WC 56 SNLVI RP Thread

[The Babbage Islands]

Bryn: Hello, I'm Bryndis Oskarsdóttir.
Scott: And I'm Scott Clinton. Welcome back to B.S. all the time!

Bryn: Well, that wasn't pretty.
Scott: No, it wasn't. The Bumblebees football team stumbled coming out of the gate in the World Cup 56 group stage, dropping a 2-0 match to Bostopia in Sorthern Northland.
Bryn: Nelson Compfield had both goals for the 18th-ranked Bostopians in a match that leaves the Bumblebees looking up at the whole group.
Scott: The other Group E contest was a 1-1 draw between Polar Islandstates and our next opponents, The Archregimancy.
Bryn: The first Compfield goal on a penalty set the tone for the entire match. Babbage defender Eva Glemnitz will have a match on the bench to consider her folly, not for the foul on Compfield that led to the penalty kick but for her short-tempered dissent that caught a red card.
Scott: Michelle Germaine had plenty to say to her on her way out, you could see that.
Bryn: Going down a goal and a player to one of the twenty best teams in the world -- the rest of the story almost wrote itself. Even shifting into full defensive mode didn't stop one more goal from getting posted, and Martin Waiteshaw was certainly equal to the task of stopping the few good attacks on the other end.
Scott: Add to that a late injury to centre-back Ronald Dennis, and it's clear that the back line will be patched together when we face the monks.
Bryn: Expect Jerry Kirkpatrick to take Dennis's centre-back spot and Katja Mira to line up opposite Caitlyn Ballantyne as wing-backs, with Nancy Svoboda sweeping.

Scott: So let's take stock. How bad is it?
Bryn: Well, this isn't quite a must-win match. But a loss eliminates us, and a draw probably has us pulling for the Bostopians to win again. We don't want to be in undisputed fourth place going into the last day.
Scott: It's been a long time since we were in this position. The only previous World Cup where we dropped our opener was the very first time we played a World Cup tournament game, that famous 1-0 loss to then world #1 Candelaria and Marquez.
Bryn: And the last time we lost any group stage game was in World Cup 50 to Sorthern Northland. That's a long time.

Scott: Let's break down what needs to happen to turn it around.
Bryn: First off, the central midfield needs to pick it up. Valentine's showing the stress of her dual role here and with the WSWC. Don't be surprised to see Karven paired with Skarp. Glemnitz doesn't have the opportunity to melt down with a bit better marking in the middle.
Scott: I'm not too worried about the back line even with two changes. Mira is having a breakout Cup season despite being Nancy Svoboda's official backup. She's been in the mix a lot, even getting minutes in midfield.
Bryn: I think Nancy's been the best player on the team this cycle, even with all of Dagrún's goals. She does everything a sweeper is asked to do, form the final line of defence and launch counterattacks.
Scott: This will be a test of Caitlyn Ballantyne's leadership. She's never had to pick up the team after a setback, at least not as captain. Of course, I'm sure she learned some things from Jerry when she was vice-captain.
Bryn: And Jerry Kirkpatrick has seen it all as his career fades into the distance. There's nobody on this team who wants a Cup more, or who has done more over the years to get us a shot.
Scott: Any changes up front?
Bryn: Style, maybe, not people. Olson looks fresh, Dagrún and Martin are still slashing and burning both wings. Claire van de Graaf had an ordinary game against Bostopia, but she'll rise to the occasion. Speed is our best weapon against The Archregimancy; it's worked before.
Scott: I think taking a few more risks early is on the table. You could see that we didn't like being forced on defence so much. Bostopia controlled the tempo, and we can't afford to see that repeated.
Bryn: We'll also need plenty of attacks to get something past Father Justinian the Four Times Blessed. Really, he must have Somebody Up There guiding him, there isn't a more . . . dramatic . . . keeper in world football.
Scott: Doesn't that kind of come with being monks? At least a little divine intervention?
Bryn: God and discipline, that sounds like a formula.

Bryn: It seems weird to say this, but what about Michelle Germaine?
Scott: What about her? She's built up a great team.
Bryn: If we flame out in the group stage people will want her head.
Scott: Only if they're crazy. Even if we lose and drop eight or ten spots in the rankings this is still a tremendous squad. And she'll always be the manager who got us to the top of the charts.

Scott: Catch us next time on B.S. all the time!

[Alasdair I Frosticus]

OOC - most of Puck's conversation is, of course directly lifted/adapted from his lines in A Midsummer's Night Dream.


Juan Tzimisces frowned to himself.

1-0 against Churchma simply wasn't good enough - especially when the only goal had come from an 80th minute penalty.

Particularly frustrating had been the performance of his central midfielder and playmaker Robin Goodfellow, who time after time had attempted to dribble his way through the Churchma defence, when a pass or a shot would have been the better option.

Tzimisces had had to try and sort it out personally, what with Simeone distracted by the upcoming Starblaydia fixture, and Ug-Ug refusing - for reasons unknown - to talk to the Puck.

It had been one of his more frustrating coaching conversations; he played back the recording, sighing to himself....

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"....which is why I want you to stop dribbling your way through the opposition."

"But fair Tzimisces,
I am that merry wanderer of the night.
I jest to Oberon and make him smile
When I a fat and bean-fed horse beguile,
Neighing in likeness of a filly foal:
So I must dribble with yon rounded sphere
As it gives all watchers much mirth and cheer."

"It's not mirth and cheer I'm looking for, Puck - it's a win. I'm a strong supporter of attractive, attacking football, but frankly, we could use less trickery, and more direct play."

"Pah; I put a girdle round about the pitch each forty five minutes"

"Your ability to keep running with the ball for a full half is admirable, but we need goals. The group might yet be decided by goal difference, and scraping 1-0 wins because you're too focused on entertainment and trickery isn't helping."

"Captain of our fairy band,
Queen Mab is not here at hand;
And so opponents, fooled by me,
Pleading for the ball to see.
Never know where they should be.
Lord, what fools these mortals be!"

"Humiliating the opposition is not our primary goal, dammit! Entertainment, yes. Attacking, yes. Victory, yes. 80 minutes of my star central midfielder weaving his way through the opposition midfield and defence in the name of humiliating mortals and an egotistical assumption that this counts as entertainment? No."

"That every Puck should take his own,
In your World Cup shall be shown:
Jack shall have Jill;
Nought shall go ill;
The Puck shall have the ball again, and all shall be well"

"I think you're being deliberately obtuse. I'm not beyond benching you and fielding myself, Simeone or Ug-Ug in your spot if need be, you know."

"If this shadow has offended,
Think but this, and all is mended;
Tzime, do not reprimand
If you pardon, I will mend:
And, as I am an honest Puck,
If we have unearned luck
Now to 'scape your serpent's tongue,
We will make amends ere long;
Else the Puck a liar call;
So, I shall not hog the ball.
Give me your hands, if we be friends,
And Robin shall restore amends."

"Much better. Let's just hope you actually apply that in practice. Kazzoria are no mugs, you know; Simeone scouted them against Starblaydia, and after that 3-0 win, we can't afford to take them lightly."

[Bears Armed]

Marra SunDaughter is sitting in the hotel lounge, reading a newspaper, when goalie Marra o Mara enters the room and walks across to chat with her.

"Something interesting, there, older namesake?"

"Just re-reading the speech with which Sermharn Lightning opened the International Scouting Jamboree that's currently in progress back at Wimbley, younger namesake."

"Again?"

"Again. It's a good speech, by my reckoning, and even if I can't actually find anything in it that might be useable to help inspire you lot before a match... hwell... I was a Scout myself you know, ended up as a Patrol Leader and a Tiger Scout in fact, back in the day..."

"I didn't realise that they already had Scouts back in the Stone Age."

"Watch it, cub! I'm not that old... and not so old that I couldn't still give you a run for your money on the football pitch, neither! You girls may have won our first match here, but after all that was the one that we expected to be the easiest... 'Puffins' down, ayyuh, but now both the 'Sea Dragons' and the 'Dragons' — neither of whom are likely to be push-overs — to go: Come on outside, and I'll test you with some penalty kicks while the others are still finishing their breakfasts..."


She places the newspaper on a nearby table, with the page bearing the speech about which she'd been talking face-up _

“Hrarroom! greetings, and welcome!
“Benvenny, wilkommen, skarlh!, bienvenue, borech-habo, dobrodoslirrh!
“Aldoer, [[Ohn greeting]], wassail, ulwamkelo, fáilte, bienvenida, boas-vindas, добро пожаловать, bonvenon, bro-hoof, velkommen, välkomna…
“Hrarroom, greetings, and — whatever the appropriate term might be in your own native language — welcome, to this International Scouting Jamboree!.”

“This is the first ever gathering of Scouts from across the worlds on any such a scale to be held here in Bears Armed, but I hope and confidently expect that it will not be the last. As you will all know, the special event that prompted us-your-hosts to volunteer our campsite for this purpose is a verrry important incident from the history of Scouting in this nation, as this year marks the three-eightSquareds’th anniversary of the Siege of Marrfehk-Ing during which the Ursine garrison’s commander Rubert Barrdenn-Pale — who went on to become our first ‘Chief Scout’ less than an octade afterwards — began work on his book ‘Scouting for Cubs’ which was the main inspiration for our entire movement… but of course there are many other anniversaries of significance to commemorate too, both from our history and from the histories of Scouting in you-our-guests’ homelands — and maybeso in other nations, too — as well.”

“Although we come from many different lands and differing cultures, and even from a number of separate species, we are all gathered here today in the name of one single cause… the cause of International Scouting. Some of our organisations trace their origins, as I have just mentioned, to the work of Rubert Barrden-Pale; others have their roots in the teachings of a Human by the name Robert Baden-Powell, who was struck by a verrry similar inspiration while commanding a besieged garrison in a town called ‘Mafeking’ — the spark possibly drawn to him by that close similarity in both names and circumstances — a few octades later on and on a different Earth altogether; and yet others have distinct traditions of their own, such as that of the ‘Dragon Scouts’who are now based in the land of Andossa Se Mitrin Vega but whose history goes back beyond the foundation of that nation to a date that was more than an eightCubed of years before Lord Barrden-Pale had even been born… Nevertheless, although thanks to the wondrousness of the created Multiverse our pasts differ so much, we have been able to assemble here for this week to celebrate a set of principles in which we all share: Fellowship, respect for whatever Higher Power or Powers it is to Whom we may ascribe the creation of our worlds and the ultimate guidance of our immortal souls, loyalty to our own homelands but yet without any hatred of foreigners, integrity, honesty, helpfulness to those in need, courage, explorativeness, good sportspersonship, and healthy exercise. Like a mighty river that has been formed by the junction of numerous streams we are united, here to learn about each other and from each other, progressing onwards to the benefit not only of ourselves but of those others amongst whom we live as well. And so, again, I say this to you-all_”
“Hrarroom! Greetings! WELCOME!”

[Queer Poco el Mono Ara]

“So how did they take it?”

They were devastated, the apple of their eye had been prematurely taken from them, the brilliant Julie Gold, head cheerlead and C- student. All I could do was shrug.

“Come on Dickie, how was it?” We had been to visit the Gold’s as a family and I sat there uncomfortably as my mum comforted Julie’s and our fathers disappeared into the back garden where they secretly smoked out of view of the women. Arthur had been my best friend since we were 7 and had called me Dick, Dickie, Dicko or some derivative ever since we discovered Dick was short for Richard. Arthur was openly gay and had been ever since an after school incident involving a detention and geography teacher Mr. Ruettiger.

I shrugged again, Arthur repeated the action with a caricature blank expression right back at me.

“Well how do you feel?” he asked, gently squeezing my hand. “You loved her for years.”

“Numb.” I supposed. I did feel numb. I’d wandered round to the Gold’s house, sat there in complete silence, wandered back home and called Arthur and all of that had happened in a blur and in the time it took him to drag his ass round to mine I’d sat on my bed blankly staring at the wall.

“I thought you’d be pleased?”

My stomach twinged. It was a peculiar thing to say to somebody. Especially somebody in my position. A position which I’ll explain, all in due time.

“That’s unfair Arthur.” It was unfair. “I never wanted her to die.”

“That’s not what you said.”

“People say stuff when they’re angry.”

-----

“It’s over” she said as we sat on the bleachers, their stark white paint work reflecting every beam of sun light that touched them. “You’re just getting a little” she paused and looked at my face, taking in the lip ring, eyebrow piercing and stretched earlobe. “Weird.” She finished, hopping to her feet. Her tiny pleated skirt billowed in the breeze and wafted goodbye as she walked away. I sat there with my head in my hands. It would be the first time I had my heart broken, but I’m fairly sure it wouldn’t be the last.

She was right, I was the only kid in school who looked like this, but I wasn’t a conformist and that’s what she had always liked about me, I was different to all the other clones in school, listening to their MTV top 40’s and buying their clothes in all the high street stores and aspiring to be absolutely nothing.

Two weeks later I found out she’d be fucking a guy on the swim team. Well fuck her and his big dick.

[Valanora]

"See, see what I mean! Foreigners, they are good for nothing and will be the destruction of all that we old dear."

"You can't paint them all with a single paintbrush just because there is a few bad apples."

"A few bad apples? Bah, how many times do we hear of them warring among themselves, of their wanton slaughter and violence. Too often, much too often."

"Were we so different when our race was younger?"

"No, no were not, but we not bring our problems to others as they have done. They have come here when we opened our arms in friendship and prosperity, in an event meant to celebrate that unity, and they disturb that peace and tranquility for their want of destruction."

"That incident has been taken care of. No one was seriously injured."

"Bah, those poor officers had their faces and hands burned."

"Burns heal in time, sooner still if some magics are used."

"Bah your magic, we would not need it if these hooligans were not allowed in. Does the government do anything about it? No, they placate the public and the foreign dignitaries. Bah, I remember when Tobias stood for what was right and did not allow hooligans into our great nation. Jeruselemites still aren't allow to enter the country, bah."

"The man acted alone, or so he says. And he is being sent to a fate worse than death from what my brother told me. The Seven Hells await him."

"And bah to the Seven Hells, now there will be an international incident."

"Weren't you just saying we should not be placating the foreigners?"

"No I did not say such a thing. Open up your ears lass!"

"I am no mere child, I have lived this life for twenty thousand and more years now."

"You are still a child, bah."

"Oh uncle."

"And I suppose they will have the Dark Bows snatch the man so word doesn't get out. Some sort of cover story about being held here and then it will be forgotten. Bah."

"It is none of our concern."

"Bah bah bah."

[Pasarga]

Question: So, what are our chances now?

Answer: Err, not so great if I am being totally honest. The Pocoans are higher ranked than us, so a victory against them was always going to be a high thing to ask for, but the possibility of snatching a draw from them had not been out of the question. We've managed to upset better teams than them in the past and it was hoped that maybe it could have been done now. Yet to have lost and lost the way we did, it really is damaging to the team's spirit and morale. Perhaps the defeat in the friendly with Cosumar should have prepared us for the possibility of a loss, but having fielded a mixed team in that match, it was thought to have been a blip in the radar. Perhaps not so.

~~~~~

Question: What changes, if any, should we expect to see in the upcoming match? Do you think travel has anything to do with it?

Answer: Well, I know the first reaction for many after a thrashing like that is to see some changes being made to either the formation or the starting eleven. I however do not think that is a wise course of action and we should not expect to see any changes. This same line up and formation brought the nation its best ever qualifying campaign and one bad match, albeit in the biggest of circumstances, should not be enough to completely overhaul the system that had been working. As for travel being a factor, that is completely bogus, considering three of the nations are from Rushmore.

~~~~~

Question: If the team fails to register a point and ultimately does not do anything resembling well here in Valanora, will there be a managerial change?

Answer: I sincerely hope not, since I am the manager! But if we were to not even have a draw to our name after the three matches here, well it would be quite the disappointment. Under those circumstances, I may be sacked or I may even resign. Yet I do not believe such will be the case, we had one poor match but I'll have the lads and ladies ready for the remaining two games. We will leave everything out there on the field and if we come up short, then we come up short and I will take the full responsibility for that.

[Mytannion]

написана для людей, написанный людей
Napisana dlya lyudyeĭ , Napisannyĭ lyudyeĭ.
Written for the People, by the People.

'Pasarga blames travel. Travel is not involved.'

by Vladimir Hyralov

A Pasargan citizen asked a reporter/journalist/pundit/something like this, if travel could be a possible problem in the group play of the World Cup. However, travel is not involved as all the teams in our group are located in the Elven nation, Valanora. As are all the teams in groups A-D, and all the teams in the groups E-H are located in Sorthern Northland. The people who did the draw for the World Cup group stage were from there, they seemingly took the piss out of us nearly constantly. Well, we say the people doing the draw - we mean the people doing the draw commentary. Got to be accurate in this job, you see.

Anyway, the pundit person said that travel should not be a factor, and of course it shouldn't. There is no travel involved, as we're fully located in Valanora. The team, all our games are located there - our teams are located there, training is done there - pretty much everything. That is the idea of hosting the tournament hosts, no? Anyway, the Pasarga support seemingly forgot that there would be no travel.

Also, on the hooligan situation - apparently the person who threw the fireworks at the police officers involved, was Mika Lekkonen, a known hooligan from Thessia. He will not be extradited back here, but instead is facing some form of punishment there - which we feel is a little harsh, but we'll wait and see what happens. The police officers involved ended up with mild burns, but thanks to the elven magic - these aren't so bad. Or.. something like that. Valanora seems fairly isolationist, we can't get any news out of there about the punishment, or the person who was involved from our nation.

The question that will have to be asked is, if he was a known hooligan - why was he allowed to travel to such a high-profile game? Unless someone else bought him a ticket, in their name and then someone else also bought him airplane tickets etc. But if it was known that he was travelling, which we do not know if they did yet, then surely the authorities should have forewarned the Vanorian authorities about this hooligan going there?

We don't know yet, but as always - more news when we get it.

[Virabia]

The Vonghurst Star
Virabi All Time Roster I: Beginnings

With the team's first berth in the World Cup also comes the beginning of a series that will run until Virabia bows out of the international football world. That is, the All Time team. Granted, this article was meant to be published before we actually played our first match but, there aren't many changes and we're lazy. So with out further hesitation, here it is. The best eleven players to ever suit up in a Nat's uniform. For the sake of this article, we originally wanted to use the present formation but we found a 4-4-2 made more sense. Anyways, enjoy a look back on the best players to be part of the first few generations of Virabi football.

GOALKEEPER:

Inacayal Mojica (22 Caps): In recent years, there is little doubt that the world has seen a better keeper than Inacayal Mojica. While he may have been underrated abroad, at home there is almost no doubt as to the mastery he had in goal. During his long tenure at Portsham City, he was thought to be the main reason the team did so well. Often he'd have a weak defence in front of him and if it weren't for his presence in the goal the team would have never done as well as they did. Unfortunately, his career fell short because of things outside of his control. Much of what would be his career happened during the hiatus and war and while he peaked at age 38, many are left to wonder what heights he would have reached had the hiatus not happened. Another thing that worked against him was his issues with depression that lead him to suddenly retire from the sport mid-way through World Cup 55 and become one of the first to settle on Soroya. There he was put into a coma for 6 months after he was trapped in a landslide. After awakening he led a new life as skipper of a boat that would patrol the island's perimeter in the summer to stop whalers. Recently, at the urging of friend and former Nat Choam Nomsky, he returned to football to be the starting keeper for the all amateur side Whale Devils who are currently in v.league.I, something which he said has helped him rediscover his love for the sport.

DEFENDERS:

Jeff Parker (25 Caps): When compiling a list of great Virabi footballers, one cannot leave out the Zen-Master, Jeff Parker. While his playing days were exclusively during the nation's first two qualifying campaigns, he nonetheless makes this list. During his days on the pitch he showed him self to be a skilled footballer and even though he was up there in age, that didn't seem to stop him from being a top member of the team's defensive schemes. Another reason that he is a front runner on this list is the attitude he brought to the game. Parker is one of the reported community of only 100 Buddhists to reside in Virabia and he adopted a good many of the religion's teachings to football.

Jack Freeman (25 Caps/1 Goal): While only 23, Jack Freeman has become one of the leaders and biggest faces of the new generation of Virabi football, a generation which on the whole is somewhat of a rejection of what previous generations of footballers held sacred. On the whole, the team is younger, faster, flowier and with a more attacking focus than ever before and one of the large parts of the new style is the rather mobile Jack Freeman. One thing that has stayed rather constant over the generations is the country's fondness for amateur sport. Something which Jack Freeman exemplifies rather well. In his whole life, he has never played a minute of paid football and Freeman says he'd like to keep it that way for as long as he can. To make ends meet, outside of football Freeman is a rather popular Jazz musician and thus misses a fair share of club games because of other obligations.

Joe Green (5 Caps): Wait, is this a best of edition? You may be asking as you read this, thinking you'd see older names. Yes, is our reply. It is and the fact that most of those on the all time roster are still active shows how far the sport has progressed. With the new generation touted as perhaps being better than some of the old Tropaian footballers, it's hard to exclude many of the young faces from this list and as such, Vonghurst Reds defender Joe Green is also on this list. While he only had 5 caps going into this World Cup, he's already shown his worth many times over for his club, the Reds, which in recent years become one of the better clubs in Virabia. For Green, this World Cup cycle has been no different as he put on a display of aggressive football that has lived up to his nickname of 'Mean' Joe Green.

Henry Burns (40 Caps): While they may now be a third division side, it wasn't all too long ago that Laufston Town was the single best team in Virabia. Others feared to play the all amateur side from a small town in Segycium and one of the reasons for that was their excellent defence who was led by none other than Henry Burns. Unfortunately, as the team aged, they began to fall apart and are, as we said, now just another one of the 143 football teams from Virabia. Still, it is unlikely that we will ever forget the little team that could and their captain, Henry Burns.

(NOTE: All Caps Pre WC56)

(Midfielders and attackers in the next edition )

[Sorthern Northland]

The Ballard of Yasser El-Borolossy

Through the air, arcing gaily,
Met by a Costly foot, on end of gliding leg,
Into the goal, nestled as an egg,
Thomas Nolan left gawping like a wally.

4-0 now, three points bagged in tow,
Fans celebrating wildly, the night is young,
No shots from Sarzoclava, no need for me to flung,
A clean sheet perhaps, in goal little fun though.

To Royal Khaldoon I shall move,
This match give me plenty of time,
For me to wonder, there is there any lime,
More action there perhaps, able to get into groove.

Four goals, A fine win for us it is indeed,
But a goalkeeper it is I am, no action at this end,
Saves I crave, instead roses to I could tend,
Is my desire for action merely greed?

Sarzoclava now have the ball, forward they come,
Dying minutes it may be, but at last a shot maybe,
Carletta Ryan lashes wide, more worry could be done by a baby,
Collect the ball for goal-kick, photographer takes a swig of rum.

Crunch!
A trip and that the sound as his camera breaks,
Shouldn't have left it in way, them's the shakes,
Crunch!

Now my wrist, it aches,
For me World Cup is over,
No more can a goalkeeper cover,
Not when his wrist he breaks.

----

Wasn't that a lovely RP? Nice enough to prelude a cutoff I think.

Here they are the scores, Presented they aren't on doors.

[Pays de Horreur]

“So tell us a story about while you’ve been with the national team.” The reporter looked at the three players assembled on the couch David Arnoux, Vincent Lebouef and David Ginola. The three quietly conferred amongst themselves then Ginola cleared his throat.

“Okay, there was this one time we were training back home, it was before the Bettia game and we were all taking a jog around the training ground. At this particular point there’s a bridge yeah, and as I was going over it, quite a bit before everyone else this frigging troll jumped out.”

There was a sudden gasp as the troll problem in Pays de Horreur had been taken care of. Or at least they were no longer allowed to live under bridges and had to live in an actual abode, as of the Troll Housing Act 1937.

“So yeah, this troll jumps out while I’m coming over the bridge and he’s all “I’m gonna eat your bones.” So thinking on my feet I said, “if you don’t eat me, there’s a bigger footballer on his way shortly and surely you would rather eat a muscular defender rather than a slender midfielder.” So the troll said, “Okay, I guess you’ve got a point” and let me go jogging on past.”

“Right, so after David went jogging past I came along and this stupid troll was still there. And he said “I’m gonna eat you bones.” I laughed ‘cos I’m not as daft as a troll and said “Whoa, hang on fella, there’s a great big lad jogging behind me, if you hang on till he gets here you’ll have enough to eat for the next fortnight.” The greedy troll fell for it and let me right past.”

Arnaux laughed. “Then I came along and once again it was all “I’m gonna eat you bones etcetera” so I just punched it in the mouth and kept jogging.”

[Krytenia]

Eluney Bin
By Rami Niblick in Mar Sara, Valanora

IT was a masterclass. A great show of crisp passing, excellent teamwork, and ruthless efficiency in front of goal - with only one drawback. Krytenia were on the receiving end, as they picked up a big fat F in their Group A test against the hosts. Valanora were simply too strong for an Aces side still, after all this time, trying to find their feet on the big stage, and wound up comfortable four-nil winners.

The Vanorians were on the front foot from the offing, and Krytenia's three-man defence was no match for the Marauders'...marauding front line. Allandren Fresco should have scored inside three minutes, hitting the post with a fierce drive, but it was only a matter of time before the men in chocolate and orange folded - and their opponents took full advantage, Espy va Drake thumping one past a helpless Alan Keys.

The goal, and Valanora's domination of play in the attacking third, prompted Francisco Vázquez García to switch to a conventional System Munitis, swapping out Rober Allen for Bryan Valissa, but it made little difference. The hosts were simply too good for the atrocious Aces, and Lucas Hearts duly scored a second, set up magnificently by Laborious Hawk.

Two-nil at the break, and it was more of the same in the second half. Hawk, va Drake, and Faeron Soldarian dominated their counterparts in midfield, and a third was sure to come: in the end, it came through a penalty that saw Keys given his marching orders for upending Hearts. One substitution later - the lonely figure of Michael Anderson making way for Steven Orsini - and Fresco was the man slotting it home, Orsini's first touch being to pick the ball out of the net.

At this point, Krytenia abandoned all hope of salvaging a point, and put all hands to rearguard action. It didn't do any good. Four minutes from time, there was Fresco again, jumping above his marker from a corner to head home number four - aided by an absolute howler of a fumble by Orsini.

So, looking forward, what to we have? On the plus side, Valladares and Sarrbia drew, making qualification a simple case of beating Sarrbia; on the other, we have one goalie suspended, one a liability, and Ray Cordoba having never played an international match. Onward?

VALANORA - 4
va Drake 21
Hearts 30
Fresco 53 pen, 86

KRYTENIA - 0
no scorers

[North Chicanan]

North Chicanan Daily Rabbler
Going In with Still Very Low Expectations

Wait, What? Part 2: First Win In World Cup History Against #15
Arica Riddler, Capri, Valanari

Of course this would happen to the Hoops.

Hoops Schedule

MD01 W 3-1 Cosumar (at Free State Arena, Provincetown)
MD02 L 2-0 Italian Maifias
MD03 W 3-0 Florinthus (at Cold Harbor Stadium, Port Augustine)
MD04 T 1-1 Carpathia and Ruthenia
MD05 W 3-0 Hockey Canada (at National Square, Southampton)
MD06 W 2-0 Oiseaui
MD07 W 3-1 Pretty Awesome Persons (at Hard Rock Arena, St. John's)
MD08 W 1-0 Cosumar
MD09 T 3-3 Italian Maifias (at Kodiak Memorial Park, Douala)
MD10 W 2-1 Florinthus
MD11 W 1-0 Carpathia and Ruthenia (at Ital Palace, Bishop)
MD12 W 2-1 Hockey Canada
MD13 W 2-1 Oiseaui (Highlands Park, Victoria City)
MD14 L 1-0 Pretty Awesome Persons
Playoffs W 4-0 Erathore (@ Duran Palace, Valanari)
GD01 L 2-1  Mytannion (@ Hatire Memorial, Capri, Valanari)
GD02 W 2-1 Queer Poco el Mono Ara (@ The Battleground, Raynor City, Valanari)
GD03 vs Pasarga (@ Castle de Mot, Wexax, Valanari)

Under basic logic, the Northerners should be preparing for a match based on pride against Pasarga, in hopes of salvaging at least a point in our nations debut/return/whatever to the World Cup. Instead, some inspired play by the Hoops defense and an amazing bicycle kick by Paul Owen sees the Hoops still alive in Group D with a 2-1 victory over group favorites Queer Poco el Mono Ara in Raynor City tonight.

Even the four thousand Hoops fans, bedecked in orange and waving the newly-appointed Northern flag in the crowd, seemed stunned by the play of the team who two days ago struggled against a Mytannion side in terms of defense. Instead, Yanke DeMit kept the QPeMA forwards busy all night, blocking six shots during the second half and getting help from his defenders on another four during the win.

Owen opened the scoring off a corner kick from Phoenix Longstreet in the 7th minute, nailing the kick just above keeper Davi da Guia. After seeing Vijay Kandakram score on the defense during the first half, James Pratt broke the tie in the 50th minute off a pass from a rather quiet Daniel Haussen. From that point forward, the vocal Hoops fans cheered their team on as the side looked to press the advantage and gain a clear victory while the defense worked furiously to prevent the tie. In the end the Hoops were able to cling to the one goal victory and celebrated with their traveling hoard for a few minutes while the QPeMA players looked as stunned as many in the Hoops section looked towards the win.

"Every win is special," Josiah Rhys-Williams said after the match, "but this might take the cake. This team has been building since the win against Newmanistan during the Cup of Nations last year and to snatch a win against such an amazing team, one that everyone had going far in the contest, it's truly a dream come true." Rhys-Williams was then soaked by Owen and Xavi Aox with a small keg of water as the team reveled in a breakthrough victory for the Hoops and for North Chicanan.

The win also helps Mytannion, as they now lead the group thanks to their win over Pasarga. The Northerners can still make a surprise Sweet 16 run with a win over Pasarga in the final match of group play over in Wexax but will need a smidgen of help.

Team                        P  W D  L For Ag +/- Pts
 1 Mytannion                   2  2 0  0  4  2  +2  6
 2 Queer Poco el Mono Ara      2  1 0  1  5  3  +2  3
 3 North Chicanan              2  1 0  1  3  3  +0  3
 4 Pasarga                     2  0 0  2  2  6  -4  0

Mytannion wins group with:
* a win or tie over Queer Poco el Mono Ara

Mytannion advances to the Round of 16 with:
* a win or tie over Queer Poco el Mono Ara OR
* a loss to QPeMA AND a North Chicanan loss or tie OR
* a loss to QPeMA AND a North Chicanan win if both matches result in a 1-0 decision for QPeMA and NC (due to head-to-head)
-----------------------
Queer Poco el Mono Ara advances to the Round of 16 with:
* a win or tie over Mytannion AND a North Chicanan tie OR
* a North Chicanan loss

Queer Poco el Mono Ara wins group with:
* a win over Mytannion...as long as North Chicanan does not catch QPeMA on goal differential
-----------------------
North Chicanan advances to the Round of 16 with:
* a win or tie over Pasarga AND a Queer Poco el Mono Ara loss
* a loss to Pasarga IF QPeMA looses by more than NC to cause a 2-goal shift in GD

North Chicanan wins group with:
* a win over Pasarga a Mytannion loss that puts NC at least two goals ahead of QPeMA in GD
* so...no, probably not.
-------------------------
Pasarga can advance to the Round of 16 with:
* a win over North Chicanan AND a win by Mytannion over Queer Poco el Mono Ara IF win is by 6 goals

We think that's right. Anyways, a win in the final matchup could get us in. But so could a tie if Mytannion is able to pull off the upset on their regional neighbors. But for many back in St. John's and Provincetown and throughout the islands, the win against Queer Poco el Mono Ara is their World Cup wrapped into one.

But, as Owen said after the match, "we still have one left and we so want there to be one after that."

The Hoops rest up for the make-or-break day against Pasarga in two days time. City1 and 1.1 start coverage at 6pm with Telesport and CityDane joining at 7pm, matchtime set for 7:45 NCT.

[Cosumar]

The Cosumarite Courier
Cosumar's #1 Sports News Source

Victory over ASMV has Dragons setting sights for next round

BENINGRAD, SORTHERN NORTHLAND - Two decades ago, the very first Cosumar Dragons football team took to the World Cup stage. Back then, the Dragons were less like mighty beasts and more like helpless geckos - fodder for the high-ranked teams they looked up to. But as all creatures do, these helpless geckos evolved over time. Over time Cosumarite football developed into a significant threat in the World Cup and now, the Dragons find themselves higher ranked than the very teams that they once looked up to in awe not so long ago. One of those teams is the Sea Dragons of Andossa Se Mitrin Vega.

The Sea Dragons are a team that has earned Cosumar's respect through and through. In World Cups past, the Sea Dragons had preyed upon their less experienced reptilian counterparts in friendly matches and whatnot. In World Cup 56, however, the tables have turned. After a nearly perfect qualifying run in World Cup 55, Cosumar is now the higher ranked of the two squads.

At #16, Cosumar captured first place in Group 10 by narrowly beating out an ambitious team from North Chicanan. At #21, Andossa Se Mitrin Vega placed 2nd in their group, but managed to sneak into the World Cup by defeating Tretskivucia in a play-in match. When hosts Valanora and Sorthern Northland announced that Cosumar and Andossa Se Mitrin Vega would be pitted against each other in Group G of the World Cup Proper, most were excited by this intriguing matchup.

"Playing a team like Andossa Se Mitrin Vega in the World Cup Proper is a great opportunity for us as a team" Defender Thomas Hair said. "The Sea Dragons are a widely respected side worldwide, and a team that many feel we are ranked ahead of unjustly. This is a chance to prove to the world that we belong in the top 16, and a chance to prove it to ourselves to. A win over ASMV would show us just how far this team has come - I can still remember the days when those Sea Dragons would eat our team for lunch."

Cosumar already has one near-garaunteed loss in Group G (vs. #5 Bears Armed on MD3), so it was imperative that they defeat Andossa Se Mitrin Vega to gain the upper hand in the battle for 2nd place in the group. Luckily, the Dragons were able to overcome a hostile crowd of 50,000 at Ash Farm in Beningrad and come away with a hard-earned 1-0 victory over ASMV. Cosumar's striker Jakk Klyde received the ball near the goal and managed to bypass Kymykera Wu’eres with some impressive feinting & juking. Seizing the golden opportunity, Klyde then chipped the ball into the upper left corner for the only score of the game in the 19th minute.

For the remainder of regulation Cosumar sought to expand their lead, and Andossa Se Mitrin Vega sought to equalize it. However, staunch defensive play and poor execution near the goal from both sides prevented either team from capitalizing on the few opportunities they were given after the 19th minute. From a fan's point of view it was a very boring game. But for the Dragons, it was all they could've hope for. They slew the Sea Dragons, toppled a team they could once only dream of defeating. Suddenly, the Dragons felt a sensation new to them: the realization that advancing to the Round of 16 was well within their reach.

"This is our third time advancing the World Cup Proper. But THIS time, we're not going to be satisfied with" long-time striker Rikki Varshney said. "We want to go farther than any Dragons squad has - to the knockout rounds and possibily beyond. And for the first time in my career, it's a realistic goal for us. We will likely 2-0 going up against Bears Armed. The opportunity to do great things is staring us in the face, all we have to do is grab it and let destinty take us where it will."

Now, all that stands in Cosumar's way is Chetkosk - the first team in 40 years to advance to the World Cup on their first try. A sub 200 ranked team during Qualifying, Chetkosk is as easy of a match the Dragons could have hoped for in this stage of the tourney. If Varshney, Rincon and company can take care of business against Chetkosk they would improve to a 2-0 record in Group G. And with a 2-0 record with only one game remaining, the Dragons would almost certainly advance to the Round of 16 for the first time.

The Dragons should be able to send Chetkosk packing with a quick breath of fire, but Bears Armed awaits them at Ash Farm for their final match of Group Stage. Cosumar has never played a team of Ursine opponents before, let alone a top-5 ranked one. Bears Armed will likely slay the Dragons, making it all the more important for the Dragons to defeat Chetkosk. A 2-1 record will usually advance a team. A 1-2 record usually won't.


Thank You for reading The Cosumarite Courier,

Alphus Sizemore
Staff Writer


Cosumar's World Cup 56 Journey
Pre-Qualifying Friendly: Qazox 0-1 Cosumar
Pre-Qualifying Friendly: Churchma 1-1 Cosumar
Matchday 1: North Chicanan 3-1 Cosumar
Matchday 2: Cosumar 4-1 Florinthus
Matchday 3: Cosumar 3-0 Hockey Canada
Matchday 4: Pretty Awesome Persons 0-4 Cosumar
Matchday 5: Italian Maifias 1-2 Cosumar
Matchday 6: Cosumar 2-1 Carpathia and Ruthenia
Matchday 7: Cosumar 4-3 Oiseaui
Mid-Qualifying Friendly: Osarius 2-2 Cosumar
Mid-Qualifying Friendly: Civil Citizenry 2-0 Cosumar
Matchday 8: Cosumar 0-1 North Chicanan
Matchday 9: Cosumar 3-0 Florinthus
Matchday 10: Hockey Cananda 1-1 Cosumar
Matchday 11: Cosumar 2-0 Pretty Awesome Persons
Matchday 12: Cosumar 4-0 Italian Maifias
Matchday 13: Carpathia and Ruthenia 2-3 Cosumar
Matchday 14: Cosumar 6-0 Oiseaui
Post-Qualifying Friendly: Khytenna 3-1 Cosumar
Post-Qualifying Friendly: Cosumar 3-1 Pasarga
WC MATCH 1: Cosumar 1-0 Andossa Se Mitrin Vega
WC MATCH 2: Cosumar - Chetkosk
WC MATCH 3: Bears Armed - Cosumar

Blue: Draw
Green: Victory
Red: Defeat

[Valanora]

Once there was an elf. And he had a father. The father decided to have a jolly ol time and the elf did not cut him off from this fun.

So he waited till the father was done.

[Qazox]

QWC56 I The reboot Episode 3

Unlike their parent nation, master nation, whatever you call a colony; Qazox took the early lead and continued the full-court press, to borrow a basketball term, and held a 3-0 lead at the half. While Sarzoclava did score, we don't know how, as they are one of those teams who don't wear numbers or names on their jerseys. We only know they scored in the 63rd minute to make it 3-1.

Iona Laughlin, who'd been held scoreless for the better part of the last 3 games, manged to get the first ball past the Sarzoclavian keeper in the 24th minute. Lonnie Dobbs, whose penultimate game might have been tonight, scored in the 39th to make it 2-0. Qazox capped the first half outburst with a goal from Dwight Lynn in the 43rd minute of play.

After the lead was cut to 3-1, Coach Holtz wasted little time sending in Sean Barr for Dobbs, who was visibly limping after missing a tackle that lead to the goal. Barr would assist Laughlin on her 2nd goal on the day, in the 78th minute, making it 4-1.

Now that leads us to the co-hosts, Sorthern Northland. An emphatic 5-1 thrashing of Delaclava has opened the door for Qazox a bit. A win would likely see Qazox though on better goal differential than Delaclava, but seeing as they are playing their colony, one might assume that Sarzoclava would play dead for their colonial masters. But then again, Sarzoclava might want to show-up their coloinal masters, and with a win by 3 or more goals and having Qazox lose by 6 or more toSN, Sarzoclava would advance, so that idea of them laying down can be dissmissed. Sorthern Northland have all but locked up the group, barring 3+ goal win by Qazox. A draw would see the co-hosts through, and then only a Delacalva-Sarzoclava draw or a Sarzoclava win would see Qazox through, in that case.

Today's Three Big Questions: Are for you the readers of this column as mentioned two columns ago. These are just the second three of 6 questions we are asking of you the Qazox football fans, so read Tuesday's column to get the other 3 questions. The results of these 3 and Tuesday's 3 questions will be posted on Saturday's column.

#4- Best Qazoxian stadium to watch a match, of those used to host qualifiers since World Cup 52?
a- Qazian Memorial Stadium II, Qazox City.
b- Estadia Pika II, Pika City.
c- Ganja Vodka Stadium, Fromburg.
d- Rockport Stadium, Rockport.
e- SaxerDome (II), SaxerVilla.
f- New Bruxen Hotel & Casino Field, New Bruxen.

#5- Which of the following teams are Qazox' true World Cup rivals?
a- Jeruselem
b- Tynelia
c- Sarzonia
d- Cafundeu
e- Taeshan
f- Other

#6- Best Moment of Qazoxian Football History?
a- The 1-0 win over Atheistic Right in Qazox' first ever match at Baptism of Fire XIV.
b- The 2-0 win vs. Dorian and Sonya, Qazox' first ever World Cup qualifying win during World Cup XXVII qualifying.
c- The 2-0 win at Starblaydia during World Cup XXXI qualifying.
d- The 1-0 win vs. Nikea that clinched Qazox' first World Cup Berth, during World Cup XXXI qualifying.
e- The 10-0 win vs. Asseagai Developments, the biggest margin of victory in team history.
f- The 3-2 win over Wentland at World Cup 33, Qazox' first ever World Cup win.
g- The 3-0 win over Septentrionia that marked Qazox' 300th win.
h- Other.

Readers can vote either at QSPN.com/3Q or go to twitcher.com/#3QSPN to answer. Read Saturday's column to get the results of these 6 questions, and some comments from our editors to thier choices to these questions.

[Jeruselem]

Ask a Dallas

Today Princess Helena Troi Dallas is taking questions. This means there might be bad language and swearing abounds.
...


Question 1: Who is Princess Kaz? Is she a Dallas?

Answer: Princess Kaz is a porn star and not a Princess. Actually I do know her because she was in same school classes as my daughter Sofia and she knows Sofia. Obviously your friends watch porn and thought you do. She's pretty good at what she does. Her real name is Cassie de Bouche.
...

Question 2: Apparently there's nude photos of the Jeru FC coach Allison out there? Are these real?

Answer: No, it's a prank by the boys in Jeru FC. Nothing to worry about. Saying all that, she's still good looking woman for her age and I'm sure she's has a few fans with some really naughty ideas.
...

Question 3: I've lost a lot of friends because they got killed by police while on the streets looting. I don't understand the police here don't try to control situation in a less extreme manner instead of murdering innocent people.

Answer: I see, people who burn and loot shops are innocent people. The police would like to see looters just go home but course they don't, and instead cause trouble for other people. We make no apologies for bad decisions of a few. I question your judgement mixing with the wrong people. If you think burning and looting on the streets is a social activity, then join your friends to console them.
...

Question 4: Why haven't Jeruselem or Jeru FC won the World Cup yet?

Answer: If I could answer that, we'd have a cup but we don't. The best 32 teams don't have an equal chance. It's all down to how the cards are dealt on the day. Unlike some teams, we don't seem to have the same luck. But if you never try, you never know. I blame Maggie myself. We're doing our best and you never know if we will do it.
...


Question 5: I don't see the point of sport. Why do we need it?

Answer: Sport is good for you. It makes you exercise and team sports teach one about working in team. You learn discipline and about winning (and losing). These days sport is a lot more, for some it's a form of earning money as a professional. Sport is for young and old, anyone can do sport. It keeps people occupied and busy so they don't get bored. Without it, we'd all be fat useless people who have trouble getting out the door. I hope you aren't one of those people.
...

Question 6: Why don't we have proper democracy in Jeruselem? Why are stuck in the middle ages with an antique system of governance?

Answer: We're not stuck in the middles ages. If we were, you'd be locked up already. We do have a parliament and senate albeit with limited powers. Yes, the ultimate power still lies with the current monarch. Unlike the old days, we pretty much leave the civilian government alone to do it's job. Military and para-military aren't under civilian control through. Dunno what you're complaining about. There's plenty worse places to live. Stop whinging or go live somewhere else.

[Andossa Se Mitrin Vega]

The International Scout Jamboree was a new experience for the few Dragon Scouts who made the journey to Bears Armed. Despite having a long and illustrious history that predated ASMV itself, The organization had thus far shunned anything in the way of International Camaraderie. But this is a new era in The Draggonnii Socialist Empire and the newfound interests in things abroad has even fallen upon the Dragon Scouts. Now after a warm and honorable welcome, our scouts are competing in new events and bonding with new friends. All in all we could not have asked for a better experience.


When asked about his surprising win in the croquet competition, Altquinit Gar'hozei surprised nearly everyone with his reply..

“Sometimes the language barriers we face present us with more difficulty than the intense competition. Surely English is recognized by nearly everyone present as an official language, but many variations upon English can be found across the NSVerse. Couple that with our own organization’s use of Draconic as a language and as a basis is our writings and mapping styles and you can tell where we might run into trouble. We actually thought we were entering a crochet competition - not croquet. Big difference. We had never played croquet before. But as is a scouting tradition everywhere, Spencer Partridge and Mckenzie Hunt from The Babbage Islands and gave us a crash course once we discovered the mistake. And Harron OldWood was an excellent teacher during our match. If not for them, I would not have had this opportunity. They deserve as much of this as I do. In our tradition, let me say this… De wer ixen persvek sia kornari, ekess wer suaco persvek sia altiuiri, wux tepoha sia ro tiichi. (From the Fire in my Heart, to the Wind in my Wings, you have my eternal thanks).”

And in another shocking result Ingadu Tor'shy'al finished second in a grueling Orienteering competition as he nearly managed to finish between the two favorites from Bears Armed. His only comment following the competition was “Ya ever tried to outrun a bear? Those guys are frickin’ fast!”


The hosts have been wonderful in as they welcomed us with open arms. The peoples are great, the food is amazing, and the land is just stunning. Perhaps in the future our own scouts will have the opportunity to interact with the wonderful scouts here in Bears Armed as well as those from The Babbage Islands and other nations present.

[Polar Islandstates]

"Amadeus!"

Turning his head to the source of the call, Amadeus Irndtor raised his hand and waved his availability to van Jendrisen. Was he open for the ball? Er, in the third and crucial group stage match of the world cup, you bet he was! Receiving the ball to feet, he looked up, Ballantyne stood in front of him, the Bumblebees captain. He jinked left, he jinked right. His his hips pointing one way and his shoulders pointing another, he deftly tapped the ball through the Ranca Toco defender's left and rand around her to collect the ball on the other side. He grinned form ear to ear, nutmegging the captain of The Babbage Islands in the world cup? Whatever next? He'd be a hero for this.

He looked up, Skye and van Sorensen were making themselves available for him, but he ignored them. Somehow, this just felt [.i]right[./i]. Nonetheless, his fellow Terns flooded forwards in anticipation of the injury time equaliser that would put them through at The Archregimancy's expense. Irndtor reached the corner flag and held the ball up, Ronald Dennis had come across, and was harrying him into the corner in order to put it out into touch. Not if Irndtor could help it, though. Not out of tricks yet, he planted his left foot in the ground and swung his right foot out around behind him, chipping the ball delightfully as would a golfer with a bunker shot, and lifting the ball around Dennis' lunging leg.

Irntdor grew more excited, the turf felt alive with every touch he took as he recollected the ball almost at the same level as the touchline. He felt a surge of crowd behind him, 70,000 Twitchers were crammed into their allocation of the James Connolly Stadium, enough to fill the Nasjonale back home, every single one of the willing Irntdor on with their voices, and he could almost feel their presence moving his feet to do his mind's bidding. If he wanted to go left, he would have but to think it, and the voices of the crowd would carry on the wind and shift the fabric of matter within the stadium so that he may proceed. He was a god.

A midfielder was racing towards him, he didn't know who. It was unimportant. Pausing ever so slightly, he stepped on the ball, stopping it dead, and rolled it back towards his body, just as the racing Bumblebee flew past him and off the pitch in the slide tackle position. Amadeus looked up. Skye was there, in the box, calling for the ball. Sorry, Timo, you've had 90 minutes to score today, now you'll have to wait. van Sorensen was there too, lurking at the edge of the box, calling for the ball. Again, sorry Alexsandr, you've had three years of being the young superstar, the darling of the Terns' future, not it would be the turn of Amadeus. Hansen was there. Hauge, Demarchelier, even Marek and Berg were accelerating into the Babbage half, anticipating a cross into the box, the tall frames of Polarians so frequently deadly in the air.

They would wait for a cross that would never happen though.

Amadeus had no such plans for cross this ball. This was his moment. Nancy Svoboda was his next obstacle. Behind the vice-captain lay the goal, Hanna-Kirkipatrick making herself large at the near post. Amadeus pressed onwards and into the box, the noise in the stadium now reaching a deafening level, he could barely hear himself think. Svoboda made her move. Irndtor made his. She moved like a cobra, striking quickly and suddenly to dispossess him, but he equal to it. At full pace by now, he jumped lightly into the air, placed his foot on the ball, and spun around. Three hundred and sixty degrees passed before he hit the ground again, dragging the ball back into his path with his trailing foot. Svoboda, bamboozled, was left kicking mid-air, and had little to do but watch dumb-founded as Irntdor raced past, took one look at the goal, and swung his foot mightily.

With a CRACK that seemed to reverberate around the stadium, the ball slammed off the inside of the near-post, and whistled into the netting, curling it out like a muslin sheet in the wind as it spun to a stop at the far corner. Hanna-Kirkpatrick, surprised at the near-post decision, was left to pick the ball out of the net. Humiliated.

Irndtor saw none of this however, all he saw was the spinning stadium as he wheeled away in triumph. He had just scored the goal of his life to put the Terns through! Through to the second round of the World Cup! This was his moment. 70,000 Twitchers were making an unholy hell of a racket now, cheering their new hero, and Irndtor lapped it up, racing back towards the centre circle in screams of ecstacy.

Wait, was that stadium spinning a little too quickly? Why were none of his teammates celebrating as wildly as he was? Why was Svoboda clapping and applauding?

Slowing down to a walk, he looked around again. The stadium was melting away. The colours and visions pooling at the horizon to reveal nothing but the Terns' training pitch. The players returned to who they really were. Hanna-Kirkpatrick's face melded back into Karlsson's. Pekarik took over where Ballantyne once stood. Svoboda however, got stuck halfway through turning back into Anton McAllister, leaving some sort of union that Irndtor didn't really want to see again.

All the product of an excited youth's imagination.

He looked around. Sol and Morten weren't even facing the pitch. Merely watching Ackermann-Finn put Gammel through his paces. Amadeus looked down at the ground. Scoring a goal like that, who was he kidding. He wasn't going to get any game time this World Cup, he could tell. Not a single minute of competitive football on the pitch. Sure, if the Terns played well in the future they could make it through with him as a more vital part of the team, but that wasn't the point.

Timo Skye returned to the centre circle for the kickoff, and looked at Irndtor. He seemed impressed, but had a look on his face that also seemed to say 'Try that in a real match instead of passing to me and I'll snap you like a twig, grasshopper.'

Irndtor cursed his imagination for letting him make a fool of himself like that. Nobody else seemed to be that into their football. Maybe he really was just a kid at heart, far more immature than even van Sorensen was. Yes, blaming his imagination, Irndtor got back to his job, finding space at running at the opposition.

'Stupid imagination, stupid. Why do that to me, eh? Especially that half Svoboda half McAllister combination... where did that come from? Eugh.'

[Aguazul]

La Verdad

Point/Counterpoint/Countercounterpoint

Point: The Mystical Unicorns are our biggest rivals
by Marco Valdez

Yeah. So, it's kind of embarrassing that we can't just totally outmuscle a team of tiny women who are like five feet tall. That is five, right, the one that's all the fingers, if you count the thumb as a finger? And unicorns, are not things that are, like, normal animals, unless they all died. But apparently they're symbols of good things, so that's good.

Anyway, they're our rivals. Cause like, we've played them in the quarterfinals twice, and now now, and in friendlies. We've beaten them, and lost to them, and tied with them, so it isn't one of those pretend rivalries where they really can't compete.

And yeah, it was kind of not good that we just tied, but at the same time, we're still doing better than them! And we can still advance. Maybe.

Counterpoint: No they aren't
by Luisa Sarsola

Okay, so, when we beat them on penalty kicks, that counts as a draw. For like records keeping and things. And I don't care if it's gone down in history as one of the hardest fought matches of whatever. I mean I do care. I care a lot. But as far as us being rivals go, we have never actually beaten them in a competitive match.

Yes, okay, we have beaten them in a friendly game. But that was...a friendly game. Granted the Mystical Unicorns didn't think too much about it being just a friendly. But they were the ones that asked for it.

Bending over backwards, agreeing to requests from shrimps left and right. What's wrong with this country? Don't rivalries kind of deserve some antagonism? Maybe not, maybe there can be such things as friendly rivalries. But not when we're just doing whatever they ask.

Beat Dorian and Sonya in a competitive match. Then we'll talk.

Countercounterpoint: Shut up about the rivalry thing
by Auderico Boedo

I'm starting to think that the whole rivalry idea is a big conspiracy anyway. Think about it. For countries that do have rivalries, when a match with their rivals comes up, it's all about, oh, this game is going to take a place next to the other games we played against them, like this one, and that one, and oh what was the other one. So they don't necessarily ever get around to talking about the actual games. Which was a pity because this game was kind of interesting.

Not a classic, not played very well, but interesting. Both teams had been upset in their opening match and were looking to get something, perhaps something more than they did. Aguazul scored first, on a header from Sosimo Lissón, but the Sylvanae midfield looked strong compared to ours. Finally, they broke through on a goal from Silwen Isilidilinmae. (The strike force looked a little underwhelming, all told. Seriously, for those of you who've been calling Dorian and Sonya our rivals, did you know they might have been fielding just nine outfield players for three cycles running now? Get with it.)

And you know who agrees with me? Gerardo Riquelme. I interviewed him about his memories of the World Cup 53 quarterfinal, and you know what he told me? That he'd been about to tell his teammates that having rivals, at all, no matter who the team, was a really dumb idea.

So there.

[The Babbage Islands]

Today's installment of The Big Three: McKnight from Wye; Reeves from Beningrad; Wild from Lasft.

TM: Twenty-four teams in the Mcleod Cup? This may be the coming-of-age party for Babbage code. Until now it's been a local favourite with scattered signs of curiosity abroad. All of a sudden there are nine repeat entries, more new teams than there were total entries in any previous competition, and leagues are beginning to pop up all over. Two things never seem to change: One Big Islanders like to see their men and their women playing together on the field, and Newmanistan are still the team to beat. In the early going Tamarindia look like standouts amongst the newcomers, and Andossa Se Mitrin Vega and Wolfmanne in particular are continuing their rise from the last Cup. If the top eight cut off now all three of those would be in, together with the three One Big Island powers, Delaclava, and a relatively untested Darmen. But one round of pool play remains, and all 24 sides will still have something to play for via four closely-matched brackets.

PR: Congratulations to Jerry Kirkpatrick on his upcoming induction to the World Cup Hall of Fame! He was top of a close vote, with Orson Cook, Richard Valdemar, Wilhelm Freudigmann, Jason Olson, and Ganz Ijak following in that order. The Dunboor FC captain has now appeared in an almost inconceivable seven World Cups for The Babbage Islands in the back line, winning 144 caps and counting. And his presence in our starting lineup against The Archregimancy certainly gave us all a needed lift as we stayed in the hunt in Group E with a 2-1 win. Jason Olson scored early, Dagrún Hallvarðsdóttir scored late, Justinian's four blessings weren't quite enough, and now we get to play a true must-win match against a red-hot Polar Islandstates. They come in fresh from a 5-1 smackdown of Bostopia looking like they were the top-20 side. We need to curb their enthusiasm. The advancement picture couldn't be simpler: Win and go through. Lose and go home. Draw, and only a matching draw between Bostopia and The Archregimancy sends us through.

DW: Another Olympic Games will soon begin in Lasft, Cafundéu. As you pick your way through the extensive broadcast offerings, may I suggest some stories? Our serious multi-medal candidates include Reagan Chapman in the pool, Michael Crawford in tennis, Guðjón Brynjólfsson in athletics, and Taylor Mills and Wàn Lán in gymnastics. But the most intriguing based on sheer versatility is heptathlete Bailey Findlay. The 24-year-old Dickinson College co-ed is in her final year of college after a gap year and an eighteen-month mission broke the education flow twice. In addition to the heptathlon Bailey will be in the shot put, the 3000-metre steeplechase, and the 4x400 relay team. Also, check out my old show jumping teammates Joy Koploy and Randall Blevins as they attempt to repeat team gold, swashbuckling Jérôme Legrand in men's épée, a slew of rowers coming out of our new National Rowing Centre at Kopavogur, teen shotgun sensations Jasmine Oaks and Alexandra Göring, and the ageless Elisabeth Macleod Tormey as she seeks to be the first Babbagian to medal in three different sports through leading our equestrian eventing team. Add in men's football and women's handball and you'll have a tasty menu for a month.

---

World Cup 56 Scoreboard

Friendly: Mangolana 2-1 TBI (Clark | none)

#31 Sarzonia 1-4 TBI (Olson | Van de Graaf, G.Svoboda, Dagrún)
#365 Ockkorlond 0-3 TBI (Dagrún | Martin, Hovi)
(Olson, Dagrún | Dagrún, G.Svoboda, St-Pierre) TBI 5-0 #71 Cabric at Capital Stadium, Charleston
#196 Calmerica 0-3 TBI (Valentine, Martin | Clark)
#UR Yankees123 1-5 TBI (Dagrún, Hovi | Dagrún, Dagrún, Karven)
(Martin, Oddi, Mira | G.Svoboda, G.Svoboda, Martin) TBI 6-0 #83 The FSSO at The U.F.O., Cardston
#293 Beaverriver 0-1 TBI (none | Olson)

Friendly: (Martin | Dagrún) TBI 2-1 Bears Armed at Badenstadion, Baden

(none | Van de Graaf) TBI 1-0 Sarzonia at The Great Dome, Gernsback
(Van de Graaf, Van de Graaf, Karven, Hovi | St-Pierre, Skarphéðinn) TBI 6-0 Ockkorlond at Memorial Park, Belgium
Cabric 0-6 TBI (Olson, Dagrún | Olson, Van de Graaf, Dagrún, Martin)
(G.Svoboda, G.Svoboda, G.Svoboda | Dagrún) TBI 4-1 Calmerica at Whitecliff Stadium, Dover
(St-Pierre, Karven | Mira) TBI 3-0 Yankees123 at Callahan & Babcock Arena, Bloomfield
The FSSO 0-1 TBI (none | Olson)
(Dagrún, Van de Graaf | Dagrún, Martin) TBI 4-0 Beaverriver at Purple Place, Windsor

Friendly: (Olson, Martin, Dagrún | Hovi, Van de Graaf, Hovi) TBI 6-0 Qazox at Parc de Triomphe, Paris

World Cup Group Stage at Sorthern Northland

Bostopia 2-0 TBI (none | none)
(Olson | Dagrún) TBI 2-1 The Archregimancy
TBI v Polar Islandstates

[The Babbage Islands]

From the international Scout Jamboree in Bears Armed
By Tommy Craddock, Scribe, contingent Troop 301, The Babbage Islands

Yes! I'm gonna be in the tug-of-war! We all just weighed in, and the SPL juggled her lineup, and I make the cut. It will be eleven of us on the team, which will be pretty crazy and hard to manage. And coming so close to the end it's a spotlight event, as big as any arena show. There will be several preliminary rounds, and eight teams from eight nations will win through to a double-elimination bracket final.

There's so much going on here that you can't do it all. But I never thought my ballroom dance lessons would matter. Wrong-o. They had a swing concert last night. Two really good bands, the Miller's Glen Orchestra and the Berny GoodBear Memorial Orchestra. Miller's Glen had an awesome trombone soloist. And both of them played music you could dance to, and there was lots of open space to do it, and, well, a whole troop from Sportgirls were near us -- and I can dance. Well enough to get seven or eight cute partners, anyway. The guys in the patrol got on me at first, but success shut them down. As for the girls in the patrol . . . they just took turns. With me, and with the prepared guys from elsewhere. Even one of the leaders danced with me once, and that got 'em going. Turns out she's a professor of dance as well as a Scout leader. Very proper and sensational all at once.

I'm looking forward to going to Marrfehk-Ing for the devotional, too. It's the place where the local founder of the Scouting movement first became famous as a hero in war. The story of how he became an even bigger hero in peace is one for all time.

This is gonna end too soon. But I'll never forget it.

---

And quite some time after this post, we find out how Tommy did!

Results of the Tug-of-War Competition
(Double-elimination final bracket)

Round I
The Babbage Islands def. Mikitivity
Bears Armed def. by Roumberre
Ruadha def. by Green Jello Salad
Sportgirls def. by Andossa Se Mitrin Vega

Round II Winners Bracket
The Babbage Islands def. Roumberre
Green Jello Salad def. by Andossa Se Mitrin Vega

Round II Losers Bracket
Mikitivity def. by Sportgirls
Bears Armed def. Ruadha

Round III Winners Bracket
The Babbage Islands def. by Andossa Se Mitrin Vega

Round III Losers Bracket
Bears Armed def. Green Jello Salad
Sportgirls def. by Roumberre

Round IV Losers Bracket
Bears Armed received Bye at random
Roumberre def. by The Babbage Islands

Round V Losers Bracket
Bears Armed def. The Babbage Islands

Final
Andossa Se Mitrin Vega def. Bears Armed

[Jeruselem]

Kate Kool and Amy Pond ...

Kate: What's up with the coach and Princess doing numbers?
Amy: Oh, just working out what we need to get the 2nd round.
Kate: And?
Amy: Well, we're pretty screwed.
Kate: I'll understand.
Amy: OK, we need to beat Jeru FC. Draw or loss is pointless now.
Kate: Yeah
Amy: Not just beat them, due to crappy goal difference ...
Kate: Like RAWCRUSH them
Amy: Yes, pretty much. Given they are a top 10 team ... not much chance.
Kate: Doesn't get better does it?
Amy: The Dagans must not win or else they grab 6 points.
Kate: So we need the Dagans to lose or draw.
Amy: Actually we would prefer them to lose, as they have better goal difference.
Kate: Means that other team have 4 points.
Amy: Well, if the Dagans lose. It must like 1-0 or else that other team have a better goal difference to us.
Kate: And the head-to-head is better against that other team, not the Dagans.
Amy: Should they draw, we hope it's like 0-0
Kate: Giving the Dagans 4 points like us if we win.
Amy: But ... more like we lose or draw and the Dagans win, so we're screwed anyway.
Kate: Why don't we just give up and hand the points to Jeru FC.
Amy: We're not supposed to do that.
Kate: I mean, even if we win ... still we're not going to make it.
Amy: Small chance, but not much one of one.

[Cotdelapoms]

Apples Guarantee Place in Second Round

Cotdelapoms have reached the second round of the World Cup. Take time to focus on how amazing this is- perhaps the greatest moment in Cotdelapomais football history. Our normally cynical view is temporarily replaced with wide-eyed patriotism, this group featured two former world champions and after two matches there is already an automatic qualifier into the second round- those happy go lucky tree fruit! Michel Carbonnier had never managed anywhere at all prior to taking the job and was far from a popular choice, yet somehow he's managed to get the most out of his squad- perhaps by using Cotdelapoms' natural attacking strength by applying an attacking formation. It's also been a good tournament for FKM's Jackson Diawara, who is clearly the heir to Per-Olivier Johansson-Bakvis, our all time greatest scorer.

Cotdelapoms' match with Virabia in the second round of the group stage was primed to be a blood-feud, the two nation's top clubs- Montréal and Thundercougarfalconbirds had faced off repeatedly in international competitions recently and it's been a battle to say the least. Whilst none of the Virabi national team plays for that particular club, it created a bit of tension between the two relative neighbours, with the Virabis feeling as though Cotdelapoms are not liberal enough, and Cotdelapoms feeling like Virabia are mostly full of puffery and little actual substance. The Apples struck first through the hard work of René Boisbriand, who was forced down in the box by Joe Green- the very highly regarded Vonghurst Reds defender was sent off and the Apples were given a penalty, which Per-Olivier Johansson-Bakvis drilled past his club teammate Jimmy London.

The V-Team didn't roll over despite being down to 10 men, 19 year old Johnny America trapped a long ball and looped a shot past Yannick Latendresse, who was caught off guard and had to pluck the ball out of the back of the net. The Virabis seemed content from this point forward to swarm and hoof considering they were down to ten men, and this initially frustrated Cotdelapoms, who went into the half drawn at 1, and seemingly spent the first twenty-ish minutes of the second half making annoyed faces and losing the ball. On 70 minutes, there was a breakthrough, but Alexandre Faille hit the post and the ball was gobbled up by London. The Apples continued to press, though- and the often underutilised at national level Jonathan Barrie made a nice overlapping run to receive the ball from Sacha St-Onge out ahead and slip one past London to give the Apples a 2-1 lead that they would eventually not look back from. Held scoreless in matchday one, Per-Olivier Johansson-Bakvis netted his second on an other penalty after an admittedly quite dodgy handball call in the 83rd. The Virabis protested strongly, and frankly understandably, but it ultimately would have done no good either way as they were beaten handily.

Automatically through to the second round, the matchup with former world champion Dorian & Sonya is important more for positioning than anything else- a draw or a win guarantees they will win the group, which ideally means avoiding hosts Valanora, although likely opponent Krytenia is also not a favourable draw. There is also potential for a blood feud matchup with Valladares, one of our favourite opponents. Dorian & Sonya is a team of little pixie ladies that worship unicorns, and they're fantastic at football so we're going to be very careful what we say, especially since it's hard to build up much vitriol now that we're all in a good mood!

The XI for the match with Dorian & Sonya will be:
GK: Yannick Latendresse
LB: Raphaël Dubé
CB: Loïk Mailhot
RB: Jonathan Barrie
LW: Jesper Jensen
DM: Iestyn Rhys-Lloyd
CM: Alexandre Faille
AM: Ismaël Yarrez
RW: Sacha St-Onge
FW: Per-Olivier Johansson-Bakvis
FW: James Hunt

ASK A SUPER-FAN

In this segment we ask a member of the Apple Battalion questions about Cotdelapoms' national team and its' opponents! Today our player is Radek LeBlanc from Cap Nordique. Answer all five right and win a coupon for $500 off an Oak Air flight to follow our national team abroad! Hop on the next flight to Valanora and watch Cotdelapoms in the Second Round of the World Cup. This doesn't get old!

QUESTION ONE: How tall is the tallest member of the Sylvanae team?
Radek: Not very tall at all. 5'3?
CORRECT ENOUGH!- The Sylvanae team is made up of super powerful and devout lady elves, none of whom are taller than 5'2. They are very quick, although I imagine a one match return to the national team for 6'7 Claude Castonguay would be a great idea to take them on. He's a known ladies' man though, so perhaps not...

QUESTION TWO: Elves live a very long time. Who is the oldest member of the team and how old is she?
Radek: J’hys Ickaeth. 150?
CORRECT ENOUGH!- Right name, wrong age, she is 144. She is also the 5'2 member of the team, so she is just the team outlier.

QUESTION THREE: What is the Sylvanae currency?
Radek: The dollar.
CORRECT!- Not a very exciting question, considering we are discussing a lady dictatorship that worships a mystical unicorn and is better at football than we'll ever be. They are apparently very excited about the coming sporting competitions between Rushmore and Atlantian Oceania.

QUESTION FOUR: Let's look way back, before entering the official World Cup, Cotdelapoms played few international matches. What was their last non-WCC national match?
Radek: A 0-0 draw with Nova Cambria et PBI
CORRECT!- You're good for a Mytanar! Yes, Cotdelapoms mostly played neighbours and friends like Nova Cambria beforehand. Nova Cambria has of course, had considerably less success. We were going to say "in international football", but it's more appropriate to just extend it out to everything.

QUESTION FIVE: When the Cup of Harmony kicks off without Cotdelapoms this year, how amazing will it feel, knowing that we're at least among the top 16 teams in the world this year?
Radek: It will feel greater than having 1039 doves flying over you whilst you ride a cloud!
CORRECT!- ALLEZ NOS POMMES! You get to go to the World Cup, because that's the only reasonable way to spend that gift card. Have fun!

[Mytannion]

написана для людей, написанный людей
Napisana dlya lyudyeĭ , Napisannyĭ lyudyeĭ.
Written for the People, by the People.

'Win over Pasarga paves passage to the knockout rounds.'

by Vladimir Hyralov

We are nearly there, one point, one single, solitary point - would ensure our first ever qualification to the knockout rounds of a World Cup. We need just a draw against Queer Poco el Mono Ara, to ensure that we would be in the Last Sixteen, of the 56th World Cup. It seems like a dream, but we can assure you - right now, it is very, very true. It seems very easy, after beating two top-50 ranked teams in our first two World Cup group stage games - getting a point seems very easy against Queer Poco el Mono Ara. But, right now, with our history of playing against them - nope, it does not look likely. Sure, we got a point against them in World Cup 56 qualifying - but, we've lost to them every other time we have played them. We play them next, if we get a point - we're in the knockout rounds, if we win - we're in the knockout rounds, if we lose... Well, it gets quite a bit more complicated - and we'll need other results to swing massively in our direction.

So, we played Pasarga - at Donna Cathedral, in Mar Sara, Valanora. 60,000 assorted people packed into the stadium. The majority being either Pasargan or Mytanar support, with a couple of thousand just being suits and representatives from different organisations who either sponsor the World Cup or organise the World Cup or are members of the EWCC Commitee, or whatever. Anyway, it was an interesting game - and the fans of both sides were very loud and made their feelings known every time the referee blew his whistle - and the majority of the time, the fans felt wronged as several clear decisions went against the team they should have been given to. The game certainly was a fiery affair, although it stopped short of anyone being severely injured by a disgusting challenge or someone getting a red card for said disgusting challenge - but the players certainly mouthed off to each other and generally just shouted abuse at the referee - leading to many players getting yellow cards for dissent, along with the other ones who did get yellow cards for bad challenges.

We went behind just before half-time though, which led Theo Wekkler to throw a water bottle onto the pitch and act very strangely, and very differently to his normal, quiet, thoughtful demeanour. He had to - apparently - rip up his half-time notes and give a very different team-talk to the one he was going to give; this was information given to us by one of the coaching staff - with the national side. Zosimo Robles, the 31-year old Santos Luega striker ran clear of Ricky Aier and Speic Fyfat to chip the ball over Rudi Holzman - who could probably have made a save, but was fooled by the creative finish made by the wily striker. Robles wheeled away to where his fellow Pasargans (the fans, though), were sat - well, now stood, they were celebrating - and celebrated with them.

We replied well through Robin Hjik, though, the captain scoring quickly after half-time. He blasted a free-kick into the net from the edge of the box, Hjik had won the free-kick, after going on a driving run through the Pasargan defence (not the only Pasargan defence he has ran through recently, after all, his club side - Atletik Thessia went to the final of the Copa de Campeones but were beaten by Pasargan side, CA Paulinthal - but only after Atletik wasted a lorry-full of chances), and was tripped by the outstretched leg of a defender. He immediately took the ball and placed it down, it was clear that nobody else would be taking this free-kick. When the referee blew his whistle, he took a short run-up and then smashed the ball up-and-over the wall and then it dipped into the top corner. The goalkeeper could do nothing to stop it. It was Robin Hjik's 84th cap and his 19th international goal. He's only 24! He'll have 100 caps before he is 26 at this rate.

We needed to get a winner though, and we waited a while for Imre Ulsson to get it - he was playing as a right winger in this formation and it appeared to suit him brilliantly. Robin Hjik played a through ball between the Pasargan centre-back and the Pasargan left-back, with Ulsson making a diagonal run behind the left back, the ball went right between the two defenders and Ulsson latched onto it - he made a brilliant first touch, knocking the ball past the centre-back, and he was through on goal, with only the goalkeeper to beat. Ulsson used his left foot to curve the ball around the goalkeeper, who was making a charge on the ball, and the ball just fired past him and made a crisp 'paff' against the back of the net. Mytannion 2-1 Pasarga.

We won the game, and this was surprising enough - but this left us out-top alone, at the top of the group. We go into the game versus Queer Poco el Mono Ara in a great situation, being out-top in the group, and only needing a draw to go through to the knockout rounds. But, Queer Poco el Mono Ara are massive national team, ranked very, very high up in the World Rankings and this means that they obviously have the quality to beat us - they thrashed us in the last World Cup, if I remember correctly. 6-0, I think it was. We cannot afford to have a repeat of this, if this is repeated - well, we're in big, big trouble. If both North Chicanan and Queer Poco el Mono Ara win, depending by how much they win - we could be out. So we cannot afford to lose to Queer Poco el Mono Ara, and if we do lose - we need Pasarga to do us a favour as local friends... And beat North Chicanan for us.

Ah, it's all very confusing - it'll be cleared up today though, who wins - well, we'll see - it'll be interesting, tune in to either MytaPlus Sport 1 or MNC - both will have full coverage of the game tonight - and if you can't watch the game, read our review tomorrow, for the full match report, and our predictions on who will win the tournament and who will not, if we're through anyway. If not, we'll be going back to our normal punditry on the Mytanar Takillega, the season is starting again soon in that - are you ready?

[Bears Armed]

Dear Mamma-bear and Daddo-bear,

I hope that you are both well.
This jamboree has been GREAT FUN!!! I and my friends have been meeting talking with and competing against other groups of scouts from all over the place, not just from other parts of BearHome but from abroad – and I don’t just mean from other Ursine nations, either – too… Hwell, it is an ‘INTERNATIONAL’ gathering, after all, but who’d have expected the variety that we’ve got here? I mean, Humans for true, no surprise, but back on Owl’s-day we actually had a friendly Tug-o-war game (as much for fun as serious practice for the main contest) against a team of talking, pastel-coloured Ponies!!! (They looked like winning at first, but then the referee agreed when our troop's Big Bear suggested that if they were allowed to compete on all fours then so should we… which made a BIG difference… ^_^). And that evening there was a ‘big band’ festival in Wimbley Stadium, and the bands there played a lot of the old favourites. We all went down onto the actual pitch, and danced — Serro actually danced with an ELF girl-scout!
Anyhows, as you already knew, my patrol had been chosen to provide our national Association’s team for the main Tug-o-war tournament and I’m SURE that you want to know how that went… Hwell, we lost our first match, which was against the Roumberry ‘St Denys troop’ (Yes, at least it was more Bears, rather than Humans…) but the format gave us a chance to get back into the competition by trying against other teams who’d lost tmatches too… and then we won against the Ruadhans (Humans, who were allowed 11 team-members against our 6 because of both the difference in average weights and the increased difficulty of getting a larger team to all pull together), and against another bunch of humans whose country is actually called “GREEN JELLO SALAD”!!! — yes, hrreally!!! (I wonder if whoever invited those actually thought that they were placing an order with the grocers? ^_^) — and then the luck of the draw gave us a bye while Roumberre lost to the Babbagees? (Babbagers? B-Islanders? They were one of the foreign bunches who I didn’t get enough chance to speak with, so I don’t know for true what they call themselves…), and then we beat them — the Babbagees, or whatever, I mean —which took us into the FINAL.
Which we lost… Hokay, yes, to another bunch of Humans, more-or-less, but apparently those “Vegans” claim to be part-DRAGON!!! (Yes, hrreally!) so who knows?
Got to stop writing now, because it’s nearly time for the Closing Ceremony and we’ve got an inspection coming beforepaw to make sure that we’re all looking our best for THAT, so I’ll sign-off and take this to the Ravens, and plan on sending you another letter once we’re back inside the border after the trip out to Marrfehk-Ing…


Your loving son,

Borrin.


A.f. Serro just came into the tent, and says that he heard some of the foreign groups have been invited along to Marrfeh-Ing too, even though that wasn’t originally planned, in the interests of promoting the “International” aspect of Scouting: I wonder which ones that will be?

(OOC: I’d actually planned to have the international aspect of this Jamboree end with the end of the Cup’s group stage, and make the Marrfehk-Ing trip an all-BA one, but as TBI has already had one of his scouts announce that he’s going along I’ve decided that the success of the earlier events led my country’s Association to invite a few groups of the foreign Scouts to attend that aspect of the anniversary too after all…)