK: Luca Yali			26		M		0		0		Betham FC 

Ever since his first international cap, Ryan Macleay has asserted himself as Sylestone’s best between the sticks and as a result, it feels as though he’s been around a lifetime, not just for 39 caps. An elite shot stopper, he is a regular to League Number One highlight reels with his acrobatic saves, and his distribution at the back has markedly improved. He’s not really built like a goalkeeper - he’s skinny and barely touches 180 centimetres - but once you get past that the quality is clear. At 28 years of age, he could easily be the country's starting goalkeeper for another ten years and no one would bat an eye. Behind Macleay is the Brick Wall, who has gone through a small slump as of recent after the relegation of his beloved Kirkham Appliances, only for the Kirkham Sentients to pick him up to ensure he continues to play League Number One football. Emily Charlton will also receive more caps than her one over the course of qualifiers, or so she would hope, after a couple of strong seasons for the Bombers in the League Number One earning the Mid-Capital junior a call-up. Both she and Betham FC’s Luca Yali are well-rounded players with excellent distribution, although Charlton does have a handy knack against penalties and if Macleay is unavailable, is probably Sylestone’s best option in a shootout should they a) reach the playoff and b) reach the shootout.


DEFENDERS

NAME				AGE		SEX		CAPS		GOALS		CLUB
LB: Jade Wettenhall		26		F		27		1		Pesfield Trees 
LB: Eden Holt			32		F		59		4		Ararat Severyan 
LB: Isabella Cross		30		F		25		0		Avondale City 
CB: Hugo Mornington (c)		32		M		80		2		Hesham 
CB: Jake Blackall		23		M		19		1		Capitol Athletic 
CB: Alana Faucett		26		F		49		1		CSKA Quebec 
CB: Alexander Nutt		28		M		27		1		Tihon 
CB: Alicia Dowie		23		F		7		0		Sanar 
CB: Paige Nibbi			23		F		0		0		Chamberley City 
RB: Holly Statton		23		F		29		1		Perce Town 
RB: Matilda Molineux		25		F		9		0		Capitol Athletic 
RB: Harvey Martin		27		M		0		0		Chamberley City 

It’s a big name list, and it should be no surprise that is the case. There are even big names not making it into the dozen defenders who will be travelling around the multiverse in an attempt to qualify for their third successive World Cup and hopefully the first where they will not either be automatically placed through as hosts or via those dreaded playoffs. As always, skipper Hugo Mornington will lead the back line, with regular international fixtures something he hopes will cut out a rut of bad form at Tumbran club Hesham, where he's become a more than well respected member of the community. Particularly calm under the pressure of a defensive unit famous for their strength, Anac’s tactics are ideal for the 32-year-old to bring out his blistering best on the big stage, Mornington particularly strong when it comes to tackling and blocking forward runs. He will usually be joined by youngster Jake Blackall, one of the many faces that are considered the future of Sylestonean football, but will still face plenty of competition from the likes of Alana Faucett and Alexander Nutt on the bench, both of whom are performing very well for CSKA Quebec and Tihon respectively - the fact these two are playing at such successful clubs and not starting is a testament to the defensive strength the Sentients boast. On the left, it is thought that Jade Wettenhall’s recent success at both club and international level has seen her usurp Eden Holt for the starting spot, albeit mainly as a more defensive option for winger Jack Ryland’s aggressive streak. Holt, despite being 32, is still just as fast and athletic as she was in her youth and even though her stamina worsens with each passing year, at the top of her game she’s still breathtaking to watch. While Wettenhall and Holt both like going up, Avondale City’s Isabella Cross provides much more at the back compared to both, and could well play a role when defending a lead, or when creating a back three should the right back look to move up the pitch more.

The right back position has been a place of contention in recent times for Sylestone, with no one really locking it down until Holly Statton over the past year. Now, her predecessor, Lesley Keller, is completely out of the squad on the back of a form slump with Straton in the T-League, Capitol Athletic’s Matilda Molineux being favoured after an excellent Campionato Esportiva and ICC, while Harvey Martin makes his squad debut alongside fellow AFC Droves-turned-Chamberley City teammate Paige Nibbi at the centre of the defence. Interestingly, Statton, Molineux and Martin all have aggressive streaks of their own and are all highly versatile players, capable of playing anywhere on the right. If they really want an option that is completely defensive, Alicia Dowie might be the best option on the right late in games when Anac moves to a 5-4-1 formation to defend a slender lead. No matter who ends up starting, though, it will be a daunting process for any forward or winger to even penetrate this defensive unit, let alone put the ball in the back of the net.


MIDFIELDERS

NAME				AGE		SEX		CAPS		GOALS		CLUB
LM: Jack Ryland			26		M		49		4		Serrapince 
LM: Cameron Milligan		26		M		14		0		Capitol Athletic 
LM: Victoria Korner		24		F		7		0		Alexandria United 
CM: Gemma Rodway		30		F		77		9		Newark Argyle 
CM: Jack Lawson			26		M		59		2		Avondale City 
CM: Thomas Hellyer		23		M		17		3		Urrheddiao 
CM: Charlotte Woodfull		25		F		6		0		Tihon 
CM: Morgan Gallagher		26		M		2		0		Couno Rangers 
CM: Natasha Murray		26		F		0		0		Capitol Athletic 
CM: Noah Smythe			23		M		0		0		Betham FC 
RM: Abigail Jones		32		F		72		7		Pria City 
RM: Alexandra Arnold		25		F		15		2		Whitepool 
RM: Jeremy Onus			24		M		0		0		Pesfield Trees 

And you thought the Sylestonean defence was daunting enough, did you? I present to you the Sylestonean midfield. You’ve got players with Serrapince, players with Urrheddiao, Avondale City, Capitol Athletic, the list goes on. Like the defence, there’s actually a fair amount of flair within this group, which may come as a bit of a surprise considering the fact most games will either finish 1-0 or 0-0. Anac has simply exploited this flair for counterattacking purposes - the main way the Sentients score these days - and boy it works. On the wings, Jack Ryland and Abigail Jones are both able to make tearing runs, cutting inside or passing to the forward or playmaker, where they are usually able to get a shot off. However, arguably the best winger of the lot is Whitepool’s Alexandra Arnold, whose current blistering form saw her score on her debut against Natanians and Nosts and since then, has not backed down. Throughout the Campionato Esportiva and ICC, she terrorised left backs and left countless in her wake, her fifteen caps seeing her rack up two goals and five assists - exceptional numbers in such a team.

The backups are just as good. One might think that they’ve staved off Jack Ryland, only to see Capitol Athletic’s Cameron Milligan come on to replace him; on the right as Anac’s likely third choice, Pesfield’s Jeremy Onus is expected to debut - fully deserved too, for he’s been critical for the Trees the last couple of seasons. But it’s the centre where the true strength is. For years now, Gemma Rodway has been instrumental in Sylestone’s success, her 77 caps portraying her importance for the country as the midfield leader, and someone who is more than capable of starting and continuing attacks, which is why she’s more than capable of playing as an attacking midfielder should Anac need one. With Rodway, Thomas Hellyer and Noah Smythe all equally capable of playing behind the striker, it should come as no surprise that he has elected to play seven traditional midfielders and just the two specialist CAMs in this squad as his players’ versatility comes in handy once again. Hellyer in particularly one name which Sylestoneans will have on their lips for many a year after his heroics in the semifinal against Lozho, where the former Betham FC prodigy netted a brace from the bench, scoring what everyone thought would be the winner in the 87th minute before scoring the actual winner after the 120th, just when everyone was preparing for a penalty shootout. With Jack Lawson as Sylestone’s best holding midfielder, Hellyer will directly spar with Rodway for a spot in Sylestone’s starting lineup, the difference between the duo not much. Behind those three, Charlotte Woodfull provides plenty - her role for FC Conton was critical in the club’s shock IFCF Challengers Cup qualification before she found herself in Tihon this season. Also in the team is Morgan Gallagher, as well as debutants Natasha Murray and Noah Smythe, whose recent form has earned them a spot over the likes of Isla Bradfield, Jacob Farrow and Bianca Barkman, all of whom would have surely been seriously considered for a spot here. With not one of the central midfielders but Rodway aged over 26, there is plenty of talent that will enter its prime in the next few years; so much that it's a huge shame that so many will miss out simply due to being born in the wrong era.

It’s the sad reality of football. No matter how good you are, someone is probably better than you. You’ve just got to be the best player you can be, and see how far that takes you.


ATTACKING MIDFIELDERS

NAME				AGE		SEX		CAPS		GOALS		CLUB
CAM: Brett Sarcav-Jones		21		M		43		8		St John's Arsenal 
CAM: Kye White			23		M		12		1		Chalesm FC 

With several central midfielders capable of playing in the “hole”, it’s no wonder that Anac has selected only two specialist attacking midfielders this time around. Of course, Brett Sarcav-Jones is expected to start, as he will do for the next twelve to fifteen years, the youngster whose style of play is known as “Brettomania” to loving Arsenal fans has continued to tear oppositions apart on both the club and international scene, even if he has stagnated slightly in terms of actual goalscoring internationally over the past year. He’s still such a fearsome player, though, and he can turn it on any game and cause defences all sorts of problems. Kye White is capable of similar abilities, albeit to a slightly lower level, but the fact that he’s been a starter for Pesfield in the League Number One and now for Chalesm in the Squornshelan Remnant States tells you just how good he is. White also has a handy knack at long shots and while he doesn’t provide so much to the forward in front of him and more to the wings, is still a brilliant player, whether it be off the bench or in the starting lineup.


FORWARDS

NAME				AGE		SEX		CAPS		GOALS		CLUB
NAME				AGE		SEX		CAPS		GOALS		CLUB
CF: Charlotte Eastwood		25		F		41		15		Lakewood United 
CF: Riley Strathfield		29		M		49		14		Cleorough 
CF: Callum Beauchamp		31		M		0		0		Mid-Capital 

And lastly, the sole player up front. Although it might not be Sylestone’s specialty, the nation has still produced two top quality goal scorers, both with very different histories. Historically, Riley Strathfield has become used to working hard for his goals after years under Tahlia Dawson at AFC Droves alongside twin brother Evan and as a result, has developed handy finishing skills to ensure the goals would be scored from the minimal chances the team would create. Then there’s Charlotte Eastwood, whose recent signing to Lakewood United for $13.5 million NSD is by far the most expensive in Sylestonean history - $5.5 million more than Alana Faucett to Serrapince and $6.5 million more than the previous record held by Jack Ryland when he moved from Colbrook City to Serrapince in the T-League. A woman who broke all sorts of records at Avondale City, if she gets going she’s almost impossible to stop and despite a bit of a slow start to her international career, can be relied upon for years to come. She’s also capable of playing as a CAM, although she definitely prefers to ply her trade up front and in all fairness, is so much better in that role. In addition to those two mainstays, 31-year-old Callum Beauchamp is arguably the callup of the tournament for the country. Not long ago he was playing for Emacuton FC in the League Number Two, with national hopes nothing but a fever dream at that point. Then, he made a big move to Mid-Capital and last season, recorded the second highest goal tally in the League Number One despite starting out the season as a substitute. Simply remarkable stuff.

---

KEY STATISTICS

All-time Record: 136-72-135
First Game: Sylestone 0-0 Pangurstan (BoF 72)
Largest Win: Sylestone 8-2 Macbon (CE 34)
First Win: Sylestone 3-1 Floyssauu (BoF 72)
Largest Loss: Græntfjall 6-0 Sylestone (World Cup 94)
Latest Game: Squornshelan Remnant States 1-0 Sylestone
Most Caps: Fridge (258)
Most Goals: Mixer (69) (nice)

---

HOME SCHEDULE

MD2 vs Zenic @ Avondale International Sports Stadium, Avondale (cap. 86,500)
MD4 vs Raspotochje @ Sentient Oval, Kirkham (cap. 29,275)
MD6 vs Commonwealth of Baker Park @ Chamberley Institute of Sport, Chamberley (cap. 109,300)
MD10 vs Jeruselem @ The Bay Reserve, Betham (cap. 68,000)
MD12 vs Al-Tamazgha @ The Trees, Pesfield (cap. 63,000)
MD14 vs The Union of Ventura @ Carson Stadium, Cleorough (cap. 80,000)

---

RP PERMISSIONS

My opponent, if they RP first, may do the following:
Choose my scorers: Yes
Godmod scoring events: As long as it isn’t too ridiculous
RP injuries to my players: Yes (only minor ones, and I decide the length)
Godmod injuries to my players: No
Hand out penalties to my players: Yes (max 4 yellow cards per game)
Eject my players: Yes (max 1 red card per game)
Godmod other events: As long as it isn’t too ridiculous, just ask permission if it’s anything that may not sit right with me (the usual courtesy). I’ll probably say yes

[Aleirave]

The Aleirave Football Association
Baptism of Fire LXXVIII Champions
Roster for World Cup XCVI

OOC: All players in blue are ethnically Klysevian, all players in red are native Aleiravan.

The island nation of Aleirave is a rather small one, with a population of barely 50 thousand, located by a sea they know as the Retakono Me'a, or the sea of mystery. The only islands that were anywhere near them seemed to sink under the sea a couple years back, leaving them as the most isolated nation in the region of Anaia.

The nation of Aleirave was originally founded by Fyodor Tereyev, who was a puteshestvennik (or "traveller") from Klysevia, about 350 years ago. His descendants ruled the island up until the year 2023, when Alexandr Tereyev was shot and killed by a lone gunman in a peaceful protest. Since then, the island has been ruled as an Special Administrative Unit of Eshialand, effectively acting as its own democratic nation within a nation.

---

Where are the Seagulls now?

This is a question that often gets asked but rarely gets a satisfying answer. The Aleiravan team, in terms of points per game, just had their worst cycle since their second, going from a team that would choke decent World Cup Qualifying runs to one that collapsed like a bad soufflé under the pressure of a qualifying group that saw their mainland rivals auto-qualify to the World Cup. Combine that with not even being invited to the Cup of Harmony, and you wind up with an absolute dumpster fire of a qualifying cycle for Haulafo Paka'ula's team.

So... now what? How does a team like this recover? This is a question that will have to be answered as the team runs head-first into another qualifying run...

Nickname: the Seagulls
Trigram: ALR



First international: Audioslavia 4-0 Aleirave (CAFA II)
First win: Aleirave 6-3 Space Laser Dinosaur Robot Pirate Land (CAFA III)
Best win: Aleirave 6-0 Unpleasant (BoF LXXVIII)
Worst loss: Audioslavia 4-0 Aleirave (CAFA II)
Most goals for: Aleirave 7–2 The Cannaland Islands (WCQ XCIII)
Most goals against: Eraman 8-5 Aleirave* (WCQ XCI)
Highest-scoring match: Eraman 8-5 Aleirave* (WCQ XCI)

*This result also represents a scorigami, a score that had never occurred in the previous 90 cycles of World Cup competition.

Home stadia:

The Old Grounds, Lahaira (capacity: 100). (Used for MD1 vs. Sawenia, MD6 vs. Abanhfleft, and MD9 vs. Lisander)
The Old Grounds are the original home pitch of the Seagulls team, and one that's hosted impromptu football matches for the people of the island ever since time immemorial. Recently a few seats have been installed to help make things more comfortable for attendees, but the original feel of this field remains the same as always: a quaint reminder of island life.

Union Stadium, Lahaira (capacity: 60,000). (Used for MD4 vs. Chromatika, MD12 vs. West Barack and East Obama, and MD14 vs. Equestria)
Union Stadium is Aleirave's new, floating stadium, one that looks like someone stuffed a soccer pitch onto a large aircraft carrier and put 60,000 seats on it. Thanks to some hefty funding from Flyfr.esh and M.esh founder Tony Beaujoleil and a sketchily-obtained government project known as Project Upsilon, Lahaira's first proper stadium comes in this floating form factor and, after debuting on the mainland's shores, it will float on to the Anaian isle to be the home of Aleirave's biggest-ticket events. Since the capacity of the stadium is greater than the population of the island, you'll never have to worry about having room for visiting fans, however Lahaira's accommodations may not be enough to support 10,000 travellers, so be warned, there may be some camping involved with your trip. Or, alternatively, you could stay with some locals, who are always willing to let people into their homes. Just note though, this stadium won't always be here, as when the Seagulls aren't using it, it floats back to Vaynorth in mainland Eshialand to host home matches for the Owls there as well.



Manager: Haulafo PAKA'ULA (M, 58)
Some fans have a lot of doubt in Haulafo Paka'ula at this point, but the team has none. He's the original architect of this team and a father to the family they've made together. He's embraced the Aleiravan spirit of quick, agile football, where positions don't really matter so much as making everybody mesh together as a single unit. While in the past he may have doubted himself to the point of resigning before 2027's World Cup Qualifying, he's back in business and ready to prove to the world that this island really can be among the best.

Assistant Manager: Ivan SHAKAROV (M, 63)
When Haulafo Paka'ula resigned, it was Ivan Shakarov who stepped up to fill the void, and results-wise, he did a pretty good job of it, leading them to a 6-3-1 first half before Haulafo took the reins back. While Manager Paka'ula may not have wanted to call him back, there was no denying that he could be the missing link to make this good team a great one, so he gave him a second change to manage the team, albeit in an assisting capacity. While he may not have nearly as much experience at the international level as Paka'ula does, he's made waves before, and he can make waves again, and hopefully can bring the absolute best out of this team.

Formation: 3-4-1-2
Style: +4

GK #1 Falena RUKIPIATO (F, 32)
GK #32 Oleg PONIEROV (M, 36)
GK #70 Tehieko FEHIFELA (F, 29)

LB #4 Yekaterina OLAYEVA (F, 33)
RB #5 Piheve EVATENE (M, 23)
LB #7 Serani NA'ELERU (F, 31)
CB #11 Tefei'o TESUNA'E (M, 29)
RB #14 Grigori ZHENTONIOV (M, 35)
CB #67 Sergei BYALKO (M, 22)

LM #2 Efineha TESUNA'E (F, 29) - Katashi-Kanatsu
RCM #3 Aleksandr VRALETSKY (M, 34)
RM #8 Valeri TYONKO (M, 31)
LCM #12 Nakelia LIFEVANEKA (F, 24)
RCM #17 Lunaha FUSERAKA (F, 32)
LM #21 Nusene FAVENOKU (M, 29)
LCM #38 Pavel RASTENIUK (M, 20)
RM #53 Ma'uho KATEHOVI (M, 19)

ST #10 Neraveke HO'UMINALU (F, 27)
ST #13 Fyodor VESHCHIK (M, 26)
ST #28 Terale FIASALA (M, 32)
AM #30 Valentina RESNYEVA (F, 34)
ST #35 Renasetevo NANERIKEHA (M, 27)
AM #99 Ivefela NOSELELA (F, 30)

RP Permissions
If my opponent roleplays first, they may:
Choose my starting lineup: Yes. The players in bold are the default starting XI, but take these more as suggestions than anything else. Always feel free to mix things up!
Choose my goalscorers: Yes.
Godmod scoring events: Yes.
RP injuries to my players: Please TG me and I'll determine the severity.
Godmod injuries to my players: No.
Hand out yellow cards to my players: Yes.
Hand out red cards to my players: No more than one per match without TGing me about it first.
Godmod other events: Please TG me first, but most likely yes.

If you wanna collaborate on a match, just TG me! I'm open to all collaboration!

Lastly, please don't use pictures in your RP and say they represent my players. Trust me, they probably don't.

[Damukuni]

Damukuni Football Association
公式の選手 | Official Roster | Roster Oficial

Nation Name: Damukuni
Trigramme: DKI
Manager: MaryBeth Jonas
Style Mod: +1.5

---

NO    POS      NAME                             G     AGE
1     GK       Antonieta Cunha                  F     29
12    GK       Claudia Foster                   F     26
23    GK       Galen Holmwood                   M     27

2     LF       Custodio Fukuzawa                M     23
3     CF       Eunice Sessions                  F     26
4     CF       Constance Barros                 F     31
5     RF       Mathew Jackman                   M     29
13    LF       Baldomero Nielson                M     27
14    CF       Vega Jinks                       F     24
15    CF       Terezinha Summers                F     24
16    RF       Peleg Bass                       M     21

6     LM       Rokuro Derby                     M     27
7     CM       Ibán Costa                       M     25
8     CM       Jaci Harlow                      F     25
9     RM       Lazaros Ogden                    M     26
17    LM       Deforest Akamatsu                M     23
18    CM       Heitor Clayton                   M     24
19    CM       Jerônimo Seaver                  M     25
20    RM       Saoul Underhill                  M     25

10    ST       Sly Yoxall                       F     27
11    ST       Eytan Kipling                    M     26
21    ST       Rae Viteri                       F     24
22    ST       Batyah Domínguez                 F     23

RP Permissions
My opponent, if they RP first, may:
Choose my goalscorers: Yes
Choose scoring events: Yes
Godmod scoring events: No
RP injuries to my players: Yes
Godmod injuries to my players: Do NOT give career-ending injuries or kill players or staff
Hand out Yellow cards to my players: Yes (no more than 3 per game)
Hand out Red cards to my players: Yes (no more than 2 per game)
Godmod Other Events: Not without a TG (but don't expect to be refused)

[Milchama]

"So wait we're posting a meme roster?"

"Yes"

"Like the one we used to do for AOCAF and ARC"

"Yep"

"Why?"

"Because we do better in those tournaments and we haven't qualified for a cup in awhile"

"Ok but we had a certifiably insane manager last time for the World Cup, made it to the playoffs, and then got to finals of the Cup of Harmony. Maybe we should give the regular guys a chance?"

"How did we do in ARC anyway?"

"We lost in quarters"

"So that's not that great"

"You know what, I think you're right, screw it a regular team"

"Wow you totally got cold feet at the last moment"

"Basically"

"Cool, I'm glad we're on the same page"

Milchama play at the National Stadium in Alexandria which seats 103,000 unless otherwise specified. The other specification is that you create a new stadium in a city that already exists or just invent a new city and say we played there. It's fine. Oh yeah, also if you do please either DM me in Discord or TG me because I want to see the RP so that I know the name of the stadium/city.

Our coach is Fetakela Manuta from Tinhampton.

RP Permissions:
Do whatever. I prefer insanity to sanity.

Milchama play in a traditional 3-3-4
+3 Modifier

GK: Morc Entersher - New kid on the block. His exploits for Chaialim in the league have become the stuff of legend. Takes the job over a retired Miles Inthracam.
D: Eric Hexidevorah - Not half of something but all of something. Eric is a great outside defender able to play on both wings.
D: Clara Tresa - For a Milchamian defender has surprisingly good dribbling skills. Her offensive production though is stopped by her hard tackles.
D: Gal Dale - A wave of enthusiasm has been met with her inclusion in the national team. We are ready and not worthy for such a great defender.
M: David Wongstein - Started as a Discord joke. Is actually Milchama's most exciting midfield prospect. Very excited to see him get his first starts in this tournament.
M: Cal Kamet CM - The rare Milchamian attacking mid. Nobody really knows what to do with Kemet because they play in all sorts of weird spaces that don't traditionally exist in Milchama. Has led to them leading the goal scoring 2 of the last 3 years in the New Babylon league. They/them.
M: Amy Cekarn - RM - Defensive mid. With a new defense and midfield is in the team to provide more defensive spine.
F: Millie Kouriea - LF - Plays with Floren at club level. Her ability to link up with him on offense has led to mini revival for Floren in club football so they figured why not put her on the national team as well? It worked out so well that Floren is now on the bench and Kouriea is still in the starting lineup.
F: Avi Benbemore - CF/LF - He's the sephardic Avi Belmowitz, which makes him the Sephardic Alan Belmore. He will, probably, score all the goals.
F: Barry Thomas - Despite the generic name has been unstoppable in both the Alexandrian and New Babylonian league. His double golden boot and a silver boot in the Judaean league made him an obvious pick for the team.
F: Abby Goldshires - Outside striker who is known for her technical vision and skill. Has matured enough to finally make a starting lineup.

Subs:
GK: Fletcher Archman - The long line of Fletcher back up keepers finally seemed to be over but then a young prospect, somebody who nobody had heard of, was accidentally selected for Great Alexandria and did well. So he's here now.
D: Dervan Kelliers CB - One of the new young CBs that has risen through the ranks in Milchama. Many compare him to Wilson as young'un. Expect him to start very soon.
D: Theo Elkenstall - LB. Natural left footer known for his good crosses.
D: Ittai Gasenon - His ability to play multiple positions is his greatest asset. Can play all across the backline
M: Kelly Filimitov - LM - Lefty dead ball specialist. Also very good at crosses.
M:Lars Ben Johnson - Despite the confused name, he is not a confusing player. A classic box to box midfielder who provides spine to the midfield while also ranging forward when he wants to.
M: Kent Tekulve - Despite having the name of a middle reliever, Kent chose soccer and it's been very very good for him.
F: Yoni Flominon - Incredible passing skills has led to multiple assist titles in the Karakorum League for Flominon. Moved up to Alexandria and immediately got a starting position for Jasper's Creepers.
F: Len Fleming - Very tall striker. His booming headers have become legendary. His decent movement also puts him in a good position to score some goals well. The guy Milchama go to when they need to lump it up the field.
F: Dani Kaleten - The lighting to Fleming's thunder. Very fast player who is very technical and very good at moving to get open. The lanes he creates are becoming legendary.
F: Mallory Purce - Legendarily speedy striker. Her form coming into qualifying almost got her in the starting XI. Expect to see her for a long time.

[Darmen]

National Football Team of Darmen
presented by the
Darmeni Football Association

Record (Modern-era only, since Copa Rushmori 24): 570 matches, 262 wins, 112 draws, 196 losses, 1147 GF, 989 GA, .525 Win %

Caps
 1 Hyman Campo          284
 2 Silver Abbey         267
 3 Craig Blackwood      255
 4 Víedharr Svendsen    215
 5 Riley Mac Pharlain   212
 6 Alberich Goldschmidt 204
 7 Aurelio Di Stefano   169
   Feliciano Espinosa   169
 9 Juanito Stafford     165
10 Bill St. John        164

Goals
 1 Craig Blackwood      168
 2 Felix Lucanus         80
 3 Skylar Hurst          49
 4 Víedharr Svendsen     48
 5 Kennard Hale          46
 6 James January         44
 7 Darnell Halle         42
 8 Daniel Norton         38
 9 Riley Mac Pharlain    33
10 Brian Firmin          30

Coaching Staff

Position          Name            Age
Manager           Denis Foss      50
Assistant Manager Grahame Vangson 33
Goalkeeping Coach Piers Fulton    43
Psychologist      Aron Simonson   35

55 Player Preliminary Roster

#  Pos Name                   Age Club                      Caps Goals
 1 GK  Simon Toro             36  MTK Kingsville            70    0
12 GK  Ori Poirier            35  Scott City FC             51    0
23 GK  Ildefonso Daube        29  Romanopolis United         4    0
34 GK  Morris Mathews         23  Sterling City United       0    0
45 GK  Corina Mendoza*        27  Rogerton Valladar CF       0    0

 2 LB  Philip O'Hara          31  Olympique Chuckio         98    3
13 LB  Cándido Adler          28  Romanopolis United        22    1
24 LB  Kyro Perrin            24  Rogerton Whitecaps        13    0
35 LB  Ferdy Adkins           23  Tempala United Saints      3    0
46 LB  Sage Garrett           23  Scott City FC              0    0

 3 LCB Stefan Ryer            31  Rogerton Whitecaps        27    0
14 LCB Archie Ó Gormáin       31  Brham United              12    0
25 LCB Amias Shelby           23  Royal PFC                  2    0
36 LCB Cally Meadows*         24  Johnho United              0    0
47 LCB Kichirō Nakajima       32  Romanopolis United         0    0 (15 caps, 0 goals w/Esportivan Darmen)

 4 RCB Ferdinand Kruse        32  MTK Kingsville            95    2
15 RCB Fulke Eriksen          31  Johnho United             35    0
26 RCB Corentin Melsbach      28  Scott City FC             13    0
37 RCB Abraham Duke           30  Darmen City United        12    0
48 RCB Comgán MacGowan        24  Romanopolis United         0    0

 5 RB  Markus Thomasson       25  Tempala United Saints     24    1
16 RB  Dixon MacFarlane       30  Atlético Augusta          11    0
27 RB  Adrien Westbrook       29  Menomonie United           0    0
38 RB  Natanael Suárez        23  Rogerton Valladar CF       0    0
49 RB  Rorie Symonds          25  Huntington Honkers FC      0    0 (22 caps, 1 goal w/Esportivan Darmen)

 6 LM  Fabricio Tobias        31  Scott City FC             57    6
17 LM  Delma Russell*         23  Tempala United Saints      4    1
28 LM  Finnán Castellano      29  Menomonie United           0    0
39 LM  Kemuel MacGrory        31  IFK Liverpool United       0    0
50 LM  Edith Morris*          24  Sterling City United       0    0

 7 CM  Dwayne Loritz          24  Tempala United Saints     27    3
18 CM  Silvester Fairburn     25  Royal PFC                 10    0
29 CM  Sterling Allsopp       28  Darmen City United         8    1
40 CM  Emerson Weaver         29  Menomonie United          17    2
51 CM  Nolan Tanner           23  Chippewa Valley United FC  0    0

 8 RM  Kayden Aleshire        31  Olympique Chuckio         69    7
19 RM  Kara Falkner*          23  MTK Kingsville            23    0
30 RM  Ulric Spencer          29  Johnho United             12    0
41 RM  Keefe Ó Maoil Eoin     28  Sterling City United      11    0
52 RM  Lennox Vangson         24  Tempala United Saints      0    0

 9 LF  James January          29  Scott City FC             87   44
20 LF  Dorian Kinnaird        33  MTK Kingsville            60   23
31 LF  Idonea Santiago*       24  Rogerton Valladar CF      13    5
42 LF  Kelli Lovell*          23  Johnho United              1    0
53 LF  Nýrljós Dominikson     26  Darmen City United         0    0

10 CF  Marianne Lee*          28  Tanques AOE (KOR)         61   22
21 CF  Truman Ryley           29  Scott City FC             15    3
32 CF  Talmai Tracey          27  Tempala United Saints      8    1
43 CF  Kaylin Hobbes*         25  Scott City FC              1    1
54 CF  Klaus Falconer         28  Brham United               0    0

11 RF  Torger Woodward        24  Sportklub Palerma         17    3
22 RF  Sylvestre Emmitt       32  MTK Kingsville             9    2
33 RF  Karter Clayton         23  Johnho United              1    0
44 RF  Ridge Tyrrell          31  Scott City FC              0    0
55 RF  Peyton Atteberry       23  Romanopolis United         0    0

*Female players

Tactics
Formation: 4-3-3
Style Mod: +2.5
In attack, Darmen will employ one of two tactics: the first involves the team playing down the flanks while the second is a possession oriented short-range passing style that closely resembles tiki-taka. The later tactic is normally only employed against weaker opponents or when Darmen has a multi-goal lead and involves connecting many passes together to slowly advance the ball towards the opponents 18-yard box. It is not uncommon for 30+ passes to be completed in the sequence, especially against weaker opponents.

Darmen's primary tactic however is a heavy emphasis on flank play, with the wide midfielders (also referred to as flankers in Darmen) being the linchpin of Darmen's attack. Upon gaining possession, Darmen will look to distribute the ball to one of the two wide midfielders as quickly as possible. After receiving the ball, the wide midfielders will look to advance the ball as far down the flanks as quickly as possible. Meanwhile, the forwards and the central midfielders will crash the box, hoping to be on the receiving end of the wide midfielder's cross. The wide midfielder (or sometimes even the fullback) on the opposite flank will linger behind waiting to collect the cross should it overshoot the box. While scoring via headers is the primary goal, a player may also look to score by volleying or half-volleying the ball if they're in open space. Should the first attempt at goal not be collected by the goalkeeper, Darmenis are more than willing to take advantage of the ensuing chaos in the box and poach a goal as well. If the wide midfielder's path forward down the flank is blocked, they are not averse to cutting inside and taking a shot on goal themselves.

Defensively, the defenders have one job... to defend. They rarely venture out of their own half, but if they do it will only be one of the fullbacks (see above). Darmen will employ zonal marking when facing the counter-attack and man marking in all other situations.

Team Roles
Captain: Ferdinand Kruse
Vice-Captain: Philip O'Hara
Left Corner: Stefan Ryer
Right Corner: Kayden Aleshire
Penalties: James January
Free-kicks: Kayden Aleshire

Team Personality
The Darmeni team will never argue with the referee. Indeed, if anything needs to be brought to the attention of the referee it will be done by either the Captain or Vice-Captain in a respectful manner (or to the fourth-official by the Manager). With regards to foul/dirty play, the Darmeni team will not provoke, or retaliate against any opposition player. Darmeni's expect each team to keep to itself and deal with its own trouble makers; any opposition player who attempts to prevent a conflict by pushing or pulling a Darmeni away from the scene will be promptly told off, as that is the duty of the Darmeni Captain.

Nonetheless, Darmen will play in a relatively aggressive manner. Tackles will be conducted in a way which ensures the opponent ends up on the ground, but causing injury will be avoided as much as possible. On set pieces, Darmenis will stand their ground and will not be easily pushed around. However, they will not engage in hugging. In fact, if any opposing player tries to push past them, it is not uncommon for the Darmeni player to feign resistance before simply stepping aside and watching as the opposing player stumbles past on their way to ground. This occasionally backfires however, as the referee may mistake the incidence as having been a foul in the box.

Qualifying Venues

MD Opponent                  Location        Stadium                Capacity
 1 Tumbra                    Scott City      National Stadium       75,000
 3 Arjunnagar                Augusta         Augusta Stadium        45,000
 5 Saint Eleanor             Johnho          Stadio Rushmore        70,000
 9 Auprussia                 West Scott City Green Ensign Arena     47,465
11 Euran Oceania Territories Brham           Brham Stadium          54,000
13 Eraman                    Oldtown         Northumberland Stadium 62,100

RP Permissions
Choose my scorers: YES PLEASE! If you name your goal scorers, please also name mine.
Choose my scoring events: YES
Godmod scoring events: YES. If you have anything major planned, give me a heads up.
RP injuries to my players: YES, no more than one per match. If you have anything major planned, give me a heads up.
Godmod Injuries to my players: NO
Give Yellow Cards to my players: YES, no more than two per match. If you have anything major planned, give me a heads up.
Give Red Cards to my players: YES, no more than one per match. If you have anything major planned, give me a heads up.
Godmod other events: MAYBE. If you have anything major planned, give me a heads up.
Style Modifier: +2.5

If you need to contact me, TG's are preferred over Discord DM's.

[Legalese]

RP permission and other basics
If you RP the match first, your permissions are my permissions. Seriously, whatever you’re okay with folks doing to your team is what I grant you for mine. I reserve the right to make minor “corrections”/disagreements in my narrative when it comes to my team (particularly when it comes to severity of injuries), but otherwise, you do you. On the off chance that your permissions are also a mirror (the dreaded “Medusa situation”), pretty much do what you want to my team, noting the above.

Playing Style: +5 . Viva Takil.

About Legalese

Legalese is a quiet, medium-sized nation sitting near the geographic center of Anaia. It’s better known as a place where the footballing multiverse’s competitions are occasionally played, than for being the place where the trophies reside. They return to the World Cup after a cycle off.

Full Nation Name: The Unified Communities of Legalese
Short/Common Use Name: Legalese
Three-Letter Designation: LGL
Denonym: Legalite
Governing Body: The Federation of Assocation Football, simply referred to as The Federation


The Team
Shirt numbers to the left, names to the right -- What’s on the kit is in All Caps.

Keepers
1 KAWACATOOSE Swamp Johnson.
Kawacatoose Swamp Johnson is a tall, outgoing, and dramatic goalkeeper from Weshongtun. He is known for his tendency to hug the goal line, making it difficult for opposing players to score. He uses both his physical presence and his personality to maximize any potential psychological advantage he can get over his opponents, as they may feel intimidated by his size and quick wit.

22 Christy CHAPPLE
23 Emma PETT

Defenders

3 Jack FARMER

Jack Farmer leads the defence and the overall side as team captain. He's been described as rational and constructive, which works well with his lanky frame to keep up with speedy attackers. Despite his surname, Jack usually spends his off time back in Repods working as a plumber.

12 Xalvador Connelly-HOULIHAN
Hitchfield once again provides another defender to the national team, this time in the form of Xalvador Connelly-Houlihan. Houlihan’s strength is his willingness to go toe-to-toe with anyone, making him an effective last-field-player-of-defense. However, what holds him back (and keeps him as a substitute for the Captain) is his tendency to argue with anyone: the keeper, the officials, his spouse, the opposition, you name it. If he’s on the pitch, he’s most likely to get himself sent off -- though occasionally in service of a worse fate for the team.

13 Matthew BOHAN
14Isaac LONGBOAT

Midfielders

2 Faron HILL ADAMS

4 Thomas TOAL

5 Gagan EPSOM
Gagan Epsom, meanwhile, just exudes calm on the pitch -- no wonder he leads meditative retreats in his down time. The right midfielder, hailing from the tiny hamlet of Bonghemtun, has been previously listed as a fullback, but amidst some tactical alterations, finds himself more often further up the pitch than your traditional fullback. His calm demeanor can be a grounding force for the side, so it's no wonder that the side looks to him when the chips are down.

6 Jack MOSES
Jack Moses plays with a cold seriousness and focus that fits an upbringing in the vast plains. The Chollam native fills the anchor man role by focusing on control. He's not the most outgoing person, but on the pitch, he'll serve that link between the defense and the midfield well.

7 Archibald Corcoran “AC” SHEEHY
AC Sheehy likely learned to be concise due to the name saddled upon him. Hailing from the town of Winne, Sheehy's style is little flash, all competence, as he serves in the box-to-box midfield role.

8 LINDO
Why just Lindo? Nobody's quite sure. The rumors are that he gave his first name and middle initial (Robert S.) away to help the poor; others claim that he decided that the only way to experience true joy and zest for life was to only keep what brings you happiness. Either way, the lithe midfielder from Oveta approaches his role as the architect for the attack with one of joy and zest.

16 Derrick YOMKINS
17 Roddy NELSON
18 Jonathan KINGMAN
19 Dale MCINERNEY
20 Sammy-Jo Hill-TANNER

Forwards
9 Richie FUNDERBUNK
Richie Funderbunk seems too quiet to be a goalscorer. The striker from Cenesirege is described as contemplative by his friends. Those who see him on the pitch often describe him as nimble and coordinated. Anyone who looks at the goals he scores, though, would call him an opportunist; he has a very low shot count, but scores on an exceedingly high percentage of them.

10 Lily TONAWANDA

11 Hasana HIRST
Unlike the quiet presence marked by the previous wearer of the 11 shirt, Hasana Hirst, presence is better described as commanding. The striker from Basswoods is the pace setter, playing fearlessly as if she’s six feet tall (despite really being 5’ 4”). Her strength and pace help make up for the physical presence her genetics lack, but no matter -- Hasana will be the first on the front line, and the first on the ball.

21 Leo HILL-Tanner
24 Mark BRADY
25 Slade PARKER

Manager: Chogan Williams.
The Denby native, in his forties, hangs onto his role for another cycle, leading some to question why the Federation’s even sending a team if they’re happy with this level of complacency. His power -- arguably -- is that he’s more of a people person, and tends to fill the team cohesion and motivation roles as his key realms, deferring tactics, training, and preparation to his assistants. That said, one would think generating results needs to fall into that as well.

Assistant Managers: Aisling Titterington and Mikaela Sampson
Joining Williams are -- as always -- his braintrust, the pair of Titteringston and Sampson. The pair, both in their early thirties, were childhood friends and are nearly inseparable. Aisling’s the tactical guru -- she’s the one responsible for developing and implementing the formation, and putting it through the paces with the side, usually in a gruff manner. Mikaela, on the other hand, is the analyst. She researches the data, studies the tape, and figures out what’s working, and what isn’t, with a quiet resolve.

The Eleven/Playing Style
In the most recent CAFA, the attacking-minded Legalites came out in a formation that more or less leaned into who they are the 1-6-3. Yes, that’s one central defender (as much as a single point unconnected to the others can be the center of anything), a trio of forwards on the front line, along with six midfielders in whatever configuration is deemed appropriate for the match.

How does that play, you may be wondering? Aisling’s thinking is that it can provide some mystery -- with the middle six arrangement being key to how the side plans to approach the match. Ideally, the formation will resemble a series of triangles: the fullback with the defensive midfielders; the defensive mids with their side midfielder and attacking mid; the attacking mid with the winger and striker; the three forwards with each other -- you get the idea.

Many of the other typical characteristics of a Legalite side tend to apply: scrappy, hard-working, annoying to have to get by, but not overly difficult to score on once you’ve broken down the best way through. Look for a lot of pace, and for all of the available substitutions to be used.

Where you'll be playing
National Stadium, Central Junction
Located in the nation's capital, National Stadium is the long-used (and occasionally renovated) home of the national team. The all-seater stadium currently seats 83,068 through the three tiers of seating, as well as a bank of 20 private boxes, and is known to rattle and sway with the noise and stomping of the crowd, though admittedly the last crowd big enough to do that was the Inaugural CAFA Final. Don't feel too badly for this ground, though -- it's been the place where two different regional champions and one World Cup champion have been crowned, so it's had its days (if long ago).


The Kits

Image description: On the left, the primary team kit, worn at home and where it does not clash away. It consists of a black shirt and shorts; the shirt contains a double sash of solid red over solid white, stretching diagonally from the left shoulder to the right hip. Over the shirt-wearer's heart (as well as on the right hemline of the shorts) is the Legalese crest, a nonagon outlined in gold, with a black field, red sash, and white scales. The player's number appears to the right chest area on the shirt, and on the left leg of the shorts, both in white.

In the center, the secondary team kit, worn by field players away from home where the primary kit clashes with the opposition. It consists of a red shirt and black shorts; the shorts description is identical to the primary kit description, save for the number on the shorts being gold in color. The secondary shirt contains a black sash running from the left shoulder to the right hip; the sash is not solid, appearing as if it was splashed onto the shirt. The shirt has white collars and cuffs, and contains the same crest in the same position as the primary kit shirt; the number is in the same position as the primary, but colored gold.

On the right, the keeper kit, worn by the team's goalkeepers. It is a longsleeve blue shirt with white cuffs and collars. The shirt has gold dots across it, shrinking in size moving up from the hem to the collar. a black-and-red sash runs diagonally from the right hip to the left shoulder; the sash consists of a series of thin lines, with the upper half of the lines being red, and the latter half black. The Crest and Numbers on the shirt and shorts are the same as seen on the secondary kit.

All three kits include solid red socks.

[Carpathia and Ruthenia]

Carpathia and Ruthenia World Cup XCVI Squad
(Style Mod: +2)

Formation of the Starting XI

Staff
Manager: Lucia Kovács
Assistant Manager: vacant

Starting Lineup
GK: Federica Antonini (20 caps/0 goals)

DF: Giacomo Bakó (20 caps/0 goals)
DF: Szevér Naldi (20 caps/1 goal)
DF: Loris Kövér (20 caps/0 goals)

MF: Ödön Kárpáty (20 caps/1 goal)
MF: Ottavia Lecce (20 caps/0 goals)
MF: Anastagio Brunetti (20 caps/1 goal)
MF: Adél Alemagna (20 caps/0 goals)

FW: Clara Bassi (20 caps/11 goals)
FW: Faust Acconci^† (c) (20 caps/8 goals)
FW: Rebecca Pék (20 caps/6 goals)

Substitutes
GK: Marina Voltolini (0 caps/0 goals)
GK: Efisio Rapallino (0 caps/0 goals)

DF: Lazzaro Cino (3 caps/0 goals)
DF: Panni Verona (3 caps/0 goals)
DF: Rosalba Selmone (3 caps/0 goals)
DF: Ermanno Ruzsa (4 caps/0 goals)
DF: Delia Alinari (2 caps/0 goals)

MF: Lucia Vinci (7 caps/1 goals)
MF: Giannino Pugliese (3 caps/0 goals)
MF: Salvatore Piccirillo (3 caps/0 goals)
MF: Franciska Büki (5 caps/0 goals)

FW: Róza Crocetti (7 caps/3 goals)
FW: Annunciate Mondo (3 caps/0 goals)
FW: Gioachino Brunetti (0 caps/0 goals/5 U21 caps/4 U21 goals)

^† Penalty taker

........Home Kit........................Away Kit....................Goalkeeper Kit

Stadia
Stadio dei Sogni, Rivalto - Capacity: 68,700
Cavaliere Campo, San Donato - Capacity: 76,800
Via Torretta, San Donato - Capacity: 68,200
Merse Park, Harkány - Capacity: 68,500
ZTF Aréna, Veszprém - Capacity: 62,700
Városi Stadion, Veszprém - Capacity: 82,000

Other Information
Fan's Temperament: Good-natured (They will not react violently to a loss and lay siege to the host's city)
Team's Temperament: Normal (Every now and again one player might get sent off, but they are not going to hack/beat up the opposing team as a strategy)
Manager's Temperament: Even keeled, not known for many words in interviews
RP Permissions: No godmodding goals or killing my players

[Qusmo]

Qusmo returns to World Cup Qualifying

After a long absence, Qusmo will once again welcome foreign football fans and teams to its shores for World Cup Qualifying. After a difficult transition, Qusmo has emerged wealthier, stronger, & better under the stead of its new, durable government. Qusmo’s government has graciously expanded citizens’ rights and freedoms over the past few years, and football has been one of the most prominent aspects of pre-KMSQ Qusma society to be repermitted, although it pales in comparison to the rest of the country’s transformation. Still, the second act of Qusma football is yet in its infancy, unranked & searching for its first win of its new era. In fact, Qusmo still does not even have a league; instead, a pool of thirty players from clubs spread across thirteen countries will represent Qusmo in the world’s eyes, all under the management of two-time former Galacticos Manager of the Year Tlanx-Nulzk Hal. If anyone can get results out of this group, whose average age is eight months away from thirty years old, it may be them. Certainly, the whole nation of Qusmo will hope that they do. Qusmo is welcoming a new dawn — and the football team which represents it will symbolize that glorious new future that awaits all Qusmi’y.

N°   Ps     Name                  Pronouns   Age     Club                                   QC  QG     Notes
 1   GK     AZELD-KRESP Tla       they/them   31     Dorival (TMB 2-09)                      0   0     Also eligible for Tumbra
12   GK     KARAR-FALAX Zev       they/them   34     Northern Union (BRE x-xx)               2   0     IFCF Champions League 2 & 17 champion; Super Cup 2 & 17 champion; UICA Youth Cup 25 champion
25   GK     YAMAJ-ZORNO Mal       they/them   37     Nile Bridge (EFL 1-04)                  0   0     
 2   CB     Ida SEVET-STOKES       she/her    32     AFC Corvistone (NPH x-xx)               5   0     CB/LB/DM; 14 previous caps for Nephara
 3   CB     IBILX-IRTIX Ono       they/them   36     Northern Union (BRE x-xx)               2   0     IFCF Champions League 2 & 17 champion; Super Cup 2 & 17 champion; UICA Youth Cup 25 champion
 4   CB     NEXEV-PILTA Val       they/them   33     Nyva Zvornik (MYT 1-13)                 0   0     Also eligible for Mytanija
13   CB     GAVAZ-AJARK Tez       they/them   26     Yassaca FC (SRS 1-11)                   0   0     Also eligible for Squornshelan Remnant States
26   CB     OLORZ-NEXEV Zev       they/them   26     Emerald Coast AC (SRS 2-02)             0   0     Also eligible for Squornshelan Remnant States
15   LB     XELEZ-MATEZ Wek       they/them   20     Olympia Arkintoofle (SRS 1-09)          5   0     Also eligible for Squornshelan Remnant States
20   LB     OTOLN-PRANT Ezi       they/them   35     Northern Union (BRE x-xx)               1   0     IFCF Champions League 2 & 17 champion; Super Cup 2 & 17 champion; UICA Youth Cup 25 champion
16   RB     Ash BETVA              she/her    29     AFC Corvistone (NPH x-xx)               3   0     Also eligible for Nephara
21   RB     LYNUL-SEVET Pul       they/them   25     Occidental Olympic (EXT 1-03)           3   0     
27   RB     WANAR-XERAL Zyn       they/them   35     Nyva Zvornik (MYT 1-13)                 0   0     
 5   DM     INTOV-GELAN Nun       they/them   30     Ituraitz Victory (ASG 1-11)             3   0     DM/CB
17   DM     BELAJ-TRENJ Marko       he/him    18     La + Querida (FFD 1-02)                 2   1     Also eligible for Squornshelan Remnant States
 6   CM     JERAT-FORZU Mal       they/them   30     Sivolvia Capitalizt (SRS 1-01)          3   1     Also eligible for Squornshelan Remnant States
14   CM     WANAR-XALAN Tla       they/them   25     Golden Unicorn (EXT 1-09)               3   0     
18   CM     PILTA-BLONZ Yol       they/them   31     Fraser Valley (TMB 1-15)                0   0     Also eligible for Tumbra
24   CM     CRALT-ZORNO Inu       they/them   30     Association Ariddienne (KSK 2-04)       2   0     
28   CM     KYNDA-TYLYR Ezi       they/them   21     KFX Halazem (SRS 2-09)                  0   0     Also eligible for Squornshelan Remnant States
 7   AM     HELEK-PERTZ Zev       they/them   29     Megabrantid SC (SRS 1-03)               5   2     Also eligible for Squornshelan Remnant States
 8   AM     RAXAT-AVARN Zev       they/them   37     FK Vlaikograd 1896 (STL 2-03)           0   0     Also eligible for Siovanija & Teusland
19   LW     ILINX-WINAD Bel       they/them   28     Hawthorne United (XAN 1-05)             2   0     CM/AM/RM/LM
22   LW     BELAJ-RILAN Dar       they/them   22     Latrobe Athletic (KSK 1-03)             4   0     LM; also eligible for Squornshelan Remnant States
 9   RW     OXOLT-GEROL Uzo       they/them   36     York Metrostars (XAN 2-01)              1   0     RM; also eligible for Squornshelan Remnant States
11   RW     PILTA-OXOLT Can       they/them   30     Emerald Coast Raiders FC (TKT 1-19)     4   0     RW/ST
23   RW     YOLTZ-JONTO Cel       they/them   36     Emerald Coast AC (SRS 2-02)             5   1     RM; 2 previous caps for pre-KMSQ Qusmo; UICA Youth Cup 25 champion; also eligible for Squornshelan Remnant States; captain
10   ST     SEVET-MATEZ Fox       they/them   28     Olympia Arkintoofle (SRS 1-09)          3   1     Also eligible for Squornshelan Remnant States
29   ST     CULAK-ZELEZ Guv       they/them   20     KFX Halazem (SRS 2-09)                  0   0     ST/FW; also eligible for Squornshelan Remnant States
30   ST     XILIX-OXOLT Mal       they/them   30     Fraser Valley (TMB 1-15)                0   0     Also eligible for Tumbra
Manager     Tlanx-Nulzk Hal       they/them   75                                                       Former manager of KF Qastyr (QUS), Saltstead, Savigliane, and Starblaydia

Tactics
Tlanx-Nulzk will nominate the following players to start for matchday one in Farfadillis
Karar-Falax; Otoln-Prant, Sevet-Stokes, Ibilx-Irtix, Betva; Belaj-Trenj, Jerat-Forzu, Helek-Pertz; Belaj-Rilan, Sevet-Matez, Yoltz-Jonto

Tlanx-Nulzk’s teams play in a dynamic, aggressive, high-pressing 4-3-3 shape. Historically, the system has been at its best with dynamo centre midfielders who can make a difference in both boxes and everywhere in between, as well as a technically gifted forward line which can equally create chances for each other or put those chances away. Fullbacks will not push very high in attack, but Tlanx-Nulzk’s goal is to liberate the rest of his squad to have freedom with the ball.

Kits

The official kit supplier of the Qusma national team is the Starblaydian-based enterprise ediraf. Though many expected Fuzpon Qusma to select uni·q to win the new Qusma national team contract, the federation has opted to equip the team in the same kit in which they competed in World Cups 82 and 83, as a link to Qusma footballing heritage.

Culture
Gender: All people of full Qusma descent are nonbinary and androgynous and use they/them pronouns. Male or female Qusmi’y generally are children of multinational heritage.
Names: For those with traditional Qusma names, family names are followed by given names.
Nomenclature: Qusmo refers to the country of Qusmo itself, Qusma is an adjective for something that is from or of Qusmo, a Qusmi is a person who is Qusma, Qusmi’y are a group of more than one Qusmi, Qusmi Bez is the title of the leader of Qusmo, & Qusmu is the native language of most Qusmi’y.

Competitive record
Qusmo debuted in World Cup 80 Qualifying and qualified for World Cups 82 and 83, but it has not played in WCC competition since. They participated in Copas Rushmori XXX through XXXII, the latter of which Qusmo hosted, before returning for Copa Rushmori XLV. Qusmo had advanced out of the group stage in each of the first six tournaments it had played in, but it has been eliminated in the group stage of its two most recent tournaments: World Cup 83 & Copa Rushmori XLV. Having managed just one point in five matches in Græntfjall, Qusmo is seeking its first win since matchday one of World Cup 83 against the then-fourth-ranked Holy Empire.

Competition                    M    W    D    L        P/M    W%    GF   GA    GD
All-Time Record              137   66   26   45       1.64   48%   196  168   +28
Competitive Matches          102   52   19   31       1.72   51%   145  112   +33
WCC-Sanctioned Matches        84   47   14   23       1.85   56%   129   88   +41
World Cup Qualifiers          66   36   11   19       1.80   55%   105   72   +33

Technical details
Style modifier: +2
Permissions: Anything short of godmodding, death, or permanent injury; feel free to DM me to ask or talk about anything

[The Kytler Peninsulae]

THE KYTLERIAN NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM FOR WORLD CUP 96 QUALIFYING
Manager: Andrew PATTERSON
Assistant manager: Jay JENNINGS

 # Name (SHIRT NAME)			Age  Position	Club			2nd nation
 1 Kuno ZEELEN				 24  GK		Bravin Rangers
 2 Teun DONK*				 23  CB/LB	FC Alaer
 3 Wecoisus GACKBANG			 27  RB/CB	FC Alaer
 4 Shrifflu MOCKS			 22  CDM/CB	FC Alaer
 5 Álfar JVARSSON			 23  RB/RWB	Zeiven City		GRF
 6 Finn MURPHY*				 26  CDM/CM	Ranford & Willsbrook
 7 Vicente Bautista Oleandro (VINCENT)	 20  CM/CAM/LM	Real Santa Mordana†
 8 Dings MOCKS				 26  CAM/RW/ST	Bay City United
 9 Danny MARKUSSON*			 21  ST		Bravin Rangers			 
10 Emrys FLOYD				 27  LW/ST	Borlfield Town
11 Josip ACEBES Rodriguez		 25  LM/LW/RW	Real Santa Mordana
12 Jonas JVARSSON			 21  GK		Zeiven City
13 PARK Si-Woo*				 21  LWB/LM/CM	Capitolians		QUE
14 Ceedast BASPAALT*			 22  CM/CDM	Newbridge Town
15 Xavier LaMOTTA			 21  CB/LB/CDM	AFC Edencliff
16 Zachary EDWARDS-HILLIER*		 21  CDM/CM	FC Macados
17 Clituleng TAKLIK			 31  CM/CAM	Capitolians
18 Marwin MIKKELSEN*			 26  RM/RW	Roddens City
19 Rick FLASH				 22  RW/CAM/ST  AFC Edencliff
20 Oliver VANDOME*			 20  CB/RB	Ranford & Willsbrook
21 Zachary ELLIS-JOHN*			 27  LB/RB	Capitolians
22 Agnes ODDKELLSDÓTTIR			 21  LW		AFC Edencliff		GRF
23 Jonathan MURPHY-COATES		 32  GK		FC Alaer

† on loan from Miposojeon (QUE)

NOTE: Players with an asterisk* are considered the more aggressive on this team. They are more likely to pick up yellow cards, and are the only players who should pick up red cards.

Potential starting XI:


Kits (all shorts and socks are the primary colour with a thin hoop in the contrasting colour at the bottom of the shorts and top of the socks)

If my opponent RPs our match first, I give them permission to:
Choose my goalscorers: Yes
Godmod scoring events: No
RP injuries to my players: Yes, but tread carefully and perhaps TG/DM first.
Godmod injuries to my players: No
Hand out yellow cards to my players: Yes, but mostly to the players marked.
Hand out red cards to my players: Yes, but only to the players marked.
Godmod other events: No

Style modifier: -0.984

Team notes
Patterson typically plays a possession-based 4-2-3-1 and likes to keep to that structure when he does - though he's been known to mix it up at times too. This Kytlerian team is generally on the smaller side anyway, and their biggest physical advantages tend to be in the stamina department. (Bigger-bodied Kytlerian athletes typically end up in baseball, gridiron, or <insert random sport the Kytlerians do well in at the Olympics here>; long-distance running and/or cycling are more popular amongst those of a slighter disposition, and outside of the odd "BFG" the soccer playing pool tends to skew towards these smaller endurance athletes.) Most of this team are far easier to outmuscle than to outplay or (especially) outrun, and they often benefit from strict refereeing.

Individual player notes
The team truly revolves around Vincent, who has been an assist machine for Real Santa Mordana for multiple years already despite still being DBC-eligible. (Though he was deliberately kept off the most recent DBC squad to prevent burnout.) Also a not-infrequent scorer of long-range curling strikes, he has secured a historic multi-million move to the Q-League that takes effect next season, and can play either centrally or on the left - typically looking to run into the left half-space either way, where he can play dangerous passes with either foot or potentially take a shot with his right.

When Vincent crosses, the obvious target is Markusson, who would be seen as a BFG were it not for the small pedantic matter of him being from the other Kytlerian Icelander community, the older one tracing their origins to Kura-Pelland (#tbt). He's also modestly bearded by BFG standards, in that he looks like he knows what a shaver looks like. Dings Mocks and Emrys Floyd are the most common choices to flank Vincent in the three behind Markusson due to their knack for finding pockets of space cutting inside; the speedy bundle of nominative determinism that is Rick Flash is typically deployed off the bench to add another wrinkle into the mix.

Defensively, a young back four is anchored by players from the title-winning FC Alaer side, with Wecoisus Gackbang proving particularly reliable in his positioning. While Gackbang usually plays right-back and Shrifflu Mocks (no relation to Dings) centre-back for Alaer, the emergence of "SFG" Álfar Jvarsson on the right typically bumps Gackbang to the middle and Mocks to a holding midfield role he has implied he prefers anyway. Finn Murphy, a revelation in recent seasons for Ranford & Willsbrook, has taken to a more attacking role at club level following their addition of Ko-orenite holding midfielder Ciri yToddmac, and the presence of Mocks gives him license to roam in this system too. Left-back remains an open question, as both Xavier LaMotta and Park Si-Woo offer neat passing and mobility in the role but have enough question marks defensively - or at least in the "get stuck in" department - for Patterson to prefer the teak-tough, two-footed Zachary Ellis-John for now. The fact both Park and LaMotta can play in midfield - maybe even should play in midfield, at least in the former case - makes them versatile options off the bench.

[Independent Athletes from Quebec]

Style Mod:
+5

My opponent, if they RP first, may do the following:
Choose my goalscorers: Default
Godmod scoring events: No
RP injuries to my players: TG first (I am happy to work out the specifics and ideas)
Godmod injuries to my players: No
Hand out yellow cards to my players: Yes* (maximum 3 unless discussed in advance)
Hand out red cards to my players: Yes* (please discuss if you have exact ideas in mind, I am happy to work out the specifics and ideas especially for below)
Godmod other events: No* (If I do intend to work with someone, especially someone with history of collaboration, I will reach out to them)

INDEPENDENT ATHLETES FROM QUEBEC SENIOR TEAM - 2064-66 WORLD CUP 96 CYCLE

Nation Name (Trigramme): Kingdom of Quebec and Shingoryeo (QUE)
Demonyms: Quebecois/Shingoryeoite
Colours: Red, Black and Blue
Team Nickname: GRIM REAPERS
National Anthem: 'Ode to Thee, My Homeland'
Royal Anthem: 'Hymn to the Shingoryeo'

FA: Royal Quebecois Football Association (RQFA)
World Ranking: Too bad it's shit
Nickname: The Grim Reapers
Formation: 4-2-3-1 (secondary: 4-3-3, 4-2-4, 3-4-1-2)
Note: Please note that I will be updating before each window with a 26-player entry but unlike in past cycles, will not be posting a specific XI. Please contact me via Discord or preferably, TG, so that I will be able to discuss details where necessary.

Ultras Group: The Bubonic Plague
Home venue:Various, to be listed on my RP before every cutoff.

Home and Away Kits by Uni-Q [Qusmo] & Alternate kits by Meski Sport [RedBlackiland]

Some Background about this Team

Shingoryeoite-Takil
Quebecois football is a weird breed of its own with emphasis on total football. Of course, this means a general mix of offensive hellfire, bleeding brand of resilience and sheer joy of physical brutality. While those Quebecois players may come from all shapes and form, but if there's one thing that they all have in common, is their love of staying violent. The footballing culture here has taught and still teaches that red cards that prevent a goal are necessary for the good in the minds of both the players and the fans, and if a player cannot handle simple contact or flops, then he's dead in the minds of most people, even their family members. Of course, whether they are skilled players of their own or not is another story, and the legendary forward corps of the seventies of the World Cup era had both skills and brawn, but it's a squad that loves to get fast, high and violent, and will not be afraid to demonstrate their flames.

Q-League and the league composition of the players
Over the years, the Q-League have seen the improved performance on the IFCF stage, as well as the solid presence of import and domestic players making an impact with their respective national teams. Still, while the league's financially strong, the traditional tendencies of major national team players going abroad to improve their career (and more importantly, stay in the national team conversation) has remained strong and persists to this day and age where the Q-League has managed to establish firm, clear stronghold among the upper echelon of domestic leagues across the Multiverse. Thus it is expected that a vast majority of any senior side to consist mostly of those who play abroad. For now, those who are staying home aren't necessarily pushovers, but they are just waiting for their time to head abroad and shine in a major club like their teammates, seniors or legends have done for ages.

Historical Performance
Two renditions of Quebec and Shingoryeo - this being the second edition - has participated in the World Cup qualifying editions of cycles 62 to 77, and from 85 to now. In almost twenty-five editions of the World Cup competitions, the Grim Reapers have qualified for 14 World Cups, including a stretch of nine straight qualifications between the World Cup 69 and 77. More recently the Grim Reapers have made the second round of the last two World Cups after requiring a dramatic, second-half turnaround to qualify for the World Cup, restoring a shade of reputation that many had worried were tarnished after horrible performances during the World Cups 89 and 90 cycles.

It is still true, however, that the team's biggest international successes go back a generation, with their strongest slate of results found in the mid-seventies of World Cup competition when they placed fourth at the World Cup 77 and made it to back-to-back quarterfinals since. While mostly forgotten in the general narrative, they have also placed third in the Cup of Harmony 81 just three cycles ago. Their relatively high-achieving performance, however, have not translated on the other levels of competition with the Grim Reapers mostly finishing on group stages or second round of the DBC, U18WC or their now-discontinued participation in the AOCAF and CAFA tournaments.

The Bubonic Plague
God, not them. The infamous ultras of the Quebecois national teams in various sports have made their names known for their love of indulgences, festivities and most importantly causing chaos and fury wherever they go. Armed with pyrotechnics, torches and of course the hand-held flares, they are famous for their fluorescent banners that are either used to intimidate visiting sides or to humiliate the Grim Reapers for poor performance. Armed with drums, vuvuzelas and musical instruments on top, the sound of the buzzing fans are often a challenge for anybody - both home and away - to play, and while the Bubonic Plague has remained mostly apolitical outside of its usual nationalistic dose, their penchant to end up on various events better that are belonged to current affairs.

Anyways here's....

The Sacrificial Squad

Staff
Manager: Ichi Tuzzio (FFD)
Assistants: Friekder Dandalleion (FFD) - Ming Xilang (YZH) - Lyall Murphy (QUE/SCT)
Armed Marshal: Gilles Lehmann-Couillard (QUE)

Roles
Captaincy: 1. Rebecca-Anne Wawanolett; 2. Oberon M'bah-Pinho; 3. Pyo Seung-Hye; 4. Kira Dormann
Penalties: 1. Oberon M'bah-Pinho; 2. Rebecca-Anne Wawanolett; 3. Amina Salihamidzic Beckie; 4. Anna Korniloff-Kouyate; 5. Alain Delisle
Corners: 1. Kim Gyeong-Seok; 2. Maude Le Tissier; 3. Rebecca-Anne Wawanolett; 4. Frederic Yabusele; 5. Amina Salihamidzic Beckie
Short free kicks: 1. Oberon M'bah-Pinho; 2. Corneille-Theophile Poulin; 3. Anna Korniloff-Kouyate; 4. Kira Dormann; 5. Maude Le Tissier
Long free kicks: 1. Corneille-Theophile Poulin; 2. Rebecca-Anne Wawanolett; 3. Maude Le Tissier; 4. Amina Salihamidzic Beckie; 5. Juan Aurelio Redondo

37-Player Qualification Roster

Pos 2PS Name                      Sex Age 2NT 95? 87? Nat. Club at TW43
 GK     GOH Yeong-Rok               M  26   -   Y   N QUE Montreal City
 GK     Innes SHEPPARD              F  28 TLI   Y   N CMT Urrheddiao
 GK     Marianne OH-NTARE           F  22   -   Y   Y MYT Litala '93
 GK     Devon QALICHO               F  34   -   N   Y QUE Zenit Attawapiskat
---
 LB     Alain DELISLE               M  24   -   Y   N QUE Mipojoseon
 LB  CB Ghislaine BARBIERI          F  23   -   N   Y CMT Anormalies
 LB  RB Esteban FLORES              M  23   -   Y   Y CMT Lhor
 CB     KIM Gyeong-Seok             M  23   -   Y   Y CMT Urrheddiao
 CB     Kira DORMANN                F  31   -   N   N TMB FC Inter Nantwich 
 CB     Serguei SAPOZHKOV           M  22 MYT   N   N QUE Daedonggang 3.26
 CB     Alexis SAMURTOK             M  31   -   N   Y TKT Parakleion Firebirds FC
 CB     JOO Hyeong-Seok             M  24   -   N   N SRS Olympia Arkintoofle
 CB     Giovanni Jurgen BERHALTER   M  27 HUA   N   Y BNJ Jinja City FC
 RB     Frederic YABUSELE           M  25   -   Y   N MYT Atletik
 RB  DM Candice MORRISON            F  20   -   N   N QUE CSKA Quebec
 RB  LB Drake LOKOMBO-SSEKITOLEKO   M  19 BNJ   N   Y TMB Lakewood United
---
 DM  CM PYO Seung-Hye               F  31   -   Y   N SYL Avondale City
 DM  RB KWEON Hyeok-Joon            M  23   -   N   Y VAL FC Longview
 DM  CM Juan Aurelio REDONDO        M  20 SGN   Y   Y QUE Montreal Koreana
 CM  AM Rebecca-Anne WAWANOLETT     F  30   -   Y   N CMT Chromatik
 CM     Samuel MCTAVISH             M  32   -   Y   N TMB Lakewood City
 CM     Jordan MAH                  F  30   -   N   N KSK Océanic C.F. Langlois
 CM     Camille OH-CHAINEY          F  27   -   Y   Y QUE CSKA Quebec
 CM     Maude QALICHO-QAQQAQ        F  30   -   N   N CMT Anormalies
 AM     Maude LE TISSIER            F  22   -   N   N SYL Whitepool
 AM  SS Cesar ICARDI-RABIOT         M  24   -   N   N BNJ Jinja City FC
---
 LW  ST Oberon M'BAH-PINHO          M  23 CBZ   Y   N CMT Tihon
 LW  AM Otis TEKARONHONTE           M  30   -   Y   N TKT Eivora Athletic FC
 RW  LW Odette TSIOUI               F  24   -   Y   Y QUE Perce Town
 ST     Corneille-Theophile POULIN  M  24   -   Y   N SYL Avondale City
 ST     Billie Blue HAMISI          F  27   -   Y   Y CMT Urrheddiao
 ST     KIM Sang-Wook               M  28 CMT   N   N TMB West Couno United
 ST  LW Anna KORNILOFF-KOUYATE      F  30   -   Y   N KYP Real Santa Mordana
 ST     Josephine MOREILLE-PARK     F  20 TKT   N   N TKT Ceramadhion Lynx FC
 RW  ST AMINA Salihamidzic Beckie   F  24   -   Y   N CMT Frenei Tor
 RW     Clyde HAN                   M  25 CMT   N   N QUE Wansan Noksaekjeonsa
 RW     Bogdan MERINO               M  17 HUA   N   N QUE Jolbonopolis United

[Elmyia]

Elmyian Roster World Cup 96
Everything You Need to Know

So remind me, how are the Elmyian National Football Team doing? Up and down, up and down. Two consecutive World Cup qualifications on the bounce have been tempered by the side's subsequent struggles in the group stage and Copa Rushmori. A deep well of talent seems to have run somewhat dry as some player's continue to boycott the side due to the conduct of the Federacion Futbol.

Can they still qualify? Probably. Second seeds in their group, the manager has a proven record with this group of players and there remains real talent.

Is there a standout player? Previously you would have had to have said Froggatt. The tricky winger remains the nation's top goalscorer, but the side aren't reliant on her to conjure something out of nothing. It may now be Kit Simmons. The midfielder is a top all-rounder, an excellent screening presence in addition to possessing excellent vision. Going forward, it might be goalkeeper Girello. Great with the ball at feet, ballsy beyond the point of belief and seemingly possessing unshakable confidence.

Any surprises in this squad? Mostly the formation. Porras has been criticized for his performance at the World Cup finals and Copa Rushmori group stages, where the thrilling Elmyian attack has failed to make the difference as his side has failed to control the ball. A switch to a 3-2-4-1 seems to try and address this. The effective back five of three centre backs and two centre mids is positively conservative. However, Simmons and McLoughlin have the capability to dictate play between them and might well provide the basis for a thrilling attack. Froggatt's move centrally seems set to make use of her talents, without explosive pace her ability to turn in small spaces and thread a pass will be her main positive for the side.

Where will Elmyia be playing? Shockingly, at the same stadium they've played in for the previous two campaigns. Mosse Park, a 35,000 seater in Beaucester, will continue to be home for Elmyia.

What are Elmyian fans like? Increasingly enthusiastic, Elmyia's relative over-performance seems to have fallen fortuitously alongside a blossoming of a sense of national pride to create much better atmosphere's at the games.

How is visiting Elmyia? Nicer than it was! More and more people speak English, facilities have gone from quite basic to in-line with global standards and everything remains relatively cheap. Take the usual precautions you would when travelling and an away game in Elmyia should be a fine experience. Expect a Mediterranean climate, albeit mid-qualifying falls over the relatively damp early spring period, so bring a mac.

(Usual) Starting XI
GK	Enrico Girello			17	5	0	0	Wirr Tsi (CMT)
CB	Nancy Savalas			22	89	5	1	Vilitian Club (VIL)
CB	Maria Grosso			31	93	6	0	Hellenic SC
CB	Antonio Silva			21	22	1	0	Ridgewell Rovers (TMB)
CDM	Kit Simmons			22	79	4	5	Kingston FC (QUE)
CDM	Aaron McLoughlin		25	35	2	1	Fallwich United (CNR)
LW	Sofia Katsouranis		29	87	11	26	Urrhed FC (CMT)
AM	Jackie Froggatt			30	88	50	24	Chatswood (NPH)
AM	Anya Marakakis			23	34	8	12	Tihon United (CMT)
RW	Kostas Rossi			26	77	24	19	Chamberley City (SYL)
CF	Gina Whittingham		25	68	31	9	Zenit Attawapiskat (QUE)

Bench
GK	Ian Garavakos			23	50	0	0	Italia Mosfleet
CB	Luigi Pozzo			22	0	0	0	Italia Mosfleet
RB	Jenny Scoular			32	66	1	3	Italia Mosfleet
CM	Valentina Galli			24	92	18	17	Litala 93 (MYT)
CM	Athanasios Marinos		19	13	1	2	Mosfleet Albion
AM	Doug Reid			26	19	1	2	Diepfleet
CF	Vesper Benedetti		21	95	30	27	Eyrods (CMT)

Squad Players
LB	Jane Albrook			23	28	2	11	Hellenic SC
CF	George Byng			23	39	11	4	AS Samita
RB	Roberto Palm			25	6	0	0	AS Samita
RW	Lara Beaugemont			24	37	13	3	Ridgewell Rovers (TMB)
CM	Nico Spalding			25	1	0	0	Scolastico
CF	Elisa Gabbiadini		22	15	3	1	Chamberley City (SYL)
GK	Ernest Butler			36	71	0	0	Oceanside South End (KOR)

My opponent, if they RP first, may do the following:
I would prefer you choose these scorers:
Godmod scoring events: Yes
RP injuries to my players: Yes Please message ahead, happy to collaborate
Godmod injuries to my players: Yes Same as above
Hand out yellow cards to my players: Yes
Hand out red cards to my players: Yes
Godmod other events: Yes
Generate stadium happenings: Yes

Style Mod: +5

[Squornshelan Remnant States]

Squornshelan Remnant States Black-and-Reds Roster
World Cup 96

RP Permissions
Choose my scorers: Y
Choose my scoring events: Y
Godmod scoring events: Y
RP injuries to my players: Y
Godmod Injuries to my players: Y
Give Yellow Cards to my players: Y
Give Red Cards to my players: Y
Godmod other events: Y
An ye harm none, do as ye will.
Style Modifier: +5

Things you should know about the SRS:

Once upon a time, there was the Imperium of Squornshelous, a militaristic, totalitarian state which took great pride in its football team. Squornshelous entered every World Cup from the 5th edition to the 41st, successfully qualifying all but once, and winning the 31st edition of the tournament. After World Cup 41, however, a civil war erupted which ended with the nation divided in to the democratic Confederacy of Squornshelan Remnant States, and the shrunken but still dangerous Imperium holding onto its island heartland. Both nations disappeared from the international stage for the next 40 World Cup Cycles. The SRS returned to international football for Cycle 81, and was joined by the Imperium during Cycle 84. During Cycle 88, another revolt in the Imperium destabilized the government so much that the nation essentially collapsed, and its constituencies applied for membership in the Confederacy. It was also around this time that Squornshelous/SRS arrived in Atlantian Oceania, having previously competed as an Independent.

While the football team has a rich history from the old days, new successes have only come fairly recently. The team has qualified for five straight World Cups, but has only advanced past the Group Stage twice in the modern era, and has yet to win a knockout match since returning. They did finally claim a piece of international silverware at the 69th AOCAF Cup (nice), but have thus far failed to follow up that success. The Black-and-Reds qualified, but failed to earn a point in the first round of World Cup 94, and exited AOCAF Cup 70 at the quarterfinal stage. They then failed to qualify for World Cup 95 despite a fairly good record, resulting in Gareth Penrooke's dismissal, and did not make the knockout rounds at the ensuing Cup of Harmony, ensuring that caretaker manager Irfun Melkum would not have a chance of taking the job on a permanent basis.

From a wide open field that included names like former Algolia boss Dolvin Antal and former Polarian NT manager Iosef Miroshnichenko, among others, an eleventh hour dark horse ended up taking the race. It shouldn't come as a huge surprise that someone like Dudu Madeiros was given serious consideration. The Juven does, after all, have a major international trophy on his office shelf from the 18th Independent Associations Championship, as well as third place medals from the prior IAC edition, and the 84th Cup of Harmony. His reputation for recruiting fresh talent in the NT pool during his tenure with la Squadra is also a plus as the SCFA looks to find the Squornshelan national team's new identity. Despite some growing pains in adapting to Madeiros maximally aggressive 3-4-3, a pretty far cry from the more measured 4-2-3-1 that the Black-and-Reds had employed for over a decade, their first outing under the new boss was a resounding success. For the second time, a new SRS manager hoisted a regional trophy in their debut tournament with the team, winning the Inaugural ARC two cycles after claiming the penultimate AOCAF Cup. Taking the same roster to the subsequent Second International Confederations Cup, the team was also victorious at that tournament, and enters World Cup 96 on one of its best runs of form in the modern era.

Trigram: SRS
Manager: Dudu Madeiros
Formation: 3-4-3
Captain: Sevet-Ibilx Kai
Vice Captain: Ffraid Norling
Long Form Name: The Confederacy of Squornshelan Remnant States
Short Form Names: Squornshelan Confederacy, The Confederacy, Squornshelous, the SRS
Demonyms: Confederate (political); Squornshelan (cultural, not always PC)
Ethnicites in the Confederacy include Squornshelan, Molvanian, Brantid, Algolian, Sivolvian, and Han. If you are curious about a particular player's ethnicity you can send me a TG or message me on discord
Team Nickname: Black-and-Reds (never Red-and-Blacks)
Team Colors: Confederate Red (#EE0000) and Black (#000000)

Goalkeepers:

#  Player            Age    Pro.    Club
31 Radoslav Bláha     29   He/Him    Myana
41 Shreya Krusan      31  She/Her    Perce Town
44 Petyr Sotelo       28   He/Him    Chalesm FC
 1 Paiva Shimski      36  She/Her    Yassaca FC
13 Viktor Åstrøm      21   He/Him    Vogsphere United

Right Backs:

#  Player            Age    Pro.    Club
28 Ffraid Norling     29  She/Her    Chalesm FC
 3 Goron Sauber       30   He/Him    Ridgewell Rovers
 7 Sarika Bøsch       31  She/Her    Jaglan Royals
 2 Aaro Musta         31   He/Him    Avidë

Left Backs:

#  Player            Age    Pro.    Club
23 Piia Drenel        26  She/Her    Algolia AC
16 Vaihere Kamgang    25  She/Her    Istria City FC
22 Sandro Balniks     26   He/Him    Chalesm
30 Akhila Arda        22   He/Him    Damogran

Center Backs:

#  Player            Age    Pro.    Club
24 Hamida Van         26  She/Her    Algolia AC
 5 Valtteri Tirel     25   He/Him    FC Felsenkirchen 1879
32 Blaško Titov       34   He/Him    Pesfield Trees
42 Surya Jagdish      31  She/Her    Brattleboro FC
29 Malai Yarlut       35  She/Her    Pyathora Mariners FC
25 Radko Ludviczak    22   He/Him    Athletique Alexandrie
 4 Marko Peynir       23   He/Him    Vogsphere United

Midfielders:

#  Player            Age    Pro.    Club
19 Sevet-Ibilx Kai    28 They/Them   Brantisvogan FC
66 Ukko Saigir        27   He/Him    Haligonian
26 Maram Tatsinan     23  She/Her    Lakewood United
 6 Nur Amjol          25   He/Him    Sivolvia Capitalizt
 9 Embla Avachinsky   28  She/Her    Lhor
40 Jarmo Ytsdan       27   He/Him    CF Outineau
33 Chandra Detkov     21  She/Her    Algolia AC
38 Sadia Arenz        21  She/Her    Jaglan Royals
 8 Paavo Rai          22   He/Him    Chalesm

Right Wings:

#  Player             Age    Pro.    Club
55 Tiiu Aaltonen       29  She/Her    Club ESF
21 Yamuna Khachat      29  She/Her    Syneca
20 Mumin Sgro          29   He/Him    Northandryun Rovers
36 Inder Starovoitov   22   He/Him    1896 Ebor
35 Rustik Koshelev     31   He/Him    Avondale City

Left Wings:

#  Player             Age    Pro.    Club
15 Tarbi Ksudach       24   He/Him    Brantisvogan FC
27 Øystein Shakhnovich 26   He/Him    Sivolvia Capitalizt
37 Nursultan Tulyakbay 29   He/Him    Mar Sara FC
17 Soile Raynott       23  She/Her    Megabrantid
98 Aodaghan Stern      29   He/Him    Mâ Álâmëómë

Forwards:

#  Player            Age    Pro.    Club
10 Rasha Sargsa       29  She/Her    Sivolvia Capitalizt
18 Snorre Fridtjofs   34   He/Him    Carathyr Emeralds FC
11 Ottilia Hjort      30  She/Her    Dynamo Sjoedrhavn
14 Estina McGill      26  She/Her    Kingsbury United
34 Kaija Salovaara    21  She/Her    Sporting Club November City
39 Feofilat Dubynin   23   He/Him    Yassaca

Anticipated First Team:

Venues for Home Matches:

MD02: SRS  v  USD @ Flanoil Arena (cap. 50,350), Traal, West Flania, SRS
MD05: SRS  v  CEM @ Black Raven Field (cap. 35,400), Yassaca, Sivolvia, SRS
MD07: SRS  v  BRS @ The Lutenstaad (cap. 75,000), Lutenblag, Molvania, SRS
MD08: SRS  v  JFV @ Admiral Cherenkov Stadium (cap. 71,200), Santraginus, Isle of Squornshelous, SRS
MD10: SRS  v  ZWZ @ Megabrantid Financial Field (cap. 69,245), Brantisvogan, Megabrantis, SRS
MD13: SRS  v  SEM @ Bridger Lane (cap. 72,406), Damogran, Algolia, SRS

[Recuecn]

Reçueçn Roster & National Information

---

National Team Information

Last cycle, national team manager Bonheur Relié conceived and spearheaded the "Spirit of 83" campaign, which rallied Reçuecian fans behind him and the team. This public relations victory was crucial for Relié, who has never had great rapport with his players. (He has not had an easy time following after Jacques Tremblay, the team's first manager. Tremblay was widely loved and revered and left big shoes to fill.) The "Spirit of 83" campaign finally earned Relié his players trust--and a contract extension until the end of World Cup 97.

~

If L'Équipe Nationale de Reçueçn de Football is known for anything, it would be its defensive style. This is partly due to the large influence of Reçueçn FC on the team; the most popular domestic club in Reçueçn plays about as defensive a game as you can imagine. This is balanced out to some extent by the players from other teams with more attacking philosophies, but the league as a whole tends towards defense, and it shows in the national team. Furthermore, Gerauld Firaut, the team's #1 goalie, is the best player on the team by a solid margin—without a doubt, Reçueçn's first world-class player. He and his defense form the foundation for the team as a whole.

National Team Logo

The team plays in a 4-3-3 formation, but sometimes the wings drop back, almost making it a 4-5-1. In general, the team's strategy and tactics are solid. However, there has always been some tension between the current manager, Bonheur Relié, who would prefer a more attacking style, and the players, who in general are more comfortable on defense. Relié has never managed to make himself as popular with the team as his predecessor, Jacques Tremblay, who was the founding head coach of the team and is a footballing icon for Reçuecians. Relié's inability to build the same relationship is due only to his lack of charisma, not skill, but does make his job more difficult.

The Reçueçian National Team's mascot is the unicorn; thus another name for the team is "les licornes". The fantastical creature has been a symbol of Reçueçn for almost two millennia and is also the national animal, appearing as the supporters in the national coat of arms.

The team's kit represents the colors of the flag in a quite literal fashion. The jersey was redesigned a long time ago, replacing the first one les licornes ever wore, dating back to the 59th Baptism of Fire. Fans thought the old outfit was ugly, but the current one is now also becoming out of favor as the longer it stick around the more tired people grow of it. It was much more professional than the original, but leaves more to be desired.

Stadium
Reçueçn has only one stadium in which its national team plays, located in the capital city (also named Reçueçn). Never having been given an official title, the national stadium is usually simply referred to as just that: le Stade National. (Reçuecian law requires journalists in the nation to use endonyms even when reporting in English or other non-local languages.) Capacity: 30,000.

Coaching Staff
Bonheur Relié: Passionate and motivated, Relié had all the youthful energy you'd hope for in the assistant coach of a side whose manager was pushing three quarters of a century. Sometimes his energy was a bit much and he's had some friction with the players in the past. Now that he's head manager that will have to be resolved.

Ägidius Heissler: Used to play as a left wing for Itrino. After retiring as a player he signed for the National Team as Paraclete, taking a promotion to Assistant Manager in the wake of Tremblay's resignation. If Relié was the bad cop to Tremblay's good cop, with Tremblay gone, Heissler fills the good cop role.

All-time record: 153-71-92

---

Starting XI

1  Gerauld Firaut             goalkeeper    age 32    self-controlled
The face of Reçuecian soccer. Team captain, and a pillar of support for his teammates.
 
2  Emanuele Cutrona              sweeper    age 28    Italian
Young and passionate. Cutrona's friendship with Adams often gets them in trouble.

3  Paulin Bourguignon          left back    age 29    counter-attacking
Pacy and forward-thinking. Loves to make big clears rather than defend more precisely.

4  Lukas Kayserling          center back    age 28    tall
Calm and controlled. German-speaking and has difficulty communicating with the team.
 
5  Barnabus Mercer            right back    age 33    solid
Older but steady. He's seen it all and is ready for the toughest opponents.

17  Robert Chéreau       left midfielder    age 28    visionary
Knows how to use the space in the midfield. Still somehow tends to drift toward the center.

7  Laurent Lapix    defensive midfielder    age 23    brilliant
Brings spice and life to the midfield. A playmaker who, bringing outside ideas, is shaking things up.

8  Maynard Hebron       right midfielder    age 33    ideological
A big fish from a small pond. A star who has stayed with a second tier side for the sake of the sport.

9  Per Tegeler                 left wing    age 31    sharpshooter
Good at receiving the ball and trying for goal. Not good at passing.

10  Franky Adams          center forward    age 27    flamboyant
Reçueçn's most famous player other than Firaut. Good enough to be the center of attention (which he loves).

11  Helibert Wolf             right wing    age 28    level-headed
Quick-thinking and decisive. His ability to make crucial split-second decisions has earned him many assists. 

Reserves

12  Estienne de Chefderue               goalkeeper    age 28    patient
Being second-string goalie for a nation whose best player is their first-string goalie is not easy.
 
13  Rodolphe Trudeau                        sweeper    age 28    persistent
Trudeau's willingness to always make an attack makes him a frustrating opponent. Short and stocky but high-power.

14  Jayson Compton                        left back    age 29    mysterious
Not a ton to say about Compton. We don't really know what he's up to ourselves.

15  Quirino Lucian                      center back    age 29    intimidating
Large and physical. Lucian's looming presence isn't an empty threat, he'll mess you up given the chance.

16  Eric Konig                            right back    age 18    frail
Tall, skinny, and prone to injury due to how often he collides in mid-air after going up to defend a corner kick.

17  Félicien Brodeur                left midfielder    age 30    stopper
A defensive force. Lethal against attacks down the wings, and strong on the counter-attack in his own right.

18  Ansquetil de Bethencourt defensive midfielder    age 28    cautious
A real thinker. A new call-up, he caught the scout's eye with his meticulously-planned passes.

19  Quentin Gouin                  right midfielder    age 26    evanescent
Young and agile. Without the stamina to support his talent, his plays are flashy but brief.

20  Dominic Cecchi                        left wing    age 28    animated
Good at finding space wide to open up an attack, but his attention-grabbing gesticulations and calls often attract defenders' attention as well.

21  Ly Nasser                        center forward    age 30    aggressive
Trigger-happy and risk-taking. Takes every chance he can to shoot. 

22  André Courtial                      right wing    age 30    fast
Fleet-footed and energetic. His sheer speed is a threat, even if off the pitch he likes a nap. 

23  Calanico Di Martino                goalkeeper    age 31    redundant
Rocket-powered goal kicks. But it's hard for a goalie on a team with Firaut to see time on the pitch.

Reçuecian History and Culture

The nation of Reçueçn was created in the first half of the XIV^th century, when Carl Blancpic, Duke of the Duchy of Reçueçn, launched a breakneck military campaign invading and annexing many of his neighbors to the east. Before this time, Reçueçn had been only a city, built on the heights overlooking the junction of the Rhône and Saône rivers. These heights had been settled by Carl Blancpic's distant ancestor, Ifheda Rcuecn, near the end of the II^nd century a.d., and had born his name ever since. The area at that time belonged to the Roman Empire, who had established their regional administrative center, Lugdunum, on the other side of the river.

In 197 a.d., a decisive battle was fought near Lugdunum in one of the civil wars for the throne of the empire. The victor, Septimius Severus, razed the city of Lugdunum and destroyed it, stripping from it all imperial privileges in punishment for supporting his rival. This was the end for Lugdunum, but it was the beginning for Reçueçn. Refugees flocked across the river to join the settlement, and the city of Reçueçn grew to become a smallish regional center. Rcuecn's descendants (who changed the spelling to Reçueçn) maintained control over what became the Duchy of Reçueçn for 700 years, until it was inherited by their cousins the Blancpics who reigned for another 300 years.

At the beginning of the XIV^th century, power passed into the hands of Carl Blancpic, who was a megalomaniac and partially insane . Thus he declared his duchy to be a kingdom and singled out weak neighbors who he invaded with audacity. Over an incredibly short period of time beginning in the spring of 1337, he had carved out for himself a sizable dominion.

Carl, who styled himself "Carl III of Reçueçn", was violent, unstable, and petty. He was also wildly unpopular with the populations of the various states he had conquered. Although the central power structure helped the economy of the new Kingdom of Reçueçn to some extent, it did not bring with it all the stability that might have been expected. This was mostly due to the decrees of Carl III, who, among other things, began a campaign to persecute and kill all "heretics" within his new realm. Most historians agree that this was in fact a thinly veiled purge of his political rivals. This and other policies he enacted on his whims finally drove the people into open revolt in the spring of 1352.

Carl managed to hold on to power for a couple years by hiring mercenaries, but in 1354 lost two key battles and was captured by the rebels. By this time, the rebellion was led by feudal lords throughout the country who had sided with the people against their tyrant king. Carl III was executed, and the kingdom dissolved into a mess of tiny, independent feudal holdings.

No sooner had the various states that had been in the Kingdom of Reçueçn won their independence, than infighting broke out among them. The feudal lords squabbled over power and influence, trying vainly to imitate Carl's meteoric rise to power. This new violence, combined with the economic downturn associated with the rebellion and the breakup of the nation, clearly displayed how poorly things were turning out. More sensible minds came to the decision that the solution was to once more unify Reçueçn.

On November 19, 1356, therefore, The Allied States of Reçueçn came into being. The leaders of all the petty states, duchies, bishoprics, free cities, etc., came together and signed what are known as "The Treaties of the Alliance," a document just powerful enough to make Reçueçn a single nation, rather than a group of independent entities. The treaties also established a rough form of democracy, with each state represented (although typically by its aristocracy). Thus Reçueçn lays claim to being one of the oldest democracies in the world.

The treaties defined much of Reçuecian history to come. Provisions were made to establish freedom of religion, in order to avoid another scenario similar to Carl III's persecution of his opponents. The treaties also gave Reçueçn an isolationist bent. The nation had been burned before, and wouldn't soon try to meddle in external affairs, especially when its composite nature made creating a foreign policy so difficult.

Reçueçn, then, has managed to avoid many of the crises of European history. It's darkest moment came when Napoleon invaded, proclaiming himself emperor (although he allowed Reçueçn's government to continue to function under his reign). The allied states have drawn closer together, although cultural differences remain among them; they don't even all speak the same language.

Reçueçian culture has also been shaped by its location, nestled in the center of the Alps. The difficulty of travel among mountain valleys ensured the cultural diversity of the nation and preserved local customs. Although rural communities did center around agriculture—especially dairy production—many Reçuecian were forced by the lack of arable land to find other work. This led to a culture of innovation that continues today: Reçueçn is now known for its luxury products and technological exports. This has additionally led to a focus on science and education. The relatively diverse nature of Reçueçn's culture means that some areas are culturally more time-oriented while others are more task-oriented, but this fusion has given the country a uniqueness, especially in art. Reçueçn, perhaps thanks to its inland, mountainous location, or the fact that it was never a colonial power, has seen little immigration or emigration. Recently, however, the diversity of language spoken in the country has made it attractive to refugees from other areas where those languages are spoken.

---

Visiting Reçueçn

Reçueçn is a small nation, but it's got a lot to see. If you're visiting for World Cup qualification, you may want to extend your stay to see the sights.

Travelling to and in Reçueçn
Most travelers to Reçueçn will fly into Reçueçn city. As the capital and largest city, it will definitely have the flight connection you need. Genève, the nation's second city, will also accommodate you in this regard, but all the games will be happening in Reçueçn. If you are travelling from a nearby country, arriving by rail is also a possibility, and many more Reçuecian cities have international rail connections than have international airports.

For travel within the country, taking the train is probably the way to go. Car rentals are fairly expensive, and many cities restrict downtown access to pedestrians and public transport. When travelling through the countryside, you will find that autoroutes have high tolls, and smaller roads are typically wind annoyingly through steep mountain terrain. However, there is an extensive rail and tunnel network, and taking the train is fairly cheap between most places in the nation. Bus routes also connect most larger towns. Within cities themselves, public transport is always very high quality and usually very affordable or in some cities, even free. A few bus lines are temporarily free to travel during the tournament, in a government-led effort to promote tourism and encourage visitors to explore the country beyond just the soccer matches.

What to See
Presumably if you're reading this, the main attraction that has brought you to Reçueçn is World Cup qualification. All the games will be played just a short bus ride away from Reçueçn International Airport at the Stade National in Reçueçn's inner suburbs. But if you want to see a bit more of the nation, consider taking a ride up to a cute alpine village and hiking along a mountain ridge to appreciate the amazing views we have to offer. Or take a swim in a mountain lake and cool off in the shadow of the peaks. If you really are looking to ditch the heat, check out the ice tunnels at the Écho glaciers. Or, if you come during the winter, you can hit the slopes—our skiing's the best in the world.

If the mountains aren't for you, consider visiting our world-famous cheese museum - free samples! Or visit the Genève Cathedral if the culture you're looking for isn't bacterial. Genève, Reçueçn, Zimmerich and other cities each have a beautiful downtown historic district worth the walking tour. Check them out if your idea of a good time means wandering through medieval fortifications or strolling down cobbled alleys. If what's up your alley is shopping, then we've got that too - check out Genève's luxury district for high end jewelry, fashion, watches, and more. Exchanging your money should be no problem: the Reçuecian guilder is very stable and worth just a bit more than the NSD.

Where to Stay, What to Eat
If you are on the search for the perfect hotel for your stay in Reçueçn, worry not. Plenty of all kinds abound in and around each major city, whether you're looking for the four star experience, or just want to save a buck. If you'd rather have the personal, local touch, then we've still got you covered: a quick look online will reveal plenty of family-owned bed & breakfasts, as well as short-term rentals with people trying to make some money off the empty spare room one night or week at a time. Hostels are also very popular in Reçueçn, and are a great way to stay near the city center for a very low cost.

What'll you have for dinner? Reçueçn's food is what will make you want to come back for another visit. We love our cheeses, and our national specialty is raclette, melted cheese scraped over small potatoes, cornichons, and saucisson. Try it at a restaurant where each table is provided with its own small oven so each diner can melt their own. Another local specialty is tartiflette, essentially a casserole of potatoes, onions, and lardon (thick-cut bacon) served with a slab of, you guessed it, more melted cheese cooked right over it.

If rather than in a seat at a fine dining establishment, you find yourself in an alpine pasture hankering for a pique-nique, don't worry. Cheese is great for a basket-lunch too. Bring along a baguette and a saucisson, and you've got yourself a meal.

No meal in Reçueçn is complete without a glass of wine, and the local product is certainly worth the connoisseur's time. Reçuecian wine varies immensely depending on whether you're south, west, or north of the Alps, so try a few varieties and pick your favorite. If you need a pairing for your meal, it just so happens that every single person you meet on the street in the country is a self-proclaimed expert ready with helpful advice. Just don't stop them on their way home for dinner.

Do's and Don't's

Do say "Bonjour" to those you pass in a small town. Don't block the escalator in the metro. Do take your time to enjoy a meal or a conversation in western Reçueçn. Don't be late in eastern Reçueçn. Do greet people with a kiss on each cheek. Don't actually let your lips touch them. Do cheer loudly for your team! Don't go too crazy with the victory party. Do take a selfie with your head on the block at execution square in downtown Reçueçn. Don't miss out on your visit because you're on your phone the whole time. Do rent a bike and pedal around to see the sights. Don't be unprepared to parallel park if you've rented a car. Do make eye contact during a conversation. Don't stare at people. Do be ready to share gossip with perfect strangers. Don't expect people to open up to you right away. Do keep your hands above the table at dinner. Don't yawn during a conversation. Do offer to help your host with cleaning up. Don't ask for seconds until offered. Do speak your mind and be straightforward. Don't bank on too much personal space.

Do have the time of your life.

---

Essential Information

RP Permissions

---

My opponent, if they RP first, may do the following:
Choose my goalscorers: Please (subs too)
Godmod scoring events: Yes
RP injuries to my players: Yes, nothing career-ending
Godmod injuries to my players: Yes
Hand out yellow cards to my players: Yes
Hand out red cards to my players: Yes, but never
Firaut or Kayserling
Godmod other events: Yes

Style Modifier: -π | Trigram: RCN

Quick Facts

---

Capital: Reçueçn
Official Languages: French, German, Italian
Non-official Languages: Arpitan
Demonym: Reçuecian
Population: 5,252,000 (regional censuses 1999-2011)
Area: 43,116 sq km
GDP: $340,000,000,000 (2019 Estimate)
Currency: Guilder

All photos taken by me in locations that would be in IC Reçueçn.
All logos and graphics created by me.

Starting XI

---

1 - GK - Gerauld Firaut
2 - SW - Emanuele Cutrona
3 - LB - Paulin Bourguignon
4 - CB - Lukas Kayserling
5 - RB - Barnabus Mercer
6 - LM - Robert Chéreau
7 - DM - Laurent Lapix
8 - RM - Maynard Hebron
9 - LW - Per Tegeler
10 - CF - Franky Adams
11 - RW - Helibert

[Pyazhnaya]

With their Baptism of Fire win still standing as their only title, and unsuccessful campaign after middling campaign, this might be the last hoorah for some of the players on the roster before the Pyazhnayan Football Federation loses its patience.


Dina Serova - 32
After several unsuccessful campaigns, coach Aleksandr Zavrashin was escorted to the door and released into the wild. His successor Dina Serova comes from Pyazhnayan national powerhouse Torpedo Krasnograd and is almost the same age as some of the players called up for the qualifying campaign for World Cup 96. While she will mostly maintain the classic 4-4-2, she wants to give the existing core one more shot at redeeming itself before potentially making some incisive changes.

GOALKEEPER			
GK	Maksimilian Chupov		28	Pria City (CMT)
DEFENDERS			
LB	Danya Zabolotnaya		26	Avanaroch White Wings FC (TKT)
CB	Ulyona Khomkolova		31	Khalgarh Valley FC (TKT)
CB	Vladislav Ilyushin		25	Columbia City (TMB)
RB	Sergey Kharlamov		23	Sturrey Athletic (TMB)
MIDFIELDERS			
LM	Danila Terentyev		26	Parakleion Firebirds FC (TKT)
CM	Aleksandra Novoseltseva		26	Pria City (CMT)
CM	Misha Retyunskikh		30	Katashi-Kanatsu (KOR)
RM	Sasha Malykin			22	AS Samita (ELM)
FORWARDS			
FW	Maksimilian Kartashov		21	Tovaca Thunder FC (TKT)
FW	Danila Mukhametshin		24	Vna-Chuhul Ravens FC (TKT)

GOALKEEPER			
GK	Rinat Chernetsky		28	Gonen's Bridge (NPH)
GK	Elisey Moroshkin		23	Oriannor Mountaineers FC (TKT)
DEFENDERS			
LB	Vsevolod Ilyushin		26	Torpedo Krasnograd
LB	Snezhana Fedchenkova		30	FK Shakhter Z'ai'ai (CMT)
CB	Dilara Gryaznova		28	Swangard Athletic (QUE)
CB	Yekaterina Pshenichnikova	30	Kyethas Rivermen FC (TKT)
CB	Miron Skuratov			26	Atlantis Buraskva
CB	Snezhana Yermilova		24	Biristivice (AUP)
RB	Sonya Stezhenskaya		30	Kingsgrove (BRE)
RB	Evgenia Agliullina		25	Legion Vostrakhan
MIDFIELDERS			
LM	Timofey Aristarkhov		26	Alcassar 1896 FC (TKT)
LM	Serafima Lermontova		22	Sila Saykonur
CM	Taras Rybalkin			23	Armada Sovran
CM	Sonia Verenichnaya		24	Shearwater (KSK)
CM	Sergey Bryzgalov		22	Sanar (CMT)
CM	Raisa Safiullina		23	FK Vselitamak
RM	Lyubov Reznikova		25	Tihon United (CMT)
RM	Rostislav Chukreyev		23	Wanda Island Wanderers (AFT)
FORWARDS			
FW	Vsevolod Bogolyubsky		29	FK Shakhter Z'ai'ai (CMT)
FW	Rostislav Tsaritsyn		21	Eivora Athletic (TKT)
FW	Marat Tkachev			27	Riuwiee United (AFT)
FW	Nikita Golodyayeva		23	Kompas Livropol

Home Jersey:


Away Jersey:

+3

My opponent, if they RP first, may do the following:
Choose my goalscorers: Yes
Godmod scoring events: No
RP injuries to my players: Yes (just please be reasonable)
Godmod injuries to my players: No
Hand out yellow cards to my players: Yes (again please be reasonable)
Hand out red cards to my players: Yes (same deal)
Godmod other events: Nope

[Tanirinthia]

Tanirinthia World Cup XCVI Roster

Style Mod: +2

The Mighty Oaks

Goalkeepers	Defenders	Midfielders	Strikers
Elmer Marshall* Vanessa Burke Jacqueline Cress	Percival Manning* Alma Menzie* Raven Medina* Davy Barrett Regina Newman Nancy Fleming	Ferris Dixon* Viola Wheeler* Sophia O'Brien* Bud Barnett* Edmond Barker Roderick Woolery Jack Bell Derick Burgess	Violet Bacchus* Bridget Payne* Lark Holt* Erin Rodgers Pat Hancock Hayden Bishop Lonnie Wolfe

* - Denotes likely starter

To visit Tanirinthia, you'll need to comply with the following regulations:

• Stay within the boundaries defined in your visitor visa during the duration of your trip
• Accommodation must be booked in advance and through one of the approved vendors – see Appendix Visitor: Permitted Accommodation
• Non-humanoids must wear provided holographic device at all times

1. Tanirinthia's knowledge of the multiverse

The general public of Tanirinthia and all other nations on Terra are completely ignorant of the existence of the multiverse, therefore it is of the utmost importance that this is upheld by any visitors. Any activity deemed to be intentionally trying to expose its existence to the general public will result in immediate rescinding of your visitors permit, removal from Tanirinthia and an official complaint being made to your host embassy.

To this end the following in a non-exhaustive list of things that are not seen in Tanirinthia

• Animals are not sentient and are unable to speak
• Furniture is not sentient and is unable to speak
• Magic
• Cube shaped fruit
• Non euclidian geometries and travel
• Reversing the arrow of time
• Speaking to a stranger on public transport

2. Arrival to Tanirinthia

All travel to and from Tanirinthia must be through the main gate located in St Cirith, in the unlikely event of an incident that leaves the main gate inoperational then an alternate gate will be provided for you along with a temporary change to your visa to allow travel to that location. Any attempt to enter Tanirinthia via any other means will be treated as an incursion and you will be indefinitely detained, so please think twice before thinking you can skip the queue.

3. Your cover story

All visitors will be provided with a cover story as part of their visitor package, a reminder that visitors coming as part of a team of representatives for a sport event will be provided with a comprehensive package that will be tested on arrival.

4. Emergencies

In an emergency please dial 101, this number will connect you to a representative with clearance who will be able to deal with any issues you may have.

My opponent, if they RP first, may do the following:
Choose my goalscorers: Yes
Godmod scoring events: No
RP injuries to my players: Yes
Godmod injuries to my players: No
Hand out yellow cards to my players: Yes
Hand out red cards to my players: Yes
Godmod other events: No

[Saint Eleanor]

Style Modifier: -2.269

Notes

1. Shirts: visualised to your right.
   
2. Nickname: The White Stars is the historically-accepted nickname for Saint Eleanor, owing to the central symbol on their flag. Since their CoH84 win, the use of Falcons or Peregrine Falcons (previously lost in translation by Huayramarca's erstwhile Trome as "Peregrin Hawks") - a homage to the national animal, once avoided for fear of confusion with the Pink Falcons of Nova Aegis - has soared in popularity. Ahem.
   
3. Race, ethnicity and species: taFrexala and weMexala [ethnically Gladom Newion], and Faleraneta [ethnically Sochean], are black. Hollenberg is white [but half-Tinhamptonian through her mum, half-Atoccian through her dad; never mind that they are almost identical shades of white anyway]. Matsuda and Fujiwara are Squidroidian [i.e. Japanese]. All others are white [and ethnically Tinhamptonian].
   Matsuda lives in a human body, but he is also one of Squidroidia's six feted Wunderbars, a victim/beneficiary of human experimentation intended - often, if not always, with success - to make the experimentees among the best footballers in the multiverse. Gentle Breeze, manager, is a pegasus (and the image of her linked towards the end of this roster was generously donated by EQS). Reniira Clevinger, co-assistant manager, is half-human, half-satyr. All others are fully human.
   
4. No drama: Eleanorians play football the way they're entirely convinced it's meant to be played. No gloves (goalies excepted), no long-sleeved thermal underthings, no obnoxiously-coloured boots, absolutely no cutting off the bottoms of their socks and sticky-taping a new one on, and no unjustified whinging, moaning or faking: just getting on with the job, having "fun," and trying to win somehow. Some call it non-league standard. Others call it dour, evangelical Christianity (never mind only 70% of the population believes it). We call it one of the best forms of football in the world. You'll note the lack of even a guesstimated number on that this time.
   
5. Additional information: The names of all players and staff in the Biography section are hyperlinks to their interviews with Jamie Rodgers, where available; they should not be treated as part of this roster.
   cica.da accounts of note are also NOT in this roster, as they were in WCQ95; I've moved the list to my domestic newswire. May Dantopia, living legend, have nothing but good times during his ongoing hiatus.
   
6. Players' languages: All Eleanorians speak Terranean, it is the language of intrasquad communication, and many - including in this squad - will have a Westcountry accent. The vast majority do not know any other languages. Despite this...
   --> Coombe is a de-facto fluent speaker of Azertienne (mostly picked up from her time at Kelssek).
   --> Launceston has a fairly good understanding of Akhdari (out of bona-fide interest... and pressure on her mum's part for her 15-year-old self to learn a second language).
   --> Hollenberg has a decent grasp of Vojovitican (from years playing in front of a highly xenophobic fanbase in the Vojovitica region of Mytanija every other week) and Azertienne (foreign language education actually exists in Atoccian schools).
   --> taFrexala and weMexala are fluent in Newion (for obvious reasons). Poor Faleraneta is a second-generation Sochean and can't speak a word of his mother tongue.
   
7. How to read my roster's short list: Every position in the short list has a colour code: goalkeepers are orange; defenders red; midfielders green; strikers blue; managers purple; assistant managers pink. Major palmares (WC, CoH, BoF ----- CAFA, AOCAF, CR, CE, IAC ----- CL/CC, ChC/GC, AT, CWC, LBCT/SBCC, RSC/YC) are in golden yellow, and - for staff - distinguished by whether won as a [P]layer, [M]anager or [A]ssistant manager.
   In a new, desperate, gloriously post-Martin effort to reduce space, takers of setpieces (LCK, RCK, FK, PK) are now in very, very dark green after palmares. Simply because a player is down as the free-kick taker does not mean they take all free-kicks, however: those from wide positions, eighty yards from goal and so on will be taken by those in the best position.
   Two players in this squad hold Squidroidian citizenship. Matsuda appeared at WC91 and won IAC17; Fujiwara never won a cap as far as SEFA knows. They are marked as "dual SQR" players, after any other short list tags.
   
8. Timestamp: This roster was ICly issued on 1st January 2009. Club information is accurate as of 1st December 2007 - just before TW44, which hasn't OOCly been held - and should be taken as an accurate information of the situation on that date.

Roleplay Permissions: Yes, but...

• I CONSENT TO STADIUM HAPPENINGS OCCURRING IN WORLD CUP FINALS MATCHES INVOLVING SAINT ELEANOR! (since I've now qualified for the thing as of April 10th and I'm not sure that the private assurances I gave to Mert midway through qualifying will suffice for publicity's sake)
• No wholesale changes of the Eleanorian squad ("wholesale" being whatever I define as wholesale - but please don't be afraid to start or bring on a few listed subs)
• No more than two red cards or other forms of ruling players out per match, unless I send you a telegram (from Saint Eleanor) or Discord message (from tinhampton) to the contrary
• No injuries longer than one game or beyond the last sixteen, again unless I say otherwise
• Please no other violations of bodily autonomy. Yes, that means no deaths too, here or elsewhere in Saint Eleanor. Or of Eleanorians elsewhere :P
• No trying to remove the manager, her assistants, or Eleanorian government officials from office (this includes no giving my staff members, named or unnamed, red or yellow cards - an area of the IRL Laws of the Game which I strongly disagree with on principle)
• Absolutely no destruction of Saint Eleanor or significant areas thereof
• The Eleanorian media - especially SESB and The Reporter - reserves the right to fact-check obviously false claims about the national team and those surrounding it
• Eleanorians do not take part in anthem protests, taking the knee or other similar political gestures in or around matches - but can, and sometimes do, speak their minds off the pitch

THE SAINT ELEANOR FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION

ROSTER FOR THE 96^TH WORLD CUP
To be held in Mertagne and Huayramarca

All home qualifiers will be played at the National Liberation Arena in Central district, capacity 68,184

Home kit: All black
Away kit: White shirts with a blue sash from the bottom-left to the top-right, white shorts, white socks
Goalkeeper kit: All green

UP THE WHITE STARS!

---

Short list of players

Typical starting lineup (4-2-3-1):

1. .GK. .CoH84. Arielle RICHARDSON (she/her; Pamuk Trunca [Mytanija]; born 10th March 1981)
   
2. .LB. .VCPT. .CoH84. .LCK. Cathy WINCHESTER (she/her; Independence 1975; born 29th August 1978)
   
3. .RB. .CoH84. Exandra DAVIES (she/her; Jolbonopolis United [Quebec and Shingoryeo]; born 18th June 1974)
   
4. .CB. .CoH84. Sam NEWBRIDGE (he/him; Grand Beach; born 20th October 1974)
   
5. .CB. .CoH84. Esther LAUNCESTON (she/her; Athletic Saint Eleanor; born 30th June 1981)
   
6. .CDM. .CPT. .CoH84. .FK, PK. Bridget COOMBE (she/her; Athletic Saint Eleanor; born 2nd November 1975)
   
7. .LM. .CoH84. David NEWCASTLE (he/him; Independence 1975; born 22nd April 1974)
   
8. .CDM. .CoH84. Sylvia HOLLENBERG (she/her; Atletik Thessia [Mytanija]; born 29th May 1981)
   
9. .ST. Rick GOLDSMITH (he/him; Hiyashi Celestia; born 11th August 1980)
   
10. .CAM. .CoH84. Steve PILCHARD (he/him; Occidental Olympic; born 8th September 1977)
    
11. .RM. .RCK. Angelica NORTHEND (she/her; Capital Cove Defense Forces [Capital Cove]; born 23rd July 1981)
    
    
    Substitutes (depth chart):
    
12. .RM. .CoH84. Tim BRANDON (he/him; Grand Beach; born 9th February 1976)
    
13. .GK. .CoH84. Georgia WOOD (she/her; Golden Unicorn; born 15th April 1972)
    
14. .LM. Graham LAWSON (he/him; Athletic Saint Eleanor; born 14th February 1980)
    
15. .CDM. .CoH84. Lydia NICHOLLS (she/her; Sandfjell Fotball [Cap Nord]; born 11th October 1980)
    
16. .CB. Christine TERRENCE (she/her; Sword and Shield; born 11th August 1979)
    
17. .ST. David KEY (he/him; Occidental Olympic; born 28th June 1982)
    
18. .CB. .dual SQR. Daiki FUJIWARA (he/him; Newbanks United; born 19th April 1980)
    
19. .CDM. .IAC17. .dual SQR. Kichirō MATSUDA (he/him; Independence 1975; created 1984 [precise date unknown])
    
20. .RB. .CoH84. Naresmet taFREXALA (he/him; Athletic Saint Eleanor; born 11th December 1976)
    
21. .LB. Tina FALCONER (she/her; Good Hope Club; born 25th March 1982)
    
22. .ST. .CoH84. Tim HART (he/him; Viathyn Park AFC [Tikariot]; born 17th March 1979)
    
23. .GK. Carla HAWKINS (she/her; Newbanks United; born 3rd November 1977)
    
24. .CB. .CoH84. LCpl. Denise LIVINGSTON (she/her; Army and Navy; born 7th August 1981)
    
25. .CAM. Kavezalea FELARANETA (he/him; Independence 1975; born 19th September 1984)
    
26. .ST. Rachel McNAMARA (she/her; Newbanks United; born 7th April 1979)
    
    
    Members of staff:
    .MG. .WC83[P]; AOCAF58[P], AOCAF59[P]; CWC49[P], ChC2[P]. GENTLE BREEZE (she/her; Equestrian national; age 45)
    .AMG. .WC87[P]. Reniira CLEVINGER (she/her; Nepharan national; age 40)
    .AMG. .CoH84[A]. Ltn. Stephen MITCHAM (he/him; age 42)

---

Biographies (written by Jamie Rodgers, chief football correspondent of Saint Eleanor State Broadcasting)

1: Arielle Richardson --- position: goalkeeper --- age: 27 (born 10/03/1981) --- club: Pamuk Trunca [MYT] --- height: 6ft0in (183cm)
coffee preference: milk and one sugar --- appearance: brown ponytail; not-quite-as-brown eyes --- parental occupations: barista at an independent café in Collegiate district (father); florist (mother)
if she wasn't a footballer, she'd probably be: permanently booked to live in a library in Tsrvena
You almost certainly read the above mini-file and suspected that Richardson was a bit of a romantic. It would be accurate to call her a bookworm, but she has vouched for falling asleep at the opera, not wanting to follow her (University College) teammates to nightclubs, and - more than almost anything else - wanting to study. Whatever you do, do not hold your conversations with her during the match: she is far more likely to shake you into paying attention, actually pay attention to the proceedings herself, try to grab hold of the ball if the opposition ever thrusts it in her general direction, and move the ball where it makes most sense (rather than just kicking it out... somewhere). Luckily for Richardson, her somewhat self-induced collapse of Sword and Shield has been mostly reversed by Olympia Woodward and company; just don't ask about Crvena Zvezda, how old most of their players are or why she jumped ship to their rivals after exactly one season.

2: Cathy Winchester --- position: leftback --- age: 30 (born 29/08/1978) --- club: Independence 1975 [EXT] --- height: 5ft3in (160cm)
coffee preference: milk and one sugar --- appearance: short blonde hair, but not really that short; blue eyes --- parental occupations: real estate agent (father); housewife (mother)
if she wasn't a footballer, she'd probably be: working a variety of temp jobs and internships while waiting to inherit the family business
Winchester is, by this point, a cult hero among supporters of club and country alike: a nailed-on starter for the Liberators in both good times and bad, she has also proven her worth for the national team (although some might argue that her winner against Juvencus many moons ago tips the scale well in her favour). Despite only having taken up football as a hobby aged nine, she has proven herself to be strong in making passes, cutting them out, and, of course, stopping them from ever happening. These might look like the fundamentals, but to misquote Derek Pittam, she is "a midfielder in completely the wrong place" - which is a compliment, not an insult. Ignore the fact he tried to change her mind about positions to no avail.

3: Exandra Davies --- position: rightback --- age: 34 (born 18/06/1974) --- club: Jolbonopolis United [née Winnipeg United; QUE] --- height: 5ft8in (173cm)
coffee preference: milk and two sugars --- appearance: long, super-curly, obviously-dyed-peroxide-blonde hair; brown eyes --- parental occupations: fuel station attendant (father); call centre operator (mother)
if she wasn't a footballer, she'd probably be: the guitarist-slash-frontwoman of a punk rock band that's completely unknown beyond Jolbonopolis and the Dockside
Some footballers are sensible enough to be all-rounders. Davies is crazy enough to be an all-rounder. Despite keeping to rightback, she is unquestionably competent at just about everything that could be expected, and unexpected, of her: man-marking, woman-marking, person-marking, tackling, dribbling, passing, shooting... okay, so her idea of some of those concepts might be different to yours. She has her superstitions - most infamously among them the pre-match half-satsuma - but claims "it doesn't matter if I forget about them for whatever reason." Although she does appear to have forgotten about long-time girlfriend and one-time Good Hope Club teammate Charlotte Bryant while in Quebec and is now onto Rachaelle Hernandez, one of the nation's best MMA fighters. Just don't get into too many arguments, okay?

4: Sam Newbridge --- position: centreback --- age: 34 (born 20/10/1974) --- club: Grand Beach [EXT] --- height: 5ft10in (178cm)
coffee preference: standard-issue black --- appearance: very short black hair; brown eyes; more than a bit of stubble --- parental occupations: kitchen staff at Grand Beach's Willis fried chicken shack (father); bank teller (mother)
if he wasn't a footballer, he'd probably be: voted one of the top fifteen most unemployable bouncers in Anaia
Calm, refined, more distributive than anything... not a chance. Newbridge still has his reputation as Grand Beach's enforcer for a decade - despite his best attempts to chill his style in recent seasons - with his simple-minded physicality, somewhat more complex-minded ball-winning skills, and very occasional outbursts proving to be a furiously relaxing break from the typically mellow pace of Eleanorian defending. It's not quite Enigma Armageddon or Alex Keane levels of "what the fuck?", but it gets the job done, it's worse than Paul Ferry would have ever considered, and - by some miracle - it's the secret ingredient that's keeping him in the usual starting lineup for this cycle at least. That, or the national centreback crisis. Which is no longer a crisis now that Lydia Vickers exists.

5: Esther Launceston --- position: centreback --- age: 27 (born 30/06/1981) --- club: Athletic Saint Eleanor [EXT] --- height: 6ft2in (188cm)
coffee preference: only drinks water --- appearance: stereotypically blonde ponytail; brown eyes --- parental occupations: regular human resources employee (father); the meteorologist on Channel 4's news bulletin (mother)
if she wasn't a footballer, she'd probably be: a rising small-screen actress with a couple of horribly autotuned hit singles to her name (although she released one in 2004!)
Despite a fairly strong defensive tradition, it should have surely said enough about the parlous state of Saint Eleanor's centrebacks outside Independence 1975 that Evans had to call up a mostly-untested 19-year-old almost entirely on the grounds that she has "good fundamentals." Fast forward almost a decade and Launceston is indubitably the very best of the lot: one of Athletic's cult heroes, a not-insignificant part in the country's Cup of Harmony triumph and last World Cup qualification. While definitely imposing both aerially and on the ground, and (unlike certain other defenders) willing to tackle to win the ball if needs must, it almost feels like she just seems to know where the supporting players are when she does have possession - that and who it's best to give it to. Hardly spectacular stuff - although you would expect someone of her background to be - but it's proven.

6: Bridget Coombe [captain] --- position: defensive midfielder; actually wouldn't be that bad as a centreback --- age: 33 (born 02/11/1975) --- club: Athletic Saint Eleanor [EXT] --- height: 5ft11in (180cm)
coffee preference: green tea with a drop of honey --- appearance: brown ponytail; brown eyes; unshakable glow of positivity --- parental occupations: retired Army sergeant (father); secondary school philosophy teacher (mother)
if she wasn't a footballer, she'd probably be: a science teacher at the Parkside Community School
When people love you, they love you. Coombe is certainly loved in most circles: venerated by Olympic, skippered by Latrobe, already well-regarded by Athletic, almost idolised by the rest of her country and still one of the best midfielders anywhere in the world. Little can be said about her as a player that has not already been said, defined as she still is by her physical strength, defensive solidity, creative proficiency, pure undistilled resilience - and very occasional goals (although they are generally very big ones when they come). Where I can offer novel, substantiative comment is about her leadership abilities: it takes a very, very special person to take a nation of 550,000 that failed to qualify for the previous two World Cups almost to the last sixteen of the next one and in rather spectacular fashion as well. Better luck next time (again), though?

7: David Newcastle --- position: left midfielder --- age: 34 (born 22/04/1974) --- club: Independence 1975 [EXT] --- height: 5ft9in (175cm)
coffee preference: milk and no sugar --- appearance: normal, short black hair; brown eyes; clean-shaven --- parental occupations: garage mechanic (father); cleaner (mother)
if he wasn't a footballer, he'd probably be: carrying out unauthorised third-party repairs on really big and fancy electronics
Newcastle has asserted at multiple press conferences that "my parents taught me attention to detail," but it's definitely there no matter who put it in him. His ability to swing the ball into the box, swipe it across the other end, slide it across the floor a few yards, run with the ball for a few seconds, or even just try his luck from a distance is strong; so strong, in fact, that most people barely even notice them, despite the fact he's been a regular starter at all levels for what feels like aeons. Those who pay attention might - and do - call him "boring," but his big moments are either too inadvertently entertaining or far too nerve-wracking for that label to be merited in any way.

8: Sylvia Hollenberg [H.R.H. Princess Sylvia of Atoccia] --- position: defensive midfielder; roughly as good at CM --- age: 27 (born 29/05/1981) --- club: Atletik Thessia [MYT] --- height: 5ft9in (175cm)
coffee preference: milk and no sugar --- appearance: short blonde hair ("a break from decades of royal tradition"); blue eyes --- parental occupations: the King and Queen of Atoccia
if she wasn't a footballer, she'd probably be: representing the Atoccian royal family on business much less important than the World Cup
Some royals are born into celebrity status. Hollenberg got there through hard work, routine Challengers' Cup heartbreak, lots of coffee and bloody-minded persistence. If you think that sounds quite unlike her, you'd be right: she's more conservative as a player - and perhaps a person - in general, being adept at breaking up play (sometimes perceptively, very occasionally by force) and starting it back up again, staying away from audacious passes and one-in-a-bazillion shots... and quite possibly being tall enough to challenge for headers, too. Her position here is doubly vindicated by a few years as the undisputed best player in the Energija-Nuklearna lineup, if not the one who dragged them to the IFCF's second-tier tournament in her first season there - and triply vindicated by her ongoing service at the one and only Atletik. Sorry, Emma, but looks like someone needed a move to a big club.

9: Rick Goldsmith --- position: striker --- age: 28 (born 11/08/1980) --- club: Hiyashi Celestia [EXT] --- height: 6ft0in (183cm)
coffee preference: milk and one sugar --- appearance: relatively "neatly"-cut brown hair; only the slightest of moustaches, blue eyes --- parental occupations: corner shop shelf stacker (father); three part-time jobs (mother)
if he wasn't a footballer, he'd probably be: organising a local crime gang made out of Eleanorians dedicated to taking down the local crime gangs made out of Farves
Thankfully for Goldsmith, the Farf crime gangs have been largely decimated by the Army - so he can get on with his real job, which is to hand around in front of goal and snatch as many good opportunities as he can. As of late, he's remained as consistent as ever, being a regular contributor to his club's attack, proving to be an effective asset in both the IFCF and the World Cup, and even demonstrating that his speed can be a serious asset rather than a fancy trinket that doesn't do anything. There are still question marks surrounding his accuracy in front of goal and whether Steve Pilchard will have to plug in for him more often, or even whether he's just the second in a long line of disposable starting strikers for the White Stars, but it's unlikely anyone will care with the new, more conservative order of things.

10: Steve Pilchard --- position: attacking midfielder (again... at last) --- age: 31 (born 08/09/1977) --- club: Occidental Olympic [EXT] --- height: 5ft6in (168cm)
coffee preference: milk and one sugar --- appearance: short but slightly unkempt blonde hair; brown eyes; almost clean-shaven --- parental occupations: groundskeeper at the Liberators' Park (father); housewife (mother)
if he wasn't a footballer, he'd probably be: part of the front-of-house staff at a trendy independent café
Now perhaps Olympic's sole household name (other than maybe French and Key), Pilchard is by now as close as you can get to being a nailed-on starter for the national team. I could tell you the story about how this came about through Saint Eleanor's results-forced return to the good old 4-2-3-1 all the way back in 2001 again, but it's probably better to say that he's more of a natural at this position than just about any other Eleanorian who calls themself one. Secretly, he probably does want to go further forward and become a striker in his own right, and it will most likely play out like that: despite being infamously okay at dribbling, not the quality you should expect at this level, he more than makes up for it with a good eye for goal (from reasonable distances that might somehow be worthy of an eyeroll) and a well-developed sense of good and bad passing (especially from reasonable distances that actually are reasonable by international standards).

11: Angelica Northend --- position: right midfielder --- age: 27 (born 23/07/1981) --- club: Capital Cove Defence Forces [CPC] --- height: 5ft9in (175cm)
coffee preference: milk and no sugar --- appearance: short dark brown hair; blue eyes --- parental occupations: serving Army lieutenant (father); serving Army sergeant (mother)
if she wasn't a footballer, she'd probably be: a nondescript but nevertheless respected Army officer
What is this - another player called up to the Eleanorian national team on the basis of suppositions that they've done quite well with their club? This isn't quite an O'Donnell case, however: Northend, from what's been transmitted to SESB headquarters so far, has been fairly adept in scoring goals and setting them up, which is what you'd expect. She isn't the most noticeable when it comes to speed or power, but is deadly accurate with her passing, will take any chance she gets to push forward, and has attracted notoriety since her schooldays for either getting into shouting matches or plainly dismissing them as a waste of time. All told, then, a good choice and one whose vibes generally line up with the other new arrivals.

12: Tim Brandon --- position: right midfielder --- age: 32 (born 09/02/1976) --- club: Grand Beach [EXT] --- height: 5ft9in (175cm)
coffee preference: milk and no sugar --- appearance: extremely average blonde hair; brown eyes; a bit of a moustache but no beard --- parental occupations: operations manager (father); care home worker (mother)
if he wasn't a footballer, he'd probably be: Grand Beach District Council's in-house intern onboarder
The first thing you need to know about Tim Brandon is that he is fast - and speed is not a card in most Eleanorian footballers' deck. The second thing you need to know about Tim Brandon is that, of Grand Beach's widely-feted front three - Rachel McNamara is now at Newbanks United after what can be described, in short, as some transfer business - he alone has lived up to expectations so far, and outlived boss Julia Atherton at that. He doesn't have his head in the sand: he knows how to get the ball into dangerous positions and sometimes even fancies a go himself, but his balls fail to receive adequate support far too often. One would hope that, if and when he ever gets dragged onto the pitch for the White Stars, the higher calibre of striker will help him and the entire nation deliver.

13: Georgia Wood --- position: goalkeeper --- age: 36 (born 15/04/1972) --- club: Golden Unicorn [EXT] --- height: 5ft11in (180cm)
coffee preference: a lot of milk and no sugar --- appearance: short brown hair; blue eyes --- parental occupations: senior manager at Broadlands' Hiyashi factory (father); local newspaper editor-in-chief (mother)
if she wasn't a footballer, she'd probably be: an accountant, because of course
Having your dad work for the people who own your club's biggest rivals is definitely one way to tone down the volume on the derby. It's not as if Wood hasn't been doing that for her entire playing career, anyway, as one of the quietest members of perhaps the quietest team in the Saint Eleanor League. Although very slightly error-prone and a smidgen under six foot, she is still somehow heads and shoulders above most of the nation's other goalkeepers by virtue of not getting herself into too much trouble - her reputation as a teetotaller who always happens to go to sleep by 11:30pm (extraordinarily late match finishes notwithstanding) is the stuff of legend in certain Brightway circles. I mean trouble on the pitch. Most Eleanorian footballers' idea of a "party" is to order themselves a pint at the bar, get it done within a few minutes and then go away.

14: Graham Lawson --- position: left midfielder --- age: 28 (born 14/02/1980) --- club: Athletic Saint Eleanor [EXT] --- height: 5ft8in (173cm)
coffee preference: standard-issue black --- appearance: buzzed blonde hair; brown eyes --- parental occupations: Eleanorian Power electrician (father); housewife (mother)
if he wasn't a footballer, he'd probably be: working the afternoon shift at the local bottle shop
He who clocked a teenaged Brianna Austen in the face with a wayward penalty is in the squad for different, more objectively promising reasons. He's regularly starting for Athletic, pound-for-pound the best club side in Eleanorian history, and has proven to be a surprising attacking influence for them - preferring to cut inside and make his own luck if he can, as the great Jessica Martin would have, rather than simply crossing. His tactical and positional awareness is also a bonus, he isn't a bad shot - he can't be for his own sake - he's a proudly working-class voice in the Chamber of Commerce's club and he's outspoken on football too when the situation demands it. Many still lament Hugh Roanoke's departure, but he's five years older and his mission to get the White Stars ready and able at the back has long been accomplished.

15: Lydia Nicholls --- position: central midfielder; now fairly adept at CDM --- age: 28 (born 11/10/1980) --- club: Sandfjell Fotball [CNR] --- height: 6ft0in (183cm)
coffee preference: standard-issue black --- appearance: short ginger hair with the freckles to match; brown eyes --- parental occupations: line manager at the Hiyashi factory (father); actually-trustworthy car saleswoman (mother)
if she wasn't a footballer, she'd probably be: working for the First Bank of Saint Eleanor's investment banking division
In the absolutely politest sense possible, Lydia Nicholls has no morals whatsoever. Some of those who have met her insist that she is a rather nice - even wonderful - person who'll most likely leave you alone but has no tolerance for inane bullshit or otherwise veiled threats. This might be true off the pitch (please ignore the fact she has two young children already), but there is very little chance of her leaving you alone on it, especially not if you look like you might be threatening a goal. This is not to say she is indiscriminate or that stopping the opposition at all costs is her only strategy - of course she also knows how the old Eleanorian arts of distribution work, despite not being particularly fond of going forward for the most part - but it is, at least at this moment, what she is best known for. That and her lob from the halfway line against Juventud many moons ago. And maybe what she did in the IFCF.

16: Christine Terrence --- position: centreback; repentant central midfielder --- age: 29 (born 11/08/1979) --- club: Sword and Shield [EXT] --- height: 6ft0in (183cm)
coffee preference: milk and two sugars --- appearance: short, if somewhat unkempt (and fairly dark), brown hair; blue eyes --- parental occupations: the Army Engineering Corps (father); Eleanorian Post deliverer (mother)
if she wasn't a footballer, she'd probably be: the janitor for a sizable University office somewhere... and all done by 11am
Remarkable unremarkability is still somehow the hallmark of Terrence's career. On the face of it, she appears to be a perfectly normal midfield convert, somebody who knows exactly where to put herself and the ball in times of danger without going so far forward that she loses any sense of position (or purpose). Ask anybody at the University Grounds who knows better, however, and they'll most likely tell you she's somebody who's spent years sitting in defence, doing absolutely nothing of note other than going forward a bit and maybe having a few very, very good days. In an era where the national team has increasingly slim pickings in defence, however, just being a quality player who fears the consequences of even making a few mistakes may well be good enough to make the grade.

17: David Key --- position: striker --- age: 26 (born 28/06/1982) --- club: Occidental Olympic [EXT] --- height: 5ft10in (178cm)
coffee preference: milk and one sugar --- appearance: black hair; brown eyes; unreasonably thick accent --- parental occupations: bus mechanic (father); supermarket cashier (mother)
if he wasn't a footballer, he'd probably be: doing much-needed housekeeping and other estates-department stuff for Olympic
Every generation has its dynamic, playmaking and somewhat lithe Olympic striker who turns out to be good enough for a spot around the national team - and Key is this generation's striker. A Golden Backpack winner in his 1999 schooldays for getting involved in just about every goal Parkside CS scored on their way to the Charles Trump Shield, he hasn't proven any worse at the higher level of quality, regularly finding the net, working almost in synergy with his more traditionally-minded attacking partners, knowing when to time his dribbles and (unlike certain others of his ilk) being pretty much as squeaky-clean as you can get.

18: Daiki Fujiwara --- position: centreback --- age: 28 (born 19/04/1980) --- club: Newbanks United [EXT] --- height: 5ft11in (180cm) ~ Squidroidian dual national by birth
coffee preference: supermarket own-brand energy drink --- appearance: short dark-brown hair; brown eyes; no facial hair whatsoever --- parental occupations: IT technician (father); died in a car crash (mother)
if he wasn't a footballer, he'd probably be: the international technology correspondent for one of the Eleanorian papers
It's easy to see why Fujiwara was called up this time - he's clean, consistent, an actual full-time centreback, and finally eligible to represent Saint Eleanor. He's learned well from Kōji Katou, his older and rasher partner at United (the all-Squidroidian pairing a holdover from the days when it was a plaything of their government), having earned a firm awareness of when to go into tackles and interceptions, where to move the ball, and how to gauge the needs of his fellow defenders and deeper-lying midfielders. The national team is a completely different kettle of fish in terms of personnel, McNamara excepted, but Fujiwara should gel in exceptionally with them if he knows how to apply the principles he's learned in the Saint Eleanor League.

19: Kichirō Matsuda [Wunderbar Quatro] --- position: central midfielder, leaning CDM --- age: 24 (created 1984) --- club: Independence 1975 [EXT] --- height: 6ft2in (188cm) ~ Squidroidian dual national by birth
coffee preference: black, but with just a little cream --- appearance: almost-perfect black hair; brown eyes --- parental occupations: none; created in a lab
if he wasn't a footballer, he'd probably be: an engineer for some vehicle manufacturer you've never heard of. But we all know he was doomed to be a footballer
Does this man need any introduction? As it turns out, yes: one of the six Wunderbars who took Squidroidia to such places as the World Cup knockouts and the Independents Cup trophy-lift, Quatro moved to Saint Eleanor shortly after his homeland's withdrawal from international football and has arguably done better for himself than any of his peers. On his best days, he can be one of the best in the world, just as originally advertised: calm, composed, able to shift from attack to defence without a second thought, and proven quality on the highest level (including the knockout stages of both major IFCF tournaments). On his worst days, though, he can get mad - very mad - and has already clocked up a few red cards for the trouble. It's very likely you'll get the nice Matsuda when it comes to it - but it's absolutely not certain.

20: Naresmet taFrexala --- position: rightback --- age: 32 (born 11/12/1976) --- club: Athletic Saint Eleanor [EXT] --- height: 5ft9in (175cm)
coffee preference: "coffee" --- appearance: fairly short black hair; brown eyes; somewhat notable beard --- parental occupations: senior masseur (father); kitchen staff at Whitehammer's Torch burger bar (mother)
if he wasn't a footballer, he'd probably be: a fairly nondescript paramedic (now fully qualified!)
Yet another solid and reliable player who hardly anyone seems to care about - they didn't even pay attention when he set up Nightingale for a dramatic late equaliser at Raynor City United many, many Champions' Leagues ago - taFrexala was acclaimed the national team's second-choice rightback for various reasons. One of them is his bona fide desire to overlap, cross, get back and hope for the best (which is at least less scattergun than anything Exandra Davies could ever come up with). Another might be the consistency with which he seems to be able to win tackles, stop dribbles, and whatever the hell lies inbetween those two things without too much mess. And he is, of course, better than Harriet Farnham and Evan Kilkenny, literally the only rightbacks who could otherwise be in contention for this slot.

21: Tina Falconer --- position: leftback --- age: 26 (born 25/03/1982) --- club: Good Hope Club [EXT] --- height: 5ft6in (168cm)
coffee preference: no milk, one sugar --- appearance: neat brown ponytail; brown eyes --- parental occupations: tree surgeon (father); NLF Club administrator (mother)
if she wasn't a footballer, she'd probably be: a nurse with the Eleanorian Health Services
Part of one of the best generations of footballers ever raised by the Trident Community School, Falconer has proven herself to be an eager fullback... perhaps too eager. More of a conservative, linehugging sort than most, she has slowly started to gain a reputation for pushing up as needs be when the designated wide midfielder cuts inside (and many of them do, even at GHC), while also proving herself to be hotheaded in her dealings with attacking players from the right flank even when they aren't playing for Grand Beach. Yes, she can be a fun person on and off the pitch - and often is - but her serious side is outrageously driven, even if it's relatively harder to get on the wrong side of it just through your own actions.

22: Tim Hart --- position: striker --- age: 29 (born 17/03/1979) --- club: Viathyn Park AFC [TKT] --- height: 5ft11in (180cm)
coffee preference: milk and no sugar --- appearance: surprisingly well-kept black hair; clean-shaven; brown eyes --- parental occupations: Polytechnic lecturer (father); charity shop worker (mother)
if he wasn't a footballer, he'd probably be: illegally selling inordinate numbers of cigarettes on the streets of Buckhead
With long-time Polytechnic hater Aaron Francis out, it would only make sense for a man who loves the Polytechnic so much as to have been Juventud's best-ever striker to come into the squad. Despite his reputation here as a Juventud icon and Golden Unicorn benchwarmer, Hart has been no slouch since his move to Tikariot half a decade ago, having banged in the goals first for the Veriasod Wolves and then, after they came down, Viathyn Park AFC (who he led to the IFCF in 2006, his 25-goal debut season). He may be a typical pace-and-power striker who learned his stuff in the most depressing circumstances a reasonable Eleanorian can imagine, but he did so anyway, he's been well worth the money, and his presence here instead of a bulkier player may be a sign of tactical things to come... even though he is the only new arrival this cycle.

23: Carla Hawkins --- position: goalkeeper --- age: 31 (born 03/11/1977) --- club: Newbanks United [EXT] --- height: 6ft1in (185cm)
coffee preference: milk and two sugars --- appearance: blonde ponytail; blue eyes; just a touch of natural blush --- parental occupations: interior designer (father); optician (mother)
if she wasn't a footballer, she'd probably be: the person who works the digger on every construction site you've ever seen... before 2am, I'll add
You're never too late to start, even if you probably never will. Hawkins is a decently-accomplished goalkeeper - witness her penalty shootout heroics against CASK Thorsborg - and her reflexes speak for themselves, but the most eyecatching thing about her might be her attitude. Unapologetically feisty, commanding and even out-and-out physical, she will make her feelings known when the situation demands it and has a generally good idea of where all the pieces are supposed to go (or what her opinion is of their placement, anyway). She's the angriest any good Eleanorian stopper has been for at least a few years and, if anything, she'll be an unavoidable presence in the changing rooms.

24: Denise Livingston [Army rank: Lance-Corporal] --- position: centreback --- age: 27 (born 07/08/1981) --- club: Army and Navy [EXT] --- height: 5ft10in (178cm)
coffee preference: no milk, one sugar --- appearance: short, if slightly frizzy, brown hair; hazel eyes --- parental occupations: scaffolder (father); serving Army sergeant (mother)
if she wasn't a footballer, she'd probably be: that one construction worker who thinks that still being on site working at 2am is a good idea
2000 was not a particularly good year for Army and Navy - and it was almost certainly much worse for an off-colour Ken Wilkie, which might have given Livingston an aura of competence to begin with. Don't get me started on the years after that. But perhaps it was always here: she won the Golden Backpack in '98 after captaining the Army School to just one goal conceded in five games, getting to the ball before it could get her side in trouble, jostling opposing strikers off the ball if they posted an immediate threat, and dutifully attending to all of her tasks in general - all traits which have certainly been evident during her five-year career, mediocre as they have been for her club. Although rather unlikely to get many minutes for the national team for various reasons, none of them have anything to do with her quality; you would not bet against her making a good, if not particularly shouty, impression should she get the time.

25: Kavezalea Felaraneta --- position: out-and-out attacking midfielder --- age: 24 (born 19/09/1984) --- club: Independence 1975 [EXT] --- height: 5ft9in (175cm)
coffee preference: standard-issue black --- appearance: bushy black hair; brown eyes; excessive gesturing --- parental occupations: Eleanorian Telecom engineer (father); retired Army sergeant (mother)
if she wasn't a footballer, she'd probably be: working the rest-of-the-city beat for The Northern Mail
If you think that Felaraneta is a bit of an obscure player, you have a good reason: he's been overshadowed by pretty much everyone else in the Indy squad. He is a bona-fide playmaker, at least, and one with room for growth at that - fond of feeding the ball into the frontlines and preferring to wait for a good opportunity to make things happen rather than simply push forwards, he can also drop back and work from there if needs absolutely much. He can also be readily exasperated, more so than even Pritchard, and has been known to waft his arms about to express his dismay (or sometimes just to make a simple point he thinks hasn't quite gotten though yet). Eleanorians may have little time for drama but they will probably have more than enough time for the dramatician when they finally get to see him do something here.

26: Rachel McNamara --- position: striker --- age: 29 (born 07/04/1979) --- club: Newbanks United [EXT] --- height: 5ft8in (173cm)
coffee preference: milk and one sugar --- appearance: the most generic blonde ponytail ever tied; green eyes --- parental occupations: recycling centre manager (father); advisor to Grand Beach district leader (mother)
if she wasn't a footballer, she'd probably be: handling wholesale purchases at a petrol station far, far away from Saint Eleanor's low, government-fixed fuel pricing
Until her move to Newbanks, McNamara was too often let down by underperforming superstructures at the club level (or, if you ask her, Bencoolen City's refusal to turn against the T-League plans). Since it happened, she's been their driving attacking force, a leader in all aspects, and a crucial part of the formula that's given them consistent IFCF placements. On the face of it, there isn't much to tell her apart from a generic striker in national team contention - she's fast, agile (if fairly short), accurate in front of goal, and a subscriber to the great Eleanorian ideology of meaningful and regular passing otherwise - but her record over multiple clubs and what is already a fairly long career belies it.

==========

Manager: Gentle Breeze --- former position: goalkeeper --- age: 45 --- clubs of note: Whitetail Foresters [EQS], Ponyville Galaxy [EQS], Mardi Lopunnies [NSI], Astograth University [ASG], Northbrook Diamonds FK [PIS], Dwile Warriors [APX], Celtic Noviodunum [NGD], AC Izotz Zubia [AUD], Wyvernscrest [MRN], Herzegovina City FC [BNJ] --- height: ~4ft (122cm) on four legs; ~6ft (183cm) on two legs, but would rather fly if needs must --- nationality: Equestrian
coffee preference: would much rather have a cup of tea --- appearance: yellow fur, blue mop; take a guess --- parental occupations: not known to SEFA
The record says it all, and not just because it's exhausting to read out. Priscilla Evans, Saint Eleanor's first manager, ran into one clique too far - she was taken down due to a combination of arguably the most unimpressive qualifiers in Eleanorian history, a widely-criticised failure to properly manage the "Class of 2007" on the field, and the largest player revolt ever at the end of it all. Gentle Breeze - one of the greatest Equestrians ever to play hoofball - takes on this unenviable task in her first job after retirement; for the time being, she is widely expected to complete the process of properly bringing the new players into the fold, in the hope that everything will fall into place after that. It does help that early reports out of the camp suggests that she's attracted quite a reputation for being sarcastic and has at least done more to introduce a serious playstyle than Evans ever did. Officially, her only expectations for the World Cup qualifiers are "don't get utterly embarrassed" and you imagine she would be secretly fine with Saint Eleanor coming third on goal difference. I mean, she lost a Champions' League final on penalties once.

Assistant Manager: Reniira Clevinger --- former position: centreback --- age: 40 --- clubs of note: Sabrefell Athletic [NPH], Herzegovina City FC [BNJ] --- height: 6ft8in (203cm) --- nationality: Nepharan
coffee preference: "coffee" --- appearance: blue skin; massive pair of horns up top; otherwise perfectly normal --- parental occupations: also not known to SEFA
Roped into the Eleanorian setup on the behest of the new manager, and almost certainly because they both spent their final days with the Trumpeteers, early indications would appear to suggest that Clevinger's other main purpose on the team is to get it moving again. Something of a goalscoring defender in her time as a player - and I must remind you that she was still playing for Nephara when Saint Eleanor last won this tournament six years ago - Clevinger will broadly be handling the "general outlook" for the team, while Mitcham looks at tactics and Gentle Breeze at the more micro aspects of the system. Whether that means helping to plug gaps in the playbook when necessary, pushing the team to transition between roles more effectively, identifying the best interplay between different positions or telling the press what she's really thinking... well, it means all of those things. Who would I be kidding?

Assistant Manager: Stephen Mitcham [Army rank: Lieutenant] --- former position: none --- age: 42 --- clubs of note: none --- height: 6ft1in (185cm) --- nationality: Eleanorian
coffee preference: milk and no sugar --- appearance: black hair, short back and sides; brown eyes; inappropriately ginormous beard --- parental occupations: President (father); First Lady (mother)
Being Priscilla Evans' assistant was not a fun job. Serving as part of Gentle Breeze's fairly limited experiment in rule by committee will almost certainly be more exciting for Mitcham, who has indicated he will carry on serving the national team until he reaches "an inappropriate age." Having been effectively forced to learn the arts of good communication, better tactics, even higher-quality informal mental healthcare and possibly the best emergency announcements in the world in his first decade on the job, it is the Lieutenant's hope that he will be able to teach the new people the ways of handling a completely unfamiliar squad that may well not be what they're used to. Certainly they will be less stubborn than Evans was...

Hall of Captains
Liam WEST (cycles 89-93)
Bridget COOMBE (cycles 94-date)

~~~~~~~~~~

Hall of Managers
Priscilla EVANS [TIN] (cycles 89-95Q)
GENTLE BREEZE [EQS] (cycles 95F-date)

[Mytanija]

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

Style modifier: −0.5

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE: MYTANIJA NATIONAL POOL FOR WORLD CUP 96 QUALIFICATION

##  Pos.     Name                           Age  Caps/Goals  Club                         
01  GK       Semir Besak                    32   149/1       Mipojoseon (QUE)
12  GK       Alekso Vasilevski              21   6/0         1896 Ebor
23  GK       Janez Anzlovar                 25   4/0         Chamberley City (SYL)
34  GK       Anton Puzin                    32   23/0        Bastion (EUR)

The goalkeeper position is one which has become fairly easy to predict in recent years, Semir Besak is the long-term incumbent and few would bet against him at the very least challenging the 200-cap mark before his international career is over. A supremely experienced goalkeeper who can do everything and has individual awards and team honours to prove it. Alekso Vasilevski is a newcomer, someone who has designs on taking over from Besak eventually and a favourite of national team manager Ivica Svok following an astonishingly good couple of years at Nyva Zvornik – he's now made the move to 1896 Ebor where he’ll play under former national team manager Misel Ravnjak (a man who knows a fair bit about good goalkeepers, having managed Pedja Kasun for years at Ararat Severyan). Janez Anzlovar has impressed following a string of loans around the 1. Prvenstvo and now finds his way to a starting role for Chamberley City in Sylestone after Atletik decided to cash in on his signature. Anton Puzin is the old reliable, an able deputy – usually for Semir Besak – he's unlikely to see too much gametime during World Cup 96 qualification but he should be able to fill in should there be a bit of a crisis amongst the goalkeeping corps.

##  Pos.     Name                           Age  Caps/Goals  Club                         
02  DL       Mumin Jesenko                  22   16/1        Chromatik (CMT)
13  DL       Miha Slomsek                   25   4/0         Atletik
24  DL/DC    Vuk Bajalica                   33   40/2        Port Rhovanyon (TKT)
35  DL       Idris Beganovic                26   13/0        1923 Esca

Ivica Svok’s tactical demands see him taking a slightly different direction with both sets of fullbacks on either side of the Mytanija defence. In previous campaigns Mytanija have usually gone for an inverted fullback on one side and one who prefers to maraud up and down the line, but Svok wants to play a little differently and that’s created opportunity for the more traditional, down-the-touchline types. Mumin Jesenko will be the first-choice option at left-back and he embodies that sort of fullback that will get involved in the attacking third and impact the game. He’s started well at Chromatik and Svok will hope his form continues in the Hoops. Miha Slomsek is another who likes to get forward and has done so for years with Atletik, perhaps flying under the radar a little in a star-studded squad. Vuk Bajalica gets a recall following his immense performances in Tikariot, his versatility is an added bonus as he can play in central defence and is comfortable performing a variety of tactical roles. He’s also a menacing free-kick taker, something which can come in handy at international level when set-pieces can be a real difference maker. Finally, Idris Beganovic remains and could even feel a bit hard done by for falling down the pecking order somewhat. Beganovic has probably been the best left-back in the 1. Prvenstvo for the last two years and is probably a victim of his proficiency in playing the inverted role so well. Svok will still be able to rely upon him should he be required, the Mytanar-Licentian dual national’s technical level is so high.

##  Pos.     Name                           Age  Caps/Goals  Club                         
03  DC       Bigger Mbala–Ekakia            34   149/13      Atletik
04  DC       Filip Mlinarevic               25   24/3        Liria
14  DC       Bosko Pestotnik                27   70/5        Mipojoseon (QUE)
15  DC       Foma Koshkin                   27   28/1        Myana (CMT)
25  DC       Irfan Vlahovljakovic           20   1/0         Atletik
26  DC/DR    Nnamdi Lusamba                 25   30/2        Wirr Tsi (CMT)
36  DC       Matej Klaric                   22   0/0         Wirr Tsi (CMT)
37  DC       Rasid Zuzek                    30   4/0         Lok. Cassia

Central defence is one of the strongest and deepest positions for Mytanija, with a number of talented players narrowly missing out on a call-up for the pool this time around. There’s a lot of quality outside the pool in this position. Bigger Mbala-Ekakia unsurprisingly leads the way, the veteran defender will be the captain of this Mytanija team anytime he is on the pitch and will be hoping he can help the national team finally take that next step and get past the Round of 16 for the first time since the 68th World Cup. Filip Mlinarevic is his first-choice partner, a cultured central defender – like so many who have come through Mytanar youth academies in the last decade – who is as comfortable playing threaded through balls into the opposition half as he is blocking off opposition attackers. Bosko Pestotnik is an able deputy and will slot in on the left-side of a back three should Mytanija switch to a three central defender shape. Foma Koshkin has come on strong over recent seasons, developing into a more complete central defender despite lacking a bit of height and pace. Irfan Vlahovljakovic is the next one of the production line, the 20-year-old has impressed out on loan at Litala 93 and will start alongside Mbala-Ekakia for Atletik next season. Nnamdi Lusamba is vastly experienced despite only being 25, having started since his teenage years whilst in Mytanija and then making the move over to the Red League. Lusamba can play at right-back too. Matej Klaric is the latest to make the move over to Chromatika after impressing so consistently with Lok. Cassia, he gets his first call-up here and the man who partnered him for a few years at the heart of that Lok defence is Rasid Zuzek and he returns after being solid at the Copa Rushmori. Zuzek has come a long way to get into the national team, for a long time (unfairly) vilified as a party boy and struggling to pin down a starting position at Atletik – he's done brilliantly to get here.

##  Pos.     Name                           Age  Caps/Goals  Club                         
05  DR       Radola Depreradovic            19   0/0         Litala 93
16  DR       Dzafer Mytnjak                 20   8/0         Myana (CMT)
27  DR       Matija Gvardjancic             25   25/2        Crossroads (CMT)
38  DR/DL    Nemanja Ovcina                 28   49/1        Eivora Athletic (TKT)

On the right side of the Mytanija defence there’s more evidence that Svok intends to play with fullbacks who play wide and high up the pitch when in possession. Radola Depreradovic is the next big thing in Mytanar football, in a position where Dzafer Mytnjak was recently touted as the exact same thing (more on him in a second!). Depreradovic is a more traditional fullback, solid defensively but able to contribute in the final third by flying up the wing and getting dangerous crosses and passes into the penalty area. The 19-year-old impressed for Crvena Zvezda last season in the 1. Prvenstvo and earned a move to Litala 93 as a result. Svok may well have altered his shape primarily because Depreradovic could be so good. Dzafer Mytnjak is different in that he can fulfil this role, but he’s also highly able to move into midfield, both in the sort of areas a number 8 or 10 would occupy and in a more defensive position alongside the deepest-lying central midfielder. Mytnjak may be miffed at being overtaken by Depreradovic but his tactical versatility will ensure he gets plenty of opportunities under Svok. Matija Gvardjancic is recalled, he may not set the world alight but he’s certainly a fullback who will get up the line and whip crosses in and that’s what Svok wants in this formation. Nemanja Ovcina is another who is recalled, a player of a similar ilk but able to play on either side of the defence, his both-footedness is a real boon.

##  Pos.     Name                           Age  Caps/Goals  Club                         
06  MC       Nurija Papez                   26   70/8        Lakewood United (TMB)
17  MC       Eduard Issatsenko              29   11/0        Liria
28  MC       Slavko Frantsaliiski           21   0/0         Nyva
39  MC       Gavril Atsev                   33   106/23      Atletik
45  DMC      Gavrilo Stojadinovic–Srpkinja  20   0/0         Parakleion Firebirds (TKT)

The deep-lying midfielders for Svok’s Mytanija are headed up by Nurija Papez, no surprise there. Papez is a regista, who helps to direct the play from deep and is happy playing short passes to allow Mytanija to find their shape whilst always retaining the right to play a probing ball further forward, either stabbed into the feet of a teammate or looped over the opposition defence to take advantage of a dangerous run. Papez is excellent and has been the metronome in the Mytanija side for a number of years now. Eduard Issatsenko is an able back-up to Papez, perhaps a little less technical and not quite as easy on the eye but his form at Liria Prizren has helped them to the 1. Prvenstvo title and that shows his quality. Slavko Frantsaliiski will be an unfamiliar name to international audiences but is one that Ivica Svok knows very well from managing Nyva Zvornik domestically. Frantsaliiski plays a little higher up with his club side, with a bona fide defensive midfielder operating behind him, but Svok believes he can learn from Papez and become a similar sort of player for the national team. During World Cup 96 qualifying he may be used against teams Mytanija expect to have the lion’s share of possession against where he won’t need to take on quite so much defensive responsibility – his passing makes him a real danger from deep positions and he’s also the best dribbler out of the five selected for this role, an artefact of him playing as more of a box-to-box player for Nyva. Gavril Atsev is an enormously experienced option and has made the regista role his own at Atletik in recent years, he is probably a good analogy for the path Frantsaliiski’s career could take. Atsev used to operate as a more advanced playmaker and has gradually moved deeper over the years and there’s a lot of similarities between the two in terms of playing style. Gavrilo Stojadinovic-Srpkinja is more of a defensive midfielder, fiercer in the tackle and probably the best positionally out-of-possession, though he still retains the ability to make those defence-splitting passes that the others produce.

##  Pos.     Name                           Age  Caps/Goals  Club                         
07  MCL/AMC  Stoja Stanoev                  21   5/1         1923 Esca
18  MCL      Alfonz Saksida                 21   4/2         FK Arsika
29  MCL      Pere Prosev–Prlicko            25   5/1         Liria
40  MCL      Ognjen Vogrin                  22   0/0         Crimsonhawke FC (TKT)

The left-sided central midfielder in Svok’s system is always more of a playmaker and that’s very obvious from the players the coach has selected here. Stoja Stanoev is narrowly the first-choice after a couple of good seasons for 1923 Esca. Stanoev can also operate as a number ten behind the strikers and Svok will sometimes go for other options in matches which are expected to be particularly physical due to his slight stature. He’s an excellent playmaker, though, with his dribbling and vision making him especially dangerous. Alfonz Saksida is a bit more physical, though perhaps not quite as technically gifted. The FK Arsika man combines physicality with a real eye for goal and he has become an expert in arriving late to the penalty area to convert chances. Pere Prosev-Prlicko is perhaps the most ‘controlled’ option as the left 8 and will be used in matches where Mytanija want to maintain possession – he could be the go-to option in matches against the more highly ranked opponents in the group. He’s also a recent league winner, enjoying the best form of his career with Liria Prizren last term. Ognjen Vogrin is a newcomer, impressing in Tikariot over the last few years and he’s similar to Saksida in that he’s a good playmaker but he’s also really dangerous when getting on the end of opportunities himself.

##  Pos.     Name                           Age  Caps/Goals  Club                         
08  MCR      Ante Saranja                   22   11/0        FK Arsika
19  MCR      Ugljesa Gicic                  23   9/0         Rulandea Kosta (FFD)
30  MCR      Jasno Skenderovic              29   36/4        Alnio (CMT)
41  MCR      Mehir Altikulac                33   8/0         Khalgarh Valley (TKT)

Where Mytanija’s left-sided central midfielder is about creating chances, the right-sided central midfielder is all about hustling and harrying the opposition and preventing them from creating their own. Svok wants pressing machines in the right-sided 8 role, and he has got one in a big way in the form of the towering FK Arsika man Ante Saranja. Saranja eats up space with his pace and rangy limbs and he’s excellent at coming away with the ball when entering into duels. His pressing allows the team to set traps in midfield, particularly when they drop into the 4-4-2 shape out of possession and try to pin the opposition on one side of the pitch – Saranja is great at using the touchline as his friend in the press. Ugljesa Gicic is a close second-choice, he’s fulfilled the takilante role in Farfadillis and his enormous reserves of energy allow him to whirl around the pitch seemingly forever. He’s smaller than Saranja and previously played as a number ten for Pamuk Trunca, but long-term it appears his future lies in a slightly deeper role as more of a presser than a creator. Jasno Skenderovic is an old-fashioned box-to-box midfielder, able to get up and down the pitch and put himself about to good effect. Mehir Altikulac is preferred to the unfortunate Zvonimir Vukdelija, and Zvoni can perhaps feel slightly hard done by as Altikulac has become a goal scoring midfielder over in Tikariot and Svok may be shoehorning him into the team slightly if he wants him to fulfil this pressing role.

##  Pos.     Name                           Age  Caps/Goals  Club                         
10  AMC      Denis Ovsyannikov              25   73/36       Atletik
21  AMC      Muharem Hajdarpasic            25   38/5        West Couno United (TMB)
32  AMC/MC   Jana Anusic                    30   32/3        Myana (CMT)
43  AMC      Isidora Suvakovic Sepa         18   0/0         Litala 93

Svok has decided to forego any wide players in this pool, he knows his system and he wants to stick to playing with two strikers and trying to gain superiority in the centre of the pitch at all times. That has allowed him to select thirteen central midfielders and four number tens on top of that! Denis Ovsyannikov, the man known as Ovsi leads the way and requires little introduction. Mytanija’s best player, a player named the very best in the sport, if he performs well then the Hoops will play well. No pressure, Denis. Muharem Hajdarpasic is perhaps unfortunate to have been born into an era where Ovsi exists, but he has ably deputised for him over the years even if he is not quite as prolific as the Atletik man in front of goal. Hajdarpasic has a reputation for enjoying after hours activities, so to speak, though he has rather curbed that since moving to Tumbra. Jana Anusic is the first woman to play for Mytanija and she has done well whilst doing so. Anusic has had an excellent career nearly entirely in Chromatika and is immensely respected over there, she hasn’t always had quite the same impact in Hoops but her presence is something which has allowed for the rise of the fourth-choice number ten Isidora Suvakovic Sepa. Isidora, as it will say on her shirt, is one of the most highly-rated talents in Mytanija and she has earned a call-up after only a handful of substitute appearances for Litala 93. She’s the next big thing in Mytanar football (perhaps only behind Roko Sparzijic in terms of her expected potential, and he’s not made this squad!). Svok regards being in the pool as a major opportunity for Isidora to learn, particularly from Ovsi but also from Jana Anusic. One for the future, certainly.

##  Pos.     Name                           Age  Caps/Goals  Club                         
09  ST       Drazen Skara                   27   95/51       1923 Esca
11  ST       Goran Papic-Papratovic         25   21/6        FK Arsika
20  ST       Aljoz Seslar                   25   11/4        1923 Esca
22  ST       Blaz Kovacec                   20   8/4         Raven Thoni (TAX)
31  ST       Stipe Mlinarevic               25   12/3        Liria
33  ST       Artur Leonidtzhin              26   3/0         Lok. Cassia
42  ST       Lacina Issoumou                25   0/0         Kirkenes FC (KSK)
44  ST       Miran Zakubovnik               23   8/1         Port Rhovanyon (TKT)

Going down the list of strikers and it’s clear that Svok knows what he wants: one physically commanding player who is able to finish chances and one more technically able player who can drop deeper to link play. There are four very clear partnerships here, although in two of them the link player is less of a link player and more of a complete forward (Kovacec); or more of a poacher (Leonidtzhin). Even Ivica Svok cannot have everything his own way. The first-choice pairing is Drazen Skara and Goran Papic-Papratovic. Skara has struggled a little in recent seasons, though his strike rate for the national team remains solid. Svok will be looking to coach him back into form and will hope that his return to 1923 Esca does him some good. If not, then Skara could be the first in the firing line and find himself out of the squad, a sentence which would have been unthinkable only a couple of years ago. Papic-Papratovic, however, has enjoyed a meteoric rise and is one of the most in-form strikers in world football. He is brilliant at dropping deep to help in the build-up and does so excellently with FK Arsika, assisting as many as he scores year-in, year-out. Behind those two in the pecking order are Aljoz Seslar (you wonder if he and Skara may be too similar to work at club level...), and Blaz Kovacec. They’re probably next up because they’re just the two best options for Svok right now. Seslar is tall and lanky, all limbs and near impossible to mark because of it. He may not be the easiest on the eye when he has the ball but he has a real knack for getting the ball in the net by hook or by crook and that’s useful in football. Kovacec has had an excellent start to life over at Raven Thoni in Taxhavn and has done well for Mytanija too, with 4 goals in 8 appearances so far. He could become the complete forward that Skara was for 2-3 seasons between the ages of 23-25 if he continues on his current trajectory. Stipe Mlinarevic is another physical option at the top-end of the pitch, perhaps more technically able than Seslar but slightly less prolific over the years. He is more of a technically able targetman who benefits from a player buzzing around him who he can bring into the game and you can see Svok’s vision by pairing him with Artur Leonidtzhin in terms of the squad numbers. The Lok. Cassia striker is an old-fashioned goal poacher, but he’s also integral to his club side’s pressing game and can force the opposition into making mistakes – he should work pretty well with Mlinarevic if the two get on the pitch at the same time. Finally, there is a first call-up for Mytanar-Ketioulais striker Lacina Issoumou, a striker who has been relentless for Kirkenes FC in Kelssek. Ketiou have tried to call Issoumou up countless times over the years but the 1923 Esca youth product has remained hopeful of getting a chance with his country of birth and Svok has handed it him after Issoumou took to life in Kelssek like a goose to water. Miran Zakubovnik, or Zaku as he’s affectionately nicknamed earns a recall too, Svok will hope that the Port Rhovanyon forward can be a budget Papic-Papratovic when called upon.

---

TACTICAL INFORMATION
OUT OF POSSESSION (4-4-2): When Mytanija lose possession the attacking midfielder / number ten (Denis Ovsyannikov in the starting line-up) will retreat from the attacking midfield position into central midfield to form a pair with the deepest-lying central midfielder / number six (Nurija Papez in the starting line-up). The left and right-sided central midfielders (Stoja Stanoev and Ante Saranja in the starting line-up), will also play fairly narrow but they will in practice be the ‘wide midfielders’ in a four-man midfield. Ivica Svok wants to protect the centre of the pitch and is therefore playing narrow to force the opposition to go wide, where they will attempt to set pressing traps. The two strikers will lead the press once Mytanija have retreated into their own half after losing the ball and will attempt to ‘pin’ the opposition against one sideline to allow the wide midfielder on that side, their supporting central midfielder and fullback to win the ball back in a concerted pressing effort. This will leave spaces elsewhere once the press is committed and good teams will find a way to play out of it.

IN POSSESSION (2-3-5): When possession is won back Mytanija will generally look to attack quickly, though against higher quality opposition they may take the opportunity to slow the game down to try and allow every player to get into the correct position to guard against counter attacks and transitions. The 2-3-5 shape is slightly different to the 3-2-5 that Svok has used previously. He is now entrusting his two central defenders (Bigger Mbala-Ekakia and Filip Mlinarevic in the starting eleven) to defend very large spaces without a third teammate, this means that there will be space behind Mytanija to exploit if quick forwards can time their runs properly and be found by their teammates – however the risk is predicated on the fact that Mytanija will also catch the opposition offside fairly consistently. Svok wants to take this risk as he wants to get his full-backs higher up the pitch and he aims to do this first by keeping the three central midfielders (Papez, Stanoev, Saranja in the starting line-up) slightly deeper, acting as guards against transitions whilst also getting involved in the attacking play with Stanoev and Saranja trying to operate between the opponent’s defence and midfield where necessary to create overloads (combining with the 5 players ahead of them in order to do this successfully). Then, both fullbacks (Jesenko and Depreradovic in the starting eleven) will join the most advanced line of players, this is to create width in attack, forcing the opposition’s defence to move wide and leave spaces internally, or leave the fullbacks in lots of space down the flanks with time to pick their pass / cross into the box. Svok is taking a leaf out of Lev Repin’s book in wanting to force the opposition players to make a decision to leave space somewhere. If they leave the space inside then the Mytanar strikers and attacking midfielder can exploit the space (as well as the central midfielder on that side of the pitch). Usually, one striker will drop deep when Mytanija have the ball, rotating with the attacking midfielder to try and create space too.

Happy to answer queries on this if you are a little stuck with what this looks like in practice / how it works.


TEAM ROLES
Captaincy: 1. Bigger Mbala-Ekakia; 2. Semir Besak; 3. Denis Ovsyannikov; 4. Nurija Papez; 5. Gavril Atsev
Penalties: 1. Drazen Skara; 2. Denis Ovsyannikov; 3. Bigger Mbala-Ekakia; 4. Nurija Papez; 5. Goran Papic-Papratovic
Corners: 1. Nurija Papez; 2. Stoja Stanoev; 3. Mumin Jesenko; 4. Pere Prosev-Prlicko; 5. Ugljesa Gicic
Short free kicks: 1. Denis Ovsyannikov; 2. Nurija Papez; 3. Drazen Skara; 4. Bigger Mbala-Ekakia; 5. Stoja Stanoev
Long free kicks: Usually one of the fullbacks to put it into the penalty area and take advantage of Mytanija's relatively tall team

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

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STADIUMS - a return to some of the more traditional locations for World Cup 96 qualification, although the FSM have seen fit to take the opener to the stadium of Ivica Svok's club side. Nepotism? Perhaps, but this is Mytanija.

MD2: vs Reçueçn (at Stadion Sime Pandev, Zvornik; capacity: 20,000)
MD4: vs Cassadaigua (at Novi Atletskistadion, Thessia; capacity: 67,000)
MD7: vs Legalese (at Olujastadion, Ebor; capacity: 42,500)
MD8: vs Kimi-Suomi (at Novi Zavej Park, Arsika; capacity: 30,000)
MD10: vs Brannfjord (at Stadion Prizren, Prizren; capacity: 84,000)
MD12: vs The Erishlands (at Radnika, Esca; capacity: 60,000)

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NOTES:
• Ivica Svok (aged 40) is the Mytanija head coach, earning the role after being named as the interim head coach following Misel Ravnjak’s sacking. The FSM brought Svok in as a recently retired former player, someone who could help the team find their feel-good factor again in time for the Copa Rushmori. He was not brought in as someone who the FSM thought could turnaround the mountainous deficit the team faced to qualify for World Cup 95. However, Svok turned Mytanija into a monstrous defensive unit who won match after match by refusing to concede and that defensive record got the Hoops into the playoff against all the odds. It was an astonishing turn of events and one which led to a little bit of Svokmania, with supporters in Mytanija suddenly not wanting anyone other than the 40-year-old in the head coach’s role. Svok then negotiated the playoff expertly and Mytanija were in the World Cup, qualifying out of a group with the hosts Chromatika in it and eventually being seen off by Graentfjall in the Round of 16. The FSM immediately announced a full-time contract for Svok and this will now be his first full campaign in charge and he’s expected to play rather differently to that defence-first mentality (nobody really expected that to be the style when Svok came in, instead believing that he’d allow players to play with freedom because it looked like Mytanija were out of contention, but Svok believed they still could qualify and the intention to keep things tight and nick wins paid off). He’s also done reasonably well at club level with Nyva Zvornik, working on a tight budget and getting them promoted twice and then helping them to unexpectedly retain their top-flight status all whilst consistently losing their best players. The FSM could have stumbled onto a good thing here and if Svok is the man to finally deliver another international trophy (or even get the Hoops past the Round of 16 stage again!), then he’ll have done something that Lev Repin, Misel Ravnjak and Dzvezdan Kitanchev couldn’t do.

• Mytanija has qualified to 17 World Cups, most recently World Cup 96, the country's biggest achievement in that competition is reaching the quarter finals in World Cup 68. Mytanija has won the Copa Rushmori once (XVII), to go with two victories in the Cup of Harmony (56 and 59); and a Di Bradini Cup win (DBC40). Some of these achievements were made under the names Mytannion/the Mytanar Region, Mytanija is ICly the exact same place.

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

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

[Farfadillis]

The Freisan Farf Freitball Francitian hereby presents the Farf roster for the 96^th Edition of the World Cup
Plurinational Entity Name: The Outlandish Lands of Farfadillis
Demonym: Farf (plural Farves)
Team Nickname: La Vherderoja
Honours: World Cup 84 and AOCAF Cups 43, 48 and 57 Winners

KITS
Provided by Mons


ABOUT FARFADILLIS
potentially outdated map for reference

A nation is usually defined as “a large body of people united by common descent, history, culture, or language, inhabiting a particular country or territory.” A country is usually defined as “a nation with its own government, occupying a particular territory.” As such, contrary to popular misconception, Farfadillis is neither a country nor a nation. The reasons are twofold: first, to what extent governments exist in Farfadillis in the current day is a matter of fierce scholarly debate, and second, there are various ethnicities in Farfadillis that appear to have diverged culturally centuries ago, although it is impossible to know for sure because historical records are very hard to come by in Farfadillis.

So, having clarified what Farfadillis is not, it would be perhaps helpful to give information on what it is. Again, academics haven't ironed out the details and reached a consensus, but it is generally agreed that somewhere between eight and fifteen ethnostates, depending on who's counting and how, coexist in Farfadillis, with the most cited figure being ten nowadays. We will henceforth assume that this last figure is, indeed, correct. As such, Farfadillis could be considered a “Plurinational Entity” in the literal sense that, whatever it is, it is definitely an entity, and it certainly has more than one nation in it. For simplicity, when we say Farf we will mean any ethnicity from the island of Farfadillis.

Although members of any given Farf ethnicity would spit on you for even implying they are similar to any other given Farf ethnicity, the reality is that all but one Farf ethnicity share a lot of cultural common ground. In fact, their cultural common ground is particularly distinctive and makes it hard for Farf refugees to set each other apart in other countries, where their differences between this common ground and the local culture tend to be far starker. This cultural common ground includes, but is not limited to: a general disregard for authority and order (in any sense of the word), a seemingly unhealthy obsession with fire (although some of it is down to fire being a very important part of the various Farf religions), recklessness (risk-taking behavior, if you want to be more charitable), and a very inconvenient ability for distraction and destruction.

The various Farf ethnicities do differ considerably, however, and this is reflected in the neverending political friction between the existing ethnostates, with a horrible war having recently ended. This is despite the fact that, ironically, Farves display omniglottery: the ability to learn any language to a native level with minimal exposition. They are not psychics, so can't just know what words mean without having heard them, but they can visit another country and speak like a native within a month if they want to. Most older Farves speak their local language, as well as Ferdullaelan, because in the past Farfadillis was a country, and Ferdullaele, as the capital, was a cultural hegemon. Farves who live on the border between two given ethnostates generally speak both languages, in many cases having picked up the other language passively and unintentionally. This heavily facilitates migration between ethnostates, as neighboring ethnicities are generally not too different-looking, and as such a Farf from any given ethnicity could cross a border and pretend to have always been a member of the other side's ethnicity. This has the interesting consequence of making the borders between ethnostates cultural melting pots, mish-mashing the cultures of both ethnicities far more than outside Farfadillis.

Regarding the ten (or so) ethnostates we have been referring to, here we present brief descriptions of those generally agreed to be “the” ten ethnostates, in alphabetical order:

Farolera is a very populous country, and was the most economically powerful until recently losing a genocidal war of conquest. Their capacity for self-sustenance during the anarchy years was far greater than their traditional competition, the Ferdullaelans, and Banijan foreign aid helped them pull even more ahead, but they ended up biting off more than they could chew. Their territory is filled with lush forests and fertile farmland, which is actually an important part of the Faroleran identity. After Karinthians, Farolerans are generally considered to be the least Farf of the big Farf ethnicities, but they nonetheless display all of the aforementioned cultural common ground to a very noticeable degree. Farolerans speak Faroleran, which to many foreigners sounds almost exactly like “Spanish”.

Ferdullaele is the ethnostate with the most fertile land, which historically gave them an enormous headstart. However, their population was the one that failed the most to adapt to the total collapse of society eighteen years ago, and as such the ethnostate is, forgive us for making things even more complicated, not strictly an ethnostate: order (in the loosest sense), hasn't quite returned to Ferdullaele, even now, three decades after the collapse of Farfadillis the nation; it has instead devolved into various subcommunities exercising what would best be described as anarcho-capitalism and they, of course, hate each other too.

Fröndt is a very mountainous region, and most urban centers are in those mountains. The weather is extremely dry and cold, and the fauna is unforgiving. The Fröndti are typically more hard-working and level-headed than other Farves—or so they like to believe—and think of themselves as the reasonable, neutral people of the island. The rest of the island disagrees, as do most scholars. They've had trouble with the extremely harsh winters and the flying jellyfish lately, but they're a resilient bunch, so they've adapted to the times.

Induja lies at the center of Farfadillis. All of the beautiful Farf biomes clash in Induja, which makes it the most naturally beautiful of the ethnostates. By driving less than two hundred kilometers, you can go from jungle to desert to plains to mountains. Due to this, Indujans are actually quite secluded, despite bordering a whopping six other ethnicities. Indujans are traditionally... well, forgotten. To most Farves, they're just that place you have to go through to reach other places, though this attitude towards them has been relenting in recent years. As a nation, it has recently experienced repeated economic crashes because they were overtaken by a cryptocurrency cult, and being the center of the most unforgiving warfront in the recent war has not helped matters. A chunk of it has even become a new nation with zero resistance.

Karinthia is a recently-discovered tribe of about thirty thousand people who live in the Szoirsian desert. Some scientists believe they'd flown under the radar for millennia, somehow. They seem to speak a language with no similarities with any other Farf language. The Farves that have come into contact with them have found them very bizarre, for the most part because they seemed to pay attention to detail and have a commendable work ethic, coupled with a fleshed-out concept of respect and hierarchy. One thing about them is shared with all other ethnicities, however: they venerate fire.

Kruviš is the most populated ethnostate, though only by a slight margin and only if you're willing to trust a Farf census from twenty-five years ago. This nation is mostly one huge jungle, but closer to the coast the jungle gives way to civilization... to a degree. The fauna here is perhaps the most dangerous you'll find on the island, which is really saying something. Wasps that explode (like bombs) when stinging, spider-snakes, frogs whose poison literally sends you to hell, etc. The Kruviši are even more fiercely nationalistic than the other ethnicities but tend to direct their xenophobia more towards non-Farves than the other Farves, and are generally just not involved in petty border squabbles because the humongous jungle doesn't let them.

Rülândéá is historically the poorest and most abused of the nations; it's safe to say the Rulandese have never had it good. Rampant crime, extreme pollution, terrible quality of life, genocide(s) and a very long etc. The region weathered the days of anarchy much better than most other places by virtue of already being used to misery. Nowadays, the region is controlled by the Rulandese Revolutionary Army, and a fairly idiosyncratic version of libertarian socialism is currently in place, but it is very hard to get information from Rülândéá due to how hazardous it is to get there in the first place. They're the most well-known Farf ethnicity by far because they produce better footballers than the rest of the island combined, to the point that some of the best players in the Multiverse come from this relatively small, run-down nation. Their language is also notorious for having too many diacritics. Farves from the other ethnicities feel very insulted when it is insinuated that they, too, speak languages with an orthography filled to the brim with diacritics.

Szoirsia is essentially one huge desert with small oases of civilization. Szoirsians are used to the extreme heat and dehydration that comes with their surroundings. They resort to violence first and foremost to solve problems, perhaps even more so than the Rulandese. Szoirsians speak one of the most distinct languages of the island: Szoirsian. As a language, it seems to very transparently be a creole between two ancestral languages that no longer exist, which in turn—along with what little archaeological evidence can be found—makes the scholarly consensus be that there used to be two distinct ethnic groups in Szoirsia that, somehow, fused into one.

Tanazza is rather uninhabited, being almost exactly fifty percent jungle, fifty percent desert in terms of surface area. The inhabited parts generally lie at the edge of both biomes. Tanazzans have a notoriously hard time getting out of Tanazza because there are no roads out. The collapse of supply chains during the anarchy years hit the Tanazzans particularly hard as a result, and they are still reeling from it. They are, nonetheless, very resilient and, supposedly, very good-humored.

Lithico™ is a new corporate-state that is quickly turning into another ethnostate (but doesn't, technically, fit the definition yet). They are a corporation focused on selling the Lithium that the bats authochtonous to their territory shit. Their territory used to be part of Induja, but it was mostly bought off or peacefully integrated throughout the war against Farolera. Unlike other Farf nations, they do not yet have any tensions with other Farf ethnicities, Farolera excluded.

As a general rule, it is very hard to travel to Farfadillis. Things have gotten better recently, as some working airports have been constructed in Farolera by the Banijan and Euran relief efforts. However, travel within the country is still notoriously hazardous unless you're willing to spend a lot of money bribing the locals. Do not travel by boat if you can afford to: krakens abound on the Farf coast.

STAFF

MANAGER: Yuan Zilai - Age 66
ASSISTANT MANAGER: Tuskoles Yagaras - Age 38
CHIEF SCOUT: Zhonong Zhojo Sidike — Age 30
TEAM MEDIC: Xa Turo Kij — Age 60
PUBLIC RELATIONS MANAGER: Wuya Ya Johan - Age 23

STARTERS

#1 — Básilió Fórténté — aGKa — Age 27 — Dí Maozöxê —
#6 — Sêvêr Fâerçâlenh — aLBa — Age 32 — Mâ Âlâmëómë —
#2 — Tôsgo Türrângel — aCBa — Age 27 — Megabrantid SC —
#3 — Eloriján Mopiraja — aCBa — Age 25 — 1923 Esca —
#4 — Rôbé Wîjkár — aRBa — Age 29 — Couno Rangers —
#8 — Xíriêrín Byôrn — aDMa — Age 24 — Dí Maozöxê —
#11 — Tihomir Misita — aCMa — Age 22 — Océanic —
#5 — Lêyêló Jáánsêlà — aTKa — Age 26 — Rülândéá Kôstä —
#10 — Jôs Sürréo — aLWa — Age 28 — Lakewood United —
#7 — Valën Pídí — aRWa — Age 21 — 1896 Ebor —
#9 — Dénes Robineau — aSTa — Age 27 — Chromatik —

SUBSTITUTES

#12 — Tusales de Lovandá — aGKa — Age 28 — Ausharmuj Marusi —
#23 — Régulo Bambino — aGKa — Age 20 — La Nueva Avenida —
#13 — Dîgö Üwársá — aLBa — Age 21 — Rülândéá Kôstä —
#14 — Lajos Danzas — aCBa — Age 21 — René Skaé —
#15 — Desimir Gavrilović — aCBa — Age 30 — Kingsbury United —
#16 — Jôs Ôsgân — aCBa — Age 22 — Saint-Rémy —
#17 — Éspéráns rue Cazade — aRBa — Age 18 — René Skaé —
#18 — Ramón Solari — aDMa — Age 20 — Montreal Koreana —
#19 — Xíxì Feêr — aCMa — Age 19 — Rülândéá Kôstä —
#20 — Odalis Pokéésé — aCMa — Age 25 — La Nueva Avenida —
#21 — Ákos Roche — aTKa — Age 23 — René Skaé —
#22 — Frédéric Ybl — aOMa — Age 26 — 1830 Cathair —
#24 — Adama Akandinandas — aLWa — Age 21 — Capitol City FC —
#25 — Lihonhegeí Aixenxó — aRWa — Age 27 — Galatica —
#26 — Bálint Dyautias — aSTa — Age 24 — René Skaé —

STYLE MODIFIER: +5

HOME STADIUM


La Fantás — 70,000 seats — located in Ferdullaele, Ferdullaele — inaugurated during cycle 65

The colossal stadium is situated in the ex-capital of what used to be the country of Farfadillis, Ferdullaele. It used to have a whopping hundred thousand seats, but ever since the whole anarchy situation, the northeastern stand has been inexplicably on fire, so that's one-fourth of the seats gone, plus those too close to the fire to be considered safe by Farf standards. And yes, those exist. Nobody can quite explain how the stand has managed to continue burning for about eighteen years. Pagan religions are common in Farfadillis, and they mostly venerate fire, so if you ask around you'll likely get some magical explanations. We are not saying the God of Fire is raining its wrath upon Ferdullaele, but we are saying that stand should've stopped burning long ago. Or, at least, the fire should've propagated to the other stands. We are also saying that if La Fantás were a map of Farfadillis, it would be Ferdullaele that is burning, being the most northeastern ethnostate. Again, speculation, but worth pointing out. We've gone on a tangent now. Anyway, huge stadium, fire, don't get burned, don't involve yourself with the surrounding ethnic tension or almost total breakdown of civil society.

ROLEPLAY PERMISSIONS

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

Godmod scoring events: Yes.
RP injuries to my players: Yes, but I decide severity.
Godmod injuries to my players: TG me first.
Give red cards to my players: Yes.
Godmod other events: TG me first.

Style Modifier: +5

[Bears Armed]

Bears Armed

‘The Bear-Belles’

National football organisation: ‘Bears Armed Association for Soccer’ (= ‘BAAS’).
BAAS Chairbear: Morra Dumble (clan= WestWoods; female Ursine; formerly manager of ‘Heroes' Park Heroines'’, one of the country’s leading teams, after being their chief coach and also playing for them in various roles for a number of years; appointed to this post approximately five & a half years ago; age = 42, fur = light-medium brown with reddish tints, left-pawed.)

National anthem: ‘The Banner Green And Gold’.

Official supporters' organisation: 'Arri's Furry Army'.


Yes, it’s an all-female team again. As I’ve explained before, this is because the main ball-game that's traditionally been played in Bears Armed is actually closer to being a form of Rugby, but [for several reasons] that sport’s “proper” teams are all-male and so some females who wanted to make it as players decided that switching to Soccer — and trying to establish a professional league for that sport for themselves instead — might be a viable alternative: They were right, because that professional league was founded shortly after WC44 and so has now been in operation for over two eightSquareds of years.

All of the players and support staff are actual Ursines (i.e. anthropomorpic, bipedal, "talking" Bears), except for any whom I actually specify as being members of other ‘peoples’. The Harr'aynau people are physically human (more-or-less, anyway, although inclined towards heavy builds & hairiness), but are spiritually & culturally Ursine instead. 'Ursomorphic' Humans vary a bit in how much they look like Bears, but are spiritually Human and culturally part of the nation's small Ashkenazic Jewish minority.


The ages & lengths of experience currently given below are basically correct for the start of the qualifying process, although of course in some cases birthdays will take place during this ‘season’ rather than just (however much easier that would make keeping the records accurately…) only between ‘seasons’…


_______________________________________________________

Staff

Manager & First Chief Coach: Urrsara Northgate _ Clan = Urrset; female Ursine; a former Deputy Manager & Chief Coach at ‘Sun Valley Smashers’ (one of the nation’s top teams);had spent 6 years in such roles, after 5 years as a player (as Forward, Midfielder, and Lynchpin) there and 7 years before that (mostly as a Midfielder) at River City, before she was appointed to this job 22 years ago. (Age = 56; fur = reddish light-brown, left-pawed; speaks Ursine and English.)

Chief Coach: Karra’harrna Thunder _ Clan = Gunnar; female Ursine; formerly the Attacking Coach at ‘Newton Arsenal’ (another of the nation’s top teams),and had spent 5 years in that role after 8 years as a player (as Forward, Winger, and Midfielder) there before she was appointed to this job 22 years ago. (Age = 49, fur = dark brown, left-pawed; speaks English, Ursine, and Ruottsan).

Attacking Coach: Marra Urrth’hrra Norr-Vurra _ Clan = Redwood; female Ursine; formerly the Attacking Coach at ‘Merlchester Rovers’ (another of the nation’s top teams), and had spent 5 years in such roles after 9 years as a player (as Forward and Winger) there before she was appointed to this job 22 years ago.. (Age = 51, fur = medium-brown, left-pawed; speaks English, Ursine, Arttorranick, and German).

Defending Coach: Greenfinch o Barrdenn _ Clan = GreenWoods; female Ursine; formerly the Deputy Coach at ‘Lakeport Lionesses’ (another of the nation’s top teams), and had spent 9 years in such roles after 7 years as a player (as Lynchpin, Back, and [less frequently] Midfelder) there before she was appointed to this job 22 years ago. (Age = 49, fur = dark brown & relatively long; speaks English and Ursine).

Goalkeeping Coach: Freeda Urrlafh’s-dottir _ Clan = Thuleann; female Ursine [of ‘Polar Bear’ stock]; formerly the Defending Coach at ‘Ammfahr Adventuresses’ (who play in the Northlands’ league), and had spent4 years in such roles after 11years as a player (purely as Goalkeeper) there before she was appointed to this job 22 years ago. (Age = 52, fur = white & trimmed relatively short, right-pawed; speaks Norren, Ursine, English, and some Ruottsan).

Physical Conditioning Coach: Orriffharra _ Clan = Chargh'ghrarr; female Ursine (half-'Cave Bear'); was appointed to this job approximately five years ago, after four years as her predececssor's assistant, and previously did this job for top-flight team Heroes' Park Heroines; (Age = 39, fur = 'grizzly' dark-medium brown, left-pawed; speaks several forms of Ursine, as well as English; religion = Wookha.)

Deputy Manager (Admin): Judith Gold _ Free Sept = The Exodus; “ursomorphic” Human, female, follows a moderate form of Judaism; seconded from BAAS head office 22 years ago. (Age = difficult for anybody unfamiliar with ‘ursomorphs’ to tell, but obviously a middle-aged adult, fur = black, right-handed; very good with languages, and already fluent in several Human ones — including English, Yiddish, German, French, and Greek — as well as in both Ursine and Ouesttree; also, since taking this job, has started learning Ruottsan).

Routemaster: Helene Bosanquet _ Clan = Calvin; Human, female; on loan [again, for tournaments from DBC45 onwards] from the Bears Armed Tourism Agency. Her duties involve handling all of the team’s travelling & accommodation arrangements. (Age = mid-forties, hair = dark brown, right-handed; speaks French, English, and Ursine).

Doctor: Lierr’hee Redwood-of-Thramms _ Clan = Redwood; female; hired from private practice by BAAS for tournaments from DBC45 onwards. (Age undisclosed, but has been a doctor for over 41 years, fur = ‘grizzled’ black, right-pawed; speaks English, Ursine, and probably one or two other languages as well).

Chief Physiotherapist: Krrystal Bruin _ Clan = WestWoods; female Ursine; previously worked at hospitals in Wiston City, and helped with local amateur football league, but was appointed to this job shortly before DBC45 and has remained with the team since then; her job title was upgraded from just ‘Physiotherapist’ after DBC46. (Age = looks mid=thirties, although actually in mid-forties, fur = dark brown, left-pawed; speaks English, Ursine, and Ouesttree; mother of one child, a daughter, Steffannee Bruin, who is one of this team’s players.

Chaplain, ‘One Plus Seven’: Marra Moon _ Clan = Silver-of-Night; female Ursine; assigned to this duty by her superiors in the Great Medicine Society shortly before DBC45 and has been posted at Wimbley Stadium in between tournaments. (Age = late tearly forties [apparently], fur = light brown, left-pawed; is not only a Shabear but also a qualified psychiatrist; speaks Ursine, English, some German and Yiddish, and probably one or more other languages as well.)

Chaplain, Ursion: Jharge “No Relation” Potter _ Clan = Artorran; male Ursine; assigned to this duty by his superiors approximately two years after the end of DBC45 . (Age = early forties, fur = light brown, right-pawed; like many other members of his clan, is slightly more “anthropomorphic” than is typical for Bears from this nation; speaks Ursine, English, French, some German, and some Greek; keen chess-player.)

Security Chief: Major (Reserve) Merrfinh Blonk _ Clan = WestWoods; male; now a full-time employee of BAAS, after being on loan from serving as [REDACTED] in the Confederal Army as was the case for the previous tournaments from DBC45 onwards. (Age = mid-forties, fur = medium-brown & relatively long, right-pawed [apparently]; speaks Ouesttree, French, Ursine, and English… at the least.)

Caterers: Jordon Blue

Fandom Liaison Officer: Etta Halliday, who played in the DBC45 team and was given this job shortly after that but took most of the WC93 cycle off on maternity leave. Now has a son, named Darren, who is approximately 7½ years old and who probably will be travelling along with her.

Harrdiharr Arranger: Karra-Marra SunDaughter _ Clan = Sun; female Ursine; age = 48 years; left-pawed, fur = ‘golden’; specialises in adapting the ‘harrdiharr’ for optimum effects depending on the performers, opposition, location, and possibly other factors; background not made public, but was hired by BAAS on a part-time basis for the WC84, WC92, & WC93, qualifiers & now again for these ones; speaks Ursine, English, and quite a few other languages as well (She seems to have a natural — or maybeso even supernatural? — talent for learning languages, and might also help the team with translation duties as well…); interests include chess, swing music [& dance], and stage musicals.

Kit Supervisor: Missus Burrows _ Clan = Brock [which is actually a ‘Double Clan’…] & 'Demi-Clan = WesterBrock within this; female Brock (i.e. anthropomorphic Badger); apparently middle-aged; has been with the team since before DBC46; responsible for ensuring that all players have suitable kit available, clean and intact, for every game, and also [following the coaches’ orders] for making sure that their boots have the appropriate studs fitted for dealing with local conditions; also, makes sure that balls and [if necessary] temporary nets are available for practice when the team is away from home.

'Special Advisor': Sermharn the Wanderer: appearing as a male Ursine (of 'brown bear' type), whose age cannot be pinned down any further than "adult" (He has been around Bears Armed, on & off, for over a thousand years!); he is a mystic of considerable power who doesn't quite fit into any of the "usual" categories known to the Bears... He helps the team & staff to travel safely, even when this involves crossing between Realities, and may help the chaplains to protect them against supernatual problems at other times as well.

'Special Advisor': Lurra Lovegood _ Clan = WhiteBear; female Ursine; no playing experience beyond amateur level, her background is in journalism and education instead; age = 48 years (but looks significantly younger), right-pawed, fur = cream, short and a bit lightly built for her age; graduated from Hogwings Academy, where she now teaches 'Management of Magickal Creatures' (wand = 13", white ash with a Snorkack-mane core, familiar = a leucistic [i.e. white, but not albino] Magpie); speaks English, Ursine, and probably at least one other Ursine or Human language, and apparently can understand the language[s] of birds as well; generally serene in mood, but sometimes seems to be talking about irrelevant or enigmatic topics.
(OOC: Fans of Harry Potter might be able to identify the character ifrom that series -- and from its fanfiction -- whom I've adapted here...)

Mascot: Perrabohor ‘Bright-Eyes’ [i](one of the “blessed” [but non-sapient?] Puh-Barra, or ‘Little Bears’)


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Roster

(#1) Karramarrsar Ulgha _ Clan = Ostobora; female Ursine; home team = Krasny Kremmer Konquerors, category & usual position = Goalkeeper; age = 37 years, right-pawed, fur = light brown, above-average eyesight & reflex speed; off the pitch, she is an enthusiastic & skilled dancer. [She was in the DBC45 & DBC46 squads before transfer to this senior team.]

(#15) Serranna Orchards _ Clan = Ozt’sulh [free sept]; female Ursine; home team = LakePort Lionesses, category & usual position = Goalkeeper; age = 33 years, left-pawed, fur = dark-medium brown; the tallest member of this team, at 7’2”, and built in proportion _ Reaching out to block high shots should be relatively easy for her, but she might find getting down into the right place to stop ones aimed into the net’s bottom corners instead a bit harder… [She was in the DBC46 squad before transfer to this senior team.]

(#16) Marra o TrustyHand _ Clan = Sun; female Ursine; home team = Sun Valley Smashers, category & usual position = Goalkeeper; age = 32 years, either-pawed; fur = ‘dark blonde’; good at fixing things, which befits her nameline’s origin as their clan’s smiths. [She was in the DBC46 squad before transfer to this senior team.]


(#2) Urrsa Irrumerrhabarra _ Clan = Beorningas; female Ursine; home team = Kingly City, category = Defender, usual position = Left Back; age = 35 years, left-pawed, fur = medium brown; has lived up to her earlier description, at the time of DBC45, as “a very promising youngster”. [She played in DBC45 & DBC46, and then in the main team from WC84's qualifiers through to the presnt day.]

(#3) Urrth’hrra Mead _ Clan = Greybear; female Ursine; home team = River City, category = Defender, usual position = Right Back; age = 37 years, right-pawed, fur = light brown; noted for keeping calm & carrying on despite any problems. [International experience as for #2...]

(#17) Urrsarra Shipbear _ Clan = SeaBear; female Ursine; home team = Northport Navigators, category = Defender, usual position = Left Back (but can also play reasonably well at Right Back, too); age = 33 years, left-pawed, fur = medium-brown; speaks Ursine, English, and reasonably fluent Norren. Considered not brilliant, but reliable, and is unlikely to spend much [if any] time “too far” forwards. [She was in the DBC46, and then in the main team from WC84 qualifiers through to the present day.]



(#4) Errinth’hrra Russett _ Clan = Urrset; female Ursine; home team = Northgate Nomads, category = Defender/Midfielder, usual position = Lynchpin or Midfield Left or Midfield Right; age = 36 years, left-pawed, fur = reddish-brown; serious-minded, a good leader and a masterly tactician; her regular Chess matches against the chaplain Jharge Potter draw keen audiences from among the team’s other players & staff. She is the team’s Captain. [Internatinal experience from DBC45 through to the present day.]

(#20) Nennu Rangh’harr _ Clan = Rangh’harr Free Sept; female Harr’aynau [humanoid]; home team = Heroes’ Park Heroines, category = ‘utility outfielder’ proven capable of filling any position except [maybe] goalkeeper well; usual position = Lynchpin, Midfielder, or Winger; age = 37 years, either-footed, dark red hair; speaks Herr’-Harr’aynau, Harr’aynau-Ursine, Ursine, and English; there is speculation that she might eventually become the [adult] Belles first non-[physically]-Ursine Captain. [International experience from DBC45 through to the present day.]

(#32) Marra Lightning _ Clan = Gunnar; female Ursine; home team = Newton Arsenal, category = Defender/Midfielder, usual position = Lynchpin (but versatile…); age = 40 years, either-pawed, fur = light brown & trimmed relatively short; fast on her feet, and relatively nimble for a Bear; “a natural leader”, and particularly good at keeping track of team-mates’ current positions; speaks English, Ursine, French, [some] Ouesttree, and [some] Ruottsan; religion = Ursionity, interests include swing music [& dance], & martial arts. [International experience from DBC45 through to the present day, except for DBC46.][/i]

(#33) Urra-Marra Bright _ Clan = Sun; female Ursine; home team = Sun Valley Smashers, category = Midfielder or Forward, usual position = Lynchpin or Midfield Left or Left Forward; age = 38 years, left-pawed, fur = golden; very good eyesight even by human standards, particularly accurate on long shots (and quite good at penalty shots, too), and tactically gifted, speaks Ursine and English, and understands at least some bits of various other languages that she doesn’t try to speak. [International experience from DBC45 through to the present day, except for DBC46.]


(#5) Harroya o Sarrndale _ Clan = Herrchaum; female Ursine; home team = Merlchester Rovers, category = Midfielder or Winger — or, less frequently, Forward — on either side of the pitch, usual position = Midfield Left; age = 36 years, left-pawed, fur = medium-brown with grey hints; now in the job that she’d hoped for since early childhood, and doing very well for her home team as the latest “Harroya of the Rovers”; probably the least likely of this team’s players to get given a yellow cards, and has never earned a red one (DO NOT assign cards of either colour to her without obtaining my consent…). [International experience from DBC45 through to the present day.]

(#6) Steffannee Bruin _ Clan = WestWoods; female Ursine; home team = Wiston City, category = Midfielder or Winger, usual position = Midfield Right; age = 36 years, right-pawed, fur = very light brown with hints of ‘gold’; slightly small for her age, but very resilient as well as nimble; has good eyesight by Ursine standards (and not bad by Human ones, neither); daughter, & only child, of the Belles’ current chief physiotherapist; married to a policebear named Hrrobin Drake, who has been seconded to help with the Belles' & Wimbley's securty during this cycle, but no cubs yet; favours ‘lilac’-coloured clothing when not in team kit. [International experience from DBC45 through to the present day.]

(#21) Gyrrthhra Urrswald’s-Stone _ Clan = Errhabarra; female Ursine; home team = 'Lincoln Park Rovers' (in Old Ceorana rather than “at home”), category = Midfielder or Defender, usual position = Midfield Left, may also be used as Left Back or [perhaps less successfully] on the ‘Right’ instead; age = 40 years, left-pawed, fur = light-medium brown. [International experience from DBC46 through to the present day.]

(#34) Emerladina Sunbird _ Clan = Sun; female Ursine; home team = Northgate Nomads; category = Midfielder or Winger, usual position = Midfield Left; age = 38 years, left-pawed, fur = golden with reddish tints, extremely good eyesight, has quick reflexes and is very fast on her feet, lightly-built for a Bear of her height (6’5”) but this is usual in her family & doesn’t weaken her; speaks English, Ursine, & French (And might be able to understand the speech of birds….), religion = One Plus Seven; interests include Ornithology, and Martial Arts. [International experience from DBC45 through to the present day.]

(#35) Karra Bronze _ Clan = GreenWoods; female Ursine; home team = Barrdenn Barbariennes, category =Midfielder, usual position = Midfield Right; age = 39 years, left-pawed, fur = medium-brown with reddish tints, height = 6’4”; speaks Ursine and English, religion = One Plus Seven; interests include fashion, rock music, and home brewing. [International experience from DBC45 through to the present day.]

(#36) Karrh’hreena o Goodsword _ Clan = Sun; female Ursine; home team = Kingly City, category = Defender or Midfielder or even Winger, usual position = Midfield Left or possibly — if the chief coach is feeling “experimental” — ‘Wing Back [Left]’, experience = 25 years; age = 41 years, left-pawed, fur = ‘golden’, height = 6’6”; good eyesight even by human standards, and quite fast on her feet (not the fastest, but definitely above average), and has good positional awareness; long passes, across the field as well as up it, are likely from her; speaks Ursine and English; religion = One Plus Seven; another member of the squad’s own Chess Club. [International experience from the WC84 qualifiers through to the present day.]

(#7) Nerretta Barris _ Clan = BlackBear [Tetrarchy = 'Between-the-Rivers']; female Ursine; home team = LakePort Lions, category = Forward, usual position = Left Forward/‘Inside Left’; age = 37 years, left-pawed, fur = very dark brown; of only average height for her age [or slightly less] but physically tough as well as quite fast; particularly good at keeping control of the ball on the ground, and at getting it goals past keepers & other defenders into the net at short ranges, but willing to pass it to team-mates when they look better-placed to score. [International experience from DBC45 through to the present day.]

(#11) Urrma Kuthbearrh _ Clan = Errhabarra; female Ursine; home team = NorthPort Navigators, category = Forward, usual position = Centre Forward (but has also played well as Left Forward); age = 37 years, left-pawed, fur = light-medium brown, relatively stocky but not particularly slow because of this; very determined even by Ursine standards. [International experience from DBC45 through to the present day.]

(#12) Karra Brent _ Clan = Redwood; female Ursine; home team =LakePort Lionesses, category = Forward or Winger, usual position = Right Forward; age = 35 years, either-pawed, fur = golden-brown; quite large & very powerful for her age, fast & nimble, with very good eyesight even by human standards; apparently fearless, and has better control over her temper than might have been the case back around the time of DBC45; she is a cousin of the internationally famous journalist/broadcaster Bark Brent; attended Holy Ternian’s School; also has some coaching experience, including in the latest DBC. [International experience from DBC45 through to the present day.]

(#22) Mirra Thunderbolt _ Clan = Gunnar; female Ursine; home team = Newton Arsenal; category = Forward or [“Attacking”] Midfielder, usual position = Right Forward or Midfield Right, experience = 21 years; age = 39 years, right-pawed, fur = medium brown, 6’4” tall, powerfully built, fast on her feet but more as a sprinter than as a long-distance runner, can jump quite well, good at long shots and can put enough strength behind these to get them past even some goalkeepers who do see them coming; speaks English, Ursine, and some French; religion = Ursionity. [International experience from the WC84 qualifiers through to the present day.]

[#23) Leona Wright _ Clan = Greybear; female Ursine; home team = River City, category = Forward or Winger, usual position = Forward Right or Right Winger; age = 36 years, right-pawed, fur = light brown (but, unlike that of many of her clan-mates, without any greyish tints); speaks English and Ursine; her father is a merchant who took her along on some trips into Human nations during school holidays from when she was 9 years old until when she was 18, and she probably understands humans better than any of her team-mates does. [International experience from DBC46 through to the present day.]

(#24) Marra o Redbank _ Clan = BlackBear [‘Between-the-Rivers’]; female Ursine (‘black bear’ ancestry predominates); home team = Tsikago Aces, category = Winger or Forward, usual position = any Winger or Forward — except ‘Centre Forward’ — but preferably on the left; age = 35 years, left-pawed, fur = black; speaks English and Ursine; nicknamed “Little Storm” because, although relatively short for an Ursine (at only 5’9”), she is determined, fast, and very hard for opponents to predict; very good at manoeuvring through tight defences, more likely to pass the ball to a more experienced Striker than to take a shot at goal herself but has scored some goals — including several from “surprisingly” wide angles — in the squad’s “warm-up” games before DBC46 and then two (one of them in the Cup Final) in that tournament itself... and several more in WC qualifiers since then, too [. [International experience from DBC46 through to the present day.]

(#25) Beorranna Norr-Vurra _ Clan = Redwood; female Ursine; home team = Merlchester Rovers, category = Forward, usual position = Centre Forward or Right Forward (also has some experience as Left Forward, and as Right Winger); age = 34 years, left-pawed (so normally plays “cross-pawed”), fur = dark-medium brown with [natural] chestnut highlights; speaks English, Ursine, some Arttorranick; not closely related to this team’s ‘Attacking Coach’; rather a devout follower of ‘One Plus Seven’, but not fanatical about it and tolerates the differing beliefs of others perfectly well; friendly rivalry with Harroya o Sarrndale. . [International experience from DBC46 through to the present day.]

(#37) Amarr’hrrree o Redwood _ Clan = Redwood; female Ursine; home team = Kingly City, category = Forward, usual position = Centre Forward; age = 40 years, left-pawed, fur = medium brown with chestnut hints, 6’7” tall, powerful even by Ursine standards; speaks Ursine, English, [some] Artorranick, and [some] German; religion = Ursionity; interests include weightlifting, wrestling. [International experience from DBC45 through to the present day.]


(#13) Jirroth’hra daughter-of-Harrieth’hrra _ Clan = Longwater [‘free sept’]; female Harr’aynau [humanoid]; home team = Heroes’ Park Heroines, category = Winger or Midfielder, usual position = Right Wing or Midfield Right, experience = 23 years; age = 40 years, right-footed, hair = chestnut, 6’2” tall, more lightly-built than is typical forHarr’aynau (more like a “standard” Human) build, and very fast on her feet; speaks Harraynau-Ursine, English, and Ursine; religion = Harr’aynau tradition of GreatBear-ism. [International experience from WC84 qualifiers through to the present day.]

(#14) Rebecca Gold _ Clan = The Exodus [which is actuallya 'Free Sept']; female 'Ursommorphic' (i.e. somewhat Bear-like) Human; home team = Newton Arsenal, category = Winger or Midfielder (either side of pitch), experience = 16 years; age = 34 years, left=pawed, hair/fur = black, eyes = green, decent eyesight by Human standards, faster on her feet (but not quite as strong) as most female Ursines of her age & build (height = 6'1", about halfway between "almost Human" and "almost Ursine" which means slightly "skinny" by Ursine standards but well-built by Human ones); speaks English, Ursine, and Yiddish; religion = Liberal Judaism. [International experience experience only from DBC92 qualifiers through to the present day.]

(#26) Sarranna White _ Clan = WestWoods; female Ursine; home team = Wiston City, category = Winger or Forward, usual position = Right Winger or Forward (‘Outside’) Right; age = 32 years, right-pawed, fur = ‘cream’; said to be better than most of her team-mates at understanding humans. [International experience from DBC45 through to the present day.]

(#27) Hannorra Scarlett _ Clan = VerraVokksur [Free Sept]); female ‘Vokksurr’ [anthropomorphic Fox]; home team = LakePort Lionesses, category = “utility outfielder”, usual position = Forward or Winger (either side of pitch); age = 33 years right-pawed, fur = gingery-red (slightly paler on chest & belly, but of course you won’t see that during matches unless her shirt gets badly torn); 5’8” tall, with a slender build by usual human standards — let alone by Ursine ones — but with visible muscles and definitely stronger than some people might expect, and has a bushy tail about 3’ long which she normally holds up behind her back (Pulling her tail may draw a retaliatory snap with her long jaws & sharp teeth, although she tries not to bite people in most situations; the likeliest result, if the referees is observant and honest, would be yellow cards for both players involved…); her leg-joints work more like those of a non-anthropomorphic fox than like those of a human, meaning that she looks rather as though she has backward-pointing knees but those are really her ankles instead, which might make her movements a bit harder for other people to predict (but also means that the bones below that joint are more numerous, and therefore thinner, and therefore slightly more fragile, than those between a human’s knee & ankle…); interested in fashion, and may affect a ‘warrior princess’ style for foreign media (to her team-mates’ quiet amusement). [International experience from DBC46 through to the present day; She was a starter in most of her earlier appearances.]




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Usual starters = #1, #2 & #3, either #4 or #20, #5 & #6, #7 & #11 & #12, #13 & #14.
Usual substitutes #15 or #16 as Goalkeeper; bench will include a suitable selection to cover all of the other positions as well, varying from game to game so that [probably] everybody gets at least one chance to play, with both international experience and success so far during these qualifiers considered when deciding which players to use against the higher-ranked opponents rather than the lowest-ranked ones.

Style: Offensive, modifier = +3.5 ("A good offence is the best defence"...). This has actually been reduced slightly since DBC#45, when they used +4.0 instead, because team training since then has included a bit more emphasis on tightening up their defence.
They have also modified their planned formation slightly from the “traditional” Ursine one, which included a front row of at least 5 (normally arranged as 3 strikers & 2 wingers), with 2 midfielders, 2 backs, and a ‘Lynchpin’ (whose starting position was approximately be at the midpoint of an imaginary cross drawn between those other four non-forwards’ positions). Two of the strikers now drop back to a bit behind the line formed by the Centre Forward and the two wingers (who might move “in” by a little bit, as well), while the Lynchpin is now stationed noticeable closer to the backs than to the midfielders. “Joining the dots” would, looking at the pitch from above and placing the Bears’ goal-line at the bottom of the picture, give you [approximately] a stretched-sideways ‘W’ in front of a stretched-sideways ‘M’.

Penalties and direct free kicks are most commonly the responsibility of Karra Brent (#12), unless they are “last minute” ones (or within a few minutes of the game’s end, anyhows…) and the Bears really need another goal to turn a draw into a win or or even a loss into a draw: In the latter case this role is more likely to be assigned to Harroya o Sarrndale (#5) instead, because she is more likely to remain completely calm in such situations. Harroya is also the most likely player to take corners.
Alternatively, taking a free kick or penalty might sometimes be assigned to a different player instead if it was a foul on that player which led to us being awarded the right to that shot.


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Opponents who RP first may _
Choose my goal-scorers: Y, except that this will NOT be the goalkeeper.
RP injuries to my players /Hand out Yellow cards to my players / Hand out Red cards to my players: Y to all, at least to start with, but remember what I've written here and keep it in limits accordingly... Any really serious offences by my players would probably result in injuries to your players, and causing any serious injuries to my players would probably require such obviously-deliberate attacks that your players would get yellow or even red cards as a result too. Don’t kill anybody, or inflict injuries that would be serious enough to end careers, without checking with me & getting my approval (which is unlikely to be granted…) first. (#5) Harroya o Sarrndale should NOT be reported as being given any cards unless you can get my consent first. (#11) Karra Brent will NOT be injured by anything that ‘mundane’ players do during play, not even by the most open & violent physical attacks.
Godmod injuries to my players: N
Godmod Other Events: Y, I suppose, at least as long as you do so in an AMUSING way... but please remember that Ursines are fully sapient beings, as much as Humans are, not instinct-driven animals. Oh, and of course female Ursines are not sexually interested in Humans (of either sex), and it's very unlikely that female Harr'ayanau would be either. Please don't have them run amok or outright revert to animality, without checking by TG first, don't make assumptions about their views on politics or religion, and don't do anything that would make more than one of them incapable of playing in their next game...



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Kit: This incarnation of the team will normally wear the usual set of designs (from ‘ediraf’) that the Belles have favoured in the past.

Bears Armed has traditionally used base-8 arithmetic, for several reasons, and the set of ‘shirt numbers’assigned to this team’s players has been determined on that basis. The nunber '10' (i.e. eight) has been "retired", however, to honour the memory of two earlier wearers who particularly distinguished themselves.

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Home grounds

1/. Wimbley Stadium:[/b] Located a few miles to the north-north-west of Council Groves (our capital city), to which it is connected by rail as well as by road, this stadium was built from scratch — on part of a former Confederal Army base’s site — shortly before the qualifiers for WC52 began as a replacement for the Bear-Belles original “home” at ‘Plumtrees Park’ which has now been demolished. Its current capacity is approximately 60'000 for Ursines: Fitting about 40’000 humans into the visiting fans' half should be possible, and so that's as many as we'll let into the country. Accommodation for visiting teams & their staffs will be provided in a new hotel, less than a mile away, which has staff who are accustomed to dealing with Humans as well as with Ursines. The various other hotels in that complex and those at Council Groves can now provide about 12’000 rooms at a time, at varying prices, although of course some of those may already have been booked by people who have nothing to do with the Cup. Accommodation (at a fairly basic level) for up to 15’000 supporters will be available, at reasonable prices, in students' residences for the National University’s campus in that city: if any more than all of those facilities put together can house want to attend a match then they’ll have to borrow space in the area’s remaining Army camp instead...
There are still no direct inter-regional flights into Council Groves, so that visitors will have to travel by way of one of our neighbours and then continue onwards by one of the limited number of "local" air-flights or by rail. (People planning to arrive by rail will still have to travel via the nation of Mikitivity ... which still exists IC as far as the Bears are concerned, even though OOC it unfortunately CTEd years ago, because not only are there some bits of jointly-agreed RP that I want to keep but also that nation — and its routes onwards into the outside world — are/were located on the Bears’ most “accessible” border.)
This site will be used for most, but not all, of the Belles' matches, the only exception being MD4's home game against Josifovo.
Chief groundkeeper: Birra’hrreua Lirrenbrock _ a female ‘Brock’ [i.e. anthropomorphic Badger][/i] from the Lirrenbrock sept within their clan [This sept has its territory not far from Wimbley]; she is in the third generation of her family to work here, but is the first of them to be in charge (although that role usually has been held by a Brock rather than by an Ursine).

2./ ‘NorthLands National Stadium’: Located at NorthPort, the most cosmopolitan city in The Ursine Northlands, this facility was originally built for use by the 'Northbears' WC49’s qualifiers. Unfortunately the place has since seen rather less use than was originally hoped, but it is still in good condition and will hold about 43’000 Ursines or over 60’000 humans (or, of course, proportionate numbers of a mixture of those two species) because it was deliberately built to be rather larger than 'Plumtrees Park' which was then the Mainland's 'national' stadium…
This site will be used for MD4's home game against Josifovo, and maybeso also for some of any friendlies or matches in other Cups during this period as specified separately.
Foreigners coming to this stadium may either travel to the ‘Mainland’ and then continue hence via a set of ancient [& probably magical] ‘Gates’ that link the country’s two sections — completing their journey by either rail or riverboat after that — or take ship directly to NorthPort.
Chief groundkeeper: Gyrth’hrra ShipBear _ Clan = Seabear; female Ursine; age = 55, fur = light-medium brown; starts these qualifiers in her tenth year as boss here, after five years as an assistant; formerly a first-team goalkeeper with ‘NorthPort Voyagers’, who are one of this city’s two professional clubs, she had already started to study grounds-keeping before her retirement from play.




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NOTES

Ursines, Ursomorphs, and Harr'aynau, generally retain their "youthful" vigour at least into their mid-thirties, which means that footballers can have longer playing careers than is the usual case for Humans: Those who are in their late twenties or early thirties -- as some members of this squad are -- are likely to be still [at least] as fit as they were in their early twenties.
Ursines may tend to be a bit less agile & slower to accelerate on average than humans of comparable ages, but this team's members were carefully selected so the gap between them & their opponents in this respect should be narrower than some people might expect. They do tend to have [slightly] poorer eyesight than humans, on the whole (although the members of both Clan Gunnar and the Sun Clan are generally an exception to this rule, and the eyesight of the latter group is actually often at [slightly] better-than-human levels instead), so long-distance passes & shots at goal will tend to be rarer behaviour for them than they are for human teams... but their typical size & strength mean that when they're running with the ball it will probably take a very brave human — as well as a very skilled one — to tackle them successfully (or, at least, one who has reasonable experience of playing against Ursines…), which should balance that factor pretty well. They don’t jump very well, but then they’re generally rather taller than most Human players to start with so they shouldn’t need to jump as often in order to intercept [relatively] high shots...
Ursines are physically robust, of course, which means that they're much less likely than humans are to suffer injuries in falls or collisions. The females of this species are more even-tempered than the males, and the team's members will try to stay on their best behaviour not only in order to do well in this contest but also to impress upon the watching humans that Ursines aren't just "dumb beasts". They will not 'dive', or feign injury in other ways, because suggesting that they could be harmed so easily goes strongly against the grain. ‘Northlanders’ are maybe not quite as "civilised" as the 'Mainlanders'… or, at any rate, that’s the traditional stereotype..
They generally do not perform the sort of extravagant ‘goal celebrations’ that are seen in some RL football today. A brief hug from a team-mate, or just a pat on the shoulder, is usually all that happens…
Unless our hosts at the match in question object, this team's members (including the designated substitutes for the match in question) will perform a [fairly short] ritual that's called the 'harrdiharr' on the pitch just before play begins... This is a traditional war-dance, meant to over-awe opponents, that has come to be a customary prelude for team games as well (similar to the [RL] New Zealanders' 'haka'...).
As has now been seen during various tournaments, some of our fans like to take drums — and possibly also 'Urrs-horns' [which are similar to Alpenhorns), cow-horns, or other "musical instruments", too — along to the matches…

The team is accompanied by a number of sapient Ravens, who are there both to gather information about the rival sides and -- if & when visiting certain other nations -- to provide air cover in case of hostile waterfowl.

[Tikariot]

Football is the by far most popular sport in Tikariot. The Tikariot Premier League is the highest tier of the Tikariotian football pyramid and is one of the most competitive leagues in the multiverse.
With five World Cup participations, including one Round of 16 appearance, Tikariot has been part of the rising Rushmorean sub-region of Pavola. After a whole slew of first knock-out-stage exits, Copa Rushmori 42 turned into what the whole nation hopes to be the turning point in their fates when they beat their neighbours and rivals of Græntfjall in the final for their first victory in a big tournament. Tikariot is trying to make it five qualifications in a row!


The fans of the Snowy Owls, called the Dark Tide, also deserve particular mention. Not only are they renowned for their chants, but they are also bringing the Thunder Clap (Click here for example) to the stadium, something that the players join in as a pre-game ritual that has left an impression on the opponents and opposing fans more than once (OOC: similar to the Haka of the New Zealand All Blacks). The players will form a triangle near the kick-off circle and lift their arms, which the fans do as well. Then a lone drum will start to signal the rhythm and both players and fans alike will move in unison, each clap accompanied by a loud cry, the claps (and cries) speeding up, creating an overwhelming sense of impending doom.

Brian McAllister - 50
After having been assistant to now former coach Stuart Ekstrom, Brian McAllister made the move to Sargossa and enjoyed a lot more success than his former mentor, having two Copa Rushmori victories under his belt. With him, the Snowy Owls continue to utilize their flexible 4-3-3, in which the fullbacks can push forward and the wingers drop back depending on the game situatin, add unpredictability. With this formation, he also won Tikariot's first and personal third Copa Rushmori at CR42.


GOALKEEPER

GK | MÍMÓSA GYÐA Holgeirsdóttir | 22 | Vna-Chuhul Ravens FC | 0 caps | 0 clean sheets
not the tallest keeper, but tremendous reflexes and very strong jumping abilities

DEFENDERS

LB | James WINTERSHAM | 29 | Khalgarh Valley FC | 17 caps | 1 goal | 0 assists
horselung of a leftback, can also play on the right, wicked crosses, also has a strong shot

CB | Caitlyn ARRAKAN | 23 | Tovaca Thunder FC | 4 caps | 1 goal | 2 assists
tall, great aerial play, can also play the ball well, likes to go forward during attacks

CB | Santeri MATINPALO | 26 | Fort Viljan Northern FC | 9 caps | 0 goals | 2 assists
towering centreback, who doesn't have much technical finesse, but is very efficient. Rocket of a shot

RB | Kaisa SÄFQVIST | 24 | Anchors FC (CMT) | 21 caps | 1 goal | 2 assists
powerful with great acceleration that she can use to run opponents off the ball, also has a strong shot

MIDFIELDERS

LM | Sérigne AYANBADEJO | 26 | Eivora Athletic FC | 11 caps | 2 goals | 5 assists
Cobre dual national, graceful and fleetfooted, has a surprisingly powerful shot, great standards

CM | ÞORGRÍMA VIGDIS Ástþórsdóttir | 27 | Chromatik (CMT) | 48 caps | 11 goals | 11 assists
not the fastest, but has incredible stamina and knows how to get and distribute the ball, can orchestrate the offence and strong standards

RM | Arfon DAVIES | 30 | Carathyr Emeralds FC | 39 caps | 2 goals | 15 assists
not a flashy player, but very important for the team, great stamina and highly efficient also in offense

FORWARDS

W | Morris NIGHTHORSE | 30 | Port Rhovanyon AFC | 202 caps | 127 goals | 71 assists
fast, technically strong, can score goals out of nowhere, defender nightmare

CF | Mathias VERCAUTEREN | 23 | Liria Prizren (MYT) | 19 caps | 5 goals | 2 assists
fast, agile, powerful, can score from any position, has uncanny scoring instinct

W | Annika NURMSALU | 26 | Miruan City FC | 45 caps | 17 goals | 17 assists
dazzling speed and great technique, can both shoot and assist with great precision

GOALKEEPERS

GK | Conrad HURST | 26 | Carathyr Emeralds FC | 25 caps | 7 clean sheets
not the tallest keeper, but is very quick and agile, compensating for the relative lack of reach

GK | Siobhan HARRIS | 30 | Miruan City FC | 5 caps | 0 clean sheets
tall and lithe, has great command of the box, a few weaknesses with low balls

DEFENDERS

LB | Arliss BARANTYN | 25 | Tovaca Thunder FC | 0 caps | 0 goals | 0 assists
fast and agile, great positioning, not much of a scoring instinct

LB | Catherine NORTHRUP | 30 | Baraldhur AFC | 9 caps | 1 goal | 1 assist
tireless runner, very sharp crosses, also has a good shot from the distance

LB | Anthony WALLACE | 30 | Carathyr Emeralds FC | 64 caps | 4 goals | 6 assists
marauding LB, likes to move into LWB role, sharp crosses and wicked free kicks

CB | Anson CROMFORD | 25 | Tovaca Thunder FC | 0 caps | 0 goals | 0 assists
very hard-nosed, tall, great aerial presence, no-nonsense approach to defending

CB | Walter THOMAS | 31 | FC Inter Nantwich (TMB) | 109 caps | 5 goals | 9 assists
fast, great, clean tackles, also good with ball on his foot, likes to get involved in counter attacks

CB | Gianpietro PAGANINI | 21 | Baraldhur AFC | 0 caps | 0 goals | 0 assists
very elegant defender, has surprising technique but also can deliver crunching tackles, still has to work on some mistakes that can crop up out o nowhere, but is one of Tikariot's biggest defensive talents

CB | Taliesyn BRENTLEY | 24 | Emerald Coast Raiders FC | 0 caps | 0 goals | 0 assists
very fast, very agile, may lack bulk, but thanks to her speed she can avoid many physical challenges, has a bit of a fiery temper

CB | Tanis HEMINGWAY | 21 | Carathyr Emeralds FC | 10 caps | 1 goal | 1 assist
Nepharan dual national, tall and quick, good tackling, excellent positioning

CB | Stian FARNSRUD | 30 | Miruan City FC | 70 caps | 1 goal | 7 assists
has speed and technical finesse, works best with tall, physical counterpart

RB | Leah ROBBINS | 27 | Lakewood City (TMB) | 15 caps | 0 goals | 1 assist
tireless worker up and down the lines, good balance between speed and technique

RB | Leah ROBBINS | 23 | Lakewood City (TMB) | 36 caps | 2 goals | 1 assist
tireless worker up and down the lines, good balance between speed and technique

RB | Jonathan MORRETTA | 28 | Carathyr Emeralds FC | 45 caps | 1 goal | 2 assists
physically strong, decent speed, can run down the flanks but also pull inside to shoot

MIDFIELDERS

LM | Jean-Jacques VANIERE | 29 | Baraldhur AFC | 19 caps | 3 goals | 7 assists
not the most physical player, but with a truly blessed left foot that can sent laser-precise crosses and passes, outstanding assist giver

LM | Easton AIRD | 27 | Oriannor Mountaineers FC | 59 caps | 11 goals | 12 assists
strong worker, can be found everywhere, making him an opposing team's nightmare, good pass and shot

LM | Chiara CASTLETHWAITE | 27 | Kyethas Rivermen FC | 10 caps | 4 goals | 4 assists
tenacious, great tackling, but also some sweet technique to surprise opponents, strong shot

CM | Pierre SUKUNDA | 28 | Carathyr Emeralds FC | 38 caps | 6 goals | 9 assists
sharp, precise shot and also great crosses and passes, big offensive threat

CM | Michael GAFFIGAN | 32 | Eivora Athletic FC | 51 caps | 5 goals | 15 assists
has grown into a top orchestrator in midfield, great vision and passing, vicious set pieces

LM | Graydon MUIR | 22 | Oriannor Mountaineers FC | 19 caps | 2 goals | 9 assists
very versatile, can also play in the centre, has an excellent eye for teammates and a wicked shot

RM | Duncan CAIRNCROSS | 25 | Viathyn Park AFC | 3 caps | 1 goal | 1 assist
powerful, physical, quick, known for crunching tackles, not always the referee's friend

RM | Markus SIVERTSTRAND | 22 | First FC of Avanaroch | 0 caps | 0 goals | 0 assists
quick but physical, great passer and crosser, excellent stamina

RM | Artaxerxes CAVARRON | 27 | Baraldhur AFC | 7 caps | 0 goals | 2 assists
versatile player, great support of the main orchestrator, has a tendency to shoot a lot, with varying success

FORWARDS

W | Elia MOLYNEUX | 20 | Miruan City FC | 7 caps | 3 goals | 2 assists
fast, light-footed, can play a knot into an opponent’s legs, good scoring instinct, just a bit too overeager sometimes

CF | Forlaith MHIC GILLE UIDHIR | 24 | Emerald Coast Raiders FC | 3 caps | 1 goal | 2 assists
lethal in box, strong physique, also has technique. Great anticipation

W | Victoria THESSELBORG | 29 | Capitol Athletic (SYL) | 35 caps | 17 goals | 9 assists
quick, physical, but with great technique, main weakness is that she might take too many chances to score

W | Adrian GRIMAUD | 35 | Port Tacassam FC | 119 caps | 46 goals | 28 assists
very good technique, can score from anywhere, also great eye for team mate, all-rounder

CF | Dana THORSEN | 25 | Straton (TMB) | 0 caps | 0 goals | 0 assists
tall and imposing, can distribute high balls, but also can score from almost any position

W | Malcolm SANFORD | 27 | Oriannor Mountaineers FC | 0 caps | 0 goals | 0 assists
fairly small, but quick agile, technical, known more for assists than goals, but with great vision

W | Raita VALKARAKOSKI | 26 | Carathyr Emeralds FC | 0 caps | 0 goals | 0 assists
powerful, but still with good technique, she can go around or through defenders, great scoring instinct

CF | Theophilas STEARAS | 26 | Pesfield Trees (SYL) | 4 caps | 2 goals | 0 assists
powerful centre forward with great pull toward goal and a never-say-die attitude

W | Daniel MCGILLIVRAY | 25 | Veriasod Wolves FC | 4 caps | 1 goal | 0 assists
quick, agile, lacks some bulk but makes up for it with technique

Home Jersey:


Away Jersey:

Dhaencunor Arena (84,000) | Tikariot City | home of Tikariot City FC
Matchday 10 vs. Stevencousin

Oceanview Stadium (63,000) | Port Rhovanyon | home of Port Rhovanyon AFC
Matchday 12 vs. Flipverse

Paladon Park (78,000) | Avanaroch | home of Avanaroch White Wings FC
Matchday 7 vs. Damukuni

Jewel of the Coast (72,000) | Carathyr | home of Carathyr Emeralds FC
Matchday 4 vs. Natanians & Nosts

Citadel of the North (40,000) | Fort Viljan | home of Fort Viljan Northern FC
Matchday 2 vs. Ardsk

Temple of the Crow (26,000) | Bul Khungur | home of Bul Khungur Miners FC [OOC: I know, not a crow, but Midjourney has problems with birds]
Matchday 8 vs. Drawkland

+4

My opponent, if they RP first, may do the following:
Choose my goalscorers: Yes-ish (TG me and I can give you the names for scorers, assists and more, but we'll figure this out one way or another)
Godmod scoring events: No
RP injuries to my players: Yes (just please be reasonable)
Godmod injuries to my players: No
Hand out yellow cards to my players: Yes (again please be reasonable)
Hand out red cards to my players: Yes (same deal)
Godmod other events: Yes

[Qasden]

---

---

The last run for the World Cup was glorious until it absolutely, 100% wasn't. I know it, you know it, the Qasden Association Football Association (QAFA) sure as hell knows it, but let it be a lesson to never entrust a national team to an ultra.

Hot off a rough but reasonable exit in qualifier playoffs in the 94th Cycle, the Vans, unable to re-sign legend Valentijn Munson, made a desperate play and appointed former academy director Rex Akimbo to the top post in the country. Despite losing half the first 6 games under his leadership (including the end of a very funny spotless streak against Audioslavia), the Blue-Reds made an improbable rally back from midtable to 'gotcha' bitch' the Bulls on the last matchday of qualifiers to secure a long fabled 2nd place in the group, a finish seldom seen since Merritt days. Arguably, Qasden got a dream draw versus a nation uninterested in pedantic podiatric parlays, making it appear as if it was all but certain that Akimbo, supervising a star-studded squad with several in their swan song season, would finally be the ones to bring the River's End back. If you skimmed this prologue and noticed the name next to the big 'GM', however, you know that's not how it went. After a long and expensive flight to Sylestone with 'Qualified!' merchandise in tow, the Cats choked quite possibly the easiest layup that Marlene ever gave us. Tanirinthia, an environment of ennui, had bested our best; as for Rex, he now gets to enjoy a lifetime position of being exiled from the Arrosian plane of existence. Repeating Belle Haven was not an accomplishment the modern board of QAFA was expecting to showcase to a briefly hopeful fanbase, yet there they were, showing the same shit they did the cycle before.

The succeeding Cup of Harmony saw a struggling Qad team unable to recuperate from the shock of the disaster in Kirkham, leading to an early exit from the weird synthetiscape of Delaclava. Things were looking far too cut out for replacement manager Lori Vandelhaar, but an ARC run I have to explain better later on shows that the nation’s decline was, in all definitions, greatly exaggerated. Now the Vans re-aim their sights on the very tournament that struggles to evade it any further. With big names like Jaylyn Bone and Shug de la Fontaine hanging up the boots, new faces like Ander Galleon and, uh, Wayne-Wyatt Ampersandium, are poised to be the ones to finally get the team over that dastardly hump.

---

Style: +1
Preferred Formation: 4-4-2
Nicknames: The Vans | Calcio Calico | The Blue-Reds

---

---

Lori Vandelhaar

---

Age: 46|Position: Manager|Last Known Affiliation: Qasden NT
Once praised to be the true successor of Munson, Vandelhaar's managerial career has been off to a rocky start. Shortcomings at the Cup of Harmony have hampered the efforts and tarnished the history of Lori's acclaimed background within the Qasden football sphere, and while her defense first strategies felt prime in the qualifiers, the ARC is another beast in of itself. Can a sudden shake up in tactics save Lori's spot before her key card gets demagnetized?

---

Guillermo Mordecai

---

Age: 67|Position: Assistant Manager|Last Known Affiliation: Qasden NT

---

Through the infernal revolving door now arrives Guillermo Mordecai, former sporting director for the Academy of the Interior and associated regions of interest. During his previous tenure, Momo's experience and leisure within the footballing backwaters allowed the once overlooked school to gradually snowball into a respected and successful campus strong enough to even rival that of QAFAcademy. As one would expect, the federation wasn't about to have their bread and butter get shown up like that, so they paid Mordecai a shitload of money to hire him on as the next supposed full-timer for the NT assistant manager position. Whether having been coached by him or coached against him, much of the National Team has already been acquainted with the senior clipboard king, but a regional tournament is no small school affair.

---

Zinnia Thurstan

---

Age: 34|Position: Goal Keeper|Last Known Affiliation: Hawthorne Kickers
No matter how many times they looked away, Thurstan can never, ever be stopped. Consistently validated with a dedicated career at Xanneria's Hawthorne Kickers, Zinnia's know-how around the net has proven invaluable to the National Team's efforts for as long as we've started counting ages right.

---

Substitute Goal Keepers
Justin Allgood|23|Dalton Town FC
Cephanie Note|31|Winchester Traditional SC

---

---

Cameron Allan

---

Age: 28|Position: Defender|Last Known Affiliation: Brantisvogan
A fierce and renowned product of the Post-Zimari era, Allan proved his worth as a dominant defender through a multitude of successes found at Brantisvogan. His avant-garde tactics have swooned the blue-red base to a point of becoming what he always wanted to be: trivia night fodder.

---

Oliver Paul

---

Age: 23|Position: Defender|Last Known Affiliation: Champagne Night

---

Sang-Hun Noel

---

Age: 29|Position: Defender|Last Known Affiliation: Passerine
While Noel had always hung around the national team in reserves, his increasingly incredible performances at Kelssek's Passerine were becoming too noticeable to ignore. Formerly co-opting the team with star Ronin Otero, Noel now finds himself a captain abroad, eager to prove himself worthy of the title for the National Team.

---

Carl K. Umstroke

---

Age: 24|Position: Defender|Last Known Affiliation: Dury FC
From a young age, Umstroke's indescribably exceptional talent at blue balling any attacker's day got him a pair of crosshairs hovering over his contract signing hand. A key factor in the DBC 55 title run, Carl waxed and wow'd during his stay with Quebec's Perce Town, to the extent of even earning dual-citizenship. He now joins Dury FC as the top transfer out from the Q League this past season, becoming the 2nd Qad and 1st player to break into the Poafmersian market.

---

Substitute Defenders
Conner Odin|30|Rutland FC
Fatime Desiree|25|Capitol City FC
Mason Bentley|22|Vna-Chuhul Ravens FC
Rosephine Thistle|22|Miradela GD
Khasan Kubo|31|Columbia

---

---

Ronin Otero

---

Age: 24|Position: Midfielder|Last Known Affiliation: CF Outineau
In the highly competitive midfield scene, Otero was always just one step away from making the starting XI. Now, he finds himself at the forefront of a formation coded in his honor. An incredible mind and heart, Ronin served much of his domestic career within the track of Kelssek's Passerine before excelling prominently enough to garner the intrigue of one of the nation's giants: CF Outineau. There he helped the club win a fierce cycle, earning 'Young Player of the Season', and finally, after all this time, getting his chance to make a mark on the Vans' starting XI.

---

Lor Starcutter

---

Age: 23|Position: Midfielder|Last Known Affiliation: Romanopolis United
In a distant life, she was a forgotten face among academy prospects, always behind the next shiny new star to flop on the field. However, her time rising through the ranks of Kelssek football would pay off in massive dividends upon her ascension to Kirkenes FC, where her uncanny ability to win just about anything had alerted more than enough analysts to her value as a player and friend to the Vans. Here she helped the Red Firm secure the coveted IFCF Champions League trophy, and has even helped lead Qasden to a DBC title, it's first addition to the football cabinet since CoH 70. She enters ARC as one of the highest transfers out from the Championship, now a major piece in the rebuilding efforts of Darmen's Romanopolis United.

---

Michelle McCracken

---

Age: 36|Position: Midfielder|Last Known Affiliation: Brattleboro FC
Regarded as one of the most dominant faces within the Zimari generation of players, McCracken was recruited as part of a shortlist of female players drafted when developing the legendary AOCAF 62 squad. Michelle's personality is professionally competitive, being quick to assert herself as the commanding individual on the field, gaining Darsten's trust in her taking over as Team Captain. Even now, in the twinkling twilight of her career, McCracken's fire still burns white hot as a cornerstone captain for Cassadaiguan giants, Brattleboro.

---

Genivieve Orville

---

Age: 32|Position: Midfielder|Last Known Affiliation: Aminey CS
An S-Tier graduate of the QAFAcademy, Genivieve's successful leadership at the 2nd Jenna Raven Cup, paired with a stellar performance with Bruul Skewers, established her legacy as she took over the captaincy from McCracken. A well known face in the Vans, Orville's tactile approach to analytically running away with the scoreline has kept her successes high in Ko-oren, netting her a longlist nomination on the Testiculos (now Tornados), an achievement highly celebrated by her partner and former teammate, Scottie Kaestre.

---

Substitute Midfielders
Alice Sauvage|28|Megabrantid
Marco Bruno|28|Sporting Ittuributa
Cordelia LaRue|29|Victoriaville City
Lana Boreal|22|Damogran
Erroneous Null|25|St. Bernadine Accountants

---

---

Ander Galleon

---

Age: 22|Position: Midfielder|Last Known Affiliation: Østad Pillar
The next new thing to hit the block, Ander Galleon's dramatic rise to the spotlight was launched the moment he helped the UnderVans win DBC 55. Known by Qads online as 'The Guy Replacing Jaylyn Bone', the young striker has been making tidal waves abroad in the league of United Hawkland, where his incredible feats at Østad Pillar are prime for him to make the jump to QAFA stardom.

---

Cloveria No'Bell

---

Age: 28|Position: Forward|Last Known Affiliation: Longwood Lionesses

---

Substitute Forwards
Devin Ruby|24|Pale City
Corrine Alter-Silex|29|White Mountain
Lacey Lane|25|Hornchurch
Wayne-Wyatt Ampersandium|23|Arboren FC

---

---

I Give My Opponent Permission To

---

Choose My Goalscorers: Y
Godmod Goalscoring Events: Y
Injure Players: Y&N (get my ok first)
Godmod Injury Events: N
Red Card Players: Y&N (get my ok first)
Yellow Card Players: Y
Godmod anything else: No major harming of my players, venues, cities, you get the idea. Other than that, it's fairly fair game.

---

---

VENUES

---

Royal T.V. Stadium, T.V. City (90,000) - Brookstation & Juvencus

---

The one and only epicenter of the nation's athletics, "The Royal" is often regarded as a shining symbol of Qasden's fortunes (and misfortunes) in international competition, having held at least one match in every outdoors tournament hosted by the country. Swallowed in the heart of T.V. City, the capital and largest metroplex in the country by far, the stadium is said to have been built during the early years of the principality, though its original purpose is still up in the air.

---

Merellin Park, Elder (50,000) - Srednjaci & Sea Dome

---

Nestled deep within the farmlands of The Interior lies the humble Merellin Park. Named after a mysterious prince who was rumored to have found love in the town, the park serves as the hub for the inland's sports scene, often competing for that title with rival town, Taxson. A large, but modest venue, Merellin Park is equipped with surprisingly modern flavors, including a shopping mall and miniature theme park just outside the pitch's walls.

---

Hotchskarth Cabin, Destiny (31,000) - Wight & The 14 Stars

---

The smallest of the presented stadia, Hotchskarth Cabin found itself a unique staple in Qasden's competitions, having been a perennial welcome-site for games against newer opponents and, more recently, the beloved and critically acclaimed Blunder Cup. It's beautiful halls greet attendees to the glitz and glamor not found anywhere in the city surrounding it, Destiny, whose constant, one-sided desire to 1-up their neighbor, Fyre, led to the stadium's arrival in the first place.

---

---

[box]

---

[Qasden]

---

---

The last run for the World Cup was glorious until it absolutely, 100% wasn't. I know it, you know it, the Qasden Association Football Association (QAFA) sure as hell knows it, but let it be a lesson to never entrust a national team to an ultra.

Hot off a rough but reasonable exit in qualifier playoffs in the 94th Cycle, the Vans, unable to re-sign legend Valentijn Munson, made a desperate play and appointed former academy director Rex Akimbo to the top post in the country. Despite losing half the first 6 games under his leadership (including the end of a very funny spotless streak against Audioslavia), the Blue-Reds made an improbable rally back from midtable to 'gotcha' bitch' the Bulls on the last matchday of qualifiers to secure a long fabled 2nd place in the group, a finish seldom seen since Merritt days. Arguably, Qasden got a dream draw versus a nation uninterested in pedantic podiatric parlays, making it appear as if it was all but certain that Akimbo, supervising a star-studded squad with several in their swan song season, would finally be the ones to bring the River's End back. If you skimmed this prologue and noticed the name next to the big 'GM', however, you know that's not how it went. After a long and expensive flight to Sylestone with 'Qualified!' merchandise in tow, the Cats choked quite possibly the easiest layup that Marlene ever gave us. Tanirinthia, an environment of ennui, had bested our best; as for Rex, he now gets to enjoy a lifetime position of being exiled from the Arrosian plane of existence. Repeating Belle Haven was not an accomplishment the modern board of QAFA was expecting to showcase to a briefly hopeful fanbase, yet there they were, showing the same shit they did the cycle before.

The succeeding Cup of Harmony saw a struggling Qad team unable to recuperate from the shock of the disaster in Kirkham, leading to an early exit from the weird synthetiscape of Delaclava. Things were looking far too cut out for replacement manager Lori Vandelhaar, but an ARC run I have to explain better later on shows that the nation’s decline was, in all definitions, greatly exaggerated. Now the Vans re-aim their sights on the very tournament that struggles to evade it any further. With big names like Jaylyn Bone and Shug de la Fontaine hanging up the boots, new faces like Ander Galleon and, uh, Wayne-Wyatt Ampersandium, are poised to be the ones to finally get the team over that dastardly hump.

---

Style: +1
Preferred Formation: 4-4-2
Nicknames: The Vans | Calcio Calico | The Blue-Reds

---

---

Lori Vandelhaar

---

Age: 46|Position: Manager|Last Known Affiliation: Qasden NT
Once praised to be the true successor of Munson, Vandelhaar's managerial career has been off to a rocky start. Shortcomings at the Cup of Harmony have hampered the efforts and tarnished the history of Lori's acclaimed background within the Qasden football sphere, and while her defense first strategies felt prime in the qualifiers, the ARC is another beast in of itself. Can a sudden shake up in tactics save Lori's spot before her key card gets demagnetized?

---

Guillermo Mordecai

---

Age: 67|Position: Assistant Manager|Last Known Affiliation: Qasden NT

---

Through the infernal revolving door now arrives Guillermo Mordecai, former sporting director for the Academy of the Interior and associated regions of interest. During his previous tenure, Momo's experience and leisure within the footballing backwaters allowed the once overlooked school to gradually snowball into a respected and successful campus strong enough to even rival that of QAFAcademy. As one would expect, the federation wasn't about to have their bread and butter get shown up like that, so they paid Mordecai a shitload of money to hire him on as the next supposed full-timer for the NT assistant manager position. Whether having been coached by him or coached against him, much of the National Team has already been acquainted with the senior clipboard king, but a regional tournament is no small school affair.

---

Zinnia Thurstan

---

Age: 34|Position: Goal Keeper|Last Known Affiliation: Hawthorne Kickers
No matter how many times they looked away, Thurstan can never, ever be stopped. Consistently validated with a dedicated career at Xanneria's Hawthorne Kickers, Zinnia's know-how around the net has proven invaluable to the National Team's efforts for as long as we've started counting ages right.

---

Substitute Goal Keepers
Justin Allgood|23|Dalton Town FC
Cephanie Note|31|Winchester Traditional SC

---

---

Cameron Allan

---

Age: 28|Position: Defender|Last Known Affiliation: Brantisvogan
A fierce and renowned product of the Post-Zimari era, Allan proved his worth as a dominant defender through a multitude of successes found at Brantisvogan. His avant-garde tactics have swooned the blue-red base to a point of becoming what he always wanted to be: trivia night fodder.

---

Oliver Paul

---

Age: 23|Position: Defender|Last Known Affiliation: Champagne Night

---

Sang-Hun Noel

---

Age: 29|Position: Defender|Last Known Affiliation: Passerine
While Noel had always hung around the national team in reserves, his increasingly incredible performances at Kelssek's Passerine were becoming too noticeable to ignore. Formerly co-opting the team with star Ronin Otero, Noel now finds himself a captain abroad, eager to prove himself worthy of the title for the National Team.

---

Carl K. Umstroke

---

Age: 24|Position: Defender|Last Known Affiliation: Dury FC
From a young age, Umstroke's indescribably exceptional talent at blue balling any attacker's day got him a pair of crosshairs hovering over his contract signing hand. A key factor in the DBC 55 title run, Carl waxed and wow'd during his stay with Quebec's Perce Town, to the extent of even earning dual-citizenship. He now joins Dury FC as the top transfer out from the Q League this past season, becoming the 2nd Qad and 1st player to break into the Poafmersian market.

---

Substitute Defenders
Conner Odin|30|Rutland FC
Fatime Desiree|25|Capitol City FC
Mason Bentley|22|Vna-Chuhul Ravens FC
Rosephine Thistle|22|Miradela GD
Khasan Kubo|31|Columbia

---

---

Ronin Otero

---

Age: 24|Position: Midfielder|Last Known Affiliation: CF Outineau
In the highly competitive midfield scene, Otero was always just one step away from making the starting XI. Now, he finds himself at the forefront of a formation coded in his honor. An incredible mind and heart, Ronin served much of his domestic career within the track of Kelssek's Passerine before excelling prominently enough to garner the intrigue of one of the nation's giants: CF Outineau. There he helped the club win a fierce cycle, earning 'Young Player of the Season', and finally, after all this time, getting his chance to make a mark on the Vans' starting XI.

---

Lor Starcutter

---

Age: 23|Position: Midfielder|Last Known Affiliation: Romanopolis United
In a distant life, she was a forgotten face among academy prospects, always behind the next shiny new star to flop on the field. However, her time rising through the ranks of Kelssek football would pay off in massive dividends upon her ascension to Kirkenes FC, where her uncanny ability to win just about anything had alerted more than enough analysts to her value as a player and friend to the Vans. Here she helped the Red Firm secure the coveted IFCF Champions League trophy, and has even helped lead Qasden to a DBC title, it's first addition to the football cabinet since CoH 70. She enters ARC as one of the highest transfers out from the Championship, now a major piece in the rebuilding efforts of Darmen's Romanopolis United.

---

Michelle McCracken

---

Age: 36|Position: Midfielder|Last Known Affiliation: Brattleboro FC
Regarded as one of the most dominant faces within the Zimari generation of players, McCracken was recruited as part of a shortlist of female players drafted when developing the legendary AOCAF 62 squad. Michelle's personality is professionally competitive, being quick to assert herself as the commanding individual on the field, gaining Darsten's trust in her taking over as Team Captain. Even now, in the twinkling twilight of her career, McCracken's fire still burns white hot as a cornerstone captain for Cassadaiguan giants, Brattleboro.

---

Genivieve Orville

---

Age: 32|Position: Midfielder|Last Known Affiliation: Aminey CS
An S-Tier graduate of the QAFAcademy, Genivieve's successful leadership at the 2nd Jenna Raven Cup, paired with a stellar performance with Bruul Skewers, established her legacy as she took over the captaincy from McCracken. A well known face in the Vans, Orville's tactile approach to analytically running away with the scoreline has kept her successes high in Ko-oren, netting her a longlist nomination on the Testiculos (now Tornados), an achievement highly celebrated by her partner and former teammate, Scottie Kaestre.

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Substitute Midfielders
Alice Sauvage|28|Megabrantid
Marco Bruno|28|Sporting Ittuributa
Cordelia LaRue|29|Victoriaville City
Lana Boreal|22|Damogran
Erroneous Null|25|St. Bernadine Accountants

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Ander Galleon

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Age: 22|Position: Midfielder|Last Known Affiliation: Østad Pillar
The next new thing to hit the block, Ander Galleon's dramatic rise to the spotlight was launched the moment he helped the UnderVans win DBC 55. Known by Qads online as 'The Guy Replacing Jaylyn Bone', the young striker has been making tidal waves abroad in the league of United Hawkland, where his incredible feats at Østad Pillar are prime for him to make the jump to QAFA stardom.

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Cloveria No'Bell

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Age: 28|Position: Forward|Last Known Affiliation: Longwood Lionesses

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Substitute Forwards
Devin Ruby|24|Pale City
Corrine Alter-Silex|29|White Mountain
Lacey Lane|25|Hornchurch
Wayne-Wyatt Ampersandium|23|Arboren FC

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I Give My Opponent Permission To

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Choose My Goalscorers: Y
Godmod Goalscoring Events: Y
Injure Players: Y&N (get my ok first)
Godmod Injury Events: N
Red Card Players: Y&N (get my ok first)
Yellow Card Players: Y
Godmod anything else: No major harming of my players, venues, cities, you get the idea. Other than that, it's fairly fair game.

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VENUES

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Royal T.V. Stadium, T.V. City (90,000) - Brookstation & Juvencus

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The one and only epicenter of the nation's athletics, "The Royal" is often regarded as a shining symbol of Qasden's fortunes (and misfortunes) in international competition, having held at least one match in every outdoors tournament hosted by the country. Swallowed in the heart of T.V. City, the capital and largest metroplex in the country by far, the stadium is said to have been built during the early years of the principality, though its original purpose is still up in the air.

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Merellin Park, Elder (50,000) - Srednjaci & Sea Dome

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Nestled deep within the farmlands of The Interior lies the humble Merellin Park. Named after a mysterious prince who was rumored to have found love in the town, the park serves as the hub for the inland's sports scene, often competing for that title with rival town, Taxson. A large, but modest venue, Merellin Park is equipped with surprisingly modern flavors, including a shopping mall and miniature theme park just outside the pitch's walls.

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Hotchskarth Cabin, Destiny (31,000) - Wight & The 14 Stars

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The smallest of the presented stadia, Hotchskarth Cabin found itself a unique staple in Qasden's competitions, having been a perennial welcome-site for games against newer opponents and, more recently, the beloved and critically acclaimed Blunder Cup. It's beautiful halls greet attendees to the glitz and glamor not found anywhere in the city surrounding it, Destiny, whose constant, one-sided desire to 1-up their neighbor, Fyre, led to the stadium's arrival in the first place.

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[box]

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[Archalit]

ARCHALIT
Style Mod: +2

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"I know they said we should do a redesign but this just seems excessive"

About Archalit

Archalit is a socialist state with heavy emphasis on technological advancement and civil rights. The state hosts a militarily active leadership regularly acting as the aggressor against conservative and fascist states. Archalit is culturally diverse, blending various regions into the several-billion strong superstate the country is known as today. It is unique for its policy on law, having no prison system nor judiciary, relying on the cooperation of the people under the strong welfare provided by the government. Miraculously, it just works. The nation's currency is the Vel (Ꝟ), with an exchange rate of 19.55Ꝟ : 1NSD.

The capital city of the nation is Charkara which boasts the Archalit Olympic Stadium where all international games are (presumed to be) played. Various attractions can be found in the city such as the Cultural Hub of Archalit and the Grand Lake, being over 80000 square kilometers and a common ground for Corsairs whose ships house hundreds and leave the country through the Tilster Canal. There are various places to stay, such as the Tenth Floor Hotel and the Good Inn.

Latest News

The Pirates? Oh yeah, a lot has changed since the last season. Over half the team got sacked, some due to age, some due to incompetence, a couple were removed for no apparent reason but I digress. The big news is that Krystol Mays retired! Now, whether this is good news is to be seen, but the new Head of Professional Football is called Badma Nager and I’ve got a pretty good feeling about them. Mays is still around as the Chief Financial Officer but she’ll be taking more of a backseat this time around.

How much of the old team is playing this season? Ten. Ten players. For a variety of reasons, this is now a very new team compared to where it was before. Featuring a 17 year-old prodigy, two developing robots, a man who’s so mysterious that no one knows his last name, and a cat. “I promise this team is better than last time” remarked Nager while building the team.

Stats Board

Total Goals Scored		177			
Total Goals Conceded		162			
Total Goal Difference		+15			
Best Result			6-1	(vs Legalese)		
Worst Result			0-7	(vs Independent Athletes from Quebec)		
Total Games Played		94	(excluding friendlies)		
Total Wins			42			
Total Draws			21			
Total Losses			31

The Roster

Management

Head of Professional Football Badma Nager - they/them
Nager is a brand new face in the management, but they have lots of experience managing football teams. At least that's what their résumé says, placing them as a manager of major Vanor, Græntfjaller, and Farf sides within just two years and citing "trust me" as evidence. Nevertheless, Krystol Mays didn't want to take on the mantle again, and Nager seemed very eager for this position, so the new team manager was decided.

Chief Operating Officer Nisha Lovett - she/her
"Oh, y'know, I operate things," was the job description Nisha Lovett gave after being asked in an interview. As the overseer of logistics and administrative business, Nisha certainly does the job, though she can be a little bit confused about why she’s actually working.

Chief Financial Officer Krystol Mays - she/her
Mays does an excellent job in management no matter where she’s working. Her only true weakness is her crippling anxiety, but that can be fixed, right? Anyways, she’s stepped down as the Head of Professional Football due to overwork and stress, taking on the position of Chief Financial Officer where she gets the opportunity to make sure the team doesn’t go bankrupt.

Director of Marketing Alicia Lockhart - she/her
Truly, the team would be a very different place without Lockhart…’s brainrot content. Since she became the director of marketing, the team’s social media has turned into a widely popular page for reasons beyond even Lockhart’s grasp. Every other day, a new meme involving weird and nonsensical imagery posted by Lockhart garners millions of views. This has seemed to drive up engagement toward the team, but no one knows whether this is a good thing.

Lead Technical Analyst Jonathan Ike - he/him
Jon? Oh yeah, I forgot he was on the team.

National Team Head Coach Juan Booker - he/him
Booker is a high-level coach with various techniques to train and develop the players as much as possible for the game. Now, applying these techniques will be a bit tricky given the… nature of the new contestants, but he’s ready to take on the challenge. Probably.

National Team Youth Development Coach Koa Omaniala - he/they
A new year, a new role yet again. This time, Omaniala has been designated the youth development coach. Yep, there is one guy on the team coached by Omaniala, and they’ll be damned if the kid doesn’t get the best coaching he’s ever had.

Head of Performance Jeff Jefferson - he/him
Performance is a tricky business. Not only is Jeff monitoring the performance of the team, but his primary goal is ensuring the performance of the team on a financial level, leading the efforts on training the management team and ensuring that everyone is up to par. Jeff is good at his job. We like Jeff.

Director of Medical Service Okpara Chima - he/she/they/whatever
Chima is a long-time practitioner of the medicines. This fortunately means that Chima is good at maintaining medical services since Chima does not speak English. Chima’s assistant is effectively a translator, but Chima themself doesn’t really do much of the work with patients anyways.

National Team Medical Assistant June Cherry - she/her
Cherry has been medically involved with much of the team for years. Her understanding of patients’ needs and ability to understand Chima makes her a suitable part of the management team. Truly, one of the staff of all time.

Goalkeepers

GK Roland Baker (32 y/o, 6'0", 177 lbs) - he/him
Roland Baker has been around the team for most of his career, having been dubbed the "god of luck" due to his insanely lucky rise to the top. At 32, Baker has, for the first time, been granted captaincy in the team. Whether he's actually all that is up to debate, but all he cares about is that he likes playing the game.

GK MOG (10 m/o, 6'4", 285 lbs) - they/it
MOG, which stands for Multipurpose, Optimized, and Generalized, is an general-purpose AI model whose training is intended to emulate human experiential learning. Without delving into the details, MOG is cold, fast, and an absolute beast of a goalkeeper. While it's still out of a starter spot due to Baker's insane vision and reflexes, MOG is undoubtedly next in line to become the goalkeeper of the national team.

*(editor's note: I'm straight-up gone for like a few days, will get this roster done eventually)

Defenders

CB Sophie Ishida (30 y/o, 5'6", 127 lbs) - she/her

CB/LB Grady Logan (22 y/o, 6'0", 180 lbs) - he/him

RB Flare Spectro (21 y/o, 5'9", 168 lbs) - she/her

CB HUMAN (103 m/o, 6'6", 159 lbs) - they/it

Midfielders

RM August Armburst (30 y/o, 5'10", 144 lbs) - he/him

AM Duke Sondas (33 y/o, 5'9", 143 lbs) - he/him

LM Ethan San (23 y/o, 5'1", 106 lbs) - he/him

CM/DM Donovan Fluffles (78 m/o, 9.5", 8.8 lbs) - she/her

RM John (22 y/o, 6'7", 172 lbs) - he/him (?)

CM/LM Philip Walsh (17 y/o, 5'5", 132 lbs) - he/him

Forwards

RW Cynthia Harmonia (27 y/o, 5'9", 167 lbs) - she/her

ST Lyndon Nightmare (31 y/o, 6'1", 165 lbs) - he/him

ST/LW Minato Gee (25 y/o, 5'7", 141 lbs) - she/her

ST Sean Oprah (24 y/o, 5'8", 157 lbs) - he/him

LW Caitir Robasan (27 y/o, 6'0", 172 lbs) - she/her

RW Ane Iokina (19 y/o, 5'11", 166 lbs) - she/they

Kits & Stadium

Home Kit	Away Kit	Archalit Olympic Stadium

[Made using the FIFA 23 Kit Creator]

Permissions & Info

Trigramme
ARC
Nickname
The Pirates
Stadium
Archalit Olympic Stadium
Formation
3-4-3 Diamond
Style Mod
+2
Captain
Roland Baker

My opponent, if they RP first, may do the following:
I would prefer you choose these scorers: No Preference
Godmod scoring events: Yes
RP injuries to my players: Yes (I decide severity)
Godmod injuries to my players: Yes (I decide severity)
Hand out yellow cards to my players: TG or DM for permission
Hand out red cards to my players: TG or DM for permission
Godmod other events: Yes
Generate stadium happenings: Yes