World Cup 96 - Roleplay Thread

by **Captina Island** » Wed Apr 03, 2024 4:45 pm

Captina hanging on in fight for second
The Captina Company Press Association

Another international break saw the Captina National Team earn four points with a win over Sargossa and an away draw against the top seed United Mandarin States.

The Rosso e Oro currently are tied with UMS with 13 points although they third in the table by virtue of a weaker goal difference, as the combined 5-0 deficit in their two losses has canceled out the 10-5 advantage in the four matches the team have won; both sit 4 points behind Eshialand and 4 points ahead of Ile de Richelieu and Sargossa. The former nation will host Captina on the second matchday of the upcoming break after the team from La Pizza de la mama visits the TCC Sports Ground.

Manager Jonas Yarborough expressed his happiness with the performance of the squad since the loss to Eshialand. “We've shown great composure with the two away fixtures and the win over Sargossa and now we need to maintain that momentum as we get further into the campaign. Having got the top team (UMS) out of the way we can concentrate on our own remaining schedule to ensure we don't drop points needlessly.”

by **Aleirave** » Wed Apr 03, 2024 4:49 pm

The World Goes Quiet
Equestria 2-2 Aleirave
Sawenia 2-4 Aleirave

"See Pakane?" Haulafo asked, "This is what I mean... this is the island as it should be."

A two-game Seagulls road-trip had calmed the usual sporting fervor back home, and for a few weeks at least, everything on the island was back to how it had been, how it was meant to be. Union Stadium was back in Eshialand, people's homes weren't filled with tourists with no hotels to stay in, and the general atmosphere was back to its usual, relaxed self.

Now, the Aleiravan team could have a moment of peace and quiet ahead of their home matchup against Lisander, one that would set their pace going into the second half of qualifying. At that point, they were 3-1-3 and 4th place, the definition of mid in every single way. Against Lisander, they'd have just a little chance to shift that dial headed into their bye MD... and any little shift on the dial would count.

As for Haulafo's thoughts on the matter? "If we could beat them 5-0 away, home is just gonna be even better," he told Josh Seametzle, "and from there, the second half rally begins."

While a second half rally wasn't out of the question, a lot of obstacles would be there standing in the Gulls' way... but they were ready to take those obstacles and make them into goals. 5 points to make up to get to second? That would be nothing.

by **Farfadillis** » Wed Apr 03, 2024 4:55 pm

Wîjkár entered the locker room last on purpose. His displeasure was evident on his face. The rest of the locker room was, in general terms, quite relaxed. The players were showering to the rhythm of the music in fad, cracking jokes, laughing out loud, and carrying on with their lives as if they hadn't lost one of the most important matches of the qualifiers without so much as scoring a goal.

"Well, let's see, who should I hang by the balls?" Wîjkár asked upon entering and seeing what was, in his eyes, as close as they could've come to throwing a party. "Tôsgo, you, idiot, you lost the striker in the goal like a champ, they danced all over you all night, and you still want to dance? Is this a joke?"

Tôsgo looked at him, frowning. Both were tall, strong, and definitely no one would intervene if they started fighting. "Come on, say something, idiot," continued Wîjkár, without flinching. Tôsgo shrugged and stepped back, sitting on one of the benches.

"You, kid!" He shouted in the direction of Valën Pídí, the youngest of the starters. "No, don't go hiding from me," he continued, seeing that Pídí was trying to get away. "You already hid from the ball the whole damn game, now come here." The agile winger quickly escaped through the back door. "What a fucking coward..." Wîjkár muttered to himself.

"What's going on?" Yuan Zilai asked, just arriving from the typically swift ping-pong of on-field press conferences.

"Nothing, coach, just expressing my disagreement with the team's spirit."

"The team's spirit?"

"Yes, it's not in tune with mine. It lacks, at the very least, some broken glass. Maybe a teammate with a bleeding temple for missing goals like a son of a bitch, Robineau."

Yuan raised his eyebrows in slight surprise. Wîjkár wasn't one to get worked up like this. "Well, maybe it's better to lower your spirits then," the coach remarked.

"Or I could hurl a chair in Fórténté's direction to see if I hit that asshole in the face. Maybe he can catch it, even."

"Or you could do that. But I don't recommend it," Yuan replied. As soon as he finished speaking, a chair was hurled in the direction of, indeed, Fórténté. The goalkeeper swiftly sidestepped it.

"Just like with the ball, huh, you piece of shit. You don't dodge as a goalkeeper, idiot."

The stream of people entering the locker room didn't stop with Yuan. Right after this, Tuskoles Yagaras entered as well, for the first time since taking over as assistant coach.

"And what are you doing here?" Wîjkár asked, surprised.

"Well, first of all, probably calming you down. Do so. You know I can cut your club salary in half if I want to. And if you keep acting like this, I'll convince Yuan to not even call you up."

Wîjkár bit his tongue to refrain from responding.

"Also, I'm simply here to observe the dynamics of the locker room. The results haven't been good lately and I wanted to see if the locker room atmosphere had suffered as a result. But I notice that the players are taking things well."

Most nodded in agreement, with some exceptions.

"I also notice that a chair seems to have been used as a substitute for a better-suited projectile."

Most nodded back.

"Well, I suppose some dissenting elements are to be expected. Try to play better in the next game, guys. Qualifying for the World Cup is very important. It puts us on the map. If you don't manage that, there will be consequences," he continued, in a monotone tone.

"Consequences?" Jáánsêlà dared to ask.

"Very serious consequences for all of you, yes. But don't worry. It is unlikely that it will come to that."

The players looked at each other, confused.

"Could you clarify?" Jáánsêlà asked.

"No," replied Tuskoles.

by **Sylestone** » Wed Apr 03, 2024 4:57 pm

BROWN: SENTIENTS “STILL HAVE PLENTY OF WORK TO DO” SAYS FORMER SKIPPER

SOMEWHERE, UNION OF VENTURA - In the wake of Sylestone’s perfect run through the first half of their qualifying group for World Cup 96, pundits and fans alike have begun to speculate the true extent to the capability of this formidable Sentients outfit - by far the best football team to have ever graced the shores of the western Esportivan country. Several domestic managers, many lifelong fans and even some former players for the country from a decade or more ago have come out and lavished the Mojmir Anac’s Sentients with plenty of praise and believe that their current form certainly puts them in with a shot - even if it is a small one - at taking home the trophy from Mertagen and Huayramarca.

With six wins from six and one of only two perfect teams remaining in qualifying, it’s not hard to see how many followers have come to that conclusion. Add in the fact that the Sentients were able to reach the quarterfinals on home soil a year and a half ago now, and it’s certainly not out of the realm of possibility. For a team that didn’t even have a functioning football team six or seven years ago, to even be so far ahead of the curve in their qualifying group is crazy enough an achievement, let alone a deep run to another quarterfinal, if not beyond, in the World Cup itself.

However, former captain and defensive midfielder Raphael Brown has given a word of warning to his fellow retired predecessors in an interview with The Sylestonean, stating that the Sentients “still have plenty of work to do if they want to repeat their performance from last year”, knowing that many other teams have the experience on their side when it comes to World Cup time and realistically, Sylestone will again have to perform out of their skins to make it further than the groups.

“What this team has done so far is more than anyone has asked for. It’s a really proud moment for me, I too feel, as the captain of this side when we returned to international football for the first time six years ago, whenever it was, to see us come this far in such a short period of time. But please, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. We’re not even qualified yet - Zenic away, Jeruselem at home, Baker Park away, they’re all very much losable games here. Hell, even Raspotochje away, you know, they kept us at bay for eighty or so minutes back in Kirkham a few months ago, they won’t back down easily.

“If we do overcome those challenges, even if we do go perfect or close to it through these next six games, the boys and girls still have plenty of work to do if they want to repeat their performance from last year. The World Cup is a mean beast - too often you see teams blitz through qualification only to flunk out of the group stage. We’ve got to keep that winning mentality. There’s not a team out there who can’t beat us should we not perform out of our skins.

“I’m not trying to say it’s impossible but please, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Let’s just take it one game at a time and if that gets us through qualifiers, through the group, through the round of sixteen, quarters, semis, then who knows? Maybe it might just be possible. They’re a brilliant group of footballers, and their cohesion is even better - I can tell you that much. If anyone can do it, it’s this lot.”

Next international break, the Sentients will face Zenic away from home and Jeruselem in Betham and if the Sentients can take the six points, then top spot in Group 12 will be all but set, with only a few poor results - including the very real possibility of an away loss to the Commonwealth of Baker Park - standing in the way of the Sentients and automatic qualification to Mertagne and Huayramarca. Two losses, though, and the group is once again wide open. Such as the nature of World Cup Qualifiers - you’ve got to win these big games.
The Sentients have done it so far, and bloody hell have they looked good doing so. Can they do it all again, though, and this time with a couple of big games on the road?

Union of Ventura vs Sylestone @ Somewhere, Union of Ventura

Sylestone (4-4-1-1): Charlton; Holt (Cross 63’) - Nutt - Nibbi - Martin; Korner - Gallagher - Hellyer (Murray 63’) - Onus (Arnold 89’); Smythe (White 81’); Beauchamp (Strathfield 89’)

Union of Ventura: Unknown

Union of Ventura 0-2 Sylestone
                                                                   Hellyer 48’
                                                                   Beauchamp 59’

Starting Lineup vs Zenic @ Philosophia Colosseum, Manacus

Macleay; Wettenhall - Mornington - Faucett - Statton; Ryland - Rodway - Lawson - Jones; Sarcav-Jones; Strathfield

Starting Lineup vs Jeruselem @ The Bay Reserve, Betham

Macleay; Wettenhall - Mornington - Blackall - Molineux; Milligan - Gallagher - Hellyer - Arnold; Sarcav-Jones; Eastwood

by **Xanneria** » Wed Apr 03, 2024 4:57 pm

Ten Years After - Chapter 3 (Survival)

While the trip from Switchback to Destin may have been only 90 minutes, it was enough time for me to nap. I was in the passenger seat as Jamal usually does the driving. I dozed and then my brain chose at that most random moment of time to start thinking back on one of my most agonizing times. That moment in time when I found out about my families death. Every now and then that memory pops back up. It's never fun to relive those kinds of trauma. In the first couple of years it hurt a lot reliving it.

Now though, I just keep telling myself I was powerless. It really does let me sleep at night, but deep down I always wondered what would happen if I got a chance at revenge. Would I be subdued about it, as it has been 10 years after the fact. or would I go violent. Violence would be the option I'd choose.

Anyways, after that bad dream, i was suddenly awoken by Jamal. I guess I should introduce ya'll to Jamal. He is my right hand man, driver, and tech expert. I met Jamal right after he got thrown out of school. He was a super talented athlete who is still the most celebrated recruit in the history of Grantland University. Sadly injuries derailed his career and he got kicked out of school because the Dean and Athletic Director felt he was expendable, despite Jamal actually being a gifted Engineer. He has told me in the past, that sometimes he thinks about them, and what he would do if he met them again.

XANNERIA - 3
Burns 29'
D Hailey 80'
Jordan 90+4

ASTOGRATH - 0
NONE!

by **Saint Eleanor** » Wed Apr 03, 2024 4:59 pm

OOC: No Lara today. Will do a bumper post including, but not limited to, Chromatika and Yesopalitha in time for the MD11/12 cutoff. This post will be edited with the schedule after cutoff; sorry, but it must be done.

Group of Six meeting (XII) --- Auprussia 0-1 SAINT ELEANOR
Participants: Gentle Breeze, Reniira Clevinger, Stephen Mitcham ~ Bridget Coombe [C], Cathy Winchester [VC], Kavezalea Felaraneta [ballot]
Location: Gentle Breeze's office at SEFA HQ; Central district, Saint Eleanor city, EXT

Another day, ANOTHER EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE - we went to their place, held them off and then PINCHED THEM WHERE THEY WEREN'T LOOKING - on the wing from David, almost on the touchline, then towards the centre for Tim to just feed in with a quick little header at the end of the first half. Second half was an attrition run, they kept testing us from all areas of the pitch and we were just soaking it all up, but THEY FAILED TO SCORE AGAINST US, as has EVERY TEAM SO FAR...

This was an excellent match from two excellent sets of players - everyone, on both sides, was on top form and Tim's goal was the result of serious skill rather than luck. I couldn't think of a single moment where either team could have gotten outmatched or into an out-of-hand position: marking was consistent throughout. This is a result that PUTS US IN GREAT STEAD FOR THE SECOND HALF OF QUALIFYING, and we will qualify automatically if these patterns of results holds in the back end. Stephen will be the first to tell me I shouldn't get my hopes up, mind.

So now that mission's been accomplished, how do we STOP THE ORUNOLAYAN REVENGE TOUR?
Bridget: "Remind them that slave trading is illegal"
Me: "No, Bridget, we need to talk about how we deal with their players"
GB: "Let's see what this roster says... which I personally don't think is well written but you understand... attacking, possession-minded, apparently counter-attacking somewhat?"
Kavezalea: "Let's face it, you're as confused as I am but I'll take their word for it when they say they're more on the keep-the-ball side of things"
GB: "Also pressing"
Bridget: "Yep I think we're going to have to run the long ball strategy, you know exactly what it is"
Stephen: "Well I do at least, I've been around here since the Baptism of Fire"
Cathy: "If there are any mistakes we won't really move from our positions in defence, no need, they'll just run the ball at and past us"
Me: "AND NO OFFSIDE TRAP. OKAY? THAT COULD LET THEM IN"
Bridget: "Indeed it could but no need to be shouty Reniira, please. People can hear us"
Kavezalea: "This isn't Premium Coffee or Torch Burgers, don't worry"
Cathy: "Oh how I wish it was, I'd actually get something to eat. I skipped breakfast!"
GB: "So we're going to stay back in defence, generally not have the players move around unless necessary, what about midfield"
Me: "We established this already, bypass the midfield if possible, run the ball around on the ground towards Steve and Rick if needs must"
GB: "Good idea. Well, you didn't technically establish the second part but it makes sense"
Stephen: "Small matter of who we're playing tomorrow, all of you forgot that"
Cathy: "Fuck's sake"
Me: "We're playing Steve and Rick, I said that already"
GB: "Well, yes, we are, but that's not because it was part of your planning. I, erm, oh my, technically it was, this is the tactical meeting"
Bridget: "Nice try"
GB: "I don't see much of a need to change about who the players are, honestly"
Kavezalea: "So we're still doing the 4-1-4-1 are we now, that would be leaving Steve out"
Bridget: "No we're not, I say keep the 4-2-3-1, one to eleven... maybe start Tim up front again"
Me: "Let's"
GB: "Sounds like a plan"

HOW TO DO THE DOUBLE, EPISODE ONE OF FIVE
SIT BACK AND RELAX - OR MAYBE PANIC
PUSH THE BALL UP AS FAR AND AS GOOD AS YOU CAN
BUT IF IN DOUBT, DO NOT IGNORE YOUR CLOSE FRIENDS
TRY TO WIN THIS THING, YOU BASTARDS

4-2-3-1:
___________ ARIELLE __________
CATHY - SAM - ESTHER - EXANDRA
_______ BRIDGET - SYLVIA ______
___ DAVID - STEVE - ANGELICA ___
_____________ TIM ____________

What, did Reniira Clevinger do this again? Honestly, I should let someone else have a go one of these days

Oneshot: What To Expect When She's Expecting

"Isn't that the truth?" asked James Halworthy, imagining that he'd get more out of his fifth customer of the day than just today's Reporter.

"Well, no, mate," complained Phil Roper. "Missus decided she'd swing around and hit it up with some other bloke. I know it's some other bloke because we haven't had fun times in a couple of years."

"I think you'd do well off going to the Local Justice Court. Hardly the Municipal or the Supreme Court, but they'd do well to sort your issues out."

"I've complained about my life before. I don't know if this is a court thing."

"Well, whatever way you want to go about it, Phil, it is. How many times have you listened to me when I said that?"

"Reported that bloke who broke a few windows of someone down the road."

"And he got convicted of burglary. In the clink now. What did I tell you, again?"

"To go to court?"

"Yes. Don't be stupid."

"She could get an abortion, eh?"

"Well, I hope you aren't pressuring her to have one. I know attitudes are changing; I'm probably the last supporter of reproductive healthcare in the building."

"Well, I think you are, I'm a bit for tightening them up, not this ban thing that Bridget or Esther or Liam West keeps going on about."

"I'm not sure if you're confused or not. All of them want that. Not sure that's going to be much of a factor, mind."

"But yeah. Suppose I'll take whoever got her to court. I'll let her run her course, do the testing then moan to this guy about adultery. Better than divorce."

"Well, you would have a case for divorce."

"Now we've gotten the baby issue out of the way, what should I do?"

"Deal with the cravings. On her end and the baby's."

"Yeah, about that. Where do I get some food?" asked Phil. "I don't think a sandwich will be enough. You make a good sarnie, but not enough on this fucking Wednesday."

"Don't suppose you're going west, or south towards the city. Well, there's a roundabout five or six miles from here. Take the second exit on that roundabout and you'll get Crownedhead services. It's better than this sad, sorry place with a competing station on the other end."

"Ask her as many questions as you can. Even if you really shouldn't be asking them."

"Well, I should be asking her the big question soon, eh?"

"Look around the daycares. They can be a bit of a monster on the budget so she may have to cut down on work..."

"She doesn't work. I'm in management for a local business back in Bishopgate."

"My wife's a cleaner. I sometimes say that's a better fate than just working at the petrol station mornings and afternoons most days. Really every day, though."

"Well, I'm not surprised she doesn't work any more, now I've vaguely figured out the truth. I'll need to investigate that these coming months."

"Try not to panic. And then maybe panic a bit when your baby needs food a couple of times per hour. And then stop panicking when they're sleeping. Did my Oliver well, that."

"I haven't thought of a baby name. She's an easy rider, though..."

"Isn't that the truth?"

"Well, no, mate. Missus decided she'd swing around and hit it up with some other bloke. I know it's some other bloke because we haven't had fun times in a couple of years."

"I think you'd do well off going to the Local Justice Court. Hardly the Municipal or the Supreme Court, but they'd do well to sort your issues out."

"I've complained about my life before. I don't know if this is a court thing."

"Well, whatever way you want to go about it, Phil..."

Group of Six meeting (XIII) --- Orunolaya 0-1 SAINT ELEANOR
Participants: Gentle Breeze, Reniira Clevinger, Stephen Mitcham ~ Bridget Coombe [C], Cathy Winchester [VC], Lydia Nicholls [ballot]
Location: Stephenson's Café; Brightway district, Saint Eleanor city, EXT

My Orunolaya grade is a solid 9.25/10. James Buragohain was a bastard, as we expected, and almost scored a couple of times, but we held the fort down well enough in the end to keep our clean sheet record alive for what I swear must be its 700th minute, including injury times. Particular credit goes to Steve Pilchard, who got the tee-off on Bridget's free kick (58th minute), was our REAL striker for most of the game and generally got into a couple of surprisingly good-natured shouting matches. Nobody on our team was really that remarkable in the grand scheme of things other than him, though, which is probably a sign that it all worked out for us.

Whither the Euran Oceanian Territories? (Which I suppose is the kind of thing Bridget would say.) Reniira suggested that, if necessary, we should go a bit "fuck it, we ball" on them. This should go well, right? I nudged Bridget to furnish the notes from our last pre-EOT meeting and she suggested... that Steve be dropped from the lineup. Ooooooops. Not the kind of decision she'd feel like making today! The principle remains the same, but EOT haven't been particularly potent - two goals and one point in seven games, ironically that point coming against Orunolaya - so we just agreed to start our normal 1-11 (except for Kichirō in place of Sylvia) in the normal 4-2-3-1. Yes, even Reniira. She thought there was a good business case for normalcy.

[Lydia Nicholls' signature goes here. It is signed in black ink, and a bit messy.]

by **Huayramarca** » Wed Apr 03, 2024 5:00 pm

Matchday 8-9 RP Cutoff!

Footballing orchestras of the multiverse, enjoy!

by **Natanians and Nosts** » Wed Apr 03, 2024 5:01 pm

-Ion Ioan Ionescu was fired from the U-18 team after his bad results in the consecutive SWC's.Now,we'll move to his collective interview,with our reporter,Ion Mihai Torjenescu.

The screen changes from the woman at the studio,to the roome where the collective interview will be held.A table with three people sitting,Ion Ioan Ionescu being the one at the centre.Some heads can be seen,and a few reporters walk from one side to the other.

-Yes - soflty spoken in a low volume,almost whispering - his interview will begin shortly,and there has been much speculation on who will be the new U-18 coach,if any.
-Attention,please. - says the man to the right,the president of the confederation. - We have conceded this interview so as to clarify things over the leave of mr. Ionescu's leaving.We'll open questions,but first mr. Ionescu wants to say some words.

The movimentation stops,the low background voices cessate,and everyone is sit in position for the interview.

-I would like to thank you,regardless of all,for giving me an opportunity to speak and defend myself before the attack comes.I am not really proud of this passage of mine,and i do know the resultshave been subpar,but they would be way better had we had more time to train in the future.I stand by my preferred system and choice of players,and my passage through the national team was a breath of fresh air and we had a really good result compared to the immediately before seasons,and with the second best deffence in our qualifying history.And I had the cance to train our boys of the U-18 team,and I was so happy,and the boys were really good and very hard-working,they truly gave their all.But that wasn't enough.Of course our first campaign was not what we expected, but we gave our best until the end,the second campaign was not what anyone expected,that first match was really good,and that victory proved we could have made an extremelly good campaign,but that matchday two defeat took us by surprise,and on the third matchday we had a fierce opposition who bested us,but from hat point things were already really bad.And then there was all the negative media reports and unjust criticalling,like one just said we had finished last and I was so incompetent that I couldn't even manage the team to hold a draw!That's simply untrue!And I did sue them.We went undefeated,with three points,and only conceded in one game.And all the talking about side midfielders,is here even a need to play so centralized (OOC:yes)...and don't act like sweeper is an extinct position.And there's this crazy thing like I'm deffensive,but everyone agrees that the national suqad's coach must be able to effectively build a good retranca,and be able to make the players consistently hold it,but everyone loves when the team goes offensive,which is not a bad thing,like,we need to score,but it's crazy,if you want someone deffensive,and you get someone deffensive,why is the only aim of complaint directed at me?I won't give up,and I will continue to study,try to improve and keep my life as a manager,being a good example to my kids and always acting moral,ethical and fair!And that's all I had to say. - finished the man.
-So now we're open to questions. - Said the man to his right,the selection coördinator.

Tan tãtãntãn tan tãtãtãtãn
tãn tãtãn tãn tãtãntãtãtãn taaaan!

-Urgent.The national squad manager Johann C. Mureșan-Antonesuc has publicly announced his resignation from the national team.Starting next year,the Natanians and Nosts national football team will have another leader.Mureșan-Antonescu said he felt he could do no thing else for the squad at the moment and will lead the team next CE looking for silverware.

by **Valentine Z** » Wed Apr 03, 2024 5:11 pm

Part 4 – Changes.

Exuberant Superintendent T-2000/2904-3 Surveillant Clarissa Alanis Star Breya « La Amoureux Chéri » Millie Taissa Butterfly Mélody Coraline Jolijn Trini Clementine Hollie Samantha Zeta Harumi has been ever so delighted with the results so far, and perhaps thinking that this might be the season where they can make it. It is still very early to tell, but in their group, they are placed second so far with Eura close at third. The rest, save from Gorutimania, are at 7 points. As of right now, it would be Valanora who is unstoppable with no losses and not even draws for these 7 games. Valentine Z’s Kittens are at 4–2–1, with Eura at 4–1–2. “Too early to tell, for sure!” Clarissa remarked to the team, “But I am sure that we got this! Oh and yes, I am sorry I have not done this earlier. With all your feedback having been collected, and with no injuries on any of the players, I have revised and will update the starting roster into the database, and then to the World Cup officials later.” The search for the potential players will have to come another time such as CoH, as Clarissa is still processing through the data of the domestic matches and seasons.

Main players going on forward:

Goalkeeper:
#  2 - Jakov Emile Janessa Mirko Varteks Modrić   - 245.72 cm - M - 42 - Varaždin, Croatia, Valentine Z
# 64 - Martina Anastasia Hedvig X. Luna Bukvić    - 239.25 cm - F - 38 - Martian Territories of Valentine Z
#  1 - Dawson Joshiah Davidson Brooks Marshall    - 239.90 cm - M - 37 - Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, Alanis Star, Valentine Z
#  8 - Josief A. Yandi Eko Yohanes Dharmawijaya   - 244.12 cm - M - 39 - Gelora, Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta, Indonesia
#  4 - Eveline Valeria Annalise Tiêu Xuân Ngọc    - 242.86 cm - F - 37 - Nam Từ Liêm, Hanoi, Vietnam, Valentine Z

Forward:
#  3 - Holly Annemiek Gerrieke Van De Hoogte      - 240.80 cm - F - 41 - Zaanstad, Netherlands, Victoriaans Nederlands, Valentine Z
#  5 - Elisabetta Enzo Hannah Lodovica D'Elia     - 237.71 cm - F - 33 - Florence, Tuscany, Italy, Valentine Z
# 11 - Kortnev Grigoriy (Grisha) Konstantinovich  - 241.08 cm - M - 42 - Saint Petersburg, Russia, Valentine Z
#  6 - Štěpánka Caitlin Madeline W. Sedláčková    - 241.74 cm - F - 36 - Brno, South Moravian, Czech Republic, Valentine Z
#  7 - Emerson Jamie Taylor Erin Scott Maddox     - 238.07 cm - M - 38 - Mankato, Minnesota, United States of America, Voorzichtigheid, Valentine Z
# 10 - Joaquina Samanta Alonso Clara Lombardo     - 237.10 cm - F - 35 - Lanús, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Alanis Star, Valentine Z

Midfielders:
# 14 - Katarzyna Violetta Zofia Aleks Polańska    - 244.25 cm - F - 39 - Chorzów, Poland, Valentine Z
# 30 - Antel Marcel Georgia Katona Vass Dániel    - 241.06 cm - M - 30 - Székesfehérvár, Central Transdanubia, Hungary, Valentine Z
# 87 - Clemente Kenneth Evans L. Jiang Guanyu     - 240.10 cm - M - 35 - Taiyuan, Shanxi, China, Vostrov, Valentine Z
# 31 - Daina Allison Leela Phon Seng Sreynuon     - 234.75 cm - F - 34 - Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Valentine Z
# 20 - Sammie Arif Raihan Bin Mohamamad Andika    - 238.66 cm - M - 40 - Singapore, Singapore, Valentine Z

Defenders:
# 40 - Iraj Alexander Soroosh Homayoun Hashempour - 237.50 cm - M - 37 - Ahvaz, Khuzestan, Iran, Valentine Z
# 55 - Nathaniel Orla Hayden Johnstone McMahon    - 241.00 cm - M - 41 - East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire, Scotland, United Kingdom, Victoriaans Nederlands, Valentine Z
# 65 - Sigfreður Gamalíel Onyx Jason Steinason    - 240.55 cm - M - 44 - Martian Territories of Valentine Z
# 70 - Vanuza Poliane Elaine Castro dos Reis      - 237.66 cm - F - 34 - Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, Alanis Star, Valentine Z
# 60 - Marlene Isabelle Lisa Roselyne Pasquier    - 235.11 cm - F - 36 - Saint-Denis, Paris, France, Victoriaans Nederlands, Valentine Z
# 50 - Helen Jennifier Hiroto Morishita Chiyumi   - 242.25 cm - F - 33 - Osaka, Kansai, Honshu, Japan, Vostrov, Valentine Z

In the meantime, there is the matter of the military factbook of Valentine Z, one that would be available for the public as a whole to read through it. For the purpose of being informative, it is slated to contain more information on the equipment and the facts and figures that will be of interest to many. On the other hand, there may be some items that are redacted or omitted to protect the nation’s defenses. With that said, a considerable amount will be in there, on top of fixing the out of information data. “The very first problem that we changed a long time back – we no longer have 61 active personnel (i.e. The Sixty)! We are the more special group, then the actives and reservists.”

A very, very special thanks to Mechyrdia for the amazing Warsaw Pact-seque CoA. You can see the original here.

Foreword; Original Version

Hello to you, Dear Reader,

First and foremost, I would like to once again welcome you to the humble nation of Valentine Z. If you are reading this, it means that you are either taking interest in her Defensive Forces, or that you have volunteered, or perhaps you have been drafted. Either way, rest assured that you will be taken care of by myself, as well as by the many other commanders and personnel. We are glad to have you around, whether you are the citizen, or a permanent resident, or a foreigner, or even a curious tourist.

By this point, you will have realised that while we pride ourselves on possibly being the most peaceful nation this side of the multiverse, we also have to deal with the constant barrage of threats that are headed our way. Most of the time, they were simply empty threats made in the spur of the moment, but it is without a doubt that there are times when the words of our enemies are backed by their nuclear missiles, along with many others. We must not take this peace for granted, and we must not be complacent that we don’t need a standing army and win our aggressors with heart and peace talks.

More often than not that I would like to mention, peace talks can and will fail if worse comes to worst, and as a result, the Active Personnel (around 61 of us), along with the reservists (that means all of you), play an equally useful role in thwarting aggressors from attacking us, and if they managed to do so, to retaliate and to make it loud and clear that the Valentians are not to be trifled with. We might not have the best technology, or the best weapons, or the best equipment in the world, but we are backed by camaraderie, selflessness, and the ability to persist even in the darkest of times. As they always say: Even the hardest material is not as resilient as a human mind, and you are all equally important to VDF, regardless of rank.

Good luck out there, Soldier,
- Valentijn “De Sierlijke en Vrij Valkyrie General ov Valentine Z” Samantha Maxwell Delta Weston Stijn Angelus Tracey Mitchell Tristian Marnix Basilisk Lewis Hyatt X. Constantine Sein Lin Zaw Naing

Foreword; New Commit

Hello to you, Dear Esteemed Readers, and to the Valentians and Non-Valentians alike,

First and foremost, we would like to extend our warmest welcome to our humble nation of Valentine Z, though this is assuming that you are already here or is planning to visit. That, or you simply have quite a vested interest in our nation, particularly the military. Or other than that, you have either volunteered or drafted for compulsory conscription. Whatever the reasoning might be, I would like to once again welcome you to this factbook, and I hope that you will learn quite a lot of things! We are glad to have you – whether you are our citizen, a permanent resident, a foreigner, or even a curious tourist. This edition is revised and updated for 2100, which is Valentine Z’s 100th birthday.

By this point, in most of the realms, you may have noticed that we have prided ourselves on possibly being the most peaceful nation to exist this side of the omniverse. Of course, that does not mean that we can simply throw all the caution to the wind and disband the military, for that will be an absurd notion. On the contrary, we have to deal with external threats that may have headed our way. Granted, we may not have been invaded recently, but actions and the military operations that we had to go through for the Interdimensional Incident of 2088 to 2092 (on our Valentian Calendar) shows us that we still need a military regardless of how peaceful we are. We might not have to, and hopefully not, use the military for internal operations. To get to the point, we can be considered as a militant pacifist – one that will seek peaceful forum and talks. If those fail, however, we will not be hesitant to fight back.

We might not have the best technology, or the best weapons, or the best equipment in the world, but we are backed by camaraderie, selflessness, and the ability to persist even in the darkest of times. As they always say: Even the hardest material is not as resilient as a human mind, and you are all equally important to VDF, regardless of rank. With this, I would like to wish our defenders the best of luck – both in their civilian and VDF-related endeavors.

Valentijn “De Sierlijke en Vrij Valkyrie General ov Valentine Z” Samantha Maxwell Delta Weston Stijn Angelus Tracey Mitchell Tristian Marnix Basilisk Lewis Hyatt X. Constantine Sein Lin Zaw Naing

Overview; Original Version

A fully-functioning army, as well as the civil defense forces, in any nation always have divisions – you are only performing your utmost best if you have the Infantry backed up by the Artillery Division, which is in turn backed and tanked by the Armour Division, and all of them are protected by the Navy, which in turn has the Air Support that they truly need. Intelligence is good too, because after all, knowing is half the battle as it was commonly said! In any case, the Valentian Defense Forces pride ourselves on the diverse nature of our operations, from the Army, to the Air Force, even to the domestic Civil Defense Forces that tackles and ensures the safe and sound nature of Valentine Z domestically.

As of now, the Valentian Defense Forces boast a total of no fewer than 1,000,000,000 soldiers, most of them being reservists given our peaceful and non-involvement in most of the interdimensional and external disputes. The Valentian Defense Forces, as of the time being, boasts a small but formidable active numbers of 61, commonly known and codenamed The Sixty. During wartime, or in the event of an invasion, the reservists are activated and moved quickly and efficiently to Voorzichtigheid, the bastion and informally termed the white blood cells and antibodies of Valentine Z.

Voorzichtigheid can provide swift response in a matter of a single Decimal Hour (2.778 RL Earth Hours), with defence perimeters set up in just a matter of 0.5 to 0.8 Decimal Hours. The cities in Voorzichtigheid are equipped with smaller domes, similar to the ones used first during the Cold War Era of the olden days. These domes can take up to 15 hits from conventional nuclear bombs, as well as being able to thwart most laser bombardments due to the physical build of it (instead of being a force field). Once sealed, these cities are self-sufficient, being cut off from the outside world and having the rations to feed 1 billion people for 30 Decimal Days, with the rest having their physical bodies exhumed and disintegrated temporarily and their minds uploaded into the mainframe, as well as into Clarissa’s storage units. This process, called “mind uploading” is painless, and is used mainly for non-military personnel (mostly children and those who are unable to fight, such as the elderly).

Overview; New Commit

For Valentine Z, we define the Valentian Defense Forces as everything – as in, the Army, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, as well as the Civil Defense Forces such as Police, Paramedics and Firefighters. In a way, there is quite a blur between the military and the civil defenses in our nation, and we found out that it still works well for us and thus, not a need to be changed. Valentian Defense Forces have come a long way, from the small and selected group of volunteers and leaders that heralded the people needed for Project Resolute, amidst all of the chaos of the Pre-Valentian Era world. We do wish that we can save everyone, but that was quite a topic to discuss for another time.

A fully-functioning defense force of any nation will always have divisions, and Valentine Z is not an exception. After all, you are only performing your utmost best if, for example, you have the Infantry backed up by the Artillery Division, which is in turn backed and tanked by the Armour Division, and all of them are protected by the Navy (if the operations are along the coast), which in turn has the Air Support that they truly need. Intelligence is also very essential because after all, knowing is half the battle as it was commonly said! As such, the Valentian Defense Forces pride ourselves on the diverse but harmonious nature of our operations to safeguard and keep our home safe.

It was the previous editions that would cause such a confusion with our audience, and we do admit that we have not been clear in relaying this information to you. As of right now, at the time of this writing in 2099, Valentine Z boasts a population of 21 billion physical people (excluding the ones that are currently enjoying their times in the simulated digital worlds that are also kept safe and sound from cyber attacks). Out of the 21 billion people, we’re able to boast an active military personnel count of 1.55 billion, with 5 billion more reservists to come should the need arise. During wartime, or in the event of an invasion, the personnel are then activated and moved quickly and efficiently to Voorzichtigheid, the bastion and informally termed the white blood cells and antibodies of Valentine Z. In the next part, we will also add in our own alert state indicator – what they mean, and the measures we take.

by **HUElavia** » Wed Apr 03, 2024 8:37 pm

The Kytler Peninsulae 4–2 HUElavia
(Markusson 9', 70' (P), Floyd 35', Flash 90' | Rossi-Rigoni 22', Lombardi 82')

Torteira

The Linguistic and Culinary Home of HUElaiva.

To the southwest of HUElavia lies the state of Torteira, one of the most significant states in the United States of HUElavia. With a size of 81K mi2 in size, Torteira is the 18th largest state in the country, right around the middle of the pack. Although, 29.6 million HUElavians inhabit the state, making it the 9th most populated state of the country. Torteira is the state where the first Portuzian and Euroan explorers first landed on the HUElavian continent. Thus, Torteira is the linguistic home of the Portuguese language on the continent.

Torteira bridge, connecting East and West Torteira

The largest and Capital city of Torteira is none other than Sao Salvador, named after the Portuzian explorers found the land after surviving a very violent storm. Sao Salvador is home to the vast chunk of the states inhabitants, where the greater area is home to over 25 million HUElavians. Not only is this the largest city in the state, but the 2nd largest city of the country. The city is filled of its old architecture, paying homage to the Portuzian culture, serving as a focal point for attracting people to the city. The main museums in the city are the Portuzian-HUElavian museum, detailing the history of Portuzians and their contributions to the country, and the Linguistic Culture Museum, dedicated to the literature and entertainment done by the thousands of Portuzian descent HUElavians. While there are some beaches, it is more of a port city, filling with ships passing through to send cargo and passengers along the cruise ships that set port in the city.

Sunset seen from East Torteira

Alacum is the other major city in the state, located to the very southwest of the state. With 2 million HUElavians living in the city, Alacum serves as a more laid-back and "country" style of life, which is thanks to the ranches in the outskirts of the area. The city offers a more conservative vibe to the area, contrasting the more liberal areas in the city, especially to Sao Salvador. Over here, the beaches are much nicer compared to Sao Salvador and are a more popular place to visit within the city.

Cows wandering through a small town in Rural Torteira

The main export that Torteira has going for it is cattle. With some flat plains in the southwest and in the eastern part of the country, it becomes prime real estate for farmers to set up shop and raise cattle for both milk and meat. Thus, steakhouses and dairy stores are a dime a dozen in the area, which serve as easy places to serve Bife a Cavalo, one of the national dishes of HUElavia. On top of that, there is a fairly entertaining rodeo culture existing in the rural areas, which can attract a nice crowd to watch.

by **Gnejs** » Wed Apr 03, 2024 9:48 pm

Time for Enda!

A blog about how Enda Clentin saved Union football (and is doing a tremendous job guiding The Dandelions through the current World Cup qualification and even though nothing is ever a certainty I am pretty sure they are going to qualify, or at least get to the playoffs and there is no shame in losing a playoff-game should the circumstances be so unfortunate although with Dear Enda at the helm I am betting it will not come to that hopefully - Go Enda!)

I'll tell you what I love about Enda Clentin <3

That is right, dear reader, your eyes do not deceive you, I do in fact speak of love. Because, I have seen the error of my ways, stopped worrying and learned to love Enda Clentin, or The Lord and Savior of Union football, as I now like to call him. Therefore I have done a little housekeeping and rebranded the blog to be a shrine and testament to Dear Enda’s greatness and wisdom. Gone are the days of complaining! Gone are the days of bitter vitriol! What was I thinking? I only hope Dear Enda can forgive my momentary lapse in judgment and faith (of course he will, it is in his great nature to be forgiving and loving!).

So what do I love about Enda Clentin? I love that he has brought a long overdue modern disposition to thinking about football to The Union. For example with lining the boys up in a 4-3-3 formation! The progressiveness! Such a latitudinarian is our Enda Clentin to bring a revolutionary concept like that to the shores of The Rock! And I love that he is not afraid to strive for goals and bringing the pressure to the opposing side. The exhilaration of watching The Dandelions play these days! And I love how he bakes his own scones and surprises you with a freshly baked batch and chilled white wine on a cloudy spring day! And I love how he fixed the decorative molding in the dining room and caulked all around the window frames in Emlyn’s room!

In short: what’s not to love!

Comments:

By: The_Real_TheEnd(a)ofTimes

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU HAVE STOLEN MY BLOG!!!

Reply by: Time for Enda!

Please do not be one of those «trolls» that ruin it for everyone and accept that I have had a change of heart <3!

Reply by: The_Real_TheEnd(a)ofTimes

CONSPIRACY!!!!! Do not believe a word she says!!!!! She and Enda Clentin have clearly set their devil child upon me and possed the blog, twisting it into something ugly and unrecognizable!!!!!

Reply by: The_Real_TheEnd(a)ofTimes

AND NOW WHO’S OMITTING RESULTS!! They lost again!!! It’s happening!!!! CLENTIN IS FUCKING IT ALL UP!!!

Reply by: Time for Enda!

NOT!!!!!

Losing One’s Bearings

Previous Chapters of Losing One's Bearings:
Chapter One
Chapter Two (including map of Port Kejm)
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Fianchetto

The rain was coming down heavy, as it had been for the last couple of days. The car interior was ridiculously clammy and Adventus Bergamot didn’t feel much better himself. His legs were beginning to ache and his stomach was rumbling, but despite all that he remained determined and found a weird sense of enjoyment from the setting. He had always been up for some excitement, and ever since he was a kid he had preferred the clandestine variety, as opposed to outright action and gallivanting around on the imagined battlefield. Some of this childish desire to play at spy games likely underlined taking it upon himself to investigate Nicole Pouliquen further. He was doing so on the behalf of David, although of course David was of yet unaware of this. The story about Nicole and her unusual request had piqued Adventus’ interest to such a degree that he had realigned himself and gone into surveillance mode, or at least to the extent possible when you’re still trying to uphold employment. He would’ve ideally liked to stake out the big apartment building down in Holmporten around the clock, to track her every movement, but apart from the odd day where he could fake working from home, he had to make due with trying to sniff out her whereabouts and dealings during long lunches and late nights.

He was really pleased to find out that Nicole and Rodolphe did in fact rent a grand old four bedroom apartment close by the waterfront. It was a house typical of that part of town, built in stone with large windows and a fairly classic facade in elegant light, sandy, colors and modestly adorned with art nouveau and orphic details complementing the balconies, columns and other such ornamentals. It wasn’t quite Kejm, as had been his first guess, but it was bordering the northside borough of Klara, which had been his second guess, so in a way the answer turned out to be a perfect amalgamation and a testament to his investigative intuition, or so he liked to think.

That he had to make do with conducting his stakeouts on whatever time he could spare clearly put definitive limitations on what he could hope to achieve in terms of uncovering something of interest, however. On day one of his investigation he took an early and extended lunch and positioned himself in the old pub at the corner of the street housing the couple’s apartment, to see if he could catch wind of them, and he was lucky. He had only been there an hour and a half when the two of them emerged from the building and got into a car. Which quickly drove away, naturally, leaving him without any idea of their destination. He tried to remedy this the next day - another long lunch - by bringing his bicycle, but on that day there was no sign of either of the Pouliquen’s. This went on for a couple of days, but he gradually got better at his new pastime and soon learned a bit about the couple’s routines. He was also becoming something of a regular at the corner pub since he spent most evenings there, simultaneously staking out the second floor apartment and any movements through the front door, and trying to catch up on the work he was supposed to be doing during the day. Thanks to information he obtained from work about various industry gatherings going on around town, he was able to anticipate their movements and caught up with them at a reception for Union manufacturers down by the waterfront in Klara; his work credentials gained him entry and he could discreetly study the couple from across the banquet hall. The day after, he intercepted her while she was out shopping, and spent two hours following her around different stores (she was apparently looking for a rug).

All in all, she didn’t seem to live a life out of the ordinary, this woman. At least not unordinary for a co-owner of a major foreign corporation trying to gain a footing in a new market. From what he could gather, her time during the days seemed to be devoted to business meetings or networking gatherings with various Union companies - something which in all likelihood had intensified after the Union approval of Cavaco had been made public - while her evenings were mostly spent at home in the couple’s apartment, apart from the occasional business oriented social function. While Rodolphe often accompanied her during the days, Adventus had swiftly registered that he was mostly absent during evenings (it was hard to miss the voluminous man barging in and out of the building's main entrance). The details of the man’s nightly exploits made him curious, of course, but the nature of Nicole Pouliquen’s sensitive request to David likely already explained the gist of it. Besides, Adventus was convinced that the real interesting party here was the woman, who had been the one to approach David and ask him to intervene. Somewhat disappointingly, he found few indications that anything seemed «off» with her activities. Granted, the evidence he had to go on was thin, but he nonetheless soon started doubting his initial reaction of heightened suspicion.

Then it all took a much more sinister turn, with the death of Nicole Pouliquen’s husband. Rodolphe Pouliquen had been found dead in the woodlands west of the city proper a few days ago, and this rejuvenated Adventus investigative resolve, because he refused to believe that a wife asking to have her man set straight and the same man winding up with a sizeable hole in his head, was unlinked. He wasn’t sure what the link was, but he intended to find out, especially since at the outset it was his friend who had been asked to set the man straight. At this point he utilized some of his vacation days and devoted himself to surveilling Nicole full time. It didn’t go down too well with his boss, because he was really supposed to be putting the finishing touches on at least three different case notes due for review by the politicians, but he blamed it on a family emergency and there wasn’t much anyone could say about that. He rented a car, parked with a clear view of the entrance and the apartment windows overlooking the street, and then he waited and observed.

It was in situations like these that a person’s true colors would emerge, Adventus believed. He unfortunately hadn’t seen the look on her face when she first heard the news, because that would’ve likely been a most telling sign of how she fitted into the scheme of things. He had seen her leave for the formal identification of Rodolphe’s body (conjecture, but he had followed her car and it dropped her off at the coroner’s office, so it seemed like a plausible assumption), but it had been impossible to interpret anything from her facial expression. She looked determined and had a cold look, but that could just as well be putting on a brave face in light of a terrible situation, as an indication of guilt or complicity. He had followed her when she went to the Constabulary (probably to make a formal statement, although he found it odd that no Constable had been to her house, which seemed like a more delicate and reasonable way to initially approach someone bereaved, who could simultaneously very well be a suspect). He waited for her in his car a bit further down the street, expecting her to not be too long since this was just something initial, but she was in there for well over an hour and a half and when she finally came out she was being escorted by a man Adventus recognized as David’s assistant. This time her face was flooded with tears, and she looked as shattered and gutted as you would imagine someone who had just lost the love of their life would look. The assistant brought her home in a black embassy car and accompanied her upstairs. They stayed up there for some time, and when the man finally left it looked like Nicole Pouliquen had no energy left, because Adventus could discern no movement or activity around the apartment whatsoever for the rest of the night.

That had been two days ago, and he hadn’t seen her leave the house, or barely detected her moving around the apartment, since. Adventus shifted in his seat to try and keep his buttocks from falling asleep and to declutter the car from empty energy drink cans and candy bar wrappers. He thought about how the woman’s complete isolation was both odd and understandable at the same time. On the one hand, she was very possibly utterly emotionally devastated and burdened with such heavy grief that when the required formalities were done with, she could do nothing else but stay in bed. On the other hand, even someone in that state would surely need to leave the house at some point? He knew the household often dined out, and never seemed to be the kind of people who stocked their supplies for weeks or even days at a time. She’d need milk or bread or eggs or celery sticks - or whatever it was a woman like that subsided on - eventually, one would think.

He had also noticed that he was no longer the only one with a heightened interest in the comings and goings of Nicole Pouliquen. The day after she had returned from the Constabulary, a dark beige sedan parked just a couple of hundred meters down the street. It was obviously Constables, because everyone knew they only drove older models of the Union car brand Troll, and Adventus had seen enough of the street in question to recognize it didn’t belong to any of the residents. They stayed until fairly late, and then they were subsequently relieved by a new car of the same make, model and color, but only after a few hours. He smiled to himself at the fact that his own private investigation was far more dedicated to complete monitoring, because with their rotation schedule they left the house unsurveilled for long stretches of time. Not that they missed much, granted, but still.

Their presence did worry him slightly though, because even though they probably wouldn’t be expecting another car staking out the place, it seemed likely they would eventually take notice of his car, especially when the shifts started returning and became more attuned to the surroundings. Unfortunate question could be asked, and he wasn’t interested in that happening. So he decided to switch it up some and park his car a bit further down, and then double back on foot and continue watching the house from the pub. He hadn’t been there for a few days, and it’d be nice to get a pint and some variation from the car. It wasn’t easy finding another spot though. Car parking space had always been a scarce resource in downtown Port Kejm (quite deliberately, and he actually agreed with the draconian policies for limiting private cars in the city; just not today) and he had to circle the block a few times before he finally found an opening on the street parallel to the Pouliquen residence.

Adventus turned off the engine and looked up at the house he was parked outside. It was similar to the one he’d been staring so intently at the last couple of days, and he knew the Pouliquen place was just there on the other side of the inner courtyard separating the two houses. He got out of the car and started moving down the street, when he all of a sudden saw a couple exit one of the entrances. The elderly man looked familiar, but it was the woman that caught his eye. It was Nicole Pouliquen.

by **Delte** » Wed Apr 03, 2024 10:29 pm

Delte 5-2 United Hawkland
Sports Correspondent Kim Samrodd at Ildemorton Road for the Askirk Harpoon & Daily Whale

I won't dwell overly long on the finer details of this match but certainly mention should be made of the performance of the ball boys and girls for the match against United Hawkland, and in particular little Percy Chattever who really caught the eye in his efficient and graceful ball returns. All of them were discreet and very quick to get the ball back to the right player at the right time with minimal delay. It is a much under-appreciated but fine art, and the Reps were clearly grateful as their stoicpress kept momentum going to pile relentless pressure on the Hawks, constantly recycling the ball with urgency to never let up. The consequence of which was another five goals as the offense really have hit their stride. The addition of barnstorming full back Asa Awestorm has been the best thing since I personally was dropped from the team around World Cup '94, and everyone forgot I was anything but an award-winning sports correspondent. Asa scored his first international goal and hit two assists while Irqi Mynster and Danny Mastorqa shared two goals each - main striker Tai Cerotha being rested for this match and watching from the bench, where he no doubt admired the poise and control of the ball boys and girls.

Even By Your Usual Standards
5/6 - The Rake Teinton Standing Badminton Weekend

The Rise & Rise of Coach Ida Spankhurst

‘Even by Margaret’s usual standards,’ said public announcer and temporary Badminton commentator Dottie, ‘this is a new low in gameswomanship!’ The lively audience of Women’s Institute regulars were booing ferociously and slow handclapping the reigning champion Margaret Honeyshine - who lives in the house on Rake Corner where the chimney fire happened - during her title defence of the singles final at the Rake Teinton Standing Badminton Weekend. She was well on course for victory over Ida Spankhurst but she had just been sent off by the umpire, WI Events Secretary Thora Verress, for conduct unbecoming. I am afraid it was so unbecoming that the precise details have been bleached clean from everyone’s recollection and the picture has not emerged out into the public domain, so I cannot precisely describe what just happened. Agent-2B, disguised as a PR attaché with an identity badge that says ‘Mandy’ has furnished the full match report to the press, with a lot of redactions and a stern look. But this is Margaret Honeyshine we are talking about, so you can probably fill in the gaps.

Anyway, by default, this made Ida Spankhurst the surprise new champion of Rake Teinton standing badminton. Who would ever have expected Ida, 93 years old, to win the whole damn thing? She barely even takes part in village life these days

…is the general unsolicited view of matters by the wider membership of the WI, at least in the hotbed of opinion that is their Harmony IRC channel, ‘the living room’. Now they’ve all got to be nice to her at the village store on Pension Mondays. And there’s more:

It may well be that new Chief of the All-Week Super Ultra Premier Football Association, Widow Arrinburton, had her dear friend Margaret Honeyshine lined up for the head coach role of The Representatives, to bring a promised and much needed moral code to the tactical board. But after what happened at the standing badminton weekend, well. Let’s just say Margaret has definitely cashed in her moral chips and exited stage right of the high ground. Widow Arrinburton had no choice but to follow through on her promise to put the WI’s finest sportswoman in charge of the valley’s most successful team. And that is how come Ida Spankhurst succeeds Mo Unden as the new head coach for World Cup ’96, and before that, the Eagle’s Cup. I mean the International Associations-err-no-wait-Confederations oh-whatever-it-is-o’cup.

by **Wight** » Wed Apr 03, 2024 10:30 pm

Búa Rising In Myosophogos
3/6 - Holy Planets!

Or, why Wight, why now?

We interrupt our story about the slight return of Wight to delve into some astrogoetianology, which is a psuedo-science I invented to describe the star signs and resultant characteristics of the Wightlings.

In the beginning, there was a big shed full of possibilities. I mean a really big shed. Bigger than you can imagine. All the possibilities were hung up on frames one next to the other, and being possibilities, they often did things. Things that changed them, or surprised their neighbours, or both. Or other things I can’t imagine. One slunk off its frame and formed a giant bubble, and floated about in the big shed of possibilities, bumping into and passing through the reams and reams of possibilities, and stealing bits of them to add to its own collection of possibility subsets. It called itself Búa. The bubble propelled itself by oscillating across its glossy surface and by the force of its own will, which was considerable. A bit like a jellyfish, which as we all know are inside-out and upside-down inverted possibility cartons. But that’s beside the point. Inside itself the bubble created a whole universe of things, including constellations, suns and stars, asteroids and comets, and a bunch of other stuff such as clay and chilli peppers and butterflies and rubber, which is a recipe to make beans. Yuman beans. It gave the beans brains, which it made out of congealed ants. It made a whole sackload of marbles of all different kinds, and grew beans of some of the marbles. It never took too much care over the things it made, and definitely lost quite a few marbles down the aeons. Some of the beans on one of the marbles figured out that they lived on a marble, and called that marble Asyluum. The bubble universe made some emissaries to come and talk to them - because reasons. Or maybe not.

You might think of the emissaries as angels. The beans on the marble called Asyluum named them the Goetians, or wights, or the devils of Wight, and very much enjoyed their company. The devils of Wight taught them a whole bunch of stuff which they mostly didn’t believe, because the devils were obviously compulsive liars. But that’s ok, they still had fun thinking about all these crazy things the devils told them, like how they lived in a bubble that called itself Búa and made them out of clay and chilli, and how there was a big shed of possibilities, and inside this bubble there were twenty-three marbles in particular that were the best marbles of all time that probably should be called the King Marbles. The beans were only half listening of course - it was probably late and they were tired, plus they were famously inattentive - and they ended up calling them the holy planets. They didn’t really go in for all that holy nonsense - not in a big way - and so really it was more a case of playing along with the devils of Wight, so as not to offend them. As such, they never got round to capitalising the holy planets, even though they probably ought to have. Too late now.

Today in navigating the Wightling sky, and the astrogoetian star chart, the twenty-three holy planets play a key role in determining your personality and your fortunes. If you go in for that sort of thing. One day maybe I’ll make a whole chart of the planets and the constellations and the signs in a form that is easy to understand, but then again, I only just invented astrogoetianology and I don’t really understand it myself. It’s more a devils of Wight thing. You know. Made up stuff.

I’m not even sure where the planets are. I just know that, for example, if you happen to be born under the influence of the planet Contritum - which means you must’ve been born in the month of Hylober - then your star sign is Hylon, your lucky animal is the frog (pick a frog, any frog) and your personality type is The Mediator. Which is nice. As for who your Captain is - well, I’ll tell you that another time.

In the next post, we will return to The Gentlemen Interregnum’s administrative adventures as they try to revive the nation of Wight in all it’s glory.

by **Cabo Azure** » Thu Apr 04, 2024 5:39 am

The Federacion Azureano de Futbol occupies the second floor of a new-build office park in the part of Sao Simone that sprawls into the hinterland of the island of Aho, one of the tendrils that grasps toward the once-remote village of Natal. The building is part of Janice de Galma’s (nee Silva’s) vast real estate empire, though FAF’s employees interact more often with Janice’s sister Marisol Silva, clan matriarch, in her capacity as chairwoman of Villa Silva FC.

For Sonia Vargas, apparatchik and football commissioner, the FAF offices are twenty minutes’ drive in her tiny Euran-made hatchback from the small bungalow she purchased in the hills above downtown Sao Simone. She normally leaves before the sun to beat the worst of the traffic. Economic prosperity has made more things available to the average Azurean, which has in turn made them want more things, and bigger. A family that a generation ago walked to the farmer’s market now shares a hatchback like hers and parks it in a multistory parking structure at the hypermarket, and the middle-class couple that sold them the hatchback probably traded up to an Osarian or Quebecois e-SUV with a motor that sings like an off-key choir of angels as they park it in their garage. Sonia’s commute bears witness to the indelible march of progress as she passes construction sites and massive billboards in Terranean advertising phone plans that connect to the mainland and Quebec.

Sonia knows she has a choice; after just two years with her mortgage, boom conditions have it so she’s got enough equity to sell her house and be set up nicely in Natal, a roughly equal commute to her office through verdant hills past heirloom wineries. Real estate in Natal is the opposite of Sao Simone; without the combination of the Silvas’ money and political pistolão, it stays tied up in an arcane set of pre-Interregnum trusts. The bureaucracy there is so dense that even a new home ground for the beloved Natal FC, set to be named Stadio Paul Matthias Gonsalves after Natal’s favorite son, Sonia’s putative predecessor as football commissioner Paulinho, has been tied up in red tape since before Paulinho died.

Sonia knew it was going to be a long day when her first meeting was with Mario Gonsalves, a utility player in the Silva organization whose main role seemed to be leveraging the family’s less official interests. Gonsalves was technically a senior official in the Alianca Nacional, the current party of government which had risen to power with the Silvas’ financial backing, but it was an open secret he took his orders from Marisol directly and represented her interests in the AN’s internal workings. Despite being a card-carrying member of the Partido Sindicalisto, the opposition party, and having run for premier on a PS ticket, Sonia’s day-to-day as commissioner dealt mainly with lawmakers from the AN, so Mario was a more frequent contact than she would like.

“How would you like to be premier?” Mario asked as he sat down.

Sonia scoffed. “Pull the other one.”

“No, really.”

by **Audioslavia** » Thu Apr 04, 2024 5:39 am

What Myt Have Been
Audioslavia have received an inordinate amount of luck. A look around the groups shows how much worse it all could be

Saterun had had the Audioslavian goal under siege for most of the second half. Becker had seen a shot ricochet off the goalkeeper's shoulder and onto the underside of the bar, Esparza's far-post finish had been waved off via an offside call that had millimetres in it. Lunquist's deflected effort and flown into the bottom corner, only to be called back for a hand-ball, with the ball judged to have grazed Esparza's elbow on its way towards first the hip of Everton Bolding and then the bottom corner. Bates had hit the foot of the post with an acrobatic header, and had seen a close-range volley clatter into the flailing wrist of Hein Helder and up over the bar for a corner. Audioslavia, out battled and outthought, were very much winning 0-0 at this point. That they would absolutely take the point was beyond doubt.

Over in Saltidia, the home goal was leading a similarly charmed life against top seeds Cabo Azure. A draw for each of the top two would keep things as they were at the summit of the group.

And then it happened. The breakaway. Brandon Bruhn down the right hand side, an exhausted midfield expending the last vestiges of energy they had in driving forward. Demare would rob Bruhn of the ball at the first attempt, but at the expense of a corner. Bruhn took it artlessly, pumping a high ball into the area that Cipriano Dalca had no problem heading it away, and it seemed as if Andrei Coiro would help the ball on its way upfield. Audioslavian full-back Alex Bocker, however, had a turn of pace on him, and caught the ball on the volley before Coiro could bring it under his spell. What followed was farcical. Unrepeatable. The way-ward shot first hit an Audioslavian shin, then a Saterun hip, then a Saterun knee, and finally the near-post before nestling into the opposite side of the goal for a richly undeserved 0-1.

Audioslavia remained top of the group. Cabo Azure put themselves on the list of Biggest Upsets yet again. The gap was extended to four. Three wins from three would ensure an appearance in the World Cup Finals for Audioslavia.

As the Bulls hoover up all the luck, it's worth looking around to see where we're taking it from. One needn't look far. In the next group down, Mytanija are having a historic dogfight between themselves and the very idea of receiving points in lots of three.

Let's look at the Tiesoceles Triangle.

The Tiesoceles Triangle shows every qualifying performance in history,
arranged by Percentage of Matches Drawn in each qualifying group (X) and Points Per Game (Y)
Click for interactive version.

If you don't like the name, just be thankful we didn't call it the 'Drawpinski Triangle'.

Teams that drew a high percentage of their games throughout a cycle's qualifying phase are on the right. Furthest in that direction you'll see System Karela, who drew 75% of their matches in World Cup 26 group 12. Just to the left of them are Lethislavania's WC22 Group 15 performance and Engbec's World Cup 40 Group 1 performance, each team having drawn 70% of their total group matches, and each coloured red because, unlike System Karela, they finished in the 'brink' position of their group - IE a place outside the lowest position that offered some kind of advancement to the next stage.

Throughout this chart, you can see teams coloured in dark green (automatic qualification) and lime green (automatic qualification due to extenuating circumstances, such as other teams ceasing to exist), blue (qualified via playoff), yellow (failed to qualify via playoff), red (brink) and black (other). What sticks out, at least to us, is the triangular Green Flag shape wherein teams almost invariably qualify. It stands to reason. The three extremities here are the top left, wherein a team won 100% of their games, the far right, where teams drew 50% but attained a PPG of 2.00, which suggests winning most of the others games in the group, and the bottom left section of the triangular flag which is, understandably, a little more colourful. Here, teams have drawn zero games, and so can get a PPG of 1.5 via winning and losing in equal measure, something not typically enough to qualify. Indeed, 42 teams in history have shared wins and losses equally throughout a campaign, with no draws, and of those only three found their record to be enough for progression to the next stage: Once in World Cup 21 (Oaker) and twice in World Cup 40 via an unranked Agroprom side in World Cup 40 that would go on to lose their playoff, and an aforementioned Green Wombat side who would earn a last-minute asterisked auto-qualification place despite finishing a point behind the playoffs.

Almost every team within the green triangle made it to the World Cup - hence the colour - but there are a few exceptions. Of the black dots, the highest placed are Darmen in World Cup 93, who went 14-1-7 but finished seven points behind third place. Of the red dots - those who finished just outside the playoffs, Timuria's World Cup 85 finish is the strongest. The side went 16-3-5 but could only finish nine points behind second placed Kelssek. The days of 13-team qualifying groups are not missed.

We're showing you this graph, however, not to show who was unlucky not to have made it, but to give you an idea of what Mytanija need to do in order to make history. To make their utter failure to not draw games at least interesting for future generations of Mytanars. Should the side win their final three games, they'll finish on 18 points from a possible 36, or 1.5 Points Per Game. Very few teams in history have ever qualified for the World Cup on 1.5 Points Per Game having drawn more than 30% or more of their games. Of those that have, two were in the same group (Demonic Beings, 1.5 PPG, 30% draws. Audioslavia, 1.5PPG, 60% draws. Both in World Cup

and the other was a Kazoo Peoples team that managed to qualify automatically on just 1.33 PPG - the lowest in history - on a draw rate of 58%.

Whether Mytanija qualify or not will, of course, require other teams to play ball. What Mytanija can do in order to grab a piece of statistical history is draw each of their remaining three matches. They won't qualify, of course, but they'll tie System Karela for the highest percentage of drawn matches in qualifying history.

In terms of performances as a #1 seed, there is one clear outlier they are gravitating towards.

As above, but including only #1 seeds.
Click for interactive version.

Out in the bottom left, Cycle 26's Turori team have been mentioned a few times before.

WC26 Group 6 is a touchstone of stats journalism

In the same group that saw The Kazoo Peoples progress on only 16 points from 12 games, with 7 draws, top seeds Turori somehow contrived to finish bottom of the group on one win and seven draws. It is this record, of just 0.83 Points Per Game and massively outperformed by the rest of a group that, that Mytanija are in danger of breaking.

If it's of any consolation, this Turori team would go on to win the Cup of Harmony.

by **Oberour Ar Moro** » Thu Apr 04, 2024 6:21 am

Losing One’s Bearings

Previous Chapters of Losing One's Bearings:
Chapter One, Chapter Two (including map of Port Kejm), Chapter Three, Chapter Four, Chapter Five, Chapter Six, Chapter Seven, Chapter Eight, Chapter Nine, Chapter Ten, Chapter Eleven

CHAPTER ELEVEN

The threat is stronger than the execution

David was deeply enjoying a rare moment of pride. An Ambassador for Oberour Ar Moro, engaging in foreign relations with another nation on behalf of Oberour Ar Moro. He was sitting at a medium sized conference table in a only slightly restricted area of Gnejs’ Coast Guard headquarters. The purpose was a summit meeting he organized with an Oberour Navy Admiral (not an important one) and a Gnejsian Coast Guard Admiral (not an important one).

Both sides had somewhat important topics they wanted resolution on. The Oberour Ar Moro Navy wanted greater access to Gnejsian ports for refueling and reprovisioning while in the northern seas. The Gnejs Coast Guard wanted to complain to Oberour Ar Moro about their ships continuously refusing to «check in» while sailing in or near enough the «Union Maritime Sphere». Which is much larger than what Oberour Ar Moro recognized as Gnejs’ territorial waters. Hence the refusals.

Neither of these issues were world changing. They were barely Rushmore changing. But it was the small incremental progress needed and required to improve relations between two nations. David felt that even Jacques had been pleased with the meeting being put together.

And both sides were behaving. The Gnejsian was typically reticent and the Oberour was typically brusque, but that’s why they have staff to work out the fine detail.

David had made himself the moderator, and stepped aside to let the principals have their discussion. He looked as the slow gears of diplomacy turned, and smiled.

The door of the conference room opened and a Gnejsian sailor walked in, clearly apologetic. He quietly walked up to where David was seated and leaned over to speak quietly into his ear.

“Here are the matches you were asking for, Ambassador. You can go on that cigarette break now,” the Sailor said. Apropos of nothing to David.

David turned around in his seat and stared up at the sailor, deeply confused. “What?” he asked, forgetting who he was speaking to. The sailor just held out a matchbook in response. The matchbook was white and on the cover was a woodcut style drawing in blood red of a fighting cock.

Shaken, David took the proffered matchbook. The sailor gave a crisp salute and walked out of the room. David stared at the matchbook, then opened it. On the back of the cover was a handwritten note in Gjensian: «Time to pay your dues - TBC».

David closed his eyes, tried to center his breathing, and closed the matchbook and shoved it deep in his pocket. He looked at the room, seeming to spread further beyond him. He wondered how much time he had to wait. When the Oberour admiral stopped to take a drink of water, David jumped in. “I think we’ve been sitting and talking for quite some time. Let’s take a ten minute break.” Everyone at the table turned at David, somewhat agog. David, with as much purpose as he could muster, turned to his aide-de-camp, assisting the Admiral’s staff. He spoke sotto voce, like he was actually being an ambassador. “Take the time to reorient the Admiral, you know the Defense Ministry is going to want the best possible deal.” He added a firm nod.

Jacques was not fooled. “What are you doing?” He hissed through his teeth.

David leaned into it. “I really need a smoke break.”

“You smoke?” Jacques asked, baffled.

“Only when I’m stressed. Particularly,” David offered as explanation.

Jacques sighed and looked askance, shaking his head. He rose to his feet and leaned over the table to his Gnejs counterpart. «Excuse me, where can the Ambassador take a smoke break?»

David was guided through a maze of pistachio-colored walls and unlabelled doors until he emerged in the bright midday sun. He was pointed to a painted off block on the asphalt, currently occupied by a civilian employee. The employee had a lanyard tucked under his collar, with the ID badge slid deliberately into his shirt pocket. David thanked his guide and walked over to the stranger. He stood next to them and they both stared straight ahead.

The stranger pulled out a pack and offered it to David. David took a cigarette with a murmured thank you, and put it to his lips, taking out the matchbook and lighting one.

«You must be Ambassador de Blois,” the stranger said, between puffs.

David grunted in acknowledgement as he started to taste his own cigarette. Whatever this Gnejsian brand was, it just seemed to be tobacco: A mechanism for nicotine delivery. The cigarettes David smoked in the Dominion, when he had smoked, were much darker and harsher. David blew out a plume of smoke. «Will I learn your name?»

«No,» said the civilian flatly.

«You’re speaking for The Boss Cock,» David stated.

David could see the civilian’s face wrinkle slightly at the sound of the name. They both continued smoking in silence. David looked around the space the two were occupying: an irregular rectangle in between three windowless walls and one wall with a curtained-off window. If it wasn’t for the mid-day sun this cigarette smoking area would be covered in shadow.

«So what does he want?» David asked. They both knew what they were there for.

«Cash.»

«Pretty basic, isn’t it?»

The civilian shrugged.

«You know I’m only a public servant.»

«I was told to mention “Emergency Financial Assistance”,» said the civilian, taking another drag of his cigarette.

«That isn’t just petty cash for an ambassador to dip into.»

The civilian shrugged. «It’s money in your embassy. That’s what the task is.»

David turned to look at the civilian. He was shorter than he was. Portly. Thinning hair. There was a gold band on the ring finger of the hand holding the cigarette.

David turned back to stare at what would be the middle distance if it wasn’t a featureless wall. «What else?»

The civilian paused and took another puff of his cigarette. «He has some business associates who would like to travel to Oberour Ar Moro. They’ll need visas, and they’d like to travel sooner rather than later.»

Another ridiculous demand. «Oberour Ar Moro is very strict on who can enter the country. Particularly if they have criminal records.» Something any business associate of The Boss Cock would undoubtedly have.

The civilian shrugged again. «Seems like something the Ambassador can handle.»

«And how am I supposed to know who they are?» David asked. This has all been very vague.

«If you can figure it out, you’ll know. I was just asked to let you know what to expect,» the civilian explained like it was the simplest thing in the world.

«And will we be done once I do these two nearly impossible things?»

Another slow shrug from his right. «I wouldn’t count on it.»

David turned back to the civilian, this speaker of Cocks. «What about you? Are you done after this one task?»

The civilian’s eyes narrowed. David could see him clearly grinding his teeth. «One task you know about.»

David finished his first, and hopefully last, cigarette in years. He dropped the stub and ground it under his heel. Who cares what other battles people are fighting, he asked himself as he vigorously pushed his shoe into the ground. He walked back to the door, finding a waiting sailor on the other side, ready to return him to his actual work.

by **Kamijiro** » Thu Apr 04, 2024 9:25 am

Sandro Becker Does NOT Like Baggieland.

I honestly have no way to describe what happened between Sandro Becker and the entirety of Baggieland's roster, but he just... loves getting sent off against them? This time, it wasn't necessarily a fight, but an excessive celebration - which definitely stemmed from the fight from last time. Raiji Kagawa let Becker start this game ahead of Chikayoshi Muramoto in matchday ten, which paid dividends. He played really, really well - he bagged a brace, the first of the campaign for the Lightning. However, after scoring a late equalizer, he took his shirt off... revealing a t-shirt under it which read "acaba com ele - vai-te foder." Which literally translates to "finish him - go f*** yourself." Again, I have no clue what Sandro has against Baggieland. This, of course, led to another sending off, making it two red cards in two matches for him against this side. But his performance did bag a point for the Kamijiroans, which they'll be happy with. Though, Sandro now faces another ban for collecting a red - he won't play in matchday eleven against New Fernia. Due to the bye in matchday twelve, he will be available next for matchday thirteen against Socialist Republic of Lower Tranmere.

When asked about Sandro's actions after the match, Raiji Kagawa kept it plain: "He played great. He celebrated too much, went too far, and now we have to play next week without him. It's frustrating. He has so much potential, but he keeps getting in his own way. Normally, this type of game would be a huge step for a player, give him some confidence to kick on from here, but instead, we'll be missing him. Just a shame. I'll talk with him about it."

Becker declined an interview with us, but could be seen laughing pretty hard in the dressing room post-match. It's unclear whether or not that was before or after Kagawa spoke with him. The fans back home seemed to love the antics, however, with "#vaitefoder" and "#acabacomele" trending on social media for a while, and replica t-shirts being sold out just days after the match. Becker is quickly becoming a fan favorite, even if it is making the manager rip his hair out a bit.

It's quite bizarre that Kamijiro seems to struggle in terms of discipline against Baggieland. Their previous match, a low-key 1-0 home win against Krytenia, had just one booking for the Lightning. That match had essentially no drama when compared to the next match - a 63rd minute goal from José Henrique Simões being the sole difference maker, despite the high possession that the Kamijiroans had. Either way, adding three points to the tally is always good, and taking four points in two matches is huge, considering that HUElavia dropped points - that said, they have a game in hand and a five point advantage over us. Baggieland, the team in first, have a six point advantage and a game in hand. It'll be tough to catch up, but you know this team will fight until the end. There's no other option.

The matchday reports are listed below.

Matchday Nine:
Kamijiro 1-0 Krytenia

Events:
Yellow 33'  | (KJR) Hand ball - K. Kanazono
-- HALFTIME --
GOAL 63'    | (KJR 1-0 KRY) - J. Simões, assisted by K. Charles
-- FULLTIME --

Matchday Ten:
Baggieland 2-2 Kamijiro

Events:
GOAL 19'    | (KJR 0-1 BAG) - J. Richardson
Yellow 22'  | (KJR) Hard foul - L. Faamate
Yellow 40'  | (KJR) Hard foul - K. Fujiwara
GOAL 44'    | (KJR 1-1 BAG) - S. Becker, assisted by T. Abiko
-- HALFTIME --
GOAL 49'    | (KJR 1-2 BAG) - L. Bassett
Yellow 51'  | (KJR) Dissent - S. Demizu
Yellow 83'  | (KJR) Hard foul - R. Bergmann
GOAL 90+6'  | (KJR 2-2 BAG) - S. Becker, assisted by P. Seraphin
Red 90+6'   | (KJR) Excessive celebration, offensive celebration, removed shirt - S. Becker
-- FULLTIME --

As of writing, Kamijiro sits third in the group still, opening a two-point gap between themselves and The Kytler Peninsulae, who are fourth with eleven points.

The path to qualification is a very bumpy one, despite the good performances of late. Right now, the Lightning would need nine points from their final three matches AND would need one of Baggieland or HUElavia to collect no more than three or four points, respectively. Either way, it's been a respectable return to the international scene thus far from the lads. This bodes well for the next World Cup, even if they fall short in this one.

The current goal: qualification via playoffs.

Much love and thank you for reading!

- Pierre L'Enfant, Chamonix Sport.

by **Baggieland** » Thu Apr 04, 2024 10:23 am

Part Six: The Seat

Len is given command of a hunk-of-junk, but will it endear itself to him?

Admiral Kirana was standing rigidly in front of a dilapidated-looking vessel as she waited for Len upon his return from the fact-finding mission to Gnejs.

"Well, here she is. BS Crepitus, a fine and sturdy vessel, she's been with us since before I joined the Space Corps," Admiral Kirana banged the side of the corvette with her palm, ensuring that a small panel fell to the ground.

Len entered the homely spaceship with a mixture of celebration and trepidation – the constant drone of the ship's systems filled the air – a symphony of power waiting to be harnessed, perhaps? Sure she was old, but that meant she was tried and tested: if she had lasted this long, she had to be well made.

Admiral Kirana escorted Len onto the bridge, being careful not to trip up on all the exposed cables, she then beckoned him to sit in the Captain's chair. There was a large, circular red button at the end of the right armrest on the chair. This had to be the button to fire missiles at those Romvesen scum!

"What does this button do?" enquired Len.

"Try it and find out!" replied Admiral Kirana.

Len pressed the button half expecting something dramatic to happen. Instead, a side panel on the chair noisily flipped open and out came a cup of coffee! And not just any coffee, Luigi's 3-in-1 instant coffee – every Baggies' favourite – and in a styrofoam cup to boot! Excited about what else this chair could do, Len pressed another button without even asking the admiral. This time a gigantic screen dropped down in front of the main window and displayed the latest World Cup 96 results: in MD 9 Baggieland earned a decent 1 – 0 away win against New Fernia. Then in MD 10 there was yet another ill-disciplined match against Kamijiro, ending in a 2 – 2 draw. However, the good news was that thanks to a slip up by HUElavia, The Throstles were back at the top of the table.

This was a fucking fantastic chair!

by **The 14 Stars** » Thu Apr 04, 2024 11:38 am

A dream, national hope rising

As the Starsian team continues a brilliant qualification run so far it can be said without any doubt that this has been the best run so far and that in the future hopefully this will only improve with the next generation.
Some say this is because of the new coach, others say that this is the work of a new generation replacing the old veterans slowly as a younger and more creative side starts to emerge while helped by the older players to develop into tomorrow's star players.

In the 6th game against Juvencus the Starsian side early got put 2 goals down in the first half, while their game was not overly bad there were alot of issues at hand and the team did not function as it should.
Our usual line-up had been playing this one from the start and Keira Walcott the success coach knew that an even more agressive formation was needed to break through their tough defense and she exactly knew the right person.

In the 2nd half in the 58th minute a substitution was made by the Starsian side where Grace Edwards a more defensive style player was subbed off in favor of Eva Weber a more offensive player.
With two offensive backs more pressure could be applied and the midfield reinforced resulting in the first goal scored by Kai Schulz after a great series of combinations between the midfielders to Elizabeth Phillips who had the honors of the assist.
Later they even managed to equalized the score by a great free kick from Elizabeth Phillips curling the ball around the wall into the back of the net and out of reach of their goalkeeper securing very important points for the nation, a draw was better then a loss and Juvencus was a major football nation so it was a good evening for us Starsians.

Later after some rest the 7th game against Qasden was played, the usual line-up was used and after kickoff Qasden would score in the 13th minute starting a high scoring football match on this evening.
Not much later in the 17th minute our team retaliated in the form of no one less then Kira Blade after an assist from Joy Sol she with great skill gets through Qasden's defense and places the ball in the low corner out of reach for the goalkeeper equalizing the score, alot of discussion had been about Blade becoming older and being the oldest player but she keeps proving her worth to the team.
This is why she is on the team and why Kira Blade is currently the most famous and arguably best player in our entire country, no one has yet compared to her skill and will not do so in a while.
Our match became more tense and both teams gave it their all but it were the Starsians who would pull a lead in the 44th minute where Jade Williams made her first ever goal from a corner that she headed past the goalkeeper.

During half time no substitutions were made, Qasden quickly equalized in the 49th minute and pulled out a new lead in the 58th minute placing our team in a tough position where more offensive power was needed.
It mean that a good striker was needed and Schulz while being good for some reason he was just generally unlucky but Walcott decided to let him stay this time and she moved Kira Blade to the midfield on the right side and substitution Raharinaivo out for Samantha Lee a center mid while Elizabeth Phillips was replaced by Christian Fourseasons the veteran striker.
This worked very well and Kira seemed to also do pretty good on the midfield though Walcott would have preferred subbing her off but that would cause huge backlash because she was a fan favourite and a national hero just like her father.
But it paid off, in the 74th minute Kai Schulz scored the 3-3 equalizer ending a series of goals between the Starsians and Qasden letting the match end in a fair draw seeing both teams take one point home.

Alot later the 8th match was there 8/12 meaning the last matches were here and winning was everything especially the upcoming matches against Juvencus and Brookstation were important because both are in points above us.
Juvencus is in 2nd place with 1 more match played as we speak being 3 points ahead and ahead in goal diffrence meaning we need points and goals the more the better as every goal and point counts in the hunt for that playoff spot.
This team has become a very close knit community and if a team could pull it off its these players we have right now in this combination being closer then ever any previous generation was to qualification for the world cup proper.

Against SeaDome a minor nation Coach Walcott presented an entire B team as she believed giving her main squad rest was important to prepare for the more important matches later against the top teams.

GK - Nicolas Valverde (makes his debut)
LB - Petra Rafaelov
CB - Freja Olsen
CB - Latisha Serrano
RB - Eva Weber
LM - Lina Hansen
CM - Beatrice Fiore (makes her debut)
RM - Matthias Weber (makes his debut)
LW - Joyce Villegas
ST - Chloe Simon
RW - Rania Al-Abdullah

Because there are no regular players in this line-up after deliberation it was decided that Latisha Serrano will be captain of the team for this match and Joyce Villegas will be the vice-captain.
Choice was made on experience and motivational qualities to bring the team forward.

After kicking off with an entire new line-up it was quickly in the 8th minute where Simon found the back of the net followed by Villegas in the 12th minute quickly taking a huge lead from SeaDome.
Pass after pass crossed through their defense, it was clear that even this Starsian B team was not too powerful for the regular SeaDome squad who must feel very ashamed for being unable to do back anything as in the 41th minute Eva Weber scored after an assist from Fiore.
Halftime it was 3 to 0 for the Starsian B team and it was a roaring crowd chanting Starsian chants as they celebrated their big advantage over their opponents and their joy would soon be even more as they saw substitutions.

Chloe Simon was subbed off for Kai Schulz, Walcott wanted to see what Schulz could bring to the game in a diffren scenario in which he would be forced to preform instead of being sure of a starter spot.
This paid off in the second half very well as Schulz in the 63rd minute scored the fourth goal, not long later SeaDome got a penalty because of a foul by Rafaelov which she got a yellow card for, they scored this penalty and got one goal back from four scored.
This game was high intensity and high scoring and Lina Hansen finished off the party by scoring the fifth goal in the 89th minute completing a great evening for the Starsians and 3 points added to our side>

Whether we qualify or not? in due time we will know but it is to say without a doubt that our team is highly competitive and it will reach even greater heights in the future with more newer players.

by **Sarzonia** » Thu Apr 04, 2024 12:28 pm

There weren't many expectations for the Sarzonian national football team in the very beginning of the qualifying campaign for World Cup 96.

Realists would point to the team's matches against No. 295 Labalia and No. 259 Rea San Vegas as the most realistic opportunities to earn points in the Group 18 table. They perhaps fancied the prospect of an upset against No. 87 Carpathia and Ruthenia as a prospect for a pleasant surprise but faced the daunting prospect of the notoriously stingy post football style favoured by eighth ranked Ko-oren.

The team's results thus far forced Sarzonia to revise their expectations upward. Going into Matchday 9's eighth match of qualifying, the Stars needed a home victory over Rea San Vegas to maintain its tenuous hold on the top spot in the Group 18 table. Held it they did, chalking up an impressive 3-0 victory in front of a sold out Dave Wilson Stadium in Woodstock.

The crowd was there in full voice, making up in volume what the small pockets of empty seats lacked in sheer capacity of bodies in the venue. After forward Kitt Morgan notched an 80th minute tally that deflated any talk of Rea San Vegas pushing for a comeback by stretching the margin to 3-0, the stands behind the goal occupied by Rea San Vegas's goalkeeper even began to bounce.

"I've never seen anything like it, not in this building," manager Caleb Rush admitted. "They said attendance was a hair under 100K, but it was incredibly loud out there."

Sarzonia (5-2-1, 17 points) got on the scoreboard in the 22nd minute through an excellent run by forward Spencer Wilson, who drew three defenders to him before slotting the ball to Morgan. They did the rest, cheekily sliding the ball through the legs of Rea San Vegas starting goalkeeper. Morgan smirked when they were asked about the goal, admitting that it was "rather embarrassing" for the keeper.

"I thought it was going to be an own goal, to be honest," Morgan said. "It just missed hitting their keeper in the bum."

Sarzonia would make it 2-0 in the 38th minute of play as Morgan this time found midfielder Lucius Wesley with a cross that he buried into the right corner of the goal. The Stars then decided to employ their version of post football until the halftime whistle. Holly Chambers put her warmup jacket back on when she returned to the sidelines after the halftime intermission. The implication was clear. Rush was not going to use Chambers as an offensive substitution unless there was an injury-related reason.

Rea San Vegas seized control of the ball with the second half kickoff and began to press forward in numbers. The first half may have been the Morgan-Wilson-Wesley show, but the first 33 minutes of the second half belonged to John Wells. Sarzonia's goalkeeper took charge of the back line and positioned the defence well enough to keep Rea San Vegas's bids long range and easily sighted. He finished the day with seven saves.

"That was a definite growth match for Wellsie," Rush said. "He really stepped up his leadership in goal."

Sarzonia will head into the bye deciding to leave two days early for the trip to Ko-oren. Rush said he wanted his team to play tourist for a while and not worry about trying to crack post football except for the mental reps they would get in the classroom and the training sessions.

"We're in effect still playing with house money right now," Rush said. "We've already greatly exceeded any expectations we might have had, taking 10 points from 12 possible against the teams we were supposed to get results against. Getting victories over the number eight and number 44 teams in football is a bonus no one except the players in that [dressing] room believed were possible."

The next two matches for the Stars after the bye, against Ko-oren away and Carpathia and Ruthenia back at Dave Wilson Stadium, will go a long way toward telling whether Sarzonia will end qualifying without a trip to Mertagne or Huayramarca, compete in a playoff for the right to advance to the World Cup proper, or, gasp! actually directly punch their tickets to the World Cup finals as a participant. In a worst case scenario of dropping moth matches, Sarzonia would be five points behind Ko-oren with two matches remaining, making it all but impossible to advance to the World Cup. A loss to a revenge-minded Ko-oren and a second draw against Carpathia and Ruthenia would produce a similar result. Two draws would result in Sarzonia being just two points behind the Dragonflies. A draw and a win would make things interesting, as would two victories.

No matter where the team finish in the race, Caleb Rush has definitely raised his profile, along with the Sarzonian team's.

"We took a team that was effectively termed a "B" team and we've accomplished far more in the first eight matches than anyone projected us to," he said. "I know we haven't accomplished our stretch goals in any way, but it is a nice sign that Sarzonian football is on the way back.

by **Jeruselem** » Thu Apr 04, 2024 5:16 pm

In Sylestone, after Sylestone beat Jeruselem 4-0. Naked News Jeruselem's Iris Randold and Jeruselem Team Manager Astarte Venus ...

Astarte: Great, Zenic can draw 2-2 with Sylestone but they trash us 4-0. I guess Zenic were at home when they drew.
Iris: Raspotochje trashed The Union of Ventura 4-0 and Commonwealth of Baker Park destroyed Al-Tamazgha 7-4 so losing 4-0 seems normal today
Astarte: Well it's a good thing we beat The Union of Ventura 3-1 last game or else we'd be in bigger trouble
Iris: I guess that undoes the progress made last round.
Astarte: Yes, that was weird. We won at home while Commonwealth of Baker Park and Sylestone had away draws. So for that round it was good for but ... today is back to normal.
Iris: The usual suspects won their games.

Astarte: Say, who's that weird stewardess on our plane ... I think Iridessa. She seems to know you.
Iris: Oh Iridessa, she's my sister.
Astarte: How many sisters you have?
Iris: Only 5, sorry 6 if you count me.
Astarte: Well I guess that's why your mum is a professional mother. I mean with all those kids, that includes you.
Iris: She's got no time for a real job! Not that she has any other skills anyways

Astarte: She doesn't look much like you
Iris: Oh, different Dad. Err, don't ask who it is ... I don't even know who mine is.
Astarte: That's OK, I'm a product of single mother. She's not perfect but she didn't have like 6 girls either.
Iris: Funny thing, she's a bit front heavy for our family. Most of us are rather flat chestwise.
Astarte: It's interesting short people seem to have oversized boobs
Iris: Mine are more like pancakes compared to hers ...

Astarte: I wonder why she got the job on our plane
Iris: No idea!
Astarte: I guess she's really popular ...
Iris: She's not the Virgin Mary either
Astarte: Yes well, I'm didn't assume that.
Iris: None of my sisters will be virgins, don't worry. They have the Mum gene.

Astarte: Well back home to host Zenic, we have to win that. We cannot give Zenic 3 points. Interesting Commonwealth of Baker Park has a bye.
Iris: And then we have a bye next.
Astarte: Yeah, that's going to hurt as Baker Park and Sylestone play the weakest teams in the group.
Iris: Last two games is us going to Raspotochje and then hosting Al-Tamazgha. So we can only get 9 points at best assuming we win all those.
Astarte: We'll need Zenic to lose most of their games to even take 3rd spot.
Iris: So we're pretty much eliminated

Astarte: Yes sadly. Only Zenic can threaten Baker Park really
Iris: What about Raspotochje?
Astarte: There's two wins between them and Baker Park, I can't see Baker Park losing all their games.
Iris: So, what's plan B? Since we cannot make the top 2?
Astarte: Well if we finish in3 3rd or 4th, it's better than 5th at the moment. We can't finish last either.
Iris: Depressing but we still have pride, because we have make do with what we got.

Astarte: We have 5 losses, 2 to Baker Park ... 2 to Sylestone. One to Zenic. Pretty much the losses to the top 2 wrecked our campaign.
Iris: So a 3-1-1 record against the other teams isn't that bad.
Astarte: Baker Park have one loss, because that was against Sylestone so that wasn't unexpected.
Iris: So all we're doing is now trying to under Zenic then
Astarte: Not by intention but ... yes

by **City of Myrtle Beach** » Thu Apr 04, 2024 5:56 pm

MSN | Good Morning Football

I'm not a big fan of foreign countries. The most foreign I usually ever get is going to the Texan place on Ocean Avenue but even that's quite a stretch. That being said, I am a big fan of watching foreign countries' national teams get beat by ours. Something just becomes right in the world when we win. Maybe Myrtle Beach is the center of the universe, after all. When I present my theory to others, they call me crazy, but if I'm wrong then how come the sun, moon, and stars all rotate around Myrtle Beach? Checkmate!

Speaking of foreign teams getting beaten by Myrtle Beach, Xanneria. How could your campaign be going so poorly that you got beaten by Myrtle Beach at your home stadium? Yikes. It's not as bad as the New Fernians, but still, if you ain't first, you're last. There was no contest, either. I mean, 4-3? Might as well have been 9-0. It was concerning in the first half, with all three Xannerian goals being scored then, but in the second half Myrtle gained control of the ball and scored four goals in quick succession. It was shaping up to be five, but the ball got stopped and all the momentum ceased.

Your Myrtle Beach goal scorers are, in order: Brian Farmer (78'), Brian Farmer (80'), Brian Farmer (81'), and, of course, the one, the only, Brian Farmer! Er, uh, Jeremy Fulton (84'). You might think, "It's impossible to score a hattrick, again, in four minutes!" Well, when you have a great team backing you, anything's possible! For Xanneria, Pete Ross (17'), Dillon Hailey (28'), and once again Pete Ross (40').

Also, we played a game against Astograth. It ended 1-0 with a goal by Brennan.

Next matchday we have a bye... and then... Banija. This is the part where the lightning strikes and ominous music plays. Banija is playing immensely better than before, and we travel there. So, uh, we're losing. The worry is that, if Xanneria wins their next match against Poafmersia... they unseat us as rightful rulers of Group 10. And even worse, no matter the result of our match versus Banija, if they win versus Kirungabi- a near certainty- after winning versus Poafmersia... they could be on their way to the World Cup! Them! And not us! What a travesty.

Matchday 9 | Group 10
Xanneria | 67F Clear | Kickoff 6:00 pm | Attendance: 36,550

Xanneria 3

4 Myrtle Beach

Ross 17', 40'
78', 80', 81' Farmer

Hailey 28'
84' Fulton

Matchday 10 | Group 10
Grand Strand Stadium, Myrtle Beach, Myrtle Beach | 74F Clear | Kickoff 6:00 pm | Attendance: 23,894

Myrtle Beach 1

0 Astograth

Brennan 51'

# Group 10                          Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Myrtle Beach                        9    7   1   1    19   10   +9    22  Auto-qualify for World Cup
2 Xanneria                            9    6   1   2    27   13  +14    19  Playoffs
3 Poafmersia                          8    5   2   1    15    7   +8    17
4 Banija                              9    4   3   2    13    9   +4    15
5 Kirungabi                           8    3   1   4    11   11    0    10
6 Astograth                           8    1   0   7     2   17  −15     3  Eliminated from contention
7 Aiporhtse                           9    0   0   9     6   26  −20     0  Eliminated from contention

by **Zenic** » Thu Apr 04, 2024 5:57 pm

– Random sports bar in Old Maiz –

“The Survivors walk away with a 2-2 draw against the Sentients, their first points taken from Sylestone in official competition.”

“Shit, about time they actually showed up to play against Sylestone. Was worried they had some kind of agreement to always lose in exchange for something.” The statement came from the oldest fellow sitting at the bar, an hour or two after the matchday 9 fixture between Zenic and Sylestone in the Empire. The bar was a little more lively than normal as many people were excited at the marked improvement against a national team that was slowly becoming the nation’s ‘boogey’ squad in football. They already had to deal with Valanora on the ice; best not to get another unbeatable squad on the international stage.

“Indeed. Eventually, we’ll get the win but all around positive vibes thanks to how they played,” replied the bartender and proprietor. She was glad as both a supporter and as a business owner. Positive improvement for the Survivors plus a boon in sales as everyone in the bar was getting extra celebratory drinks and tapas. And if the rumors were true, she was thinking about adding a few more items onto the menu (and hiring a few more staff) when the domestic leagues came back as she was going to be having a more consistent client base. But she should have plenty of time before that. For now, national team matches and watching Zenician stars play overseas was doing great for business.

– At the official training ground of the Zenic National Futbol team –

A day after matchday 10 concluded, Geraldo Zys had gathered up the squad to go over the current situation and the game plan going forward.

“Nice to see everyone here and ready to go: I’m loving the initiative.” Zys proceeded to flip over a whiteboard with half the board just the current standings and the other half a football pitch with magnets to represent players. “So, just a quick review to refresh everyone’s memory: great job mentally to recover from a hectic period in the game against Sylestone and get the first points from them. Hugo Mornington and Brett Sarcav-Jones are incredibly talented but they should NOT be scoring essentially back to back like they did so being able to not let that keep us down and recovering enough to get the draw was positive improvement. Also good job from Thuan and Undeio in getting the first goals past the Sentients in the last few matchups: much needed. We’ll need to work on controlling our emotions and not get unnecessary yellows,” stated Zys, looking over at Hank Devor with a sarcastic look, causing everyone else to chuckle. “Overall, we did a great job in finally playing up to their level and I expect more of the same whenever we face them, or any other top 50 team, again.”

A round of applause spread across the room from players and staff alike. “But we can’t dwell on victories or losses, no matter how big or small. Time to look ahead at our new batch of games.” Zys began to pull some magnets out of a small box and began to place them in a 4-4-2 formation and then a 3-5-2 formation. “Soon, we’ll travel to Jerusalem City for our away fixture against the Princesses from Jeruselem. We did well to win when they visited New Citium but now we have to repeat that performance on their turf. Despite their recent struggles in these qualifiers, they have managed to win their last two home games 1-0 and 3-1 so we need to be on our A game to ensure a win at Dazza Dallas Stadium. We’ll go into more detail in our next training session on how we plan on dealing with them, especially without Hank in the middle being replaced by Lew.”

Zys proceeded to pull off the magnets representing Jeruselem and started putting on new magnets in a formation to represent Raspotochje. “And after that confrontation, we come back here to square off with Raspotochje. Last time we battled on matchday 5, we got a draw in Kotiga Arena after going up a man thanks to a sending off. We need to do better and not rely on a sending off just to equalize. We’ll need to win the middle of the pitch and control it longer than we have been in some recent matches.” Walking over to the other half of the white board, Zys picked up a dry erase marker to use as a makeshift pointer.

“As you can see in the current standings, we trail Baker Park by 3 points but we have a game in hand. If we win the next two matches and the Bees win against Ventura, we head into the final two matchdays equal on points and separated by only goal differential.” He then smacked the whiteboard, startling some of the people in the meeting. “This is VITAL. If we can accomplish this, we have the BEST possible chance of making the World Cup. Our last two matches are against Al-Tamazgha and then Baker Park while they have to deal with Sylestone and then us.”

“I know you have the ability to win these. Now let’s get you READY to win these. We must leave as little as possible to chance.”

by **Flavovespia** » Thu Apr 04, 2024 10:10 pm

Strayaroos 1 - 1 Flavovespia

A competitive game in StrayaRoos saw the 2 Anaia sides play out another 1-1 draw this cycle. Flavovespia would’ve preferred a win, but in the context of the qualifiers, a draw doesn’t do much harm. Lining up in an all black away kit, Flavovespia had the early pressure, with Peter Langdon forcing a fine save from Thomas Yesak in the 6th minute. Jonathan Bagshaw looked lively as well down the right flank, creating a fair few chances. That’s not to say StrayaRoos were pinned back, they had enough in them to keep Nathan Crewe and the Flavovespia defence active, and there was a sense this game had goals in it.

Jonathan Bagshaw was the one to open the scoring in the 37th minute of the game. It was a good move down the left wing by Michael Cole to open up the space. Thomas Yesak parried away the header of Peter Langdon, but Jonathan Bagshaw followed up and made no mistake with a first time finish. Flavovespia entered the break in the lead, but the game was still a close affair, StrayaRoos looked competitive.

Into the second half, and StrayaRoos started well. A spate of corners early on nearly created an opening, with Flavovespia unable to clear for a while, however the last of those nearly saw Flavovespia score again on the counter. Peter Langdon maybe took his eye off his surroundings, as Yesak successfully rushed out to clear the ball away before Langdon could shoot or dribble around him.

Unfortunately for Flavovespia, their defence of a 1 goal lead became so much harder in the 65th minute. Cruz Kaiplo broke clear after a long pass by Hamish Joalai. Paul Amos stuck out a leg to win the ball, but got none of it and sent Kaiplo tumbling just outside the box. Cries of “OFF, OFF, OFF!” rung around the stadium, and the referee complied, it was a straight red for Amos. Down to 10, the free kick was missed, but it would be a tough grind now for Flavovespia.

Despite some valiant defending, Flavovespia couldn’t see out the win with 10 men. In the 82nd minute, StrayaRoos had the ball with Hamish Joalai. He drove down the wing, beating Stan Scott-Wilson, and his low driven cross was turned in at the near post by Alana Kerr, sliding in just ahead of Nathan Crewe and Paul Taylor. The crowd wanted StrayaRoos to go for the win, and they tried, but the 10 of Flavovespia secured a point. It was only a draw, but in the context of the group keeps them 5 points clear at the top.

Flavovespia 1 - 1 Kandorith

Another 1-1 draw sees Flavovespia slowly edge towards qualification, as they remain unbeaten after three quarters of games played. One enforced change saw Paul Taylor replace Paul Amos in defence, as Flavovespia got ready to play in Hornet’s Nest, Waldster. The fans hoped for a quick start, maybe with some early goals, but with Kandorith in a big battle for 2nd, the Pot 2 side started out well. It was them with the first few chances on goal, one on target to test Nathan Crewe, with Flavovespia creating little at the other end.

Kandorith turned their decent start into a great start in the 20th minute. It was from a free kick, a crafty manoeuvre saw the ball floated out wide to the back post, before the shot was taken at a fairly narrow angle. Richard Storrie lost the striker he was marking, and the low driven shot beat Nathan Crewe, unable to get across from his starting position. 0-1 to Kandorith in the Flavovespian capital, not the sight the home fans wanted.

Just 4 minutes later, Flavovespia had a penalty. Jonathan Bagshaw proved too tricky for his marker, and as he cut inside, a slightly clumsy challenge brought him to the ground. Despite cries of dive from the marking defender, it was clear contact was made, and the penalty awarded. Michael Cole stepped up confidently, but despite all the power he got on it, the ball ricocheted off the post and out, away from danger. Flavovespia had blown a great chance to retake the lead. They wouldn’t get an opportunity as good as that in the first half, they went in 0-1 down and under pressure to turn that around.

There seemed little change in fortunes as the second half began and progressed. Flavovespia had more attacking intent, but Kandorith looked composed in defence, knowing how important a win would be. Whilst Flavovespia had come from behind in this cycle to draw, there was a sense this game was going to be tougher. Every missed pass or shot seemed to draw the ire of the crowd, with captain Jonathan Bagshaw keen to try and stop morale dropping on the pitch. The one positive was Flavovespia looked strong at the back, they just needed another great chance for an equaliser.

Flavovespia were throwing the kitchen sink at an equaliser with 10 minutes to go, switching to effectively a 4-2-4. It paid off, as Jonathan Bagshaw picked out the run of Peter Langdon in the 82nd minute. Langdon had to be composed to finish, but as the keeper came rushing out, he slid the ball into the bottom corner to equalise. 1-1, Flavovespia back on level terms and that felt so key in this game and the Qualifiers.

There was still time for late drama in the final minute. With both sides playing franctically, a robust challenge in midfield saw Martin Edwards clattered to the floor. He then kicked out at the Kandorith midfielder, catching him in the abdomen with a boot. Several players stepped in to intervene, and after a quick video review, it was a yellow for the Kandorith midfielder, but red for Martin Edwards. Down to 10 again, but with far less time to play, it finished 1-1. Not the most elegant performance, and a less than impressive end. However, Flavovespia are 6 points clear of SrayaRoos, Adab and Kandorith. Flavovespia know just 4 more points sends them to World Cup 96. They travel to Adab, before a home tie vs Ekhistan, where Flavovespia will hope they can confirm a spot in World Cup 96.

by **United Mandaran States** » Thu Apr 04, 2024 11:46 pm

Part I | Part II | Part III-A | Part III-B |Part IV

Road to Unification

Part V : The First Election, Introducing the Party Groups

After the ratification of the Charter by all 8 constituent states and the official documentation by The Mandaran Council, the new institution, United Mandaran States is officially established. The next step of this new and young country is to establish their government. Base on the agreement and also put into the Charter, UMS consists of a unicameral Parliament and an executive body. The Parliament is the transformation of The Mandaran Council (the inter-governmental organization). It is to be rename as Mandaran Council. This legislative body consists of 170 members, 20 from each constituent states and 5 from each capital cities. The executive body is Mandaran Commission. This body consists of 8 members, 1 from each constituent states. A President and Vice President will be selected from the member of the Commission. They will be in office for around 6 months before the position is pass to another Commissioners until all of them have had in the position at least once in their office time. Each constituent state is given the freedom to use any electoral system in selecting their Councilors and Commissioners. The election would be held once every 4 years.

Even during the time of The Mandaran Council, the inter-governmental parliament, political party groups have been established based on the party's ideologies. These groups are carried over to the current United Mandaran States where they become more like a party coalition. Until the end of political party signing period, 5 groups are officially participated in the election, UMNA (United Mandaran Nationalist Alliance), ManDeSA (Mandaran Democratic Socialist Alliance), Mandaran Green, MMG (Mandaran Minority Group) and RCM (Religious and Conservative Mandaran).

United Mandaran Nationalist Alliance (UMNA)

The United Mandaran Nationalist Alliance is a center-right political group in Mandaran area with mostly nationalist and conservative member parties. It is established by agreement between Pesamuan Jaya Giri and Pesamuan Pandu Nagari of Pemecutan, Pesamuan Surya Mandala of Manguwirajya, Pesamuan Petang Jaya of Petang Islands, Partai Gerakan Nasional of Rarungan and Partai Toluiwa Bersatu of Toluiwa. They are currently the opposition within The Mandaran Council.

Support ideas

Stronger decentralization
Free market with tight control from the government, no monopoly
Industrialization and equal economy opportunity
Tighten government spending
Increase defense
Increase education and health facilities and availability
Targeted subsidies
Preservation of national and regional unique cultures

Members
Full Member

Partai Nasional Saka, Saka National Party (Cakranegara)
Partai Rakyat Selaparang, Selaparang People's Party (Cakranegara)
Partai Amanat Rakyat, People's Mandate Party (Gili Anakan)
Pesamuan Surya Mandala, Surya Mandala Union (Manguwirajya)
Pesamuan Jaya Giri, Great Giri Union (Pemecutan)
Pesamuan Pandu Nagari, Nation's Guidance Alliance (Pemecutan)
Pesamuan Petang Jaya, Great Petang Party (Petang Islands)
Partai Gerakan Nasional, National Movement Party (Rarungan)
Partai Pembangunan Nasional, National Development Party (Rarungan)
Parte Mahijili, Great Islands Party (Soracana Islands)
Partai Toluiwa Bersatu, United Toluiwa Party (Toluiwa)
Partai Rakyat Samawa, Samawa People's Party (Toluiwa)
Partai Masyarakat Donggo, Donggo People's Party (Toluiwa)

Affiliate Member

Aliansi Rakyat untuk Negeri, People's Alliance for the State (Manguwirajya)
Partai Rakyat Semesta, Universal People's Party (Pemecutan)
Partai Pemecutan Bersatu, United Pemecutan Party (Pemecutan)
Partai Masyarakat Cendana, Cendana People's Party (Pemecutan)
Maju Petang, Onward Petang (Petang Islands)

Mandaran Democratic Socialist Alliance (ManDeSA)

The Mandaran Democratic Socialist Alliance is a center-left political group in Mandaran area with mostly socialist, democratic, liberalism and progressivism member parties. It is established between Pasemetonan Krama Agung and Partai Giri Sosial of Pemecutan, Pesamuan Krama Rahayu of Menguwirajya, Partai Buruh Petang of Petang Islands, Partai Demokrasi Rarungan of Rarungan, Parte Kayam Mardika of Soracana Islands and Partai Demokrasi Toluiwa of Toluiwa. They are the leading political group currently in The Mandaran Council.

Support ideas

Integration and multiculturalism
Social equality
Increase the economy of underdeveloped state to reduce wealth inequality
Support mixed economy and privatization
Increase subsidies for public education and universal health care.
Regulated the defense budget
Support human rights and anti-discrimination

Members
Full Member

Partai Kesejahteraan Rakyat, People's Welfare Party (Cakranegara)
Aliansi Demokrasi Kerakyatan, People's Democracy Alliance (Gili Anakan)
Pesamuan Krama Rahayu, People's Prosperous Party (Manguwirajya)
Partai Demokrat Manguwi, Manguwi's Democrat Party (Manguwirajya)
Pasemetonan Krama Agung, Great People's Brotherhood (Pemecutan)
Partai Giri Sosial, Giri Socialist Party (Pemecutan)
Partai Demokrasi Liberal, Liberal Democracy Party (Pemecutan)
Partai Buruh Petang, Petang's Labour Party (Petang Islands)
Partai Rakyat Bersatu, United People's Party (Petang Islands)
Partai Demokrasi Rarungan, Rarungan Democratic Party (Rarungan)
Persatuan Pekerja Rarungan, Rarungan Worker's Party (Rarungan)
Parte Kayam Mardika, People's Freedom Party (Soracana Islands)
Parte Karia, Worker's Party (Soracana Islands)
Partai Demokrasi Toluiwa, Toluiwa Democratic Party (Toluiwa)
Partai Liberal Toluiwa, Toluiwa Liberal Party (Toluiwa)

Affiliate Member

Gerakan Pembaharuan, Movement of Change (Pemecutan)
Gerakan Pemuda Pemecutan, Pemecutan Youth Party (Pemecutan)
Partai Kemakmuran Rakyat, People's Prosperity Party (Toluiwa)

Mandaran Green

The Mandaran Green is Mandaran political group which support green politics or ecopolitics. The ideology gradually increases in power in the new millennium with more and more people caring for the nature. While in former United Pemecutan and Rarungan, the ideology is quite strong because of the people believe in strong relation with the nature. Partai Palemahan Agung of Pemecutan is the strongest party member within the group.

Support ideas

Strong decentralization
Community-based economy
Waste management reform
Decrease the carbon footprint
Food self-sufficiency
Anti-nuclear power
Green energy
Respect for diversity and multiculturalism
Sustainability
Public transport

Members

Partai Bhuana Raya, Greater World Party (Manguwirajya)
Partai Gadang-Gading, Green-Ivory Party (Manguwirajya)
Partai Palemahan Agung, Great Nature Party (Pemecutan)
Masyarakat Jaga Subak, Subak Protector's People (Pemecutan)
Partai Wana Segara, Forrest and Sea Party (Pemecutan)
Partai Bahari Jaya, Great Ocean Party (Petang Islands)
Partai Hijau Rarungan, Rarungan Green Party (Rarungan)
Partai Cinta Alam, Love for Nature Party (Toluiwa)

Mandaran Minority Group

The Mandaran Minority Group is a political group that consists of political parties that supported by minority people in Mandaran area. However, some of the parties are majority people in one state but become a minority in another. This group affiliate themselves to the center in the political spectrum where there is strong support in nationalism and recognition of their culture while also believe in the equal opportunities, rights and position between the minority and majority groups to diminish the gap between the two. Most of their members are base in Pemecutan.

Members

Partai Giri, Giri Party (Cakranegara) - Girinese people in Cakranegara
Masyarakat Palmyria Bersatu, United Palmyrian People (Pemecutan) - Palmyrian people (Southern Palm Islands native) in Pemecutan
Aliansi Mitra dan Soma, Mitra and Soma Alliance (Pemecutan) - Mitranese and Somanese in Pemecutan
Aliansi Rakyat Yue, Yue People's Alliance (Pemecutan) - Yue people (OOC Chinese) in Pemecutan
Masyarakat Giri Rarungan, Rarungan Giri People (Rarungan) - Girinese people in Rarungan
Persatuan Rakyat Saka, United Sakanese People (Rarungan) - Sakanese people in Rarungan

Religious and Conservative Mandaran

The Religious and Conservative Mandara is a center to center-right political group in Mandaran Area. The group mostly filled with religious based political parties. These includes Islamic political party, Christian and Hindu. The group support conservatism. They adhere traditional values, government-controlled economy, religious values, responsible freedom while also believe in social equality and economic liberalism. Once a big group with the support from Pesamuan Jaya Giri and Pesamuan Pandu Nagari of Pemecutan, the group loses its power after the two left the group and create UMNA. Interestingly, most of the parties are base in the more liberal states as opposed to conservative states such as Gili Anakan and Cakranegara.

Members

Semeton Muslim Manguwi, Manguwi Muslim Brotherhood (Manguwirajya)
Partai Jaya Dharma, Great Dharma Party (Manguwirajya)
Partai Islam Pemecutan, Pemecutan Islamic Party (Pemecutan)
Partai Cinta Damai, Love for Peace Party (Pemecutan)
Parisadha Dharma Yadnya, Dharma Yadnya Party (Pemecutan)
Partai Hindu Jaya, Great Hindu Party (Petang Islands)
Parte Bitramara, The Holyland Party (Soracana Islands)

Non-affiliated Parties

Non-affiliated parties are a group of party politics that are not a member of either 5 political groups mentioned above. These parties have a varies political spectrum but lack of common ideology with those groups. Or they just not want to cooperate with any other parties. However, their chance in gaining a seat in Mandaran Council and Commissioner is quite low.

The parties

Republik untuk Pemecutan, (Republic for Pemecutan (Pemecutan)
Parte Jangga Bahiu, New Guardian Party (Soracana Islands)
Partai Pemuda Nasional, National Youth Party (Toluiwa)

World Cup 96 - Roleplay Thread

WCQ-96 MD9-10

WCQ-96 MD9-10

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