Baptism of Fire 87 - Everything Thread

[Atymnius]

Welcome Dēmosians to the newest edition of the News Network!

We are proud to present the results of matchday 1 of the Baptism of Fire to your doorstep for great, reliable and informative news coverage! Today we see a narrow slit of tensions as the regional Dēmosian Football Team drew to Biyambi. The match, contested as it was, saw riveting displays from the Spanish Salamander to the Biyambian defense who shocked not only the team’s goal prospects but additionally the opposing half: we shall unpack the details in real-time!

0’: The game kicks off.

23’: Rafail.

---

Apostoli: The Spanish Salamander STRIKES!!!



A: GOALLLLL!!!

Apostoli: Rafail has once proven why he is one of the best prodigies in our current era. What do you have to say about it Mike?:

Hattenborough: Well with Apostoli, he cut-in through Zimba and as the defenders were left confused, took a magnificent shot at the far-post. Good clinicality from the Spaniard!

Both Demos and Biyambi encircled themselves in a dance of tension as a battle for the midfield took place. Opinions became more neutral, silent: possession was near-equal. Nyoni and Moses kept stagnant, untenable to the advances of Tý. Frustrated, full-backs Ghant and Babas consistently went out of position to keep hopes in the midfield alive. The fluctuations were a frustration for fans. The manager, Alexi, however, notably kept silent…

45’: Half-Time.

---

Apostoli: We are now at half-time ladies and gentlemen. What do you make of Dēmos’ performance so far:

Hattenborough: I’m really proud of the boys [Dēmos]. They seemed to be in the game, just a matter of not losing what they already have…

Half-Time Team Talk

---

Alexi scrunched up the presentation from the cartridge as players looked towards themselves kneeling to the ground.

Alexi: Boys. You all need to wake up. Biyambi’s getting to you. You could see for yourself. Theodosis, why aren’t you helping Tý?!–

Theodosis: Sir—

Alexis: Theo.

Theodosis: I’ll get right onto it Sir.

*Alexis put his thumbs on his forehead. Sighed, frustrated:*

A: Boys. I’m proud of you but don’t let arrogance get to your head. We are one of the best out there. No one knows that better than you boys. No Biyambian national can tell you about our style of play. Ghant and Odola: watch out for your energy. As for you,

*He walks up to Rafail before squatting*

A: Well done son.

He goes back up to the center of the room.

A: Boys your time is now. We will be going counter-attack in the last-half. Keep the momentum and watch out for any corners or free-kicks from the other half. Let’s go boys!

The team sprung up triumphantly. High-fiving their hands, they went back to the pitch. Shouting together they said:

DËMOS AVALINÑEA!!!

45’: Second Half.

---

A panoramic view of the Wild Grounds in Arrosia.

Apostoli: We now begin the second-half of the game.

A grass-cut athletic atmosphere of sweat permeated the atmosphere. All the players were dripping wet. An extreme agitation could be felt from both players and fans. The Biyambian forwards came closer and closer to a drained, defunct full-back line and a pressured Tyolius.

Tyolius: Whyatou! Hold the line!—

*Tyolius smacked his partners temples before telling him:*

T: Focus.

The game continues…

68’: Maseko.

---

Hattenborough: Now we have a corner. Rooney takes it. Oh wait! Apostoli look!

*A silence cut through Wild Grounds. The commentators could not believe it!*

Hattenborough: GOALLL! A beautiful header by the Biyambian “Golden Ram” Maseko. Right into the opposing far-post! Apostoli?

*Hattenborough looks toward his partner in a jovial manner.*

Apostoli: *Oh Mike! An extremely good, technical finish from the player. Really impressive. That should make his first contribution rightly as a goal for Biyambi.

A: Folks, with that goal we now start the game one all.

The Biyambian defense with prominent, more experienced defenders such as Ortega and Zimba held tightly at the back as Theodosis started applying significant pressure in the third-half of the pitch. Rafail supported him in this endeavour with Tý acting as a background generator to the two’s double-attack play.

Notably, the Dēmosian tactics switched from a tiki-taka style of play to that of counter-attack. Many defensive players held up tightly forward up the pitch while the midfielders played out of position in the third-half. Biyambian players responded by parking-the-bus and therefore many held themselves interlocked at the back, eager to keep the game one all.

90’: Full-Time.

---

Hattenborough: Well that’s the end of the game folks. Both teams took the spoils today. What do you have to say about both team’s performance today, Apostoli?

Apostoli: I think both teams played great. It was really a matter of who was going to wish for it more. In this sense it was equal according to the standings. Let’s take a look at some more extended analysis on the matter Mike.

Extended Analysis

---

The commentators both went to the analysis room. Luminescent and audible were the surrounding seamless glass and marble ornaments. Overlooking the extended Wild Grounds, Apostoli slid the television near the desk.

Apostoli: Hello everyone. Mike Hattenborough and I are proud to present the match’s analysis. Let’s get to it then! Mike I think what was clear was the state of the Dēmosian defense today.

Mike: Yep. Not great. If you look already at the 56’—

*Mike enlarges the third-half of the Biyambian field towards Dēmos’ goalposts*

M: Not only is Theodosis way out of position but midfielders are just not getting back quickly enough. By the time, as you see can see here—

Mike neatly pulls his pants up quickly before pointing appropriately:



M: By the time Dawnbridge was in the small space forward over here in the far-right, Ghant was already out-of-position in the centre-half. You just cannot do that. Now here’s what happens: Tyolius here had to feed into Dawnbridge which left the middle-center already isolated to one man. Then in that space, Keegan was exactly where he needed to be.

M: They were lucky that the shot was parried over but obviously that led to the unfortunate outcome with the corner…

A: But you can’t really say they were responsible for that…

M: No, no, sure! The defense had to take full accountability for their performance at the back. Biyambi, nonetheless, were consistent in this match. They may have had some fall-backs but ultimately it was a leverage of Dēmos’ inconsistencies that they were able to take advantage of.

Apostoli: Alright thanks Mike and folks for listening in. I’m going to have to cut our analysis short as we are running short on time. Let’s take a look at the following BetWay predictions for Dēmos’ next match away against Greater Deutsche.

Highlights Players

---

“The pitch is meant to be messy. Do you think Demos’ success is attributed to your “supposed” high level of tactics? No, not quite. We just know our roots better than yours.”

Don’t teach me football. Let me show you. These two words are statements of philosophy for a lion whose rusticity demands presence: his preference for complete domination sees himself at the other half of the pitch in minutes. Wearing the captain’s armband, he reminisces of a time where he would play “footy” (as he refers to it) with his friends:

Remember when our feet touched nothing but the grass? The ants delectably crawling around your puny-toes as the ball volleys—

He would play rudely in the dirt for what was a childhood brimmed with hardship, poverty and camaraderie. His father would beat him often while his mother loved him too much. He did not know how to repay the incurring debts.

A life of poverty is no more. I will give you everything and pay back my dues.

He would later be selected for the U21 Dēmosian Regional Football Team before being elevated to the senior team. He would attain the captaincy after an impressive string of performances in the Copa: a full, unbeaten season with a record-shattering 13 consecutive clean-sheet record in the Spartan Shield.

---

Name: Carmen Tyolius
Nickname: Liones
Region of Origin: Demos
League: Serié BBVA
Height: 5"10
Age: 23
Preferred Foot: Right
Club: Angler Vostockia SPF

I am who I am because of the people before me.

Forthright and candid, Ghant takes an enormous bulk of leadership in the team. He coordinates the team in terms of tactics and wider buildup-and-recessions during matches. He struggles with positioning, therefore, but his vision is unmatched.

“If I took a dollar for all the things our Vice has done out of position I would be rich at this point.”

However, for all his accomplishments, shades of grey illuminate his career. Isolated with severe social anxiety and depression in his high school career, he was never the collaborative man you thought he ought to be.

I hate the hypocritical gesture. People I thought I could rely on but later turn their pockets out. Let me control you myself.

He since took the destinies of all with the majority knowing little than himself. Providing a twisted head on his shoulders, the captain, alongside Ghant, made a formidable duo.

You are the one I can rely on: Porcupine. Let’s lead Demos together.

---

Name: Ghant Fedoriyuvkos
Nickname: Porcupine
Region of Origin: Demos
League: Series Division I
Height: 5"9
Age: 19
Preferred Foot: Left
Club: Venitas CF

“Why do you have so much energy?”

Work. That’s all it is really. People look at the best with no mindset of the best. How laughable wouldn’t you say?

Torso’s stretching, weights lifting and push-ups-a-straining is the “past-time” of what is otherwise the most athletic member of the team.

In the regional football trials he, notably, was the only one who would practice his techniques after-hours and his performance was a testament to his hard work: he achieved first in the rankings within the Yellow-Blue Lock. This was a trial of all U18s in the region for the regional first-team selections.

“The most talented of his generation.”

This statement by others who knew him is exactly representative of who he was. He wanted the gold to be drunk by his own mouth. He was asked what he does it all for to which he says:

I want the girls: their blood pressure must shoot through the roof.

---

Name: Theodosis Alanoglou
Nickname: The Athletic Bastard
Region of Origin: Demos
League: Claymore Clasa
Height: 6'3
Age: 22
Preferred Foot: Right
Club: Thunderstrider

Newspapers and Headlines

---

[Shin-Zetsubo]

Shin-Zetsubo 7-2 Canamn
La Gran Avenida, Farolera

Unknown '1 (Canamn)
Good '37 '66 (SHZ)
Dwerryhouse '38 (SHZ)
Walter '41 '62 (SHZ)
Unknown '58 (Canamn)
Mathews '59 (SHZ)
Lyon '75 (SHZ)

Shin-Zetsubo Starting XI (presented by MonoCorp[tm])
Willows
Eccleston-Garfield-Scarlett-Meyers
Yong-Walter-Good-Colby-Mathews
Dwerryhouse
*Subs* - Lyon for Walter ('63), Colt for Meyers ('77)

---

Maybe Shin-Zetsubo were meant to be here. Not in the Baptism of Fire, but Farfadilis.

From their stay in Puerto Farolero for training, many of the roster, Emoran included, couldn't help but to remark on how similar the nation they were playing in was compared to their own. Everything was chaotic, there was some infighting (primarily how Allsopp didn't end up making the 18-woman squad for the Canamn match given she was arguing with the manager), and the capacity for despair... Oh it was right there for the taking - Storms that were positioned just perfectly for the Ojo de la Tormenta to remain unscarred included.

But the march to the stadium was the icing on the cake. It wasn't a quick bus ride to the ground of course, that would be too pedestrian. Too boring. The entire roster had to walk through the forests of Farolera in order to get to their locker room. Bags in tow. Monsters luring either side of them. The feeling that you could be whisked away at any moment? True despair. Every single member of the team loved the trip. Were there any other Shin-Zetsubites attending? Not really, not only since it was their first international but no television channel worth their salt was covering the game. The only audience they had was the 75% full La Gran Avenida, most of them Farolerans interested in the newbies, and another set of newbies staring them down. 48 seconds later, Shin-Zetsubo were 1-0 down, Anna Willows diving like a fish more than a goalie to let a bilingual Canamn striker through. In fact Canamn were easily pressing for a second, the twintailed women barely even getting possession.

Stuck in rigid position for an extended period of time, one by one the Shin-Zetsubites broke their positional roles beginning in the 30th minute, starting to overwhelm their opposition. Girls in red running in circles was enough to make them dizzy. Before they knew it, the floodgates opened - A hop, skip, jump and a kick from Maryanne Good was enough for the game to go level. Another back of the net strike, this time by "striker" Alice Dwerryhouse, went in 78 seconds later. It was a lead that Shin-Zetsubo only grew.

And so did the cheers. While Canamn were beginning to be rinsed plate-style by eleven lookalikes, the leaders showed a chaotic, attacking style that resonated with the crowd on hand. You never knew when they'd get the ball, you never knew who they'd pass the ball to, you only knew it was going to end with flair, finesse, and all the madness in the world. 3-1 up at the half became 3-2, but immediately after Shin-Zetsubo got the ball back for the kickoff Twyla Mathews and Tianna Yong passed the ball back and foward, staying onside, keeping the ball away from Canamn, before the former cinched it in the back. Another training drill, Emoran would say in an interview.

4-2 became 5-2 and then 6-2, before Jocelin Lyon, a defender who spent about 2 minutes being a defender once she was subbed in, fired from the corner of the box with the ball hitting the post and sliding in past the Canamn goalie. The Farolerans got their money's worth, regardless of how cheap or expensive those tickets were, with a team of crazy women obsessed with despair putting seven past their opponents. On their debut.

The walk back to the hotel was one of jubilation for the women who won the hearts of several thousand people in the stands, despair coursing through them with every step down that winding path. It was only one 90 minute game, but for those 90 minutes they felt on top of the world even if they were just barely starting to climb it in the grand scheme of things.

Welp, onto Río de La Plata. All they could hope for was more despair.

[Bonusia]

FRIENDLIES

INDUSSE 4-1 BONUSIA
^{G. Grundjee 23' 39', D. Hazle 62', T. Bashir 81' // I. Pedra 50'}

BONUSIA 2-4 CALGASIA
^{J. Ramon 11', A. Cea 80' // J. Novák 4', G. Renner 41', M. Bohren 55', Z. Urbánková 89'}

CALGASIA 2-0 BONUSIA
^{Z. Mosser 47', C. Cieszyn 71'}

MEIA-ARMADOREN 1-0 BONUSIA
^{A. Júnior 69'}

COERCIA 4-2 BONUSIA
^{D. Trumpus 23' 31', J. Jensen 47' 69' // A. Cea 8', B. Formiga 83'}

---

BoF 87 SCHEDULE
Group 8

Matchday 1 - SEEBERG 0-1 BONUSIA
^{I. Pedra 79'}
@ Albert III Memorial Stadium, Dodoma, Bunyoro, Banija

Matchday 2 - NOVA DACKIANS vs BONUSIA
@ BCEL Stadium, Jinja City, Hangaza, Banija

Matchday 3 - BONUSIA vs TORNADICO
@ Lwanga City Arena, Lwanga, Buganda, Banija

At yet another workday end in a small town in Ralí. The day the Bonusians faced the Seebergundians

It was not an easy day at office for Gerard. His ignorant boss and her boot-licking lackey were being much more difficult to handle that morning, correcting and arguing everything he tried to do. "Despite pretending to care much about the company", he thought, "both are disposed to waste their time just to pointlessly complain about my work. These people drive me nuts!" Perhaps it was just envy, fear of the big fish of the company finding out who's more capable, or maybe, in their incompetence, they really believed that Gerard's work was not good. In any case, he was sick of it, specially on the hard days like these. If only he could be left to work in peace! God, why were some people so unnerving?

"Fuck this, I want to grab a beer" he told himself, so he decided to call his wife back home.

- Hey Vic, I'm going to the Bar Manel and I'll probably have dinner there, do you wanna come?

- What? Come on Geri, I already had chicken breasts unfreezing

- It's fine, just put them in the fridge and I'll cook them tomorrow. Please, I had a rough day at work and just need to unwind.

- Oh, really? What happened?

- Long story, I'll tell you there.

- Alright, then, but you pay.

- Of course hun, whatever makes you happy.

- Alright, let's meet at the Plaça de Cal Marcel. Love you!

- Love you more.

Gerard shut his phone, and he smiled, remarking his steadily accentuating wrinkles. The fresh breeze of the dusk caressed his bald head like a Weepian caressed a rubdisk, recomfortating him. Maybe it wasn't so bad. The weekend arrived and he was getting his vacation very soon anyways; he just need to put up with them until then, and after that he could think of what to do next.

His wife, Victòria, arrived soonly after him to the plaza. 15 years together and yet he thought she was as gorgeous as the first day she met her, despite the obvious signs of ageing she showed aswell. Long, light-brown hair waved alongside the summer air, and her deep hazel eyes, despite being less visible by evermore noticeable wrinkles, looked at him like she was trying to fuse his glance with hers. Her small small mouth, with small lips which were today au naturel, complimented perfectly her round nose. To him, she was perfect and, for a moment, he forgot about all his problems. In fact, he forgot about everything, standing completely awestruck.

- Hello, Geri. Llimana calling to Geri.

- Oh, hi honey!

- You really have been dazed by work, aren't you?

- Nope, this time it's your fault I got distracted, silly.

- Oh, really, I did? You're no young college boy anymore to be distracted by pretty girls, are you?

After joking around for a little bit, Gerard vented to Victòria about his work shenanigans as they walked down the Plaça de Cal Marcel and the Carrer de Pica into the Bar Manel.

- Well, babe, don't stress it too much. I'm sure that at some point they will see how good you are at what you do and finally leave you be.

- Really hope so.

- Besides, you don't need to think about them until the next week, so just enjoy!

- Yeah, I guess you're right.

The Bar Manel was a pretty big local, considering that their town was not that big, but it had a very special charm. The wooden tables with the cushioned benches, the classic 20s stools, the big display of old liquors behind the bar... Even it's owner and front barista, Manel Ballesteros, had this unique open and bright character, which made him a very beloved person in the town. Of course, as any Ralian bar worth its salt, the place was decorated with scarfs, shirts, badges and photos of old teams of Anticicló Molina, a team which Manel had a very strong affection for.

However, today the bar was way more crowded than expected, even considering it's Friday. It seemed like half the town was there. Even the youngsters, who usually go clubbing at Pica, were today gathered, with black, green and blue painted on their faces. Below the unnesecarily big isobar scarf, a big Bonusian flag was hanged. "What's going on today, did they advance the Great Arrival day or what?", Gerard thought to himself. He and Victòria barely found a place to sit. They had little view of what was on the TV, but it seemed like it was a Carca TV. Great, hope they showed what the isobars were up to for the next season. Then, Gerard decided to look who was at the next table. Next to his table, his irritant boss, Magdalena, appeared to him like an horrific jumpscare.

- You've got to be kidding me.

As he noticed that the couple arrived, Manel greeted them with his usual enthusiasm.

- Good evening, fellas! Came for the football?

---

At a very concrete spot in Banija
Good evening everyone, and welcome to the Albert III Memorial Stadium in Dodoma, in Banija! With you's the best Keklan I know, Maria Joana Tou, and myself, Oloman Lama, narrating for Carca Radio and live at Carca TV! Mark the day, fellow Bonusians, as it is one of the single most important days in the history Bonusian football. Today, in this very stadium, against the Horkenheimers, the Seebergundian national team, Bonusia will play it's first ever official match. In the Baptism of Fire, no less!

- I must say I'm really excited for it, Oloman, and it's nice being on the same boat for once.

- Sure is, Maria, although it feels weird, I must say. Not used to it.

- Well get used to it because the expectations are high for this tournament, all Bonusia is devoted to the squad completely.

- Despite the repeated losses that the Black Star harvested, that is. You can call a Bonusian a lot of things, but certainly "undedicated" isn't one of them.

- Well, our people have endured worse, that's for sure. But yeah, Bonusia's first steps in the international stage haven't been easy at all. A 4-1 loss at the hands of a much superior Indusse, two losses to Calgasia, both in Kynetbo and in Ocheron, a further loss by 1-0 at Meia-Armadoren and a latter 4-2 defeat against fellow competitors Coercia. Not a draw nor a win yet for the Space Labubus.

- Registers are meant to be broken, Maria! Obiously, after 500 years of isolation, Bonusians were not used to playstyles from other countries, football there had evolved in such different ways that it caught us unguarded. I believe that today things will be different.

- Let's hope so, Oloman! And speaking of today, let's give a review to the lineup that Boquete has come up with for the game:

- Going out with a contention 4-3-3, the starting 11 belongs to the following: Cloquell on the goal; in the defense we have Miró, Bruch, Gonfaus and Fàbregas; in the midfield we got Sibil·la Casas as the pivot, with Obiols and Boleda in front of him; the sides are for Formiga and Ramon, and Isaac Pedra will be our 9 today against Seeberg.

- Pretty much what we were expecting, Maria. I don't know whether Obiols should start, though. I think this is not the kind of match you want to be too chaotic.

- I think that it will do good to our team to have this bit of extra craziness that might be lacking within the rest of the squad. For what I've seen, the Seebergundians seem pretty solid and they probably won't let us play our game. I believe that chaos is what we will need.

- Perhaps you're right, Maria. Only time will tell if the misters' idea will work out. The Llimanian's connection with Pedra did wonders for Unomenc last season, so it is possible that Boquete wants to exploit this synergy with the national team.

- And the squads already take on to the field! This is starting!

---

Back at Bar Manel, on halftime. Seeberg 0-0 Bonusia

... - Here Vic, I got a beer for you aswell

- Ooh thanks honey, what's it?

- I got us a couple of Edelweisses.

- Oooh thanks, I love that one. It has become my favourite type since we started importing them from Calgasia.

- Yeah, to be honest Calgasian beer is like a million times better than old Bonusian beers...

- I still can believe that we forgotted about this match, how did we miss that it was today? We might be the last people in Bonusia to hear of it.

- I guess we're just busy people.

- You know a thing about that eh?

- Don't need to tell me. Thank god that Magdalena still hasn't noticed me...

Again a precocious speech, since not a minute later Magdalena, saw Gerard and came over to say hi, perhaps out of cordiality.

- Hey Gerard, how are you doing? A couple of beers for the night?

- Hi, Magdalena, it's good to see you...

- Is this your wife?

- Yeah, my names Victòria. Pleasure to meet you.

- Pleasure aswell

...

Gerard was clearly uncomfortable with this situation. "I think I'll need more Calgasian elixir to keep me from dying from awkwardness", thought to himself. He chugged the one beer he had and then proceeded to ask Manel for another.

- I'm going for another one

- Could you bring me one, honey?

- Sure thing!

- Hey, could you bring one to me aswell?

-*God this woman doesn't understand social cues or what?* Uh, sure thing, Magdalena...

After returning, words were as scarece as water is in a torrent in July. Luckily for them, the second half started, which gave them a topic to talk. And as the match went on and the beers went down, things started to get untense and conversation flowed.

- ...Alright, guys, hear this one. It comes from a guy I met at a congress. You know how to fit five Seebergundians in a car?

- How, how?

- By shaving them first!

- Hahahahahahah! Magdalena, you should do more jokes at work, you're hilarious.

- What can I say, mayhaps I should.

- Yeah, you definitively should. You know, you're actually pretty funny. Not like that lapdog of yours, Joanet

- Geri, you're getting way too carried with the beers...

- No, no, it's alright. I'm sick of that guy!

- Wait really?

- Yeah, just because he follows me around and does what I say, he thinks he can tell other what to do. It's like shut up, I'm the boss here, dumbass.

- You tell him, girlboss!

Despite the substitutions, neither the Seebergundians nor the Bonusians clearly put the other's goalie in serious trouble. The game was completely stuck. That is, until the 79th minute arrived.

...Now it's Casas, she puts it for Obiols. Obiols gives it short to Poveda. Poveda tries the long pass for Antonieta Dou. Oh my god what a pass by Poveda, Antonieta gets it! She dribbles one, she dribbles two, she stumbles but she keeps going. Dou puts it back for Isaac Pedra, it's Pedraaaaaaaa... GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL! GOOLGOLGOLGOLGOLGOLGOLLLLLLL!!! Isaac Pedra, who else could it be? It's a goal for the Black Stars, it's a goal for Bonusia!

As the bar erupted, Gerard, Victòria and Magdalena embraced each other in an euphoric hug, jumping and shouting. Gerard and Magdalena, who hours before were uncessantly quarrelling at work, were now singing together, to the unison with the roaring bar:

Bonúsia alé, Bonúsia alé, Bonúsia aleeé!

Oh si, si senyor,
Bonúsia és la millor!
Com si perd, com si guanya,
Bonúsia és una canya.

...

And there's not time for more! Bonusia starts with a win their periple in the Baptism of Fire! Stay tuned, as for the second Matchday, Bonusia will face Nova Dackians. A win could secure our entry into the Round of 64!

LET'S GOOOOOO!! RAUXA BONÚSIA!!

And so the Bar Manel went on and celebrated. Some didn't drink, some drank a bit, some drank a lot, but certainly all shared the same joy, the joy only 22 people trying to kick a ball could provide. Then, after all was said and done, the couple accompanied Magdalena to her car.

- You know Magdalena, we actually had a great time tonight. It was nice watching football with you.

- Yeah, same thing. Also I'm sorry about being so mean to you on work, I get nervous and I want to do things right, and I pay it with you...

- It's okay Magdalena, just let me do my work and you'll be the best boss ever.

- Aww thanks Gerard, you are a good one. You're the best employee ever!

In their alcohol boosted conversation, Gerard and Magdalena left their issues behind, and promised each other to treat the other with respect, and to do their best always. "It's sometimes astonishing what a football game and some beers can do", thought our protagonist to himself, surprised but relieved of how events turned out that night.

- Wasn't so bad in the end, eh Geri?

- I guess so, heh...

And that's the beauty of the game: Earthlings and Llimanians; Kynetboans, Keklans and Opiaces; Tioneers and Tarraconovanus. For a moment, no matter what, all the nation is behind a single objective, united for the same purpose. And this time it settled a heated office rivalry too, and planted the seed of friendship in the hearts of these Ralians.

[Hamborn]

Hamborn match journey against Greater Portugaliza :

In the start of morning, Hamborn team was interviewed for Hamborn Television, it was at 7am CEST. 1 hour later yall team talk for the player composition.
in the park of the hotel Leo and Arlemus plays dodgeball. After this they go to the training stadium where they play a really offensive game. Now, they go eat at hotel and do the same afternoon. Now its 6PM CEST and they go to the ADAR JAK stadium to play against Greater Portugaliza.

[Biyambi]

The Journey: Ngwazi Strikers

Episode 1: Amangwazi- The Rise & Fall Part 1

Voice Over (V.O): “In Biyambian tradition no mortal man can be viewed as Royalty, for no man created Ilapo, the human Realm. Only Mlluku the creator had the power to bestow the power of leadership of Ilapo and that power was earned by the youngest of the primordial spirits, Orami. Now only those of the lineage of Orami can be called Royal and only they can bestow Royalty upon others.And in 1964 that divine honour of Royalty was bestowed upon Ngwazi Strikers."


(Archival footage flickers, it shows Ngwazi Strikers players shaking hand with Ngwazi Rame V)

Interview- Francis Shaba (Former Ngwazi Strikers’ Captain):
“In Biyambian culture, we believe in order and reverence of the spirits and Mlluku. Before the 1964-65 season, the club management alongside the players & fans came together to ask for blessings from the Bishop of the Church of Biyambi, the Chief Priestess of Epari which is the traditional religion of Biyambians and the Ngwazi himself.

The club received their blessings, and the Ngwazi gave us the honour of being the club of Royalty.

My grandfather told me that after you could tangibly feel that they club was truly supported by Mlluku and our ancestors. The club had truly become royalty not just in name but spiritually as well and that is what allowed the club to not only win the league by beating our rivals Mansanduni Union & Western United in both legs but also achieve the first double by winning the Ngwazi’s Cup.”

(Epic music rises, the camera pans over faded photos of Ngwazi Strikers’ team photos, the team lifting the league championship trophy, and as it moves to the 1964-65 league championship alongside the 1965 Ngwazi’s Cup trophy gleaming in the under the warm light.)

Voice Over (V.O):
“From that season forth, Ngwazi Strikers Football Club were more that a club. They were more than club. They were Mlluku’s chosen, the anointed and the team given the divine right to conqueror. They truly were Amangwazi, the Great Conquerors the Royals of the game in Biyambi. For the next thirteen seasons Ngwazi Strikers became unstoppable force in the league, winning the league championship 5 times and finishing as runners up 7 times, only dropping off from 1st or 2nd once finishing 3rd in the 68/69 season. The 5 league championships were a record shared with their rivals Western United. In those 13 seasons the Royals managed in win the Ngwazi’s Cup twice, reached the Top 6 final 8 times winning twice and where 1 top 6 trophy from reaching their rivals Western United’s 3 Top 6 titles. The Royals had shown everyone that they truly had divine favour. However, after the 76/77 season the clubs fall off would prove that even those crowned by divine right can lose their shine…”

(On screen there is a slow fade to a glowing league table. Each season flashes by as haunting choral music plays in the background:

77/78: 7th
78/79: 9th
79/80: 9th
80/81: 4th
81/82: 6th
82/83: 8th
83/84: 6th
84/85: 7th)

(As the league table fades, the Ngwazi Strikers’ crest appears and slowing the colour of the crest dims as it fades)


Voice Over (V.O) (Continues Softly):
“The once unshakeable Ngwazi Strikers’ Empire begun to falter, but it would not crumble with no fight.”

Interview-Francis Chavula (Former player & Manager of Ngwazi Strikers):
“After winning our fifth league championship in the 1976/77 season, Ngwazi Rame V stopped sponsoring the club. We were left out to dry and dry we did. For the next 3 seasons our performances were abysmal until a man called Jimmy Cool Kayira bought the club. Hahaha! I must say Jimmy seemed like a man straight out of a movie. He had on slick power suits, gold chains, and always smelled like expensive cologne and like fresh new money off the printer. He would walk into the dressing room in a shiny blazer that blinded our eyes, flashing that grin of his, and everyone knew that win or lose that night we would be dinning at an expensive restaurant surrounded by the prettiest women in town. Jimmy really was something else, he was the life of the party and loved to share it. He would throw parties that went on till sunrise. The players absolutely loved him, he made you feel like a superstar.

I remember the first time we ever met, man, oh! Man, I will never forget that day. I was just a kid on the streets of Pera in Mansanduni, playing football in the streets with vendors and mini bus conductors. A rough affair, very hot day, dust everywhere, no ref, no rules, just pure untarnished passion you know. Then this shiny slick black convertible pulls up, looking like a space ship, roof down, music blasting, I think totolitoto was playing. Out steps Jimmy Cool, decked in an all-white suit, gold rings on his fingers and a gold chain on his neck catching the sun like it was winking at us. Everyone, stopped playing looking at this incredible looking man.

Jimmy stayed by his car watching us. He then shouted stop! Then walked right up to me grinned and went; “kid! You play like you are allergic to losing, what’s your name?” I tell him. He chuckles and goes “My man Fula you are coming with me, Ngwazi Strikers needs a player with fire like yours.”

Kkkkkk!, I honestly thought he was joking but he was serious. That day I became a Royal, he introduced me to the then coach George Banda like some million-siliva signing. Bought me really expensive boots and handed me 500 silivas for what he called “showing some heart” with the way I played. Jimmy was incredible he made me feel like I had already made it even before I had kicked a ball for the club.”


Voice Over (V.O) (Continues Softly):
“Jimmy Cool’s money & attitude would rub in into the squad and in his first season as owner, the club would finish in 4th place, qualifying for the Top 6.”

Interview-Francis Chavula (Former player & Manager of Ngwazi Strikers):
“That season you could feel that things were changing thanks to Jimmy, we had new kits, the funs were back in the stands not because of our football I must say but because Jimmy charmed them to come, wow! Jimmy amazing. Jimmy used to say that; “if you look like champions, you will play like champions.” And play like champions we did. We finished fourth that season and qualified for the Top 6, however, it was bitter sweet as our rivals Western United had clinched a record 6th league championship, finishing with 56 points to our measly 33, that’s a 23-point difference. That one really hurt.

After the last game we were all in the dressing room, not knowing whether to dance in celebration or cry but Jimmy came in with his million dollars smile and told us not to worry next season the commies would be chasing after us (chuckles).”

Voice Over (V.O) (Continues Softly):
“Football has a way of humbling even the boldest of dreamers. And for Jimmy he was perhaps humbled as that season the Royals struggled and finished in 6th place, far below the expectations Jimmy had painted in gold for his beloved club.

Still in a strange twist of fate, Jimmy’s prediction did come true, Western United did chase after the Royals, but not in the way he had imagined. Western United finished in 9th place below the Royals.

Yet the season was not all lost, the team did qualify for the Top 6 again and they won the Top 6 title that season against their rivals Western United showing the fans that the club still had hope.”

Interview-Francis Chavula (Former player & Manager of Ngwazi Strikers):
“After winning our 3rd Top 6 title everyone thought the tide was turning and better days were ahead of us. Personally, I believed we would do better the following season.

And I must say we did do better in a way. We did defend our Top 6 title winning a record 4th title. In the league though not so much, we finished 8th place.”


Voice Over (V.O):
“The following four seasons would test every once of belief in Jimmy Cool’s dreams as the Royals failed to win any trophy. The magic of Jimmy’s earlier years begun to slowly fade, his parties grew quitter, and the crowds thinner. But through it all, Jimmy never stopped dreaming, he kept investing and encouraging his players and as the fans doubted him and the press called him a dreamer chasing ghosts of the past, he kept saying through it all; “our time will come.”

And then against all odds, against the years of pain, frustration & near misses, Jimmy Cool’s dream finally came true. Ngwazi Strikers had reached the land of milk & honey.”



Interview-Francis Chavula (Former player & Manager of Ngwazi Strikers):
“It was a tough season. We were contending for the title against two of our fiercest rivals in Western United and a rejuvenated Mansanduni Union who had won three Top 6 titles in the past nine seasons. By matchday 20 things had gotten very tight for us, Mansanduni Union were on top, we were 2nd place, both on 37 points only separated by goal difference. In third was Western United hot on both our heels with 35 points. Our two last matches were the toughest of all, we would have to face our fellow title contenders to lift the league championship. Mansanduni Union on Matchday 21 and Western United on Matchday 22. Only these two teams stood against us and the promised land.”


[Radio Sound: Fading crowd noise, rising excitement]


Commentator (excitedly):
“And the match ends 3–1! Thanks to a hat-trick from 24-year-old Francis Chavula! What a performance from the Mansanduni native!”


Interview-Francis Chavula (Former player & Manager of Ngwazi Strikers):
“That was one of my greatest moment in my career as a player, it was surely a special moment. My first hattrick in derby against Union in a title run, unbelievable. Now for the kids out their surprised that am calling this a derby, well Ngwazi Strikers used to play in Mansanduni before relocating to Mrima Nlluwa when it became the capital.

(smile) after that hattrick Jimmy Cool was all over me hugging me and kissing my cheeks. He was really happy. He bought me a suit, and took me to the Blue Diamond restaurant, which back then was the fanciest and most expensive establishment in Mansanduni.

That win had put us on top with 40 points. Western United where still breathing down our necks, they were second after clapping Mighty Rangers 2-0 away. All that was left now was the final game, the decider against Western United themselves in Teuila."



Voice Over (V.O) (sombre yet intense):
“The Western United match was away and it was one of the toughest matches the Royals had ever faced for 80 minutes the game was goalless until United scored."


Interview-Francis Chavula (Former player & Manager of Ngwazi Strikers):
that goal put us under pressure, 10 minutes left. the went top with that goal, if we didn’t equalize we would lose and Western United would win their 7th title and they would be 2 titles ahead of us. clock kept ticking, added time in the 93rd minute I cross the ball straight into Jeffery Kameza's path and he lobbed the ball into the net, we were finally champions.

Voice Over (V.O) (Sounding Emotional & Triumphant):
“At long last, Ngwazi Strikers were champions once again. The Royals had reclaimed their crown, now level on league titles with their eternal rivals, Western United. In the seasons that followed, they would go on to win their third and fourth Ngwazi’s Cup, cementing a new golden era under Jimmy Cool Kayira.”

(tone darkens) "Jimmy Cool had finally brought glory and joy back to the Ngwazi Strikers faithful but it would not last.”

(screen fades to black and song plays as the end credits flash across the screen)

[Snestar]

Group 17 Matchday 2 - Lebronsleftnut vs Snestar

4-3-3 Formation
GK 1 Federico Calvaresi (Captain)
LB 5 Riccardo Cavaliere
CB 4 Vittorio Gallerani
CB 16 Valentino Garnati
RB 15 Simone Ramella
CDM 6 Davide Scognamiglio
CM 8 Nicola Acanfora
CM 14 Nicola Ragusa
LW 10 Martin de Roux
ST 17 Tero Sjölund
RW 27 Cesare Scanavino

Following the dominant 5-0 win against Moon Deing, the Snestaryan national team prepares for their second matchday against Lebronsleftnut. This time, the press has chosen to interview Nicola Acanfora, the captain for Ardalya, a fairly successful club currently in Division Alpha, the top division of Snestaryan football. Acanfora is making his debut in the Baptism of Fire, and here are his thoughts on the competition:

"I feel like the Baptism of Fire is a great opportunity for weaker nations to make their debut before the World Cup. It’s Snestar’s first time here too, so we need to stay focused on football if we truly want to shine. Thankfully, Camilla Arentas has been phenomenal in giving us time to concentrate on our mistakes and correct them by ourselves, at least compared to before the Baptism of Fire. When I got the call from her, I personally had never heard about this competition, and the others didn’t know about it either. Since it was going to be something completely new for the entire squad, we needed lots of team-building exercises, and in the past few months, I felt like we created one huge bond, even if we play for different clubs in Division Alpha.

In the past few days, I’ve also been amazed by the uniqueness of Farfadillis. My idea of a country is a unitary authority controlling a certain territory, with a distinct flag and its own culture. But Farfadillis is another story. I think It’s some sort of confederation, and all these “ethnostates” are wildly different from each other. I must say, the geography of this place confuses me, but at the same time I bet it would be incredibly interesting to study in depth. I’m not a big fan of the politics, though. The pacifist mind of a Snestaryan cannot comprehend the tensions between all these ethnic factions. I was also not a big fan of the venue we played in, the Bonjo Polje. I swear, the infrastructure was worse than a fourth division stadium in Snestar: sometimes I felt like the stadium was going to collapse at any moment!"

[Travanta]

The last reporters filed out of the locker room after media availability had finished. The last players finished their showers and got dressed Travamtan national football team captain Kevin Brantley got an idea.

Team-building exercises like introducing each other and revealing things like favorite flavors of ice cream were boring in his mind, and in the minds of many of the players. He had an idea for a team-building event that would be much more fun.

"Let's all go out to the bar and get wasted!" he said after waiting a few minutes to make sure no reporters were lagging behind hoping for a salacious quote.

He noticed a few eyes light up at the prospect. Going out, listening to music pulsating through a club, getting drunk, or even simply sharing bar food staples and, more importantly, having a social event that allowed the players to enjoy each other's company was a great idea. Brantley noticed one player who looked down at the floor. He noticed Jen Proteau looked less than enthusiastic at the idea of getting drunk. He thought about asking her in front of the whole team but soon thought that would embarrass her and lose a key element of the chemistry he and the coaching staff were working diligently to build. He thought for a moment to the group chat he'd sent out introducing himself and asking the players what their off-pitch interests were.

Brantley thought for a split second and remembered Proteau had chosen "no" when he'd sent out a survey asking if everyone enjoyed drinking. He walked over and leaned into Proteau's ear.

"Sorry. I just remembered you don't drink," he said. "How about we go to the pizza restaurant two blocks from the hotel instead?" Proteau looked at Brantley and he caught a flash of relief in her eyes.

"That sounds good," she said. Brantley then figured the team could bond whether they held a beer or a mixed drink or a glass of water, along with enjoying some delicious pizza. It may not have been authentic Pacitalian fare, but it would at least be a good way to gather without the watchful eyes of the coaching staff.

For his part, Matt Gilbert sat in the hotel restaurant cradling a glass of wine. He'd just won his first match as manager, not just of this team, but the first time he'd prowled the sidelines as a manager in years. He remembered feeling butterflies as a manager and walked away when those didn't start feeling the same way they did before. But now, he recalled feeling nauseous and almost throwing up before he stood up from the away manager's desk at the stadium to go out and lead the team to the pitch.

He took a sip of the wine and allowed himself a small smile. This feels good, he thought. There'll be time for a stuffy desk and an equally stuffy suit with a starched shirt and a tie. He hated ties. But for the time being, a track suit and a windbreaker with Travantan team-branding was perfectly fine attire for matchday. At least until he got an edict from the World Cup Committee saying otherwise, at least.

But for now, he had a moment to smile. A moment to savor a strong result that, at least momentarily, had the Terns atop the Group 4 table. They hadn't clinched a spot in the knockout rounds, and there was still a long road to go even if they, in fact advanced to the knockouts. But it was a journey Gilbert found himself eager to take with the players and coaching staff he'd chosen to venture on it with. And that was worth something too.

[Hamborn]

The Match :

This Night will be the qualification match for round of 64 ! If Hamborn win they will have 6 point and assure their qualification if not all will be against Starwartika.
We know hamborn win 1-0 against Putrasia with a red card so today we will don't have Noan Nolmas but we can have a better Defender. Today, History will maybe be made !

10 minutes later :

wow we got this night composition so watch the composition :



Bench :

24. Micheal Julio

5. Givon Lestar

10. Arlemus Luvoski

56. Pietro Loa

35. Bilo Nosinto

11. Notmas Ilor

I think Poské Malko want to preserve player and test new.

then don't forget we need a win.

it was Jospeph Liven from Hamborn 2 redaction and goodmatch !

[Choppyhausen]

Broadcasting Service Choppyhausen
Baptism of Fire - Liveticker

---

Group 7 - Matchday 1
Choppyhausen 2 - 1 Saint Lazarus

Goals: 33' Iduna (Finch) 1-0. 69' Corte (P) 2-0. 89' Uemura 2-1.

---

And with that the game is over! The Saint Lazarene are not able to reward themselves for a significant increase in performance in the second half and lose their first competitive match 2-1 against Choppyhausen who move up to first in the group. Choppyhausen will now play against Very Totally Free who just lost their opening match while Saint Lazarus will face Bruinswik.

---

FINAL WHISTLE

---

90⁺³ Suerte tries to dribble through the Choppyhausen midfield but loses out to Holdenbeck.

90⁺² Saint Lazarus have possession, but the Los Carabaos are running out of ideas on how to break through Choppyhausen’s tightly packed defense.

90' Three minutes of stoppage time to be played. Is there still something in this for Saint Lazarus?

89' Goal for Saint Lazarus (2 - 1)
Pablo Uemura
That’s the lifeline! Uemura takes the free kick himself — his fierce strike deflects off Tyr in the wall and loops past the helpless Weiner-Kracht into the top left corner.

88'In an aerial challenge just outside the Choppyhausen box, Halder catches Viray with an elbow to the head. After brief treatment, the Saint Lazarus forward is able to continue. Promising free-kick position for Los Carabaos.

87' After a Saint Lazarus corner is cleared, Choppyhausen look to break through Lampe, but the right-back’s pass toward De Lang is misplaced and ends up at Pascual’s feet instead.

85' Substitution | Choppyhausen
Stefan Halder (#20) ↑↓ Andre Finch (#19)
Johnny Caligaris (#21) ↑↓ Dominik Keil (#8)

84' Suerte tries to dribble through the Choppyhausen midfield but loses out to Holdenbeck.

81' Villariño launches a long throw into the Choppyhausen penalty area. The ball drops in the six-yard box and chaos ensues for a moment before Bender-McKay clears it high and far. The Saint Lazarus players appeal for handball, but the referee waves play on.

78' Finch turns quickly and releases Iduna down the right flank. He drives into the box and swings in a cross toward Corte, whose header is too central and easily claimed by Ortega.

76' Like-for-like changes on both sides — fresh legs for the closing stages.

75' Substitution | Saint Lazarus
Enrique Suerte (#13) ↑↓ Ezequiel Cheon (#10)

75' Substitution | Choppyhausen
Til Lampe (#16) ↑↓ Mattes Oak (#5)
Nikolai De Lang (#23) ↑↓ Tommy Lukeson (#9)

74' Gella shows some tidy footwork to get past Holdenbeck, but hesitates before pulling the trigger and is dispossessed by Frederiksen.

72' That second Choppyhausen goal comes right in the middle of Saint Lazarus’s best spell of the match. Let’s see how things shift from here.

69' Goal for Choppyhausen (2 - 0)
Jule Corte
Corte steps up himself and scores! He cheekily chips the ball straight down the middle over Ortega, who had already dived to his right.

68' Yellow Card | Saint Lazarus
José Miguel Robles

68' Penalty for Choppyhausen
After a long goal kick from Weiner-Kracht, Yee loses the aerial duel to Tyr, who heads it straight into Corte’s path. The Choppyhausen striker bursts toward goal but is brought down in the box by Robles just before pulling the trigger. The referee immediately points to the spot — clear decision.

66' Cheon tries his luck from distance, but the ball curls away from goal and ends up a good three meters wide.

63' Now Weiner-Kracht shows his quality! Uemura swings in a free kick from deep; four players miss it completely before Tupas meets it at the far post from close range. Weiner-Kracht reacts superbly and manages to keep it out.

61' After a fine pass from Calderón, Viray reaches the corner flag but gets tangled up in his dribble and loses the ball to Holdenbeck.

59' Villareal’s changes seem to have had an effect — Saint Lazarus are playing much more proactively now, pushing forward, while Choppyhausen have clearly dropped deeper, focused on protecting their 1–0 lead.

55' Tupas cuts inside from the right edge of the box and goes for goal, but his shot sails well over.

50' The resulting corner lands safely in the arms of Weiner-Kracht.

48' Not even two minutes into the half and Gella’s already causing problems in Choppyhausen's defensive. The 22-year-old’s shot from about twenty meters is deflected by Finch and misses the post by half a meter.

47' Saint Lazarus head coach Villareal reacts to his team’s poor first-half display with a triple substitution.

46' Substitution | Saint Lazarus
Mateo Calderón (#15) ↑↓ Clemente Zaldarriaga (#2)
Leonardo Tupas (#14) ↑↓ Casimiro Marasigan (#9)
Ricardo Gella (#20) ↑↓ Arnel Rahman (#19)

---

HALFTIME

---

44' Corte has the final say of the first half. Lukeson lifts the ball over the Saint Lazarene back three, where the Choppyhausen striker meets it on the volley. The shot clips the crossbar before flying out of play.

41' Yellow Card | Choppyhausen
Henrik Frederiksen

After a corner, Saint Lazarus break quickly through Viray. Frederiksen hesitates for a moment, then brings the striker down — a clear tactical foul and the first booking of the match.

37' Villariño makes it all the way to the byline on the right, but his cross takes a deflection off Bender-McKay and loops harmlessly over the box.

35' The Choppyhausen fans are now clearly the louder side here at a sold-out Keystone Stadium — that opening goal has really lifted the atmosphere.

33' Goal for Choppyhausen (1 - 0)
Marco Iduna (Finch)
Finally, the breakthrough! Finch wins the ball off Yee in a challenge and then threads a precise outside-of-the-boot pass through to Iduna. At the edge of the Saint Lazarene box, the right winger wrong-foots Zaldarriaga with a clever feint and then fires past Ortega with no hesitation.

28' Lukeson goes on a dazzling solo run, weaving past three Saint Lazarus players, before stumbling the ball rather accidentally into Tyr’s path. Tyr lets fly from the edge of the box — Ortega stretches to full length and just manages to tip it out of the top corner. Brilliant save!

23' The Saint Lazarene back line is really struggling to deal with Choppyhausen’s long balls at the moment, and they’ve got their keeper Ortega to thank that it’s still at 0–0.

21' Next big chance for Choppyhausen! Tyr threads a perfect through ball from deep to Keil, who whips in a cross just before the byline. Corte and Lukeson both slide in front of goal but miss it by inches!

18' After a long ball from Holdenbeck, Pascual completely misjudges the bounce, and suddenly Corte is clean through on goal! The Choppyhausen striker tries to curl it past the keeper, but Ortega sticks out a leg and manages to deflect it out for a corner. Corte will feel he should’ve done better there.

12' Finch pretty much strolls through the Saint Lazarene half before squaring it to Lukeson, who takes aim from 17 meters out. But the shot’s too central — easy pickings for Ortega.

10'After a cleared Choppyhausen corner, Rahman spots Weiner-Kracht way off his line and has a go from about 60 meters — but the effort sails well wide and out of play.

6' Cheon tries to dribble past the Choppyhausen defense on the right, but runs straight into Bender-McKay.

2' It’s off to a flying start! Tyr intercepts a through ball from Robles and immediately sends it back the other way. The ball finds Keil, but he rushes his shot a bit and sends it about two meters wide of the post.

---

KICKOFF

---

While the players are marching on the field and the Saint Lazarene fans are singing passionately to their national anthem, let’s take a final look at the lineups of both teams.
Choppyhausen (4-2-3-1): Weiner-Kracht - Bender-McKay, Holdenbeck, Frederiksen, Oak - Tyr, Finch - Keil, Lukeson, Iduna - Corte
Saint Lazarus (3-4-3): Ortega - Zaldarriaga, Pascual, Robles - Rahman, Uemura, Yee, Villariño - Cheon, Marasigan, Viray

Welcome to this BSC Liveticker for the 87th Baptism of Fire here in Banija. We are at Keystone Stadium in Sisonke where in a few minutes the first game of Group 7 between Choppyhausen and Saint Lazarus will commence. Both teams have - as is so common in this competition - barely any international experience. This will be the first competitive game in Saint Lazarus’ football history and the fifth for Choppyhausen following four group stage matches in IAC24.

Es geht sofort richtig los: Tyr fängt einen Steilpass von Robles ab und schickt ihn postwendend zurück. Der Ball landet bei Keil, der aber etwas zu hastig abschließt und den Ball etwa zwei Meter neben das Tor setzt.

Cheon versucht sich rechts an der Choppyhausener Defensive vorbeizudribbeln, bleibt aber an Bender-McKay hängen.

Finch durchquert quasi ungestört die Hälfte der Saint Lazarene, bevor er zu Lukeson querlegt, der sich aus 17m ein Herz nimmt und schießt. Der Schuss ist aber zu zentral, kein Problem für Ortega.

Nach einem langen Ball von Holdenbeck verschätzt sich Pascual, sodass Corte plötzlich alleine vor Ortega ist. Der Choppyhausener Stürmer versucht den Ball am Keeper vorbeizuzirkeln, doch Ortega macht sein Bein lang und kann den Ball ins Toraus blocken. Da war für Corte mehr drin.

Nächste Großchance für Choppyhausen! Tyr spielt einen perfekten Steilpass aus dem Halbfeld zu Keil, der kurz vor der Grundlinie in den Strafraum flankt. Vor dem Tor rutschen Corte und Lukeson nur knapp am Ball vorbei.

Die Saint Lazarene Defensive hat aktuell große Probleme mit Choppyhausens langen Bällen und kann sich sehr bei ihrem Hintermann Ortega bedanken, dass es hier immer noch 0:0 steht.

Nach einer geklärten Choppyhausener Ecke sieht Rahman, dass Weiner-Kracht weit vor seinem Kasten steht und schießt aus etwa 60m. Der Ball fliegt aber weit entfernt vom Choppyhausener Tor ins Aus.

Viray sorgt bei Saint Lazarus nach einem langen Ball für ein wenig Entlastung. Der 24 jährige setzt sich links gegen Oak durch, sein Abschluss wird aber noch von Frederiksen geblockt.

Lukeson dribbelt sich mit einem beeindruckenden Solo an drei Saint Lazarus-Spielern vorbei und stolpert den Ball dann eher unabsichtlich zu Tyr, der vom Strafraumrand abschließt. Ortega macht sich ganz lang und kann den Ball gerade noch aus dem Lattenkreuz spitzeln. Großartige Parade!

[Tor für Choppyhausen 1-0] M. Iduna (A. Finch)
Endlich das 1:0! Finch gewinnt in einem Zweikampf gegen Yee den Ball und schickt dann mit einem gezielten Außenristpass Iduna. Am Saint Lazarener Strafraumrand lässt der Rechtsaußen Zaldarriaga mit einer geschickten Bewegung ins Leere laufen und schießt dann humorlos an Ortega vorbei ins Tor.

Die Choppyhausener Fans sind jetzt eindeutig die tonangebenden hier im ausverkauften Keystone Stadium, der Führungstreffer hat die Stimmung nochmal kräftig angefeuert.

Villariño kommt rechts bis zur Grundlinie durch, seine Flanke wird aber noch von Bender-McKay abgefälscht und segelt somit weit über den Strafraum hinweg.

[Gelbe Karte Choppyhausen] Nach einer Ecke läuft Saint Lazarus einen Konter über Viray. Frederiksen überlegt kurz und bringt den Stürmer dann zu Fall. Klares taktisches Foul und die erste Verwarnung des Spiels.

Corte hat das Schlusswort der ersten Hälfte. Lukeson lüpft den Ball über die Saint Lazarener Dreierkette, wo der Choppyhausener Stürmer den Ball volley abschließt. Der Schuss streift die Latte, bevor er ins Aus geht.

[Halbzeit]

[Wechsel Saint Lazarus]
Mateo Calderón (#15) ¡! Clemente Zaldarriaga (#2)
Leonardo Tupas (#14) ¡! Casimiro Marasigan (#9)
Ricardo Gella (#20) ¡! Arnel Rahman (#19)

Saint Lazarus Trainer Villareal reagiert auf die schwache Leistung seines Teams mit einem Dreifachwechsel.

Noch keine zwei Minuten gespielt, da wird Gella schon gefährlich. Der Schuss des 22jährigen aus etwa zwanzig Metern wird noch von Finch abgewehrt und fliegt einen halben Meter am Tor vorbei.

Die anschließende Ecke landet in den Armen von Weiner-Kracht.

Tupas macht halbrechts am Strafraum ein paar Schritte nach innen und zieht ab. Der Schuss geht aber deutlich über das Tor.

Villareals Wechsel scheinen gewirkt zu haben. Saint Lazarus spielt jetzt weit aktiver und offensiver, während sich Choppyhausen deutlich in die eigene Hälfte zurückgezogen hat, darauf bedacht, das 1:0 zu verteidigen.

Nach einem starken Pass von Calderón ist Viray bis zur Eckfahne durch, wo sich der Stürmer jedoch im Dribbling verzettelt und den Ball an Holdenbeck verliert.

Jetzt zeigt auch Weiner-Kracht mal, was er kann! Uemura tritt einen Freistoß aus dem Halbfeld, unter dem vier Spieler durchfliegen, bevor Tupas am langen Pfosten aus kurzer Distanz abschließt. Weiner-Kracht reagiert großartig und kann den Ball gerade noch halten.

Cheon versucht sich mit einem Schuss aus der zweiten Reihe. Der Ball dreht sich aber vom Tor weg und fliegt rund drei Meter entfernt ins Toraus.

[Elfmeter für Choppyhausen]
Nach einem langen Abschlag von Weiner-Kracht verliert Yee das Kopfballduell gegen Tyr, der direkt in Cortes Lauf köpft. Der Choppyhausener Stürmer sprintet Richtung Saint Lazarener Tor, wird aber vor seinem Abschluss im Strafraum von Robles zu Fall gebracht. Der Schiedsrichter zeigt direkt korrekterweise auf den Punkt.

[Gelbe Karte für Saint Lazarus] - Robles

[Tor für Choppyhausen 2-0] J. Corte
Corte tritt selbst an und trifft. Er chippt den Ball lässig in die Mitte des Tores über Ortega hinweg, der in die rechte Ecke unterwegs ist.

Das zweite Choppyhausener Tor kommt mitten in die Saint Lazarener Drangphase hinein. Mal sehen, wie sich die Spielsituation jetzt entwickelt.

Gella kommt mit ein paar geschickten Bewegungen an Holdenbeck vorbei, zögert dann aber vor dem Abschluss zu lange und wird von Frederiksen gestoppt.

[Wechsel Choppyhausen]
Til Lampe (#16) ¡! Mattes Oak (#5)
Nikolai De Lang (#23) ¡! Tommy Lukeson (#9)

[Wechsel Saint Lazarus]
Enrique Suerte (#13) ¡! Ezequiel Cheon (#10)

Positionsgetreue Wechsel auf beiden Seiten. Neue Kräfte kommen für die letzten ??? Minuten dazu.

Finch spielt mit einer schnellen Drehung Iduna frei, der sich auf der rechten Seite auf den Weg macht und dann in den Strafraum spielt. Seine Flanke findet Corte, dessen Kopfball aber etwas zu zentral bei Ortega landet.

Villariño wirft einen weiten Einwurf in den Chopyhausener Strafraum. Der Ball landet im Fünfmeterraum, wo es kurz unübersichtlich wird, bevor Bender-McKay den Ball in hohem Bogen aus der eigenen Hälfte befördert. Die Saint Lazarus Spieler möchten zuvor ein Handspiel gesehen haben, der Schiedsrichter lässt aber weiterlaufen.

[Wechsel Choppyhausen]
Stefan Halder (#20) ¡! Andre Finch (#19)
Johnny Caligaris (#21) ¡! Dominik Keil (#8)

Nach einer erfolglosen Saint Lazarener Ecke versucht Choppyhausen über Lampe zu kontern. Der Pass des Rechtsverteidigers zu De Lang ist aber zu ungenau und landet stattdessen bei Pascual.

In einem Kopfballduell kurz vor dem Choppyhausener Strafraum trifft Halder Viray mit dem Ellenbogen am Kopf. Der Saint Lazarene kann nach kurzer Behandlung weiterspielen. Gute Freistoßposition für Saint Lazarus.

[Tor für Saint Lazarus 2-1] - Uemura
Das ist der Anschlusstreffer! Uemura tritt den Freistoß direkt. Sein strammer Schuss wird noch von Tyr in der Mauer abgefälscht und landet somit unhaltbar für Weiner-Kracht im oberen linken Eck.

Die Nachspielzeit beträgt drei Minuten. Geht hier noch etwas für Saint Lazarus?

Suerte versucht sich an einem Dribbling durch das Choppyhausener Mittelfeld, verliert den Ball aber gegen Holdenbeck.

Saint Lazarus hat den Ball, es fehlt den Los Carabaos aber an Ideen, um an den dicht stehenden Choppyhausenern vorbeizukommen.

[Soviet Kem]

Group 2 Matchday 2 - Soviet Kem vs. United Arabian Emirate

3-2-2-1-2 Formation
Starting XI

GK 6 Zoinski
CB 58 Kenidky
LCB 19 Gente
RCB 17 Jent
LDM 15 Fendski
RDM 11 Hedzinski
LCM 10 Putanik (Captain)
RCM 56 Genish II
SS 29 Gligimesh
LST 23 Nort
RST 20 Fengski

"After our close 1-0 win against Mystris, we believe that our tactics are working, and we are looking to get another victory against the United Arabian Emirate in matchday two. The boys are hungry for our next match to be a win. So we will be training with more vigor as our opponent, as seen with their match with The Democratic Unionist Cool Kids, is a force to be reconned with. However, we should come out on top with our more defensive play, but as we all know the future is unknown. All I will say is that the boys will be training like hell before matchday two, and we will respect our opponents as without respect there is no game." Head Coach/Manager Ken Stavisk said during a press conference before matchday two against United Arabian Emirate.

[Coercia]

Disappointing day in the nation of Coercia as we receive word that our first match against Konstantino resulted in a draw. After a good showing in some friendly scrimmages pre-tournament. With a result of 1-1, we reached out to the Head Coach, Robert Galloway, for an overview of what occurred during the game.

Galloway: "It was a disappointing match up between us and Konstantino. It's obvious seeing how our team played that they are not yet used to their genetic enhancements just yet. Our team was full of slight missteps that resulting in a low scoring game. During the early portion of the first half, Konstantino's player Lorenzo G. had a particularly impressive drive down the field. After receiving a pass from Luiz A, he dribbled past all of our defenders. Some of them tripped up with their enhanced speed, allowing him to score. This was extremely embarrassing for our great nation. Luckily, we were able to settle down and they soon got used to their enhancements in a game time scenario. Guess the pressure got to them in the first half, because in the second half we played really impressively. We ran out of time to score a goal until the very end, when Bob "The Brick" Park launched one from our goal, scoring across the whole field, tying us right before the game ended. I will have to up my training regiments for our team. Wind Sprints and a two mile army crawl before next game, a long with a 7 mile run. They need to get used to their enhancements quickly. We will return with better results. For the glory of Coercia!"

Preview against Avote:
We have no idea what to expect from this team. We have received little information about them and they are the most interesting team for us to face. Without our team knowing what they may bring us with it will be difficult to predict. Yet, they did lose 6-2 on match day one, giving us some confidence heading into the game. Ultimately, we are predicting yet another win for Coercia!

[Khaelu]

Khaelu’s best staggered into Ojo de la Tormenta, drenched after their short walk from the bus. Each was in agreement that of all the unusual places they had travelled for the sport, this was definitely the weirdest. The reluctant bus driver made each player do a short ritual that suspiciously seemed like they were paying with their life-force, but hey, they got a good ride. Coming from a nation with a very powerful government, they were especially shocked by the total lack of control and provided services. Denese had a brief panic attack spurred on by the fear of an injury that wouldn’t be treated by readily available subsidized healthcare. There was a strange feeling that people somehow understood Khaelunu when locals scoffed at private remarks on the state of the “nation”. One can imagine the confusion of looking up to see a completely clear sky while it was dumping buckets within throw-in range. Needless to say, all of them wanted an easy game, short interviews, and an immediate private flight to somewhere that wasn’t Farfadillis.

In a way, they got what they wanted, since they did a commendable job of remaining in control of the game. This didn’t stop the relentless goading from the small crowd who were already fluent in Khaelunu football vernacular. Khaelu’s possession percentage soared slightly past 80% in the first ten minutes before dying down to a more modest 70 as Mindhart worked things out. This was the national team’s first game played as a unit, yet they already showed expected patterns: excessive passing and a slow but deathly crawl towards scoring range. The opposition was worn out well before halftime, which only exacerbated their issues with chasing the ball down. The first 45 minutes were admittedly uneventful. Its general lack of interest spurred on the raucous locals, who at this point were begging for a fight. Mindhart consistently overloaded the midfield and kept a sweeper, making it difficult for Khaelu to break through on a long through ball.

The Khaelunu national team entered the second half rejuvenated and rearing for success. Their sudden motivation triggered a great shift in their play style as they became far more aggressive. Manager Tere Beshana revealed after the match that this was by design. “You know, we really went in with that mindset of getting them mad, making Mindhart frustrated by our passing. Once we made them tired and got in their heads, that really gave us a big advantage. And the audience. These guys never shut up, do they?”

Shut up they did not. Famously hotheaded, RB Raemone Zhaka took particular offense to their dissatisfaction and took it out on a player he had been marking for a corner kick. What was first a light shove, likely in response to a snide remark, rapidly escalated into a short tussle. Referees quickly intervened, giving Zhaka a yellow card for initiating contact. This was accompanied with a plea for the fans to quiet down, which they took as further encouragement to scream their hearts out. The Mindhart forward converted the penalty kick into a goal with ease to make the score 0-1 in the 49th minute.

This only fueled Khaelu’s vigor. Dazzlingly quick passes led them to the attacking third to stay for several minutes, getting multiple powerful shots on goal that kept getting saved. Finally, in the 62nd minute, RW Goeyade threaded the needle for a through ball to CM Manosero that beautifully gave him an open chance. He sent a power shot from 25 meters out that just glanced off the keeper’s fingertips. The comeback, though modest, had begun.

Recovering from their relentless attack, the Khaelunu midfield significantly slowed down as Mindhart managed to pick their way through the field. A goal kick after a missed shot sent a great opportunity to the left wing. The three forwards charged down the field, posing a rapid 3v4 counterattack. They got into the penalty box, but the ball was deflected by a defender, generating a valuable corner kick opportunity in the 70th minute. Khaelu sent all of their players in for the cross, leaving only Kharodela at the half line. This proved effective, as the ball soared over a dozen bobbing heads until it hit Calue’s to score a second goal.

Now that they had a lead, Khaelu reverted to their previous strategy of maintaining possession as the first priority. Play vastly remained in the midfield, with both teams making equally occasional and halfhearted attacks. Both sides were clearly highly fatigued, which also lent to the increasingly slow pace. After using their last remaining substitutions to get fresh legs on the field in the 82nd minute, Mindhart began to form a crushing attack that lasted several minutes without much resistance. There were 4 shots on goal and a few more shots during this period, all of which were saved by Pueru. Khaelu rallied to match the sudden acceleration, launching their own balls that cut deep into the defenses. The first 3 attempts were swept up by the keeper, but eventually Kharodela sent Fadea a long lob as the latter went flying down the field. He tore past 1, 2, 3 opponents before controlling the ball and scoring from the top of the box in minute 90+2. The remaining 3 minutes of stoppage time went by quickly, with Mindhart trying to seize possession to no avail.

Khaelu 3 - 1 Mindhart

LW ‘49

Manosero ‘62
Calue ‘70
Fadea ‘90+2

[Solarampa]

Shizuna Rem Misurugi 2–2 Solarampa

A tie.

The first, historical match for the Solarampan National Soccer Team ended in a tie. For many of the fans who made the long travel to Equestria to watch the match, it was a disappointment, but to Manager Archibald Chapman, it was a testament to the team's skill. Entering the match, Chapman was unsure how his heavily defensive formation would work out, but to his surprise, it was enough to build a decent offensive against Shizuna Rem Misurugi. Reflection was still needed, allowing two goals in the first place wasn't good, but as long as their offensive output could equal their strength, the team had a chance of making it out of the group stage.

The match itself proved itself to be a chess match between two great teams, trading blows until one made a mistake. The first mistake came for Solarampa, as a bad pass by #3 Cillian Hall allowed for a quick interception and resulting goal for Shizuna Rem Misurugi. Thankfully, during the 42nd minute, #11 James Day was able to weave through the opponent's defense and masterfully place it in the top right corner of the goal to give Solarampa some momentum going into halftime. This momentum could be seen, as #10 Spencer Day, the identical twin of James Day, scored in the 55th minute with a header due to an excellent pass by #9 Lucian Sutton. The Solarampan fans were rowdy, they had never experienced the national team leading before and they went crazy because of it. However, to their disappointment, a strong attack by Shizuna Rem Misurugi and a tired Solarampan defense led to an equalizing goal. The teams went back and forth, but in the end, the results were a tie. Solarampa must move onto their next match, for they cannot dwell on the tie.

Solarampan Goal Scorers

#11 James Day- 42'
#10 Spencer Day- 55'

[Bull Sheet]

Rizzman Empire 2 - 3 Bull Sheet
Unknown 69', Unknown 82' (p) | Children 12', 51', Miller 74'

"What it was wasn't what was wanted, but it was what it was."
"What was it, anyway?"
"It was what had went on, but what that was was what was wondered. "
"Who was wandering, and who was wanting what? "
"No, Who didn't wander, Who was wanting to wander but Who's want of wandering wasn't what was wanted by... Ug."
"Ugh? What wanton 'whatever' would you want to utter when who other than Who would wander?"
"Ug."
"While you utter whatever 'whatever' you want, I was wondering what was wanted."
"What was won, of course."
"Neither team scored one! It would be more helpful to go ask children."
"Wait, what? Children wasn't wandering over where Who and Ug were, Children was wanting it and wondering where the wall on the west would watch. Although I wonder if he wandered to the east when that was what he wanted, because that was it. It was there, within the walls, whence he got what he wanted - twice."
"Why are you referring to children in the singular, like they're one monolith?"
"Oh, then what is it you wanted to wonder with me about when you went and whispered 'I thought we ought to talk, without wanting to walk'? Were you wanting to talk about Who?"
"I wanted to talk about what had went on."
"So what, you wanted to walk, while wishing to whisper of it, what was what it was, but not what was wanted, or did you wish to whisper of Who and Children and... Ug?"
"No! ... whatever."

In other news, Ayn Rand's ghost gave up a penalty for illegal possession of the ball.

[Equestrian States]

Match Day 2, Groups 20-28 Cutoff

Some teams' journeys could end prematurely today, while others may secure passage to the next round with a game to spare. Can you go further? Scores coming shortly.

Optional MD2 RP Prompt: Magic is a part of everyday life in Equestria, unlike in most parts of the multiverse. Whether its unicorns using levitation to go about their work, pegasai controlling the weather, or the curious magic associated with the impromptu community musical numbers that seem to pop up randomly from time to time. If your team is playing in Storm City or Cloudsdale, you'll definitely run into this as magical wristbands are required for non-avian, non-magical users to walk on the clouds these cities are built on. How are your players and fans reacting to the prevalence of magic in Equestria? Does your nation have any magic of its own, have they encountered it elsewhere in their travels, is this their first encounter with the magical arts?

---

BAPTISM OF FIRE 87
Farfadillis | Banija | Equestria

Match Day 2 Results

Group 20

Orioni 3–4 Hanalia
at the Stadium of the Night in Hollow Shades, Equestria

Dixie Florida 6–2 Nergtul
at the Stadium of the Night in Hollow Shades, Equestria

  Group 20                  Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts
1 Dixie Florida               2   2  0  0    7   2  +5    6   Q
2 Hanalia                     2   2  0  0    9   5  +4    6   Q
3 Orioni                      2   0  0  2    3   5  −2    0
4 Nergtul                     2   0  0  2    4  11  −7    0

---

Group 21

Solarampa 3–0 Orcuo
at Sky-High Coliseum in Cloudsdale, Equestria

Shizuna Rem Misurugi 3–3 United States of Alpha
at Sky-High Coliseum in Cloudsdale, Equestria

  Group 21                  Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts
1 Solarampa                   2   1  1  0    5   2  +3    4
2 United States of Alpha      2   1  1  0    5   4  +1    4
3 Shizuna Rem Misurugi        2   0  2  0    5   5   0    2
4 Orcuo                       2   0  0  2    1   5  −4    0

---

Group 22

The Ferret Lands 0–0 Narovi
at Diamond Park in Stalliongrad, Equestria

Capitulists 1–2 Andso Mangis
at Diamond Park in Stalliongrad, Equestria

  Group 22                  Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts
1 The Ferret Lands            2   1  1  0    2   0  +2    4
2 Narovi                      2   1  1  0    1   0  +1    4
3 Andso Mangis                2   1  0  1    2   2   0    3
4 Capitulists                 2   0  0  2    1   4  −3    0

---

Group 23

Brusselstein 0–1 Baldorium
at The Crownlands in Manehattan, Equestria

Super Earth 2–0 Draftcubic
at The Crownlands in Manehattan, Equestria

  Group 23                  Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts
1 Super Earth                 2   2  0  0    5   1  +4    6
2 Draftcubic                  2   1  0  1    4   4   0    3
3 Baldorium                   2   1  0  1    3   4  −1    3
4 Brusselstein                2   0  0  2    1   4  −3    0

---

Group 24

Bull Sheet 2–0 Porotia
at The Thunderdome in Storm City, Equestria

Rizzman Empire 1–3 Himurajima
at The Thunderdome in Storm City, Equestria

  Group 24                  Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts
1 Bull Sheet                  2   2  0  0    5   2  +3    6
2 Porotia                     2   1  0  1    4   3  +1    3
3 Himurajima                  2   1  0  1    4   5  −1    3
4 Rizzman Empire              2   0  0  2    3   6  −3    0

---

Group 25

Bhumi Matawis Empire 3–1 Biyambi
at Grand Regal Stadium in Canterlot, Equestria

Greater Deutsche 0–3 Atymnius
at Grand Regal Stadium in Canterlot, Equestria

  Group 25                  Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts
1 Bhumi Matawis Empire        2   2  0  0    7   2  +5    6   Q
2 Atymnius                    2   1  1  0    5   2  +3    4
3 Biyambi                     2   0  1  1    3   5  −2    1
4 Greater Deutsche            2   0  0  2    1   7  −6    0

---

Group 26

Europeasia 0–0 Equinox Auraterra
at Elements Stadium in Ponyville, Equestria

Denyssia 2–2 Cretian Territories
at Elements Stadium in Ponyville, Equestria

  Group 26                  Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts
1 Cretian Territories         2   0  2  0    5   5   0    2
  Denyssia                    2   0  2  0    4   4   0    2
  Equinox Auraterra           2   0  2  0    3   3   0    2
  Europeasia                  2   0  2  0    2   2   0    2

---

Group 27

Meris 0–1 Surne
at Wild Grounds in Everfree, Equestria

Whispinia 2–2 South Kerala
at Wild Grounds in Everfree, Equestria

  Group 27                  Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts
1 Surne                       2   1  1  0    3   2  +1    4
2 Meris                       2   1  0  1    3   3   0    3
3 South Kerala                2   0  2  0    4   4   0    2
4 Whispinia                   2   0  1  1    4   5  −1    1

---

Group 28

Konstantino 0–1 New-Addlebrand
at Shady Grove in Whitetail, Equestria

Coercia 7–1 Avote
at Shady Grove in Whitetail, Equestria

  Group 28                  Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts
1 New-Addlebrand              2   2  0  0    7   2  +5    6   Q
2 Coercia                     2   1  1  0    8   2  +6    4
3 Konstantino                 2   0  1  1    1   2  −1    1
4 Avote                       2   0  0  2    3  13 −10    0

Qualified to Round of 64
Cannot finish in top two places, can still qualify if one of top eight third place finishers
Eliminated

[Farfadillis]

RP Prompt, Farfadillis Section: Who are the past legends of football in your legend? The players that never got to wear your national team's pride colors because they were mismatched with time and circumstance themselves? Are there even any such players to speak of? Is football new in your nation, or are you here because it's only now that your nation has decided to enter the international scene?

BAPTISM OF FIRE 87
Farfadillis | Banija | Equestria

Match Day 2 Results

Group 11
Khachen 1–2 Imperial Regnum
Cardonia 2–1 Bythia

- Group 11               Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Cardonia                 2   1  1  0    2   1  +1    4
2 Bythia                   2   1  0  1    2   2   0    3
3 Imperial Regnum          2   1  0  1    2   2   0    3
4 Khachen                  2   0  1  1    1   2  −1    1

Group 12
Salagalu 1–2 Merulla
Sibersky 0–0 Esistan

- Group 12               Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Merulla                  2   2  0  0    7   4  +3    6
2 Salagalu                 2   1  0  1    2   2   0    3
3 Sibersky                 2   0  1  1    0   1  −1    1
4 Esistan                  2   0  1  1    3   5  −2    1

Group 13
Hamborn 3–3 Greater Portugaliza
Putrasia 0–4 Stewartika

- Group 13               Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Stewartika               2   2  0  0    7   0  +7    6
2 Hamborn                  2   1  1  0    4   3  +1    4
3 Greater Portugaliza      2   0  1  1    3   6  −3    1
4 Putrasia                 2   0  0  2    0   5  −5    0

Group 14
Tristan de Cunha 2–0 Kilichloom
Veleste 3–1 New Arbuckle

- Group 14               Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Tristan de Cunha         2   1  1  0    3   1  +2    4
  Veleste                  2   1  1  0    4   2  +2    4
3 Kilichloom               2   0  1  1    2   4  −2    1
  New Arbuckle             2   0  1  1    3   5  −2    1

Group 15
Diollo 0–3 X Country
Salagavanya 0–1 Pichvi

- Group 15               Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 X Country                2   1  1  0    5   2  +3    4
2 Pichvi                   2   1  1  0    3   2  +1    4
3 Salagavanya              2   0  1  1    3   4  −1    1
4 Diollo                   2   0  1  1    3   6  −3    1

Group 16
Grego 0–1 Mindhart
Aritraroy 1–5 Khaelu

- Group 16               Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Khaelu                   2   2  0  0    8   2  +6    6
2 Mindhart                 2   1  0  1    2   3  −1    3
3 Grego                    2   0  1  1    1   2  −1    1
4 Aritraroy                2   0  1  1    2   6  −4    1

Group 17
Lebronsleftnut 0–5 Snestar
Alixe 2–2 Moon Deing

- Group 17               Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Snestar                  2   2  0  0   10   0 +10    6
2 Lebronsleftnut           2   1  0  1    1   5  −4    3
3 Alixe                    2   0  1  1    2   3  −1    1
4 Moon Deing               2   0  1  1    2   7  −5    1

Group 18
Hazardia 1–1 Konkert
Golfo Central 0–0 Colmaijo

- Group 18               Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Colmaijo                 2   1  1  0    4   1  +3    4
2 Golfo Central            2   1  1  0    4   3  +1    4
3 Hazardia                 2   0  1  1    4   5  −1    1
4 Konkert                  2   0  1  1    2   5  −3    1

Group 19
Yangchenia 0–0 Canamn
Rí­o de La Plata 0–2 Shin-Zetsubo

- Group 19               Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Shin-Zetsubo             2   2  0  0    9   2  +7    6
2 Yangchenia               2   1  1  0    2   0  +2    4
3 Canamn                   2   0  1  1    2   7  −5    1
4 Rí­o de La Plata          2   0  0  2    0   4  −4    0

[Banija]

Time for the second cutoff of Baptism of Fire 87, applicable for Groups 1-10!

Welcome folks! Second cutoff, scores will be edited in here shortly after this post. Be ready!

RP Prompt #3: Your NT has 23(or more) NT players on their rosters. The question, is this- what is the pipeline for the national team? how do players in your country get ogod enough to represent it? Is it via college soccer? An intense youth academy system? Or something in between?

Matchday 2

Group 1
The Miniona Islands 1–3 Manuelian Empire
Tremosia 1–2 Minoptra

Group 1                  Pld   W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Manuelian Empire        2    1   1   0     4    2   +2     4
2 Minoptra                2    1   1   0     3    2   +1     4
3 Tremosia                2    0   1   1     5    6   −1     1
4 The Miniona Islands     2    0   1   1     5    7   −2     1

Group 2
United Arabian Emirate 0–1 Mystris
The Democratic Unionist Cool Kids 1–3 Soviet Kem

  Group 2                              Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Soviet Kem                             2   2  0  0    4   1  +3    6
2 Mystris                                2   1  0  1    1   1   0    3
3 United Arabian Emirate                 2   1  0  1    3   1  +2    3
4 The Democratic Unionist Cool Kids      2   0  0  2    1   6  −5    0

Group 3
New Eastern Roma 3–2 Sector 18
Natot 1–1 Knights of Lusitania

  Group 3                              Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Natot                                  2   1  1  0    3   1  +2    4
2 New Eastern Roma                       2   1  0  1    3   4  −1    3
3 Sector 18                              2   1  0  1    6   4  +2    3
4 Knights of Lusitania                   2   0  1  1    2   5  −3    1

Group 4
Windows 7 Bliss 0–1 Travanta
Jaoaa 1–3 Baman & Juket Liberationists

  Group 4                              Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Travanta                               2   2  0  0    4   0  +4    6
2 Baman & Juket Liberationists           2   1  0  1    3   4  −1    3
3 Jaoaa                                  2   1  0  1    2   3  −1    3
4 Windows 7 Bliss                        2   0  0  2    0   2  −2    0

Group 5
Annestah 3–2 Phoenicia
Armeriea 1–1 Chemicala

  Group 5                              Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Armeriea                               2   1  1  0    3   2  +1    4
2 Annestah                               2   1  0  1    4   4   0    3
3 Phoenicia                              2   1  0  1    5   5   0    3
4 Chemicala                              2   0  1  1    3   4  −1    1

Group 6
Skyberius 1–1 Santira
The Knockout Gun Gals 2–4 The Batavia

  Group 6                              Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 The Batavia                            2   1  1  0    7   5  +2    4
2 Skyberius                              2   1  1  0    5   4  +1    4
3 Santira                                2   0  2  0    4   4   0    2
4 The Knockout Gun Gals                  2   0  0  2    5   8  −3    0

Group 7
Saint Lazarus 2–1 Bruinswik
Choppyhausen 5–1 Very Totally Free

  Group 7                              Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Choppyhausen                           2   2  0  0    7   2  +5    6
2 Saint Lazarus                          2   1  0  1    3   3   0    3
3 Bruinswik                              2   1  0  1    2   2   0    3
4 Very Totally Free                      2   0  0  2    1   6  −5    0

Group 8
Nova Dackians 0–7 Bonusia
Tornadico 1–3 Seeberg

  Group 8                              Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Bonusia                                2   2  0  0    8   0  +8    6
2 Seeberg                                2   1  0  1    3   2  +1    3
3 Nova Dackians                          2   1  0  1    1   7  −6    3
4 Tornadico                              2   0  0  2    1   4  −3    0

Group 9
Aethelia 2–2 Burg Land
Ziotah & Riverside 0–0 Montagne Noire

  Group 9                              Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Ziotah & Riverside                     2   1  1  0    3   0  +3    4
2 Montagne Noire                         2   1  1  0    4   3  +1    4
3 Burg Land                              2   0  1  1    5   6  −1    1
4 Aethelia                               2   0  1  1    2   5  −3    1

Group 10
Francanada 0–1 Riandera
AJTON 2–1 Behh

  Group 10                             Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 AJTON                                  2   2  0  0    5   2  +3    6
2 Riandera                               2   2  0  0    3   1  +2    6
3 Behh                                   2   0  0  2    2   4  −2    0
4 Francanada                             2   0  0  2    1   4  −3    0

[Orcuo]

"We’re losing! How could we be losing?" Luke screams as he pounds the locker with his bare fist. "I give you advanced training, I give you delicious food, I give a paparazzi, I give you every thing you could need to win and you still lose! Why?"

Hyde slowly raises his hand, "Yes, Bog?" Luke asks. "Wells, uhh… ya didn’t technically gives us all that s’tuff, the team manager did," Boggy says picking and eating the snot out of his nose. Luke stares at him with a blank expression, unable to speak.

"Well he’s right," Vesper remarks. "Maybe your poor strategy of putting us strictly on offense is to blame."

"Oh, oh! I know what it is!" Edmund intervenes, "It’s cause you keep telling us to crush the bones of our enemies and that keeps getting us red flags, yeah!"

XIK-30 enters the room, injecting into the conversation. "My calculations indicate that a lack of competent leadership is the reason for our failure in the previous two matches."

"Hey, I’m an excellent leader!" Fitzroy shouts from across the room as he grooms his golden hair whilst admiring himself in the mirror.

"That statement was not in reference to you, it was in reference to our coach’s ability, or therefore lack of, to organize us as an effective unit." XIK-30 remarks before exiting the room, just as soon as he had entered.

"Just for the record, none of this was my fault." Swine snorts as she wipes the dirt off of her boots.

Everyone bursts out in laughter except Luke, who doesn’t seem too happy.

*BANG*

Luke tosses a television halfway across the room in a fit of rage.

"I did NOT come all this way in my career just to have it ruined by a bunch of troglodytes! You understand, you all are going to train NON-STOP until I see a collective improvement from all of you! You hear me! Every last ONE of you!"

The team let out a sigh before John entered the room.

"Well it would seem the odds aren’t exactly in our favor, does it?" John says as he twisted the top off of his water bottle to refill it.

"Oh yeah!?" Luke shouts, "Well…if you’re such a genius…then why don’t YOU fix this problem? Huh!?"

"I thought you’d never ask."

*SLAM*

John props down a briefcase on the table and pops it open, revealing a series of vials and syringes.

"This, my friends, is a drug made specially for us. Our buddies in the Citadel labs cooked up this little physical enhancement drug that is virtually undetectable by most methods. I believe this will give us the edge we need to win the next game."

"Ooooohhh!" Everyone lets out in a union of awe.

"So, wut are ze withdrawals?" Mortimer asks.

"Don’t worry about it. What’s important is that one little pop of these and you’ll be able to crack as many skulls as you need to."

John began to let out a devious cackle, followed suit by the rest of the team.

[Super Earth Under Siege]

Equestria - 0400 Hours

Most of the Senators were sound asleep. Deprived of their usual cocktail of experimentally-infused field stims, the former Helldivers engaged in slumber with a suspicious absence of incoherent dreams or uncontrollable thrashing about. But not all of the team had time for rest.

Aspiration Monisola had never clung as tightly to her nickname or number designation as most members of the Helldiver Corps. "Buzz", they called her- partially in reference to a pseudo-mythical star pilot from before Managed Democracy's emergence, and partially due to an incident involving a G-31 Arc grenade and a contingent of valiant, unfortunate heroes who gave their lives honourably against the Illuminate menace. Such was the nature of war, of course. She held no reservations about that. But without her medications on hand, without even the assurance of an adreno-defibrillator strapped to her chest to give her a dignified and valorous death to make up for it if she-

She shook her head. This wasn't the time to be distracted. There was a match up ahead against Draftcubic and she needed her energy preserved for it, as did they all. But it wasn't really that which kept her up. Aspiration shoved another Super Solid State Drive into the impromptu terminal, scouring the readings she'd collected in her limited time in Equestria. Meteorological reports were as erratic as predicted. This civilisation had access to such extreme terraforming that it could manipulate the weather at will. It was "magic" supposedly, but she knew better than that. "Magic" was superstition. "Magic" was what aliens claimed to have to sneer in superiority at the good citizens of Super Earth. "Magic" was an illusion. Ever since she'd arrived, Aspiration had been cataloguing these "magical" phenomena in pursuit of answers, and yet...she was nowhere near finding them.

"...up and at it even now, huh?" Asma strolled over, stretching her arms and yawning as she took a glance at the readings. Aspiration offered only a nod in response at first. "Made any progress yet?"

"None yet," Aspiration conceded. Asma's understanding of chemistry was limited to warfare- but least she had an understanding of it. Most of their peers only knew how to inject stims or throw toxic gas at bug breaches. "There's no chemical explanation for the weather changes. Dark energy readings are practically nonexistent. I thought they must have a cloaked fleet, but there's no evidence of that either. How are they doing this?" ...it was the ignorance that stung, most of all. She'd pledged to report whatever useful information she could, and despite being surrounded by intelligent equines in a foreign dimension the most she could glean from the situation was...how little she knew. How little any of them knew.

"Maybe it's a problem with the, uh...physical laws of the universe? Maybe the same rules just don't apply." It was a reasonable guess, but it offered no assurance. That just meant that any knowledge they picked up anywhere beyond their own galaxy was pointless. "...anyway, Buzz. Hate to say it, but. You need some sleep. I'll take pre-dawn shift, all right?" ...given the official schedule, it wasn't the gentle request it sounded like.

"...there's no Dark Fluid. No Element-710. Or 711, for that matter. No nanotechnology I can detect. By all accounts their society is primitive and pre-stellar, but somehow they can control the skies on command? Supposedly on an individual-"

"I know, I know. It's confusing. You won't find any answers staying up. You don't get thaw-time out here, your body needs the rest. Get to it." ...reluctantly, Aspiration subjected herself to the discomfort of bed.

She swore she heard whispers as she fell into sleep.

Equestria - 2200 Hours

A flawless match.

Draftcubic had the element of surprise going into the match. Surrounded by propaganda about their greatness and invincibility, the Senators were beloved by the Federation of Super Earth- but anyone could have received those transmissions. The advertisements, the sponsorships, the constant proclamations dedicated to each and every one of them. Compared to that, the Senators were blind going into the contest. They had no idea what to expect despite their best efforts. All they could do was pray to Lady Liberty that following their usual strategy was enough.

And it was.

It was a more restrained performance than their last one. Matron had proven especially inspired, claiming she felt some impossible-to-explain familiarity between Manehattan and her home megacity of York Supreme back on Super Earth. Perhaps because of this she had maintained an ironclad defensive line by the time she entered the field, the opposing force unable to overcome it. Deadman had served his part, and Lagrange managed a highly-precise long-range kick that proved her worth to the team. As a whole, it was business as usual- all that minefield-dodging seemed to be paying off in their ultimate performance.

One more match was left to win, if their continued victory was to be secure.

[Saint-Lazarus]

SAINT LAZARENES RECORD FIRST WIN OVER BRUINSWIK
Busukuma, National Capital Region, Banija

Some of the national team players went into college or/and representing their state on the national level, and also clubs too. That's why they share some stories on why they called up to the national team. "When I was finishing my studies at college, some questionable message rang into my notifications", says Quique Villariño, a college student and a player for the Panay state team. "And when I found out its the actual football association, I came into the headquarters and say, am I accepted? And they say yes." After that, they started to train in the Banijan capital before their Bruinswik game. "These kids need some effort playing against them.", says Farid Usman. "Hoping their teamwork would he great after our loss against Choppyhausen." And when they enter Stadium of the Resurrection, the team is greeted by some cheers from the barra brava of the national team. The Saint Lazarene fans were singing, dancing, jumping, and shouting out loud for the team. And when the national anthem of the nation comes, it's like hearing thousands of voices singing in unison. And in the first half, the jumping and shouting translated into some great plays from Timoteo Yee and Villariño and gave it to the forwards like Marasigan and Viray. And this led to Viray's goal that made the barra brava crowd go crazy at this point. "We're going crazy!", says a fan. "We're going to dominate them!" But a Bruinswik equalizer stopped the domination, forcing Usman to change tactics. Replacing Uemura is Ricardo Gella again on the field and made some great defending like the defenders in the 1st half. Speaking of defenders, Zaldarriaga was replaced by Guanzon to make more adjustments on the defense. Also on the forward side, Suerte replaces Viray to finalize the changes and it worked as Suerte comes into the goal and celebrated it with his top off and a shirt saying: "Fuerza Cebú" (Cebú Strong) in solidarity to the Cebu earthquake that happened recently. Viray approves the message as a Cebuano himself. And so it goes. A first win for the Lazarenes that made the crowd crazy. "We did it for Cebu!", says Suerte. "Hope this tribute would reach across all the nation." "I am happy that our team is doing well at this point.", says Usman. "And our last match against Very Totally Free will give us a way to the Round of 64." The match against Very Totally Free will be at Mavuto Field in Hoima, and the national team will be there as much as possible.

[Seeberg]

“They told me to do some commentary about current events, like the prospects of X or Y and how that impacts Z,” said Sigismund Schiltze and adjusted his feathered green felt cap, “but how can you say something about today and tomorrow without firstly discoursing protractedly on the many yesterdays of time gone by,” he continued and took a long swig from his stein as he looked out over the quaintness of the Holterdiepolter Park in the Heilige Birgitta Quarter in the eastern parts of fair Brinterberg. “So while you might expect a small treatise on today’s mathematics, I instead invite you to sit down and continue to be engrossed by the story of How The Horkenheimers ended up here.” Herr Schiltze devoured his last piece of currywürst and smacked his lips in contentment, before continuing: “Call me old fashioned, but I suggest that the logical place to go now is Part 3, wherein society regains the initiative and works to make unwanted developments a thing of the past.

“When it seemed there was little alternative to ascertain that HändeFußy was indeed a Ding, and almost an sich to boot, you might think outlawing it would be a straightforward endeavor. However, that only shows a lacking understanding concerning Seebergundian society and lawmaking. First of all, outlawing something meant actually acknowledging its existence and if it was something Seebergundian society disliked it was actually acknowledging deviance, because that makes it real and a part of society - in the widened sense of the word - which in turn reflected badly on it and nobody wanted that, so rather the preferred method of making sure people would refrain from engaging in something unwanted was to weave an intricate legal tapestry around the real target without ever mentioning it explicitly. However, they made a point about being precise in their lawmaking, Seebergundian lawmakers, and political and legal doxa required precise and stable definitions, whereas a vexing aspect of this particular situation was that a very key feature of the unwanted game, as it was being played back then, was the utter fluidity of rules and ways of playing, making it all but impossible to pin down. It was a dilemma packed into a conundrum, like old Alfberg Gugelhupf described it at the time.

Because it was doktor Gugelhupf, of the Committee for Public Health and Suitable Physical Exercise, that was given the assignment of swiftly making sure the heinous activity of ursprünglich football disappeared. And yes, that would be the same Gugelhupf as in Gugelhupf Allee, which was at this point in time called Dinkelhopf Allee but was re-named in honor of the good doktor and his many contributions to society shortly after his untimely demise in a bizarre equestrian accident a few years after his work on - or rather, around - HändeFußy.

Now, given sufficient time, I am sure doktor Gugelhopf would have found an elegant way of outlawing HändeFußy, after all, he was the one who managed to effectively outlaw gluten intolerance without ever mentioning bread or yeast, but a sufficient amount of time was not a resource made available to him. Society was fuming - in a properly suppressed manner - after the very public spectacle on and around Gneisbänderung Platz and demanded a swift and efficient solution. True to form, doktor Gugelhupf and a few select colleagues spent many hours sharing some strudel and herbal infusions in the back rooms of the Vergoldete Mackrell Bäckerei on Grimmaische Straße – cornered with Gugelhupf Allee, yes, and of course it was no coincidence that the good doktor had an allee named after him in these the eastern parts of town – putting the pieces together on what would be society’s answer to unwanted developments in the athletic sphere.

In the end, doktor Gugelhupf and his diligent civil servants opted to solve the problem by implementing a ban on private citizens' ability to organize athletic events of any sort, and instead such organizing had to be done by an officially certified athletic association. None of the already existing associations would ever dream of touching something so vile as HändeFußy, of course, and the Gugelhupf initiative brought with it sharpened rules about who was eligible to start an athletic association. This resulted in all sorts of unforeseen problems, of course, like effectively banning children from engaging in any kind of physical activity not sanctioned by a certified athletic association, but this was rectified fairly quickly by sanctioned associations either broadening their existing options for children or even starting up dedicated youth sections for things like hide-and-seek and tag, which all agreed was really a nice and good thing.

As for the true objective of the Gugelhupf initiative, to start with it did seem to take away much of the momentum from the burgeoning HändeFußy movement. However, as with much of Seebergundian society of this time and age, things looked rather different when you delved just a tad below the surface of things.”

[Riandera]

In Riandera, there is one main way players get good enough to go on the national team. This is by being part of your school's team. Most schools in Riandera are in the Asosiasi Sepak Bola Sekolah Riandera (ASBSR; transl. Rianderan School Soccer Association). The ASBSR organises the annual Piala ASBSR (ASBSR Cup), for school soccer teams across Riandera to compete in. This year, the cup will be held for the fourteenth time. Most Rafflesias on the current roster have been part of their school's team, with a few exceptions.

---

Riandera took on Francanada which resulted in a sweet victory for us. The Rianderan offence proved to be strong, although some of their efforts were thwarted by the Francanadan defence. However, the Francanadan defence slipped when Handoyo scored at '39. Handoyo tried to score again at '72, but the Francanadan team knew what he was planning. Now that the Rafflesias had defeated Francanada, they had one last battle to go through to ensure a place for them in the next round: the match with AJTON. The AJTON team had defeated Francanada on matchday one, and Behh on matchday two.

"So... how was that?" Krishna asks the Rafflesias how their match with Francanada was.

Pretty much everyone said "OK".

RAFFLESIAS SCHEDULE
Baptism of Fire 87 - Group 10

Matchday 1 - @ Behh W 1-2
Matchday 2 - vs Francanada W 0-1
Matchday 3 - @ AJTON

Go go RAFF-RAFFLESIAS!

[Atymnius]

A RECENT PAST: PART I

Dēmosians typically enjoy a large following from amongst its supporters for their work in sports but seemingly enough the nation also recognizes the importance of philosophy in its culture. Since time immemorial, Demos has been a pillar of the sporting community. This is attributed to the Dēmosian Olympic Committee (DOC) being one of the first few institutions to invent the notion of “the Olympic Games”. Ever since the torch was beared then, Demos, therefore, has been a cultural center of sporting philosophy and meaning.

…And now a player happens to reflect on its very notions.

---

Theodosis: I just don’t understand. The use of drugs and narcotic substances such as that used in sport enhancement is altogether okay. I don’t understand the need for a lack of such and I’ve used it appropriately before these trials. The Blue-Yellow Lock should not be any different in this regard.

I should be able to maximize my output through any reason possible. Anything other than that doesn’t seem very appealing. The DOC speaks of fairness in sport but the quality of players always vary, people get tired and children cannot play amongst men. I am not one of them.

To this the co-ordinator stood up:

Co-ordinator: Have you ever heard of Immanuel Kant?

T: No.

C-O: He was a philosopher in the 18th century of the then-Dēmosian Imperium who was praised for his discovery of the a priori. This was the notion that all people had a knowledge above experience and that, in sense, people were living it every day. His whole system hinges on one axiom: How did this “experience” gain certainty from experience itself and therefore be fortuitous? To this he reckoned nothing.

The co-ordinator looked at a disinterested shaking of heads before continuing, looking up the breezy atmosphere.

C-O: Anyways, the DOC would later expand upon his theories and reckon that our habits were this very product. That the consistent habits you learn through play such as for yourself—

C-O: —Yes Theo, such as your athletic manner— could defeat what they believed to be the trivial and champion the experience—

Theo looked at him again frowning once more.

C-O: And, indeed, also your hard work Theo— would add up. The DOC had consequently done experiments and thereafter used this philosophy to generate a formula that would make for the “perfect soccer player”. The perfect soccer player who, despite the irregularities and events of the game on the pitch, would be primed to score, pass and defend when told to. They wanted to maximize the player’s performance by defeating things out of their control: variabilities. Variabilities such as fatigue, a lack of time and the possibility of injury. In a sense a god-complex. A brewing distortion of conceptions were then wielded into what they hoped to be a “mega-weapon”. The Imperium secretly named it the M.I.N.O.T.A.U.R.

C-O: However it failed. Do you know why it failed?

Theo: Pls coach enough….

C-O: Because we forgot our roots. In trying to ascend above our experiences we forgot what we already had.

C-O: We said the first thing we had to ascend was time. The player had to be designed to shoot instantaneously. You laugh but it would make sense wouldn’t it? Energy is imperfection. People get exhausted: either they can’t cope or merely drop dead. And per Physics, it was based on the notion of work over time. With this in mind, we had to completely reduce time to produce the maximum amount of energy possible and you know the feasibility of such a thing. However, we were, additionally, at a cross-roads: our formula managed to show how the virtues of a love, belief and friendship for football can ascend the trivialities of the moment or the “experience” and yet seemingly the body or the physicality could never.

C-O: So you may ask why I told you this. It’s because you are correct: probabilities in football aren’t completely as variable as you think. “Above-experience” notions such as a love for football and passion reflect our chances of winning and losing. I’m sure you’ve seen a deflated sportsman. We associate symbols such as archer-backs or heads that look the other way except the eyes as symbols of a lack of grit. Their attitudes affect the team and they may as well have a higher chance of losing than winning. Probabilities are lowered. Pessimists in Dēmosian sport are dead people. You are correct.

C-O: But you are incorrect in the fact that using enhancing drugs will make you better at football. I can see your love for the game for example Theo, regardless of whether you receive a foul or score a goal. It stays the same regardless of experience and therefore is above it.

C-O: You love football.

C-O: Inversely, however, humans beings have always known the notion of time and space as the things that keep us down in reality. In short following the failed, abysmal test trials, the DOC instituted many laws to protect these notions of time and space as I mentioned before.

C-O: These examples are obviously clear to a guy like you who knows football. You are not allowed to violate the “time” of a player by taking performance-enhancing drugs and the maniacal sort nor are you allowed to cut the “space” of your opponent by slicing their stomach in the middle of the pitch: tackling them to oblivion. We have rules in place so that these afflictions above our experiences: love, passion and belief were respected by the “time” and “space” that nourished them. It was impossible for a player to feel as if time kept to a stop because time was merely stopping. No, this is incorrect. In that moment they felt a love of the game that time could not explain yet gave them the platform to do so. Time and space are indispensable for respect my boy.

C-O: So I’ll say it again: you love football… but you don’t treat it with respect.

C-O: Rules therefore exist for the respect of the passion. By trying to create this “minotaur” the DOC forgot what reality looked like high there in the clouds by seeing the leaves and not the roots that gave them their nutrients.

---

Following the extended conversation, Theo and the co-ordinator would then step out of the training facilities. Both tired in their own respective ways, they sat lightly at the training ground steps.

Theo if you do not stop this habit of yours, you will be dropped from first rank. This is your last warning. Please…

The co-ordinator subsequently patted Theo on the back before humbling himself off the grounds.

---

Theo, however, had a different response on the matter. [PART 2]

[Yangchenia]

A day before the match.

What do you mean Canamn has not posted a roster? They have to have one, they’re playing again tomorrow!, shouted Hu Winwei, as he drafted game plans for tomorrows game. The Blazing Dragon’s had already exceeded many people’s expectation with their victory over Rio De La Plata, especially with football being a novel sport for the country.”

“Negative, coach” , responded Wu Hsaing, as he kicked his legs up and down, practicing with an imaginary ball. “We’re going in blind tomorrow. We have no idea who we’ll face, what they can do, all of that.”

“But I’m not that worried”, he added. “I watched their previous match, they got smoked against Shin-Zetsubo’s team.”

“The anime girls?”, replied Winwei.

Hsaing: “Yeah. I must say for a novel team in football as well they certainly killed it out there. They seemed to not follow any concrete formations at all as the game progressed. They’re certainly a force to be reckoned with.”

Winwei: “I believe we’ll face them after our match with Canamn?”

Hsaing: “Affirmative. We still have two games to go, coach. How’s Thaye doing? (his fellow forwards)”

Winwei: “I mean he’s doing alright. As alright as you can expect him at his age.”

Hsaing: He’s like what, in his 60’s already? I’m surprised he even volunteered given his age.

Winwei: Turning 65 this 30th of December. I mean I was also a bit shocked when I saw his application, he wasnt one of my first picks. But even in his silver years, he’s still going strong. I mean, granted, he was one of Yangchenia’s greatest martial artists during his prime years. So I guess that strength doesnt wither away completely once you’ve hit your first sexagenary cycle.

Hsaing: It’s always those kinds of people isn’t it? Seeking a little adventure even in their later years.

Winwei: Chagar is 116 and he still engages in sports. Heck, he even served in parliament.

Hsaing: Then again he isnt exactly competing on the international stage. It’s just sort of elderly exercise.

Yesui entered the room, her eyes bearing the cold gaze she always does, but you cannot expect much passivity from one whose lineage is forged by war.

Hsaing: Sain baina uu, Yesui (Hello Yesui).

Yesui nodded in acknowledgement. “Sain baina, Hsaing. What are you doing here?”

Hsaing: Coach Winwei is drafting plans. There’s a lot of eyes on us tomorrow. We got our comrades’ hopes up last round.

Yesui: “Then they’ll get the treat they deserve. Tomorrow we fight.”

The moon had risen high into the night sky, casting a faint glow upon the group.

Yesui: Tomorrow’s the blood moon. You think Vaelira (Goddess of the Moon) will be watching us?

Hsaing: And all the heavens and the earth. All the living and the dead. All eyes on Farfadillis tomorrow.

The group finally went their separate ways. They have to get well rested for tomorrow’s match.

Dawn soon broke on the day of their second match. Across the nation of Yangchenia, newsstands were selling newspapers on the fate of the second match, which were all quickly sold out.

---

Yangchenia Blazing Dragons
"In the flames of sport, our iron will is forged"

---

Blazing Dragons hold against Canamn

---

The day came for the Blazing Dragon’s second debut in the Baptism of Fire — facing off against the team of the nation of Canamn early this morning, October 6th at precisely 08:00AM. After Yangchenia’s 2-0 victory against Rio De La Plata days prior, the hopes were high among many Blazing Dragons fans, who travelled all the way from Yangchenia to Farfadillis to view the match live.

Last match’s MVP Wu Hsaing led the team’s charge from their dugouts into the field, with both teams being in position three minutes before the match began. As the clock struck eight, the match begun — with forwards Wu Hsaing and Tsamchoe Thaye gaining early possession of the ball at the 5th minute and beginning the match with an attack into the Canamnite lines. However the goalkeeper of the Canamnite team managed to defend their goal from both of their attacks, with Canamn managing to steal the ball from midfielder Li Yunming on the 25th minute. The Blazing Dragons subsequently went on defence, midfielders pulling back to aid in the defence of the goal. One Canamnite player managed to get close to the Dragons’ goal, however goalkeeper Damdul Gyatso managed to defend the Yangini goal.

By the end of halftime, the ball once again fell into Yangini possession, after it was captured from the opposing team by midfielder Alessia Xade, who passed it around to Yesui Erkhet, before kicking it over to Wu Hsaing, by far the fastest player in the Dragons’ roster. The Canamnites once again went on defence, however Hsaing failed to score any goals after a ferocious defence by the Canamn team. During the last ten minutes of the game, the ball repeatedly changed possession every few seconds, as the field devolved into a chaotic mess especially around midfield, with both Canamnite and Yangini midfielders clashing for possession of the ball.

Both team’s defense however remained intact as the final few minutes of the match took place, and thus, the game ended 0-0 with no goals scored during the entirety of the match.

This defends Yangchenia’s placement on the bracket leaderboard at second place, with a total of 4 points. Tomorrow, the team is expected to face the current rank 1 of the group, the team of Shin-Zetsubo, after their victory against Rio De La Plata places them with 6 points, the highest in Group 19.

Aerial footage of the match between Yangchenia and Canamn, taken at the 82nd minute, with Canamnite and Yangini midfielders clashing in the center for possession of the ball

---

As the matchday ended, the sun began to set, the orange fingered dusk revealing itself, and the stadium slowly emptied of people, Hu Winwei ordered the team to stay behind for an important discussion. They had held through the second day, defending their spot on the leaderboard. But now comes the biggest challenge so far, facing the current reigning team of the bracket — Shin-Zetsubo.

All eleven of the main players, along with all of the Dragons’ backup players gathered near the center of the now desolate football field, as the stadium lights turned on to illuminate the grounds through the night.

“Congratulations out there.”, Winwei spoke. “You guys absolutely killed it even when the going got tough. I must say, it was hard to even keep track of what was happening during the final minutes.”

“Thanks coach”, replied Hsaing. “It was really a fun challenge trying to make do with the chaos unfolding on the field, especially among our midfielders.”, he said as he gestured to Mei and Yesui standing behind him, who both gave a silent nod.

Winwei: “You all know what’s happening tomorrow. Or the day after. Now we only have one match remaining, and it’s against Shin-Zetsubo. It’s what everybody’s waiting for. The Shin-Zetsubites are certainly a tough opponent, that’s for sure. But I have confidence that you can put up a fierce fight. That match with Canamn, all that uncertainty and chaos — it gave you crucial preparation to face them on the field in the future.”

Yesui: We’ll certainly. I was on midfield during that match and it basically felt like war. I guess my war instincts kicked in during that fight.

Winwei: About tomorrow. It’s probably good if we decide on a game plan. I watched Zetsubo’s matches previously. They like to weaponise chaos and use it to their advantage. Psychological warfare. But I know you have the skills to handle it. I didn’t choose you all randomly.

Winwei turned to face each player one by one.

You, Hsaing. Your entire life you’ve played this sport, whether it’s with friends or random people. You’ve honed your skills over years.

Thaye, your one of the greatest martial artists in this country. Despite not being my first choice, I saw strength, power and determination within you—exactly what I need for this game. The same goes for you Sasha. You’ve really learned from your master (Thaye).

Xi and Li, you are also both excellent football players, but above all, quick learners who can easily adapt to any circumstances.

Mei, Aleesia and Orlov, you are all swift and nimble fighters who can quickly overwhelm and opponent.

Shuba, you’re an intelligent man who can easily formulate strategies against a foe.

Gyatso, your reflexes are insane, perfect for a goalkeeper.

And lastly, Winwei turns to Yesui.

And finally you Yesui. Your mother is Zaraa Erkhet, if I’m not mistaken? Yangchenia’s greatest general during the Second World War.

Yesui nods.”Can affirm, coach. The Lady of the Crimson Tiger herself.”

Then you have with you the spirit of a warrior. A fine woman forged by the scars of war. And in this match, upon you will lay the greatest duty. To defend the motherland’s honor.

Winwei suddenly threw the ball at breakneck speed, mimicking that of the Zetsubite team. In an instant, Yesui reacted, quickly pivoting to place herself in the direction of the ball, before meeting it with such a powerful kick that the ball exploded.

As the dusk gave way to night, Winwei moved in front to face the team, preparing a rousing speech before the matchday.

“We may not have the numbers”, Winwei spoke. “But our strength does not lie in our numbers. It lies in our SKILL, and our determination to STAND UP WHEN KNOCKED DOWN, PUSH THROUGH WHEN FACED WITH AN OBSTACLE!. As first Empress Laifang put it. “We are not defined by the path we choose to walk, but by the courage to keep moving forward, even when the road is unseen.” One who is strong will ultimately lose to one who is weak, if the one who is strong gives up on every hurdle

One does not need dominance over his enemy to be considered victorious. In fact, the greatest victory you must win is the VICTORY OVER YOURSELF! For it is YOU — yesterday’s you, who is your greatest enemy. Every day that you wake up, you have one goal. Learn from him/her, analysize his/her mistakes, challenge him/her, overcome him/her, defeat him/her.

And by the end of the day, you must come back victorious.

“But above all”, he continued. “You must respect your enemy as you respect your comrades. For without an enemy there is no battle, and without a battle there is no victory. The existence of your enemy allows you a chance at victory.”

Do you understand?

The entire team salutes. “Yes coach!” o7

Then one last group huddle. “All hands in the center!”, Winwei said as he lit a wooden block in flames. One by one, everyone placed their hand on the burning wooden block. “This fire, this is the fire of our nation, the fire of our passion, the fire of our will and determination. In victory or defeat, let this flame continue burning on, for as long as the flame endures, the Dragon will endure the tests of fate as well.

1..2..3
“LET’S GO DRAGONS!”

Suddenly, the moon above them turned from a paleish white to a dark, crimson red. The Blood Moon has risen.

“The heavens are watching us.”, replied Winwei.

“Then we shall give them a spectacle even the Gods will want to see!”

And so I left them on their way. They can solve the rest of the problems they might face. The Dragons have already left their nest.

To tell them how to live is to prevent them from ever living.

---

Images are AI-generated.

Yangchenia Blazing Dragons is a trademark owned by Yangchenia Sporting Commission and Saichen Group. All rights reserved.

[United States Of Alpha]

After the match yesterday . . .

United States of Alpha 3, Shizu-uhhhhh Shizuna Rem Misurgi? 3
All I feel like saying is we both took the lead a lot. They scored one and then we scored two and they scored two then we snuck one in at the 86-minute mark and then it just went all "insert fighting soccer game." Anyways, I'm bored.

result: tie

TheOtherNoobus: Gahhh, what was that!? It was like friggin' Captain Tsubasa out there.

ABaconHair [in pain]: Yeah, I think there's a katana in my ass.

BadAtGames: Damn you Naruto creators!

JustBry4:) : Ok good job guys we tried our best against those nekos-

Resetcharacter27: WHY DID YOU JUST PLANT NEKO-SEEK IN MY HEAD WHY-HYYYY

JustBry4:) : SHUT UP OR I'LL TELL YOU TO LIVE UP TO YOUR NAME! Anyways, tomorrow we face the nation of uhhhhhhhhhhhhh Solarpanel- no - Solarampa. It appears they just popped up recently and "making the knockout round would be a huge accomplishment for them."

NotJustBry4: But we also just popped up. Wait, everything we say is written? Why do I exist? Just for the pleasure of some European losers? What's wrong with me?

JustBry4:) : You can have your existential crisis later Roblox me. As I was saying, they are an extremely defensive team and are going to be very hard to score against. This also means their offense is awful. So, offense, play extra hard if you want to go to the knockout round, and defense, still try as hard as you can.

ABaconHair: . . . wanna slash a watermelon with this. Oh, yeah, right, play as hard as we can and don't tie again blah blah blah.

JustBry4:) : Good good good. Ok everybody, team on 3.

ALL: ONE TWO THREE FOR THE PEOPLE AND THE FREEDOM!!!

Matchday 3: United States of Alpha vs. Solarampa: Battle for Group 9+10