Copa Rushmori VI - Everything Thread

[Bleak Rock]

"Shaan, it's not working."

"Oddur, be quiet. If I want your opinion, I'll ask you for it, okay?"

"But-"

"Oddur." A simmering look was sent Oddur's way as Shaan stopped pacing the line and turned to look at his assistant. Malevolence writhed and bubbled just beneath the surface, Oddur backed down. As he sat back in the dugout, his fellow assistant Finnur shared a look with him that seemed to agree with him. They were here at the Copa Rushmori with a manager who'd been out of work for how many years? And he thought he could come here and suss the team out tactically within a few training sessions? The nerve of the man.

"Half an hour left, Oddur, don't look so glum. Look, Broberg just slid in on Olsen again, he's not going to score against us, I told you so." said Shaan as he wandered up and down his technical area. Earlier in the game he had bawled and yelled from the touchline at Sigurhelgason for coming back level with the other two central midfielders on the left flank. Noting this tendency to fill the left wing position however, he dragged Ljótursson off for the more attacking Guðmundursson, then asked him to defend, thinking the presence of a natural winger would force Sigurhelgason away from the deep wing position. He was right, even if his assistants bemoaned the lopsided feel of a team with one winger and one wing-back on the pitch.

"...still 0-0 here at the Municipal Stadium between Saugeais and Bleak Rock, with roughly half an hour remaining. Edorta, what do you make of this new look Bleak Rock side? New manager Shaan Magerin has come in and rung the changes for sure, what effect do you think it's having?"

"Well Petrigai, I'd say he's had a great impact on this team. Under their previous manager, yeah they were hard to beat - Blockhead teams are always hard to beat, partially due to their imposing physicality - but they seemed flat on ideas. They reached the final of the Baptism of Fire, but by then everyone had seen their tricks and their moves and were able to combat them in qualifying. A flat 4-4-2 can be worked around easily by any competent manager, and the departure of their previous one to Swartaz could be a blessing in disguise, especially with the excellent appointment of the BRFA with Magerin."

"So why are Saugeais struggling so badly here, today?"

"Well, first and foremost, their main attacking striking target, Olsen, is being..."

Shaan Magerin looked around, somewhere, someone was describing pretty much exactly the plan he was playing on the pitch at the moment. Where was that voice coming from?

"...because from what I've seen, Ingvar Sigurhelgason is finding it difficult not to wander back over to the left side where he feels more comfortable, so the introduction of Guðmundursson is more to influence other players rather than his own play. It's a very subtle substitution but an absolutely crucial one, as Sigurhelgason's pace through the middle is what Rosenmeyer will be looking to get on the end of. He's only had one shot so far, but it only takes a couple for Rosenmeyer to find the back of the net. Even Eygenroy could get the assist yet of course, he's sitting in the hole there behind Ragnarsson, but long balls over the top can be a fine way to score goals directly from that anchor position, I saw it several times during my time in Kagdazka and Pazhujebu."

"Thank you, Edorta Urrustoy, who is our guest commentator today alongside myself, Petrigai Katarain. Highlights of our draw against West Zirconia to come later, but first of course, continuing coverage of this Group E match between Saugeais and Bleak Rock, where it is currently 0-0, Olsen on the ball..."

A commentator? Surely not... Shaan scanned the commentary booths for any displaying the olive green signifying Astograth, but saw nothing.

"...slips his marker brilliantly, takes a step, shoots...! Well held by Kielberg. Olsen forced to shoot from distance once again, but Kielberg had to watch it all the way, and did so. Lays the ball out to Broberg... Tommisen... Eygenroy, holds off Nagato brilliantly, to Ragnarsson, plays the ball brilliantly of Dombrowski into the path of Siguhelgason! Sigurhelgason now, accelerating, pulls it out to the right, loads of space over there, outpaces Quentin, Saugeais have to be careful here, Rosenmeyer lurking with intent on the edge of the box... Sigurhelgason now, pulls it out from under his feet, whips the ball to the edge of the box... Rosenmeyer attacking the header...! Rosenmeyer! One-nil Bleak Rock!"

"Outstanding diving header there from Rosenmeyer! There's no holding that guy off when he wants that header..."

Stopping his search to see the events unfold on the pitch, Shaan turned and pumped his fist whilst glaring pointedly at his two assistants, who at least had the decency to squirm and look uncomfortable whilst celebrating - not an easy feat in itself. Not resting on his laurels, the gears were already turning in Magerin's head.

What to do, how would Saugeais react to that? Little over twenty-five minutes left, plenty of time for all out attack. Aagard. He's faster, lighter on his feet, stronger in the air, and more of an intimidating figure than Friðfinnursson, despite his poor marking.

"Friðfinnursson! Get off, well done son, well done. Aagard? Get on there. Referee? Substitution?" asked Shaan, motioning witht he twirling hands signal, universally known worldwide as the sign for substitutions... or bad disco dancing.

"Friðfinnursson for Aagard?" Oddur asked, getting up from his seat, "I hardly think his marking can cope with Saugeais's speed and movement..."

"Look, Oddur, I've had just about enough of this. Wasn't I just proved right about the goals? Should I not be trusted by your small insignificant brain yet?" Shaan yelled, the substituting players looking awkwardly at each as they switched places. "For what it's worth..."

"...masterful stroke, taking off Friðfinnursson for Aagard purely for Aagard's imposing figure I'd guess. Friðfinnursson is the better marker, but the Saugeais players will be in and around the box so often in these closing stages that it won't really matter, he won't have far to find a player. And there won't be much space to run into to get away from him now. Very good substitution. The negative is cancelled out by circumstances, leaving only positives..."

"...and, oh where is that guy?" asked Shaan, stopped mid-rant by hearing his plan laid out. He suddenly panicked, what if Saugeais coaching staff members were able to hear this as well? He had to do something. Suddenly, he could see the olive green, in the booth behind where Oddur had been sitting. Shaan acted. Clambering over seats and dugout roofs, he arrived at the commentary booth, where a confused looking Edorta Urrustoy was slowing down mid-sentence.

"...told off by Shaan Magerin who is, climbing the seats? Towards... me? Hello?"

"Hi, Urrustoy? I'm Shaan Magerin, I've been listening in, and I must say I've enjoyed your commentary very much... How'd you like a job as one of my assistants for the Blockheads?"

[Polar Islandstates]

GATE FOURTEEN
THE BLOG FOR THE OSTKURVEN TWITCHERS

LATE DEMARCHELIER GOAL SPARES MARVEAU-KAHN'S BLUSHES

Well, it wasn't pretty. Not by any stretch. But it's a point, with an inexperienced team, against minnows desperate to cause an upset. So perhaps it isn't such a bad result after all. In our opening match of Copa Rushmori VI, and our first match since the match against Aguazul that finished out World Cup campaign last time around, the Terns stuttered and misfired their way to a draw against a Camwood side that outplayed any pre-match predictions to almost take all three points.

Barely four minutes into the match, Kirkkegaard's team full of inexperienced players had gone behind thanks to a calamitous piece of defending on his debut from Petter Marveau-Kahn. In the oppressive Whirl Island sunshine, the whole team was struggling, even all of us in the stands not doing any running around were struggling, and some pressure by Camwood's midfield on the left side of our defence was enough to force a mistake from debutante Marveau-Kahn. Kowalski, a bit too eager to please in his own debut, played a pass back to Gammel that was a touch too powerful, causing a chase for the ball from the Cotdelapomais-based goalkeeper, who eventual pass up to Marveau-Kahn was rushed, and inaccurate. Marveau-Kahn, not being able to see in the bright sunlight, miscontrolled the ball directly into the path of the harrying Camwood attakcer, who simply took the ball off Marveau-Kahn's toe, and deftly lobbed the stranded Gammel to put the underdogs 1-0 ahead with only three and a minutes gone. Marveau-Kahn understandably looked crestfallen, but he will be unlucky if he takes the blame from the press for what was a combined effort between three players.

The team looked shaken, and only a few smart saves from Gammel that went some way to atoning for his part in the Camwood goal were what stood between Camwood and a second goal. It was twenty minutes before the team showed any signs of playing like a coherent team, Demarchalier linking in Hastings from the right to pull back a near post pass that Ackermann-Finn could only send straight into the arms of the diving Camwood keeper.

Ackermann-Finn, captaining the side today, led by example after the break, and a revitalised partnership of Hauge and Sundstrom began to take a hold on the game, allowing the forward four players to harrow and torment the Camwood defence time and time again. Ackermann-Finn himself was unlucky to not score after his bullet header from a Hauge corner defelcted off a Camwood player on the line to hit the post and rebound out. Hauge then had his own turn to hit the woodwork after he took a chance on a 30-yard effort that whizzed along the turf before cannoning off the base of the goalpost.

By this point, the play and the momentum was all our beloved Terns, and we in the stands let them know about our support even more vehemently. Flares went off, chants were sung, and the stamping and clapping began in earnest. Camwood were clinging onto the lead, and it wasn't long before the Terns hit the woodwork for the third time in the second half. Sundstrom's ball forwards collected by Steffan Hastings, who glanced up and saw the Camwood keeper well off his line, and attempted an audacious lob from 45-yards, only to see the ball bounce harmlessly off the top of the post and out for a goal kick.

Marveau-Kahn even had a chance to atone for his error in the first half's heat, but was unable to convert the shooting opputunity that Ljungberg afforded him, heading back a Hauge corner into the path of the East Franz Athletic left-back, his shot sadly didn't connect properly, and it scuffed out of play.

With ten minutes left of normal time, the breakthrough finally came, as it had to. Second half substitute Artur Rochemback winning the ball in the midfield well before laying the ball back to Hauge, whose long ball up was collected by Ackermann-Finn in space. Wrong footing one defender, he then backheeled the ball cleverly into the path of the accelerating Demarcherlier, whose momentum took him past two defenders before rounding the goalkeeper the poking into the empty net.

For the ten minutes following, the Terns continued to knock on the door for a winner, but ultimately failed in their attempts, leading to a disappointing draw that could have been so much different but for the woodwork and a lapse of first half concentration.

The next game for the Terns is against The Kiaser Colonies, who currently lead the group after their 1-0 win over The Kytler Peninsulae. They are sure to provide challenging opposition, and our fledgling team could well struggle to make an impact early on in the game, as they did today. It is important not to panic however, when we finished fourth at the world cup, it was with a team whose core unit had been together for two whole cycles. During this transitional period, it is unlikely we're going to get that strong a collection of players with that much experience of playing in that group. However, Sol has shown us just what he can do with a consistent team, and we ought to maintain our trust in him, even if this Copa Rushmori fizzles out in a similar way to our last one.

Bring your flares, guys, they'll need to see them.


PLAYER RATINGS:
Gammel - 6/10 - Caught out of position once, once was all it took. More than competent with everything else thrown at him however.
Makarov - 7/10 - Some marauding runs down the right showing he could be back to his best.
Ljungberg - 6/10 - An assured performance by the young defender, a natural replacement for Berg in long term plans. Short term still needs convincing however.
Kowalski - 6/10 - Not the best debut, but not the worst either. Some strong headers, but a bit too eager at times.
Marveau-Kahn - 5/10 - Applied himself well to atone for mistake, but making a mistake that leads to a goal is a damning badge on a player.
Hauge - 7/10 - Unbeatable in the air and difficult to get around, the man mountain produced another strong performance today.
Sundstrom - 6/10 - A fine partnership with Hauge in the centre of the park. Nothing got past them.
Hastings - 6/10 - Speed and enthusiasm was present, accuracy of crosses was sadly lacking. Unlucky not to score.
Fjorrisen - 5/10 - Went absent for large period of the game, needs to assert his considerable influence more.
Demarchelier - 8/10 - Scored a fine goal to top a performance in which he was the dynamic energy of our midfield. Never stops running and a joy to watch.
Ackermann-Finn - 7/10 - Looked comfortable in the captain's armband, a good assist and always provided an outlet for the team.
Subs;
Rochemback - 6/10 - Good work in the lead up to the goal.
Oledatter -
Irndtor -


LEAKED STARTING LINEUP FOR NEXT MATCH:
--------------------------- Gammel --------------------------
--- Egeberg --- Ljungberg --- Kowalski --- Pettersen ---
---------------------------- Hauge ---------------------------
------------- Sanderskye -- Tir -- Demarchelier -----------
--------------- Ackermann-Finn -- Blonqvist ---------------

[Whirl Islands]

And here we have our second RP cutoff. Who will have to start packing up their bags after this match?

---

And here is the answer to the previous question...yep, results!

Group A results to come later.

Group B:

Albundania 1-2 Civil Citizenry
Lonaga 1-3 Swartaz

Team                   P W D L For Ag +/- Pts
 1 Swartaz             2 2 0 0  5  1  +4   6
 2 Civil Citizenry     2 1 0 1  2  3  -1   3
 3 Albundania          2 1 0 1  3  2  +1   3
 4 Lonaga              2 0 0 2  1  5  -4   0

Group C:

Logria 1-0 Pasarga
Ansernia Islands 0-1 Kazzoria

Team                    P W D L For Ag +/- Pts
 1 Kazzoria             2 1 1 0  1  0  +1   4
 2 Ansernia Islands     2 1 0 1  1  1  +0   3
 3 Logria               2 1 0 1  1  1  +0   3
 4 Pasarga              2 0 1 1  0  1  -1   1

Group D:

Queer Poco el Mono Ara 0-3 Cotdelapoms
Erathore 1-2 Mytannion

Team                          P W D L For Ag +/- Pts
 1 Cotdelapoms                2 2 0 0  9  3  +6   6 Q
 2 Mytannion                  2 1 0 1  5  7  -2   3
 3 Queer Poco el Mono Ara     2 1 0 1  2  4  -2   3
 4 Erathore                   2 0 0 2  2  4  -2   0 E

Group E:

Sarrbia 3-1 Saugeais
Ocel0t 0-2 Bleak Rock

Team              P W D L For Ag +/- Pts
 1 Bleak Rock     2 2 0 0  3  0  +3   6
 2 Ocel0t         2 1 0 1  2  3  -1   3
 3 Sarrbia        2 1 0 1  4  3  +1   3
 4 Saugeais       2 0 0 2  1  4  -3   0

Group F:

Camwood 1-0 The Kytler Peninsulae
Polar Islandstates 3-1 The Kiaser Colonies

Team                          P W D L For Ag +/- Pts
 1 Polar Islandstates         2 1 1 0  4  2  +2   4
 2 Camwood                    2 1 1 0  2  1  +1   4
 3 The Kiaser Colonies        2 1 0 1  2  3  -1   3
 4 The Kytler Peninsulae      2 0 0 2  0  2  -2   0 E

Group G:

Seleucius 0-1 Abcdefghijklmnopqrstuk
Palacios and Rodallega 0-2 The Hidden Paw

Team                           P W D L For Ag +/- Pts
 1 Abcdefghijklmnopqrstuk      2 2 0 0  5  1  +4   6 Q
 2 Seleucius                   2 1 0 1  2  1  +1   3
 3 The Hidden Paw              2 1 0 1  3  4  -1   3
 4 Palacios and Rodallega      2 0 0 2  0  4  -4   0 E

Group H:

Carmadin 0-2 Southern Cynocephali
Nieuwe Sleeswijk 4-2 Khabarovsk Krai

Team                         P W D L For Ag +/- Pts
 1 Nieuwe Sleeswijk          2 2 0 0  8  3  +5   6
 2 Southern Cynocephali      2 1 1 0  3  1  +2   4
 3 Khabarovsk Krai           2 0 1 1  3  5  -2   1
 4 Carmadin                  2 0 0 2  1  6  -5   0 E

Group I:

Chenkorya 1-3 Sargossa
Carasatoga 2-1 Mangolana

Team              P W D L For Ag +/- Pts
 1 Sargossa       2 2 0 0  6  2  +4   6
 2 Carasatoga     2 2 0 0  4  2  +2   6
 3 Chenkorya      2 0 0 2  2  5  -3   0 E
 4 Mangolana      2 0 0 2  2  5  -3   0 E

* In green, teams that have secured (at least) a play-off spot. Not fully qualified to the following round, though.

[The Kytler Peninsulae]

The Kytlerians are out with a game to spare following a humbling 1-0 defeat to Camwood, leading analysts to believe that only a more attacking line-up will pay dividends in the future.

"All the top teams play all-out attack," noted a writer for the Zube Daily Times. "We need to do likewise."

Others, meanwhile, suggested that this team "is not superstitious enough" and "need to pray to Margaret more". However, the ban on rubber chickens inside the stadium clearly did not help.

Still, at least the Kytlerians are guaranteed a role in the final - the Sharks Waterfront Stadium, where the match will take place, was designed by Kytlerian architects.

[Astograth]

(Credit where it's due: this is heavily inspired by the excellent Anecdotario del fútbol chileno, which to be honest I doubt anyone here has heard about.)

Excerpt from pages 22 to 24 of "The Anecdotary of Astograthian Football" by Arabante Duarte and Zadonin Arrieta

There are players who love media exposure and everything related to cameras and microphones; the first to tease are their own teammates. They say that when Urgutz Belarte opens his fridge he can't help but smile and wave upon seeing the light go on.

---

During World Cup 56 in Sorthern Northland, a photographer from Iturributa's Daily Herald didn't speak a word of English and was running to catch the elevator. When the doors started to close, he thought back to his school days and desperately cried out “aud Wiedersehen!” meaning to say “stop”.

---

A lack of language skills has always been a problem for the Astograthian press. When the Polar Islandstates came to Rumiatzi for a mid-World Cup 55 qualifying friendly, a group of journalists went to the hotel the day before the match hoping to score an interview. A certain one from The Rumiatzi Sentinel, so full of himself, told the others not to worry. He knew English and would get tomorrow's formation. Soon enough, a man with the Polarian uniform showed up and was approached by the reporter in question. “Hello, team tomorrow?” was the bilingual marvel's question.

---

A certain reporter, colleague of ours, was a master at writing. He didn't even have to be on site to write extraordinary and never inaccurate match reports. One afternoon he was waiting outside the Ituraitz FC training facilities. “Dei, Dei!” he called out when he saw Dei Ormache walking by. “What?” asked the striker, turning around. “Nothing. Consider yourself interviewed.”

Another time he arrived at Astograth University's Arritzola stadium, where the hosts were about to face Royal Rumiatzi. The small ground was full to the brim and the press area cluttered with people. Seeing this, the journalist adjusted his glasses, looked out athe pitch and said “Bah, I already saw this match. University wins 1-0,” and he left to sleep in his car. The result? 1-0 for University of course.

---

It was a bleak winter afternoon and Royal Association was playing at home to Echegoyan FC. Heavy rain, a terrible cold, a mud-filled pitch and Bayardo Morriyas sitting on the bench wearing two sweatpants, a blanket, a hood and a scarf, arms folded and eyes on the floor. The team wasn't creating chances and Inguma Uberuaga performing very poorly as playmaker. “Morriyas, get ready, you're going on for Uberuaga,” he said. Morriyas, shivering, lifted his neck out of the bench and squinted. “Do you think so, coach, really? Uberuaga's doing really well, I think,” It took a while for the rest of the subs to stop laughing.

[Ocel0t]

As a tribute to Bleak Rock, the original creator of the NS cartoons, here's one of my own. Not quite up to par, of course, but there's only so much you can do with Paintbrush on a Mac

No offense was meant to Hús Náhvalur or Hús Hrafninn for their exclusion, I simply didn't have enough space or time to include them.

---

Morten Heikkinen is a man of many feelings, but only three masks in public. His pleasant mask is the one that he shows people the most, and the only one he ever lets the media see. That was the one he showed to Shaan Magerin as they shook hands, maybe a little too tightly, before the game. Behind it, he was nervous, resentful, and (although he'd never admit it) almost respectful of the old Yaforian, who seemed to rival and even surpass him in tactical knowledge. His second mask he lets you see only for an instant, a frown of disappointment and anger. Only the most attentive observers would see it as it flickered on and off as the Blockheads tore apart his team, or hit the woodwork, and scored. His third, a mask of jubilation, was true to his feelings behind it. How much he used it depended on the day, but one never saw it the day his team were humiliated by the old Yaforian and his team of upstarts. Still in his forties, he knows he has much to learn yet. And so that day for him was a day of observation. He knew he had things to learn from his opponents, and learn things he did. But there was one thing he knew he'd never have- Edorta Urrustoy.

---

Fluffy in Wonderland
Part 2

As the tasty-looking lizard approached, he called out "Mary Ann! Mary Ann! Where have you been? The Duchess needs her gloves and fan, go to the house to find them!"
"Hello! Do I know you? I don't know anything about this Duch-"
"Stop being silly, Mary Ann! I'm Bill the gardener, of course you know me!"
At that moment Alice, or Mary Ann as she was known to the lizard, could respond because something was happening to her. "Oh, Fluffy, help me! I'm growing again!" And indeed she was. Fluffy was helpless as she doubled, tripled, quadrupled the normal size of any human until she was a giant with her head above the highest trees in the woods.
"Mary-Ann! Come down at once!" the lizard shouted.
"I don't think she could if she wanted to. She can't help herself, so we must help her," Fluffy replied calmly.
Bill the lizard had been so absorbed with the growing Alice that he had not noticed the ocelot standing by him, and he cried out “A cat! Oh my! Help!” The lizard began to run in circles in his panic, but Fluffy ended his nonsense with a swift cut to his throat.
“Stupid animals” he said in disgust, before eating the small lizard in a single gulp. By this time he noticed that several other animals were closing in on him and the giant Alice, stalking through the bushes. As Fluffy looked closer, he could see they were armed, but with what he could not tell. He hissed, his hackles raised, ready to fight for his new giant friend. But there were too many of them, and as they came closer he could make out more of their odd shape, their flat, square bodies, the shapes of hearts and diamonds…Fluffy never had time to finish his thought, as something hit him in the back of the head, and he fell to the ground.

[Sargossa]

Somewhere in the Ochea Mountains...

"Lower the globe!"

From the ceiling a large golden orb slowly descended, illuminated dots spread across its surface.

"As you can see gentlemen, I have warheads primed and ready to destroy all the capital cities of Rushmore. Unless my demands are met every single seat of power across the continent will be left a smouldering ruin. How was that?"

"Most tyrannical."

"And the acoustics in here are fantastic. I can't believe we waited so long to build a secret volcano lair. See how the globe came down? Very smooth."

The supervillian known only as Scorpius plonked himself down in his plush velour swivel throne and pointed it at the massive screen that dominated one wall. "Ok, how do I get SargoSport on this thing?"

"Channel 57."

He pushed buttons on the keypad imbedded in the armrest. And pushed them again. He took off his shoe and beat the pad with the sole. "Why is this not working?"

"A known problem sir. Some compatibility issue. IT have a helpdesk ticket open on it."

"A helpdesk ticket? This used to be so much simpler. Fine. You." The shoe flew across the room to strike a dozing, jump suited lackey. "You. Dozing, jump suited lackey. Find channel 57. We should just be in time for the Copa results."

The lackey stopped his dozing and raced to the control box below the screen. Images shoot to life as he cycled through the channels. Finally stopping on highlights of the commentator unfriendly Group H encounter between Nieuwe Sleeswijk and Khabarovsk Krai.

"Ah Group H. We're next."

Sure enough Group I scores popped up.

"Yes! 3 - 1. That put those Chenkoryans back in their place. They win a few medals at the Olympics and suddenly think they're special."

"Umm . . . excuse me."

The throne span around to face a delivery man flanked by two huge men in suits. He held a clipboard towards Scorpius.

"Could I have a signature?"

"For what exactly?"

"Eh...Julio's Fish Emporium, delivery for Jay's Sal...?"

"Jesalon." Scorpius' number two stepped out of the shadows. "Jesalon Centre for Geothermal Research."

"Is that what we are? That's good. I like it. But why is this person here?"

"Your fish. Remember?"

"My fish? My fish! Finally. Open the tank!"

In the centre of the floor a massive scorpion insignia split asunder as a large pool of water was revealed underneath. Six more jump suited lackey's wheeled in a large tank and upended it at one end of the pool. Water and fish poured in.

"Funny. I thought they'd be bigger. Probably need feeding. Shock. Awe. Throw him in."

The smartly dressed brutes each grabbed an arm of the delivery man and heaved him into the pool. As he flailed in the water the fish swarmed around him, gently nibbling at his feet.

"You know, I was led to believe this would be quicker. More bubbling. More churning. More water turn red with gore. That kinda thing."

Number two reached in a deftly removed one of the fish by its tail.

"I don't actually think this is a piranha."

**************************************************************************************************************************************************************

Meanwhile, in downtown Puerto Temuco...

"Jesalon?"

"J's Saloon. Close enough. Tip them into the feet tank. These little babies are gonna take this place to the next level." He bent down to remove his shoe. "Better take them for a test drive."

"You sure? They look angry."

"Oh people are always afraid of new things. Watch this..."

[The Hidden Paw]

Maybe time passes more slowly in 'The Hidden Paw' than it does in some other nations, but anyway they're sending exactly the same team that they sent to the previous Cup (and to the one before that, and for that matter the one before that too, as well...) but nobody in it looks any older now than they did then...


Nation: The Hidden Paw
Team nickname: 'The Great Hunt'


Manager: Harrubearr DeWhite (male Ursine, very light-brown fur, elderly, eloquent)

Team Doctor: Berrins ThunderBear (male Ursine, youngish adult, dark brown fur, wears heavy glasses and often wears a white 'lab' coat over his ordinary clothes, doesn't talk much)

Kits: 'Home' = all white (except Goalkeeper's, which is dark gray)
'Away' = all black (except Goalkeeper's, which is light gray)

Style modifier: balanced, essentially ±0 (although if the host is willing then this goes to +1 against any team whose style is -2.5 or lower / -1 against any team whose style is +2.5 or higher...)

Normal formation: 3-4-3

RP permissions: Anything that's reasonable or funny, but don't get too many of them red-carded at a time; however their doctor can "magically" fix most injuries almost immediately, and most other injuries before their next game... and two of the players, namely 'Sable' & 'Scarrlett', are basically indestructible to any hazards to which they're at all likely to be exposed in these circumstances anyway.


Yes, they're all Ursines, although unlike the teams from Bears Armed they're males rather than females. They're generally closer to the 'human' end of the anthropomorphism scale than most of BA's people, less massive but more agile than those, and --- except in any specific cases where I indicate otherwise -- have eyesight within the normal human range.
Also unlike the teams from BA, these players are quite likely to cheat if they think that there's something worthwhile to be gained by doing so and that they have a reasonable chance of getting away with it. To use an analogy based on the Harry Potter' books, if BA is 'Hufflepuffs' -- which I think would be a fairly common view abroad -- or even (at least by their own estimation) 'Gryffindors' then THP tends to be more... well... 'Slytherins'...
(Why a 'Harry Potter' analogy, you ask? Well, remember, this is one of the nations that managed to field a team for NS's first 'Quidditch World Cup': Don't worry, though, they have a strict "No wands inside sporting venues" rule for everybody except sports associations' officials and -- when playing -- Quidditch teams...)
(Of course, 'Slytherins' and their typical attitude to rules...)


Roster

Goalkeeper: #01 _ Pait'hurr Storm _ plays for 'SouthGate Stormcubs' _ dark brown fur, ambidextrous, big but fast on his feet too, can exhale strongly enough to blow the ball around and maybe even to blow opposing players off of their feet.

Defenders: #02 _ Berrjhill ThunderBear _ plays for 'Island Rangers', usual position = Left Back _ greyish-brown fur, left-pawed, twin brother of #04. (These twins have a strong rapport that helps them to work very well together).
#03 _ Darron Barkh _ plays for 'Imagerrie Ikons', usual position = Centre Back _ dark brown fur, left-pawed, big and strong but deceptively nimble too, the team's youngest player.
#04 _ Skorth ThunderBear _ plays for 'Island Rangers', usual position = Right Back _ greyish-brown fur, right-pawed, twin brother of #02. (These twins have a strong rapport that helps them to work very well together).


Midfielders:

#05 _ Anddurr Sable _ plays for 'Midsomer Mysteries', usual position = Defensive Left Midfielder, Team Captain _ ambidextrous, black fur, expressionless eyes, "indestructable", can not only project his voice right across the field but do so in such a way that only his intended target[s] here him, a very good player and a verrry good tactician.
#06 _ Derrak o FarWoods _ plays for 'FarWoods Rangers', usual position = Defensive Right Midfielder _ grayish-brown fur, right-pawed, in awe of (but dislikes) Andderr Sable.
#007 _ Jamz Bland _ plays for 'Multiversal Importers', usual position = Offensive Right Midfielder _ fur = light brown, right-pawed, good at getting to where his team's opponents don't want him to be, a playmaker and sometimes (usually when the opposition don't expect it) goal scorer, almost as good as he thinks he is _ off the pitch he dresses stylishly & expensively (just avoiding "flashily" too), enjoys good living and fast cars, and chases attractive females (Human as well as Ursine) who do tend to fall for him...
#404 _ Ethbahr Nevermore _ plays for 'Midsomer Mysteries', usually as Offensive Left Winger _ black fur, smaller than 'Sable' and a bit further from human than him as well, ambidextrous, he specialises in getting around the pitch without being noticed by the opposition (for example, to ensure that one of his colleagues isn't "offside" after all) and doesn't talk much.


Strikers:

#11 _ Bruettus Woaden _ plays for 'ChromaCity Champions', usual position = Left Forward _ dark brown fur with a "blue" tinge, right-pawed, big & strong, fairly fast but not quite as manoeuvrable (or as intelligent?) as some of his colleagues; [non-identical] twin of #12.
#12 _ Bruenno Woaden _ plays for 'ChromaCity Champions', usual position = Right Forward _ dark brown fur with a "blue" tinge, left-pawed, tbig & strong, fairly fast but not quite as manoeuvrable (or as intelligent?) as some of his colleagues; [non-identical] twin of #11.
#13 _ Gerray Scarrlett _ 'ChromaCity Champions', usual position = Centre Forward _ medium-brown fur with a reddish tinge, ambidextrous, a bit smaller than the twins but still quite large by human standards and surprisingly strong, fast and manoeuvrable and bright, "indestructible", good at inspiring the team (of which he is Deputy Captain...).
(A fairly common tactic, when Gerray kicks off, will be for him to take the ball down-field while the Woaden twins back him up -- in a sort-of 'wedge' formation -- to discourage any attempts at tackling him & to help recover the ball if he does lose it...)


(Substitutes possibly to be added later...)

[Kazzoria]

Ansernia Islands 0-1 Kazzoria

Thoth's blog

Hello there! As god of wisdom I know that you have trodden into a bad place here! Not really, I joke. Anyway as a group of Egyptian gods we seem to have hitten a rough patch. After a few thousand years of employment the Egyptians decided to move to another group of gods to pay. Now we have to take employment from a bunch of spaced out refugees. We really have lost it haven't we?

Anyway how did Kazzoria do? Surprisingly badly considering they have a team of supernatrual beings on their side. Seriously, they have only scored a goal all tournament. But they are also top of their group, say anything about the quality of football here? Still they put in an average performance and a great sneeze from Ra caused the goal. And to think if it had have been three minutes later he would be on the sun and past twelve putting the ball into his own goal. He enjoyed bragging on skype to the team after the game. My wisdom is saying at the minute that they need to play off of Set instead of just relying on him running down the pitch, he isn't that good.

I would like to state that I'm finally getting a real job. I mean I have no business being a god really, it isn't just my thing. No, I'm much better at leacturing philosiphy and I've got a job at Dukesville in Mossulia. They like their sports there as well which is good for me. Going back to football Kazzoria have to play Pasarga next who are on the bottom, but they should be doing better.

[Mytannion]

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

'1 win, 1 loss, it's all one 1 game.'

by Vladimir Hyralov

Well, our Copa Rushmori did not get off to the best of starts. A small following of Mytanars were in the stadium to watch the Hoops lose to our greatest rivals after the team managed to only arrive in Ayacucho 17 hours before the game. The players obviously weren't in the best form and what was described as a 'tamer than usual' group of Mytanars did their best to cheer the team on but it was to no avail - as our players seemed tired and sluggish after having barely any rest before the game and no time to practise before the game, after the travel problems before the game, with the team not risking flying through the snow and ice in Mytannion - which has been ravaging the nation for the past week or so and has stopped all travel in and out of Mytannion, really, but the national team managed it - taking a huge risk - and managed to survive the horrible weather.

We played Cotdelapoms and they really shocked us, when we play them - we know it is going to be a tough game no matter what team we put out, but when we field a team that is extremely tired and hasn't had time to train together on the surface in a foreign country - well, the difficulty level is multiplied by a fairly large number. Our fans did well to make a bit of noise, even though there were only around 150-250 allowed into the stadium, after many fans boycotted travelling due to discriminatory bans being put in place on Mytanar 'hooligans' - a ban which cannot be properly enforced as the Whirl Islander officials don't know of any known hooligans or if someone who has been a fairly well-behaved travelling fan could decide to cause trouble in a game - anyway, our fans bounced, banged their drum and twirled their scarves - there were even a couple of flares seen! However, the usual Mytanar voice was not heard, with the fans not being as loud as they normally are.

We wounded heavily by big and destructive Cotdelapomais attacks as young Montreal forward James Hunt ran riot scoring a hattrick against us after Demy de Zooijt had possibly the worst possible debut he could have as he made a few big errors which could otherwise have been made into saves. Instead, he conceded 6 goals - an embarrassing defeat against our biggest rivals on the international stage was apparently exactly what was to become of it, but we did at least get a few consolation goals - Salum Merec struck after a nice run through the defence and then a great shot, grabbing a goal on his international debut against the Apples. Laze v Tuhinju then came on off the bench and got a brilliant double, towering above the defenders to nod home and then accelerating away to slot home for his second. Obviously it was nowhere near enough, and the game finished 6-3.

We then had to play Erathore, with not very much energy and rest under our belts - but the extra rest had completely improved our game as we played the Erathis with extra verve and creativity. They struck first, which made the game look exactly like it would be a repeat of the game against Cotdelapoms - they scored within five minutes! However, Salum Merec was on hand to extend his tally of international goals into two goals in two games. A brilliant chip through the defence from Filip Bosc found Merec onside, he made a quick turn - and smashed low and hard into the bottom right corner of the net, the goalkeeper was helpless - the shot went straight in - the goalkeeper stood their, stranded as the ball trickled past him.

Captain fantastic, Robin Hjik is only 24 and is nearing the 100-cap mark, and should make it in World Cup qualifying - he is on 88 now, and will go over 90 caps in the Copa Rushmori, or should do providing we beat Queer Poco el Mono Ara - which would mean we're qualified through to the knockout rounds, at least - which will be brilliant. Anyway, we gave ourselves a brilliant chance of qualification after we beat Erathore though, with Robin Hjik's volley from outside the box, after a Benoit Visoisse corner was looped outside the box to Hjik, who simply smashed it home and then jogged over to the 300-strong Mytanar following in the Stade Moncton, the small following were running riot at the base of the stand - even without the larger numbers of Mytanar fans - who still are refusing to travel following the discrimination against Mytanars in this tournament! Hjik has 88 caps and has scored 22 goals now - he should improve that though, he is going to go onto be a Mytanar footballing legend - no doubt.

Anyway, we need a win tomorrow - wish us luck - and if you travel, give them hell from us!

(OOC: obviously there isn't too much discrimination, we're just blowing this out of proportion rather like the Astograthian papers).

[The Kiaser Colonies]

Alfie: "Damn. We are in for it now. We had to loose 3-1 to polar islandstates. Now we have to beat Camwood. Or we're out."

Sheila: "First, no swearing, second, don't worry. Camwood are new enough to football at this level. They are just starting the baptism of fire now"

Alfie: "But they drew with polar islandstates. That means they are definitely better than us. We're doomed. Also, damn isn't a swear. Damn, damn, damn, damn, da-"

Sheila: "Alfie, bed now. I don't care what you think I don't want you saying that all the time"

Alfie: "Mum I'm 14. I'm too old to be sent to bed at 7pm."

Sheila: "Then you should be old enough not to swear. Especially over some football results. Your dad never swears over football resul-"

Gordon: "F***! We lost 3-1? Oh come on Beale. What a load of s***. We'll be in trouble against Camwood now"

Alfie makes a face to suggest his mother is wrong

Sheila: *looking shocked and disgusted* "oh. This doesn't change anything. Now go to bed."

Alfie goes upstairs to his room and lies down and takes out his laptop. He can hear his mother telling his dad off.

Alfie: "W, w, w, dot, footychat, dot, t, k, c"

Alfie logs into his account to discuss the match with the other users.

Alfster007: OMG! What a rubbish game. Better off with Neville in goals.

TheDugger: Yeah, was real bad. 3-1. What got you sent to your room this time alf?

MrSuperFantastic: Yeah mate?

Alfster007: How'd you know I got sent up stairs?

TheDugger: You only come on this site after you get sent upstairs.

MOD: TheDugger Warning level upgraded to level 2/3. Anymore non-football related chat and your account will be closed.

MrSuperFantastic: At least N. Papakoi scored.

AwEsOmEmCfOoTyLeGeNd: HI GUYS! What a match 3 goals for us. Go the Polar Islandstates!

Alfster007: Shut up Igor. You got lucky.

MrSuperFantasic: You know your name is sooo hard to read?

MOD: MrSuperFantasic Warning level upgraded to level 2/3. Anymore non-football related chat and your account will be closed.

MrSuperFantasic: Oh come on MOD. Why are you so hatin'?

MOD: MrSuperFantasic Warning level upgraded to level 3/3. your account is closed.

Alfster007: well i better go. Hopefully we'll beat Camwood

CreepyGuy: Hey kid where do you live? I want to watch the match at yours.

MOD: CreepyGuy your account is closed due to inappropriate question asking.

TheDugger: That was weird. See you Alfster. Good luck in your match tomorrow.

AwEsOmEmCfOoTyLeGeNd: BYE GUYS! Go the Polar Islandstates!

*Alfie closes laptop and lies down. They had to beat Camwood.

[Civil Citizenry]

Since I'm clearly on time with these scores, here's a Group A cutoff for MD2.

West Zirconia 1-3 Whirl Islands
Astograth 1-2 Princess Béatrice Island

-- Team                         P W D L For Ag +/- Pts
 1 Whirl Islands                2 2 0 0  7  1  +6  6
 2 Princess Béatrice Island     2 1 0 1  2  5  -3  3
 3 Astograth                    2 0 1 1  1  2  -1  1
 4 West Zirconia                2 0 1 1  1  3  -2  1

[Bleak Rock]

"What do you think, Edorta?"

"Well, take Rosenmeyer off now he's scored, stick Mackenzie on. He'll be starting the last match against Sarrbia yeah, but, we don't want him to stiffen up."

"Good thinking, let's do that yeah." Shaan paced the technical zone back to his bench of substitutes and echoed the suggestions of his assistant to Mackenzie. "Get warmed up, Gunnar, you're going on. 1-0 up, get a stretch of your legs for the last fifteen minutes."

"Right boss."

Shaan watched Mackenzie carefully as he ran the length of the pitch a few times, then rejoined his assistant on the edge of the technical area - his only assistant that is, Oddur having been given the option to terminate his contract, and Finnur resigning his post soon afterwards.

"Any thoughts?" asked Shaan as Mackenzie and Rosenmeyer made their switch, Rosenmeyer receiving a rousing applause from all corners of the stadium for a fine display of attacking and supportive lone striker work.

"Not at the moment. We've got them well contained, our passing through the middle is excellent provided we keep moving, and Ocel0t seem a bit unclear as to their own formation anyway."

"Good, good. I must say Edorta, finding you has been a stroke of luck. Those other two didn't know what they were doing."

"Always happy to help out a rival of the Polarians, Shaan, always happy. Plus its a good start to coaching and management, this. I'm enjoying myself a lot."

"Glad to hear it. There, look. Eygenroy's pass there. What did you make of that?"

"How do you mean? Looked like any other long ball pass to me..."

"Look again, he's still knocking it for Rosenmeyer, he needs to change tack if Mackenzie is on the pitch, hang on... Ingvar! Dietar! Come here!"

Eygenroy and Sigurhelgason looked at each other uncertainly, Ocel0t were in possession and both felt needed where they were.

"Don't worry about the play," yelled Shaan vigorously, "just get here! Now!"

Running over quickly, Eygenroy looked over his shoulder as Tommisen and Broberg smothered the Ocel0t attack mercilessly. Sigurhelgason arrived as well, and Shaan doled out his instructions.

"Rosenmeyer's off the pitch now, you can't play to the same tactics. Mix it up a bit. Play them long, flat, and fast. The ball should bounce along this surface nice and fast, and Mackenzie's pretty quick. Certainly quicker than their left sided defender, sling it down there for him. Now go!"

"What're you planning, Shaan?" asked Urrustoy as the two Blockheads ran back out onto the pitch, "Surely not another goal? Shaan Magerin hunts for goal number two, stop the presses."

"Merely an experiment, Edorta. If we're going to be allowed so much time it's only natural they'll try to play Mackenzie in, I'd rather see them do it correctly, that's all."

Shaan barely had time to turn around and take a drink of water before Eygenroy got on the ball again, remembered Shaan's instructions, and played a long flat through ball for Mackenzie to run on to. Mackenzie reached the ball, accelerated down the left side, cut into the box and played it backwards into the path of the unmarked Sigurhelgason, who was left with a simple tap in that left the stranded keeper with no chance.

"Or, that could happen, I suppose," mused Shaan as Mackenzie and Sigurhelgason ran off to celebrate with the Blockhead travelling support, who had just risen to their feet for the second time in seven minutes to celebrate a goal. A sight to warm the hearts of any Cape St Paul fans that happened to be watching. "Bish, bash, bosh."

Shaan sat down in the dugout and folded his arms, knowing the cameras would be on him. Job done, he reckoned. Bring on the next team.

[Whirl Islands]

Copa Rushmori in Blue and Red

After a terrible intro with an annoying theme song and terrible special effects, the camera shows the two hosts for this show, who happen to be none other than Freddy Simmonds, #1 fan of Navel Sharks (the most popular and successful football team in the whole nation) and Rafael Álvarez, fan of Navel FC, the second-best team in the nation. Both hosts direct a furious glance at each other, and this time the show is being recorded at the observatory located at the top of Reef Tower, one of Navel's main tourist attractions, after Whirl Islands' victory against West Zirconia, which guaranteed the Islanders a place in the Round of 16.

Freddy: And hello everyone to this episode of Copa Rushmori in Blue and Red, with more passion, more blood and more trash talk about those 35-teams-not-worth-enough-to-watch-live coming from that amazingly-pathetic co-host we have here.

Rafael: I'm gonna kill you...

Freddy: Tonight, Whirl Islands qualified to the Round of 16 after defeating a ridiculously boring cheap jewelry team apparently called "West Zirconia". Was 3-1 the score?

Rafael: Yes, it was. Thanks to that, we've got 6 points and we're qualified to the next round because la Isla de la Princesa Meretriz defeated those pesky Goths and anyways PBI cannot kick us out of first place because we gave them a nice welcoming gift in their first match.

Freddy: Who else is qualified apart from us? I heard Cot-Tennis-poms and Ab-whatever-the-[censorship beep]-you-pronounce-it are also in the next round...

Rafael: And what about Swartaz, Bleak Rock, Nieu-whatever, Sargossa and Carasatoga? Don't they have 6 points as well?

Freddy: Yes, but a lose in their next match and any of them can even fall to the play-off. Check the standings first, then say a piece of rubbish.

Rafael: Grr...excuse my big ignorance, almighty Copa Rushmori god...Anyways, we're going to the next part of this show, sponsored by Truff Beer...

Freddy:...which tastes like your grandma's feet.

Rafael: WHAT!?

Freddy: I said nothing (whistles)

Rafael: And here in this section, I am going to present my hottest picks to reach the later rounds in this tournament, and some pesky dude is going to spit his destructive comments about my choices.

Freddy: I bet $10 with the production crew that your "hottest picks" will be colder than an iceberg.

Rafael: Keep behaving like a brat and I'll throw you from this observatory with a kick. And, let's go with the teams I consider (after 2 matches) as the strongest candidates to win this Copa Rushmori edition. First, I'll start with Whirl Islands. Our Islanders are showing an interesting style which has allowed them to wipe the floor with all their rivals so far, although it's obvious that PBI and West Zirconia are not the best rivals to help us rate this team.

Freddy: We're the hosts, obviously we couldn't embarrass ourselves in front of our people.

Rafael: I can't believe I agree with you for once!

Freddy: Don't expect it to happen too often.

Rafael: Well, and now I'm going with my #2 pick: Cotdelapoms! They've scored plenty of goals so far: 9 goals in 2 matches! and they can also count with support from the large blue wave that has invaded Moncton. If they continue with such demolishing performances, we can start making a place for them at Jamestown.

Freddy: I still think they should go into tennis.

Rafael: And now, my #3 pick. It's called...QPeMA? No. Polar Islandstates? Erm...no. Pasarga? Obviously not! I'm talking about Nieuwe Sleeswijk!

Freedy: New but strong...although we know in a group made of only newbies anything could have happened.

Rafael: And that "anything" happened with this team scoring 4 goals per match and being close to the Round of 16. Those are the pleasant surprises of football, but I think their football should've been enough to give them a place in the following round with a match to spare.

Freddy: If they hadn't had to face Southern Cynocephali in their last match, who have also shown themselves as a pleasant surprise in previous tournaments to this one...

Rafael: And my fourth, and fifth and last "hottest picks" are Sargossa and Ab...whatever. The Sargossans are willing to defend the title they won in Palacios and Rodallega, although a bit weakened due to their long absence from the international stage, but still with hopes to regain their former power...

Freddy: Erm...they're still a "power" in Rushmore when it comes to football...

Rafael: You don't seem to realize how rude you look when you interrupt someone.

Freddy: Meh...and who said Navel FC's fans cared about "politeness"?

Rafael: I'm not going to discuss that with you. Going back into topic, the team-mostly-known-as-ABK is my last pick to reach at least the quarterfinals of the competition. Although I don't trust their football will help them sneak into the semifinals.

Freddy: They've faced a lot of weak teams...Seleucius, the Hidden Paw, Palacios and Rodallega...oh please! ABK's true prowess will be really tested in the Round of 16.

Rafael: And with that, I conclude my list of "hottest picks". Do we have any more trash talk this time?

Freddy: What about if we talk about our next rivals? Astograth!

Rafael: Oh, the Goths! Go ahead.

Freddy: OK...they were sunk in third place in the group with a single, tiny point after being beaten by...*fanfare*...Princess Béatrice Island!

Everyone in the recording area makes faces of surprise, some more gruesome than others.

Freddy: Shocking, isn't it? We were able to beat that team of prostitutes and they weren't. They must really suck, no matter what that Astrogothic melodramatic lampoon says.

Rafael: That should explain pretty well why the stupid Goths are third and the pathetic princesses are second.

Freddy: Do you realize that we'll give the Goths their well-deserved ticket home if we just draw them?

Rafael: Draw? I'm not signing a draw with those parrots, I want the guys to go for the win. At least that would allow us to avoid another first-placed when they make the draw for the next round. If you're so pathetic to be happy with the draw, I'm not in that group.

Freddy: You would never be in my group even if you were the last existing living being on Earth.

Rafael: You know I love you too.

Freddy: Eww...go marry your pet snake instead. Moreover, I'm sure our viewers may want to know some other interesting, funny facts about you...

Rafael:...And I think that ends our show for today! Tune us in after Whirl Islands' next Copa Rushmori match against Astograth for more Copa Rushmori fun and other things you're surely not interested in! See you all next time!

Freddy: Don't cut, please! Don't cut, I haven't shown that interesting info...

Production crew member: Oh dude, too late...

Freddy: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Rafael: Ha ha ha ha!

[Nieuwe Sleeswijk]

Race a factor in team selection?

Nieuwe Sleeswijk Heroes are Dutchies.

After a stunning 4-2 win over Khabarovsk Krai the issue of race is far from ignored. A Gëan radio commentator, Gogak Civa (generally regarded as having a chip on his shoulder anyway), has openly accused Wouter van Uyl and the NSFA of racist selection, favouring Europeans over certain Mori groups, with others such as the East Mori at the bottom of the pile.

For this, Gogak has outlined that:

-Only 5 of the 11 starters in the first game were of Mori descent, both players taken off were Moris with a Sleeswijker coming on in place of one of them.
-In the second game, only 4 Moris began the game (Oltmans in place of Toco), whilst Thijssen came on for Dok late on.
-Only 9 of 23 squad members are Mori. Of these 4 are from Totk, 3 are from Gwru-gea and only one each from Oogu-gu and non-Dane Våre-gagaia.
-All three Dutch states, and the Danes are represented in the squad, and with Thijssen's substitute appearance, have all played. Conversely, all 5 special considerations players are representing Mori states.
-3 of 6 top level staff members are Dutch, with 1 Dane, 1 Tokai and 1 Marguza. No East Mori, no Water Mori.

That all, initially makes one wonder whether there is something to it - but look more deeply and you have to say that Gogak is talking nonsense. First, the Dutch are in the majority of the population, so they would naturally be expected to have the majority of the squad (but only 5 or 6 of 11 starters, so half). Second, the Dutch teams, along with the "favoured" players from Totk and Gwru-gea dominate the leagues, so it would be expected that these are dominant. Third, with inter-Mori preferences, again, Totk and Gwru-gea are the most populous Mori states, so they would normally be better represented.

There really appears to be nothing to Gogak's report (and yet another of his Official Complaints) but the fact that it was made is important as I think it would damage legitimate claims of bias in the future (the boy who cried wolf anyone?), there is always a chance of someone becoming manager who is anti-Mori, if people like Gogak scream at every opportunity of bias then legitimate voices will become ignored - this is not in the nation's best interests. The fact is: race is still an issue in Nieuwe Sleeswijkan politics and given the cultural homogeneity of most states it seems unlikely that this will change any time soon. I hope for the nation that we can continue to work - and I give my backing to Wouter and his team for their solid selections, caring about getting the Kooikerhondjes to win, rather than pandering to nut-cases like Gogak Civa.

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

Scorers last match:
Gaerthé (Röntgen) '23, Oltmans (Hjejle) '29, Wltigu '69, Wroda (Oefbo) '88.

[Southern Cynocephali]

Deangelo Cleo Barrasa, Gauvain Mercier and Francois Zezima closed together into a small circle as their teammates warmed up around them. The small stadium in Narissa was almost full, the 10,000 seat York Stadium bellowing out noise from the fans already finding their voice as the team prepared for the match. The stands were coloured red, white and blue, with both fans of Nieuwe Sleeswijk and Southern Cynocephali wearing their similar national colours; although the Kooikerhondjes fans could be picked out from the red which was largely missing from their Southern Cynoceph counterparts.

Barrasa raised his voice so the other two players could hear him, "This is going to be a tough match."

Mercier looked up from the ball at his feet, as he stopped flicking it from foot to foot. "I have a feeling our defence is going to be tested all day. I hope they're up for it."

"Let us worry about that, we'll be helping them out all day as we deal with their brilliant attack. You just worry about scoring some more goals, we're going to need them." interjected Zezima, the eldest member of the squad.

"We'll try and hit them on the counter, I reckon. Let them push up, then bam!" suggested Barrasa. "I'll try and get quick ball to you Gauv, you just do what you did against Carmadin."

"That was a nice brace mate." praised Zezima. "Let's hope you've got more in you today."

Mercier jumped in. "Well, you boys are going to be busy in the middle. Have you seen the two young midfielders, numbers seven and eight? They are crazy good."

"You mean Gaerthé and Röntgen. I have the privilege of having Gaerthé running at me all game to look forward to." lamented Zezima, rubbing his aging legs in anticipation of a hard day at the office.

"Don't forget young Hjejle, number eleven." said Barrasa, reminding the others of yet another threat they faced from Nieuwe Sleeswijk today. "Honestly, what do you boys think of our chances today?"

"I don't know if we can outscore these guys. We're going to need some luck at the back." said Mercier, seemingly lacking confidence despite his recent good form.

"Have you forgotten our performance of late? I plan on adding another third place trophy to my cabinet, so to speak. Winning today gives us the best chance of doing that, and I have confidence if we stick to the game plan." sagely spoke Zezima. "We can do this boys. Just play our natural game. Deangelo, try and sit in the middle of the park, inside the diamond. You'll either find some space or make some for us wider players. Are you listening?"

Deangelo Cleo Barrasa was looking around the stadium, watching people arrive and take their seats. Watching a couple of young ladies walk down the stairs towards some vacant seats, he was snapped out of his daze by a clip over the back of the head from Zezima. "Yeah, I got it" spat Barrasa, glaring at his senior teammate.

The attention of the trio was directed to their goalkeeper and team captain, Arron Yuill, beckoning them over. They began to slowly jog across the pitch, heading back to rest of the squad for the final instructions from the manager before the match.

"I wonder if he has any more brilliant ideas or tactical masterpieces for us today." said Barrasa sarcastically as he crossed the pitch. Barrasa was already feeling the heat of the Narissan sun, and felt a bead of sweat trickle down his forehead, which he instinctivly wiped off with the back of his hand.

"I hope not. Although I could do with the ice treatments from the Cup of Harmony. I was just getting used to that new team bus, I liked it. Nobody else had refrigerated transport." said Mercier, only half joking given the current climate in which he found himself.

"Well, Ron (Arron Yuill) told me that the plan is most definitely not off the table from what Ram (Napoleone Ramolino) has hinted at." replied Zezima. "Maybe we can convince him to bring them back after this match."

"Might not matter if we don't get a result today." sighed Barrasa as the trio reached the edge of the pitch.
The three key players ran off the pitch and out of the harsh heat as they joined the rest of the team to make the final preparations before the vital match.

[Polar Islandstates]

Entering the room, Jens Poulsen looked around at the assembled faces, a few he recognised, many he didn't, and the familiar smell of ready made tea and coffee hovering in the air. A circle of tables was arranged around the perimeter of the plush hotel suite, and the A/C was working overdrive so as to counteract the choking heat attempting to seep in through the windows. Sitting down at his desk opposite the projector screen, he double clicked his laptop internet symbol, and logged into the wireless provided by the conference he was attending...

<RUSHMORE CARTOGRAPHERS UNION - SUMMIT XIV - NARISSA, WHIRL ISLANDS>
<USERNAME: j.poulsen.polarislandstates>
<PASSWORD: *********>

A bleep and a pop later, his engine was whirring up, and loading up his messages. He started idly clicking through a few of them, when a man stood up and addressed the room.

"Ladies, gentlemen, I believe we are all here. If you would take your seats, thank you."

There was a clatter of chairs and a chatter of voices as the assembled cartographers did as they were asked to do.

"Now," continued the man, accompanied by flash graphics illustrating his points behind him on the projector screen, "I believe we all know why we are all here. Another year has passed, another year of making little tweaks and changes to our own national maps, so now we must put the new national maps together, and we shall have a new map for Rushmore. Excellent. I believe Mr Poulsen has volunteered to be the host unit for this year's map, so if you would be so kind as to upload your maps for him now? Thank you."

"Yeah," shouted out Jens, "and then when we're done we can nip out to watch some of the Copa!"

"Oh no I hardly think so," chimed the Bleak Rock representative, "So you can lose and put yourself out of the competition? Why bother?"

"Ha, yeah," added the ABK cartographer, "I mean, why even bother going outside? A lucky win and all of a sudden the whole nation is a Terns fan. Do me a favour."

"But I ju-" started Jens, before he was cut off by the Astograthi representative, who joined in with his own Rumiatzi Sentinel inspired slating of the Polar Islandstates nation team. Jens decided to hold his tongue, and just got on with the map. The quicker he got it done, the quicker he could be in the queue for the match against The Kytler Peninsulae, whose cartographer was helpfully pointing out to Jens exactly why is team would beat the Terns and by how many.

"-about five or six I think. So there. How's the map getting on?"

"Oh, fine." replied Jens with a smirk, as an idea popped into his head. "You know, if Timo Skye was here we-"

"TIMO SKYE? As if, you know I saw him play several time for JuvMax, and I'm not sure he-" interrupted the Erathi cartographer, who was in turn interrupted by the Mytanar, Cotdelapomais, and Civiz representatives, all with their own scathingly teasing remarks about the Terns.

Pretty soon, the whole room was alive with cartographers busily discussing how bad the Polarian team were, trying to wind Jens up as far as possible. Jens wasn't even sure if a couple of them were still joking. But he didn't mind, he held his tongue, and got on with his plan.

"-don't remember seeing anything beyond a simple passing movement ever executed with-"

"-hit a barn door with a fridge on St Michael's day, fortunately-"

"-lubed up good and proper-"

"-barging his way around aggressively like a bull in a china shop-"

"-at the complete mercy of the cow in the next field-"

"-and I honestly think in the next match you're going to get completely and utterly f-"

"Done!" yelled Jens, halting the teasing in mid flow, a series of beeps confirming this to the cartographers as he closed his laptop. "Anyway, that should be loading onto the projector screen. I, against your best advice, am off to queue for a ticket for the next Terns match. Good day, ladies and gentlemen." And with a smirk and a nod, Jens turned on his heel, clutched his laptop under his arm, and strode purposefully out of the door.

"Ah," started the host, "that was quick, what a fine piece of work he's done there. Now, let me load it up here..." and with a double click at the lectern console, the map file began to load slowly, row by row, onto the projector.

"Behold!" shouted the host, before trailing off at the end when he saw Jens' handiwork, "our new map of... Rushmore?"

Suck it, Rushmore.

[OOC: to those nations who requested to be on the map, I'm having some problems exporting the file without inkscape crashing, so I had to use an older version for this RP, apologies.]

[Whirl Islands]

And this is our last RP cutoff for the group stage. Which teams will advance to the next round and which ones will have to play in the play-off for the last 2 berths?

---

And we now have some results!

Group A results to come later.

Group B:

Civil Citizenry 2-0 Lonaga
Albundania 3-1 Swartaz

Team                   P W D L For Ag +/- Pts
 1 Albundania          3 2 0 1  6  3  +3   6 Q
 2 Swartaz             3 2 0 1  6  4  +2   6 Q
 3 Civil Citizenry     3 2 0 1  4  3  +1   6
 4 Lonaga              3 0 0 3  1  7  -6   0

Group C:

Pasarga 0-1 Ansernia Islands
Logria 0-0 Kazzoria

Team                     P W D L For Ag +/- Pts
 1 Ansernia Islands      3 2 0 1  2  1  +1   6 Q
 2 Kazzoria              3 1 2 0  1  0  +1   5 P
 3 Logria                3 1 1 1  1  1  +0   4
 4 Pasarga               3 0 1 2  0  2  -2   1

Group D:

Cotdelapoms 2-1 Erathore
Queer Poco el Mono Ara 1-4 Mytannion

Team                           P W D L For Ag +/- Pts
 1 Cotdelapoms                 3 3 0 0  11  4  +7  9 Q
 2 Mytannion                   3 2 0 1   9  8  +1  6 Q
 3 Queer Poco el Mono Ara      3 1 0 2   3  8  -5  3
 4 Erathore                    3 0 0 3   3  6  -3  0

Group E:

Saugeais 2-0 Ocel0t
Sarrbia 0-1 Bleak Rock

Team              P W D L For Ag +/- Pts
 1 Bleak Rock     3 3 0 0  4  0  +4   9 Q
 2 Sarrbia        3 1 0 2  4  4  +0   3 P
 3 Ocel0t         3 1 0 2  2  5  -3   3
 4 Saugeais       3 1 0 2  3  4  -1   3

Group F:

The Kytler Peninsulae 1-1 Polar Islandstates
Camwood 0-1 The Kiaser Colonies

Team                          P W D L For Ag +/- Pts
 1 The Kiaser Colonies        3 2 0 1  3  3  +0   6 Q
 2 Polar Islandstates         3 1 2 0  5  3  +2   5 *
 3 Camwood                    3 1 1 1  2  2  +0   4
 4 The Kytler Peninsulae      3 0 1 2  1  3  -2   1

Group G:

Abcdefghijklmnopqrstuk 1-1 Palacios and Rodallega
Seleucius 1-0 The Hidden Paw

Team                           P W D L For Ag +/- Pts
 1 Abcdefghijklmnopqrstuk      3 2 1 0  6  2  +4   7 Q
 2 Seleucius                   3 2 0 1  3  1  +2   6 Q
 3 The Hidden Paw              3 1 0 2  3  5  -2   3
 4 Palacios and Rodallega      3 0 1 2  1  5  -4   1

Group H:

Southern Cynocephali 1-1 Nieuwe Sleeswijk
Carmadin 2-0 Khabarovsk Krai

Team                         P W D L For Ag +/- Pts
 1 Nieuwe Sleeswijk          3 2 1 0  9  4  +5   7 Q
 2 Southern Cynocephali      3 1 2 0  4  2  +2   5 P
 3 Carmadin                  3 1 0 2  3  6  -3   3
 4 Khabarovsk Krai           3 0 1 2  3  7  -4   1

Group I:

Sargossa 1-0 Carasatoga
Chenkorya 1-0 Mangolana

Team              P W D L For Ag +/- Pts
 1 Sargossa       3 3 0 0  7  2  +5   9 Q
 2 Carasatoga     3 2 0 1  4  3  +1   6 Q
 3 Chenkorya      3 1 0 2  3  5  -2   3
 4 Mangolana      3 0 0 3  2  6  -4   0

* Polar Islandstates's qualification to the next round will depend on Group A's second placed and its final tally of points. If the second placed team in Group A ends with 4 points, Polar Islandstates will qualify to the Round of 16. If the second placed in Group A ends with 6 points, Polar Islandstates will be forced to play the play-off.

Play-off and Round of 16 definitive pairings will be known whenever Group A results are posted.

[Civil Citizenry]

Silly Names is happy to present this final cutoff for Group A.

Whirl Islands 0-0 Astograth
West Zirconia 0-3 Princess Béatrice Island

-- Team                          P  W  D  L For Ag +/- Pts
 1 Whirl Islands                 3  2  1  0  7  1  +6  7 Q
 2 Princess Béatrice Island      3  2  0  1  5  5  +0  6 Q
 3 Astograth                     3  0  2  1  1  2  -1  2
 4 West Zirconia                 3  0  1  2  1  6  -5  1

[Whirl Islands]

With the group stage now done, here are the pairings for the Playoffs and Round of 16 matches:

Play-offs:

Polar Islandstates vs. Sarrbia - Venue: Hastings Park, Terranova
Southern Cynocephali vs. Kazzoria - Venue: York Stadium, Narissa

Round of 16:

Whirl Islands vs. Seleucius - Venue: Portomar Field, Navel
Albundania vs. The Kiaser Colonies - Venue: Lagoon Road, Lagoon Town
Nieuwe Sleeswijk vs. Carasatoga - Venue: York Stadium, Narissa
Bleak Rock vs. Mytannion - Venue: Municipal Stadium, Eastburg

Cotdelapoms vs. Polar Islandstates/Sarrbia - Venue: Stade Moncton, Moncton
Abcdefghijklmnopqrstuk vs. Princess Béatrice Island - Venue: Estadio del Mar, Puerto Viejo
Ansernia Islands vs. Swartaz - Venue: Yellow Park, Atlantis
Sargossa vs. Southern Cynocephali/Kazzoria - Venue: South Park Stadium, Hoxvathor

As a reminder, play-off matches will be scorinated on Thursday and Round of 16 matches will be scorinated on Saturday.

[Seleucius]

It was minute 64, the score was 0-0 and Fábian Taggliafico was tying his boots while he watched how Martin Marzoli was being removed from the field in a stretcher, after a brutal tackle that hit his knee. Varella was giving him instructions, it was the chance he had been waiting and if they won they would qualify for the next round. He had this funny feeling, similar to the one he had whe he was playing the Astograthian Cup final, when he won his first title. He knew he was going to score and give his country a victory.

After nine minutes he was jumping inside the opponet's area, rising for the ball Román had sent from the corner and then hitting it with his forehead. He didn't see how the ball crossed the goal line, but he knew he had scored.

[The Kiaser Colonies]

Alfie stared at the Group F table. How? What? Did this just happen? Why? He couldn't believe it. The Kiaser Colonies had beaten Camwood (Not too much of a surprise since they were favourites) but had somehow topped the group. What Happened to PIS? They must have been dead. How did they draw? How did The Kiaser Colonies top the group? Alfie was not looking where he was going, he kept walking, staring at the result on his Qphone. He bumped into someone and they clashed heads.

Alfie: Ow.

Girl: Ouch.

Alfie looked up and was speechless. She was beautiful. He stared open mouthed at her for a second before she too looked at him.

Alfie: Sorry. I was looking at the football results.

Girl: Yeah, me too.

Alfie: What's your name?

Charlie: Charlie, you?

Alfie: Alfie, Nice to meet you Charlie.

Charlie: Same to you.

Charlie picked up her Qphone. The screen was slightly cracked and scratched.

Alfie: Oh, Sorry about your Qphone. Let me make it up to you.

Alfie really wanted to do something nice for her. He wanted to get her to like him.

Charlie: No, no it's fine.

Alfie: No, I insist. Really I insist.

*an hour later*

Alfster007: Hey guy's. Isn't football and life great?

TheDugger: You seem happy today. The group topping surprised me too.

MrSupahPhantastic: Yeah Alfster. What you do? Bet it was something illegal.

MOD: MrSupahPhantastic warning level upgraded to level 2/3. Any more non-football related chat and your account will be closed.

TheDugger: How did you get up to level 2 already? Your account is only 37 minutes old? Why weren't you talking about the match?

MrSupahPhantastic: Never mind. I just want to know how you guys are. Don't really need to keep going on about football.

MOD: MrSupahPhantasic Warning level upgraded to level 3/3. your account is closed.

Alfster007: Idiot. Football is the reason for the forum.

TheDugger: So what about the match made you so happy?

AwEsOmEmCfOoTyLeGeNd: Hey guys. I'm not feeling so happy. Why did PIS loose top spot?

Alfster007: I'll show you a picture of what made me so happy by TG. Better than Lamont's goal. Bumped into her in the town. Took her for a coffee had my first kiss with her. Going to meet up tomorrow again and watch the N.M.B.A game (Not).

TheDugger: Alfsters got a girlfriend.

AwEsOmEmCfOoTyLeGeNd: OOH! Shame MrSupahPhantasic isn't here for this.

TheDugger: OMG!!! YOU BASTARD! THAT'S MY SISTER! MY YOUNGER SISTER! WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?

Alfster007: Ha, good one.You don't have a sister. I've been to your house before.

TheDugger: I DO HAVE A SISTER! SHE GOES TO THAT BOARDING SCHOOL IN TOWN! I HATE YOU! YOU'RE WORSE THAN WHEN WATSON WENT TO PLAY RUGBY!

AwEsOmEmCfOoTyLeGeNd: Oh, this is awkward. Like the PIS TKC game.

Alfster007: Oh god. I'm so sorry mate. You never told me about her. Besides, she's so hot.

Alfie regretted this the moment he hit enter.

MOD: Alfster007 Warning level upgraded to 1/3. Avoid non-football related chat in future

TheDugger: Oh you're so dead Alfster. You'll pay for this. Just like Matt Graham when he moved to Highroyds FC in 1976 and was beaten up by N.M.B.A fans shortly afterwards (Told you I know the History of N.M.B.A). But your so dead.

AwEsOmEmCfOoTyLeGeNd: I'm going to go now.

Alfie shut his laptop. He knew he would not live to see the round of 16 match with Albundania. Life sucked. Why did football always lead him into trouble?

[Polar Islandstates]

Patrick Ackermann-Finn gasped for air. Turning his head to one side, he opened his mouth and sucked in the humid air of the swimming centre hungrily, before spinning his lanky body in the body, and pushing off from the wall. A textbook turn. Swimming underwater, he lazily flapped his a couple of times before reached the surface once more, arms pushing out in front him to drag the water past him and propel himself forwards. Allowing himself a little glance at the spinning clock on the wall, he noted he was making good time today, must be the frustration pent up inside him. He could have made it as a professional swimmer had he not secured that spot at the Haapa-Mechelin. Some time spent in the FC Axel Heiburg first team, winning Divisjon Two and the Burchadinger Cup all in a few months before that big move to SK Franz Josef City, after which the Cafundulense team of A.F.F. had come knocking. He'd had a good career, leading up to captaining his country at this tournament, but he still enjoyed to swim.

Things hadn't gone quite to plan however, hence the frustration. He'd scored in the first half, a fine header to go with his goal against The Kiaser Colonies, and the team had thought they were on their way to securing a place in the last 16. But no. So defensive frailties at the back from Kowalski had allowed Upson through to score a poked goal at the end of the second half. It meant little but pride for The Kytler Peninsulae, who deserved their goal it had to be said, but to the Terns it meant a playoff would be required after The Kiaser Colonies beat Camwood 1-0.

Defensive frailties was what the press were calling it, anyway. They knew this was a team in transition now so as to not be in transition later, when it might count for double, so were allowing Sol and the team some slack. Patrick however, was affording himself no such slack. Inwardly, as he swum lengths up and down the pool, he was going over chance after chance that he had failed to manipulate into a shooting position, or that header he sent over in the dying secons, or that pull-back for Blonqvist that he just overhit... No, this would not do. Angrily, he reached the other end and turned again, splashing back up the pool.

He couldn't be responsible for the defence, no, he knew that, but Patrick was a proud man, and whilst he was wearing the captain's armband he wanted to be winning all the time. Hell, he wanted to be the person to lift that trophy come the end of the tournament. One thing he knew the team didn't really have the legs for however, was the playoff match against none other than a Sarrbia side that might have expected to win their group, but had come up against a revitalised Bleak Rock side. Patrick had to admit that their new manager had worked wonders with the Blockhead side, noting that their last manager was now assistant at a Swartaz side that had failed to make it out of the group stages. In fact, his good friend Gunnar Mackenzie had been texting him some details about how to go about defeating Sarrbia in the final third. They were a tricky team to beat, no mistake about that, and he'd need to lead from the front to make it through to the last 16 against a Cotdelapoms side that is looking in good form to win the tournament outright.

He reached the end of the pool, and glanced at the clock. That would do for now, he'd done plenty of cardio today, and he didn't want to tire himself out should they get past Sarrbia and have to play again so soon. Stepping out of the pool, he shook his head, and let the water fall off him. He walked to the showers, and let the hot water wash the chlorine out of his hair, mentally scoring a hattrick against Sarrbia as he did so. Unlocking his locker to get his towel and clothes, he continued the daydream with his shampoo bottle, kicking it along the ground as he searched for an empty cubicle in which to get changed.

"Ackermann-Finn, on the ball... skins one... skins two... sizes up to shoot... gooooalll!" cheered Patrick in a hoarse whisper, booting the bottle through the open door of an empty cubicle as he did so. He stepped in, closed the door behind him, and smiled to himself at his childish game of make-believe as he readied himself to take him wet swimshorts off and get changed.

"Hello, Patrick." said a voice in the corner.

"WHAT THE... Timo, by THOR'S BEARD how did you get in here?!" screamed Patrick.

"Through the door?"

"No, I mean, the swimming pool, its a swipecard system for people staying at the hotel, how did you get in?"

"Oh, it's easy when you're me. I'm Timo Skye."

"Yes. Yes, you may have mentioned that once or twice, you know."

"Tough draw against K-P anyway, mate. You could have used some Skye magic in the side then, eh? Yeah. Good old Timo, back in the squad. You're captain. You have a word with Sol, yeah? Tell him you think I should be called back up. I'll square things with the tournament organisers, it's easy when you're me, I'm Timo Sk... Patrick? Patrick you okay?"

"Timo," pondered Patrick, a vision of complete bewilderment on his face, "why are you here when I'm about to be naked, again?"

"Accident, really. I had to catch you somewhere though."

"Yeah, unawares, that's where you caught me; unawares."

"Well, I'm sorry if I startled you but-"

"Come to think of it how did you know I'd come to this cubicle? I chose this one. I didn't know you were in it. There are hundreds of the things! How did you know to pick this one?"

"Well, I can't say there hadn't been some awkward moments in the minutes leading up to you arriving in here, which reminds me, don't believe anything Irndtor tells you," intoned Skye pointedly, whilst winking and making the international 'small' symbol with his thumb and forefinger, "but I'll admit you choosing this one was a bit of a big break. On the subject of big breaks though, Hauge-"

"I don't want to know." interrupted Patrick hurriedly. "I'm going to go and change over there, okay? If you want to talk to me, you can come and find me at dinner. Only, don't hide under the tablecloth or anything, I'm running out of clean underwear ad should I choose to go commando I don't want you and your knack of almost catching me unawares getting you any sneak peeks, as it were."

"Actually, you know who does go commando?"

"Goodbye, Timo."

[Whirl Islands]

And this is your cutoff for play-off matches. Who will join other 14 teams in the Round of 16?

---

Here comes the answer to our previous question: results!

Polar Islandstates 3-1 Sarrbia
Southern Cynocephali 2-0 Kazzoria

And the Round of 16 fixtures (confirmed) are as follows:

Whirl Islands vs. Seleucius - Venue: Portomar Field, Navel
Albundania vs. The Kiaser Colonies - Venue: Lagoon Road, Lagoon Town
Nieuwe Sleeswijk vs. Carasatoga - Venue: York Stadium, Narissa
Bleak Rock vs. Mytannion - Venue: Municipal Stadium, Eastburg

Cotdelapoms vs. Polar Islandstates - Venue: Stade Moncton, Moncton
Abcdefghijklmnopqrstuk vs. Princess Béatrice Island - Venue: Estadio del Mar, Puerto Viejo
Ansernia Islands vs. Swartaz - Venue: Yellow Park, Atlantis
Sargossa vs. Southern Cynocephali - Venue: South Park Stadium, Hoxvathor

[Nieuwe Sleeswijk]

Nieuwe Antwerp Dagblad - Online English Edition

Sports > Football > Internationals > Copa Rushmori

Provinces in fight to out-support national team.

Following a solid draw in their final group game (with Röntgen netting an early goal, before a much rested side conceded late-on) and topping their group, the national team has gone from a suspect group of players to one which everyone in Nieuwe Sleeswijk is keen to get behind. Given the nature of Nieuwe Sleeswijk, it is no wonder that many are trying to out-do other groups in the nation to support the national team, either in numbers or in mad stunts and gimmicks.

Whilst in the Rusmorland capital of De Schutterij people attempted to beat the world record for the largest shirt, modelling it on the Kooikerhondjes' first kit, mass screenings have been held in most major cities to show the latest game. This is not, by any means, the last of it. A special bird hunt was held in Oost state to celebrate the qualification from the group stage, and the organisers of that have said that they will hold one for each new round the team pass with "something special if we win the trophy". The Marguzi are apparently sacrificing birds at a much faster rate than normal, and some are concerned that village elders are over-exerting themselves trying to bring the team the favour of Marguz.

Worst of all, is the fate apparently approaching the hosts.* The small stadium of Narissa (where the Kooikerhondjes have played their games) has already been filled in the previous matches - now, with the team through the group, fans are flooding into the country looking for tickets to see their team play. Hotels are swarmed and many Tokai and Gogi Mori (eager to out-do the others) are apparently erecting their own tented villages to support the national team. It is thought that overall, roughly 90,000 Nieuwe Sleeswijkers are currently in the Whirl Islands for the Copa Rushmori, with more leaving from ports as I write. We can fill any stadium they have to throw at us, our boys can do them proud.

Next up is the round-of-sixteen match against Carasatoga, a solid looking team that only lost by one goal to nil against current holders Sargossa, winning their other two games in 2-1 victories. However, this should be cause for hope. Carasatoga has conceded in every game, whilst only managing four goals - with our dangerous forward play it is difficult to see our lads not scoring a few. Whilst our defence is also slightly holey, we can score enough goals to keep pushing on - with nine goals so far, only Cotdelapoms has scored more, with Mytannion matching our nine (but with a much leakier defence). We can score enough, I am sure of it and we can win through here and on. It is up to us to prove ourselves to be what we know we are - tough, tenacious goalscoring maestros. Good night little doggies and good hunting!


*(OOC:Bit of license used, hope not too much.)