Cup of Harmony 88: Everything Thread

[Tero al Disco]

AUDIOSLAVIA 1-0 TERO AL DISCO

• Lineup (4-3-1-2): A. Castillo | I. Kunz, M. Kuchler (C), F. Grosso, L. Clotieri | M. Napoliello, E. Hirsch, S. Moritz, A. Cornelli | A. Biaggi, J.J. Leonardi
• Goals: none
• Subs: M. Napoliello and A. Biaggi -> G. Durand and S. Cervantes HT' | S. Moritz and A. Cornelli -> L. Figueredo and H. Lucero
• Cards: Alvaro Biaggi 31', Miguel Napoliello 45', Facundo Grosso 61', Andrés Castillo 67'
• Venue: Beltzarga, Cathair
• Summary: Er, I mean, no one thought Tero al Disco had any chance of not losing, let alone winning in Cathair to keep their World Cup hopes alive. Despite going on a more attacking playstyle, Tero al Disco had only one shot in total and zero on target, as Audioslavia had the ball for the 90 minutes, but hey, what did you expect?

TERO AL DISCO 1-0 CABO AZURE

• Lineup (4-4-2): A. Castillo | I. Kunz, M. Kuchler (C), C. Riese, M. Manet | M. Napoliello, E. Hirsch, F. Martini, H. Lucero | A. Biaggi, S. Cervantes
• Goals: A. Biaggi 75'
• Subs: C. Riese and H. Lucero -> J. Salas and G. Durand 52' | M. Napoliello, F. Martini and M. Manet -> D. Cuevas, P. Tedesco and L. Clotieri 71'
• Cards: Alvaro Biaggi 17', Máximo Manet 22', Martín Kuchler 50', Francisco Martini 67', Andrés Castillo 80', José Salas 86'
• Venue: Estadio de la República, Tero al Disco
• Summary: The Tricolor went from "everyone expected this" with the Audioslavia game to "no one expected this" with this one. First of all, us, a team who had already been eliminated from playoff contention. I mean, it was really cool to see a 200-ranked team hold their own and whatever, but it all had to end at some point. Then, it was Cabo Azure. Top seed in group 19, and actively fighting for a spot in the World Cup, with an already all-out attacking style that was going to be pulled up once more, with star strikers, legendary strikers and whatever, they lost??? I don't know what they've done to piss off Margaret. Kunz scored from a diving header in the 33rd minute, and then the fans were witnesses to an hour of almost nothing being done on the pitch. The Tricolor's very insistent time wasting stopped Pio Mendonca's team from scoring. Cabo Azure had plenty of chances, but they didn't know to turn those into goals. The nail in the coffin was the moment when Amilcar Branco shoved JJ Leonardi in the penalty box, allowing Biaggi to convert it in the 75th minute, and not Kunz (sorry Cabo Azure for not reading your RP).
  
  Cervantes finally started to get a bit of the recognition he deserves. I mean, he ended up winning the Silver Boot in the Nacional A, and he's had a handful of starts for the Tricolor. q

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FÉLIX'S NEW TACTICS YIELD MIXED RESULTS, WITH A SHOCK DRAW AND A LOSS

Redacted by Miguel Mirabelli.

April 15th, 2024

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It seems that Tero al Disco's series of friendlies have finished. After stopping in Arrosia, on their way to Esportiva where Cup of Harmony host Tumbra resides, the team were handed a 1-0 loss in the Mike Sarzo Stadium, by hosts Sarzonia.

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TERO AL DISCO 1-1 INDEPENDENT ATHLETES FROM QUEBEC

But let's recap. A week and a half ago, the ATF planned to host a send-off game for the Tricolor, in Tero al Disco, before travelling from Hive to Tumbra (which, as already mentioned, is in the region of Esportiva). For this they brought in a prestigious guest: the Independent Athletes from Quebec, representing the nation of Quebec & Shingoryeo. A team ranked at #25 in the world and who had qualified already for the World Cup. Therefore, this would be a great challenge for our team.

From minute one it was a clash of tactics, like several matches that the Teros have played. Quebec and Shingoryeo focused a lot on attacking, and it seems that they've always done it like that. It could be said that their style of offensive football was similar to Cabo Azure's, but unlike Tero al Disco's WCQ opponents, Quebec played a lot dirtier, and that was a bit more similar to our own playstyle.

However, Quebec and Shingoryeo showed complacency, both while attacking and while defending. The midfield didn't have their best day passing the ball around. There were several inaccurate passes given, especially passes up high. There was also a bit of inaccuracy at goal; in the first half they only had 2 key chances, both being one-on-ones which were ultimately saved by Braian Rico. The defense also showed some cracks. Quebecois fans must have breathed a sigh of relief by the 25th minute: after one of those high-flying passes that went some meters a handful of meters left of midfielder Rebecca-Anne Wawanolett, Domingo Cuevas started a counter-attack, which finished with Lucero dribbling past Ghislaine Barbieri and a shot which was deflected by keeper Marianne Oh-Ntare's left hand, out for a corner. However, eight minutes later, off another corner (Quebec allowed three corner kicks in the first half), the ball didn't get headed inmediately, but it rather bounced off to the left and found Salomón Forester's right foot, who, with a low but powerful strike, made it go past the 22-year-old Quebecois goalkeeper.

With the scoreboard at 1-0, there was a bit of confusion on Felix's sided between slowing down the game and keeping that attacking pace "for the science". But nevertheless, after a corner kick that was hoofed out by Forester for a throw-in, and despite the Quebecois' complaints, it would be halftime. And unfortunately for us, Quebec and Shingoryeo would show in the next 45 minutes that they would stop screwing around. In the first 15 minutes alone, the Grim Reapers would have 4 key chances, although all of them were missed. After another shot at goal that went wide, and a punt out from Rico, Leonardi caught the defenders napping, allowing to go past Alexis Samurtok, before tapping the ball sideways to Cervantes, and a high-up shot that hit the crossbar and landed on Giovanni Berhalter's chest. It was - potentially - going to be a very entertaining second half.

Two minutes later, with the heavy machinery brought in now, Oberon M'bah-Pinho chipped the ball forward to young Josephine Moreille-Park, who finished it with a solid tap, and despite Terense claims that she was offside, Quebec had tied it in the 64th minute. As I said, it could have been potentially a fun game, but the speed slowed down gradually, with lots of fouls. In the 70th minute, Esteban Hirsch was sent off due to a second yellow card, and midfielder Juan Aurelio Redondo did so too (for Quebec, despite having an awfully similar name to an average Terense person) twelve minutes later.

And with that, the match ended 1-1. The crowd waved the team goodbye as they were heading (as I already said) to Sarzonia to play the second friendly about six days later. Despite having ranked lower than Quebec and Shingoryeo, and having not having qualified for the World Cup, insted doing so in the Cup of Harmony, where they'll participate in group C, Sarzonia definitely have more than Quebec. The Stars have a World Cup, but it's been over 70 editions since that one happened; and a Cup of Harmony from around the same period.

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SARZONIA 1-0 TERO AL DISCO

Besides whatever happened there, the Teros couldn't play as well in Sarzonia as they did in Tero al Disco. Snobby modern managers would say that's because of "jet stress" or crap like that, which may be a bit true, but come on, talk like a regular person. With their home support, Sarzonia fared much better. The defenders defended well, that's all I can say. Tero al Disco only had one shot at goal, which came very early on. Alvaro Biaggi ran past two Sarzonian defenders and was one-on-one. It was a sure goal, but John Wells caught it eventually. Ten minutes have passed, and that was an alarm for the players, to start playing better.

Just seven minutes later (17 had gone by), Sarzonian fans celebrated, when Holly Chambers ran forward into the area, but, in a move designed to catch the Terense players offguard, decided to release a 30-metre screamer that went in the back of Castillo's net. After that goal, Sarzonia consolidated a near-stranglehld into the game, with most of it taking place in Tero al Disco's half of the pitch. Despite this, after the first 30 minutes it seemed like the Terense players recovered from the fatigue, instead of the effects hitting them in the last 30 minutes of the game, but whatever. There were some incursions into the Stars' half, but they all went nowhere. Sarzonia decided to sit back and try to keep the lead as it was; if they scored a goal, it would be nice, but the point was to finish winning.

Now in the second half, the closest Tero al Disco to a second key chance was a cross delivered by Lucas Figueredo from the right-hand side in the 62nd minute, which ended up being awfully finished by Alvaro Biaggi. A similar situation happened less than 15 minutes later, this time it was Hernando Lucero's fault after another Figueredo cross. Tero al Disco looked to be coming back at some moments of the second half, but that never happened. Sarzonia sat back and relaxed, towards full-time (despite the Tricolor rushing to equalise however they could in the dying minutes) and a one-nil win before they themselves travelled to Tumbra.

Looking at the press conference, Félix has said that he was satisfied with the results of the new, more attacking 5-4-1 formation, so I suppose that's what we will see when the Tricolor plays in Tumbra.

And...the lineup

[Adab]

Note: In the Adabian timeline, the Cup of Harmony takes place from April-May 2049. Age is as of April 1, 2049.

Squad is exactly the same as in the World Cup qualifiers. Goal tally to be updated soon.

The Adabian National Football Team

Demonym: Adabian (plural Adabians)
Association: Adab Football Association (AFA)

BACKGROUND
Saad Kaykali finds himself presiding over a rapidly aging staff and squad. The entire coaching staff is in their sixties or beyond; Kaykali himself is 75. A large part of the squad is in their thirties. The mounting calls for regeneration within the national team contrasted with Enlilbani Yargab and Ephraim Orlev’s repeatedly-delayed “retirement”, which has become the stuff of jokes across the country. While most observers will gladly admit that these are some of Adab’s finest-ever players, fears that younger players in the country are not being allowed a chance to shine in the national team may not be entirely unfounded.

KIT

The national team's kits, designed by Ahmad Enlil (the first President of the Football Association) in 1907, are currently manufactured by Shining Sun Company, owned by Rahman Ashurbanipal, businessman and grandson of Emperor Tizqar III.

STAFF
Manager: Saad KAYKALI - Male – born January 20, 1974 (age 75)
At the peak of his power and popularity following Adab’s recent success on the international stage, some around Saad Kaykali have nevertheless noticed that the manager appears tired and worn out at times, which is not very surprising considering everything that has happened around him. But the idea of retirement has not been floated, at least not publicly. Kaykali insists he is “more than ready and excited to help carry this team forward and achieve even greater success”.

Assistant manager: Rashid ABBAS - Male – born February 15, 1987 (age 62)
Formerly a star player in the island country of Faraby, now an associated state of Adab, Abbas now finally finds himself sole assistant manager to Saad Kaykali. He is determined to do his best in this capacity, all the while refusing to discuss rumors that he has greater aspirations. Currently also manager of the under-21 team.

General coach: Yitzhak BENNETT - Male – born September 20, 1976 (age 72)
Variously described as quiet, active, calm, and attentive, Bennett is very much respected by the players, who admire his work ethic, loyalty to the national team, and willingness to listen to them.

Goalkeeping coach: Faishal AR-RASHID - Male – born August 14, 1978 (age 70)
Regarded, much like Bennett, as a stabilizing influence in the national team and respected by staff and players alike.

Physio: Hamza RIDHA - Male – born January 15, 1983 (age 66)
A longtime friend of Kaykali. Widely respected by fellow staff and players for the understated way by which he performs his job.

PLAYERS
Note: I may reveal the starting lineup and substitutes for the next match(es) in my RPs. Should I not RP or should my RP not contain any information regarding the starting lineup and substitutes, then feel free to decide my lineup. Also feel free to make substitutions. (As a rule of thumb, the first 11 players listed here are the usual starters, but this is not always the case.)

GK: 1 – Satchit CHANDRASEKAR – Male – born February 7, 2015 (age 34) – Colonial Sile (Vilita) – 0 goals
Chandrasekar has now firmly established himself as Adab’s best keeper and, if everything goes right, looks set to retain that status for many years to come. His calm, steady demeanor serves him well as the last line of defense against the team’s opponents.

LB: 2 – Tansu ALTUN - Female – born February 25, 2009 (age 40) - Mosul - 0 goals
Fondly called the "heart of the squad" by her teammates. Kind, polite, smiling, beautiful inside and out, she gets along easily with all the staff and players. Yet her soft exterior hides a hard, relentless, unyielding side to her, which shines through every time she is called to perform on the pitch.

CB: 3 – Shania ENMERKAR - Female – born January 20, 2008 (age 41) - Baghdad City - 3 goals (Vice Captain)
Widely seen as one of the leaders of the “female wave” in Adabian football, observers nevertheless agree that Enmerkar has earned her place in the team by merit, rather than merely by virtue of her gender. The other female players in the squad look up to her as their leader and spokeswoman, and it is she who often goes to Kaykali to communicate the women’s concerns and opinions.

CB: 15 – Sarrugi AKSHAK – Male – born May 29, 2016 (age 32) – Lonngeylin Coast (Vilita) – 0 goals
Made headlines with his unexpected transfer to the Vilitan League, although he has more than proven himself as a capable defender at the Under-18 and Under-21 World Cups. Now Yousif Issou’s international retirement has guaranteed him a place in the starting lineup and he is more than determined to impress.

RB: 5 – Sally THOMAS – Female – born October 5, 2015 (age 32) – Beirut – 0 goals
An instrumental member of the Di Bradini Cup 51 squad, Thomas’ continued good performance with Beirut in the Premier League has earned her an upgrade from the benches to the starting lineup in the national team.

LM: 6 – Emma ARTHUR - Female – born November 18, 2012 (age 35) - Tihon (Chromatika) - 14 goals
A representative of the Anglo-Adabian community, the second-youngest member of the squad. Widely seen as a young prodigy before maturing into one of Adab’s best midfielders. Estranged from her family, traumatized and haunted by what had happened to her and Alulim Sinmuballit, she picked herself up and has impressed many with her performance with Tihon in Chromatika.

CM: 7 – Alulim SINMUBALLIT - Male – born September 15, 2013 (age 35) – Mipojoseon (Quebec and Shingoryeo) - 14 goals
The erstwhile baby prodigy of the squad is now older and much-changed from those halcyon days when he and Emma Arthur were lighting up the midfield and causing controversy with their interfaith relationship off the pitch. Since then… a lot have changed, to put it lightly, but one thing is certain: Sinmuballit is determined to prove he still has a place in the national team.

RM: 19 – Amara EMMITA – Female – born January 19, 2016 (age 33) – Baghdad United – 11 goals
Easily runs circles around her opponents with her slick, graceful style of play. With Ephraim Orlev now in his forties and on the verge of retirement, Emmita has found her way to the starting lineup, providing a fresh reinforcement in the midfield to accompany the likes of Emma Arthur and Alulim Sinmuballit.

LAM/LW: 22 – Kastiliasu AKAPTAHA – Male – born March 27, 2014 (age 34) – Baghdad City – 106 goals
Already widely acclaimed as one of the finest strikers in Adabian football, Akaptaha is expected to lead the offense for many years to come, standing at the forefront the regeneration of the national team as the venerable Enlilbani Yargab enters his forties.

RAM/RW: 10 – Rebekah YISSAKAR - Female – born January 20, 2013 (age 34) - Adab United – 92 goals
Brash, funny, happy-go-lucky, all those words have been used to describe Rebekah Yissakar, but do not let her bubbly, excitable personality distract you from the fact that she is one of Adabian football’s best talents, with a deadly finishing touch that secured her a place at the front three along with the great Enlilbani Yargab and the energetic Kastiliasu Akaptaha.

CF: 11 – Enlilbani YARGAB - Male – born April 21, 1999 (age 49) - Baghdad City – 177 goals (Captain)
Now rapidly approaching his fifties – beyond which he has repeatedly claimed he would not continue playing – Yargab is no longer the threat that he once was, the older striker playing fewer minutes than in previous tournaments before being substituted for Nadje Barzani. With Akaptaha now deployed on the wing, Kaykali now increasingly rotates Yargab and Barzani, if not playing Barzani for entire matches; Yargab understands that the younger players such as Akaptaha and Barzani adapt more easily to the gegenpressing tactics. That Yargab is now slower and more stationary than he used to be is obvious. Nevertheless he still excels in short bursts, conserving his energy for the most pivotal moments of the match and ensuring he remains an important presence in what should be the final years of his career.

GK: 12 – Akurgal SHULGI – Male – born May 15, 2017 (age 31) – Damascus Steelers – 0 goals
Formidable young keeper whose adept, acrobatic defending dragged Adab to the final of the 14th Under-18 World Cup in Xanneria and Starcom.

LB: 13 – Adnan AL-TIKRITI – Male – born July 20, 2015 (age 33) – Damascus Steelers – 0 goals
Dogged defender who brought Adab to the final of the Di Bradini Cup 51. Flies under the radar publicity-wise but prefers to let his achievements on the pitch speak for themselves.

CB: 4 – George HADAD – Male – born February 14, 2005 (age 44) – Assur – 2 goals
Assur’s impressive performance in the Premier League lately has earned its loyal center-back a call-up to the national team, which just a few years ago no one – including the man himself – would have expected. But Hadad is nonetheless glad for this new experience so late into his career, even if he doesn’t see himself being played that much.

RB: 16 – Nadia AL-MALIKI – Female – born October 15, 2011 (age 35) – Baghdad United – 0 goals
Baghdad United’s surprisingly strong performance in the Premier League earned her a call-up to the national team. Al-Maliki’s composure in defense has been widely praised and regarded as an instrumental part in United’s unexpected domestic success.

LM: 17 – Said ANWAR – Male – born April 5, 2014 (age 34) – Beirut – 0 goals
A highlight of Beirut’s rise to the top of the Premier League, Said has now earned himself a call-up to the national team. While he is unlikely to displace Emma Arthur in the pecking order, his presence nevertheless provides a reliable backup should it become necessary for Arthur to be substituted or rotated.

CM: 18 – Naram-Sin SAMANU – Male – born March 29, 2018 (age 31) – Baghdad United – 5 goals
Commands a huge presence at midfield. Alulim Sinmuballit’s return has largely relegated Samanu once again to the benches, but with the staff afraid of overplaying the latter it seems that they will settle on a rotation between Sinmuballit and Samanu, allowing both players roughly equal time on the pitch.

CM: 26 - Kayla KASSAYA - Female - born April 14, 2016 (age 32) - Crossroads (Chromatika) - 2 goals
A late call-up to the national team, Kassaya has impressed with Crossroads in Chromatika's Red League, becoming an integral part of the side and more than justifying their faith in her. The national team's heavy workload has convinced Saad Kaykali and his staff that they need another midfielder and Kassaya is the obvious choice. While primarily a central midfielder, she is a versatile player who can also be deployed as a left and right midfielder, and even in a more advanced role as a winger in emergency situations.

RM: 8 – Ephraim ORLEV - Male – born April 18, 1999 (age 49) – Mosul – 9 goals
That Orlev’s supposed retirement has been constantly delayed is the subject of many a joke in Adab nowadays. But on his good days he is still one of the country’s best – and toughest, not to mention most experienced – midfielders, and his presence is highly valued in the locker room.

LAM/LW: 20 – Dasia KHOURY – Female – born September 15, 2017 (age 31) – Baghdad City – 2 goals
One of Adab’s breakout stars from the Di Bradini Cup 53, Khoury has settled into a starting role at Baghdad City, playing a key part as the great team tries to restore themselves back to the top of the Adabian football world. Her performance continues to impress, convincing Kaykali to call her up to the senior national team.

RAM/RW: 21 – Abdullah SARSUR – Male – born June 11, 2007 (age 30) – Yerushalayim – 1 goal
Yerushalayim’s rise to the upper echelons of the league has brought attention upon its right attacking midfielder/winger Abdullah Sarsur. Brave, unrelenting, and tricky at times, he will provide a reliable addition to the national team.

RAM/RW: 25 – Omar ABBAS – Male – born January 15, 2018 (age 31) – Mosul – 0 goals
Like Khoury he is one of Adab’s players from the Di Bradini Cup 53 that stood out the most, earning legions of fans with his speed and deadly accurate crosses, exuberant attitude on and off the pitch, and unstinting commitment to his profession.

LAM/LW: 9 – Hakim AL-AMIN - Male – born March 27, 2009 (age 40) - Damascus Steelers – 27 goals
With Jushur al-Kufa bowing out of the national team, his Damascus Steelers teammate Hakim al-Amin has been chosen to take his place – albeit it is usually a place on the benches. Al-Amin is one of Adabian football’s best strikers, gaining acclaim for his power, agility, finishing, and calmness under pressure. Everyone agrees he would have found a place in the starting lineup had it not been for the fact that the national team is already overfilled with younger talent at the front.

CF: 23 – Nadje BARZANI – Female – born March 14, 2017 (age 32) – Beirut – 61 goals
Barzani has made a name for herself as one of the Premier League’s best players and one of its most explosive forwards, alongside Kastiliasu Akaptaha, and is making an impact in the national team in a rotation with the seemingly ageless Enlilbani Yargab. But time waits for no one, and as Yargab rapidly approaches his forty-fifth birthday the indication seems to be that Barzani will soon have her spot to herself.

STADIUM

Adab City Stadium, the pride and joy of Adabian football, was completed in 1940. Located in the northern part of Adab City, the stadium was able to accommodate 40,000 people at the time of its opening. Renovations in 1978 made it an all-seater stadium and expanded its capacity to 55,350. Later it increased to 75,000 following upgrades in 2009-10 and then 76,500 after another upgrade in 2019. It is currently home to the Adabian national football team and Adab City FC.

TACTICS AND FORMATION
The team will use 4-3-2-1, the "Christmas tree" formation, with an emphasis on gegenpressing – immediately working to take back possession after losing the ball and launching a quick counterattack before the opponent can take the initiative. Any opposition players with the ball will find themselves swarmed and cut off quickly. The orientation towards gegenpressing has been offered as evidence of Rashid Abbas’ increasing influence as he seeks to modernize the team in his capacity as assistant manager.

Goalkeeper Satchit Chandrasekar is secure in his position as first-choice senior team keeper. Shania Enmerkar finds herself leading the defense, her limitless energy and tenacity – which she has demonstrated both on and off the pitch – making her particularly suited for this role.

At midfield, Emma Arthur finds herself paired up with Alulim Sinmuballit and Amara Emmita. Their agility and teamwork allow them increased coverage of the pitch and domination of possession, which they skillfully use to quickly transfer the ball away from the opposing team and to the attacking trio of Kastiliasu Akaptaha, Rebekah Yissakar, and the great Enlilbani Yargab. At age 49, the country’s greatest player now largely avoids ostentatious displays of acrobatics and dribbling skills which marked his younger days in favor of simple runs towards the penalty box. In a further concession to his advancing age, Yargab is now increasingly substituted or even not played at all from time to time in favor of Barzani. Yargab or Barzani will occasionally drop back to serve as a false nine, leaving a hole in the opposition defense to be exploited by the wingers and attacking midfielders.

RP PERMISSIONS
My opponent, if they RP first, may do the following:
Choose my goalscorers Yes
Choose scoring events: Yes
Godmod scoring events: Yes
Make substitutions: Yes
RP injuries to my players: No, and I won’t injure your players either
Godmod injuries to my players: No
Hand out yellow cards to my players: Yes
Hand out red cards to my players: No, and I won’t give red cards to your players either
Godmod other events: Yes, just don't injure or kill my players or staff or prevent them from being present in the next match

Style mod: +3.

If you have any questions feel free to reach out to me via TG or Discord! You may find me on the NS Sports Discord server.

[Vyktoria]

PROJECT KALYPSO: ITAVRNAI CHRONICLES
Chapter 1 - A Vyktorious Night
OOC: This RP is about stitching back together the multiverse of the Itavran Sector, and merging the timelines. It may include references to off-NS communities, and things outside the scope of the average bystander. Please excuse these discrepancies. There will be footnotes.

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It was a cold day in Old Capital City/旧首都 in Nekohime/猫姫, somewhere in the Itavran Sector, the national team had been training for the Cup of Harmony, not knowing what group they were in, only that they'd been invited. After a hard day of training in the nation which represented the sector in World Cup 94, the all-human contingent chaperoned by a wyrmfolk¹, an aelffolk and a foxfolk, all went into the hotel the VFF had exclusively rented in Nekohime, whose weather matched up closely with Tumbra's. The draw was about to begin, and the team sat down to watch the draw.

Kevin Arland III sat next to his father, who was to his right, and sat to his left was the wyrmfolk president of the Vyktorian Football Federation, Lio Golt, a former footballer of the Drakonian Commonwealth, back when it was just known as NexxusDrako, over 50 years ago. He had competed at the Cup of Harmony as a striker alongside the recently deceased Kevin Arland, and his wyrmish blood meant he was going to be alive for a couple more centuries yet. Meanwhile Arland II, the national team manager, who was set to move on at the end of his contract, expiring after the Cup of Harmony, sat stoically.

The youngest Arland asked his father a simple question. "If you'd ever gotten the chance to play in a Cup of Harmony, how do you think you'd have done?"

That question opened up a can of worms Arland III had never thought of. "What if there was an alternate Vyktoria in an alternate planet with a different sports setup? I couldn't even make it to the national team on Micras, and never even played in a CiboTap, let alone the FMF World Cup.²"

"Aw nuts. The omniverse expands to include Vyktory. Does this finally make it full circle?" Lio seemed deep in thought. He knew he had access to some high level documentation of the Galactic Wyrm Assembly³, but the Drakonian Commonwealth was a different story. Then, an interdimensional rift opened up in the lobby just before Pot 3 finished.

Skyalina Draco, a red Wyrmfolk woman and Queen of the Drakonian Commonwealth, Luna Drake, a pink-haired enby human who happened to be a demigod, and Sythini Rythorn, a red-haired Aelffolk and Queen of the Jaroknians all stepped into the room and sat next to Lio Golt in the executive suite, just in time for the 4th member of group 1 to be drawn. Drawkland, TJUN-ia, Bears Armed and the first of Pot 4.

The Tumbrans running the draw on TV grabbed a ball out of the pot, and opened it. Then revealed the paper inside. "Vyktoria, Rank 106, completes Group A." The room exploded into celebration, as Vyktory had indeed bettered the Drakonian Commonwealth, who couldn't have ever dreamed of a start this good. Kevin Arland III started crying, "If only grandpa could see me playing in the tournaments he did." he mutterted. His father said "You'll be playing in the World Cup by the time you're 30, son. Trust me."

The three interdimensional gatecrashers had grabbed some snacks and then beckoned Lio to the table. Lio had to oblige, given the status of the three. "Lio, we want you to help us with the football exhibit at MVerse 59, we're working on the cultural expo in Indigo Bay and we kinda need your help with the sports stuff. Your military experience with the old Itavran Assembly would be very useful to us too."

Lio agreed and the four hashed out the details over the dinner to celebrate the Vyktorian's splash on the stage of multiverse football. Things were starting to stitch back together as regarded the Itavran Multiverse, and it started to look like a Universe again.

---

Footnotes
¹ Draconids, Dracons, Anthro Dragons, the standard species of the Itavran sector.
² The sporting competitions of the Cibola and Tapfer continents on the planet of Micras as well as its world cup, Micras is a collaborative geofiction community formerly of micronational status.
³ The Galactic Wyrm Assembly was the peak body of Wyrmfolk across the galaxy, which annexed Vyktory when it was on Micras in IRL Year 2019, which is a separate calendar and timeline to the IC year of the Itavran Calendar.

[Sarzonia]

A week after the disappointment in Mertagne where Sarzonia lost its playoff appearance against Juvencus, the Sarzonian national football team returned to play another match.

This time, the stakes were much lower than win-or-go-home with a shock World Cup appearance in the offing. And this time, the venue was not Dave Wilson Stadium in Woodstock. Instead, after a massive renovation project of its own that saw Mike Sarzo Stadium essentially completely rebuilt, the now-former national stadium would again temporarily resume that role.

Temperatures in downtown Nicksia neared 30⁰ Celsius with low humidity, a nice, balmy day, so the retractable roof opened up to bring in the sun and warmth.

Sarzonia goalkeeper John Wells recalled days as a boy when he'd go to various sporting events in weather like this, enjoying the sights on the pitch and in the stands, enjoying the freedom of being shirtless and checking out hotties in the stands. He'd given a forlorn look into the stands, missing the carefree feeling he had, but today, he had a job to do, for the first 30 minutes, at least.

Wells was starting, but since it was a friendly, he was going to be able to head to the dressing room after the 30-minute mark. He'd shower, get dressed and go mingle with family in attendance, giving Dayne Marks and Scott Harkey a chance to get some playing time with nothing important to play for.

Caleb Rush wanted this match with Tero al Disco for a number of reasons. One, he wanted his team to try out the "old" stadium since he suspected the refurbishment of Dave Wilson Stadium might take much longer than the two-year forecast the Incorporated Football Federation gave. They expected to be ready for a potential bid to host the second Arrosian Regional Championship.

However, the "old" grounds, while it held the same capacity as the original Mike Sarzo Stadium, was for all intents and purposes, a brand new venue. Regardless, it was beautiful. Rush smiled. It would be a good opportunity to spread out home matches away from Dave Wilson Stadium.

The match came, and Rush had even more reason to be pleased. Sarzonia emerged a 1-0 winner over Tero al Disco, even though his team sat back in the second half instead of employing his usual strategy of pushing forward and going for the jugular.

More so than how his team played against a team it was expected to defeat as the 60th ranked team in the football multiverse, Rush cited his feeling that the Stars needed a confidence boost after what could've been a devastating loss against Juvencus. He was happy to see his depth players getting a chance to play when his team's surprising results during World Cup 96 qualifying prevented all but tactical, suspension- or injury-required replacements.

His team had another pit stop to make before heading to Nantwich, a visit to World Cup-bound Crpostran, the ultimate owners of the World Cup Committee's glass slipper after their shock automatic qualification as Group 11 champions from the 240th position in the KPB rankings. Their dramatic ascendance forced No. 9 Yuezhou into a playoff match and eliminated 29th ranked Milchama from World Cup contention entirely.

Sure, Crpostran's catapult to the 73rd ranked team was more of a rocket launch than Sarzonia's 52-place leap, but it still meant two teams that weren't expected to sniff the proper but are trending in the right direction would face each other.

And it would give Rush an opportunity to address one of his team's few areas of opportunity during their qualifying campaign: A relatively weak performance in away matches. They would play in neutral venues in Nantwich and Clark, but they still wanted to prove they could prosper without playing in front of a majority of navy-clad supporters.

The Stars won the night. And once more, Rush had reason for optimism.

[The Kytler Peninsulae]

THE KYTLERIAN NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM FOR CUP OF HARMONY 88
Manager: Andrew PATTERSON
Assistant manager: Jay JENNINGS

 # Name (SHIRT NAME)			Age  Position	Club			2nd nation
 1 Kuno ZEELEN				 25  GK		Bravin Rangers
 2 Teun DONK*				 24  CB/LB	FC Alaer
 3 Wecoisus GACKBANG			 28  RB/CB	FC Alaer
 4 Shrifflu MOCKS			 23  CDM/CB	FC Alaer
 5 Álfar JVARSSON			 24  RB/RWB	Zeiven City		GRF
 6 Finn MURPHY*				 27  CDM/CM	Ranford & Willsbrook
 7 Vicente Bautista Oleandro (VINCENT)	 21  CM/CAM/LM	Real Santa Mordana*
 8 Dings MOCKS				 27  CAM/RW/ST	Bay City United
 9 Danny MARKUSSON*			 22  ST		Bravin Rangers			 
10 Emrys FLOYD				 28  LW/ST	Borlfield Town
11 Marwin MIKKELSEN*			 27  RM/RW	Roddens City
12 Jonas JVARSSON			 22  GK		Zeiven City
13 PARK Si-Woo*				 22  LWB/LM/CM	Capitolians		QUE
14 James BLACK				 30  CM/LM	FC Alaer
15 Xavier LaMOTTA			 22  CB/LB/CDM	AFC Edencliff
16 Conan PRUNTY				 32  LB/LWB	Roddens City
17 Clituleng TAKLIK			 32  CM/CAM	Capitolians
18 Teun VAN OS				 20  CB/LB	Ranford & Willsbrook
19 Rick FLASH				 23  RW/CAM/ST  AFC Edencliff
20 Oliver VANDOME*			 21  CB/RB	Ranford & Willsbrook
21 Zachary ELLIS-JOHN*			 28  LB/RB	Capitolians
22 Agnes ODDKELLSDÓTTIR			 22  LW		AFC Edencliff		GRF
23 Jonathan MURPHY-COATES		 33  GK		FC Alaer

* on loan from Miposojeon (QUE)

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

Potential starting XI:


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

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

Style modifier: -1.093

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

For now, all of the team are based domestically (albeit on a technicality courtesy of Miposojeon's deal for Vincent coming with a one-season loan-back), and Kytlerian soccer (and Kytlerian life) has been badly affected by the Græntfjall energy crisis in the latter part of the season. As a result, Patterson has skewed more towards experienced, established players in his squad than he had perhaps been expected to, or indeed expected to do himself. Of the three players bought into this squad who weren't in the core WC96Q 23, two are thirtysomethings playing for one of the biggest clubs in the country.

Individual player notes
The team truly revolves around Vincent, who Also a not-infrequent scorer of long-range curling strikes, he has secured a historic multi-million move to the Q-League that takes effect next season, and can play either centrally or on the left - typically looking to run into the left half-space either way, where he can play dangerous passes with either foot or potentially take a shot with his right.

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

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

[Adab]

KickTheBall.com
Bringing you the latest news and rumors in football, in Adab and abroad

---

Thursday, April 1, 2049 | 27 Jumada al-Akhir 1471 | 28 Adar 5809

NEWS | CUP OF HARMONY
By: Saddam Abbas

Kaykali praises Valentine Z and Tumbra, admits he is unsure “how long I’m going to stay”

Adab national team manager Saad Kaykali struck an unusually melancholic tone to begin his first press conference for the 88th Cup of Harmony, admitting – in his 76th year – he is not certain if he is going to remain at his post for much longer, before going on to praise upcoming opponents Valentine Z and tournament hosts Tumbra.

“Mentally and physically, I remain strong,” Kaykali assured the gathered journalists, who – if they came in expecting the usual braggadocio – must have found themselves in a shock as the manager instead began by musing on his mortality and how nothing lasts forever, “but I’m 75, and at my age you never know what’s going to happen tomorrow, or the day after that.

“I still find joy in managing this team. I don’t want to play the tortured poet or anything. I think we’ve still got that chemistry, the alchemy. I still hope to win one more trophy, but I’d be lying to you if I said I know how long I’m going to stay here. I might not be here for the next IAC or World Cup qualifiers, for all you know.”

Kaykali, who turned 75 on January 20, went on to entertain the journalists with a story of how he came to confront the impermanence of life. “About a fortnight ago, I was watering the plants and flowers at home, and I noticed that one of them had wilted. Which was my fault – my gardener was sick and I had forgotten to water them myself for a while – but anyway it made me realize how nothing lasts forever, including myself.

“I’m still healthy for my age, but again, you just never know. It’s up to me, and to all of us, to make the most of the time we’ve got. Because it doesn't matter who you are, in the long run everyone - be it you or me or Chloe or Sam or Sophia or Marcus or the cabbage seller next door or whoever - we won't be here forever.”

If the journalists hoped for Kaykali to discuss tactics or formations, they were In for a disappointment. Not, however, if they had an interest in actresses who retired and passed long ago. “You know, back in the day – this was more than a century ago, actually – there was a great actress in the Faraway Lands named Clara Bow. Who the hell was Clara Bow? Exactly. But in her heyday, she was an icon, the ‘it girl’. Silent films, talkies, she did them all, and she thrived. But now you ask, ‘Who the hell was Clara Bow?’ A century from now people will be asking ‘Who the hell was Saad Kaykali?’ Maybe I will be remembered, maybe I won’t. But I won’t be here.”

Unfortunately for those invested in the finite nature of life, Kaykali then steered the topics towards the rather boring topic of football. He went on to lavish great praise upon Valentine Z, who Adab will be playing in two days. “I’ve watched them play and they’ve got a very enjoyable, all-out attacking style of football. Their 3-3-4 formation can be tricky but I’m sure my guys will be able to deal with them.

“I have nothing but good things to say about them,” Kaykali continued, before casually demonstrating his ability to recall long names at will. “Holly is a joy to watch, Holly Annemiek Gerrieke Van De Hoogte. And of course, Clarissa Alanis Star Samantha, she is one of the best managers in the game right now. A true leader of her men. I’m certainly looking forward to our match.”

Also at the receiving end of Kaykali’s praise were the hosts of the Cup. “Tumbra and Adab, I think we sorta go back a long way, in that we have been forces in international football for a while. Obviously you know what I’ve said about Tumbra before. The country, the football team, they’re great at whatever they do.

“Phil Cole is a great player and I’m sad to see that he is no longer on the national team. Of course, you know what I think about Trudy Harrison and Stephen Kerr. They’re two of the best footballers of this generation and I dread the moment when they hang up their boots. I wish the Tumbra team the best at the World Cup.”

With the pesky matter of football out of the way, Kaykali shifted to becoming a talking travelogue. “I have nothing but good things to say about my trips to this country. I love Straton. I know people complain about it because it’s too gray or whatever, but I’ve always enjoyed what I see there. It helps that I have an interest in history, I suppose. The National History Museum is very nice, and so is the National Science Museum, the National Air and Space Museum, all the museums. The National Library, too.

“I visited the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier there one day, alone. It was a very sobering experience, to remember all those people who gave up their lives for their country. You realize that so many of the things you go through in life are pretty insignificant, all things considered.

“You look in people’s windows and you see all those nice, shiny, fancy things. Then you remember how fragile everything is in life, how easily it can be taken away.

“And you ask yourself, ‘Does anything really matter in life?’”

[Commonwealth of Baker Park]

Cup of Harmony Factsheet
For immediate release; contact Sasha Henderson, FAC Director of Media Relations for further information.

The Commonwealth of Baker Park will make their debut in the Cup of Harmony, hosted in Tumbra, after missing out on the last edition. They have played in 347 WCC sanctioned matches in the mixed gender era compiling a record of 220 wins, 66 defeats and 61 draws.

--The third group stage fixture against Abanhfleft at the Eagles Club in Straton will be the 700th match played by Baker Park in the mixed gender era, so if one does the math it will be an even split between WCC matches and all other competitions and friendlies played.
--To confuse everyone further, the home match against Jeruselem in World Cup Qualifying was the 1,100th overall match in the history of the FAC; prior to Baptism of Fire 67 there had been 410 official National Team fixtures, so the historical benchmark milestones and the occasion of the same for the modern mixed gender era come one right after the other.
--For a final piece of useless fixture trivia, Baker Park defeated the Grim Reapers from Quebec & Shingoryeo 4-2 prior to the beginning of qualifying which was Baker Park's 1,093rd time participating in an international soccer contest.
--Two appearances here in Tumbra will get midfielder Freddie Altman his 100th cap, the 16th player in BP history—and 10th midfielder—to reach the century mark. But he will probably be the last Century Club member for awhile as most players in the high 50's to mid 60's in appearances won't have another two or three cycles to make a run.
--Karrie Price reached 75 caps in the 1-1 draw with Union of Ventura and Carly Logan reached the Diamond plateau in the above mentioned Jeruselem match, in which she captained the side; Olivia Ryan will make it to her 75th in Tumbra in the opener, continuing the NT tradition in the mixed gender era of a woman wearing the armband in the first match of a competition, however forward Serena McDavid will have to wait (69) until the next major tournament.
--BPNT boss Will Barnard will approach the COH with an aggressive mindset and a goal of advancing to the quarterfinals at the minimum.
“Had we been in last time, I was of a mind that we would use the experience to give younger players minutes. Today I think it's imperative that we keep pushing to see how much different quali would've been if it had been, say...16 fixtures. We lost away 1-0 to the two nations that finished ahead of us in the group, so I don't think we were that far off the pace.”
--WCQ 96 marked the first time ever that BP did not keep a clean sheet during the tournament which certainly added to the frustration that came with drawing once with every opponent except Jeruselem, the only six point opponent in this cycle.
--If the point about short group stage formats being a particular Achilles’s Heel for BP hasn't sunk in, the overall record of the squad on each matchday of every WCQ they've taken part in should make for interesting reading. The Gold and Black have never lost a qualifying fixture that comes after the eighteenth scheduled match.

MD1	9-4-4
MD2	12-3-2
MD3	10-2-5
MD4	15-1-1
MD5	12-5
MD6	10-1-6
MD7	14-2-1
MD8	11-2-4
MD9	10-1-6
MD10	15-1-1
MD11	9-5-3
MD12	10-2-5
MD13	7-5-3
MD14	11-4
MD15	10-1-3
MD16	9-2-3
MD17	10-3
MD18	12-1
MD19	7-0
MD20	4-0-3
MD21	3-0
MD22	1-0-2
MD23	0-0-1
MD24	0-0-1

--The FAC sent a substantial ceremonial gift basket to the newest member of the Debutante Qualifiers Club, Crposrtan, which held on to automatically qualify for the Finals as the winner of Group 11. They are the fifth nation to turn their first cycle into a spot in the World Cup since Cycle 75, when Bonesea and Savelen both accomplished the feat, with Drawkland joining them in Cycle 77 and BP in Cycle 80. The 16 cycle gap is the second longest period without a debutante in NSWC history, surpassed only by the 19 cycle drought between Chetkosk in WC 56 and and double feature in WC 75.

--The BPNT had hosted the side at the BBP Stadium prior to the Baptism of Fire, winning 7-2.
“We put a fairly strong starting lineup out for them, and everyone in our squad got minutes,” Barnard explained. “But the one thing we came away with as an impression of them was they came to learn, to play in front of a large crowd, to see where their weaknesses were. When there were breakdowns at the back that led to scoring chances for us, they didn't snipe at each other or get angry, they attempted to diagnose as best as they could what not to do. I told their manager that he should be proud of the effort his side put in. Hard graft, not letting the moment get away from them. I'm not shocked at all that they have equaled our historic achievement and I wish them the very best.”
--The Executive Board announced that the National Team badge will remain unchanged with the orange and blue stars representing the AOCAF Cup titles continuing to be a prominent part of the crest.
--Baker Park will face Legalese, St John-Jacques et Burnham-on-Stove and Abanhfleft in the group stage, and have just the barest minimum of history with each; Legalese faced Baker Park in World Cup Qualifying 88 with the hosts winning 3-2 at President's Park in a hyper-charged atmosphere immediately following the Foxchester Declaration, while the return match in Anaia at the National Stadium saw a 3-1 Bees victory under less pressurized circumstances. St Jean-Jacques have never faced the BPNT but are a rising threat which won't be overlooked, and Abanhfleft have a stronger connection in lacrosse and at age group level but have just a single meeting in the Jenna Raven Cup 3/Women's World Cup 16 quarterfinals at the Shipyards Stadium in Wilmington, Sarzonia where the Fleftics prevailed 3-1 on penalties after sides drew 4-4 AET on their way to the WWC title.
--The first two matches will be played at the 74,000 seat Serrapince Park while the Abanhfleft fixture will take place at the Eagles Club in Straton where the capacity is 88,000; the first opponent dropped into the COH after falling in the playoffs while the others were a third placed side in their qualifying group.
--The 100 match span leading up to and including their 1,100th all-time international saw BP winning 51, losing 21 and drawing 28, which in terms of a non-losing percentage was the second highest in history but in terms of matches won was the lowest in the mixed gender era. It's no coincidence that missing out on consecutive World Cup Finals has come down to the inability to gain the extra two points that are the result of a win.
--In the same vein, Will Barnard will take charge of his 72nd fixture as NT boss against Legalese with an overall record of 34 wins, 16 defeats and 21 draws, with the win and fixture totals ranking him 6th all time on both lists.

Lineup vs Legalese

Callaway; Jones, Kucera, Schulman; C Logan, Ryan (C), Vetter, Altman; Moorman; Harris, Diaz
subs: Rossi, Bruce, O'Connor, Walker, Park, Olivera, Garfield, McFairlaine, Price, Cohen-Abdullah, Riley

[Drawkland]

NEW FRANCHISE ALERT!!!

With the contraction and re-expansion of DLK, five slots were open for cities to make their cases for obtaining a soccer franchise. See this previous post for more information.

The Ellzidanet-adjacent market had been taken care of. The southeast peninsula's insatiable appetite for soccer had been fulfilled for the time being. Certainly, in an expansion scenario of five teams, DLK couldn't afford to put more than 2 teams in that area. Ducentu and North Point had done the job.

Now there were three spots remaining to fill. In the same vein that the soccer-obsessed southeast was sure to receive attention, the generally sports-engrossed northern territory of Iarocavet was definitely going to receive extended attention. Most fans assumed at least one, maybe two teams would be founded in that territory, which left about one-and-a-half spots remaining for the rest of the nation.

The coverage elsewhere seemed acceptable. On a map of Drawkland with each DLK franchise pinned, there were no large gaps. At least, no gaps that had a significant portion of the population inside them. The question was not "which city creates a new unique market," but "which city is most ready for a team?" DLK wanted to prioritize cities which wouldn't have to be waiting around for a stadium to be built, or worry about building a fanbase in a crowded sports market.

Three main candidates emerged that were south of the Maldhar Valley. Esmereldane, a town on the Sallitha River which separates the Callagardet and Malicollet territories. Waxton, a city halfway between Corinth City and Lake Yokare, in the eastern half of Malicollet. Archifel Capital, the capital city of the large archipelago off Drawkland's southwesternmost point. All three cities had a venue capable of hosting soccer without issue. The problem for Esmereldane and Waxton was that these venues were already occupied by the local gridiron football outfits, the Bison and Pilots respectively.

Out of the two gridiron franchises, the Waxton Pilots seemed less eager to share. The Pilots had shared a stadium with the local baseball franchise, the Jets, for many years. Pilots fans were eternally grateful when their team finally put up the money to build a fancy new dome they could have all to themselves. Now, sharing a football stadium with a soccer team is much less disruptive than baseball, but there was still some reluctance among Pilots management to agree to share.

The Esmereldane Bison were a little more open to the idea, but therein lied a different issue. The Bison's home field was already getting old and in need of replacement. The Bison had been searching for years to find an acceptable site for a new field, but it had been in vain. The team wasn't going to move, but their stadium was starting to literally crumble on the edges, and plans for a new field were stuck in limbo. Even with a potential soccer franchise to join in and help foot the bill, the options weren't looking pretty. The only available sites at the moment were way the hell out past the suburbs and difficult to travel to. Redeveloping the current stadium site was possible, but would be expensive and leave the Bison looking for another home in the meantime. Adding a potential soccer franchise also looking for a temporary home would make that situation even more of a clutterfunk. It was just a case of right place, wrong time.

Meanwhile, Archifel Capital already had a stadium ready to go. The aptly-named Archifel Capital Stadium had existed in the tropical island city for years, but never had a permanent tenant. Archifel hosted a basketball and baseball team, but no large grass pitch sport franchise. ACS was mostly used for temporary events. The Island Bowl was a well-respected fixture in the Drawkian college football calendar, and some sort of neutral site game was held there about once a month. Originally it was built to host a team of some sorts in the last rounds of expansion, but the deals fell short. Now, though, things seemed to be coming together.

introducing ...

The Archifel Surf!



City: Archifel, Malicollet
Stadium: Archifel Capital Stadium (61,200)

Note: Original badge was generated via AI. Several touch-ups were done manually to complete the design.

It just made too much sense. Archifel's sports culture had been expanding lately, with the PBL's Skiffers turning into a perennial contender (mostly thanks to the effort of transcendent talent Abram Kavana), and the Second Suns being a solid squad in the DBO. Hosting the Archifel Invitational Tournament as a now-recurring event in the NSCAA preseason also helped keep the city on the map. More and more, people were considering Archifel as a sporting town.

The new franchise owners went a little safe and boring with the name, choosing Surf as the team identity from one of the several options most voted on by the new fanbase. A simple reference to both the waves that lapped on the picturesque beaches of Archifel, as well as the common extracurricular activity for locals and tourists alike. The tropical theme was easy to fit in, and though it's not particular inspiring, it certainly wasn't egregious. Few complaints were had, except from the cynics of course.

Archifel Capital Stadium, a retractable-roof stadium with a silvery exterior that glitters in the sun, was ready to go, and no sharing deals needed to be made. The new Surf ownership chipped in some money to help refurbish and upgrade the venue, as well as add some new Surf branding to the interior and exterior. The stadium is rather small compared to DLK norms, but this makes sense as it was primarily an exhibitionary venue for the majority of its lifespan to this point. It may play out to the Surf's favor, as Archifel Capital isn't an enormous city, and most of their economic activity comes from tourism. The smaller size may lead to more acceptable sellout percentages in the metrics, and with the typical Archifel pricing, ownership will still make plenty of money.

For many years, the two professional teams in Archifel Capital were renowned for being laid-back and none-to-concerned with making deep runs. If the fans were showing up, and the on-field product wasn't atrocious, things were fine. Nowadays, the standards seem to be elevated. Will the Surf fall into the common trap of complacency that has plagued Archifelian franchises in the past? Will the new fanbase demand the team be competitive from the get-go? The team has been mediocre in their first couple seasons, but that's to be expected from an expansion team. These upcoming seasons will be crucial in determining whether the Surf will make waves or slide along without a splash.

[Elmyia]

The Overlap
5 reasons to be excited as squad announced

You get the impression, really, that quite a lot of the teams capable of winning the Cup of Harmony would rather not bother. In the Elmyian media this bad mood seems to have carried over, with a lot of chat about it being a b tier competition, sadness at missing out on the main event and some anger at Porras and the players that they failed to get over the line. But, they're wrong. I think you'll find most fans are much more fair minded, there's an acknowledgement that if qualification is a great achievement, then to miss out doesn't signify total failure. I remain minded to agree, there are some great teams in this tournament, and unlike at the world cup, we can count ourselves amongst them. Here are our five reasons to get excited about Elmyia's trip to Tumbra.

1. Porras goes back to basics. The qualifying campaign saw Porras try something slightly new. A shift to a back three, a movement to trying to hold the ball in settled possession and to leave more cover at the back. It came from sound principles, with Elmyia's Achilles heel of getting hit on the counter, having five players to cover behind the ball didn't feel ridiculous. It would also, theoretically, allow Elmyia some positional overloads, getting players into the right positions to receive from the back, build through the thirds and dominate each phase of play. But sometimes theory is just that. In trying to meld his best eleven into this system, we saw Froggatt put in a position that seemed to minimise her upside and expose her worst tendencies. It also saw Elmyia stuck in situations where they held settled possession for too long, unable to strike forward with the pace and directness that seems to suit their best players. So Porras has reverted to the formation he knows best, one which has given Elmyia it's most successful performance. At a minimum we can expect the attacking football that marked out Elmyia as a coming force to return to its best.

2. But some exciting new faces. By and large, Porras seems to want to stick with the players that have got him this far. That's fair enough, especially given the perceived lack of depth behind perhaps the best 30 Elmyian players. Here though, he's been willing to go with form and try out some different personnel. Awfield and Kastrinakis come in as full backs, replacing Palm and Katsouranis, who effectively played as additional wingers. Both these players have a far greater capacity for defending, whilst retaining adequate enough technical skills and pace to contribute going forward. Whilst they will surely be under instruction to break forward and support wide rotations, their natural game will likely provide a counter to this and might aid Elmyia in defending against transitions. Sam Depel, meanwhile, comes in for Doug Reid after a solid season, he will provide little different to Marakakis but can sub in to good effect. Jesca Blair also comes into the squad after setting the league alight for Indipendiente. She and Katsouranis provide some truly luxury backup for Froggatt, each offering something quite different. Froggatt's ability to make the ball stick to her foot, to receive and turn in tight spaces and create magic from nothing, Katsouranis' tactical intelligence, pace and ability to interchange with a full back and Blair's tendency to pop up in goal scoring positions offer three distinct options out wide. If one isn't working, expect Porras to try something else.

3. Despite the noise, this is a good time to be an Elmyia fan. Sure, the whole rift between Hellenic and everyone else, and Italia players and the national team has created a sour mood (one which has carried through the last two domestic seasons). However, it feels as if people are ready to put this to one side. Sure, the national team has been full of swirling controversy, but once they're at a big tournament the mood will likely shift. Put that together with the fact that hooligan groups seem to have been tamed and Elmyians now have more disposable income than at any point in the past, fans can be assured of an enjoyable time in Tumbra where they can just focus on enjoying the game.

4. After his growth spurt, little can stop Girello. Girello was an unusual first choice keeper, both for Wirr Tsi and the national team. Standing at just 5 foot 9, the teenager really was smaller than most, and it really required him to maximise his technique and positioning to make saves. Whilst that remains in his armoury, having shot up to 6 foot 2 now he's the height of a proper keeper. He might well now be the best in the world, and the best player for this side. His ability on the ball is surely the best of any goalkeeper in the world, expect him to feel empowered to step up into the defensive line in possession, opening up passing angles into midfield for Elmyia. This can often have the benefit of baiting the opposition press forward as they seek to take advantage of the vacated net, giving him plenty of space in behind to hit with a long pass up to Whittingham, Rossi and Froggatt.

5. The potential for joy. So much of football, especially in the media reporting, focuses around petty squabbles, schadenfreuder and blasting players or managers for their mistakes or not doing well enough. Equally tiresome can be the endless discussion of transfer rumours, managerial sackings and scandals in the boardroom. Even at games, a lot of a fans life is dominated by let downs, disappointment and frustration. There are few awards available each year, so much of the time you watch a team with little to play for. Elmyian fans had the potential to become somewhat jaded about world cup qualifying. Two world cups reached, two group stage exits. In fact, Elmyian fans have never seen their side get beyond the Group stage at a WCC administered event. This Cup of Harmony, as a higher seed and with a strong squad, offers the opportunity to truly experience joy. To see their team succeed, win, go for glory. More so than the world cup, there is hope a trophy might be lifted at the end of it. If that was to happen, I dare you to find a single fan complaining that Elmyia missed out on the opportunity to receive a pasting in the main event.

Back to 4-3-3

Goalkeepers
GK Enrico Girello
GK Ian Garavakos
GK Oscar Wilton

Defenders
LB Andrew Awfield
CB Nancy Savalas
CB María Grosso
RB Anastasia Kastrinakis
CB Antonio Silva
RB Roberto Palm

Midfielders
CDM Kit Simmons
CM Valentina Galli
CAM Anya Marakakis
CDM Aaron McLoughlin
CM Athanasios Marinos
CAM Sam Depel

Forwards
LW Jackie Froggatt
CF Gina Whittingham
RW Kostas Rossi
LW Sofia Katsouranis
CF Vespa Benedetti
RW Lara Beaugemont
LW Jesca Blair
CF Mia Benoit

Against Polar Islandstates:
GK Girello
LB Awfield
CB Savalas
CB Grosso
RB Palm
CDM Simmons
CM Marinos
CAM Marakakis
LW Froggatt
CF Whittingham
RW Beaugemont

Bench: GK, Garavakos; CB Silva; RB, Kastrinakis; CM, Galli; CAM, Depel; LW, Katsouranis; RW, Beaugemont

Elmyia might expect to be given much of the ball against a side ranked lower, and coming off a difficult qualifying run. Marinos and Beaugemont coming into the lineup suggests Porras is expecting as much. Marinos' strength over Galli is his ability to continually recycle possession and show patience in picking out a pass. Beaugemont is also a player who is excellent in tighter spaces against a side defending deep. Ultimately though, Polar Islandstates have a relatively attacking setup, Elmyia will take risks in deep build up phases to draw them forward and play forward quickly. With the opposition's tendency to have one full back bomb on, expect Elmyia to try and exploit the space this leaves either side of the situational back three. Expect Palm or Awfield to attempt to go forward quickly down the side covered by a full back to draw the back three across, leaving space for the winger on the opposite side, whilst Whittingham tries to occupy the centre backs. Palm's attacking tendencies could conversely open up a weakness down Elmyia's right side, albeit Marinos and Beaugemont are both diligent players who will be on hand to cover.

RP Permissions: Do as you like
Style Mod: +3

[Polar Islandstates]

It was a familiar routine by now. He’d done it all his life. Even without looking, he would have been able to reach down, untie his laces, shirk his boots off and kick the neatly with a back heel under his allocated section of the bench. The seats had gotten plusher and wider over the course of his career, but the routine never changed, and neither did the smells. There was no way that any amount of extra wood panelling or chrome effect fixtures could disguise that familiar mix of aromas as he reached down and started to unwind the tape from around his socks; the grub and funk of disturbed ground, the acidic tang of flexing and tenderising leather and plastic, his own sweat, and the unmistakable musk of bruised and crushed grass. It was intoxicating. But it wasn't going to last forever.

Dmitry Eisenhauer looked around the changing room at the rest of the squad, doing their own post-training routines. Some were already in the shower, some were larking around and enjoying the environment, Jalmari and Sebastian were lost in a discussion about their dead ball techniques, and Oscar looked like he was meditating.

Dmitry looked for the other strikers, and instantly felt every one of his years. Youssef was doing stretches. Elmo was sitting and staring at his outstretched fingers in front of him, thinking about his performance in the session. And Emmanuele... Emmanuele was standing and staring in the mirror, psyching himself out. They were young and hungry. Two of them, anyway. But even Elmo was still younger than Dmitry.

Not that he wasn't still hungry himself, but he'd wondered for a while if it might have been time to do the right thing and move aside. The press and public opinion had seemed to catch him up before he could say anything but, maybe it was time. Whilst he was still in the gaffer's plans.

The truth was, he wanted to play football for as long as he could. And that meant being able to play the way he played best, to showcase his talents and keep him in favour. If the gaffer didn't want to play a lone striker, then, fair enough. He was doing his best supporting young Emmanuele, but, it wasn't for him. He'd found a good thing at Texstil, and he wanted to prolong it. He was enjoying Mytanija. It was good for him.

Most important to Dmitry though, was the chance to go out in his own terms. Dmitry Eisenhauer was a lone striker. He did things his own way. He rolled down his socks and came to the conclusion he knew he always would.

Dmitry Eisenhauer didn't get pushed. He jumped. This would be his last tournament with the Terns.

He stared at the watchful gaffer across the mayhem of the changing room until he caught his eye. A flick upwards of the head signalled the message had gotten through.

"Boss? A quick word...?"

Aalto gestured down the corridor towards his temporary office, and Dmitry padded after him. Time to draw a line under things.

[Hakushiya]

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---

speakerphone promos
getting the cogs ready for the worlds beyond...
'cause we got selected to fly the blue-n-orange flag for wv114
by Angie Reagan (they/she), a high-schooler and music aficionado who's also written part-time for CiCiBL*ggS in the past and would like to study a heritage lit course at uni
published on 19/apr/2024 at 19:00 (UTC-9)

So for those who've yet to get themselves initiated to the world of WorldVision... well, it's the name of a multiversal song contest that Hakushiya just can't seem to completely get the hang of when it comes to even getting itself on the LHS of the scoreboard (let alone win)... yet, huh? (At least the Adabians got their jury's votes in and landed at 15th last time - now their NFT's going to Tumbra for the next Cup of Harmony at the same time as our birdies as both teams failed to qualify for the WC96 finals.) Well, get your sodas up, 'cuz me and schoolmate Eason are teaming up with one of our own (Torfun Chiewchengol aka TORIMANA - he'll be able to play some pro soccer on select Tumbran matches as well since we've all left a huge chunk of promo work to our domestic AIs)... to make music that'll be worthy for the next WorldVision edition! (like seriously)

Read more...

---

(this space's reserved for the results of the CoH88 matches Hakushiya's involved in)

[Qusmo]

The Mathletic
Informed analysis.

Cup of Harmony 88 preview: part one
Everything you need to know about Qusmo’s team & its highly-anticipated clash with the SRS

Ahead of Cup of Harmony 88, the prevailing mood of Qusma football is cautious optimism. The tournament in Tumbra represents Qusmo’s first WCC tournament in thirteen cycles, but the team has begun to accumulate valuable experience. For the first time since Qusmo returned to international football, every player on the roster has previously been capped, as each player put on the Qusma red & gold in multiple World Cup 96 Qualifying matches.

Qusmo

It is difficult to overstate how much better Qusmo performed in World Cup Qualifying than in the prior Copa Rushmori. Having won eight of their twelve Qualifying matches, compared to a single draw & four losses in five Copa Rushmori group stage fixtures, Qusmo improved its points per match figure by an entire order of magnitude. The Cup of Harmony is where Qusmo’s national team has historically shined on the international stage, too, as two of the team’s three knockout victories — & every such victory not hosted in Qusmo itself — have come at the Cup of Harmony. With the Multiverse’s leading lights off to Mertagne & Huayramarca, then, Qusmo might be able to begin to shine a little brighter.

However, the optimism of the federation & the team remains somewhat guarded. After all, the beginning of this WCC cycle — Qusmo’s first in competition since the WCC’s eighty-third cycle — saw Qusmo lose five & win none of their first six matches. & as well as these players have played, & as well as manager Tlanx-Nulzk Hal has adapted their team to their players’ strengths & weaknesses, there are some very glaring weaknesses on this roster.

Perhaps the most concerning such weakness has to be the squad’s age. The mean, median, & mode age of the players of the roster is thirty years old. Only ten players, including two midfielders & no goalkeepers, are in their twenties, & no player is in their teens. Honing in specifically on the eleven players who are expected to start against the Squornshelan Remnant States, three are thirty-five or older, compared to only four players still in their twenties.

Defense

Qusmo has won all five matches in which goalkeeper Yamaj-Zorno Mal has played, including clean sheets in Qualifiers away to Esporonia & Tanirinthia, but they are thirty-seven & do not even regularly start for their club at this stage in their career. Their positioning & command has bailed them out of difficult situations, but can they truly buoy a national team, or will their reflexes, recovery, & distribution be found out in their debut tournament campaign?
Meanwhile, the defense in front of them looks incredibly precarious against pacy opposition. Both of Qusmo’s starting fullbacks are thirty-five, their centrebacks are thirty-three & a practically infantile twenty-six, & the two midfielders with greatest defensive responsibility are both on the wrong side of thirty. Of course, those players have earned their spots on the pitch — Wanar-Xeral Zyn & Nexev-Pilta Jan both still ply their trade for Nyva Zvornik in Mytanija’s demanding 1. Prvenstvo, & there’s a reason Otoln-Prant Ezi is a two-time Champions League winner with Brenecian heavyweights Northern Union — but can the defense hold up to a full tournament schedule with only a few days of rest between each match?

Midfield

Qusmo’s midfield & its forward line are where the team is likeliest to shine. Intov-Gelan Nun forms the base of midfield. Their work is by no means sexy, but it’s necessary, as they have the energy, pace, & stamina to shield Qusmo’s aging back line, in turn allowing the players in front of them to attack. Jerat-Forzu Mal does an excellent job of that, as the former Squornshelan Superleague champion with Sivolvia Capitalizt is capable defensively but also contributes a great deal to the Qusma attack. They’ve scored their two national team goals thus far at crucial moments, equalizing late against Cabo Azure to secure Qusmo’s first point since World Cup 83, & scoring the lone goal at Mastad Qusma in the team’s victory over then-fourth-ranked Farfadillis. Had it not been for an injury sustained in Qusmo’s away fixture in Farfadillis, which sidelined them for the remainder of the first half of Qualifying, they would surely have much more than ten caps now.

& of course, that brings us to Qusmo’s current active caps & goals leader: Helek-Pertz Zev, having played in all seventeen of Qusmo’s matches so far in this cycle, scoring five goals along the way. Like their midfield partner, the Megabrantid star has also won the Superleague, & they present one of this team’s best attacking threats, even playing in midfield. In truth, they’re equally capable playing as a striker, & they remind viewing audiences of that on a regular basis. They have excellent technique & passing ability, which often leads to final balls in behind opposing defenses, but other times they’re the ones arriving late in the box to surprise their markers with impeccable timing, preternatural positioning, & elegant finishing.

Forwards

Finally, Qusmo’s forward three profile as three very different sorts of players. On the right, Ilinx-Winad Bel is the hyper-versatile player who can play practically anywhere in midfield or attack & seems to be Qusmo’s first choice at right wing & perhaps also its second choice on the left wing & in attacking midfield. Ilinx-Winad will by no means be the best player on the pitch, but their ability to switch & interchange with any player around them has won them a valuable role. In the middle, striker Xilit-Oxolt Mal will be familiar with their conditions at the Cup of Harmony, as one of two players on Qusmo’s roster to ply their trade with a Tumbran club. They have scored in three of their four starts for Qusmo, & they will surely hope to add to their tally in such familiar environs.

Finally, the gem of the forward line — &, alongside Jerat-Forzu & Helek-Pertz, a player who is clearly one of Qusmo’s best — is Belaj-Rilan Dar. After maddening performance after maddening performance with the national team, showing obvious flashes of quality by getting into fantastic positions but never proving able to convert, the floodgates opened in Qusmo’s final home Qualifier to the tune of Qusmo’s first hat trick since Ilinx-Kepex Zev’s heroics against Chromatika in World Cup 83 Qualifying. At only twenty-two, they are by far Qusmo’s brightest young star, & with a newfound confidence that only scoring goals can provide, they will undoubtedly seek to announce themself in their first-ever WCC tournament.

Overall

For Qusmo, then, it’s simple: trust in the wisdom of celebrated manager Tlanx-Nulzk Hal; call upon Jerat-Forzu, Helek-Pertz, & Belaj-Rilan to put their stamp on the match; overwhelm opponents with attacking verve; shield the weaknesses of the backline through a relentless press; rely on the form of the starting XI, rather than the questionable depth on the bench; & shock the Multiverse at the Cup of Harmony. At least, that will surely be Qusmo’s plan — but other nations will surely have something to say about that.

Squornshelan Remnant States

Qusmo has faced the Squornshelan Remnant States twice before — and once at a prior Cup of Harmony, at that. Qusmo won both prior encounters one-nil, one a friendly at the Słavnarzeczpospolitastadion in what is now the grief-stricken city of Lublova, & the other a Cup of Harmony 81 quarterfinal at Diamond Park in Stalliongrad, Equestria. Of course, both nations have changed drastically in the years since. The Imperium challenged the Confederacy for Squornshelan supremacy & collapsed in the process, being subsumed by its national twin. Meanwhile, Qusmo itself endured the trials & terrors of the KMSQ era & its aftermath, & it is only now reemerging in world football.

Qusma diaspora

Of course, that isn’t the biggest talking point in Qusmo ahead of its clash with the reigning Arrosian, former AOCAF Cup, & former World Cup champions. The rebirth of Qusma football simply could not have happened without the contributions of Squornshelous, particularly its Superleague. Eight of Qusmo’s players currently ply their trade in the SRS, nine are dual-nationals also eligible to play for the SRS, & six are youth products of a single Squornshelan club: KFX Halazem. Noted Squornshelan pundit Salwan Mynhier even made an international stir by going so far as to declare Qusmo’s opening match of the Cup of Harmony to be a fixture between “the SRS v. the SRS (B).”

Qusmo’s reliance on Squornshelan-based talent is no accident, as a large Qusma diaspora fled their homeland for the democratic promise of the Confederacy in the wake of the KMSQ’s reign over Qusmo. That diaspora has naturally mixed feelings about their two nations meeting competitively for the first time since most of them left Qusmo for the SRS. Some hope Qusmo’s participation on the international stage is a sign of progress since they were forced to leave, or may even that football itself help liberalize their former home. Others, however, cannot support Qusmo while it continues to be governed by Qusmi Bez Drolx-Dalox Aka.

Sevet-Ibilx Kai

Count Squornshelan captain, & Qusma dual national, Sevet-Ibilx Kai among those in the latter camp. The star centre midfielder has won the Superleague, the AOCAF Cup, & the ARC with Brantisvogan & Squornshelous. Given their incredible skill, experience, leadership, & perfect fit with new Qusma manager Tlanx-Nulzk’s roster, given how crucial centre midfield is to their ideal tactical setup, Sevet-Ibilx could have instantly been the Qusma national team’s greatest star since Ilinx-Kepex Zev — another former legendary Tlanx-Nulzk centre midfielder.

However, they turned down the chance to attempt to win a third distinct regional championship with Qusmo ahead of Copa Rushmori XLV, & they again declined a Qusma call-up for World Cup 96 Qualifying, before Tlanx-Nulzk revealed ahead of Cup of Harmony 88 that they had ceased attempting to call Sevet-Ibilx into camp at all. In a statement which has been dissected over & over again in news reports in both countries, the Qusma-Squornshelan made the reason behind the decision very clear.

“I don’t want to sound insulting, but there really wasn’t much inner conflict, no choice to make really. I value my Qusma heritage, and I’m proud to be a member of our community here, but when it comes down to it, I’m Squornshelan. I also think it’s important, the strength in diversity that we have here, it’s something really valuable and I’m proud to contribute to that in my role as captain.”

Overall

It may have been a diplomatic answer, all things considered, but Qusmo’s government is famously defensive when it comes to any perceived slights to its reputation on the world stage. With their nation’s roster at this tournament just a right back & a goalkeeper away from being able to field a full starting XI of Squornshelan-Qusmi’y, & with thirteen Squornshelan-Qusmi’y recording 109 caps this cycle in total — fully half the combined total of every player on the roster, 203 caps — it will be deeply embarrassing for Qusmo’s regime if their nation loses to a country so closely linked with Qusmi’y who fled their own rule as refugees, captained by a dual national who rejected them. Above all else, the pressure is on Qusmo’s team of twenty-five to win this match.

[Tumbra]

Matchday One Cutoff
Scores will be edited into this post.

Roster stats
31 rosters were posted in this thread.
The mean grade for a roster was 75%, with a standard deviation of 15.5%.
19 rosters scored above 70%, and 6 above 90%.
The average style modifier for this tournament is 2.42.
4/32 teams have a style modifier of less than 0.01.

Group A
TJUN-ia 1–0 Vyktoria
Drawkland 2–0 Bears Armed

. Group A                                   Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Drawkland                                   1   1  0  0    2   0  +2    3
2 TJUN-ia                                     1   1  0  0    1   0  +1    3
3 Vyktoria                                    1   0  0  1    0   1  −1    0
4 Bears Armed                                 1   0  0  1    0   2  −2    0

Group B
Baggieland 0–0 Myrtle Beach
Carpathia and Ruthenia 3–1 Txakhaxi

. Group B                                   Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Carpathia and Ruthenia                      1   1  0  0    3   1  +2    3
2 Baggieland                                  1   0  1  0    0   0   0    1
  Myrtle Beach                                1   0  1  0    0   0   0    1
4 Txakhaxi                                    1   0  0  1    1   3  −2    0

Group C
Aleirave 0–1 Sarzonia
Polar Islandstates 3–1 Elmyia

. Group C                                   Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Polar Islandstates                          1   1  0  0    3   1  +2    3
2 Sarzonia                                    1   1  0  0    1   0  +1    3
3 Aleirave                                    1   0  0  1    0   1  −1    0
4 Elmyia                                      1   0  0  1    1   3  −2    0

Group D
Cabo Azure 2–2 Wight
Adab 0–1 Valentine Z

. Group D                                   Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Valentine Z                                 1   1  0  0    1   0  +1    3
2 Cabo Azure                                  1   0  1  0    2   2   0    1
  Wight                                       1   0  1  0    2   2   0    1
4 Adab                                        1   0  0  1    0   1  −1    0

Group E
Pasarga 0–0 Oberour Ar Moro
Kamijiro 1–0 Srednjaci

. Group E                                   Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Kamijiro                                    1   1  0  0    1   0  +1    3
2 Oberour Ar Moro                             1   0  1  0    0   0   0    1
  Pasarga                                     1   0  1  0    0   0   0    1
4 Srednjaci                                   1   0  0  1    0   1  −1    0

Group F
The 14 Stars 1–0 Cassadaigua
Saterun 1–3 Tero al Disco

. Group F                                   Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Tero al Disco                               1   1  0  0    3   1  +2    3
2 The 14 Stars                                1   1  0  0    1   0  +1    3
3 Cassadaigua                                 1   0  0  1    0   1  −1    0
4 Saterun                                     1   0  0  1    1   3  −2    0

Group G
Saint-Jean-Jacques et Burnham-on-Stove 3–4 Abanhfleft
Commonwealth of Baker Park 2–0 Legalese

. Group G                                   Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Commonwealth of Baker Park                  1   1  0  0    2   0  +2    3
2 Abanhfleft                                  1   1  0  0    4   3  +1    3
3 Saint-Jean-Jacques et Burnham-on-Stove      1   0  0  1    3   4  −1    0
4 Legalese                                    1   0  0  1    0   2  −2    0

Group H
The Kytler Peninsulae 3–1 Hakushiya
Squornshelan Remnant States 3–3 Qusmo

. Group H                                   Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 The Kytler Peninsulae                       1   1  0  0    3   1  +2    3
2 Qusmo                                       1   0  1  0    3   3   0    1
  Squornshelan Remnant States                 1   0  1  0    3   3   0    1
4 Hakushiya                                   1   0  0  1    1   3  −2    0

[Sarzonia]

Before the World Cup 96 cycle began, the Incorporated Football Federation were unable to arrange for any pre-World Cup qualifying friendlies for the Sarzonian national football team.

Some in Sarzonia's football governing body didn't feel a need for the team to play pre-World Cup qualifying matches, and the inaction caused by a work-stoppage resulted in the Stars playing Labalia as their first non-Arrosian opponent in a match that actually counted.

Manager Caleb Rush opted to play a match against a team of over-35 players and one against the Under 21 national team in addition to the standard intra-squad scrimmages. He was concerned that his team, effectively a Scab Stars side with barely a trace of the veteran-laden squad that competed in the previous cycle, would struggle to earn points in the Group 18 table, even against the Pot 6 and Pot 7 teams in the group.

Rush felt fortunate his team's first two World Cup qualifying matches were against the group's minnows. He figured that would have to take the place of an actual friendlies schedule. He was disappointed when his team experienced a disheartening away draw to Rea San Vegas.

Little did he or anyone else know that draw would prove costly: To Sarzonia's World Cup qualifying chances. His team responded to the frustration of allowing two points to slip through their fingers by stealing the full three points from eighth ranked Ko-oren in front of a rapturous Dave Wilson Stadium crowd. That result would turn out to provide a rocket booster to the rest of qualifying, as the Stars finished in second place, just two points behind Ko-oren for the group title.

Now, with the team preparing for the Cup of Harmony, Rush was on board with the idea of playing a couple of additional matches, in part to keep his depth players sharp and in part to help remove the taste of bitter defeat in the playoff loss to Juvencus in penalties. The choice of Crpostran as a pre-Cup of Harmony opponent was a serendipitous one. Crpostran were ranked 240th in the world leading up to qualifying before they shocked everyone by winning Group 11 and forcing Yuezhou to play a playoff match to join the World Cup proper field.

That clearly checked off the box the IFF were hoping for: A World Cup opponent, even though they were now ranked 73rd in comparison to Sarzonia's No. 60 was a get IFF Chairman Zack Wilson was ecstatic to have.

"We wanted an opponent who would test us," he said. "Crpostran's World Cup qualifying accomplishments and attacking-oriented football will provide us with a tremendous challenge as we prepare for the Cup of Harmony."

The match went back and forth, and Holly Chambers provided the final answer in Sarzonia's 3-2 away victory over Crpostran. Rush joked that his team wasn't "gunning for the glass slipper," but he said that the result was a good one for the Stars.

"We did very well on both sides of the ball throughout qualifying," he said. "We never allowed more than two goals against any opponent during qualifying and we faced some strong foes in qualifying. "We probably could've done a little better on offence, but we were able to score enough goals, except against Juvencus."

"We had a chance to build on strengths and we found opportunities to improve on some areas that we felt needed improvement," Rush added. And in the end, that's all we could really ask for from these two friendlies."

While winning both matches won't directly help the team advance to the knockout rounds of the Cup of Harmony, the opportunity to round the team into form and further strengthen the already strong team chemistry was exactly what the IFF and Rush wanted out of the two matches.

With the team on its way to Nantwich, Sarzonia were looking forward to exploring the city as well as playing meaningful football again, even if the meaning wasn't as strong as they'd suddenly hoped it would be.

[Baggieland]

Part Nine: The Betrayal

Len Livermore was once the first choice defensive midfielder for Baggieland, however, after a particularly disastrous performance he was hounded out of both the national team and society. Feeling down and abandoned by those who once idolised him, he decided to join Space Corps, where he could redeem himself by blasting alien scum. Len sailed through his training, thanks to the mentorship of Admiral Kirana, and was given command of his own spaceship, BS Crepitus. Unfortunately for Len, his second in command was Okay Mulumbu – this guy had also been a defensive midfielder whom Len had usurped on the pitch – and he now clearly detested Len. For his maiden voyage, Len was tasked with delivering 24 tonnes of lasagna as a goodwill gesture to the Makhluks, an alien species that Space Corps wished to befriend in order to stop them becoming allies with the Romvesens – Space Corps' enemy number one. However, at a banquet on the Makhlukian planet…

"It's a trap!" screamed Len. "The Romvesens are here!"

"Come now Captain, let's not be so neurotic, shall we? Allow me to introduce myself, I am Dung Nixon, Supreme Leader of the Romvesens."

Whilst Len was absolutely flabbergasted by these events, Okay, on the other hand, seemed to be enjoying every moment; his wry smile – hinting at hidden intentions – was a jubilant grin of pure, malevolent glee. This seemingly perilous situation did not even have an affect on his appetite; as he eagerly chomped down on the bounteous feast provided by the Makhluks.

"You! You had something to do with this!" alleged Len, as he pointed his trembling finger in Okay's direction. You'll be banned from Dartmouth Hill Stadium for sure, and you'll be denied tickets to ever see Baggieland play football again – home or abroad – you traitor!"

"That doesn't worry me; a 0 – 0 draw with Myrtle Beach, they might have won if they had selected me to play!"

"Ah-ha! You claim that you would have improved Baggieland's performance, yet you were a defensive midfielder – our defence didn't concede a goal – so they were not at fault. It was our forward players who didn't perform against Myrtle Beach!" countered Len.

"Anyway… when a Romvesen agent offered me money to take you down, I told them I'd do it for free!" crowed Okay.

Len had to think, and he had to think fast. How would his training as a defensive midfielder solve this vexing conundrum? His only hope was to get back to the relative safety of the Crepitus, but how? There were Romvesens swarming around everywhere and he could no longer trust the local Makhluks.

"I've heard it is a delightful Romvesen tradition for the host to make a rousing speech whenever a guest is invited to a feast," announced Len, as he remembered his Space Corps' training 101: Know Your Enemy.

Dung Nixon stood up assertively and struck a commanding stance as he cleared his throat. Whilst the Supreme Leader of the Romvesens was clearly enjoying this moment of what he believed to be cultural superiority, Len discreetly typed a message on his wrist communicator and sent it to the crew waiting onboard the Crepitus:

'Attack imminent. Coming back to Crepitus. Defensive formation – two banks of four.'

[Kamijiro]

First Game Win for Lightning at CoH, Another 1-0 Margin

Raiji Kagawa's system is coming through loud and clear. Score a goal and clam up. It worked pretty well at the World Cup Qualifiers - and the plan hasn't changed at all. This is the sixth game in which the Kamijiroans have won 1-0 and the eighth in which they've kept a clean sheet so far in Raiji's term. This also means that the average goals allowed per game has now dropped to 0.69 while also maintaining an exact 1.00 goals scored per game ratio.

The defense this game was spearheaded by the impeccable center-back trio of Marcus Aldridge, Thomas Beal and Levi Faamate, who were able to keep the ball out wide and away from the danger areas of attack. New call-up Sadatoshi Kameda looked impressive on the right flank of the defense and midfield.

The midfield trio was once again headlined by Katsu Fujiwara, who scored the lone goal in this game via a glancing header on a cross into the box from Philippe Seraphin. The placement didn't quite look intentional - but it got just enough on it to confuse Davor Jelušić (Srednjaci's starting 'keeper), who got caught flat-footed as the ball looped to the back post.

The lone attacker, Kiyomoto Zayasu, who earned his first cap in this game, was pretty quiet in the attacking areas, but his pressing in the defensive half kept Srednjaci from finding a good rhythm in attack.

Raiji Kagawa gave a few quotes after the match.

Q: Did any player in particular for Srednjaci stand out for you today?
Kagawa: Min Ho was pretty impressive when he came on. He plays really well in attack for a player who is billed as a defensive midfielder. I'd still take any of my boys over him, though. Just liked what I saw from [Min Ho] this time out. Takanobu Tavano was pretty good as well, but we game planned for him more than anybody else.

Q: The forwards goal drought continues, with [Kiyomoto] Zayasu unable to find net. Is this something you're worried about for the future?
Kagawa: No. My forwards provide a lot more than just goals, I believe in their abilities. That's what matters.

Q: Do you have any comments about the leaked videos of the parties that several members of the squad were reportedly at in the build-up to the match?
Kagawa: We're looking into it internally. Right now, I have no comment. The videos were in no way incriminating - nothing in the videos made us think it was something worth punishing anybody about. But, we are doing our due diligence, of course. I doubt anything comes of it. That's gonna be my last question, though. Thanks.

Just as they were at the World Cup, the match report is attached below.

Matchday One:
Kamijiro 1-0 Srednjaci

Events:
Yellow 22'  | (KJR) Hard foul - M. Aldridge
Yellow 41'  | (SRE) Hard foul - B. Mrzljak
-- HALFTIME --
GOAL 51'    | (KJR 1-0 SRE) - K. Fujiwara, assisted by P. Seraphin
SUB 55'     | (SRE) - M. Ho on for A. Natković
SUB 59'     | (SRE) - M. Štegotić on for A. Tomljanović
Yellow 64'  | (KJR) Tactical foul - T. Abiko
SUB 65'     | (KJR) - W. Machado on for S. Kameda
SUB 65'     | (KJR) - S. Becker on for K. Zayasu
SUB 65'     | (KJR) - S. Kokubun on for K. Kanazono
Yellow 88'  | (SRE) - Dissent - L. Peng
Yellow 90'  | (KJR) - Time wasting - F. Brouwer
-- FULLTIME --

Funnily enough, we're the only team that's scored in this group. This whole group has combined for one goal. That's pretty funny.

Anyway, see you all after next match against Pasarga!

Written and edited by Alyx DeLeon, independent sports journalist.

[Drawkland]

NEW FRANCHISE ALERT!!!

With the contraction and re-expansion of DLK, five slots were open for cities to make their cases for obtaining a soccer franchise. See this previous post for more information.

There are many professional sports franchises in the northern territory of Drawkland. The Maldhar River Valley contains many of Drawkland's more populous cities, especially in the Metro District cluster. Pretty much all of these cities feature a franchise in each of Drawkland's major four leagues. Even outside that area, Drawkland's ten most populous cities have a team in all four sports leagues. There is one notable exception: Sadeg.

Sadeg is a historic city, known to be the birthplace of the immortal Iarocav, who helped found Drawkland and lead to to this day. Once a reasonably-sized kingdom in its own right, Iarocav's hand and the general historic significance turned it into one of Drawkland's bustling metropolises, though many of the historic landmarks and areas have been preserved as much as possible. Curiously, despite being one of Drawkland's largest cities, Sadeg hasn't had a professional soccer franchise in centuries.

For the longest time, it was just assumed that Sadeg wasn't a soccer town. Basketball and gridiron football dominated the sporting culture, with baseball being a consistent force as well. In the last few rounds of expansion, Sadeg rarely put up competitive bids for franchises. Everything changed in the last twenty years, however, thanks to the rise of the Elite Eleven.

The Elite Eleven originally grew up in Sadeg, and even attended Sadeg State University. When they took over the Kick Corps mantle, they eschewed the concept of playing home games at Drawk City Stadium, where the "old" Kick Corps had played a majority of their home games. To the surprise of most soccer fans, the Elite decided to play most of their home games in their home town. The Kick Corps made Spartan Veteran Stadium (home of the Sadeg Spartans gridiron team) the new home of national soccer in Drawkland. Even in cycles where a national tour was held for home games, the home opener and closer were always held in Sadeg. Somehow, the Vet and the nearby Spire monument almost became more associated with soccer than the gridiron football that it had been synonymous with for years.

While most soccer fans were forced to travel to Sadeg to get their NT fix, it also fostered a soccer culture within the city itself. The Elite were eventually (finally) ousted from their Kick Corps duties, but now there was a faithful contingent of soccer-interested fans in Sadeg with no outlet remaining. When news broke of DLK expansion, Sadeg was one of the first cities to release a competitive bid.

It took some time to iron out the details, solidify the ownership group, and make various agreements with the city, but the bid was almost guaranteed as soon as it was submitted.

introducing ...

The Sadeg Strikers!



City: Sadeg, Iarocavet
Stadium: Spartan Veteran Stadium (107,500)

Note: Original badge was generated via AI. Several touch-ups were done manually to complete the design.

The one disappointment is the rather bland naming choice in the Strikers, but Drawkians love a good bit of alliteration. It's a rather blunt reference to the sport itself, but it serves as a fun complement to the North Point Keepers who also popped up in this round of expansion. Some also consider this stepping on the toes of the Jaffro Storm DLK franchise, but it could also be considered a reference to the lightning bolts that often strike the tall and isolated Spire in the plaza outside Spartan Veteran Stadium.

The crest for the team reflected all of this meaning. The vague silhouette of Spartan Veteran Stadium and The Spire in the background, as well as the soccer pattern outline and lightning extending from it in the background. Of course, the female soccer player is the centerpiece, representing the members of the team as a whole.

Already used to field switching for the Kick Corps, the Spartan Veteran Stadium ownership group graciously and exuberantly accepted the idea of the new Strikers franchise playing their home games in "The Vet." The venue had a lot invested into it over the last few years, refurbishing and improving its facilities and structure. Though it's an older and historic venue at this point, it's filled with the modern amenities that any franchise would need. With all the other arrangements taken care of, there's simply no need for the new Strikers to try and build a new place of their own.

The fanbase already had a foundation, and with the team officially beginning play, interest only grew in Sadeg. What was once thought to be a totally empty niche in the city has now spawned into something nobody could've predicted 20 years ago. The Strikers have been playing pretty well in their debut seasons, with one playoff berth (and subsequent first-round exit) to their names so far. Of all the expansion franchises, the Strikers seem the most likely to make the first deep run. That's pretty much in line with what you'd expect from a major sports franchise in that city.

[Kamijiro]

Part III: Srednjaci win, the video and Pasarga preview

There's literally nothing better in the whole f***ing world than scoring a goal that ends up being the winner. I don't care what you can offer me. Free booze, free food, free whatever, I'll take my game-winner all f***ing day. The game was honestly a lot more difficult than we anticipated. Not to say we underestimated Srednjaci, (yes, I learned to spell it first time), but they were hounding us on the wings pretty hard. They had Takanobu Tavano bombing down the right constantly. We had to sub Wagner [Machado] on in the second half just to keep fresh legs marking him. The center-backs did a good job keeping Frankie* [Brouwer] from being too busy, but he did make a couple of key saves down the stretch. Either way, Raiji was right once again about the defensive approach. We just need to keep working as a unit and the results will come, just like he said. I'll admit I wasn't sold when he first talked about his heavy-defense approach. But I'm definitely seeing it now.

Okay, now it's time for me to be a little more candid with myself. That video that's going around is NOT a good look. I personally don't think I did anything super incriminating in it, but the fact there's a video of me in the club (which... I was only there for 30 minutes) with a bunch of booze (because of the stupid bottle service) and some scantily clad ladies (they literally were the bottle service girls... which I didn't even want in the first place) is just not a good look. Especially because I said I wouldn't go to the club. And the s***heads at the FA made me sign something saying I wouldn't. And the honest-to-Kaminari-sama worst part of the whole thing is the fact I can't even deny that it's me. My eyes are a distinctive pinkish-red in the iris AND I'm one of the rare blondes of Raijin-shi. Soji [Kokubun] pulled me aside earlier and told me that it'll all blow over, but that I should wear a hoodie and sunglasses when I go out at night. Does he think I'm Corey Hart? Sunglasses at night? Pshh. Raiji called me into his office to talk about it earlier. But honestly... I think it's all just a media storm. I think he secretly loves that guys like me and Sandro [Becker] are on the team to keep things fiery and fresh. I'm still stunned at the "vai-te foder**" incident that Sandro pulled off against Baggieland, IN Baggieland.

Anyway, since I'm 99% sure that nothing's coming of the video incident, I'm just gonna write about the Pasarga match. We're definitely the underdogs for this one. Yes, I'm aware that things are a lot more even*** when you're all in a foreign country for a large tournament like this. But still, this is a top-twenty ranked squad in the world. We're hanging sixty-sixth. Based on the scouting reports and what we saw from them during their match against Oberour Ar Moro, (why on Earth did they put all the hard to spell countries in our group... I can't really write English for s***), they play a bit more passive than Srednjaci do - but they're still an attack-minded team. They have quite a few players in foreign leagues, as well, which does make me a little bit nervous. That being said, they did drop one of their starting strikers (Elek Salai) from the World Cup Qualifiers, which makes me wonder if they're scrambling for answers. Other changes I noticed were Sumaiya Aswad being benched for Kat Földessi on the right wing. They also completely swapped their back line. Actually... I just realized, this is going to be the first time I've played against a team that starts women. Nothing against it, of course - just a cool realization and it shows how far the game's come lately.

I just hope the 1-0s keep coming. I want to be the squad that beats everybody 1-0 and just demoralizes teams by not letting them through the defense at all. I think everybody prides themselves on how well we defend as a team. It's getting late, though, and we still do have training in the morning - the turnaround from Srednjaci to Pasarga is just a mere two days. Plus, Soji's keeping me up again with his incessant music and... time spent with the nightladies... but I did invest in some high-end noise cancelers from one of Cuono's high-end malls. Guess that's a perk of being in a big city for our matches, right?

I'm really starting to enjoy writing this stuff down, honestly.
Maybe I'll try my hand at poetry again one of these days, like baba and jiji used to have me practice.

Until next time,
勝つ out.

[Translator/story notes:
*Frankie is the nickname for Frank Brouwer, used most often by people who he considers friends.
**Vai-te foder: literally 'f*** off' in Portuguese.
***OOC: yes, I'm aware the ranks reset. But the players wouldn't know that :) ]

[Wight]

'But we didn't have anyone at the match to report back,' complained Mr. Couth. Or Ruly.

'We could make it up, that's what we usually do,' suggested Mr. Ruly. Or Couth.

Just then the cctv engineer Easy Bennett, who was waiting for his system to reboot, looked up from an international newspaper he'd picked up on Calle Tamarindes.

'There's a report in here about it,' he said, 'why don't you borrow that?'

---

Cabo Azure 2-2 Wight
Esportiva Correspondent Gina Kight in Tumbra for the Skimpy Matchday Report & Negligible Detail Express (Sports Section)

---

I won't dwell overly long on the finer details of this match because I'm not a sports correspondent but I will say I spotted crown princess Solveig of Cabo Azure at the hotdog stand pretending to be a mundy, and she was doing a good job of appearing mildly tipsy whilst preserving a distinct edge of glamour and hard cash in the bank. I don't know if she enjoyed the match as much as I did. After all, her team were easily two goals ahead at the break thanks to a dominant first half and goals from Anselmo Santos and Rolando Florencio, but threw it all away in the second half as Climo Coss - who I am sure played for The Representatives in the last World Cup - commandeered the match in the second half and brought his team level with a goal and an assist for Grippa Sparrowside. Overall I thought it was an entertaining match between two evenly balanced teams, although with my limited football knowledge it is hard for me to appreciate the gulf in quality that apparently surprised the locals. They were expecting a walkover by the 'Maçaricas'.

---

'That'll do nicely,' said one of the Gentlemen Interregnum, smiling with all the joy of a sawtooth shark on the scent of a wounded surfer.

---

The Gentlemen Interregnum

5/6 - Referee Ludo Hotten & The Word of Búa

---

Or, Why Wight, Why Now?

At The Office of Slight Returns, a scruffy rented suit above a launderette on Calle Tamarindes in the shabby business district of San Mustardo, Tapalupé City, Tequilo, the Wightling bioremediation engineer Easy Bennett was busy at his temporary workstation trying to remove anaerobic waste from the office worm farm composter which was beginning to smell overly ripe. Georgie Gynn, the office intern, was trying to look busy nearby assisting the Gentlemen Interregnum by tapping away at her Lisa-2 computer. She was typing one-handed with the other hand over her nose.

Somebody had put jalapeños in the compost bin again, complained Easy, and the worms hate jalapeños. He had a good mind to put a snarky sign up, and maybe turn the office cctv in the direction of the bin to catch out whoever was contaminating the compost. Not that it would take much detective work - there were only the Gentlemen Interregnum, Duke Aim and the intern in the place, most of the time. The intern - that would be Georgie - stopped typing to look in the opposite direction, in an attempt to disguise her new flush. Awkward.

Anyway.

Messrs. Couth & Ruly were in the office next door, planning the Slight Return of Wight with their good friend Duke Aim, a quite terrifying blustery aristocrat of Pandaemonium who’d taken up with the Gentlemen Interregnum to revive the old glory. He’d been at the Declaration of Foxchester - signed the damned papers, for Búa’s sake - and had been hellish frustrated when the whole thing when tits up in Anaia. Recently he’d been back in Ao, making mischief with another old Wightling favourite, referee Ludo Hotten who had been inseminating millions of Aoans with the seed of Búa. That’s a sort of peculiarly graphic way of saying he had been preaching the word. The word of Wight. The word of Búa, an unreliable and chaotic sort of deity that the old-school Wightlings just loved to bang on about, harking back to the good old days. The modern history of Ao - so goes the thinking - is littered with the signs of Búa’s comeback what with the Anaia incident, and the Arrosia incident, and the cataclysmic termination event in Vilita, and the international raid. Ludo must surely take some credit for that, after all his hard work in the region over the decades since the Wightlings were expelled one sunny Z-day afternoon.

But, explained Duke Aim to the Gentlemen Interregnum, as much fun as it was hanging with Ludo and helping with all the puppeteering in Ao, he had not been able to convince the missionary to come to Tequilo and join the band of associates trying to revive the old nation of Wight. Ludo had gone rogue. He was having too much fun with his insemination project. Maybe one day - oh, I don’t know, maybe in say World Cup ’99 or maybe ‘100 - Ludo will come back into the fold, and join the Wightlings in the sunrise of a new era. Maybe.

‘In the meantime,’ concluded the Duke, ‘I suggest we sign up for World Cup ’96, rope in Climo Coss who just won the damn thing again, find some other characters from out of nowhere to represent us on the international stage, and maybe invade the Delte Valley to steal their NSWC coëfficient, hmm? What? Eh?’

‘Hold on there old chap,’ said Mr. Couth - or was it Mr. Ruly? - pulling a significant sort of face that said shut up old chap, ‘we don’t know who’s listening!’

[Saint-Jean-Jacques et Burnham-on-Stove]

Saint-Jean-Jacques et Burnham-on-Stove loses Cup of Harmony opener

Straton, Tumbra - The only word that comes to my mind following Cup of Harmony's matchday 1 is disappointment. Saint-Jean-Jacques et Burnham-on-Stove has a higher rank but we lost 4-3 against Abanhfleft. They imposed their playing style, put a lot of pressure on our defense and it paid off for them. Abanhfleft scored 3 unanswered goals in the first 30 minutes of the game. The Tapirs finally scored at the 36th minute when Scarlett McCaskill made a header pass to Louis-Philippe Berlinguette who kicks it and it's a goal. Frédérique Goudreau-Luneau scored on a penalty at the 38th minute and the score was 3-2 at halftime. Abanhfleft increased their lead at the 71st minute when Mae Wilbanks made a cross to Tiffany Payumo, who subbed in at the 65th minute, and she kicks the ball past Bleau-Bean. Saint-Jean-Jacques et Burnham-on-Stove scored another goal at the 88th minute when Louis-Philippe Berlinguette faked to shoot and made a short pass to Ashton Gockley who kicks it into the goal. It was too late, the final score was 4-3 Abanhfleft.

This loss against Abanhfleft decreases our chances to take the 2nd place in the group (assuming Baker park finishes 1st). On matchday 2, the Tapirs will play against Baker Park. It's a must win for the Tapirs if we want to stay alive. The starting Xi remains unchanged.

And let me say that I'm not enjoying my time in Tumbra. On my way to the hotel from the airport, I got arrested for driving on the wrong side. It’s not me, it’s all the cars around me that were on the wrong side! I missed the team practice and got released just in time to cover matchday 1. From now, I’m gonna take the bus because the whole country conspirates against my driving.

GAME SUMMARY

13th   GOAL ABANHFLEFT   Hiroko Kellerman assisted by Mae Wilbanks
17th   GOAL ABANHFLEFT   Lily Natividad assisted by Beth Anderson
29th   GOAL ABANHFLEFT   Tatiana Tos (Corner kick)
36th   GOAL ST-JEAN-JACQUES ET BOS   Louis-Philippe Berlinguette assisted by Scarlett McCaskill
38th   GOAL ST-JEAN-JACQUES ET BOS   Frédérique Goudreau-Luneau (penalty)
71st   GOAL ABANHFLEFT   Tiffany Payumo assisted by Mae Wilbanks
88th   GOAL ST-JEAN-JACQUES ET BOS   Ashton Gockley assisted by Louis-Philippe Berlinguette

Starting XI vs Baker park - Serrapince Park, Serrapince
Manager: Gilles Bourguignon
Starting XI: GK Bleau-Bean - SD Alyssa McCaskill - CD Tristan Gibouleau-B - CD Guerrero Lopez - SD Nathan McCaskill - DCM Fauteux-McGrath - SM Charlotte Gibouleau-B - SM Scarlett McCaskill - S Berlinguette - S Goudreau-Luneau - S O'Hara

Paul-André Veilleux

[Cabo Azure]

The night that Cabo Azure lost to Tero al Disco and crashed out of qualifying, Crown Princess Solveig called her dad. She was at her favorite pub in Portelo, Bar da Academia, and stepped outside into the cloud of cigarette smoke to call and check up on him. In those days he had recently assumed the duties of football commissioner, replacing the incumbent, Sonia Vargas, who’d done so well in the role that it had gotten her elected premier. Prince David was a good man, possessed of the kind of work ethic and common sense that made a good retail manager, but he would be the first to tell you managing a furniture outlet is inadequate preparation for running the football program for a whole country. Hiring Solveig’s replacement was high on his list, but first there was the little matter of the team failing to qualify.

“Hey, baby,” he said in Graintfjaller, a sure sign he was in need of comfort. “Did you watch the match?”

Of course I did, thought Solveig, The whole bloody country saw the boys fail. “Yes, Dad,” she said, as gently as she could manage through the haze of several cans of Macarica (purists insisted it tasted better that way, rather than from the tap). “I’m so sorry.”

“It’s alright, love,” David said softly. “Will you watch the boys in Tumbra?”

“Tumbra? Isn’t that in Esportiva?”

“Well, yes. It’s a proper footballing country, and they’re hosting the Cup of Harmony this summer. Will you go watch?”

“Of course, Daddy.”

–

Black leggings, comfortable white sneakers, and an oversized crewneck sweatshirt worn off the shoulder. Hair in a claw clip, minimal makeup (just some blush and mascara), and dark sunglasses perched above her forehead. A chic black leather purse and a small, hard-sided rollaboard with everything she needed for twenty-four hours, in case her bag didn’t arrive or was frustrated in customs. The “bolsa de dia” was the preferred solution to the newest Azurean rite of passage; baggage getting frustrated in customs because your destination hadn’t agreed to terms with Cabo Azure just yet. When I’m queen… Solveig let the thought hang.

Jetlagged, stiff, sore, and hopelessly dehydrated, she wandered down the jet bridge in Straton on autopilot, her feet moving with zero input from her brain. Customs was a breeze, thank God–she hadn’t made any prior arrangements, but the officials moved with the customary (haw haw) Tumbran efficiency, and she barely broke her stride. Collapsing the handle on her rollaboard, she toted it in one hand and rolled the larger suitcase behind her, her purse tucked over one shoulder, every inch the chic and efficient world traveler. She needed caffeine.

A black car met her at the curb and took her to the train station, where she found a Fortuna-branded coffee kiosk and managed to navigate the app to get her customary drink, which was still called a Pavolano even in Esportiva. On the train she slept–a habit gleaned from her early days traveling Graintfjall to skating competitions–and arrived in Ridgewell feeling, if not refreshed, more human than she had since leaving Sao Simone. Her hotel was downtown, one with unfamiliar Esportivan flags hanging from its facade; the concierge greeted her with “Your Majesty” but the same smile she gave all the other guests, while a uniformed bellman took her bags and disappeared into a service elevator. Neat trick, that.

After sixteen hours of travel and God knows how many timezones, Solveig collapsed onto the soft, stiff bed in her suite and awoke when the sun was low in the horizon.

–

It only took Solveig a block of walking to decide she liked Ridgewell. It had a quiet, utilitarian dignity that reminded her of Hattsmark, her hometown way back in Pavola. She recalled that Mario Queiros, one of the new call-ups her dad was so excited about, played his club football here, and made a mental note to ask him for some spots to check out. Nothing pleases overseas Azureans like “islanders” asking for suggestions, and Solveig had seen Manuel smile his way through plugs for the same overpriced restaurants in Joongyeong and Carathyr dozens of times.

The Maçaricas’ first match was on a weekday afternoon, the day after she arrived in Tumbra, so she opted to get there the long way, walking to a light rail station and then exploring the streets adjacent to the stadium. This invariably ended with her in a pub, ordering a light beer (she’d have to work out tomorrow) and smiling as she turned down advances from the scattering of fans getting ahead of their drinking. None of them seemed particularly interested in being king consort of Cabo Azure; here she was simply a young woman drinking in a bar with a typical matchday ratio. Today she wore a Cabo Azure jersey with no name or number over dark wash jeans and comfortable trainers, her hair freshly washed and worn down.

By the time she was scanning her ticket and presenting her clear bag for inspection at the gate, she was two beers deep and her hair had gone back in the claw clip, the better to not get in her face. There was more beer in the hospitality suite, the same brand she’d discovered at the bar, and after another draft, she realized quickly that continuing to drink on an empty stomach was going to end poorly. She spotted the journo at the hot dog stand before he spotted her–instinct honed from being an elite athlete before she was a princess–but he had the grace to keep away from her, and they went their separate ways.

The match itself was a typical Azurean disappointment–a 2-0 lead at halftime lost when the defenders ran out of gas and the strikers couldn’t organize a rebuttal. Splitting the points going into the second matchday of the Cup of Harmony was hardly idea, but the weather was crystal clear, not the hot, muggy soup of Sao Simone, and Solveig was thousands of miles from her life and her responsibilities.

[Cassadaigua]

Queen Cassie III holds video conference with team,
by Caitlyn Dufresne, Concord Heights Times

In preparation for the team’s second game in World Cup 96B, the team got an unexpected message from Queen Cassie III. This was a private announcement, so no members of the media, myself included, have any idea what the content of the message was. However, I am told that this was not one of those “win one for the gipper” type messages. That would be completely out of character for Queen Cassie III, or any Cassadagan monarch, and there is no reason to think that would suddenly change right now. With the resignation of CASE President Stephanie Sweeney at the end of the cycle, and her successor to ultimately be decided upon by the Queen, one could suspect that this was an information gathering session for her majesty to see what the players, as well as manager Chen Huikang would be thinking on that. That’s a logical conclusion, but why would you do that right now? That could have happened before the team left for Tumbra or at least happened before the opening game of the competition. So, was the message in response to what happened in the game against The 14 Stars? Keep in mind that the coaching staff was also in on the meeting, so it wasn’t to discuss whether or not they wanted to retain Chen Huikang. This video session went on for over three hours, which is also a little peculiar, and probably would rule out any likelihood that this was intended to bring motivation and inspiration to the team.

When players were asked about it, we got the responses that it was indeed a private session and there would be no talking about what was said there. Fine, and I can respect that, but if you looked at the body language of the players, it didn’t seem as though it was an uplifting session. Lexi McGregor said of the session, “We all talked to the Queen for a while, and that part was pretty cool, and we talked about a lot things. The floor was wide open for all of us to talk, and I appreciate that she did that for us.” Lexi went on to say that the team is ready for the second game of World Cup 96B. Tiffany Brown, the team captain, said of the message, “I think we all took advantage of the opportunity to speak our mind about various topics, and in the end, we know, well, I can’t say too much about it. But in the end, we all are confident that we know how others are thinking, and I will leave it at that. If the Queen chooses to say more about what our session was about, then that is something that will be up to her.” When looking that sort of reply, we can sit here and think that this was about who the next CASE President could possibly be, or perhaps what the players are looking for from such a leader. That’s logical, like I said, it is simply that the timing of such a session is a little odd if that is what it was about, and there would not be much of a reason to be so secretive about such a process. The Queen has declined to talk to the public about what was said other than, “the resolution of the discussion is not something that is meant to be kept in secret forever, but it is not something that needs to be talked about right now.”

There would be plenty of justification for the team, and for those that made the trip to Kingsbury to be upset with the way that first game of the competition unfolded, but the high spirits of everyone involved told a different story. Following the announcement, many players mingled with fans and signed autographs and posed for pictures, and those who were staying at the same hotel as the team were allowed access to the meeting room that team had reserved to join in the team dinner. Midfielder Kaitlin Millikan told me afterwards that it just felt like the right thing to do, “I’ll tell you this, you can get so worked up in results and this and that, that you can’t forget the little things because the little things are really the big things, and what is perceived to be the big things are the little things. We play this game for our fans, without them, we wouldn’t be here. Of course we want to get results, but we also never want to forget them or lose sight of them. It was a privilege to hang out with them like this.” Teammate Lauren Engle added, “Playing in Quebec professionally, something I do thoroughly enjoy, there are not many opportunities to be close with my Cassadagan fans and supporters. I have fans here wearing my jersey from Montreal Koreana, telling me they have watched a few of my games. How awesome is that? These are great fans that spent a lot of money to head out here to watch us play soccer. But when you talk more about that, you soon realize that they are not here just for soccer, but for the entire experience of a memorable vacation. Win, lose, or draw on the field can impact that and we want to get them wins but no matter what, we want to be a part of the experience.”

Some of the fans at the dinner gathering pointed to the actions of the baseball team during World Baseball Classics 55 and 58. For those who do not immediately know, those competitions saw the entire group stage not only be played in one country but at one home stadium. In other words, each national team adopted a venue in the host country to be their unofficial stadium for the entire competition. On both occasions, we saw the Cassadagan Association for Baseball rent out an abandoned retail space, refurbish it, and call it “Mini Cassadaigua” as the gathering place for our fans. Since the World Baseball Classic spanned several weeks, fans were treated to visits by many Cassadagan celebrities as well as members of the baseball team and other teams. After the competitions, each “Mini Cassadaigua” has been maintained by the Cassadagan Board of Tourism, switching from a gathering point, to being a place where locals in that region can get information about traveling to Cassadaigua, or to experience Cassadagan cuisine or purchase other Cassadagan-themed items. In fact, several members of this soccer team right now made appearances at “Mini Cassadaigua” during World Baseball Classic 58, and that may have been what gave the team the idea here. With the Fillies playing all three of the group stage games in Kingsbury, CASE could have done the same thing in theory, although there is a big time difference between the duration of the group stage in this and in the World Baseball Classic. For the fans, the hotel dinner had that feel. Brianne Rosenburg, of Brattleboro, was one of the people who went to “Mini Cassadaigua” in Quebec and was also here in Kingsbury, “Right away, when they said that we could join them for the team dinner, we thought about what it was like in baseball. This is one of the best part of Cassadagan sports, there is no attempt to put the athletes on a pedestal. They wanted to talk with us, they signed autographs for us, but also just gave us the gift of their time, and that says a lot about them. We got free merch and everything. Truly a wonderful experience.”

Lexi McGregor says that the team still wants to get results here, “As fun as all this was for all of us, we can make this even better if we have an extended stay in Tumbra. None of us only wants to play three games. The opener didn’t go well for us, but there is plenty of precedent out there with teams that lost their game and then bounced back in a big way. I know that we can do that as a team.” Whether or not that happens still remains to be seen, as everything can all seem very random with the way this competition is. When randomness reigns supreme, there’s only one thing to do: Pray to Margaret.

But if it’s not meant to be, so be it. Unlike many of these other nations, we have other sports we can fall back on.

[Carpathia and Ruthenia]

Carpathia and Ruthenia survive late scare to give manager win on their debut

Well Brelk-Xeral Erv can add another achivement to their storied history, being one of the few managers of Carpathia and Ruthenia to get a win on their debut competitive match. However that achivement looked briefly under threat right neat the end of the match when Txakhaxi managed to break through the Carpathia and Ruthenia defence which with the new back four look at been showing good signs of improvment, however a miscommunication between the central defenders Naldi and Alinari allowed the pacy Xikharkeni to get through and slot the ball home. However one thing to note is that the Carpathia and Ruthenia players seemed to pick themselves straight back up after this error, and pressed an the accelerator and within three minutes were rewarded with an excellent strike from Pék how completed her brace six minutes later who will be glad to back on the scoresheet and end her goal-drought with her last goals eight matches ago in the 3-0 win over Labalia.

All in all it looks like Brelk-Xeral Erv is settling in well, the players are certainly responding well and thier standing by players such as Pék has been rewarded, some kinks in defence will need to be worked out with this team not having worked with a back four in the past twelve years but we have been able to shore up our defence without removing the sting from our attack, our next match will find us up against strong opposition in Baggieland whom we last faced in the World Cup 95 qualifiers, losing on both occasions 2-1. Perhaps we can get some revenge and grab the three points that would guarantee us a berth into the next round?

By Margita Ongaro
CBC Ruthenia

Carpathia and Ruthenia 3 - 1 Txakhaxi             
               Lecce 10'      FT       Xikharkeni 80'      
 Pék 83', 89'                          

George Bowen Stadium, Hesham, Tumbra

[Saterun]

The Claws were back in the Cup of Harmony. It was bittersweet, with the additional tournament play serving as a reminder of the failure to qualify for the World Cup. And this was not a tournament the Claws had experienced much success in over the years. Their first match was against Tero al Disco, who had been in their WCQ group. The teams had each taken a win during WCQ, and now they had one final rematch. Unfortunately, it didn't go the way of the Claws.

Tero al Disco started out strong, with Hernando Lucero skimming the post in the first 5 minutes. Kameron urged his squad to stay strong, but they were already having dismal flashbacks to that second WCQ game. In the 13th minute, Lucero again got a breakaway, and it was just him and Avishai Demare battling to get to the ball first. Lucero managed to take a touch out in front, and seemed to have Demare beaten. But, at the last second, Demare threw out his legs, bringing down Lucero just outside the penalty area. It was certainly a booking, but the decision rested on which kind. There were numerous pleas on both sides, but after a VAR review, the referee handed out a straight red to the Saterun defender. The punishment seemed to increase as Tero al Disco slipped a pass under Saterun's wall to put Juan José Leonardi through on goal, and he curled it around Ralf Abiatti to give los Teros the lead.

The red card seemed to have instantly brought the Claws down. They were scrambling to cover passes, and it was a mistimed overlap that gave Tero al Disco their second goal. Fabian Cruz came inside to mark a run from Leonardi, but lost communication with Cipriano Dalca as they both chased the same opponent. That allowed Biaggi to slip away on the outside, and he completely unmarked on the right edge of the box. He had all the time in the world to swing in a crisp cross, with Hirsch making contact near the penalty spot. Ralf Abiatti got a touch to it, but it wasn't enough. It glanced off of his finger straight into the top of the net, doubling Tero al Disco's lead.

After the half, Saterun seemed to get some of their strength back. Kameron switched to a back three, and it seemed that they had the match under control. A quick pass out to Ndidi Tamaro set the outside mid quickly down the flank, and he cut inside before playing Bates through. It was this kind of quick play after winning possession that ganharbola was based on. Bates swung his cross back towards the semicircle, where Hans-Jürgen Becker picked it up. The Saterun captain dribbled past tow defenders before opening his body to shoot. However, he had the vision to realize that the angle was too tight, and so slid the ball across the net to Thiago Esparza, who was waiting at the back post to tap it in. In the 54th, the Claws had cut the lead in half.

But it wasn't a sign of things to come. Los Teros had been jolted awake, and they kept control of the match from then on. Some sharp passing had allowed them to work the ball down the field, and hesitation from Glenn Lundquist allowed Miguel Napoliello half a space. He struck the ball cleanly from 23 yards out, and it swerved through the air towards goal. The entire stadium held its breath. However, it wasn't to be. Ralf Abiatti just barely rose to beat it, tipping the ball down and back into the center. But the Saterun defenders were caught sleeping. Leonardi jumped in to head the ball towards goal, and Abiatti couldn't rise fats enough. The ball lobbed over him to secure Tero al Disco's final goal. It had been a great effort from the keeper, but his defense had failed him this time around.

Saterun had just lost twice to Tero al Disco in three games. Kameron knew his job was in jeopardy. He knew that their next game had to be far better than this one. And maybe it was time to make some changes to the starting eleven. With Avishai out, he would need to tinker with the squad. Maybe he would start Halle. But he just needed to wait and see. They were playing the 14 Stars next, a team that he had drawn with on the opening day of the IAC's of this cycle. It could even be regarded as Saterun's first match of the cycle. And, if the Claws didn't turn up, it could be mathematically their last. Kameron needed to banish this current mediocrity and somehow raise this squad to their former IAC level.

[Sarzonia]

One maxim that cuts across a variety of exploits is that the true definition of a person or a group of people isn't the adversity they face, but how they overcome obstacles.

The Sarzonian national football team easily could have been disheartened by the bitter disappointment of losing the one-match playoff against Juvencus in Mertagne for the right to compete in the World Cup proper. They could have easily given up and either consigned themselves to bitter disappointment in what had been a magical World Cup 96 cycle. But, behind a manager who had scant international experience prior to World Cup qualifying, Sarzonia bounced back.

It started with Sarzonia earning an invitation to the Cup of Harmony, clearly impressing the organisers of that tournament with a runner-up finish in Group 18, a mere two points behind eighth ranked Ko-oren for the group crown and the automatic bid to the proper that came with it. It continued through two victories in pre-Cup of Harmony friendlies, including an away result against World Cup-bound Crpostran that might have still left Sarzonia wondering what might have been.

It continued through the opener of Cup of Harmony 88 as the Stars only needed a single tally by forward Kitt Morgan in the 32nd minute to propel themselves to a 1-0 victory over Aleirave. Manager Caleb Rush walked into the press room following a few minutes in the Sarzonian dressing room with a grimace.

"Well, it was a result, and we're in the results business," Rush began his post-match comments. "I'm happy to see how this team stepped up its performance in a match that counted for something. I'm less pleased with how conservative we were in the second half. We did not play the aggressive style of football we've come to expect."

John Wells made five saves, including one in traffic that briefly saw him prone on the ground after a collision with striker Neraveke Ho'uminalu, who was trying to play the ball out of his hands. Wells got up a moment later, and it turned out he'd had the wind knocked out of him.

"It was just trying to make sure he didn't get a chance at goal," Wells said of Ho'uminalu. "He was trying to score and I was trying to prevent him. Nothing more, nothing less."

Sarzonia (1-0-0 in the Cup of Harmony, 9-2-3 overall) would begin their goal-scoring sequence with midfielder Layton George anticipating a pass from attacking midfielder Ivefela Noselela toward Ho'uminalu and one-touching it forward to fellow midfielder Harley Masterson. Masterson quickly surveyed the pitch and then anticipated a run by forward Spencer Wilson, also expecting the defence to collapse around the fourth generation Wilson, so he launched an arching pass toward him. The ball overshot Wilson just a little bit, but forward Holly Chambers was there to trap the ball and then slot it to Morgan for them to bury the shot past Falena Rukipiato for the goal.

Following the tally, the Sarzonian defence huddled quickly with team captain Ken Webb warning his mates to be ready for an onslaught.

"They're going to be even more aggressive than they've already been," Webb said. "Aleirave always play an attacking style. They're going to turn it up a notch beyond what they've already been playing."

So, too, would Sarzonia, except in Sarzonia's case, they would turn up the defence. Sarzonia describe their own balanced style as "total football on steroids," based on the fact that even the back four are expected to contribute offensively, and even strikers like Wilson are expected to defend. And it was Wilson who had perhaps the best defensive play of the second half as he deftly tapped the ball away from Ho'uminalu as the Seagulls striker was making what he thought was an unobstructed run on Wells. Ho'uminalu raised his hands high in the air as if to wonder where the foul call was, only to be shut down by the Tumbran referee who curtly said, "he was playing the ball and he got all ball."

Rush said he wanted his team to be more aggressive with a lead and force opposing teams to chase them.

"I don't like playing this style of football, but we felt like we had to with the Seagulls getting the second half kickoff. We need to be more assertive out there and we need to be the ones to force the tempo."

As for the result, with the Stars getting set to play Elmyia, at No. 29 in the multiverse the highest ranked team in Group C and also the most desperate after a 3-1 defeat at the hands of 95th ranked Polar Islandstates, the lowest-ranked team in the group, it was an important victory for the Stars.

"They're all important in a three-match group stage," he said. "But with the Seagulls the nearest to us in rank, it's especially important for us to get results whenever we can." Rush shook off any questions regarding Polar Islandstates the team's final group stage opponent.

"We've got enough to deal with facing Elmyia," he said. "They're a top-30 programme and we've got a big enough battle on our hands."

Following the match, Rush gathered the team around in the dressing room.

"Folks, we're going to have a longer trip to the venue when we play Elmyia," he said. "That match is going to be in Clark, and the IFF didn't want us checking out of the hotel in Nantwich for more expensive accommodations in Clark."

"That's good enough for me," Webb said. "I wanna try the Nantwich-style pizza with sausage this time."

"You didn't get sausage last time?" George asked incredulously. "The sausage is bomb!"

"I got peperoni last time."

"You gotta try the sausage! But make sure you tell 'em you want the pork sausage."

"The place we're going to doesn't serve turkey or plant-based sausage," defender Bill Kelley said.

"Actually, it does," Chambers said. "Actually, you have to ask if you want turkey or plant-based. I think they even have beef-sausage there too."

"We're all about to find out," Wells said. "I'm starving"!