World Cup 98 | RP thread

World Cup 81/82/83/84

© 2024 Sporting Times Daily
BP left searching for answers after 3rd shutout
by Mindy Cartwright, National Soccer Editor

There is a palpable sense of frustration at the FAC Charter Development Center following the 4-0 defeat to Hapilopper on matchday 4 of World Cup 98 Qualifying.

Along with a scoreless draw away to Panay Islands and Guimaras in the previous fixture, the Baker Park National Team have found the net in only one of their four fixtures thus far which has Manager Will Barnard scratching his head about the root causes of the lack of firepower.

"The lack of consistency from match to match is a problem that shouldn't be affecting us in such a pronounced manner. There's no carryover from one fixture to the next which is extremely frustrating in this short group stage format where we're doing back to back fixtures."

The defeat to Hapilopper's Ellis Football squad was notable not only for the deficit but also because it marked only the second time the Bees had lost on matchday 4 in their seventeen qualifying appearances, with 14 wins and a draw tying matchday 10 for the most successful fixture among a sixteen match or fewer format.

Matchday 4 saw high scoring fixtures across Group 3 as Yuezhou had a 5-0 win over Panay and Aphrilia had a 4-0 scoreline versus Of the Godless, which has yet to tally even a single goal; Cobrio have also shown their interest in fighting at the top of the table as they sit 2 points ahead of BP, with Aphrila on 9 points and Yuezhou just a single point above BP.

Barnard knows it is imperative that Park find goals if they want to stay within touching distance of the top two spots in the table.
"There's really no Plan B if we can't generate offense from our current tactical alignment with the personnel we have."

by **Pyazhnaya** » Tue Jan 07, 2025 4:45 pm

Ups and Downs in Brusseldorf and Krasnograd

**By Daniil Rostovin, Pyazhnyi Sportske Novosti**

Brusseldorf Blues: A Frustrating Night for the Phoenixes
The Phoenixes traveled to Brusseldorf with hopes of building on their momentum from the home victory against Sargossa. The stadium, an intimidating fortress nestled in the heart of Brusseldorf, was filled to the last spot, with a surprising number of Pyazhnayan fans making the trip, but it was the home fans who created a cacophony of chants and cheers that the turquoise and burgundy tried to compete with

In this match, head coach Aleksandr Zavrashin opted for rotation to give the second line prove their mettle. Some saw this as a risky move in the light of the mixed start to the campaign, but others were hoping that a little shake-up could help things along.

Starting XI vs. Brusseldorf:
Goalkeeper: Varvara Zavrazina
Defenders: Ayrat Bilyaletdinov, Zulfiga-Dilyana Tukhvatullina, Fyodor Solodnikov, Artyom Avdonin
Midfielders: Arina Ignatyeva, Taras Rybalkin, Alexei Chernobrovin (C), Liliana Maksimushkina
Forwards: Rostislav Tsaritsyn, Toktamish Shafigullin

The Match: Brusseldorf 1-0 Pyazhnaya
Despite the fresh legs in the lineup, Pyazhnaya struggled to establish rhythm in the early stages. Brusseldorf’s players were relentless, pressing high and disrupting Pyazhnaya’s buildup play. The decisive moment arrived in the 35th minute when Brusseldorf’s talismanic forward latched onto a loose ball in the box and rifled it past a helpless Zavrazina.

Pyazhnaya’s best chance came in the 58th minute when Liliana Maksimushkina unleashed a curling shot from the edge of the area. The ball beat the goalkeeper but struck the crossbar, drawing collective gasps from the Pyazhnayan supporters.

Despite a late surge, including the introduction of starters Maksimilian Kartashov and Danila Mukhametshin, the team couldn’t find an equalizer. The final whistle blew, and the Phoenixes trudged off the pitch with frustration etched on their faces.

Team Dynamics - Tensions and Togetherness
Back at the hotel, emotions ran high. Dilyara Shaykhutdinova, a player known for her fiery leadership, confronted Taras Rybalkin about his tendency to overcomplicate plays and didn't hold back. “Taras, you can’t just dribble into a crowd like that! Find the pass!” she snapped, her voice sharp with frustration.

Rybalkin, visibly annoyed, shot back, “I’m trying to make something happen! Maybe you should focus on your game instead.”

Captain Danila Terentyev quickly intervened, his tone calm but firm. “Enough, both of you. It wasn't you or you who lost, it's been us. So, let's learn from this and see that we can kick Safiloa's ass instead.” Thankfully, after his mediation things cooled down and the two players eventually reconciled during a late-night card game in the lounge.

Among the lighter moments, Maksimushkina’s quiet humour stood out. During a team dinner, she joked about how her shot deserved to count as “half a goal” for hitting the crossbar. Even the reserved Fyodor Solodnikov cracked a smile, which some marked as counting for the other half of the goal.

Krasnograd Comeback: Dominating Safiloa
Returning to the Krasnograd Arena, the Phoenixes were determined to put the Brusseldorf loss behind them. The crowd of 35,000 provided a much-needed boost, warming themselves up with their chants to make the freezing Pyazhnayan night a little more bearable. With the regular starting XI back on the pitch, Zavrashin’s team looked poised to deliver a strong performance.

Starting XI vs. Safiloa:
Goalkeeper: Elisey Moroshkin
Defenders: Ayrat Bilyaletdinov, Fyodor Solodnikov, Naira Akhatova, Marat Zakharchenko
Midfielders: Danila Terentyev (C), Dilyara Shaykhutdinova, Alexei Chernobrovin, Liliana Maksimushkina
Forwards: Maksimilian Kartashov, Danila Mukhametshin

The Match: Pyazhnaya 4–0 Safiloa
From the opening whistle, it was a completely different Pyazhnaya team on the pitch, pressing from the first minute of play on. Within 12 minutes, Maksimilian Kartashov capitalized on a defensive mix-up, slotting the ball next to the post. His celebration, complete with a theatrical bow to the crowd, drew cheers and laughter from fans and teammates alike.

The second goal came just before halftime. Captain Terentyev delivered a sharp cross into the box, finding Mukhametshin, who jumped up and sent a beautiful scissor-kick into the top corner. The two players shared a celebratory embrace, highlighting the growing chemistry between Pyazhnaya’s attacking core. Fans began to chant "Danila, Danila," which both players took for themselves.

In the second half, Shaykhutdinova added a thunderous third, her strike from 25 yards leaving the Safiloa goalkeeper rooted to the spot. The final goal came from substitute Toktamish Shafigullin, who finished off a clever through-ball from Maksimushkina in the 81st minute.

As the final whistle blew, the players gathered near the center circle, applauding the fans. The win was a much needed morale boost and also shows that the Phoenixes are a formidable force at home that seems to forget how to play football once they leave the islands,

Behind the Scenes - Stories from the Squad
The post-match celebrations showed a completely different side from Brusseldorf, the win doing a lot of good for the slightly wounded morale. Akhatova, known for her stoic demeanor, surprised everyone by playfully ruffling Mukhametshin’s hair during the victory lap. “You’re turning into a proper striker,” she teased, to which Mukhametshin replied by blowing a raspberry.

Meanwhile, Maksimushkina continued to surprise her teammates with her quirky sense of humour. During the team dinner, she initiated a karaoke session, performing a traditional Pyazhnayan folk song that had even the introverted Solodnikov joining in. “Don’t quit your day job, Fyodor,” came a laughed comment from Kartashov, that earned laughter all around.

Amid the lighthearted moments, Zavrashin remained grounded. “Celebrate tonight, but remember, the real work continues. Auprussia and Edsmontik won’t make things easy for us,” he reminded the team.

Looking Ahead: Critical Clashes in Group 7
With four matchdays completed, Group 7 remains tightly contested, with no draws yet recorded, the only of the 18 groups to be able to boast that. Pyazhnaya, currently sitting in 6th with two wins and two losses, now faces critical clashes against Auprussia and Edsmontik.

Auprussia (Away)
Auprussia’s unpredictable form has kept them level with Pyazhnaya in the standings, though their superior goal difference keeps them slightly ahead. Known for their aggressive, high-pressing 4-4-2, Auprussia will test Pyazhnaya’s defensive discipline, especially given the islanders' rotten away form so far.

Zavrashin is likely to lean on the experienced central defensive duo of Akhatova and Solodnikov to handle Auprussia’s pacey forwards Roquen Perugignac and Miren Saloux-Chard. The midfield battle, led by Shaykhutdinova and Terentyev, will be critical in the game, not least as Terentyev will face fellow TPL player Elmaire deu Cavaldraissaiy down the left flank.

Key Player to Watch: Liliana Maksimushkina. After her commanding performance against Safiloa, she’ll try to replicate her offensive strength to stay at least one goal ahead of Auprussia.

Edsmontik (Home)
Edsmontik’s strong start to the campaign sees them in third place after four matches in this immensely tightly contested group with three wins and one loss. Their well-organized defence and clinical finishing have been their biggest assets. However, playing at the Krasnograd Arena gives Pyazhnaya a chance to extend their home run with their fans driving home their home advantage.

Key to Victory: Controlling the tempo. Terentyev and Shaykhutdinova must dictate the pace of the game, while Kartashov and Mukhametshin will need to convert chances efficiently.

Final Reflections
As the Phoenixes prepare for their upcoming matches, we continue to see the team's chemistry strengthen, despite their away setbacks. It is good to see the team growing, even if some frictions pop up, but those at least show that the players are motivated to see this through. Especially with the group still wide open, every match is a step toward either redemption or heartbreak and the two matches against Auprussia and Edsmontik will be critical for the team to stay in touch with the qualifying places.

Will the Phoenixes rise from the ashes of their setbacks and soar into contention? The next chapter of their journey awaits.

by **Dhemixia** » Tue Jan 07, 2025 5:18 pm

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The Columbus Dominion(Est.1873)

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4 consecutive losses leave Dhemixians reeling

If you're four games into the group stage and fans are believing that you should not have had hope to begin with, the situation is DRASTIC, exactly the scenario that Dhemixian FA officials and Manager Doug McMahon are finding themselves in. How they got there? Nothing much, just losing four consecutive games, two of which at home, one of which against an UNRANKED OPPONENT. It's not like Dhemixia was going to be world-beaters or anything, but coming off the BoF, Serpents faithful were expecting (maybe too much in hindsight) a win in the first four games at least, one which they did not get.

Against Carpathia and Ruthenia, the story of the game was that of momentum. Doug McMahon, trying to regain anything from this team, desperately needed to capture the early momentum. As evidenced below, that did not happen. Ottavia Lecce's first goal quickly deflated the Dhemixian defense, hoping to get anything back from the BoF, unraveling the squad. Roza Crocetti's 4th goal in the 32nd minute further deepened the hole, Mario Hutchinson's goal in the 63rd being just too little, too late.

Leaving this match, if the team had stats like some sort of football video game, the morale one would almost certainly be in the negatives. It would only get worse from here. Following the match against Paringo, authorities believe that a disgruntled fan saw to it that the results would be erased from history. Unfortunately and impressively, their efforts succeeded. Left with only eyewitness accounts, belief of what happened divides into three camps. Most of the Dhemixian fans say that Dhemixia won 3-2 in regulation, with unclear and uncertain goalscorers for either side. A small subsect of Dhemixian fans, most likely the contrarians and non-intoxicated ones, say that Paringo won 3-2 needing extra time, Dhemixia losing on a last second crossbar-and-out missed breakaway. The small portion of Paringo fans disagree another way, partially out of bias and partially honesty, that Paringo won outright 3-2 in regulation. Given the fact that, of the 50,000+ Dhemixian fans in attendance, the average blood-alcohol content would still not be able to drive, World Cup organizers went with the Paringo minority's story. The organizers declared that the outcome was 3-2 Paringo, and so it was: Dhemixia last in the table, 0-0-4 record, with 0 points.

If there is any salvaging of this tournament, Doug McMahon needs to do something, anything to start this team now. Facing fellow BoF member Island Fusion away and down bad Patriotlandia, there has been no better time in this group stage for Dhemixia to step up. As mentioned before, success will come with regaining chemistry on a national level and forgetting about domestics. Marvin Bolton and Sam Obisana, rivals on Draegynsreim United and Brigantine Town respectively, need to especially link up to get the glass cannon that this side is up and running. Then again, 0-0-6 is ALWAYS possible, more likely given how this Dhemixia is performing currently, but we'll just have to see what happens.

________███ - - - - - - - - - -███

__Carpathia and Ruthenia__2 - 1_'_Dhemixia

____________________Lecce 4'| Hutchinson 63'
_________________Crocetti 32'|

MotM: CAR FW Roza Crocetti

____███ - - - - - - ███

_______Paringo__X - X_'_Dhemixia

NO DATA, ALL RECORDS DELETED/DESTROYED

Schedule

~~@ Eshialand, Eshialand City SuperDome~~ L 2-3 (6th)
~~vs. Saint Eleanor, Brigantine Park~~ L 0-2 (7th)
~~@ Carpathia and Ruthenia, Stadio dei Sogni~~ L 1-2 (7th)
~~vs. Paringo, Brigantine Park~~ L 2-3 (8th)
@ Island Fusion, Island Fusion Home Stadium
vs. Patriotlandia, Brigantine Park
@ Saterun, Saterun Home Stadium
vs. Eshialand, Brigantine Park
@ Saint Eleanor, Saint Eleanor Home Stadium
vs. Carpathia and Ruthenia, Brigantine Park
@ Paringo, Paringo Home Stadium
vs. Island Fusion, Brigantine Park
@ Patriotlandia, Parc du Nord
vs. Saterun, Brigantine Park

(O.O) · by **TJUN-ia** » Tue Jan 07, 2025 5:20 pm

The Random Rambles of a Jaguar - WC98 Qualifying Edition
with Killian Looker

Welcome back to this Random Ramble and welcome back to World Cup Qualifying action! We restarted this campaign with 6 points out of a possible 6 - a strong home opening win in the UAS and a tough 2-0 win in the opening road game. So far, so good...but we couldn't rest on any sort of expectations until we get closer to the halfway point. David Seems and Li Xiu Ying have this team clicking like never before, but we still have trials and tribulations that we have to deal with across 12 more games of football and so we have to move on. What next, oh most powerful Margaret?

The Games
This split would be a double-header homestand on TJUN-ian soil, starting at Tiankong Stadium in the CEA against #153 Darkmania. This team only had 1 point to their name, but everyone knew that we shouldn't be underestimating any opponent at all...which made the second 5-0 of this campaign all the more surprising. Yeah, we beat another team by 5 goals to zero and this one was just as surprising as the last one. Stephan Fiedtkou and Diana Sharafutdinov both got braces while Maryam Doutsi would come on to score the 5th late on in a result that was just as emphatic as you'd might expect.

Then it was a short hop to the Stade de la Victoire in Roi Ville to face a tougher foe in the form of #67 Poafmersia. Many of the 80,000+ in attendance for this game were hoping for us to keep the gravy train going for another day but unfortunately, we hit our first snag here in the NAU. Poafmersia, a familiar foe from our IAC Era, certainly knew what type of game we were aiming to play and countered that to perfection. Ivan Kozovikov had a busy day in the sticks, but he held on valiantly to secure us a 0-0 draw. Our first dropped points of the season.

Reaction
10 points from 12 available. That Poafmersia game was certainly concerning, the way that they managed to shut us down. Slight concerns there, but we are still 2nd by a country mile...and that's all that matters.

Up Next...
Back on the road again, this time to Natkr, before we head to Szensky to face the Kangas of StrayaRoos - the nation that loves to punch above its weight, in Anaia and beyond. We have to keep the pace up, simple as that. GO JAGS!

SCHEDULE (Group 13)
(Stadium Guide can be found here)
MD1: vs Ralsalin (UR) - Estádio do Pacífico, Rio Pacífico W 5-0 (1st)
MD2: @Delitai (105) W 2-0 (1st)
--------------------------------Rambles--------------------------------
MD3: vs Darkmania (153) - Tiankong Stadium, Tiankong W 5-0 (1st)
MD4: vs Poafmersia (67) - Stade de la Victoire, Roi Ville D 0-0 (2nd)
--------------------------------Rambles--------------------------------
MD5: @Natkr (215)
MD6: vs StrayaRoos (48) - Beregozera Stadium, Szensky
--------------------------------Rambles--------------------------------
MD7: @Baggieland (24) - Dartmouth Hill, Hawthorn
MD8: @Ralsalin (UR) - Ralsalien Grandmaster Kotarlok Arena, Rinkan
--------------------------------Rambles--------------------------------
MD9: vs Delitai (105) - Estadio Universidad Carlandas, Carlandas
MD10: @Darkmania (153)
--------------------------------Rambles--------------------------------
MD11: @Poafmersia (67)
MD12: vs Natkr (215) - Ke Kahua Pāʻani o Pua Aloalo, Kepu Manu
--------------------------------Rambles--------------------------------
MD13: @StrayaRoos (48)
MD14: vs Baggieland (24) - National Stadium, TJUN-ia City

by **West Barack and East Obama** » Tue Jan 07, 2025 5:28 pm

BBC OFFICIAL REPORT: Goals Galore for West Barack and East Obama

By Football Correspondent Gary Obamaniker

Beaucester, Elmyia - At first glance, West Barack and East Obama’s 1-0 away victory over Elmyia seems like a typical Obaman performance: minimal action, grinding out a win, and a reliance on free kicks and corners caused by relentless fouling and diving. However, to the surprise of many viewers, there was some semblance of free-flowing attacking football, which seemed to catch many Elmyians off guard. The lone goal wasn’t the result of a Chobamya corner kick or a questionable penalty decision by an inattentive referee; instead, Wolfgang Obamadeus-Mozart's beautifully composed pass discombobulated the Elmyian defenders and allowed an open Fred Olibama to smash it into the back of the net from outside the box.

Of course, if you're not a casual and actually enjoy Obaman football, you would realise that this wasn't just a fluke game: the Obama Carers have scored 11 goals through 4 matches in their World Cup qualification campaign, which included putting three past third seeded Indusse in a tone-setting opening match. In each of these four games, the Obamen have introduced opponents to plays rarely associated with Obaman football: the forward pass, maintaining possession in the opponent’s box, and playing it out from the back. Instead of sitting deep and waiting to trip up an opposing forward, fearsome centre-backs Barack Denovitz and Bark Obamallama used footwork and trickery to dispossess opponents and retain possession afterwards instead of immediately booting it far up the pitch. Obamadeus-Mozart has particularly excelled in the trequartista role, a word that had never even been uttered by any Obaman sports fan until last week.

Naturally, most are wondering: how? Jealous opponents over the years have meticulously weaved a web of lies that painted our fantastic football team as primitive thugs who were plucked from the streets to pose as a football team. While Obaman football has been rather defensive-minded over the years and has been the backbone of our success, and defensive stability is still what anchors our squad, exposure to attacking football whilst posing as Lozhoans in Campionato Esportiva 39 has given Obamen a lot of practice in that department. Discovering the joys of football beyond sitting in your own half and hacking down opponents' shins has also inspired our Obaman footballers to take risks and surprise others, leading to out current stellar record.

However, inexperience in balancing the defensive and offensive sides of football has been the biggest sore point of an otherwise excellent campaign in the World Cup qualifiers so far. Compared to the qualifiers last season, where West Barack and East Obama kept clean sheet after clean sheet and refused to let opponents pass, we have only kept one clean sheet out of the four games so far. With veterans like Dwayne Obama struggling to adapt to passing the ball to a center back instead of smashing the goal kick into Row Z, it's no surprise that some slip-ups have happened. Coach Buck Obamafinakis addressed this concern in a recent press conference.

"Well, he's getting used to passing the ball short". said Obamafinakis. "Yes, we did concede against West Vdara because his muscle memory kicked in, and he accidentally launched a rocket into Bark Obamallama’s legs, sending the ball ten meters and gifting possession to the West Vdarans. Next game, we’ll have him focus on short passes—twenty meters at most. We can't force progress, and every match is a lesson in incremental progress. We mess up and we learn and we don't mess up again. Take that down, kids."

More goals coming from open play, combined with Lily Chobamya's continued skills in the dead ball department, will show the world that West Barack and East Obama have one of the most lethal offences in the world and send a reminder to everyone that we're no longer those amateur pushovers. Stay tuned to the BBC for more coverage of our inevitable victories.

by **Kimi-Suomi** » Tue Jan 07, 2025 5:39 pm

Everyone knew we would crash down to Earth eventually...but what happened this time?

Kimi-Suomi 0-1 Chromatika
Ok...you know what? This wasn't too bad of a game over in the Galaktien Colosseum of Lumikukkulat. 90% of the country expected us to lose this game against the World #32, against the Almighty Anomalies of Alina Khabibullina and the Fillars (all four of them) in their swansong. We knew we would most likely take no points from this game against a team of this pedigree that we just so happen to share Anaia with (not that they would care. In fact...do they even know we joined this region a few years ago?). But to lose 0-1? To see Elaine Howard-Dawes score the only goal of the game in the 1st half? To see Alexander Ekdal and the back 5 in front of him work tirelessly to keep it that way? To see Jason Jenner-Pokka trying to make Captain Juxon Fillar sweat? That was valiant in all but name. Our team did us proud, even in defeat.

It is the Kimi-Suomen way. The Noble Defeat. Jalo Tappio. Sometimes, that's all you can ask for.

Bir Matras 2–2 Kimi-Suomi
This game on the other hand...ugh, what the hell? Yes, we know that Bir Matras are doing well for themselves in their debut WCQ Campaign...but 2-2? Really? Jenner-Pokka struck first, but the hosts here in Yamal were looking for a fight and Tamid Abdel levelled things up before half time. The second half was just so frustrating as chance after chance after chance went begging, only for Adan Okori to take the lead in the 77th. The only reason we came out of this town with anything was a late penalty from Anne Marie Leppälä - that's it.

Top 100 Kimi-Suomi relying on a late penalty to get a point against a debuting team. Top 100, my ass.

Who's next? Ah yes...the Pesä Kaksoisotsikko - first Kronbinen [Kronbia] the team at the bottom, then Tumbra, the team at the top. We're down to fifth and we need points right now and fast. Three points will be the minimum expectation...though anymore might be a miracle at this point. NOSTA KUIN HUUHKAJAT!

SCHEDULE/AJOITTAA (Group 4)
MD1: vs Darmen (54) - The Nest [Pesä], Kimi Kaupunki W 1-0 (T-2nd)
MD2: @Hispinas (142) D 1-1 (3rd)
---------
MD3: vs Chromatika (32) - Galaktien Colosseum [Colosseum of the Galaxies], Lumikukkulat L 0-1 (4th)
MD4: @Bir Matras (UR) - Yamal Community stadium, Yamal(?) D 2-2 (5th)
---------
MD5: vs Kronbinen [Kronbia] (82) - The Nest [Pesä], Kimi Kaupunki
MD6: vs Tumbra (2) - The Nest [Pesä], Kimi Kaupunki
---------
MD7: @Marsin Itsenäinen Tasavalta [Martian Independent Republic] (177)
MD8: @Darmen (54) - Northumberland Stadium, Oldtown
---------
MD9: vs Hispinas (142) - Galaktien Colosseum [Colosseum of the Galaxies], Lumikukkulat
MD10: @Chromatika (32) - RCK Field, Alnio
---------
MD11: vs Bir Matras (UR) - The Nest [Pesä], Kimi Kaupunki
MD12: @Kronbinen [Kronbia] (82) - Estadio Cerro del Sol, Ciudad de Halcon
---------
MD13: @Tumbra (2) - Bencoolen City Stadium, Bencoolen
MD14: vs Marsin Itsenäinen Tasavalta [Martian Independent Republic] (177) - Galaktien Colosseum [Colosseum of the Galaxies], Lumikukkulat

by **The Martian Independent Republic** » Tue Jan 07, 2025 5:59 pm

Martian History: The War Without A Shot, part 1

The votes were tallied, and to nobody's surprise, John Kenton was reelected in Tyrrhena West. The question was, however, would his United Martian Party gain a supermajority, enabling it to create draconian 'security measures'? The left-wing Socialists and the libertarian Movement for Freedom had formed an alliance, trying to stop this plan.
"Aeolis-Sunrise has been won by the Socialist Party of Mars."
"Huygens Central has been won by the Movement for Freedom."
"Medusae Fossae has been won by the UMP."
"Gale has been won by the UMP."
"Eridania has been won by the UMP."
As the southeastern safe seats trickled in, a more worrying development shocked Kenton, holed up in Tyrrhena watching the results come in.
"Huygens North has been flipped by the Movement for Freedom."
"Tempe-Kasei has been won by the Socialist Party of Mars."
"Borealis has been flipped by the Socialist Party of Mars."
"Isidis-Unity has been flipped by the Movement for Freedom."
"Huygens-Integrity has been flipped by the Movement for Freedom."
Forget supermajority, now Kenton just wanted to hold onto his majority. The Planitiae had been trending left, but they were not very dense, so it was fine, right? Right.
"Huygens Southwest has been flipped by the Movement for Freedom."
This had to be a joke, right? Huygens Southwest couldn't possibly go anything other than UMP, last election it went UMP by 15%!
"We predict that the Movement for Freedom will win this election with a plurality of 55 seats."
So it was serious. All seats in Huygens Crater had gone yellow, there must have been fraud. Kenton knew what he had to do. He picked up his phone.
"Jian, we have no choice. Cut all comms and transport with Huygens now."
"Some won't go down, the terrae and planitiae that voted for the SPM and M4P aren't responding."
"Then it appears we are in a state of war."

by **Ralsalin** » Tue Jan 07, 2025 6:01 pm

At least he got the great form.

After being defeated by Natkr 0-1, Ralsalien Order, under the management of the insane grandfather Seibold von Niermann, managed to deliver another, even bigger sensation, defeating #48 of the world ranking, StrayaRoos, at home. The main hero of the match was Viktor Aniko, who scored those two historical goals and made the entire depressive nation happy. Sadly, our editor, Ludwig Heentodehain, got absolutely drunk celebrating this epic triumph, so we failed to deliver proper news today. We are proposing you to look to all those memes and pictures, that were created in the last days and dedicated to our hero, Viktor Aniko.

MATCHDAY 4
RALSALIN 2-0 StrayaRoos
Goals: 
1-0 52' Aniko (Sengendwara)
2-0 83' Aniko (Blagonadeždins)

GK Gosens
LB Meine 
CB Shindeberg
CB Tõru 
RB Aniko - 2G
CM Astafjevs ↓ 83'
   (Veerman ↑ 83')
CM Heen
CM Kirtiman Asier 
LW (C) von Erlaid  
RW Sengendwara ↓ 64' - 1A
  (Minsen-Dwarasen ↑ 64')
CF Menon ↓ 64' 
   (Blagonadeždins ↑ 64' - 1 A)

And there are memes not only about Viktor.

Nations featured: Squornshelan Remnant States, Gopnikea. And us.

by **Kelssek** » Tue Jan 07, 2025 6:03 pm

I get knocked down?

Kelssek head coach Obey Chidiebere says his players need to put the manner in which they let slip a two-goal lead against Siovanija and Teusland behind them, as Kelssek dropped their first points of the World Cup 98 qualifiers – and of the new head honco’s reign.

“It was always going to be a difficult second half, I said so to the players, and I was right, unfortunately,” he said after a match that Kelssek seemed to be leading comfortably at half time, in which a win against the their 31st-ranked hosts would have been a crucial boost to their qualifying chances.

Instead, Kelssek leaked two goals as Xorge Le Meji’s goal early in the second half changed the mood in the Olimpski-Stadion and swung the momentum decisively towards the hosts. Kelssek were being overrun in the midfield and tried to shore things up with the introduction of Agapeto Licea and Logane Nordet, but it was eventually an intercepted clearance attempt by Bleke Durocher following sustained pressure that saw Einar Hackl grab an equalizer on 76 minutes.

The result did however see Chidiebere’s decisions criticised widely for perhaps the first time since he took the reins, with NSN pundit Thomas Brodif questioning the defensive substitutions so early in the match and suggesting Kelssek needed to get back on the front foot at that point in the match.

“I think it was a big mistake to try and hold out with 30 minutes left in the match. That’s not the time to be taking off attacking players to try and see it out and hold on to a lead. He was right to make changes but it should have been about taking back control of the game, not trying to just hold off the opposition.”

SIOVANIJA & TEUSLAND 3
KELSSEK 3 – Goh-Lemaire (6’, 33’), Niemi (28’)
Woodwell, Loew, Durocher, Vergland, Usher, Pogbacar, Pépin (Licea 55’), Heer, Obident, de Landa (Nordet 62’), Goh-Lemaire (Cutter 72’), Niemi (Massinen 72’)

by **Omerica** » Tue Jan 07, 2025 6:05 pm

by **Edsmontik** » Tue Jan 07, 2025 6:08 pm

streggvalkligges.eds
YOUR Edsmon Sports Hub

6/17/2030

EVENTS

FDVL
FDVL CHAMPION: REICHAN DE-WALVARJ

INTERNATIONAL
NSWC98Q MD3

Group 7
Banija 2-0 Edsmontik @ Mavuto Field, Hoima, Ankole, Banija (75,000)
J. Wérséô (15'), Y. Banda (76') | None

CHANNELS

ODDS AGAINST US, BUT GOOD NONETHELESS

Odds were against the Edsmon team as they traveled to Mavuto Field in Banija for the match.
Banija was a much greater team; strong in every aspect compared to the Eagles.
And after the 2-0 loss, the Edsmons went home disappointed, but satisfied that they had played pretty well.
Here are some things that the Vdesmun players told us.

R. Aespana: We may have lost, but we had our chances, and played well. Huge respect to the Banijan team for how they played. They worked their way through our defense, and past der-Stoiuben.

E. der-Stoiuben: I think we did good for the opponent and situation at hand, it just didn't go our way. I made some big mistakes in the back though, notably to the two goalscorers, Werseo and Banda. I have to say, our defense force, although having been deprived of our two main stars, Javarqa and der-Suiozkeafter, held up extremely well and we were able to prevent the Banijans from scoring a third goal.

M. Stuero: Our attacking powers came very close to scoring, and I just have to say I am surprised at the sheer strength of the Banijan defense. They were able to counter not only my attacks, but ones from Ghreksbvy, Bervaign, Utravak, and others. I have to say, credits to them for doing well. Meanwhile on our side, I think we should improve in the coming future to help ourselves counter.

L. Fruedenne: Despite the occasional mistakes we had, we honestly did very well against this top tier team. I have to congratulate Shouzvenkreden and Travdt in the back for their hard work, as well as Aespana and Utravak, who tried new things such as shooting from distance. Overall, I think we did great despite the loss, and it was a win in our eyes.

L. Shouzvenkreden: We were strong through the match, and I have to say Travdt did well motivating us to counter. We were strong, even without some of our stars, and held up pretty well. The Banijan team is very strong, and they know many things that we don't. So even if we lost, it was a good learning experience as we figured out new things and learned from our opponents.

V. Jervanois: Everything that we did in the beginning either had a purpose or didn't. We made some moves that had no reason behind them. But after watching the Banijans, who had a clear purpose behind each move, we realized we were wasting our ball and needed to do the same. So that's what we did, and despite conceding again in the second half, we did well. The Banijans were a good team to learn from. We're going to definitely use some of this against Auprussia tomorrow, too.

O. Reuhans: We did a good job, we fought well, we played well, we just didn't have it go our way. However, from what we did, the new things that we tried out, it really improved us as a team. And if this keeps going, the light is brighter for winning the whole thing.

M. Svaardaen: I tried, everyone tried. But we lost. Things don't always go our way, and we're learning to accept it. We learned stuff, and it's only one loss. We can still push because after all, the qualifiers aren't over yet.

streggvalkligges.eds
YOUR Edsmon Sports Hub

6/18/2030

EVENTS

FDVL
FDVL CHAMPION: REICHAN DE-WALVARJ

INTERNATIONAL
NSWC98Q MD4

Group 7
Edsmontik 2-1 Auprussia @ Touve Suberarenae, Touve, Austrankank, Edsmontik (100,870)
M. Stuero (17'), Reuhans (90+2') | Perugignan (30')

CHANNELS

A CLOSE CALL

A close call in Touve as we dive into the Matchday 4, Edsmontik vs. Auprussia.
The Eagles barely scraped by with a scoreline of 2-1, keeping them in third place.
Let's dive into the match with ISN Commentator Roener Pvunstass.

***
0' Kickoff Begins
Roener: The Edsmons kick off the game, with Utravak sending the ball to Stuero behind him on his right. Stuero follows with a few moves, and ultimately just lobs the ball over to Svaardaen. Svaardaen takes the ball upfield, and passes it off to Aespana. The Auprussians intercept this pass though, and send it right back to the center for Perugignac, who drove himself farther up the field as Ystermakt followed closely.

5' First Shot on Goal
Roener: The Edsmons do end up retrieving the ball and sending it back, but in a matter of time, the Vdesmun find themselves being pushed by the two strikers, Perugignac and Saloux-Chard. Shouzvenkreden is able to stop a few clear chances, but then, Saloux-Chard passes to Perugignac in an open area, forcing the Edsmons to watch as they could concede a goal. In goes Jervanois, diving towards the ball, but the Auprussian striker shoots, sending it towards der-Stoiuben. Elterhad dives toward the ball, and successfully knocks it towards Kizani who clears it.

17' First Goal
Roener: As a stalemate was broken, Maartin Stuero charged up alongside the other Edsmon forwards, attempting to reach their opponent's net. The Auprussians defended fiercely, blocking some pass chances, but through their combined force, they slipped through to the penalty box. And in no time, the Edsmons lined up their star for the shot, and took the chance. Stuero dodged the left back, moving in towards the center before firing a trivela towards the corner. Seconds later, the ball is in the net, and the Edsmons had the lead.

21' A Counterattack
Roener: The Auprussians weren't giving up, and set their sights on the Edsmon tactics. But after losing the ball, it was clear that the Eagles were sticking to "Clock's Ticking", which slowed the Auprussian operation down by a lot. However, a mistake from Kizani sent the ball right to Ivicer. Ivicer passed right to Saloux-Chard, who fired a long shot from the spot. It soared right between the two defenders, and past der-Stoiuben, who just so happened to come out a bit to try to catch it. It seemed to be all over, but right off the post it went, soaring into the sky before collapsing into the hands of Elterhad. The Eagles were lucky, for now.

30' Tied Up
Roener: But of course the Auprussians wouldn't let that go, and just a few minutes later, they came back stronger. They broke the Edsmon stalling tactic, and fired off towards the net. Stuero ordered a defensive formation, and the Eagles took the blows. Each time, the Auprussian players kept finding a clear zone, but it would be blocked by a defender. However, with quick thinking, Perugignac faked a pass, and fired a shot. The ball went right past Shouzvenkreden, bouncing off the ground, past der-Stoiuben's hands, into the post... and into the back of the net.

37' Fight for a Chance
Roener: The Edsmons quickly got up from their fall and charged headfirst into the Auprussian lines. Within a matter of minutes, the Eagles were turning the tides and forcing the Auprussians into defense. It was Stuero, then Utravak, followed by other Edsmon players who attempted shots. They were risking the ball, sending it to the net from far, but it had been pretty much a success. They were wearing out their opponents by forcing them to come forward and giving themselves free corners from curved and unpredictable shots at Gallis.

45' Halftime
Roener: When the whistle blew for kickoff, fans from both sides were strong, vibrant, and cheering was everywhere. Now, as the halftime whistle blew, there was cheering, but much less noise in general. Both fanbases were anxious, unsure of what was to happen. And as the teams went in, we prepared ourselves for a strong second half.

51' "My Leg!"
Roener: A problem arose when the Eagles realized that the Auprussians were definitely beginning to figure them out. They made central pushes when the Edsmons we on the wings, and they went for the wings when the Edsmons weren't. And it got worse, in the 51st minute, a badly timed kick from Pardau gave Marvic Svaardaen a slam in the ankle. Down he went, clutching his ankle as his team came over. The Auprussian and the Edsmon had a bit of talk, but it didn't look like Marvic was very mad. He was soon transported off, and in his place came on Rehcikt.

60' Horrible Mistake
Roener: After Ghreksbvy's attempt at the freekick was deflected, the Auprussians were on the run again. They made their moves carefully, getting in the way of the Edsmons. But when deu Cavaldrassary got too close, in came Shouzvenkreden with a nasty tackle, giving him a yellow card to the face and Auprussia with a freekick. After the kick was deflected off of der-Stoiuben, everyone rushed to the ball. But once again, a few bumps here and there... oops! A yellow card for Darion Ystermakt, who attempted to tackle the ball, but instead found an ankle.

62' The Penalty
Roener: Ystermakt made a big mistake, and now, der-Stoiuben would have to save this or suffer the consequences of two losses. Everyone was counting on Elterhad. Saloux-Chard lined up, and fired the shot, right toward the left corner. der-Stoiuben dived, also to the left corner. It would be a matter of whether the ball or the keeper got there first. The sound of the glove relieved the Eagles as Elterhad knocked the ball right out, giving the Auprussians a corner, and saving the Edsmons for now.

74' Done With Substitutes
Roener: Between the 63rd and 74th minute, the Edsmons and Auprussians used their substitutions, bringing on fresh players to change the course of the game. Edsmon manager der-Ghavyr made the decision to put on Javarqa for Shouzvenkreden, Zeukalmen for Ystermakt, Reuhans for Ghreksbvy, and Fotserr for the horribly tired Stuero. However, without Stuero, the Edsmons were without a captain, so off to Javarqa the armband went.

81' Almost There
Roener: With control in Javarqa's hands, he changed the Eagles to a defensive position, explaining that they just needed to block out their opponents for long enough. Zeukalmen moved back to a defensive midfielder position, and the defense fortified. For the following minutes, things looked good, with the Edsmons wearing out their opponents like expected. But lots of time remained, who would win? It stirred in everyone's minds as the game reached its closing stage.

90+2' Can't Believe It
Roener: After many more minutes of back-and-forth chaos, the Edsmons finally fought back. Keeping their five-back position, Javarqa ordered Reuhans and Aespana forward, along with the Edsmon front three. They clased with the Auprussians, playing keep-away and faking shots to throw off the keeper. Stuero passed to Rehcikt, who went for Aespana, who lobbed all the way to Reuhans. And a quote from Reuhans himself, "I knew what I had to do, so I did it." Reuhans drove forward, slipping past the defense, and fired the ball. One, two, three seconds passed as the ball curved over, Gallis dived and reached out, so close to the ball. Time almost froze as fans waited, waiting for the cheers to erupt and for the ball to be in the net. And it did. The sound of the net, the eruption of the fans, as Reuhans tore to the nearest corner to celebrate. The Edsmons had saved themselves from a draw and a chance at loss. As the game settled down, 2-1 was the final score.

EDSMON ROSTER

CHANGES FOR MD5/6

by **Saterun** » Tue Jan 07, 2025 6:17 pm

It had been a mixed bag of results for the Claws after 4 qualifying matchdays. Initially, Group 9 seemed to be a reasonably navigable group, but Saterun had suffered two early losses to the teams they were expected to compete with for qualification. Luckily they had picked up decent wins elsewhere, and sat in 4th place on 6 points. Although they were only 4 games in, an exceptionally short qualifying schedule of 14 games meant that every match counted. Kameron hadn't been able to really drill that into his squad yet, and the only bright spot had been Caesar Ibañez, who had come up with 3 of Saterun's 4 goals. Tihon United's new striker was already starting to make a name for himself, but the overall team needed to come together if Saterun wanted to qualify for the World Cup proper.

Kameron also had to keep in mind that it had been a while since they had all played together, which was showing in terms of cohesiveness. Still, they were top-level professionals, and Kameron knew they would sort it out soon. At least, he hoped they would. Otherwise, this campaign might already be doomed. The next two games on the docket were against Patriotlandia and Carpathia and Ruthenia, both of which could completely change the standings. If Saterun emerged victorious from both, they would be in a very good place to secure qualification. They were only a point shy of Carpathia and Ruthenia in the table, and this presented the perfect opportunity to leapfrog into a playoff place. If they lost, however, it could shatter their campaign. Kameron hadn't imagined that it would be make or break this early on, but the short qualifying schedule could be tricky like that.

All of this was running through Kameron's mind as he presided over a light training session. He watched Ibañez deftly skip past Cipriano Dalca before curling it around Ralf Abiatti, and he was reminded that the squad did still have very good players. It was all about harnessing that ability. Ibañez in particular made Kameron very excited about the future of the Claws. If he was being totally honest, developing young players like Ibañez and Adrian Schlimme was pretty much the main reason he still stayed in this job. He was progressing through his eighth year as NT manager, and it was starting to wear a bit.

He pushed those thoughts away as his assistant coach, Lisa Lletget, came running up to him. "Kameron, Avishai just landed on his ankle badly. The physio has already started to look at it, but he seemed almost unable to walk. I'm not sure when he's going to be fit again." Damn. Avishai Demare was one of Kameron's prized players, mainly for the left-back's ability to provide both offensive production and defensive coverage. However, Kameron certainly didn't want to risk aggravating an injury. This left him with two options at left-back: Ruben De Santiago and Rodrygo Sienna. Both were quality players, but De Santiago had more experience and had been on the NT longer. However, Sienna would likely get significant minutes off of the bench, as Kameron had seen his quality in the A Liga and was intrigued to see if he could produce on the multiversal stage.

Kameron sighed. "Start Ruben. We'll get Rodrygo some minutes, but we have to honor experience." Lisa nodded. An injury this early on was not helpful. Hopefully, for the squad's sake, Avishai wasn't hurt badly. Kameron was interested to see what Ruben or Rodyrgo could come up with given the opportunity, though. He sighed again. Although he loved managing, this particular post could be overwhelming sometimes, especially given that Kameron also managed A Liga side Futsworth United. He wondered if he was getting too old for this. But that couldn't be possible, right?

by **Libesia** » Tue Jan 07, 2025 6:18 pm

TV listings from Libesia tonight

The Traitors: Libesia

Kwesi suspects Zuberi of being a traitor and speaks to Ayanda about his suspicions. Chike and Habiba get closer during the task, while Amadou and Nia continue to conceal their relationship from the rest of the faithful. After an emotional roundtable, tensions run high: will Femi manage to avoid being banished with Esi leading the charge? Ultimately it doesn’t matter as the 3 traitors (and all 15 faithful) are wiped out by a drone strike, with only Claudia Dlamini’s fringe surviving.

Good News Libesia!

Covering all the good news from Libesia today. Evidence from Nzombora province demonstrates that Libesia’s machete industry is booming, while the drought in Kisandwa is officially declared over as the town is wiped away in a flash flood. And check out all the fun of the Omaruku Camel Races!

I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!

The trials continue as Taye has to eat an entire plate of fish and chips – yukkk! Omari and Afolabi struggle to get to grips with the snow, and Sefu goes ice skating. Meanwhile, Jabulani captures a band of missionaries and holds them for ransom, although it’s not really clear if that’s part of the show or just kinda Jabulani’s thing.

Football Tonight

Highlights from Libesia’s World Cup qualifying match at the Hasimou Biri Sports Complex as they host Christian Brothers. The Cheetahs are looking to bounce back after two goals from Holly Van De Hoogte sank them last week on their visit to Valentine Z. With both Norbert Mboumoua and Florian Kangulu out with injuries, Vinzenz Ayotunde and Thukile Ntshona are expected to start. And Ramon will play in the 10 role ahead of Uche Chukwuemeka after an underwhelming start to qualifying for the talented youngster.

Rhythms of the Night

Professor Funku and Miss Zama Vibes join you for smooth jazz grooves through the late hours, featuring tunes from the Tchambaya Vortex Collective, Makena Zenzi, and Baraka Mensur & The Coconut Renaissance, while there’s a live set from the Afrobeat Otters and an interview with Adama Zola, high priestess of “giraffe jazz”.

by **Drawkland** » Tue Jan 07, 2025 6:29 pm

Short recap in case you didn't follow the previous RPs from this storyline

The Elite Eleven, a group of eleven Drawkian athletes who obtained their modern fame through exhibitions and taking the reins as Drawkland's national soccer team for several cycles, returned to the pitch as the men's team in the summer Olympic Games. The most notable of the Elite's abilities, besides embarrassing themselves on the field, is their incredible endurance and versatility. They revealed a few years ago that this was not due to outstanding conditioning or genetic luck, but rather extensive training done over several hundred years, as all eleven members of the team are immortal, similar to Drawkland's founding leaders.

While their immortality was now public, there is much information about immortals which must be kept confidential for security reasons. Many years ago, the Immortals Accords organization was founded to assist Drawkland's immortal residents with keeping their identities or histories secret due to this need. During the Olympic Games, though, the Elite experienced what may be a breach. Very personal information about Dominic Southers, one of the Elite's members, was posted in an oft-derided tabloid in Drawkland. Normally one would ignore such sensationalized stories, but the information was far too personal and accurate to be mere coincidence. Worried about the ramifications of a potential breach, Elias Keys of the Elite took it upon himself to track down who could've obtained this information. More importantly, he wanted to know why.

Elias did manage to find the "how" - a keepsake gifted to a member of the Elite while spectating events at the Games appeared on second look to be some sort of recording and transmitting device. With the help of Grid Corps national team member Leo Cross and the son of Drawkland's founder, Lerocav, Elias tracked down the receiving end of the transmitting device in a motel in Hamilton, Electrum. They didn't find the person who planted the recording device, and couldn't track it any further without blowing their cover. Their leads came up dead, and they were left hoping it was an isolated incident.

It wasn't an isolated incident. Months later at the Independents Cup, Nicole Warren of the Kick Corps received a similar keepsake, a keychain with her name and number on it gifted from a fan. After inspection, it was revealed that this too was recording and sending information to another device in the hotel. Jaxon Madison of the Elite decided on the course of action. They'd try two ways to track down the perpetrator: intentionally give incorrect and specific information in range of the device to see if that information would end up anywhere in the future, and try to physically locate the spot where the device was sending information.

Several months prior, at the IAC ...
TELM CITY, BRITONISEA
Nicole Warren and Cam Cross sat apprehensively in their hotel room. It was time for phase two of the loosely-defined plan, where they were to plant innocuous false information in hopes whoever was listening in would pick it up and create a tangible trail to follow. There was no guarantee it would work, but at least it could maybe provide insight in the future.

"Okay, one more time to be sure," Cam murmured as they approached the door to their Telm City hotel room. "We're gonna go in, scatter your suitcase to make it look natural that the keychain is out, then we start 'drinking.'"

"Yeah, and we just have to talk naturally." Nicole fumbled with her bag looking for the keycard. "And slip in that line about Lerocav giving us a map about TiSoFaH. Or something like that."

"I'm just happy we'll get this over with so we can focus on the semifinal and toss that stupid keychain." Cam sighed. "This is going to be so weird. Like talking, but not actually talking. You know?"

"Yeah, I may need to actually drink to get through this naturally. Otherwise I'm gonna be awkward about it." Nicole replied dryly as she stuck the keycard into the lock. "Ready?"

Cam nodded silently, and the pair walked into their room as normally as they could.

"Now, where did you put those shooters we brought?" Cam asked loudly, perhaps a little too performatively.

"Oh, I stowed them in my suitcase. Hold on, let me find them." Nicole replied casually. She gave Cam a withering look. "Can you be a little less obvious?" Nicole mouthed.

"It's a good thing we got Sarah preoccupied tonight," Cam hurried on, trying to match Nicole's tone. "You know she'd drink us out of the room in 30 minutes."

"I'm honestly surprised that she didn't sniff out my stuff sooner." Nicole grabbed a small handbag from her suitcase, which the keychain was stowed in. She intentionally shuffled around inside of it, tossing the keychain and a couple other miscellaneous items on the table. "Um. I stand corrected."

"What?" Cam asked, noting where Nicole placed the keychain on the corner of the table, unobstructed.

"Look!" Nicole exclaimed. "Nothing! They're all gone! Sarah must've seen them earlier and helped herself. Unbelievable."

"Well, at least we have this beer." Cam said, as if trying to calm Nicole down. "We probably shouldn't be drinking that much two nights before gameday."

"Whatever." Nicole gave a wink to Cam. Things were going pretty naturally so far. "I will kick her ass when she gets back from ... wherever she is tonight."

"Is she off chasing Nicholas Kingston again?" Cam asked. "Or did you just tell her about that bar across the street."

"The latter." Nicole chuckled. "I figure we don't need to give Nicholas any more trouble. Sarah's already trying so hard to make that happen anyway."

"Think it will happen?" Cam asked as she popped the cap off one of the beer bottles they brought in. It was obviously meant to continue the conversation, but there was a hint of sincerity in her eyes as she asked it."

"Hm." Nicole considered the thought as Cam passed her the bottle. "Maybe. Sarah will need to learn the art of subtlety, though."

"So that's a no, then?" Cam countered, and both girls giggled.

"I mean, nothing's keeping Nick around the team. They could easily find another physio. Even if they don't, uh, y'know." Nicole stopped herself. She had almost mentioned Nicholas's special ability, which would've been actually good information for their spy.

"Yeah." Cam's eyes nearly bugged out of her skull when Nicole fumbled, but she kept her voice level. "I guess he doesn't mind the attention. If he comes back for next cycle maybe it's a sign he's down to go further."

"Or a sign he wants to keep that consistent paycheck coming in," Nicole laughed.

The conversation continued from there, evolving mostly naturally. They both finished a few beers, adding to the authenticity of the situation, even though their immortal metabolism worked through the alcohol quickly and without much intoxication. Eventually, near the end of the evening, the conversation steered towards the quest for immortality that the girls had been on, as was the plan.

"It always ends up here, doesn't it?" Cam remarked with a hint of bitterness in her voice. It was an increasingly common topic of conversation whenever they drank, that wasn't just for show.

They did a good job with it, the conversation flowed naturally without any real compromising information coming out. Finally, Nicole slipped in a comment about how helpful Lerocav had been for navigation during training for the quest. Cam corroborated the fake line with some additional detail, and the girls slowly found their way back towards a normal topic. When Sarah Arrowsword came banging on the hotel room door, both Nicole and Cam went into a feigned panic.

"Shit! She's gonna see that we've been drinking!" Nicole said with perhaps a little too much vigor.

"Quick, clean up your bag!" Cam urged, and Nicole immediately stashed the keychain and other knickknacks she had strewn across the table. After zipping the handbag closed, stuffing it back into the suitcase, covering the bag with clothes, and zipping the suitcase, they both relaxed. If the microphone could still hear them, it would certainly be very faraway and muted. Mission accomplished.

Present day
DRAWK CITY, DRAWKLAND
One semifinal win, one championship game loss, and several months later, no mysterious hint every materialized. Elias Keys, Ross Hunter, and Jaxon Madison had spent those months scouring every possible tabloid, blog, rumor mill, reputable paper, and social media site, and found nothing. They took special care to examine each edition of the Sadeg Enquirer, to absolutely no avail. The trail had once again, come up cold.

Of course, the offseason also meant that the Elite Eleven and the members of the Kick Corps were often separated and doing their own thing. It wasn't until the World Cup Qualifying match against Lisander, held in Drawk City, that most of the immortal Kick Corps and Elite Eleven members were able to meet again. Ellzidan couldn't attend due to her new duties in the Eternal Empire, and a couple others were missing. In all, it was a group of seven present at dinner.

"That's the way to rebound!" Jaxon proclaimed proudly to the assembled group. They had gotten a private room at the North Broadway Brewhouse, a large and often crowded bar and restaurant near the Corps complex, where the Kick Corps had just defeated Lisander 4-1 hours before. "No point window, meet six point window. Keep that momentum going, ladies!"

"You don't have to patronize us," Sarah snarked back as she raised her glass. As the group saluted in unison, Sarah downed her wine in one go. "We're all on one tab, right?"

"Hey, that's a tough window to open up." Elias said after taking a sip. "The campaign's not over yet."

"What did I just say?!" Sarah hollered in response, which earned laughs from everyone else at the table.

Conversation in the room began rather innocuously, with the dull muted roar of the busy restaurant right outside the room serving as pleasant white noise. Dinner went by, and a couple people at the table ordered dessert to keep the night going. Perhaps it was obvious, but eventually talk turned to the incident at the Olympics and IAC.

"So," Sarah asked to nobody in particular, though she was facing Ross and Eli's side of the table. "Did you guys ever track down the weird stalker person in Britonisea?"

"Ah ..." Elias grimaced, shooting a glance at Ross. "No, we didn't. We were able to triangulate the signal receiver to three rooms on one floor, but all of them were occupied and we couldn't really poke around any more without being conspicuous."

"We did manage to follow a person from one of the rooms when they checked out, but they were taking a regional flight to Mercedini." Ross added lamely. "So I don't think it was them."

"Fat load of good you are," Sarah muttered. "And you didn't find anything in the papers?"

"We've been checking the entire time." Jaxon jumped in. "Quite thoroughly, I might add. Nothing suspicious about Lerocav like were hoping."

"It was a stupid plan anyway," Sarah polished off the rest of her drink, adding it to the graveyard of empty glasses in front of her. "Why the fuck would a tabloid publish some shit about the maze anyway? People already don't know much about it."

"Yes, but it is common knowledge that Lerocav didn't go on the Quest. Common for anybody that's read a history book, that is." Elias clarified.

"We were thinking that somebody would be interested in publishing information that Lerocav, despite not going on the Quest, knows a lot about it and could be an informant for those going on the Quest." Ross tried to further explain the logic.

"What happens if this super shady organization, that's definitely real and not just some really aggressive paparazzo acting by themselves, decides to go after Lerocav directly?" Sarah stuck out her bottom lip. "I bet he wouldn't take very kindly to that."

"Lerocav can handle himself," Jaxon insisted. "He already knows about this entire debacle. If anything that would be more convenient since Lerocav would be able to respond directly to whoever they are. We don't have to track them down if they come to us."

"I doubt they'd be stupid enough to challenge the Drawkionel's son directly, no matter what their motives may be," Nicole sighed. "I just feel like we went through all that trouble for nothing. Another dead end."

"And we haven't been bothered since," Mike pointed out. He hadn't talked much. "Maybe it is just some paparazzi that didn't get what they were looking for and gave up."

"It feels a little high-tech to be a random skeevy journalist." Elias shook his head. "Whatever. That's basically why we haven't said anything, Sarah. No report until there's something to report."

"Maybe we'll run into somebody at the World Cup," Sarah suggested with raised eyebrows. "The last two times have been at tournaments."

"Excuse me, the World Cup?" Ross plastered an annoyingly large grin on his face. "With your current form, you'll be fighting for a Cup of Harmony playoff berth at best."

"Fuck off, buddy." Sarah screwed up her face.

"I thought you didn't want to be patronized?" Elias added with an impish grin of his own. "Isn't this what you asked for?"

"How about you all quit being assholes?" Sarah looked around for a waiter, though they hadn't returned to the private room yet. "Better yet, somebody could get me another drink?"

"And she wonders why no dude wants to date her," Nicole stage whispered to Mike next to her.

"I heard that!"

links to the previous posts

by **Saint Eleanor** » Tue Jan 07, 2025 6:30 pm

Group of Six meeting (XLV) --- Eshialand 5-4 SAINT ELEANOR
Participants: Gentle Breeze, Reniira Clevinger, Stephen Mitcham ~ Bridget Coombe [C], Cathy Winchester [VC], Rachel Curran [ballot]
Location: Premium Coffee; Deepchester district, Saint Eleanor city, EXT

WHAT AN ABSOLUTE BANGER OF A MATCH!!!!!!! We tried to come in with a WELL-LAID PLAN, but Will Sandrie took us by GREAT SURPRISE with how much he dominated the first few minutes. THANKFULLY, Tim and Wunderbar did EXCELLENT WORK to reverse that - their goals were no less spectacular and NO LESS IMPORTANT COME THE BREAK... especially as the second half was an EPIC TUSSLE the likes of which few have seen and arguably only Bridget herself can verbalise. We were in the lead TWICE, got pulled back twice, sucker-punched ONCE, IN A MOMENT OF INDIVIDUAL GENIUS, and completely unmatched by any of our rather exhausted selves come the end of it. This was both a moral victory and a moral failure, which I am truly impressed with as I am told that this is the first qualifying defeat I've been part of since I was with Nephara

So with that sorted, how do we PUT SATERUN ON THE RUN?
GB: "With slightly less difficulty"
Me: "Please can we not be sarcastic today"
Bridget: "Please can you understand that we have lost very excitingly against a very exciting team so I think the sarcasm is warranted"
Rachel: "Please can everyone be serious, this was our first loss in forever"
GB: "I would rather not lose my job over this. Thanks"
Cathy: "Back on topic... this bears, I think, almost no resemblance to the last Saterun we played"
Stephen: "Bates and Becker are still around, they're the really dangerous ones"
Rachel: "I wasn't here last time, does anyone have any notes"
Bridget: "Yes; I made them... if I remember correctly, man-to-man marking, be cautious with the midfielders, attack away from Becker"
Stephen: "I've heard good things about Schlimme and Alfienk"
Cathy: "Adrian is someone I'd wait for. Leandro... well that blows a hole in my friend's theory then"
Rachel: "My hot take is Becker is yesterday's man. Yes I know I wasn't here last time but you read their news reports, where is he"
GB: "On the teamsheet"
Bridget: "I want to agree that Becker isn't the man he was a few years ago. Worth looking out for but he hasn't met my expectations"
Stephen: "Do you seriously have to have world-beating expectations of every half-decent player you meet"
Bridget: "I tend to assume the best of players - just in case and because I do think football lends itself very well to potential"
Me: "We are having a factual conversation here. What was everyone else saying"
Rachel: "Ignore Becker. Try to sidestep him, not to ignore him, Alfienk is the much bigger danger nowadays"
GB: "Antonsen's more on the bastardy side of things so we should stay well clear of the left, unless there's an emergency"
Cathy: "I suppose we have a consensus then, keep the wings firmly on guard... which we are doing anyway"
Stephen: "As for down the middle I think it's time for a bit of change, four games in a row for the same starting eleven would kill us"
Bridget: "Don't suppose I'm getting offboarded"
GB: "You are not. But we need defensive stability, so I suppose there are a couple of changes to be needed"
Bridget: "I think we need more than a couple, Nacle Ohan is probably desperate for a start, I think we can afford a bit of slippage there"
Me: "You say that, but..."
Stephen: "Deed's done. He's in, Tim's in, Sylvia returns, I think we'd do good with a bit of flexibility in the midfield after last time and Olympia needs some time out"
Cathy: "Pia never needs some time out, she's just that cool"
Me: "I said can we please not be sarcastic today"

HOW TO WIN, I.E. HOW TO NOT LOSE - AGAIN
PUSH HARD ON THE RIGHT - GO EASY ON THE LEFT
BE WARY IN CENTRAL MIDFIELD, TROUBLE MAY BE AFOOT
DEFEND AND ATTACK AS BEST AS YOU CAN
WE CAN FIND A WAY THROUGH THIS LOT TOGETHER

4-1-4-1:
______________ ARIELLE _____________
__ CATHY - LYDIA - ESTHER - RACHEL ___
______________ BRIDGET ____________
NACLE - WUNDERBAR - SYLVIA - GRAHAM
________________ TIM _______________

Reniira Clevinger was proud to deliver the bad news for the first time since I got the job. Lovely stuff

Rose Carter: "The first time I ever saw someone get killed was on TV3"
Chief Football Correspondent Jamie Rodgers gets more than a word in edgewise with Saint Eleanor's next great backup goalkeeper
Originally published on Wednesday 6th February 2013

Few would expect Rose Carter to make much of an impact in today's national team. "And not in tomorrow's, either. I'm here because I'm a good master, a good commander, and a good player - and not an objectively excellent one. I'm just vibing!"

Rarely for just about any White Star, Carter played no part in her school's Charles Trump Shield team - and just as well for her, given the Army School's limp second-round exit in 2002. "I've lived an unremarkable life. I like keeping active in all sorts of different ways; I make friends with a lot of different people in a lot of different places, mostly superficially, all different ages, always just talking about stuff, sometimes playing football informally, sometimes running... that's how Bridget Coombe got her start. She's one damn smart cookie; I've been meaning to have dinner with her. I'm fit enough to be in the Army, always wanted to play in the Army League, had that, enjoyed one good season, continued to keep fit and do my duty, then somehow got immediately catapulted while continuing to do my duty. Then the starting lineup, at which point I became a footballer."

Around the same time, Carter was starting to indulge in her other favourite hobby. "My appendix burst when I was in Year 9, which was absolutely not fun, as you can understand. I got the surgery done, was let out after a while, and my parents thought it would be best for me to stay at home for a couple of weeks. We didn't have that much in the way of the internet, so I think I spent the entire month of June '98 watching as much television as humanely possible - there was a lot, and I mean a lot, of good programming even if you wanted nothing to do with the football. I started to appreciate the late-night movies a bit more, although it was full-on daylight outside; the first time I ever saw someone get killed was on TV3 watching some trashy eighties movie. And then broadband happened and I pirated several dozen terabytes worth of stuff that you couldn't get on SESB for a decade until ETV arrived with their fancy subscription packages, Margaret bless them. Yeah, I got my computer destroyed a couple of times and a few letters, but I learned more foreign language than I'll ever need from it. Also, there's seriously a lot of good stuff on SESB these days. Please stop pirating, thanks."

Perhaps understandably, Carter is more than reticent to explain what three games most influenced her career. "I mean, the entire 2006 season? That's eighteen games - it was a lot of fun, though. I'm genuinely not that remarkable as a player; I've been almost universally compared to Brian Taggart and they have a point, as we're more traditional goalkeepers and that's what people like. On the other hand, though, I consider myself to have been very much blessed with some excellent defenders at the Army [and Navy], we have some great ones here as well, and I'd say that's the other thing you really need as a goalkeeper, other than to be physically fit and able yourself."

It would almost not be surprising to learn that she is on good terms with Esther Launceston and Lydia Vickers. "Rosydier! Sorry, but a syllable every two letters might be too much for some people. But yes, they are on good terms with each other, they're both fairly relaxed and not very cliquey, they're both very religious - shades of me, to a point - and we have gotten along excellently the few times we've met, especially unofficially. Obviously the metaphorical Goalkeepers' Union is very real, I'm cool with just about everyone else on the team, I'm happy to talk with whoever, but Esther and Lydia are definitely my two best friends. They're book people, I'm a television person, we like sharing knowledge with each other and maybe I've inspired Lydia in particular to spend a bit more of her free time in front of the other kind of box! Denise Livingston is my absolute best friend out of necessity, though - teammates and all."

Few would charge Rose Carter with being annoying or abrasive, but all will accept her as a good, effective goalkeeper with a sense of humour, strategy, and personal organisation alike. Arguably, she occupies Georgia Wood's moral space more than she does Taggart's, although she's slightly more vocal and less regimented than the Golden Unicorn legend; if she can carve out a personal niche of her own, it might earn her a similar place in the Eleanorian fan canon, although most likely not one in the starting lineup ahead of the much-regarded Arielle Richardson.

Group of Six meeting (XLVI) --- Saterun 0-3 SAINT ELEANOR
Participants: Gentle Breeze, Reniira Clevinger, Stephen Mitcham ~ Bridget Coombe [C], Cathy Winchester [VC], Sylvia Hollenberg [ballot]
Location: A really fancy pasta place near the City Stadium; Eshialand City, ESL

Stephen here, again. This was a surprisingly comprehensive performance from us - it wasn't the best night Rachel has ever had, not by a long shot, but everybody plugged in as they needed to, we had their midfield largely under control, and Tim proved to be very menacing despite only getting one goal. Credit must also go to Nacle for his goal on debut, Bridget for popping up with what I'm almost surprised is a less-than-all-time-classic goal, and Lydia for firmly irritating just about everyone trying to lead the Saterunian attack at one point or another.

Paringo have been as anonymous as they have been impressive - they're somewhat notable, especially with their recent performances, but not by enough to make us worry about much. It was agreed that, despite Rachel's dismissal, Keith Barnett would still be well-placed to take the lead out wide in his first ever cap (not a bad omen, as discussed). Tim and Nacle will obviously remain, but we're otherwise returning to the classic 4-2-3-1. Island Fusion after this is also unlikely on paper to pose much of a threat, but they have been everyone's bogey team in reality; Bridget's intervened to take the Group of Six's notes prior to that one.

by **Sarzonia** » Tue Jan 07, 2025 6:34 pm

One truism about draws is that a result that sees both teams walk off the pitch without a winner being determined can mean a wide variety of things.

If you're the haughty favourite and you're facing an upstart country hoping to earn a signature result against you, a draw could feel like a calamity. It could turn into a gut-check moment for your side. If you're a side that hasn't earned a point yet in away matches and you visit a higher-ranked squad and earn a point, it could feel like a victory.

Elements of the latter were true for the Sarzonian national football team as they traveled for world No. 1 Valanora on Matchday 4. The teams finished an offensive slugfest with a 3-3 draw that may not necessarily have helped Sarzonia keep pace for a spot in the World Cup 98 proper, but after an embarrassing 3-0 loss to lower-ranked Bears Armed, a draw against long-standing one-sided rivals Valanora felt more like a victory.

"We weren't perfect by any means," forward Spencer Wilson said. "We made a few mistakes and were a little bit too tense in trying to find the perfect pass a couple of times, but we were able to score more goals in our match than they conceded in their three other matches combined. That's something we can look at with a bit of pride." Wilson scored two of the goals, including one from the spot after a controversial call of a penalty that Vanorian players seemed to argue happened just outside the box, but to no avail.

Sarzonia (2-1-1, seven points, fourth place, Group 17) also made a few mistakes defensively, and John Wells admitted afterward he didn't see the ball as well as he'd like.

"Yeah, the ball was looking like a pea out there tonight," he said. "I feel fortunate that we were able to salvage a point out of that."

The Stars return to Woodstock for a match against unranked Bohr at Nottingham Pavilion, but stadium officials said they were having trouble clearing the snow and ice from the pitch, as stadium staff for the smaller venue were unable to report to work due to the winter storms that hit Woodstock. Stadium officials said they expected the stadium to be ready for kickoff for a match that suddenly looks to be more competitive than originally expected. The two teams are level for third place and a potential spot in the playoffs.

"Bohr have looked a lot better than some unranked sides have," manager Caleb Rush said. "We know it's early yet, but we know with a 14-match group stage there isn't room for us to rest against a good team. We're not taking Bohr lightly."

by **Delitai** » Tue Jan 07, 2025 6:49 pm

1/7/2025

The Delitai National Football team have submitted their roster for the ongoing tournament in the World Cup. Fans of the national football team are expected to travel across the globe to support the players representing Delitai. Experts estimate about 50-85k per match and in sum of about 700k. Attendance isn't a problem when Delitai participates in World Cups. Studies have shown that the attendance rate has improved by 30% since the last world cup. On D-tweet, ( Delitai's version of twitter ) the national football team has around 1.3B followers, showing how much the sport is appreciated across Delitai.

The 3 key players to look out for, short facts about em

The media and fans are looking forward to some unique players among the squad. Firstly, Liam Johnson, a fast, passionate, and agile striker wearing number 9. Participated in the last 2 World Cup tournaments being on the Starting XI twice. Scoring 7 goals and assisting 3, across 2 world cup tournaments. He stands at 6'4 feet tall and weighs 190' pounds. He is expected to be a threat to any defence he faces. Secondly, Oliver Smith, the expressive right-winger at the age of 24. Smith made his professional-international-senior debut at the age of 21. His pace, flashy passing, and IQ with the ball all come down to a major problem for defenders who 1v1 him. In 30 appearances, he has a 78% passing accuracy and 0.36% XG. Smith is the average height of a Delitaian at 5'11, weighing 150 pounds. Lastly, the Central Midfielder, named Kwame Mensah who represents Delitai as a captain. Known across Delitai and Asia for his achievements in his outstanding club-career and at the international stage. Made his debut back in 2020 for the national team at the age of 24. A young midfielder that has the key role of controlling the team. In 60 appearances he has a 83% passing accuracy and 0.31% XG. Additionally, known for his role in helping the forwards/attackers in the last 30 minutes of the game. He usually ends the game with a yellow card. Some of his decisions may be controversial but the media and fans back up the player which they call it "playing with passion."

Head Coach Andrei Petrovich

Head Coach Andrei Petrovich has promised the Delitaians to solidify and represent the nation in international tournaments. Occasionally, Petrovich usually stays quiet and demands more from the squad itself, this time there is a turning point in the locker room. Players from the starting squad like Charlie Evans, the right-back... James Wilson, the left-winger... and the "rock-hard" goalkeeper Daniel Martinez has leaked to sources that the coach has spoken more positive and encouraging specifically in "big games." Petrovich recently joined the National team last year to take the most important role of administration. "Head Coach isn't an easy job for those who take the risk but the rewards are promising if you can achieve your highest" said Isaac Cohen, ( source, Daily Soccer Reports, DSR ) ( Cohen is an attacking midfielder placed as a substitute as of 2023. )

More roleplay coming soon... ( including previous matches completed )

by **The Kytler Peninsulae** » Tue Jan 07, 2025 6:57 pm

This is the MD5/6 cutoff

by **Doubeia** » Tue Jan 07, 2025 7:14 pm

Tanner Firsov was having a horrific day at the office.

It was his first ever cap for the Doubeinese National Team. When he first caught wind of his selection, he went so far as to host a mini-party to celebrate. To him, it was a dream come true. To represent his nation, to play for Doubeia in front of tens of thousands of fans, was an opportunity he couldn't pass by. It didn't matter that it was a friendly.

But as Tanner saw the clock hit 45 minutes and the scoresheet reading 5-0 for the other team, he couldn't help but wonder whether this opportunity turned out to be a poisoned chalice. At first, he was questioning himself on whether he was even good enough for the job, but after seeing how his team were doing, he started wondering whether this team was even taking the game seriously. He witnessed in real time how his defenders — Entin and Yuryev — misplace simple passes that led to goals. And it wasn't even as if Firsov could do anything; the Qusma strikers were just too powerful and experienced for him to do shit. For the second goal, he passed the ball to Entin, and then Entin proceeded to kick it at the opponent's feet.

When the ball went into the net, Entin only mustered a "my bad" and walked off as if he didn't just give away the easiest bloody goal. It wasn't just his team, however. The opponents seemed to be much more serious playing. It hadn't even been the second minute when Qusmo initiated a surprise counterattack, leaving everyone slow to react. Tanner ended up in a one-v-one situation with the Qusma attacker, and Tanner wasn't good in one-v-ones. He rushed out of the goal to close down on the Qusma striker, but with one simple juke the attacker whizzed past him and kicked the ball into an open goal.

The Qusma were just unnerving him, really. Especially this Sevet-Matez guy. Tanner had no idea what was up with him, but whenever he got close he would just stare Tanner down menacingly. No smile, no hint of emotion in his eyes. Just pure ferocity. That was enough to unsettle Tanner, and he ended up conceding a silly second goal to Sevet-Matez and Qusmo. In fact, one could say that Qusmo's dominance pretty much let them write the scoreline themselves. To Tanner, it felt like they were going for goal every other minute. Some of their shots he saved well, but the others... Well, there was a reason why Doubeia were trailing 5-0 at halftime.

The half-time talk was the first time he'd seen a man so pissed ever.

"You don't fucking come into my team and then play like you're enjoying a fucking pint at the beach! What are you guys doing?" Will Petrov questioned furiously. No one said a word.

"Sloppy, sloppy all over the pitch! You've got the entire midfield just standing there doing nothing! You're not joining the attack, you're not falling back, what the fuck are you doing!" he continued fuming, "The defense is a shambles as well! You can't wait ten seconds before giving the bloody ball away! You can't blame the keeper for conceding 4 in one half when this is how we play against them!" Tanner thought that was the worst thing the gaffer could say at that contentious moment. Suddenly, all eyes turned to him. Their gazes looked blank, accusatory, pitiful... everyone looked at him as if he was pathetic and it hurt.

"I believe we are much better than this. I want to see tightness in the defense. Don't leave space for the opponents to run and attack! Midfield, you need to be the balance between defense and attack. I've said this so many times already! Forwards! Stop cunting the ball from 35 yards and be clinical. We have a fucking job to do and you all know it! Don't let yourselves and the nation down!" Petrov finished his rally cry and clapped his hands twice before walking out of the dressing room. All the players got up and huddled around each other.

"You heard Will, and I hope you guys buck up, because I don't want these kinds of performances to be normalised in our team," captain Hugo Borisenko instructed, "You heard me?" All he got was a weak "yeah".

"I said, do you hear me?"

"Yes!" Tanner's voice sounded the loudest as he channeled all his inner frustration into that one word. As he drank his last sip of water before leaving the dressing room, he felt a soft hand on his shoulder.

"Tanner, mind having a word?" It was Hugo. Tanner nodded. Hugo sat down beside him.

"I know this is the worst way to start your NT debut, but I promise you... I promise you this will be the worst it'll ever get," Hugo paused for a while, as if expecting Tanner to reply; Tanner stared at him blankly.

"Y'know, playing with the NT isn't all sunshine and stuff. Sometimes you'll deal with opponents who are too strong for us, and sometimes even the team kinda, you know..." Hugo shrugged, "Still, I'm just saying you shouldn't take this so hard on yourself. You've been so great at Wolfwood, and I believe you'll do even better for us." He then got up and beckoned for Tanner to walk back to the pitch. Tanner took a moment to digest those words. Hugo had always been good at motivating others, and his words had injected a fresh burst of motivation into his veins. Unlike how he went back into the dressing room, he walked out a much more confident man.

In the dugout Tanner saw Sevet-Matez, the guy who had not only spooked him out but also dared to score a brace against him. Tanner would make sure he wouldn't score a hat trick. Not on his watch. The two locked eyes only for a while, but the tension was so palpable you'd be forgiven for thinking the two had something going on. Perhaps it was only Tanner who thought of it that way; the other guy might not have even cared.

As Tanner walked to the other side of the pitch to restart the match, he looked at all the fans who'd come to see his team's abhorrent display. He, in a way, felt bad. They had to come all the way to Qusmo, which they certainly have never heard of, to watch their team get battered in the first half. Still, it was heartwarming and motivational that there were still many fans who'd stayed to support the team, although their chants weren't as loud as the start of the match.

When the ball was kicked and the second half started, Tanner was determined to make this half the greatest Doubeia has ever seen, but of course that didn't go to plan. It seemed as if nothing was happening for the first fifteen minutes. It can't be that the attackers were doing well; they hadn't scored. Even so, he hadn't faced a shot at all. In fact, he found himself losing his focus for a while until Mason Yuryev screamed at him.

"Ball!"

Tanner didn't like being screamed at, but this time he had to thank Mason for waking him up to a ball flying towards the top right corner. Tanner had to leap in order to even parry the ball out, and he just managed to swipe the ball away. Away to a Qusma striker. Tanner had no time to react as the ball was hit into an open net.

"Fuck off!" he yelled. His fury started to rise through the cracks as he conceded a sixth goal. He had never conceded more than four goals, let alone six! It was his worst goalkeeping performance ever, and it had to be on his national team debut. Tanner didn't dare to even look behind. He didn't know what the fans were doing or how they were looking at him, but he could hear the soft fan chants simmer into a damning silence.

The rest of the game panned out way better than the first sixty minutes. Perhaps it was the opponents' fatigue getting to them or a surge of adrenaline in Tanner, but he managed to eke out some impressive saves. At one point he found himself in a 1-on-1 situation with Sevet-Matez, the guy who'd scored twice on him. Tanner stared him down in his pupils with the ball in his peripheral vision as he closed down the shooting angle. If Tanner couldn't beat him with pure skill, he had to go down the psychological path. Perhaps a stare-down was enough to unsettle Sevet-Matez as the ball ended up in Tanner's arms safely. In the remaining half an hour, Tanner let in just a goal. It was certainly better than before, and his defense seemed to be much more rock solid, but to him, it wasn't enough to make up for the first half.

Tanner's mind was in a double state of disarray and emptiness after the match. He could feel his teammate's arms hugging his shoulder as they uttered some praises for his second-half performance, but he didn't truly feel anything. He was in his own world. For the entirety of the dressing room debrief, he was staring into blank space as his mind raced with worries about how badly he'd be received back home. He didn't care for Petrov's words, although he heard his name being mentioned once or twice.

Tanner looked at the several cameras set-up in the room. He knew those were for the documentary, but were they seriously recording every single moment in the room? He'd only watched a few snippets of it, but he felt uneasy being able to see and hear everything that transpired in the national team. And now that he himself was being videoed for the entire world to see? Feeling queasy was an understatement. It felt like a breach of privacy.

Tanner's mind started to go into overdrive as his worries started to inflate uncontrollably. Did they record everything he said? Everything he did? Were there hidden cameras in his hotel room? Did they record the trash talk he initiated in training? They certainly weren't there to film every single one of his blunders just now, right? Right?

"I'm about to crash out," Tanner mumbled as he slumped back. The humidity in the dressing room was starting to get to him. He couldn't hear anyone, feel anything. If anything, he felt tired. His mind that was once racing with worries was now simply empty. Did he worry for nothing? Was there nothing to be afraid of? Tanner didn't know the answer, but what he knew was that he wasn't thinking straight. He could hear a very faint "lad's, you're dismissed", and then the shuffling of bags and equipment. Everyone seemed to be leaving. Tanner shook his head to recover his consciousness, but remained seated for a while. As everyone left the dressing room, the only people left were him and Mason. The latter walked to Tanner.

"You good, bro? You looked zoned out the entire time," he asked in concern.

"Yeah, it'll be fine. Don't worry about me," Tanner responded.

"Alright, whatever you say buddy. Just cheer up bro, you did well this game," Mason, who didn't sound convinced, left the room, leaving Tanner alone in the room.

Did he really do well, or was it just an attempt at making him feel better? Tanner didn't know, but he felt pathetic either way. He didn't think he'd be this rattled by a defeat, but the slice of humble pie was too big for him. He continued sitting there for a few minutes, before someone from the team called him to board the team bus. As he left the dressing room one last time, he took a look at one of the cameras filming his lonely musings.

"So much for privacy," he muttered. He wagged his finger at the camera and left the room.

by **Vetrahjart** » Tue Jan 07, 2025 7:41 pm

Snapshots of Vetric Culture - History (and Art)

This series is designed to give outsiders a glimpse of Vetric culture across several different categories. Instead of a thorough, deep dive into each topic, we will merely highlight important people, places, and events that make up our Vetric culture.

For those who have never encountered Vetric culture before, here are some quick facts that help give you a fuller understanding of the Vetric people and culture.

- First, Vetrahjart literally translates to "Heart of the Winter". The whole nation isn't exactly a frozen tundra though. The climate is temperate in the southern regions, but much more boreal in the north.
- Vetrahjart consists of 7 provinces on 7 islands. Each island is not its own province, however: The island of Vetjylland consists of three provinces: Feldrland and Rammeland to the south and Vasterbæk to the north. The island of Ålbenlland sits to the west of Vetjylland and consists of two provinces: North Ålbenlland and South Ålbenlland. In the middle of these two islands are the provinces of Austerland, which is made up of three islands: Achova, Ulsiä, and Imasä and Torkia which consists of the islands of Trädvik and Skalavik. See the maps below for guidance.

"Antonissen, galponen" (English: "Antonissen, the explorer") c. 1765- oil painting by renowned Vetric artist Mathias Østergård (1742-1786)

Håvard Antonissen (c. 831 AD - c. 887 AD) - Antonissen was born on the island of Skalavik where the Skalavik tribe lived isolated from all other humanity. Antonissen was a fisherman like many of the Skalavik men. One night around the year 865, he and a few men were aboard a fishing boat just off the northeastern coast of Skalavik when they were caught in a severe storm. The men attempted to row the boat back to the shore, but the winds carried them out to sea. They drifted east and eventually, after a night of being at the mercy of the waves, they washed up on land. Unbeknownst to them, they had landed on what is now known as the island of Vetjylland and the province of Feldrland. Antonissen and his men encountered a few different rival tribes on this unknown land. After almost a year away, Antonissen returned to Skalavik with news of his discovery. In the coming 5 years, he would go on several expeditions and is credited as the first to sail around the islands of Ålbenlland and Vetjylland in 868 and establish that they were indeed islands. He also sailed north in 870 and landed on the islands that would become Austerland province.

He is depicted in the oil painting by Mathias Østergård as a determined man and a visionary. The painting is considered among the treasures of Vetric art and is housed in Tvåspöfliden (the National Museum) in the capital city of Oxelövik.

KÄSKLALAS SCHEDULE (GROUP 14)
MD1: @ Bostopia (115) - L 3-5
MD2: @ The Ko-orenite Constellation (123) - L 1-4
MD3: vs Audioslavia (40) W 3-2
MD4: @ Legalese (81) L 1-3
MD5: vs Squornshelan Remnant States (5) L 2-3
MD6: @ Xanneria (52) W 5-2
MD7: vs Hmmland (UR)
MD8: vs Bostopia (115)
MD9: vs The Ko-orenite Constellation (123)
MD10: @ Audioslavia (40)
MD11: vs Legalese (81)
MD12: @ Squornshelan Remnant States (5)
MD13: vs Xanneria (52)
MD14: @ Hmmland (UR)

MD5: Vetrahjart 2–3 Squornshelan Remnant States (Instrum Arena, Oxelövik)
Goals: '31 Ksudach (SRS) |'35 Engström (VET) |'41 Starovoitov (SRS) |'61 Mikkelssen (VET)|'76 McGill (SRS)|

MD6: Xanneria 2–5 Vetrahjart - (Unknown Stadium, Xanneria)
Goals: '14  Xanneria (XAN) |'27 Saleh (VET)|'32 Forssell (VET)|'42 Xanneria (XAN)|'50 Engström (VET)|'63 Albertssen (VET)|
'78 Engström (VET)

Painting of Håvard Antonissen created using Nightcafe AI.

by **Panay Islands and Guimaras** » Tue Jan 07, 2025 8:01 pm

DOUBLE LOSS FOR THE BLUE AND WHITES
Roxas, Capiz and Camaron, Cobrio

The boys in Blue traveled to Roxas for a match against the visiting Aphrilians, where they would meet with a bunch of passionate Capizeños who are here to support the national team. The Islanders and Ávila, did their best to take out the Aphrilians and finally manage a win against them. The first half started with a massive defense from Aphrilia that made the Panayense Islanders go crazy and let the Aphrilians score, 2-0. Then this happened when at the start of the 2nd half, the boys in blue got a hope where Chiang tackled an Aphrilian player but it was play on. And then Ricalde, with his speed, gives a goal to the eccentric Panayenses. But it wasn't enough for them as the Aphrilians score another 2 goals to end the game, 1-4. Then the Blue and Whites traveled to Cobrio at Camaron to play against the Cobres. It was a neck-and-neck first. Where both sides tried to get each other and make fouls as they can until someone from Cobrio cracked the Panayense defense at the 88th minute and thus making the debutants win, 0-1. "We just can't get the solving puzzle.", says Ávila. "But I hope that we could try again against Al-Tamazigha and Of the Godless both at home." The Carabaos will face both Al-Tamazigha and Of the Godless at home, they're hoping that this time, they will win.

by **Gnejs** » Wed Jan 08, 2025 12:58 am

Enda Clentin’s last dance

Chapter one: PUFF Civil War

Part three: If A Man Knows Not Which Port He Sails, No Wind Is Favorable

The activity of «Football» has always been organized according to a strictly hierarchical model of centralization in The Union, no matter if you’re looking at the larger clubs, smaller sports associations, the national team or how all of it relates to each other. This meant that all the constituent parts of the «body» were reliant on the «head» to function properly. Unfortunately, the head of the overarching «Union football body» was PUFF, and when a crippling madness infected the head and incapacitated its basic agency, the usually efficient administration concerning all things football decayed into a mush of equal parts confusion and chaos. We could speak of the consequences for the top tiers of professional football, or the problems encountering the organization of the annual «Under-16 SuperCup» up in Briskeby, but none of that is ultimately crucial to the story of how the 98th World Cup cycle became Enda Clentin’s last as the head coach of the Prosaic Union National Football Team.

The outbreak of the PUFF Civil war coincided with the qualifications for the 98th World Cup, and meant that the solid administrative backing The Dandelions were used to more or less ceased to exist overnight. There were still many within the PUFF offices that tried to find time - between skirmishes, war strategy meetings and guard duty - to continue doing their jobs (most of them Clentinistas) but almost as many (mainly the Anti-Clentinists) did their utmost to not only not do their own job, but also try to make sure no one else could do theirs.

For example, The Unit for Ticket Allocations within the Department of Public Relations and Revenue had always been responsible for calculating visitor allocation and distributing tickets for Dandelion games. Signe Hanson was responsible for Home Fixtures and making sure visiting federations had an appropriate allocation of tickets for their traveling fans, whereas Lars Kihl was in charge of Away Games and was tasked with making sure Union fans had an opportunity to get their hands on allocated «Away Fans» tickets. Signe Hanson had never been a devout believer in the prophecy concerning Enda Clentin, but she leaned more Clentinista and had therefore sided with them. She diligently continued her unit’s work with calculating and distributing tickets, meaning that most WCQ Home Games had almost a sense of normalcy about them, with nearly all Union and visiting fans getting their hands on tickets and finding an assigned seat. Lars Kihl, on the other hand, was a firmly militant Anti-Clentinist, and was so caught up in the war effort that he completely ignored maintaining contact with the foreign football federations trying to hand over the Union’s allotted tickets, meaning that for the duration of the WCQ not a single Union fan was present at The Dandelions’ away games and the team had no crowd support whatsoever.

Yet another example of how the PUFF Civil war left The Dandelions out hanging with virtually no support was how The Unit for Travel and Accommodation at The Department of Off-Pitch Logistics closed up shop and neglected to perform their usual tasks. Under normal circumstances, Mathilda Mattsson and Glen-Roger Andersson would work together to ensure all Dandelion players and staff had their tickets and itinerary ready well in advance for every away game. Samuel Diskus and Johanne Stricksson would in the same vein arrange proper accommodations and training venues. The players and staff would always know exactly when and how they were to travel, and where they would be staying. The Unit for Travel and Accommodation had always had a stellar reputation and was the very hallmark of efficiency and dependability. This was not so during the PUFF Civil War, however, because while Mathilda and Samuel believed Fate had not unfolded, Glen-Roger and Johanne believed it had, and since operating all the involved systems and records required working in tandem and the former colleagues were now bitter enemies, neither travel nor accommodation got sorted.

This left The Dandelions forced to fix their own travel, living and training arrangements. While many of them were capable footballers, few of the Dandelions had much experience with logistics of this kind. Like spoiled children, they were so used to someone else sorting everything for them that when the day came that they needed to sort things themselves, they failed miserably. Like the game against Osterhalten in Igny, where half of the squad had managed to book tickets to the city of Aurimead in Igratia instead, forcing the team to field a highly unorthodox starting eleven. Or when the team was playing their opening game against Britonisea and midfielder Nicomachus Hansson had proclaimed he would take charge of finding a proper hotel for the lot, only to mess up the bookings and leave the entire Dandelion contingent living rough on the streets of Quickenden for the duration of their stay (this happened a few times actually). After a few away games several players threatened to go on strike, mainly for the extreme financial burden of all of this DIY. About halfway through the qualifications, Taxhavn professionals Georg Bardo and Hibiskus Andersson solved that particular conflict by offering to pay for all expenses (it only constituted about a month’s wages for them anyhow).

All of this took a toll on the relationship between the players and their remote-coach. Because Enda Clentin needed not suffer through empty stands in foreign places or the terror of being homeless in Quakmybush. He was always precisely where he was supposed to be, in front of his screens and microphones, in the comfort of his «man cave» in the spare bedroom on 33 Mange Street, Oswark. He was always perfectly rested and expected his players to perform to the best of their abilities, and the players were annoyed by his seeming lack of understanding for their plights (this was likely a product of cultural differences, where the players took Clentin’s sober stoic approach to hardship for casual indifference). That was when they were even able to communicate with him, that is, because while all of these examples surely contributed to explain the corrosion of the bond between The Dandelions and Old Enda, perhaps the biggest blow delivered by the PUFF Civil War was that of the lacking maintenance of crucial technical infrastructure needed to maintain a clear line of communication between Enda Clentin and his assistant coach and players.

It was Torgeir and Joar - the guys formally hired to run the PUFF Instapound account - that were supposed to make sure everything in the «IT-Room» was running smoothly. And they had done a remarkable job of it for many years. With the outbreak of the PUFF Civil War though, maintenance, development and communication with Emlyn Blymmins (the «IT-guy» on the other side, on 33 Mange Street) became a problem, since the «IT-Room» was right in No Man’s Land on the western front on the third floor. While tenuous truces were sporadically negotiated, allowing Torgeir and Joar to perform some bare minimum maintenance, the technical infrastructure was dying a slow death. This, in turn, greatly impacted Old Enda’s ability to communicate efficiently. Static and interference was now the standard, and at times everything just froze for long patches of time. In one of the games against Gopnikea, Enda’s voice straight out disappeared three minutes in and he wasn’t able to get through until well after the 67th minute, shouting so loudly on his return that poor Georg Bardo missed a penalty.

All of this left the relationship between Enda Clentin the players severely strained, because he was often absent at crucial moments and not the leader they needed. This would prove a crucial part of the story of how the 98th World Cup cycle became Enda Clentin’s last as the head coach of the Prosaic Union National Football Team.

by **Kanzlia** » Wed Jan 08, 2025 2:18 am

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Keep up the good work

To: Karl Schmidt

Dear Karl,

The 5-2 defeat at the hands of Kamijiro, honestly made me quite frustrated, but thankfully for you - I never attend away games. I can turn a blind-eye to that for now. However, the 6-1 triumph over Qasden at home, consider me pleased. Vassilis could never deliver such results, never. I think the team is heading the right direction, keep up the good work.

As for the match against Flavovespia, I expect a respectable showing. A draw would be great, but let's be realistic, the best we can do is avoid a humiliation. Though I expect a victory against Yuugria in the next match.

Sincerely,

Jan Melis
President of Voetbal Vereniging Kanzlia

80 Koninginstraat, Szbedansk, KNZ

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Re: Keep up the good work

To: Jan Melis

Dear President Melis,

I am immensely grateful that you have faith in me and the team. Me and the players will do our best.

I noticed Dr. Mes is not in the travel roster for Yuugria. Is this a mistake? Given her excellent work with rehabilitation, I believe her presence would be instrumental for Pisarics recovery.

Apologies if the exclusion of Dr. Mes was in yesterday's video conference. Should I expect any other medical staff changes?

Regards,

Karl Schmidt
Head Coach - Kanzlian National Team

12 Armadastraat, Kotr, KNZ

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Re: Re: Keep up the good work

To: Karl Schmidt

Dear Karl,

Dr. Halberd has signed an official contract to join the medical staff and will be present for the Yuugria trip. Focus on the match preparations. Don't get distracted, let's maintain momentum.

Sincerely,

Jan Melis
President of Voetbal Vereniging Kanzlia

80 Koninginstraat, Szbedansk, KNZ

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Re: Re: Re: Keep up the good work

To: Jan Melis

Dear President Melis,

Does this means Dr. Mes was fired? I haven't heard any news of such, not even from her friend.

Regards,

Karl Schmidt
Head Coach - Kanzlian National Team

12 Armadastraat, Kotr, KNZ

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Re: Re: Re: Re:Keep up the good work

To: Karl Schmidt

Karl,

No, Dr. Mes is still employed and her contract is still running.

Could I inquire as to the name of her friend? Is she part of the VVK staff?

Sincerely,

Jan Melis
President of Voetbal Vereniging Kanzlia

80 Koninginstraat, Szbedansk, KNZ

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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Keep up the good work

To: Jan Melis

Dear President Melis,

That's a relief. Dr. Mes is integral to the medical staff.

As to her friend, it's Maria Kovacova from the U-23 staff.

Regards,

Karl Schmidt
Head Coach - Kanzlian National Team

12 Armadastraat, Kotr, KNZ

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Mandatory Drug Testing

To: Maria Kovacova

Dear Dr. Kovacova,

As part of our ongoing commitment to maintaining the highest professional standards, you have been selected for a mandatory drug screening test. Your schedule goes as follows:

14:00-16:00
Room 303, National Sports Medical Center, Szbedansk

Please bring valid identifications. Failure to show up will result in disciplinary action.

Regards,

VVK Board

80 Koninginstraat, Szbedansk, KNZ

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CONTRACT TERMINATION - IMMEDIATE EFFECT

To: Maria Kovacova

Dear Dr. Kovacova,

Following your drug screening, we have received confirmation of positive results for controlled substances including:

- Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)

As per VVK regulations and national law we are
1. Terminating your contract, effective immediately
2. Reporting these findings to the Kanzlian Medical Board
3. Notifying relevant authorities

Security personnel will escort you to collect your belongings. Your federation e-mail has confiscated and will be wiped in the next 12 hours.

The VVK will cooperate fully with any inquiries with investigative bodies.

Regards,

Jan Melis
President of Voetbal Vereniging Kanzlia

80 Koninginstraat, Szbedansk, KNZ

by **Ko-oren** » Wed Jan 08, 2025 4:26 am

Katanmak Juliasterinthen, far greyer now than when he first assumed the World Cup Committee President role back after World Cup 90, adjusted the frame-only glasses balancing on his nose, pulled up the collar of his turtleneck, glanced in the mirror one last time, stared down a production assistant until he gave the President a thumbs-up, and then Katanmak walked out onto the stage. He had done this dozens of times before: from announcing winning bids to World Cups, Baptisms of Fire, and Cups of Harmony, to perhaps the most difficult point in his career: Vilitagate. But at no point was he ever met with a mixed response as terrifying as when he announced his plans to overhaul the rankings.

In the conference hall amidst hundreds of dignitaries representing all FAs under the sun, there was some applause, a rare 'boo', but mostly, there was a questioning silence. Why overhaul the rankings? Sure, every coach and FA president ever has quietly cursed the KPBs for not putting them in a better pot, but on the whole, a change could be a change for the good... or a change for the bad. What if your national team was in the specific position that made you lose the most?

"We're aware that it's difficult for new FAs to make their mark on the global stage..." Katanmak begun, with some muted chatter among visitors still not completely died out in the hall, "... so I've put the best statisticians in a room, only to be allowed food, drink, and daylight once they come up with the perfect solution." This wasn't the response he anticipated. He didn't expect roaring approval either, but the overwhelming neutral ambivalence felt even worse than mild dismissal. "Uh, this is without compromising the achievements from the best and brightest among us either." Puzzling looks from the Vanorian camp, gestures that could be interpreted as 'astonished' from the lovecraftian monstrosities in the Holy Empire camp - if that was the Holy Empire camp, you're never quite sure who they send to these events.

"Oh, and we're also giving more credence to the regional tournaments! We're aware that some of you are using the current KPBs as input for your systems, and we could use the bilateral connection! So we're looking to incorporate those as well!"

Audible whats and whys from the first few rows. Loud cheering from the Pacitalians.

"So, uh, as we end this annual World Cup Committee meeting, I welcome you all to the next one, where we'll present our findings! Thank you all for coming here!"

That was certainly a bombshell to drop at the end of the conference. Juliasterinthen never heard of underpromising and overdelivering.

One year later

Katanmak Juliasterinthen, even grayer than last year, once more checked his appearance. "We've heard your feedback, and we've made it work!" he mumbled to himself, practicing his first few lines before going on stage.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please give it up for the President of the World Cup Committee, Katanmak Juliasterinthen!"

Golf clap.

"Welcome!" the big man himself, forcing a big smile, walking out all alone on the massive podium. "You haven't forgotten about last year's promise. We've heard your feedback, and we've figured something out!" That's why I'm proud to present, or rather, this is why our Mathematical Magicians will explain the premise to you now.

Two hours, Twenty-four minutes, and fifty-one seconds later

"Thanks guys! All that's left for me to do is one last grand reveal..." lights dim, uplifting corporate muzak starts playing, dancers come on stage, acrobats descend from the ceiling, a spotlight centres on Juliasterinthen. "The spectacular name we've chosen for this grandiose enterprise is..."

"K.."

"P..."

"B...."

"PLUS!"

Silence.

by **Grand Exultia** » Wed Jan 08, 2025 4:28 am

So I’m going to start sounding like a broken record having come through the hardest phase of the qualifying group. The last five games all against higher ranked opposition, three of which have been away from home, and we have managed a single victory of which we beat the second ranked team in Aleirave. Not the start we would have been hoping for especially after winning the first two games however we can take some solace in the fact that these games have been against tough opposition, given our ranking that isn’t hard, and mostly away from home which could suggest the second half of the group games would lend itself to a more favourable run in when points are going to become essential.

A quick notice about the squad and the confusion over positioning of one of the previous games where Daskruger our starting left back was substituted for a right back, this it turns out is down to Greenbottle being named in the under 21s team in the Di Bradini and thus unavailable for selection, one can only presume that Apollinaris is not ready to blood the 16 year old Fëanoriel just yet.

You could argue that we were a bit unlucky in the last round of qualifiers given that we lost at home to Riena 3-2 and away to Reçueçn 3-2, two close matches that on another day could have gone the other way, I’m sure many of the home fans will feel disappointed we didn’t get more out of the Riena game given they are one of our closer ranked oppositions and a home win would have really set the precedent that we mean business but unfortunately not to be and we’re now languishing in 7th place, one place below where our ranking would have us believe we belong, personally I still believe we will get more out of this group than we have so far but our defence will need to improve, we’re up there with goals scored in the group proving our teenage quartet are the threat we thought they were but defensively we’ve conceded the second most goals and not kept a clean sheet yet, maybe a change is required to spruce things up but does Apollinaris have the aptitude or the cajónes to make such a change on the biggest stage of his career so far.

The positive side of things we are scoring goals quite freely consistently registering an average of just under 2 a game, Strongtower, Vielener, Galadrieth and Duskstriker the scorers of our goals over the last couple matchdays. Strongtower coming off the bench to eat into the deficit in the game against Riena and then Vielener with a consolation goal to finish both decent finishes but a lack of excitement considering another loss to record and then the most recent game against Reçueçn saw a bit of fight from the Exultians, Duskstriker equalising with a good finish from the edge of the box but once again we let the game get away from us and at 3-1 down Galadrieths thunderous effort in the dying throws was not enough to salvage anything.

It's hard to write positively when you’ve now lost 4 on the bounce, once again especially when you record an early upset which easily gets everyone carried away, but we will look to the future to see what positives we can draw. Our next two matchdays sees us facing off against Libesia and Christian Brothers respectively both being held at the Gyrinx National Park so home advantage against two lower ranked teams are must win games to keep any hope or dream of qualification alive. Now we have already beaten Christian Brothers at their place so you would like to imagine we have the momentum going into that fixture against a team that has only lost in qualifying so far, but complacency can get you at the best of times so it would be best to set aside a couple of rubber chickens to placate Margaret. Libesia are a team that whilst ranked below us currently sit above us in the table, due to their draw with Reçueçn and beating Riena and Christian Brothers, whilst this would suggest they are more in form and thus a dangerous opposition you have to hope the Psychers within Gyrinx National Park will be able to lift the players to the level they need to be at to achieve the victory we so desire.

Two wins could see us climb back up to third in the group which we can all agree is performing above our station but with 4 of the 7 of the second half games being held at home that small advantage combined with some winning momentum could be the springboard and catalyst required to test the better ranked teams within our group and give us something worthy to recount and write home about. Rumours are an unchanged lineup will once again take to the field to rectify this losing streak.

Report by Patsy Orchinaoff for the Independent Football

World Cup 98 | RP thread

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back into the swing of things

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Unlucky? Out of form? or not good enough?

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