Di Bradini Cup 21 (Rosters/RP/Scores)

[Thatius]

Thatius Roster for the 21^st Di Bradini Cup

Starting Lineup
GK: Jeremy Jezdić, #18
DEF: Karl Ingstrom, #11
DEF: Sergio Novoselević, #3
DEF: Justin Henrie, #13
DEF: Marek Stefanski, #1
MID: Kevin Seedorf, #6
MID: Jason Petković, #19
MID: Ivo Dmitrejević, #26
FOR: Henri Kjel-Mathieu, #27
FOR: Robert Kostelić, #19
FOR: David Vilà, #14

Bench
GK: Mark Jankulovski,#29
DEF: Vitalij Torović, #25
DEF: Stevan Ljajić, #16
DEF: Sebastián Votto, #9
DEF: Adrian Minotti, #8
MID: Dušan Torje, #11
MID: Christian Gennaro, #28
MID: Stojko Korac, #4
FOR: Joel Elkstrond, #15
FOR: Adam Kropović, #7
FOR: Jake Jørgensen, #12

RP Information
Style Modifier: +1
Choose my goalscorers: Yes
Godmod scoring events: Yes
RP injuries to my players: No
Godmod injuries to my players: No
Hand out yellow cards to my players: Yes
Hand out red cards to my players: No
Godmod other events: Yes

[Vilita]

Jungle Kitties chastised for large "Roster"

The Vilita Jungle Kitties Roster for the 21st Di Bradini Cup has come under scrutiny by members of other football associations for its apparent excessive inclusiveness of Vilitan players, as other federations have been treating the Di Bradini Cup as an official 'Finals' type tournament, where a squad of between 23-30 players is more traditional.

Vilita Jungle Kitties assistant coach Lorenzo Abellan has responded to those claims in a statement released by the Football Association of Vilita this afternoon:

The Football Association of Vilita is well aware that they have named a 'roster' of over 40 Jungle Kitties for the 21st Di Bradini Cup. The Jungle Kitties are in a unique situation currently, as all recognized players in the Vilitan national player pool are under the age of 21. With no documented restrictions requiring the Football Association of Vilita to name a single squad of less than 30 players to be declared for the duration of the Di Bradini Cup, we felt it was fair and just to name the inclusive list of players who may potentially take part in the Di Bradini Cup group stage, and further, the knockout rounds should it be that the Jungle Kitties advance from their group.

Players from the Jungle Kitties roster will be shuttling between Civil Citizenry and Legalese, where the Atlantian Oceania Cup of Association Football is currently ongoing. Due to the Casaran format of the 34th AOCAF tournament in Legalese, it is not possible for the Football Association to know in advance which team it will be playing on each successive match day, requiring some fluidity in play selection and preparation. While the Football Association of Vilita feels it has enough depth to have sent 20 players to each competition, this would not benefit either National Team should the team be eliminated from one competition, and half of the available players not be registered for the other.

Therefore, while the Football Association of Vilita appreciates the concern of the other federations, the Vilita Jungle Kitties will be naming a squad of 18 players for each individual match during the 21st Di Bradini Cup, 11 players and 7 substitutes, some of which may be shared with the 34th AOCAF Squad, and some of which may not.

Lorenzo Abellan
Vilita Jungle Kitties Assistant Manager

[Taeshan]

X Island Inquirer

Knights Return to Di Bradini Cup

It has now been two long years since the Lil' Purple Knights became the first Taeshan Football team to grace a championship as the number one team at their level. With a follow up season in which the champions from their first go around internationally didn't even advance past the first round of the tournament there were questions as to who would be on the new team to return for the upcoming tournament. Unlike what was expected the exact same team will return to the upcoming Di Bradini Cup. Led by wingback duo, Seth Fasnacht and Jeremiah Longwaters, the young team looks to win its second tournament. Many though worry that the previous cup does not bode well for the team in the upcoming one.

In the upcoming tournament the Knights will have to fend off four other teams if they hope to advance to the knockout rounds. Of the four teams many see Darmen as the biggest threat to the Knights advancement. Also looking good in pre game prep have been the Swartaz under 21's. The real wild card's in the tournament are The Icemark, and Mapletish. Two teams not known in international football for much, but probably could have a young team looking towards the future. The Di Bradini cup is notable for its surprises, and im sure many will be surprised by what this season brings as 40 teams head into this tournament.

[Astograth]

The Astograth U-21 National Football Team

Manager: Berbiz Munduarte
Style: +2
Colours

Starting XI:
#1 - GK - Yoritz Suastegi - Age 21 - Urbizania Wanderers
#5 - LB - Bikendi Medrano - Age 21 - Athletic Club Rumiatzi
#17 - CB - Edorta Garro - Age 20 - Ituraitz FC
#3 - CB - Echepare Zuleta - Age 21 - Urbizania Wanderers
#6 - RB - Bardol Oiskonta - Age 21 - Blue Mountain Range
#15 - DM - Ikatz Alberro (C) - Age 21 - Ituraitz FC
#11 - LM - Anartz Alutziza - Age 19 - Athletic Club Rumiatzi
#7 - RM - Tartalo Achaga - Age 21 - Ituraitz FC
#10 - AM - Eriz Bakaikoa - Age 18 - Axel Heiburg
#9 - CF - Mayu Yurrita - Age 21 - Iturributa United
#22 - CF - Oxel Nuin - Age 19 - Royal Rumiatzi

Substitutes:
#13 - GK - Gaxan Echabeguren - Age 20 - Sporting Iturributa
#23 - GK - Burni Gorrindo - Age 20 - Echegoyan FC
#2 - LB - Ixona Zarrasbeitia - Age 19 - Sporting Iturributa
#4 - CB - Kaxen Ondoro - Age 20 - Urbizania Wanderers
#12 - CB - Yokin Arizmande - Age 17 - Niccostrato
#14 - RB - Giro Ekenarro - Age 20 - Echegoyan FC
#16 - DM - Ayoro Barinaga - Age 17 - Arsar
#19 - LM - Zuzen Eturaspe - Age 19 - Echegoyan FC
#20 - RM - Marin Mendazona - Age 17 - FC Mildrid
#8 - AM - Zabal Lizaran - Age 21 - Iturributa United
#18 - CF - Betadur Arrieta - Age 21 - Astograth University
#21 - CF - Gau Inchauspe - Age 20 - South Factory

Captain: Ikatz Alberro
Free Kick Taker: Mayu Yurrita
Penalty Taker: Mayu Yurrita
Right Corner: Anartz Alutziza
Left Corner: Eriz Bakaikoa

YES to all RP permissions, barring any career-ending incidents.

Should you need any information about Astograth, don't hesitate to TG me or take a look at the wiki article.

[Polar Islandstates]

Team Name: The Federation of Polar Islandstates U-21s
Country Shorthand Names: Polar, The Federation, The FPI
Citizens of The FPI are: Polarians
Team Nickname: The Chicks (as in, baby Terns)
Official Supporters Group: The Twitchers (as in, birdwatchers)

KIT COLOURS: - courtesy of Barrengeka Kits, Astograth:

"Hello, good afternoon, and welcome to this special FPIBC bulletin on the U-21 national football team. Gregorz van der Riise was the name on everybody's lips earlier today, as he announced his U-21s squad for the twenty-first Di Bradini Cup, being held in Civil Citizenry for the first time. After suggesting to Sol Kirkkegaard that a few of his U-21 members be given a chance in the senior squad, van der Riise will be without a handful of key players here. The Haapa-Mechelin youth academy is well represented once again, as you might expect, with seven players in the squad having first learnt the trade through it's hallowed doors. van der Riise will be buoyed by his Sub-20 squad's recent championship winning performance at the Rushmori championships, and as the current DBC title-holders as well, the future is bright for Polarian football. Not that this doesn't bring its own pressures with it, of course...'

GK
#1 - GK - Dario Szezlak - Age 21 - East Kent (Civil Citizenry)
#12 - GK - Max Poulsen - Age 19 - Callisto City (Osarius)
#13 - GK - Nicolaj Thorsen - Age 20 - FC Cape St Paul
Gregorz has opted for Dario Szezlak to make his appearance in the number one shirt for the U-21s. Nicolaj Thorsen was ecstatic to have performed so well for the Sub-20 side as they won the title, but was gracious in handing the number one gloves to Szezlak, as Gregorz believed the first team experience of Szezlak mertied his inclusion over Thorsen. Osarius based keepr Max Poulsen is a surprise call up, but will look to impress.

DEF
#2 - DR - Thijs Hotvedt - Age 20 - Islay Town Mechanical
#3 - DC - Olivier Kindahl - Age 20 - FC Axel Heiburg
#4 - DC - Simmo Gretzla - Age 21 - Jasmuur Eagles (Swartaz) - VICE-CAPTAIN
#5 - DL - Gudjon Smirnov - Age 20 - Red Star Severny
#19 - DR - Dima Petersen - Age 20 - Ituraitz FC (Astograth)
#21 - DL - Valentijn Leschova - Age 20 - Kapital F.C. (Chenkorya)
#22 - DC - Julius Oyen-Spekke - Age 20 - Resolute Storm 1913 FC
#23 - DC - Brede Tchepikov - Age 20 - Renneville United (Osarius)
One of the survivors from the last U-21s team, Simmo Gretzla will be the vice-captain this time around. His impressive performances for Jasmuur Eagles sweetening the deal for van der Riise. Joining him will be Smirnov, Kindahl, and Hotvedt in the first choice back four - though the substitutes all look raring to go and eager to please, with each every one of them having set tongues wagging over the past few seasons.

MID
#6 - MC - Emrahn Vik - Age 21 - SK Aasiaat Harbour - CAPTAIN
#7 - AMC - Marten Cornelius - Age 18 - Niccostrato (Erathore)
#8 - DMC - Sven Ljustergaard - Age 21 - FC1. Bjarnarey Flotilla
#11 - MC - Eyvindur Sudesval - Age 19 - Montbenoit (Saugeais)
#14 - DMC - Andrej Einmark - Age 20 - North Star Grímsey
#15 - MC - Steffan Baumgarten - Age 21 - FC Axel Heiburg
#16 - MR - Mikhail Magyar - Age 21 - TFC Lannymore (Civil Citizenry)
#20 - ML - Kjetil Huytspurr - Age 21 - FC Axel Heiburg
With a noticable increase in the amount of u-21 player playing abroad, van der Riise has nonetheless given the captain's armband to home-developed Emrahn Vik, whose performances over the lsat few seasons for SK Aasiaat Harbour have seen him grab the captain's armband there as well, and this commanding and athletic centre-midfielder will be asked to lead the line again here. He is joined by familiar faces Ljustergaard, Baumgarten, and Huytspurr, whose runs at the last DBC must make him one of the most feared players coming into this tournament. Mikhail Magyar makes the short trip from his base at Lannymore to join the squad, and the impressive Einmark, Sudesval, and Cornelius have all been drafted in as well.

ATT
#9 - ST - Enroljas Montpellier - Age 21 - Veyracova (Cascratia)
#10 - ST - Luka Nordin - Age 20 - Merrilin FC (Civil Citizenry)
#17 - ST - Rune Oramo - Age 18 - FC Axel Heiburg
#18 - ST - Iosef Thomassen - Age 18 - Northbrook Diamonds FK
In a move that nobody really predicted, Gregorz is forced to choose some pretty untested strikers in the lineup here, as Topp, Bergen, and Kaplowitz are now all too old. As such, it is left up to Enroljas Montpellier to lead his line with his experience of winning DBCs. Joining him will be Luka Nordin, another player based in Civil Citizenry. van der Riise has taken a small gamble with the remaining two players, with Rune Oramo and Iosef Thomassen still known only really within their own teams, though now is a perfect time to change that I guess...

Possible Starting formation: 4-4-2
------------------------ Szezlak ------------------------
---- Hotvedt ---- Kindahl -- Gretzla ---- Smirnov ----
--- Magyar ---- Vik (C) -- Cornelius ---- Huystpurr ---
---------------- Montpellier -- Nordin ------------------


Modifier: +4

The opponent can...
Choose my goalscorers? Yes
Godmod scoring events? Yes
RP injuries to my players? Yes, within reason, and I reserve the right to change the severity in a follow-up RP
Godmod injuries to my players? Yes, as above
Hand out yellow cards to my players? Yes
Hand out red cards to my players? Yes, but only 1 per match
Godmod other events? TG me first, but I'm always open to ideas

[Kiryu-shi]

J.J. looked down at the sun glinting on the ocean’s breaking waves, momentarily distracted from the binder full of information that he was holding. This was his first time on a plane, the first time he had ever been off the island of Kiryu-shi, and the first time he could ever remember being truly scared for his life. Not to mention that the mere fact that he was actually in the process of traveling to another country seemed completely preposterous. When J.J. was born, the ability to travel to another country for the purpose of playing sports would have been completely laughable, a slap in the face to the dogmatic, cultish politics that had governed the nation for the last couple generations. When Kiryu-shi last officially fielded a team, 57 years ago during the qualifications to World Cup 42, the official government censorship of football was well under way, with no media reports of the team broadcast to the Kiryu-shi population. Despite the rumored clandestine team that a number of ex-pats were able to field in the prelude to World Cup 52 no one that J.J. had ever met knew of a Kiryu-shi national team. And yet, when youth football finally began to get popular, right around when J.J. was entering his first year at public school, he enthusiastically joined. It wasn’t always the most pleasant past time, as the stigma against athletics as a barbaric and generally indecent activity was incessantly strong, but J.J.’s stubborn streak was already well developed. While his talent was recognized from a young age, and he began to play competitively in the youth leagues sprouting around the country, there was never a point when he imagined that football would be the defining aspect of his life. And yet, here he was. Overlooking a wide ocean, redefining not only what he thought he would ever accomplish in life, but even what it meant to be a citizen of Kiryu-shi. Even his parents had never been on an airplane before - again, he knew nobody who had. On an airplane, thousands of feet above an open body of water, with nothing but air separating the fragile looking plane and certain death. And nothing propelling him besides antiquated, rickety technology that hadn’t crossed an ocean in almost a century…

… J.J. looked back down at his binder to keep his mind off the most terrifying aspect of his present life, to his secondary fear. He had read the contents of the binder over fifty times since he received it in the Sakaino University locker room less than a week earlier, but he was reading it again. After two pages of superfluous bureaucratic paperwork, there was the schedule:

MD1: Bye
MD2: Kiryu-shi v Astograth - Westwold CB Complex, Thugfield, Civil Citizenry
MD3: Homelands our v Kiryu-shi - KheapKopier Stadium, Kent, Civil Citizenry
MD4: Kiryu-shi v Celestial Marshmallows - KheapKopier Stadium, Kent, Civil Citizenry
MD5: Michael VII v Kiryu-shi - Westwold CB Complex, Thugfield, Civil Citizenry

Very few of those words had any real meaning for J.J., as the Kiryu-shi government had not provided any type of scouting report for any of the teams that they would be competing against. And, even though football was becoming more accepted, airing international matches was still outlawed in the country. Well, until that match against ‘Astograth’, which would be the first nationally aired international football game since the legendary Gandy/McGee/Mayberry-led team crashed out of the group stage of World Cup 37 with a 4-0 loss against Tynelia. This history was briefly outlined in the binder as well, under the “History and Purpose” section, which, among other things, included reminders to be courteous and friendly, as de facto diplomats to the world. The fact is, even Kiryu-shi’s government had no idea what to expect as a result of this endeavor.

Coach Mayberry was the only person J.J. knew who seemed to look more or less composed. Even the normally snarky Lidia Barnes, J.J.’s closest friend on the squad, seemed distant. The notes from Mayberry’s pre-flight pep talk were scribbled on the margins of papers throughout the binder, and it was only these words that gave J.J. any kind of comfort. Mayberry had dealt mostly with pragmatic issues; there were her concerns over the budget hotel that they were going to be staying in, and warnings about the differences in bathrooms in most countries that were not Kiryu-shi. Her itinerary was much more useful than the official one produced by the government officials, telling the squad that for the first match day, when they had a bye, they would be attempting to make sure that everyone was able to eat adequately and stay nourished, as well as visiting the Westwold CB Complex to take in the match between Homelands our and Celestial Marshmallows.

Her general optimism and practicality, however, were no deterrent to the incredible fear facing J.J. An area called Thugfield? Not a comfortable sounding place, to be sure. And could there really be a country made out of marshmallows that floated? Or… perhaps a country whose citizens were marshmallows? Mayberry said to expect the unexpected, and had warned the team about the bizarre stories she had heard from her grandfather about the outside world, and nothing seemed like it could be taken for granted. Once again, J.J. started to read through the section entitled, "Behaving in a foreign land," under the first subheading, "Recognizing and issuing non-threatening greetings."



When J.J. finally lifted his head to look out the window again, a little shudder passed through his body. He could see land! According to the flight maps provided in the binder, this could be none other than the Goose Coast, which meant Civil Citizenry and Westwold could not be far away...

[Camwood]

The Camian Association Football Administration
Presents
The Camian Roster for the XXI Di Bradini Cup
Demonym: Camian
Trigamme: CMW
Nickname: The Blue Jays or 'The Jays'

Before Camian Footballers hit 21 years of age, there is a slightly awkward stage of life we Camian like to call college. According to a majority of Camwood's population, college is the most important phase of life. Camian life is built around how critical a good education is: It prepares the Camian worker for a successful career. Collegiate Association Football lives commonly in the shadow of Ice Hockey and Professional Football, but no doubt that it has an impact on the Camian Sports Fan. The Camian Collegiate Athletics Association ran one season before merging with the Academy Football League, which is owned and operated by the UICA.

Manager: Nicholas Bentaly - New Athens United - Age 37
Bentaly, despite being only 37, has showed tremendous coaching talent for his club, the New Athens United. He installed a new age formation with New Athens, and plans to do the same with the U21 team.

Pos # Name - University (Major) - Age
GK 01 Daniel Price - University of Texerta (Literature) - Age 20
GK 30 Zachary Owen - Sam Dell University (Physiology) - Age 19

SW 15 Trevor Patel - Quebeca Provincial University (Economics) - Age 21
LD 12 Isaac Harris - Texerta Tech University (Mechanical Engineering) - Age 21
CD 20 Steven White - Delacuse University (Anthropology) - Age 20
RD 08 Trevor Allen - Compolis College (International studies) - Age 21
GD 02 Antonio Ellis - Vale University (Nuclear Engineering) - Age 21[/b]

DMC 34 Landon Price - Vanler Medical School (Pharmaceuticals)- Age 21
LWR 25 Bryan Hughes - University of Agristino (Handicapping) - Age 19
RWR 14 Jacob Hughes - University of Agristino (Tropical Agriculture) - Age 20
AMC 05 Jack Gibson - Nanford University (Journalism) - Age 21
MDF 06 Isaac Murray - Princeta Cougars (Physics) - Age 20
MDF 17 Brandon Marshall - Armed Forces University (Aeronautics) - Age 21

LF 21 Isaac Green - University of Manitucky (Law) - Age 21
RF 03 Andrew Graham - Nanford University (Sports Medicine) - Age 21
GF 07 Aiden Simpson - University of Texerta (Civil Engineering) - Age 18
GF 11 Patrick Baker - Bluerock Provincial University (Forestry) - Age 19

Starters

---------------------Price------------------------
---------------------Patel------------------------
--Harris-------------White-----------------Allen--
--------------------------------------------------
---------------------Price------------------------
----Hughes---------(---o---)------------Hughes----
--------------------Marshall----------------------
--------------------------------------------------
--Green-----------------------------------Graham--
--------------------------------------------------

Formation: 4-4-2
Modifier: -2

Choose my goalscorers? Yes
Godmod scoring events? Yes
RP injuries to my players? Yes, within reason. I reserve the right to change the injury ICly due to a misdiagnosis.
Godmod injuries to my players? No.
Hand out yellow cards to my players? Yes
Hand out red cards to my players? Yes, but only 1 per match
Godmod other events? TG/PM on IRC 1st, I enjoy a good laugh

[Stachland]

Stachland Reds

Choose my goalscorers Y
Godmod scoring events Y
RP injuries to my players Y (within reason)
Godmod injuries to my players N
Hand out yellow cards to my players Y (within reason)
Hand out red cards to my players Y (one per match; quite unlikely to occur)
Godmod other events N

+3

Coach
Everett Lang ♂
>33; Midfielder for Chevrin Nova, Stachland's National Series

Starters in Bold.

Goalkeepers
Kordian Klimecki ♂
>21; DiKalbe Thunder Devils, Stachland's National Series
Liam Chandler ♂
>18; Hawthorne Road School (High School)

Defenders
Isaac Bowie ♂
>17; Wolseley Central High School (High School)
Marion Lindsay ♂
>18; Blue Island State College Dolphins, Stachland Collegiate Athletic Association
Francia Mohling ♀
>21; Cardrake Fronds, Stachland's National Series
Bandar Nuripur ♂
>21; Cardrake Fronds, Stachland's National Series
Hans Godek ♂
>21; Chevrin Nova, Stachland's National Series
Abel Hawk ♂
>18; Lasseter Street High School (High School)
Josh Lieberman ♂
>19; Chevronia Central College Nationals, Stachland Collegiate Athletic Association
Marcin Zale ♂
>19; Lipachi College Bobcats, Stachland Collegiate Athletic Association

Midfielders
Wayne Laramy ♂
>20; Blue Island State College Dolphins, Stachland Collegiate Athletic Association
Ajith Moon ♂
>19; Alossie Mountain State University Jaguars, Stachland Collegiate Athletic Association
Delphina Toben ♀
>17; Liminitz High School (High School)
Elzbieta Wolszan ♀
>18; Mount Vasylon Preparatory (High School)
Michal Kosior ♂
>17; Monarch's Village Preparatory School (High School)
Lyric Oden ♀
>17; Gotto Academy (High School)
Roland Schuster ♂
>18; Termigen East High School (High School)
Manuela Soto ♀
>16; Lippe High School (High School)


Forwards
Megan Handel ♀
>18; North Wolseley Catholic High School (High School)
Jemian Johnson ♂
>19; Chevronia Stars, Stachland's National Series
Rumir Agaton ♂
>20; Chevronia Capitals, Stachland's National Series
Amelia Janiszewska ♀
>18; East Manju University Waves, Stachland Collegiate Athletic Assocation
Alexander Yates ♂
>18; Stophellis University Renegades, Stachland Collegiate Athletic Association

[Falconfar]

From the Imperial Tribune, the most Famous Newspaper in Falconfar

Imperial Youngsters Set for Take-Off

CIVIL CITIZENRY-

The U-21 Falconfar team is all set and ready to go for their first match, Head Coach Ky-Tro Wahari reported.

"They're a bit jittery, but I think once we start playing, they'll be okay," the female Halil'Quan commented, "I am excited for what they can possibly accomplish here."

When one looks at the teams that the Young Imperials will be facing, one cannot help but see that three of the four come from the Region of Rushmore. Erathore, Civil Citizenry, and Valladares all hail from the Sporting region that the Imperial National Team is playing against in Astograth.

"It's yet another chance for us to prove ourselves," stated the keeper, Vi-Si Rockesai, "And we will try to make sure to not waste that chance."

The Imperials will be met with stiff opposition early as they will try to handle always dangerous Erathore. Then, they will have a bye, followed by Valladares, Cyborg Holland, and finishing it with the hosts.

"Being an unknown entity is always fun," remarked the Captain, Ilirea Neoketchen, "Because the reputation we will get by the end of this tournament, we will have earned."

And so, while the national team is participating in the Copa Rushmori, the U-21 team will be next door, trying its luck and skill against the best of the young from other nations.

[Hakkland]

4-4-2

------------------H.LARSSON (SK Olafsvik)------------------

-----P.KARLSSON (FC Nystad)-----C.GUNNARSSON (FC Nystad)------L.JOHANSSON (AK Ludwigstad)------K.HAMMARSTRÖM (Fortune Reykholt)

-----M.NILSSON (FV Lillestrøm)-----

-----I.KOLBJØRNSSEN (FV Lillestrøm)-----J.LANDSTROM (FC Høgstad)-----

-----S.JAKOBSSON (FC Høgstad)-----

------J.OQVIST (FC Høgstad)--------L.SØRENSSEN (Krònstad Athletikk)------

---

RP Stuff

Style modifier: +1
My opponent, if they RP first, may do the following:

Choose my goalscorers Y
Godmod scoring events Y
RP injuries to my players Y
Godmod injuries to my players N
Hand out yellow cards to my players N
Hand out red cards to my players N
Godmod other events Y

---

Media Sponsor

---

[Bears Armed]

Bears Armed
("The Junior Bear-Belles")

As far as BA is concerned this tournament is taking place (IC) in 2068AD, and the qualifiers for WC59 will start in 2069.


National football organisation: ‘Bears Armed Association for Soccer’ (= ‘BAAS’).
(Chairbear: Arrannah Graye [Chairbear of River City S.C.])
National anthem (for sports): ‘The Banner Green And Gold’.


All of the players are actual Ursines (i.e. anthropomorpic, bipedal Bears)], except those whom I actually specify as being members of other ‘peoples’ instead. The Harr'aynau people are physically human (more-or-less, anyway, although inclined towards heavy builds & hairiness), but spiritually & culturally Ursine instead.


Manager & Chief Coach: Sammhra Fairbarrrhn _ A member of the Sun Clan’s northern branch, she made her debut in international football playing in the ‘Lynchpin’ position for the ‘NorthBears’ in the qualifiers for WC#53 but subsequently played as a member of the ‘Bear-Belles’ instead (WC#54-56) once the Northlands’ attempt at fielding a separate “national” team had ended. After 21 years of experience in all as a player and having finished her playing career as the Belles’ deputy captain, and with a very good reputation for both leadership and tactics, she was selected from a strong field of candidates to replace Karra Caroline Thunder as head of BAAS’s youth programme & manager of the U21 team and has now held those positions for almost 8 years. Age = 48 years, ambidextrous, fur = blonde, eyesight = good even by Human standards.

Deputy Manager (Admin): Amarra Marra o Harruor
(female Ursine, from Clan Harruor Erruur; formerly a staff member at BAAS, just appointed to this job; age = 27, fur = medium-brown).

Doctor: Rebearrch’hra o RedRose
(female Ursine, from the RedRose ‘Free Sept’; age = 32, left-pawed, fur = medium brown with reddish highlights; just hired)

Physio: Behrthye NorthWalker
(female Harr’aynau [humanoid], from Clan WildWoods; age = 28, right-handed, hair = ginger; just hired.)

Routemaster (this job involves handling all of the squad’s travelling arrangements): This is currently a part of Amarra Marra o Harruor’s duties.

Chaplain, ‘One Plus Seven’: Urrsulha Nightfall
(female Ursine from the Silver-of-Night; age = mid-30s, left-pawed, fur = silvery; assigned to this job, by the Great Medicine Society, just before the qualifiers for WC57.)

Chaplain, Ursion: Derrik Ommin
(male Ursine, from Clan Artorran; age = 34; right-pawed, fur = light brown & fairly short, he is a bit closer to ‘human’ in shape than is the average Ursine; seconded to this post from the staff of the ArchPriest of New Sarrum, who is the Earthly head of the Ursion Church; he is a keen student of Football, both nationally & internationally, and can bore for England Bears Armed on the details of teams’ records & players’ careers [and about the statistics involved, too: Did I mention yet that he originally trained as a statistician? ^_^ ] — if you give him even half a chance…)

Security Chief: Major Arran Warrd
(male Ursine, from Clan Herrchaum; age = 33, left-pawed, fur = dark grey; easily overlooked, most of the time; seconded from [an unspecified unit within] the Confederal Army to this job just before the qualifiers for WC57.)

Caterers: Jorrdon Blue.

Mascot: ‘The Wise Grorrfinn’
(male ‘TrueBear’; age = undisclosed [but considering some of his appearances in old stories apparently somewhere over 1’500, at least...], ambidextrous, fur = medium-brown); revealed during WC54 to be his Reality’s counterpart of the [‘Tolkienian’] elf Glorfindel…)



Roster
Usual Starters


(#1) Marranna NorthStar _ Clan = NorthStar [‘Free Sept’]; home team = NorthPort Novices, category & usual position = Goalkeeper, experience = 5 years; age = 18 years, rightt-pawed, fur = very light brown, she has very quick reflexes and keen senses. (This is her international debut.)


(#2) Lueth’hree Redwood _ Clan = Redwood; home team = Merlchester Babes (Junior League)River City, category = Defender, usual position = Left Back, experience = 6 years; age = 16 years, left-pawed, fur = medium-brown. (This is her international debut.)

(#3) Urratharra o SouthWoods _ Clan = WestWoods; home team = GramBridge Town, category = Defender or Midfielder, preferred & usual position = Right Back, experience = 8 years; age = 20 years, right-pawed, fur = medium-brown. (She made her international debut in DBC19, as a substitute, and was then a starter in DBC20.)


(#4) Darrarlha o GoodSword _ Clan = Sun; Home team = Sun Valley Smashers, category = Defender or Lynchpin or Midfielder, usual position = Lynchpin, experience = 5 years; age = 19 years, ambidextrous, fur = blonde; a superlative player, and a good tactician, she is the team’s Captain. (This is her international debut.)


(#5) Sarra Elizabeth Thunder _ Human; Clan = Gunnar; Home team = National University Tigers, category = Midifelder/Winger/Forward, usual position = Midfield Left, experience = 8 years; age = 19 years, right-footed, hair = blonde; quick on her feet, seems to be naturally gifted, a fast thinker, and a good team-player. (She is the daughter of Karra Caroline Thunder, who is currently manager of Jeru FC, but her father’s identity has never been made public. Her main field of study is Anthropology. She acted as a mascot for the teams that Bears Armed sent to DBC #17-19, but this is her debut as a player in international football.).

(#6) Running Moose _ Clan = Five Lakes; Home team = Green River Giants, category = Midfielder, usual position = Midfield Right, experience = 8 years; age = 19 years, right-pawed, fur = ‘grizzled’ dark brown & quite long; actually a pair of identical twins who count as a single person for legal purposes and who often act as though they share a single mind, the two halves of this player will normally stay close together on the pitch and might keep passing the ball back-&-forth. (She/they made her/their international debut in DBC20.)


(#7) Urrth’hrra o Barrdenn _ Clan = GreenWoods; Home team = Barrdenn Barbariennes, category = Forward, usual position = Left Forward (‘Inside Left’), experience = 8 years; age = 20 years, right-pawed, fur = dark brown & quite long. (She made her international debut in DBC20.)

(#10) Amarra Sunwatcher _ Clan = Sun; Home team = Sun Valley Sunbeams (Junior League), category = Forward, usual position = Centre Forward or Right Forward, experience = 9 years; age = 20 years, right-pawed, fur = “oatmeal” colour, eyesight good even by human standards, very fast on her feet, very accurate in ‘set pieces’ for which she is therefore one of the favoured takers. (She made her international debut in DBC20.)

(#11) Hilgh’hra Westlander _ Harr’aynau humanoid; Clan = Redwood; home team = LakePort Lion-Cubs (Junior League), category = Forward or Winger, preferred & usual position = Right Forward (Inside Right) or Right Winger, experience = 5 years; age = 16, right-pawed, hair = ginger. (This is her international debut.)


(#12) Daisy o Dawn _ Clan = Urrset; home team = Bullford University BrightSparks, category = Winger, usual position = Right Winger (Outside Right), experience = 6 years; age = 19, right-pawed, fur = light brown with reddish highlights; a student of ‘Sports Science’. (This is her international debut.)


(#13) Marra-Harra o Dusk _ Clan = Urrset; home team = Sun Valley Sunbeams (Junior League), category = Winger or [Attacking] Midfielder, preferred & usual position = Left Winger (Outside Left), experience = 5 years; age = 17, left-footed, fur= reddish-brown, good at getting in where she isn’t expected. (This is her international debut.)



(Substitutes, and possibly some reserves as well, are still to be added… and to arrive…)




Style Modifier: Offensive, modifier = +4 ("A good offence is the best defence"...)

Their usual formation will include a front row of at least 5 (normally arranged as 3 strikers & 2 wingers), with 2 midfielders, 2 backs, and either a ‘Defensive Centre’ (whose starting position would be at the midpoint of an imaginary cross drawn between those other four non-forwards’ positions) or a third midfielder depending on the Manager’s decision before each match.



___________________________________________________________


Opponents may _

Choose my goalscorers: Y (but the Forwards, and then the Wingers, are probably likeliest to fill this role...)
Godmod Scoring Events: Y (For example, remember the [Rushmori?] geese who sometimes invaded my main team’s games in fairly recent years? I wouldn’t be at all surprised if some of those were to turn up here as well…)
RP injuries to my players / Godmod injuries to my players / Hand out Yellow cards to my players / Hand out Red cards to my players: Y to all, at least to start with, but remember what I've written here and keep it in limits accordingly... Any serious offences by my players would probably result in injuries to your players, and causing any serious injuries to my players would probably require such obviously-deliberate attacks that your players would get yellow or even red cards as a result too. Don’t kill anybody, or inflict injuries that would be serious enough to end careers, without checking with me & getting my approval (which is unlikely to be granted…) first.

Godmod Other Events: Y, I suppose, at least as long as you do so in an AMUSING way... but please remember that Ursines are fully sapient beings, as much as Humans are, not instinct-driven animals. Oh, and of course female Ursines are not sexually interested in Humans (of either sex), and it's very unlikely that female Harr'ayanau would be either. Please don't have them run amok or outright revert to animality, without checking by TG first, don't make assumptions about their views on politics or religion, and don't do anything that would make more than one of them incapable of playing in their next game...

______________________________________________________


Kit: This incarnation of the country’s U21 team wears the same [latest] set of designs that ‘ediraf’ produced for the “main” team _ See “here” for details.
Bears Armed has traditionally used base-8 arithmetic, for several reasons, and this has affected the set of numbers used for this team’s players: Also, the number “22” has deliberately been left unassigned out of respect for its first [& only] wearer who died a heroine’s death during the year immediately following WC444…


NOTES

Ursines may tend to be a bit less agile & slower to accelerate than humans on average, but this team's members were carefully selected so the gap between them & their opponents in this respect should be narrower than some people might expect. They do tend to have slightly poorer eyesight than humans, on the whole (although the members of both Clan Gunnar and the Sun Clan are generally an exception to this rule, and the eyesight of the latter group is actually often at better-than-human levels instead), so long-distance passes & shots at goal will tend to be rarer behaviour for them than they are for human teams... but their typical size & strength mean that when they're running with the ball it will probably take a very brave human -- as well as a very skilled one -- to tackle them successfully, which should balance that factor pretty well. They don’t jump very well, but then they’re generally rather taller than most Human players [of comparable age] to start with.
They're physically robust, of course, which means that they're much less likely than humans to suffer injuries in falls or collisions. The females of this species are more even-tempered than the males, and the team's members will generally try to stay on their best behaviour not only in order to do well in this contest but also to impress upon the watching humans that Ursines aren't just "dumb beasts". They will not 'dive', or feign injury in other ways, because suggesting that they could be harmed so easily goes strongly against the grain.
Cold weather should pose no problem to them, even if there's snow or ice on the pitch, but tropical heat might prove awkward...

Unless our hosts at the match in question object, this team's members (including the designated substitutes for the match in question) will perform a [fairly short] ritual that's called the 'harrdiharr' on the pitch just before play begins... This is a traditional war-dance, meant to over-awe opponents, that has come to be a customary prelude for team games as well (similar to the [RL] New Zealanders' 'haka'...). : )
And, as has now been seen during various tournaments, some of our fans like to take drums — and possibly cow-horns, or other "musical instruments", too — along to the matches...

[Civil Citizenry]

Civil Citizenry National Team
Roster

Erruki Abaroa (Head Coach ~ #00 ~ Astograthian)

Oakleigh Carroll (Goalkeeper ~ #01 ~ 21 years old ~ Chastings Heights)
Milton Seabrook (Left Defender ~ #13 ~ 20 years old)
Dell Livingstone (Center-Left Defender ~ #03 ~ 20 years old)
Mercer Ellison (Center Defender ~ #14 ~ 20 years old)
Edison Deacon (Center-Right Defender ~ #05 ~ 21 years old ~ Hill Lane)
Bundy Filmore (Right Defender ~ #15 ~ 21 years old ~ Athens Town)
Ralph Beval (Left Midfielder ~ #16 ~ 21 years old ~ FC Sandside)
Pell Wilkinson (Center Midfielder ~ #04 ~ 20 years old)
Scott Salisbury (Right Midfielder ~ #07 ~ 20 years old ~ FC of Groundery)
Robert Buck (Left Forward ~ #06 ~ 18 years old)
Preston Latimer (Right Forward ~ #10 ~ 21 years old ~ Chase Citiz)

Stanwick Seabrook (Goalkeeper ~ #12 ~ 20 years old)
Robinson Roper (Left Defender ~ #17 ~ 19 years old)
Hudson Stoddard (Center Defender ~ #08 ~ 20 years old)
Carlisle Kirkwood (Center Defender ~ #20 ~ 21 years old)
Hammond King (Right Defender ~ #02 ~ 19 years old)
Scoville Elsworth (Left Midfielder ~ #18 ~ 18 years old)
Nelson Wesleigh (Center Midfielder ~ #09 ~ 19 years old)
Holt Heaton (Center Midfielder ~ #23 ~ 18 years old)
Harden Peyton (Right Midfielder ~ #11 ~ 18 years old)
Franklin Lansing (Left Forward ~ #19 ~ 21 years old ~ Slateport Bulls/Valladares)
Tilford Quirin (Center Forward ~ #21 ~ 21 years old ~ South Factory/Astograth)
Filbert Benson-Fisk (Right Forward ~ #22 ~ 20 years old)

Information
National Demonym
Citiz
Team Nickname
Citiz
Skill Modifier
-2.5
Formation
5-3-2
Starters
Goalie: Carroll
Defenders: Seabrook, Livingstone, Ellison, Deacon, Filmore
Midfielders: Beval, Wilkinson, Salisbury
Forwards: Buck, Latimer
RP Limits
None. Choose my goalscorers, injure my players – anything that’s not supernatural or unreal. Please do not use real life pictures to represent my players or stadia.
Kits

[Polar Islandstates]

Postcards from Civil Citizenry

Hey Mum!
Can you believe I get to be captain?! All the hard work at Aasiaat has paid off!
Turns out Dad was right all along when he said stick with the smaller club and you'll play more.
Though, don't tell him I said that.
Emrahn
x

~

Hey Everyone,
I know you were waiting on tenterhooks to find out where I'd be sending you postcards from.
Well, it's Civil Citizenry. As usual. Turns out the competition is held here, now.
Anyway, looking forwards to being in goal again, hopefully we can retain that trophy!
Dario
xx


~

Dear Gran,
Hej! Have you seen? I'm sending you a postcard from sunny Civil Citizenry, as I'm in the DBC squad!
Yes, that's right, even further south than I usually am!
I wasn't expecting to be noticed all the way out in Saugeais, but I'm glad I have been.
Hopefully I can get some game time and show them what I can do!
Eyvindur
x

~

Dear Lewis,
Don't see you in the Terns squad, old chum.
Much love,
Enroljas
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxx
xxx
xxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxx
p.s.
LOL

[Civil Citizenry]

Di Bradi-no more RPs.

Group A
Swartaz 1–0 Darmen
The Icemark 2–5 Taeshan

Group A                  Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Taeshan                  1   1  0  0    5   2  +3    3
2 Swartaz                  1   1  0  0    1   0  +1    3
3 Darmen                   1   0  0  1    0   1  −1    0
4 The Icemark              1   0  0  1    2   5  −3    0

Group B
Qazox 1–2 Western Cuba
Hakkland 1–1 Vilita

Group B                  Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Western Cuba             1   1  0  0    2   1  +1    3
2 Hakkland                 1   0  1  0    1   1   0    1
  Vilita                   1   0  1  0    1   1   0    1
4 Qazox                    1   0  0  1    1   2  −1    0

Group C
Cafundéu 1–1 Stachland
Sargossa 3–3 Aels

Group C                  Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Aels                     1   0  1  0    3   3   0    1
  Sargossa                 1   0  1  0    3   3   0    1
3 Cafundéu                 1   0  1  0    1   1   0    1
  Stachland                1   0  1  0    1   1   0    1

Group D
Civil Citizenry 1–0 Valladares
Erathore 3–1 Falconfar

Group D                  Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Erathore                 1   1  0  0    3   1  +2    3
2 Civil Citizenry          1   1  0  0    1   0  +1    3
3 Valladares               1   0  0  1    0   1  −1    0
4 Falconfar                1   0  0  1    1   3  −2    0

Group E
Abcdefghijklmnopqrstuk 3–2 Thatius
Bears Armed 4–3 Dorian and Sonya

Group E                  Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Bears Armed              1   1  0  0    4   3  +1    3
2 Abcdefghijklmnopqrstuk   1   1  0  0    3   2  +1    3
3 Dorian and Sonya         1   0  0  1    3   4  −1    0
4 Thatius                  1   0  0  1    2   3  −1    0

Group F
Carmadin 2–4 Mangolana
Saugeais 0–0 Osarius

Group F                  Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Mangolana                1   1  0  0    4   2  +2    3
2 Osarius                  1   0  1  0    0   0   0    1
  Saugeais                 1   0  1  0    0   0   0    1
4 Carmadin                 1   0  0  1    2   4  −2    0

Group G
Astograth 2–0 Michael VII
Homelands our 2–5 Celestial Marshmallows

Group G                  Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Celestial Marshmallows   1   1  0  0    5   2  +3    3
2 Astograth                1   1  0  0    2   0  +2    3
3 Michael VII              1   0  0  1    0   2  −2    0
4 Homelands our            1   0  0  1    2   5  −3    0

Group H
Spongebobeeshia 0–1 Cassadaigua
Polar Islandstates 2–1 Megadia

Group H                  Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Polar Islandstates       1   1  0  0    2   1  +1    3
2 Cassadaigua              1   1  0  0    1   0  +1    3
3 Megadia                  1   0  0  1    1   2  −1    0
4 Spongebobeeshia          1   0  0  1    0   1  −1    0

[Qazox]

Osprey fall in DiBradini opener

Given that most of Qazox' team is a good 3-5 years younger than most of the other teams, to just lose by a goal is quite a feat. Western Cuba scored twice in the first half in the 28th and 39th minutes as Aaron Denmarsh didn't look too comfortable in net, and Coach Marchan sent in Renay Duberville for the second half. In the second half, Soai Fu'anuoa scored in the 83rd minute to make it 2-1; but that would be as close as the Osprey would get.

In other group action, Hakkland and Vilita drew 1-1; while Parsaga, Qazox' next opponet had the day off.

[Erathore]

Dominant Young Guns Shine In 3-1 Opener Against Falconfar

---

In a tantalizing display of power, skill, and elegance, the Erathore National U-21 team started the 21st Di Bradini Cup with a 3-1 victory against Falconfar. The visitors fielded one of the most unusual teams we've played, with birdmen and turtles. Odd stuff but it didn't particularly make a difference as la furia azulita made great use of the passa e posse playing style and systematically opened up Falconfar's defense time after time after time. All in all it was an excellent display from our young guns.

The four new starters for the team played wonderfully. Lehen Mañel was solid in the center of defense. He was absolutely vital in intercepting countless passes and through balls that came too close to him. Outstanding performance. Similarly, Agos played very well. Despite shutting down Wossam and Jurok singlehandedly, Agos main contribution to the team was his defending on corner kicks and set pieces. He used his strength and height to outmuscle and out jump the vast majority of other players.

In the midfield, Pepito was indispensable. He stayed behind during the attack to hold the midfield and provide a passing option for other players in order to keep possession, stretch play, or help build up the tempo. He helped start the scoring when he pulled off a neat fake pass to Demichelis to pull the defense out, before hitting a pinpoint accurate lofted ball to Pedro, who wasted no time in controlling it and lobbing it over the goalkeeper in the 17th minute. Throughout the rest of the game he was invaluable in setting up countless chances for the team, though none ever came to fruition.

And finally Pedro. The experienced winger opened his international scoring account on the 17th minute of his debut. Not too shabby. He displayed wonderful overal ability, but especially technical skill as he danced through Falconfar's defense more then a few times. I look forward to seeing the lad play more in the future.

Overall it was good stuff, with Rafa DiSantos nabbing a brace of assists and Pepito getting the other, whilst it was Soradra, Pedro, and captain Pichowski who netted. Next game will have Kai starting in the place of Daiki to try and give the team a more attacking sense. Kai will probably bump up next to Demichelis whilst we're on the attack, so we'll most likely have a 3-1-1-2-3 going on in the attack. Not exactly what one would call defensively sturdy, but hopefully we'll knock in a few goals and so more defensively minded subs will be brought on to hold the line.

[Taeshan]

"So gafer, to reiterate what your saying. If we maim, injure, knock out or do any sort of physical damage to an opponent in the upcoming weeks you will add money to are national team money."

"Yes"

"Coach there has to be some law against this."

"There is, probably a lot of them in fact, but i want you to be feared. I want you to be the team that takes others down."

"But coach, we won the whole cup two years ago without this whole intimidation factor."

"Yeah but last year we lacked some sort of edge. You guys totally sucked in the tournament. You lost that sort of upperhand in the previous year. You guys are so not at the same level you were. You need a spark. A fire in your belly to win this."

"Well coach that still seems wrong in a lot of ways."

"Yeah but you want to win don't you."

"Yes."

"Then you'll do it right."

"Well how much are we looking at."

"Well..."

[Falconfar]

To: Ish-Nal Ju-Iro Tanawasi, Head Coach of the Falconfar National Team
From: Ish-Nal Ky-Tro Wahari, Head Coach of the Falconfar U-21 Team
Subject: Game vs Erathore

I am perfectly aware that you told me specifically to not bug you during the season, as we are "colleagues". Henceforth, the subject of this letter is not the Sand Dunes of Pyria or the Diamond Springs of New Kinsi; Neither is it the Mountains of Iona or the Ocean at Baralona. No, no, no, you told me to not do that. So the subject of this letter is how the U-21 Team is faring, specifically after our first game against Erathore.

Did you know that our group is apparently made up of three other Rushmori nations and one nation that used to be in Rushmore? Isn't that mind-boggling? It's like the entire Space Bridge stuff we did is introducing us to maybe one of the premier sports playing regions out there. All I know is that the competition level in our division is not going to be low.

Such was the case today as we faced Erathore. I hear that the Erathi National Team is among the best, and I can see why. Any nation whose young people program is as amazing as Erathore's would of course have to have a great national team. We played them today, and the Erathi prevailed, 3-1.

It wasn't a bad day for our youngsters, especially providing the fact that Vi-Si Rockesai couldn't make the game. The poor kid sprained his knee the other day when a speeding youngster on a bike collided into him while he was taking a photo. Isn't that just crazy? So we had to start Xavier Comodson, the kid from Pyria State. You had told me before, Ish-Nal, that he might turn into something good; I saw flashes of brilliance today, but he was overwhelmed by the Erathii. Soradra, Pedro, and Pichowski were the ones who scored the goals for Erathore, The football handling skills of the Erathi are something to strive for, because like all the players out there for them can dribble the ball and do some amazing stuff with it.

A bright spot for our squad was "Eddie", or William Eddington. The kid challenged every ball that he could get his body around, and he was the one that scored our only goal in the second half. He and Eturansai were the ones that shined out there today.

So, what's up next for us, you say? Well... We have a bye in day two. We will try to focus on what went wrong today, and hope to correct them. There are still three more games to play, so, as long as we do this right, there is still a chance for us to make it to the playoffs. How did that old saying go? Hak-ran tisi yohorai, wasn't it? Don't give up until there is no reason to try anymore? Well, we have plenty of reason to try...

Good luck to you as you face Newland-America, Civil Citizenry, and Polar Islandstates to conclude the group stage of the Copa Rushmori. Although I know that you find me a bit annoying, it is my hope that we can have lunch again soon at the Tisi Gardens Restaurant in Pikana.

Yours always in the Never-ending faith,

Ky-Tro Wahari

[Cassadaigua]

(Yes, more spacebook chatter)

Samantha O’Keefe>: See, I told you I would make it look like I love Civil Citizenry. You all see this post-game transcript?
Zoey Anderson>: Not really, I was too busy discussing my clean sheet with a pool of reporters.
Ashley Barrett>: I was too busy discussing with the hotel housekeepers why I didn't get clean sheets on my bed when I came back.
Samantha O’Keefe>: Shoddy hotel housekeeping. Another reason to dislike Civil Citizenry.
Zoey Anderson>: WTF? That happens everywhere Sammi!
Holly Sanders>: I know right!
Zoey Anderson>: Knowing you Ashley, you left the Do Not Disturb sign on the door. I don't want to hear about your lack of clean sheets. I had one of my own, and you know that's tough.
Holly Sanders>: Zoey earned her clean sheets!
Zoey Anderson>: Just one. So far.
Samantha O’Keefe>: Ok, ok. We've overkilled the clean sheets pun long enough.
Ashley Barrett>: Awwwww.... Easy for you to say when yours were clean.
Holly Sanders>: Ok Sammi so I know you want to talk to us about your post-game transcript. What did it say?
Samantha O’Keefe>: Thank you.
Zoey Anderson>: This should be good.
Samantha O’Keefe>: Click this link:

(Contents of Link)
Samantha, tell us what it was like to play at Internacionála Stadium?

Oh, it was just an honor to play at this wonderous facility. You can tell it was just recently built and it's a shame they won't be able to get a World Cup game in here but one day they will. You could see the passion of the locals towards the great game of soccer. The atmosphere was just amazing, it was an honor.

(End contents of link)

Zoey Anderson>: I agree, the stadium is beautiful.
Ashley Barrett>: I second that!
Samantha O’Keefe>: Pretty boring. I mean really you build a modern stadium like this and it only seats 31,000. I mean really, hellllooooo?!
Zoey Anderson>: There's nothing wrong with that, smaller stadiums can create a more homely atmosphere.
Holly Sanders>: It was still cool to play in, everything doesn't need to be huge.
Samantha O’Keefe>: Oh stop kissing ass. When they build small little things like this, it's no wonder the World Cup gets awarded to places like Vilita and Polar Islandstates. A lot of the other stadiums are similar in capacity.
Ashley Barrett>: That doesn't mean anything.
Samantha O’Keefe>: And speaking of Polar Islandstates, we better be ready!
Holly Sanders>: Yeah of course we will.
Zoey Anderson>: They will be a good test for me. I look forward to playing them. Just look it at this way, a great game against The Chicks does a lot for our chances to crack the senior team.
Holly Sanders>: I thought we were The Chicks.
Ashley Barrett>: I know right! lol
Zoey Anderson>: Good point, Holly.
Samantha O’Keefe>: Well they are actually called that. You know, a baby Tern. Where as we are just called The Chicks in a slang way.
Ashley Barrett>: Chicks versus Chicks. Should be fun!

[Polar Islandstates]

Postcards from Civil Citizenry

Dear Mum and Dad,
No, I don't know where Spongebobeeshia is either. Never heard of it until this tournament, in fact.
Maybe it's one of these 'lost civilisations' or something. You know the ones I mean.
Like the ones in the jungle, or living under the sea in comedy housing.
Those kinds.
Valentijn
x

~

Hey Sofie!
Are you watching? I got on the pitch the other day! I didn't score, of course, but still! Were you proud of your big brother?
Hopefully I'll get on the pitch again this time against Cassaadaigua. Have you heard of them? I hope you have.
Maybeif you do your homework extra fast, Mum and Dad will let you stay up to watch the match!
Love,
Rune
xxx


~

Dear Amadeus,
Hej Cuz! How are things in Astograth? We're keeping up to date with events next door in Civil Citizenry, looks good so far!
We managed to beat Megadia 2-1 in the end. I assisted Enroljas for the first goal, and then Emrahn scored with a free kick.
They hid their team sheets from us to try and confuse us, but I don't think it worked, really.
Gregorz is cleverer than that, so I'm learning.
Marten

~

Dear Mum and Dad,
Megadia, done. Next up, Cassadaigua! They'll be sure to be a far tougher test, so I'm a wee bit concerned it's going to be a rough ride.
That said, team spirit is high, a lot of them have been together for a while, so the banter is excellent.
Not feeling left out or anything, don't worry. I remember Luka from the Haapa-Mechelin so we've had some decent chats.
Now, to get on and play!
Julius
x

~

Dear Alexei,
Nyaaaaahh nyaaa na nyaaaa naaahhh.
Looooooooads of love,
Enroljas
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
p.s. I'll score when I want.

[Osarius]

AcademyDropout.osr | Blog

OK guys... you know I have nothing but love for the Flying Sparks. And you know I respect all my fellow coaches. But, after the under-21s' latest performance against Saugeais... I think I need to speak up. This is no slight on Ishmael, honestly. I think he's perhaps just not as experienced as one would like him to be? I don't know. But I do think that he should have identified some issues and fixed them. So here goes...

Five things I think Ishmael Walker got wrong against Saugeais.

1. Putting Robert Lee in the attacking midfield role.
Don't get me wrong. I understand why he did it. Lee is a creative centre forward who likes to drop deep anyway. In many ways, he's like Jorge Sesmiro, or Alessandro di Corradi... but there's one major difference; Robert Lee's inclination to close down midfielders and win the ball back appears somewhat limited. He much prefers to drift around behind a striker, between the lines, waiting to do damage. He's not much of a grafter. And that's likely because at Bowsston he doesn't need to be. For the Flying Sparks, he will, though.

2. Instructing Richards, Cuellar and Urbina to press without Lee's support.
All that did was wear them out. Without Lee pressing up on Nielson, he was always free to receive the ball, providing an easy escape option for the Saugeais defence. An easy escape which could easily have turned into a quick counter-attack path if not for the tireless movement of Kieran Parker, and excellent anticipation of Quan Nash. Which leads me to point three...

3. Expecting Nash to create from deep a la Ayanna Barca-Carthy.
Nash is a quality player. He really is. But let's be honest... he's a destroyer. He reads the game well, and his defensive positioning is superb. He rarely has to sprint to stop an attack, and seldom actually tackles... yet teams are usually forced to play around him. Excellent defensive player. However, when the Flying Sparks were in possession, he seemed oddly lost. There were times when he could have -- and perhaps should have -- drifted off to create space, or moved around to receive a short pass and recycle possession, but didn't. Fielding Parker alongside Menedez in the creative role may have worked better, as we know she is better suited to that kind of play. It seems as though Walker was concerned about Saugeais' attacking threat though, which would make sense if not for...

4. Two attacking fullbacks, as well as two out-and-out wingers.
Yeah, this works sometimes. But against a team so capable of counter-attacking as Saugeais ... its a bit silly. Fortunately, the two fullbacks are both Firewood lads, and are well-acquainted with the Fourgian club's policy of aggressive defence. Their pace also helped them recover when they were caught out of possession. Main problem here for me though, was that it went against other selections. Why select Nash and Parker if you want to overload both flanks? Wouldn't it make more sense to team Nash with a creator in that scenario? Menendez again fits the bill.

5. The reversion to 4-4-2 later in the game.
This is more of a personal thing, to be honest, because I really don't like the 4-4-2 system... but in this case, I also felt that it smacked of desperation. It came far too late in the game for my liking -- I would have made changes far earlier -- and worse still, it didn't really change anything. The Flying Sparks were effectively already a 4-4-2 by that point, with Lee's replacement McLean playing much nearer to Richards. If anything, the change opened the game up for Saugeais, who then found themselves with more time and space in midfield because there was one less man pressing, and Parker's workrate was slowing due to fatigue. When Menendez replaced Parker, it was a good thing -- providing creativity -- but also bad, because she isn't half as dynamic as the Firewood man, leaving even more space for The Foxes' midfield.

Hopefully, he learns from this match though, and the team kick on. I really want him to succeed, but this kind of tactical misjudgment is gonna make that exceptionally difficult if it keeps happening.

* * * * *

Roberto Cormega had typed the blog entry, and was about to hit submit when he paused. 'If I submit this... it will probably completely ruin any chance I may have of ever getting work with the OFA.' He thought to himself.

He didn't so much wrestle with his emotions -- those behind his ranting post -- as he did bitchslap them back into line, as he clicked the cancel button on the browser. He exhaled deeply before clasping his head in both hands.

'You should know better than that. Almost became one of them.' He chastised himself, silently.

[Kiryu-shi]

The overcast sky was a relief for Boaz, the shadows on his face preventing people from reading his emotions. He had made a simple promise to himself, helping to lead this group of kids to represent a nation for the first time in decades. The promise was to stay positive, to make sure that this group would not be left completely adrift in such a foreign place. And it started off mostly pretty alright when the team arrived together at the Westwold CB Complex for the first time to watch the match between Homelands our and Celestial Marshmallows. Huge in comparison to any type of stadium that Kiryu-shi had to offer, the team managed to get budget-ticket seats in the very distant rows of the complex, looking down at the players from a level none of them were accustomed to. Yet Boaz stayed positive, trying to keep the players loose. Even though the official budget would say that this trip was to scout out the opponents, it was much more of an opportunity to simply become accustomed to a stadium that wasn’t among the sprawling, green campuses of Kiryu-shi.

And, for better or for worse, the players became accustomed. Boaz continually had to remind himself just how resilient young people can be - these weren’t babies incapable of taking care of themselves. They were chosen, in part, for their ability to stay calm under intense scrutiny; there was no way they could’ve played football in Kiryu-shi without that type of resiliency. Within fifteen minutes, most of them were sprawled out across their seats, sampling some of the odder things that they managed to find in the concession section. The smells themselves were enough to turn Boaz away, but most of the squad seemed to have become indulged in an elaborate food pranking war, attempting to get their teammates to eat the grossest combination of bizarre-smelling condiments that they had managed to concoct. Rebecca, as expected, sprawled out on her seat, asleep, while Connor and Maggie, the two youngest members of the squad, spent most of the match bantering on their own, but the great majority of the group seemed to enjoy themselves immensely. And given how uptight the team had been for most of the trip, Boaz let them goof around for the duration of the match.

Of course, Boaz actually kept an eye on the action on the pitch. And simply put, it was going to be difficult to maintain any type of coherent performance against either of these squads. The arrogance and carelessness of his squad was clear - they had always been the best of the best in Kiryu-shi, but the talent pool was never high; not compared to many of these countries where football was engrained in their blood. And the tactics - the aggression and goals ran counter to the style of play that Kiryu-shi highlighted in domestic university play, where defending was always highlighted beyond all else. A five-two match seemed ludicrous to Boaz, moderately obscene, even though he conceptually knew of the aggressive tactics that dictated the play of many nations. Looking back at the golden years of Kiryu-shi football, the statistics were staggering - In 84 matches during their most successful run, they had let in 112 goals, while scoring 162. For modern university play, when 0-0 draws were the most common result, those types of results were ridiculous. And yet Boaz’s grandfather was proud of that very defending - it had led them to an undefeated championship run in the Baptism of Fire tournament and a World Cup qualification within their first four attempts. How could this team possibly match up to that level of intensity?

Boaz trailed behind the rest of the Kiryu-shi contingent as they descended down to the street level towards the exit of the stadium. And when they stepped back out onto the street, he was still deep in thought, thinking about how to get his team to respond to the inevitable shock of international play in their upcoming debut match against Astograth. Staying positive would be nice, but at this point, Boaz considered the team’s ability to simply stay upright to be his biggest concern. Positivity could come later. The sun remained hidden.

[Bears Armed]

(OOC: This team's starting line-up has now been edited into the roster post.)

____________________________________________________________________________________________


"Whau! Close game that was, verrry close, for true!"

"Very close, indeed. Verry nimble and quick those Elves are, even compared to Humans let alone to typical Ursines, and pretty skilled too..."

"Ayyuh, but I reckon our girls came close to matching them in both of those respects today, even if it was our superior endurance that eventually gave us the edge: They were definitely tiring by about halfway through the second portion, otherwise maybeso we wouldn't have been able to manage going from two-goals-against-three down even to equalise let alone to win."

"Hwell, maybeso. A bit ironic in that case that it was our only Human player who ended up scoring the decider, though, wasn't it?"
^_^

"For true! Sarra is a really good player -- and yet not vain about that fact, as some others would be in her place, neither -- at that. I hrreally hope that she decides to keep on playing in Bears Armed once she's graduated, as a professional, instead of going back 'beyond the river' (OOC: = 'abroad'.) again like her mother has."

"And so do I, too. Say, have you heard anything from Karra in person lately?"

"Not since last year, the leter that she sent just after the World Cup that you already knew about.
Say, have you heard anything from BAAS about when we can expect this team's substitutes to arrive here... or even who they'll be?"

"Not yet, no, and I'm a bit disappointed in head office for that... although I do realise that the whole 'Dead Bears Walking' problem that's going on back home has drawn a lot of official attention and personnel away from less important-smelling matters like Sports."

"Ayyuh. Still, at least that's still only a case of occasional corpses getting up again and walking away, and so far they've all been quite easily laid back to rest -- at least from hwhat I've managed to hear -- instead of it being a whole Horde of them forming and attacking people like happened back in King Athanabarr's time!"

"Ayyuh, thank the Good Spirits for that! You know, with that going on, I'm a bit surprised that they let us have so many of our players -- even though some of those would probably be considered too young for Militia service except in even direr circumstances than these -- come from the 'martial clans'."

"Hr'rmm, I hadn't thought of that point before. You're hrright, it is a bit odd... Oh hwell, shouldn't look a gift FourHorn in the mouth, I suppose.
"So, who are our girls facing next?"

"That would be Thatius: One of the many Human squads, narrowly lost to the Alphabetites yesterday although some of the papers were giving them a good forecast beforepaw. Oh, and we're to meet them at this country's BIGGEST stadium, the one that they call 'The Barn' in the city of Comesby."

"H'rmm....
"We'd better make sure that the girls are hrreally good, and hrreally hrready, then: Tell them, practice starts again hrright on the stroke of SecondWatch tomorrow morning."

"Hokay, will do."

[Taeshan]

X Island Inquirer

Knights Take Down Icemark

In what was a very interesting game last night the Lil' Purple Knights of Taeshan took down the Icemark Under 21 national team with 5 goals to their opponents 2. Led by star striking duo of Marshall Murgatroyd and Brian Ibrahim, the Knights offense though was not the most interesting part of the day. It was the punishing defense of the Knights that shall get the most looks of wonder from the match. Not only were seven yellows handed out to the Knights, but two late red's that helped account for the two goals that went the other teams way. It was overall a very interesting match for both teams, and funnily enough the Knights may be looking at an interesting period ahead.

The first goal of the night came from Murgatroyd on a header from a Jeremiah Longwaters cross. This was followed by a second from Karl Llana, and a third from Brian Ibrahim. This was when the Knights turned on the punishing play. Both Captains, wingback duo of Longwaters, and Peter Fasnacht both were awarded yellows, with Llana adding a third just before the half. In the second half the two captains were replaced by striker Tyler Pantoum and defender Mathieu Forrestor in opes t keep the penalties from accumulating. Shortly thereafter Pantoum added a goal from a Grant Wetter assist. Shortly thereafter, Tyler Provyay and Wetter were awarded yellows getting the count up to five. The fifth Knights goal came in the 70th when Murgatroyd netted a second. Then the Knights lost both Forrestor on a straight red, then Llana with a second yellow which led to both goals for the icemark. Finally in the waning seconds Jacob Martin got a yellow in goal for time wasting.

[The Icemark]

The Kingdom Of The Icemark managed to score two decent goals in their opening group match of the Di Bradini Cup against former champions Taeshan.
Their first came when Artemesion curled in a cross from the right and Lindenshield got the better of their defence to smash home from six yards. Just moments later The Icemark scored their second when Nasrid jinxed his way up the right hand side and his cross was converted at the far post by Bellorum.
The only problem was the match was already over at this point. Taeshan has overawed and outplayed The Icemark with five goals, and The Icemark's own goals felt shallow as Taeshan were down to nine-men.
With Manager M. Totus back in Frostmarris following the death of his brother, Bellorum led the frontline in an unusual 4-5-1 formation, and The Icemark had no answer for Taeshans superb offensive display, as they were outplayed and in the second half out muscled.
The Icemark will also be counting the cost of injuries to four of their players - all coincidentally occuring in a much more physical second half.
With doubts remaining whether the manager will make our second match, Bellorum may have to lead a team out composed partly of untried 13 year old substitutes.




Match Facts:
Shots On target: 4
Corners: 5
Yellow/Red Cards: 3/0
Possesion: 41%