World Cup 60: RP Thread

[Jedi8246]

Theme
Fenris Sports Corner

"Greetings folks. I'm Logan Dale bringing you the most watched Jedi8246 sports program. Fenris Sports Corner. In World Cup news, Jedi8246 has only positive things to say. In the first time in our five years of competition, Jedi8246 is leading a dominant grip on their group. Match 5 was an amazing blowout by a dominant Wyverns squad. A slamming 6-2 victory over San Nitrento's squad showed how well the Wyverns have progressed since their first year. Coach Donald Hemlock was done a fantastic job guiding this team to be high caliber. Match 6 was a less exciting but still good game against Cowardly Pacifists. Going into the game had many wondering whether the Chickens would suddenly rise to defeat the Wyverns. While worthy, ultimately the Wyverns proved the better squad. The most recent game was against a dormant South Icemark squad. Neither team came out playing very hard, the Wyverns just doing enough to secure the win. With Cowardly Pacifists defeat of the Akbarabad team, the only team thought to be a serious difficulty for Jedi8246, the Wyverns looked poised to take the group. Though this did happen two years previously, with Jedi8246 drawing multiple ties in the latter of the season and not qualifying. The Jedi8246 squad must play both halves of the season in order to emerge on top.That said, the Wyverns are playing the best they ever have done. The roster changes have worked to create a beautifully functioning squad. Going forward, Jedi8246 will look to take down Akbarabad and thus take the group. For more World Cup updates,visit our website.Fishing championship news after the break."

[New Montreal States]

The wait in the charter lounge of Salouf's major international airport had reached eight hours, and showed no signs of slowing down. The nation, whose players were just as anonymous as most of the rest of Group 16, was located in a region called the "San Francisco Bay Area," and apparently the region's trademark characteristic was heavy, perpetual fog. Except for a brief interlude when all the locals had taken their shirts off and twisted them around their heads like helicopters, the Paladins had been left feeling like involuntary participants in the world's largest community-theater production of No Exit. Although some of them recognized the fact that they ought to be grateful that this had been the biggest hangup so far in what had been a remarkably successful first half of qualification, nobody was particularly willing to admit this out loud at the moment. Small talk had long since been exhausted, and the members of the team either napped fitfully in uncomfortable chairs, drank mid-range booze at top-shelf prices at the bar, or vanished into the narcotic haze of their various electronic devices, huddled around power outlets in 21st-century imitations of cavemen gathered at their fires.

In the cocktail lounge the stewardesses come and go, talking of Michelangelo.

One of the Paladins staring into their laptops was starting LMF Donald Taylor, a member of the national side since age 18. Having spent a whole two-year World Cup cycle as the youngest player on the side, he had realized that a shortcut to acceptance - if not necessarily popularity - had been to pack a power strip in his carry-on bag for delays such as this one. Although baffling to airport-security flacks, it was not actually illegal, and the ability to milk extra free electricity out of airports during delays like this one had earned him a modicum of respect for cutting the Gordian knot of keeping a half-dozen electronic gadgets fully charged during their owners' hour of need. For an 18-year-old struggling to find some acceptance from his elders, this was a godsend.

The only downside was that being surrounded by his teammates made it harder for Taylor to indulge some of his online hobbies that might be considered eccentric, to say nothing of antisocial. Nothing immoral or illegal; just an online roleplaying site out of Audioslavia known as RLStates. Unlike most online games, there were only limited, situational uses of computer-generated outcomes; the rest was based purely on the individual writing skills and imaginations of the geeks staring into their laptops and hammering away on their keyboards. Taylor had been an enthusiastic early adapter of the game, and as a result his archipelago of "Japan" was now universally acknowledged as not only a technological and economic powerhouse, but also as an original, zany and eccentric culture that, although entire too weird (and occasionally perverse) to be realistic, nevertheless made for some truly compelling RPs.

Although some members of the site were apparently fascinated by war, and wrote elaborate RPs on the subject with minutely detailed armies whose mustering lists were based on elaborate technological designs and whose sizes were determined by university-level economics and mathematics intricately related to population base, economic power and government type, Taylor wanted no part of these things. He had a life, after all - hours of training, domestic and international matches, forming the beast with two backs with the amply bosomed and bootied blonde bombshell his thirteen-year-old pubescent self had always imagined would be one of the rewards of football stardom. Computing a realistic weight-to-armament ratio for frontline battle tanks seemed like entirely too much work to be fun - it had chased "The Soviet Union" into CTE status once the arms race had gotten to be just too much for him to cope with. To excuse his failure to develop an army (and hopefully dissuade others from trying to drag him into their wars), he wrote up a backstory involving an earlier era of militaristic worship of an Emperor directly descended from the sun, whose followers conquered and ruthlessly subjugated numerous regional neighbors before being undone by an alliance of global powers that had used low-yield nuclear weapons to force "Japan's" surrender. To avoid having to fight the same war over again a generation later, the global alliance imposed democracy on his nation at gunpoint (rather, aircraft-carrier-point) and wrote incredibly stringent limits on military spending into his nation's new, republican constitution. Freed from military concerns, he was able to stick to the kind of lighthearted comedic fare that was fun to write, didn't rely too much on a set storyline, and could be put together in an hour or so during airport layovers or after downing a stiff drink or a bowl right after coming home from practice.

His domestic baseball league was well-regarded as the second-best in the world. He participated in the Football World Cup with more gusto than results, since his travel and practice schedule meant he usually missed several matchdays' worth of posts during tournaments. (He'd even found time to co-host the whole affair at one point, although that hadn't helped him secure a victory.) He had a few popular running gags, such as toilets that had an absurd number of supplementary features, and vending machines that sold just about any product he thought he could cram into them. He'd joined the site looking for a pleasant diversion, and he'd found everything he'd hoped for.

The lone fly in the ointment had been one of his regional neighbors, North Korea. Although there were plenty of Psychotic Dictatorships in the world, North Korea was generally acknowledged by both the automatically generated World Rankings and by their peers as being the most psychotic and dictatorial of them all. He had already been forced to fire off the "2500 gW space-based Ignore Cannon" he kept as a last resort to inure his nation from the consequences of his neighbor's (ultimately failed) ballistic missile tests. Still, he felt kind of foolish doing so, since this was hardly realistic, and he worried that people might also think it was unsporting. So while his teammates compared photos of various swimsuit models and actresses, tried to guess what bars and clubs they frequented and weighed their odds of successfully landing their phone numbers, he had let his mind wander towards a solution. He rarely paid too much attention to the World Rankings, but he vaguely remembered that North Korea was squarely at the bottom of all of them save Uranium Mining. Recalling that North Korea had just posted an elaborate closed RP about their death of their previous dictator and the transition of power to his youngest son, he quickly drafted a telegram to his region-mate:

To the new leader of the DPRK,

I'll offer you food aid, and help building enough water plants to keep your people clean and un-thirsty, if you promise to just walk away from all these missile tests and keep the region peaceful. Sports RPs are way more fun anyways.

Cheers,

Japan

[Socialist States Owen]

Veteran Daley the hero as nine man FSSO overcome red card controversy to earn late win
A report by Clint Covey

Istadiu Capivara Seu Creysson

CAPIVARA GROUP - 1
Abedi Ronaldo 26

FSSO - 2
Needle (Pen) 78
Daley 89
Sharp s/o 70
Feeney s/o 73

The FSSO recovered from a 0-1 deficit - and two red cards within a few minutes of each other - to beat Capivara Group thanks to the efforts of Scott Daley.

For the first few minutes of the game the ball got nowhere near either box as the FSSO controlled posession, but soon Capivara broke their hegemony and began to come into the game, before taking the lead in the 26th minute. Albedi Ronaldo scored an unconventional goal, slicing a cross into the box which deflected off of Joe Arne Pizza and went in at the near post beyond the reach of Simon Neeson. Neeson had to be on his toes to prevent a second goal for the home side shortly before half time in a quiet first half, palming wide a ferocious Crodoaldo shot from 25 yards. As the players went down the tunnel for half time however there was a sign of things to come; three Capivara players and FSSO player Nick Feeney were booked after scuffling in the tunnell.

The second half was more open as the FSSO decided to go on the attack from the start, feeling they had nothing to lose, while Capivara went into a more defensive mode to try and hold on to an important win. Unfortunately for the underdogs, the FSSO were becoming too strong for them. Josh Stevenson hit the post in the 60th minute with a curling shot, and then five minutes after that Lee Sharp almost scored but saw a dragged shot from the edge of the box (following an impressive 40 yard run) go marginally wide. However it was what followed this that changed the game. Sharp went in on Zenon with a sliding challenge - and got the ball - but the referee somehow thought otherwise, and showed Sharp a straight red card. The first red in the international career of a world class striker with an impeccable disiplinary record, the FSSOFA will certainly appeal for it to be rescinded but in the meantime what had happened was a disgrace. Then, three minutes later, Nick Feeney brushed home team susbtitute Mindgo while challenging for a header - and Mindgo threw himself to the floor with a random dive. Feeney was shown a harsh second yellow for a light push and the FSSO were suddenly on the back foot with nine men, substituting their left back a few minutes later to bring on veteran striker Scott Daley to try and turn the tide.

Needless to say, this worked. The FSSO surged forward and Daley tested Capivara keeper Creuzo with a stinging shot from the edge of the box soon after coming on. Then he got the FSSO an opportunity to level; Daley was brought down by Creuzo at a corner. As the ball was going away from goal Creuzo was only shown a yellow, but Sam Needle stepped up and slammed the penalty into the corner. Daley almost created a potential winning goal two minutes later, heading the ball on for Needle from a Steve Thompson cross, but Needle blasted a shot from eight yards straight at the keeper. However Daley was the hero as he got the winner himself, nodding home a Stevenson cross in the 89th minute, unchallengeable in the air for the significantly shorter opposition defenders.

Man of the Match: Scott Daley

The Starting Lineup

13. S Neeson
2. N Feeney
4. J Paranaya
5. M Humphrey
3. JA Pizza
7. McCroft
6. P Ryans
8. S Thompson
11. J Stevenson
10. L Sharp
9. S Needle

Substitutes

24. Craig Castleton
19. M Robertson
15. G Davis
16. K Kane
18. T Riley
23. S Daley (On for 74 Pizza)
14. S Xavier

[Astograth]

From the Archives of RL Sports
World Cup 5

Spain:

Group 6 play-off (in Rome, Italy):
Turkey 2 - 2 Spain AET

Upon drawing of lots, Turkey qualifies for the World Cup!

I demand a re-lotting.

Switzerland: That's not how lots work

Spain: Well then, I voice my formal displeasure with this 'lots' system you're so keen on implementing. Why don't we just have a replay like proper gentlemen?

Switzerland: You've already played one. Lots are fair and democratic

England: Lots are in the bid, mate. You should've paid more attention when voting.

Ireland: Don't worry about it Spain.If tough to lose so much,but in the future it will be your 15 year,and all the powerhouses would forget about it.Or the stay.I haven't been here long enough to know.

France: That's the spirit, Ireland! Keep it up and I'm sure you'll be a great roleplayer that I'd love to play anytime!

Ireland: thx.

---

Hungary: Fair warning that I'll be away and unable to RP till after the final, and a reminder to my opponents that you have full RP permissions to do as you like (for scorers Kocsis, Czibor, Puskás... you know the drill).

England: Hey, why am I drawn with Uruguay if we're both first-placed in our groups? Same with Brazil and Hungary... it's alright if it's just an honest mistake, I can understand some people aren't used to hosting.

Germany: There's no mistake, England.

England: WTF kind of format is this ??

Switzerland: The one in the bid. Just like drawing of lots to separate first and second, and lots to decide winners in the knockouts after extra time, and lots to decide the world champion after extra time of the replay

Italy: That last part is an idea alright...

Greece: Woah.

Argentina: I'll say!

England: STFU you're all out. Okay, so one finalist is drawn from the four best teams and another from the next four. But why so many freaking lots?!

Switzerland: It's only fair Now go check how you did

England:

Uruguay 4 - 2 England @ St. Jakob Stadium, Basel

That's not fair, mate, I was RPing! Keep in mind I am the UK, my times are different from yours!

[Camerania]

"Good afternoon, and welcome. I'm Barry Norman with a World Cup update.
Yesterday's match was the loss we were expecting, but it was an unfortunate shutout. We are all hoping for some wins in the future, but we'll have to wait and see. Until then, I'm Barry Norman, keeping you posted."

[Michael VII]

Man on a Mission: Steven Mcswain in WC60 qualification...

Ah well, we had to lose at some point. Michael VII's longest undefeated streak snapped at 7 games. Jeru FC, easily one of the best in the world, took us down 3-1 in a great game. If, they weren't a bunch of girls...THAT is embarrassing. Not cool guys, sending out a team if girls to beat us! Not cool at all...

That's almost as bad as Mayfield losing 5-0 last season to the FC Jagoza United Women's side...That sucked. Pretty badly, and they only had 10 players after getting sent off early.

So we're halfway through, and again M7 is to become mediocre, next up Cambazooty again, a pretty important match, as we must win to hold onto 2nd place, and also to set a barrier between us for the H2H differential. Come on boys! Let's do this, at least this time the Osarian infidels won't have anything left to hide, and AT LEAST THEY'RE NOT GIRLS!

So yeah, we'll probably lose, knowing us, but still, go team! At least my passport is getting used to an extent.

[Capivara Group]

It was all Detonator's fault.

He was the one who started the scuffle in the tunnel. He then riled his Crash Bandicoot teammates to start a brawl. He got booked before play restarted, along with Blondie Hammet and Metal Avenger.

What an idiot.

Everyone knows you start a brawl going IN the tunnel.

But nooo, he had to be an ass and ruin things for the team. Sombra got Mindgo in his place to cool things up. Then we get him tripping on his own feet and getting a yellow card for nothing.

Wonderful.

I also have to laugh at their second goal. It was funny, to see those two lard bags who can't even get off the ground, Zenon and Laurêncio, trying to mark a guy who was one foot taller than them.

All in all, a typical game for our team.

By the way, the Cup of Harmony will have to be renamed if we keep all those insane guys in our lineup when we get there.

[Earent]

CONFIDENTIAL
DO NOT DISTRIBUTE
Evaluations--Addendum
Player: Kayns, Moyer
Perception: Medium
Presence: High
Physical compatibility: Medium
Youth team evaluations (Brayntel TU): A bit of a perfectionist from time to time but respectful. A strong finisher if a little slow.
Recommendation: needs to work on his positioning, at least to receive passes. Will benefit from more familiarity with the midfielders.

Looking back, Moyer couldn't remember the first time it didn't feel like there was a hole in his head. Just a patch--something he could rub, almost, push himself to see that he was not taking in what he once had noticed.

He didn't miss Joundra, exactly, not when they saw each other and all their other club teammates so often. Nor did he particularly miss being nidjed--at least not thinking about all the effort it took to set it up.

Still, he didn't get very close to many of his new teammates on the national team. They didn't get it--even the Ousteeble pair and the Stroyfungul kids didn't know what it was like to have something rip out from behind you. Not literally, of course. He didn't pretend to understand the science. But one moment everything had been part of his new normal and then? Then there was that hole.

He gave the stands a quick look, mostly spotting for color. Brown meant old-time fans out to see him and Doven, that he should put on a show. Gold meant new fans from all over who'd splurge to come out. He didn't want to think about what purple meant.

Instead it was relatively white. Good--fans from all over, but who weren't just jumping on the bandwagon, they'd been with the team for a while. Although, he realized, that meant they'd remember that all three of the strikers were new. And no nidjfoges to show off, either.

So he was tense as the game began. Once or twice, he was even in an offsides position, but so far away from the ball that the referee didn't even bother to stop play. Behind him, Earent's defense kicked the ball around, and it seemed to be heading for another low-scoring game.

Then Margel Puse passed to Belb Inmora, and the latter stormed forward, sending a low shot in. Another close victory for Earent, Moyer hoped? It might have been, had not the visitors gotten tense and started moving faster, desperate to equalize. Their midfield pushed forward but left plenty of empty space behind them, and Moygel Hempner quickly found a second goal.

Waspeaters slowed down a little after that, demoralized, but their defense tightened up and they headed away Belb's next effort. One of their forwards scored on a counterattack.

At halftime, Marsinee went on about how they shouldn't have let up or whatever. At first Moyer paid little attention, but ultimately made himself focus just in case anything useful came up. At least Marsinee cared.

Belb scored again to open the second half, and the visitors in turn scored. Moyer continued to drift this way and that, at one point receiving a pass from Pesser Nagin and immediately shooting over the bar.

But then, with time running out, Talia Klyn sent him a throw-in and he dribbled it a few steps to get it under control. This accomplished, he shot, and that time for some reason it went in.

Later, he'd almost wish he had someone else's joy, because his own didn't seem to be enough. Sure, the fans had applauded, and he'd waved to them--he hadn't been too rude celebrating, had he? The goal had meant so little...

He walked past the souvenir stands, their "KAYNS" jerseys for Brayntel still on display. Those hideous, "artsy" purple ones, worn by stupid fans who couldn't tell what was ugly on their own, who just switched on and off whatever people told them was hip.

He could help the national team, he told himself, help them win and then go back to giving his all against them in the league. They switched, on and off, and Joundra was no worse a teammate than some of them. That would have to be enough.

He closed his eyes and in the isolation of the hallways, the gold of his uniform shone brighter, the roar of the crowd grew louder, than it had been only an hour before. Maybe the memories would veer even farther away as time passed. Maybe he wouldn't mind.

CONFIDENTIAL
DO NOT DISTRIBUTE
Evaluations--Addendum
Player: Hassel, Tope
Perception: Low
Presence: Low
Physical compatibility: Medium
Youth team evaluations (Paysban TU): Very professional and quiet player. Moves around in the box well.
Recommendation: Difficult to tell what he's into--one of those players who doesn't seem particularly ambitious to move to a bigger side, but not incredibly loyal to the club either. Could turn a profit if a bigger club is interested.

It was, Tope considered, a fine stadium. When one of the other stadiums in your league could swallow up your own home stadium fifty-nine times over...well, you didn't have room to be judgmental. It was the hosts' first game ever, the fans must have been excited.

And the referees were doing a fine job. He thought he recognized the referee from that game against Alexanderburn, someone on top of the game. Someone, he noted with raised eyebrows, who had even managed to spell the visitors' enormous name right! (Less so Earent's own, but he didn't take it personally. Their lowlands didn't have all that much to be proud of, really.)

It was a very long name, and he told himself that afterwards he'd glance at their shirts and see if they spelled it all on their crests, or if they just had a nice logo instead. Maybe an abbreviation. There was no need for them to get too close. A nice game with the opponents far from his goal would be just the thing.

By that metric, things went rather well. He darted around a couple times, that one chance four minutes before halftime had seemed threatening, but by and large the defenders had things under control. The hosts were on the attack, but got unlucky, and Stob made plenty of clearances.

Unfortunately, that didn't leave Earent with much possession time, and when Tearim made their best approach in the 67th minute, he was immediately tackled by an outside defender and lost possession. The game finished scoreless.

Alone among the team, Tope had had exactly zero hope for a home game. Even the others in Taeshan had their home clubs, back in the Integ Brandel--Pesser had returned to Brantslaybel for their first game, and Margel and Belb would at least get to return to their home cities for one night. But after their tense survival, his callup, and transfer, Paysban had gone down at the second attempt. So if their friendly travels took them to the distant lands of thirteen zeroes, he could take it in stride. Two more zeroes didn't hurt anyone.

As they flew back from Dy Qyndr Pwn Qahath Znn Amram Yzsar Hbr, Tope continued this self-imposed optimism to look on the bright side of things. Unfortunately, this resulted in him looking on the bright side of the sky, as he wound up with a window seat that gave him an unpleasant view of the sun when he wanted to look down at the ground. So, he pulled the shade and took a nap.

[Jeruselem]

Princess Melody Song Dallas and Melody Pond ...

Pond: So we lost the Pink Cup.
Song: Bloody Dagans beat us again
Pond: Oh well, doesn't matter. Bear girls did well.
Song: Guess who we play next?
Pond: Oh yes
Song: What about we just lose to the bears to give them the cup?
Pond: I suppose we can't win it anyway
Song: Exactly
Pond: It wouldn't be fair to the others.
Song: Never mind. How was your date?
Pond: It was alright, the guy was a bit older than I expected
Song: That's OK, as long as he can do the job
Pond: He's got money though
Song: He looking for a trophy wife?
Pond: If he was, he'd be looking for someone like you.
Song: Well I suppose, but I have expensive taste. So, going to see him again?
Pond: He seemed alright, not too much of an ego
Song: Does he want children?
Pond: I don't know.
Song: You don't want him doing a runner if you have kids.
Pond: I guess I have think about that, since Mum is a single Mum. I don't want to be a single Mum
Song: My Mum didn't have a choice about that.
Pond: That's different.
Song: Heard you got a pay cut ...
Pond: Yeah, apparently only girls got a pay cut!
Song: That's not fair. What was the reason?
Pond: Single women can afford one apparently
Song: That's sexist drivel. What about the women with kids.
Pond: There are none playing football in the club
Song: I'd be moving club, some of the defenders at the Sharks are retiring. Come and join us Sharkies.
Pond: Is the pay good?
Song: Of course it is, pay peanuts get monkeys

[Antoletia]

"Well that wasn't so bad. Everyone expected worse from us and we beat expectations."

"Yeah a tie against Erathore could go a long way in seeing us through qualification."

"Yeah at least we didn't lose. If we don't at least make the pods this whole cup will be a waste."

"Beyond a waste. If we don't do good say bye bye to the funding we have been seeing from the Association. Back to boating from country to country instead of these nice third class seats on planes."

"Yeah we so have it better now."

"I feel rich.

[Qazox]

World Cup 60 Qualifers
MID-QUALIFYING REVIEW

GROUP NINE STANDINGS

- Group 9                             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Legalese                              7    5   2   0    15    7   +8    17
2 Phoenigetuzstha                       7    5   1   1    14    5   +9    16
3 Qazox                                 7    4   2   1    14   10   +4    14
4 Cotdelapoms                           7    4   0   3    11    8   +3    12
5 Starblaydia                           7    2   1   4     7   11   −4     7
6 Ishaanabad                            7    1   3   3     4    6   −2     6
7 Arcquest                              7    1   1   5     7   15   −8     4
8 Isointania                            7    0   2   5     6   16  −10     2

Qazox' record vs. Top 4: 1-2-0 (5/9pts = 55.5 pt% and 66.7 win%)
Qazox' record vs. Bottom 4: 3-0-1 (9/12 pts= 75.0 pt% and 75.0 win%)

While not the best mid-qualifying record Qazox has had, and it's not the worst; so far Qazox has dropped 7 points, 3 losing to Ishannabad last month. The schedule for the second half is frought with danger, a trip to Legalese and Starblaydia, the former a match that could determine the group winner at the end of qualifying.

Offensively, Qazox' been in a rut, averaging only 2 goals per game, down from the 3.00 GPG Qazox has averaged over the last 5 qualifying campaigns. The 2.00 GPG is the lowest since World Cup 54 Qualifying when Qazox averaged only 2.08 GPG. The defense, never a complete strong-suit for Qazox; but neither a total liability; has allowed an average 1.43 GAG; a bit higher than the 1.27 GAG over the past 5 qualifying campaigns.

What does this mean for Qazox? The next three games; @ Isointania, v. Arcquest, and @ Starblaydia; are all games that Qazox should be able to win or at worst finish with a 2-1-0 record. The next three after that will likely determine the group title and playoff berth, as Qazox hosts both Phoenigetuzstha and Cotdelapoms, with a trip to Legalese in between. If Qazox can emerge from that 3-game stretch with no worse than a record of 8-3-2 (27pts) they should be able to at worst clinch a playoff berth.

But make no mistake, Qazox' success over the next 2 months will lean on an underachiving offense, and historically, Qazox' offense tends to get weaker in the second half of qualifying. As loathe as I am to admit it, Qazox might be staring at a Cup of Harmony berth instead of a World Cup berth when everything is all said and done.

[Taeshan]

"Last night i sat down with Taeshani manager A.F. Falcon and discussed much pertaining to the national team."

"Andreu how do you feel about the teams first half performance."

"Well i would say that it was solid, but not necessarily good enough for qualification. We tied Valanora, which is an obvious plus, but also we failed to have that killer instinct against Hakkland to beat them and we lost a game to Cyborg Holland we should have gotten at least a point from."

"On that note how do you feel about the run of form of Cyborg Holland and the somewhat dismal play of usual favorites Valanora."

"To be fair the Vanorans had it coming. Sure they are currently only 3 points out and all, but something is rotten in the state of Valanora. They are not playing the beautiful football I, no the world, is accustomed to and as such they have seen a fall of form this cup. Cyborg Holland has had a great run but i must say i doubt it will last. Their final match day loss to United Gordonopia reeled them back in and we, Hakkland and Valanora will easily be able to catch up in the second half."

"In the past two games, the final qualifier and the friendly in Yesopalitha against rival Daehanjeiguk, have seen all 24 players on the squad see playing time. You have only started Gwyn Juniper, Anderson Patton, Cotton LaPaige and Ezekiel Catamount in both, what is the importance of this."

"Well i saw after the first game that the team members were a little tired, but i still wanted to keep the core on the field. The midfielder and the striking point. It helps keep them together, and helps keep fitness levels up. I also wanted to see what sort of people we had been marring on the bench for the season."

"Yes. With Anderson Patton retiring at the end of the season will Ender Wiggin be his replacement. Fans want to know."

"Well, its pretty obvious that hes the best person to be put in that central attack mode. And he fits well into the new 3-2-5 we have started to use of late, but i won't guarantee that he will start."

"Any other big retirement news."

"Yeah. Unfortunately we have to not only announce that Filip Samuel will not return to the national team after this season, mostly the reason he hasn't been starting of late, but Drew Lichaj are backup has told me that he will be unable to return as well do to family issues."

"Sad sad. Do you have any idea who will be joining the national team next year. Any u21's. Some Tae soccer players from the Premier League."

"Two U21 players have ended their careers, and as of yet i doubt they will have places. That being Willy Tramhouse and Marcus Bauer. Tyler Icicle of Tintown and Xavier Ptolemy of Bayern-Algaer are hot prospects for the future and that midfield spot. As for the Goalkeeping position, Alexandre (u21 coach) doesn't feel that his goalie, Jacob Martin, is ready to move up. Capetown goalie Dale Smoker though led his team to the premier league and as such i'd like to give him a shot at one of the goalie positions. And i have my eye on a certain player in Antoletia if you know what i mean."

"I think i do. Finally how do you feel about the state of soccer in Taeshan."

"It's a lot better than it was when i played thats for sure. You don't see kids out playing baseball and basketball, or even football that much. It's hockey and soccer. And lets be fair soccer is the cheaper of the two so more of them play it. To be honest we are a hotbed of youngsters as can be seen by how good our U21 team has been lately. The transfer though is lacking a bit. The greatest Taeshani players were from that original team, Zeke, Brian Ying Uing and Tad Montague. Since then the closest we have got is Gwyn. We can be great, but we need to do it, and stop complaining about not being successful."

"Wise words from a wise man."

[Filopines]

FILOSTATS|WORLD CUP 60

Group 10:
Vettrera
Filopines
Ancharmunn
Osarius
Mytannion
Rhodesiah
Unbreakable
The Islands of Qutar

MATCHDAY ONE
Filopines 2-2 Unbreakable
Goalscorers: Harry Hobson, Jack Harodzic

MATCHDAY TWO
Vettrera 2-0 Filopines
Position: 5th

MATCHDAY THREE
Filopines 3-0 The Islands of Qutar
Goalscorers: Ahmed Dibay 3
Position: 4th

MATCHDAY FOUR
Filopines 1-2 Ancharmunn
Goalscorers: Stephen Cayley
Position: 5th

MATCHDAY FIVE
Osarius 2-2 Filopines
Goalscorers: Gordon Ablett, Fernando Martinez
Position: 6th

MATCHDAY SIX
Filopines 2-4 Mytannion
Goalscorers: Gordon Ablett, Ed Foley
Position: 5th

MATCHDAY SEVEN
Rhodesiah 3-0 Filopines
Position: 6th

After Matchday Seven:

- Group 10                            Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Mytannion                             7    7   0   0    16    4  +12    21
2 Ancharmunn                            7    6   0   1    24   10  +14    18
3 Rhodesiah                             7    4   1   2    14    9   +5    13
4 Vettrera                              7    2   3   2     8   12   −4     9
5 Osarius                               7    1   3   3    13   17   −4     6
6 Filopines                             7    1   2   4    10   15   −5     5
7 The Islands of Qutar                  7    1   2   4     9   17   −8     5
8 Unbreakable                           7    0   1   6     5   15  −10     1

Online Poll:
Who will come on top of Group Ten at the end of the Qualifiers?
Results:
Mytannion 29%
Ancharmunn 24%
Filopines 18%
Rhodesiah 12%
Vettrera 7%
Osarius 7%
TIQ 2%
Unbreakable 1%

[United commonwealth of ayrshire]

ayrshirean 1: pundits predictions against San Nitrento:
"the ayrshirean team have not shone at all. but neither have san nitrento. i'll go 0-0."
King James IV
"i predict a close loss against nitrento. they are the better team. 1-2."
Captain Feargus.
"this new manager knows how to attack and defend. I'm going for a 2-0 win for Ayrshire."
Manager, Andrew Hunt.

[United commonwealth of ayrshire]

Ayrshirean 1:
with the match against san nitrento just 5 hours away, we talk to ayrshirean fans at the world cup to see what they are thinking.
"You've just got to believe, in the Dagda and in the team. Dagda save us! oh, and a prediction... 1-1."

"it's gotta be a win. Ach, our losing streak has gone on too long. 2-1!"

"This world cup has also included our first set of competetive matches. and it has not gone well. in fact, i may go back to gaelic football. i hear that cup is back soon... i'm going for a 0-3 loss."

"how can we win?! We are doomed, and it has not even started! 1-5!

"i come from the area where our new manager used to manage. that 6-0 win for him domestically really cements it for me. Ayrshire to win 2-0!"

in that mix we have a clergyman, a bookie, a player for gaelic football team Kilwinning athletic, a general in the army, and a fanatic.

[Darmen]

O'Donahaue says team is back on track, lets just hope they stay on

Following a 1-0 victory over Royalsoldiers in the final day of the first half of qualifying, and a 4-0 slamming of Ko-oren during a Mid-Qualifying Friednly, Manager Tim O'Donahaue likes where his team is at. "We had a few slip ups during qualifying, but the past two games have been quite good for the morale, and I think we're set for an exceptional second half of qualifying."

Following Tor Tong Lee's late winner against Royalsoldiers, and his three assist peformance against Ko-oren, even Captain Tor Tong Lee is looking up. "We're only two points behind West Zirconia, and five behind Cafundéu. Although it'll be hard to overtake the Group Leader, I think we can easily retake second place, and ensure ourselves a spot in the playoffs."

Lee's goal against Royalsoldiers came in the 82nd minute, following a first half filled with fouls, mainly committed by Royalsoldiers, and a second half full of bad mistakes made by Darmen, including a red card sendoff followed by a penalty kick in the 67th minute. Charm Vue made a huge sliding tackle against Adam Colt. Vue failed to even make the slightest contact with the ball, and Colt went flying through the air, landing on top of Mikael Adan, Vue's fellow defender in the Darmeni back field. Adan twisted his ankle, and was out for the match against Ko-oren, and will either return tonight against Kiryu-shi, or tomorrow night against Cafundéu. Meanwhile, Vue was sent off, and the Penalty was awarded to Royalsoldiers. Colt stepped up to take the penalty, but sent it sailing over Troy Osborne's extended glove, missing the perfect chance to defeat Darmen. Vue will miss the match against Kiryu-shi, but will be back for the match against Cafundéu.

Lee's goal came off of a direct free kick in the 82nd minute. He sent the ball sailing the past the wall, and it dipped just far enough that dispite hitting the cross bar, the ball crossed the line, putting Darmen up a goal.

In the match versus Ko-oren, Lee had three assists, Zach Preston score twice and had a single assist, and Bryan Faulkner and Scott Rydzik added a single goal each.

@₁₁₉Kiryu-shi W 2-0
Starting XI: T. Osborne, M. Adan, C. Vue, T. Lalas, L. Cormio, T. T. Lee, Z. Preston, G. Turko, J. Zakuani, B. Faulkner, G. Pele
Goals: B. Faulkner 62', 73'
Assists: T. T. Lee 62'

vs.₁₈Cafundéu L 0-1
Starting XI: T. Osborne, M. Adan, D. Nguyen, C. Vue, L. Cormio, T. T. Lee, Z. Preston, G. Turko, J. Gibbons, B. Faulkner, R. Gregio
Goals: None
Assists: None

@_URFarfadillis W 2-1
Starting XI: K. Siesman, C. Vue, S. Rydzik, A. Sikula, D. Lipari, L. Cormio, Z. Preston, T. T. Lee, G. Turko, B. Faulkner, S. Autitore
Goals: G. Turko 43', T. T. Lee 79'
Assists: L. Cormio 43', 79'

@₂₈₈Camerania W 3-0
Starting XI: T. Osborne, D. Nguyen(T. Sinapati 65'), C. Vue, O. Findley, C. Ramirez, L. Cormio(N. Salapu 65'), Z. Preston, T. T. Lee, G. Turko, D. Baker(S. Whale 73'), R. Gregio
Goals: R. Gregio 10', Z. Preston 71', T. T. Lee 90'+1
Assists: G. Turko 10', 71', L. Cormio 90'+1

vs._URTales D 0-0
Starting XI: T. Daniels, T. Goodwin, M. Flemer, J. Garza, M. Molesi, S. Nystizor, T. T. Lee, Z. Preston, J. Son, C. Hooper, A. McKay
Goals: None
Assists: None

@₇₆West Zirconia L 2-4
Starting XI: T. Osborne, M. Adan, C. Vue, D. Sheen (D. Nguyen HT), A. Judkins, L. Cormio, T. T. Lee, Z. Preston, F. Lyons the XXIst, B. Faulkner, N. Dittman (R. Gregio 39')
Goals: T. T. Lee 5', B. Faulkner 8'
Assists: L. Cormio 5', T. Osborne 8'
Red Card: F. Lyons the XXIst 78'

vs.₂₀₇Royalsoldiers W 1-0
Starting XI: T. Osborne, M. Adan(S. Rydzik 67'), C. Vue, D. Nguyen, D. Beasley, L. Cormio, T. T. Lee, Z. Preston, G. Turko, B. Faulkner, R. Gregio
Goals: T. T. Lee 82'
Red Card: C. Vue 67'
Injury: M.Adan 67' Twisted Ankle

Player       M G  A Y R
T. T. Lee    7 4  1 0 0
Z. Preston   7 1  0 0 0
L. Cormio    6 0  4 0 0
C. Vue       6 0  0 0 1
B. Faulkner  5 3  0 0 0
G. Turko     5 1  2 0 0
T. Osborne   5 0  1 0 0
M. Adan      4 0  0 0 0
R. Gregio    3 1  0 0 0
D. Nguyen    3 0  0 0 0
S. Rydzik    2 0  0 0 0
F. Lyons XXI 1 0  0 0 1
T. Lalas     1 0  0 0 0
J. Zakuani   1 0  0 0 0
G. Pele      1 0  0 0 0
J. Gibbons   1 0  0 0 0
K. Siesman   1 0  0 0 0
A. Sikula    1 0  0 0 0
D. Lipari    1 0  0 0 0
S. Autitore  1 0  0 0 0
T. Sinapati  1 0  0 0 0
O. Findley   1 0  0 0 0
C. Ramirez   1 0  0 0 0
N. Salapu    1 0  0 0 0
D. Baker     1 0  0 0 0
S. Whale     1 0  0 0 0
T. Daniels   1 0  0 0 0
T. Goodwin   1 0  0 0 0
M. Flemer    1 0  0 0 0
J. Garza     1 0  0 0 0
M. Molesi    1 0  0 0 0
S. Nystizor  1 0  0 0 0
J. Son       1 0  0 0 0
C. Hooper    1 0  0 0 0
A. McKay     1 0  0 0 0
D. Sheen     1 0  0 0 0
A. Judkins   1 0  0 0 0
N. Dittman   1 0  0 0 0
D. Beasley   1 0  0 0 0
Total        7 10 8 0 1

3-4-3 Formation
GK: K. Siesman
DEF: D. Nguyen, S. Rydzik, T. Lalas
MID: L. Cormio, T. T. Lee, Z. Preston, G. Turko
FOR: B. Faulkner, R. Gregio, D. Baker

Darmen will wear their alternate third (gold and sky blue) jerseys.

[Cassadaigua]

Midpoint Ramblings,
By Breanna Hawkins

One of the things that sucks about coffee, and those hotels or convenience stores that have tubes of coffee marked “regular” and “decaf”, is that you operate under the assumption that the correct type of coffee was placed in the correct tube. Usually, they get it right, and probably can get into some serious trouble if they did not. Well, right now I really must wonder about my morning coffee. It really feels that I ended up with decaf, because it is simply not kicking in. What is the purpose of decaffeinated coffee anyway? Isn’t caffeine the purpose of coffee? I’m supposed to write this wonderful blog talking about our 7-0-0 record and how it’s a good start but there are still plenty of games, while throwing in various sporting cliches, but right now I am still waiting for my morning jolt of energy.

The good news is, that the midway point does bring a little more time to relax, and for those teams who have sustained injuries, to get healthier. To this point, we have been fortunate, but I am not going to say a lot about that because our track record with injuries shows them to happen more often in the second half. Our excitement has been the Pink Cup over the last little bit, and we have a win and a loss on the docket so far. Once again, we lost to the Bear-Belles, who have absolutely gained the upperhand in our head-to-head play; but we bounced back with a win over Jeruselem. This will mean that Bears Armed has clinched the Pink Cup, as they will have the tiebreaker over us, and no one else can overtake them. I sat the game against the Princesses out, and it was nice to Zoey (Anderson) get a chance to start in goal against the Bears, even if they did score twice against her. We’d love to win the Pink Cup, but let’s not get sidetracked, as it’s all about qualifying for the World Cup right now.

Other then the Pink Cup, I was asked to speak to a collegiate graduating class at Grande Mountain University. I found that to be an amazing experience, even if I wondered to myself if it was really appropriate for me to give a commencement address when I myself never graduated from college (I went professional after high school). The administration at GMU told me not to worry about it, and seeing all the find young women and men who graduated from this prestigious University really put things in prospective for me. I am, after all, just a soccer player. They are the true future of this nation, for they will keep Cassadaigua on top of the business world with its frightening economy. All I do is kick a ball around.

Anyway, if you wanted midpoint analysis, blame the decaf that somehow ended up labeled as regular coffee. One thing I did do is look up how some of our friends from the Baptism of Fire are doing. Cambazooty’s experience of hard-luck in a tough BoF group is paying off from them now in Group 1, as they linger as a threat for the playoff pod there. Kinitaria, our champion, is looking really good and is threatening to qualify outright in their group. They are third, but are in striking range, and if you watched them you know they can be dangerous. New Pebble Island is in this group too, and is doing ok, but is not a factor. Rochehaut has been a disappointment in Group 24, and I hope they are not just going to disappear now as they showed a lot of potential during the Baptism of Fire. There are a few other good campaigns going on from first-time nations, and I hope it is just the start of significant successes for them, except when playing us.

Well that will do it for now. Gotta get some real coffee!

[Akbarabad]

A.F.F blast organizers, referees as ultimate cause of the team's present woe.

(Akbarabad Press, AP): Outright inexplicable and sometimes plain crooked refereeing decisions has seen the Tiger Eaters slip to an ignominious fourth place in Group 5, and the Akbarabad Football Federation has finally responded to these distressing developments.

In its statement, the Federation specifically blamed the organizers and the referees that they have selected for outright malicious decision making in matches involving the Tiger Eaters. "How else to explain the inexplicable fact that the number 11 team in the World has failed to any of it's home matches so far?", the statement directly asks.

Opinion remains divided in Akbarabad however, over the organizers motives in deliberately sabotaging our team's chances. It could be that the Babbbage Islands still haven't gotten over receiving their biggest ever thrashing from us, while others suggest that they want to avoid playing us yet again after the last two World Cups. Either way, what is incontestable is the fact that something really dirty is going on behind the scene and the only way we will even be partly mollified is if everything rights itself for the second half of qualifying and we wind up winning all our remaining games without conceding a goal.

[United commonwealth of ayrshire]

pick of the day, by Joanne Heights:
When i was given the privelege to follow the ayrshirean team at the world cup, i was overjoyed. Hotels, pools, food... but recently i have been appalled by the lack of respect that the local landlord has towards Ayrshireans. This is what he said:
"always going to war with someone, aren't you? Always getting up someone's a**e!"
"i think you're being unfair"
"you would, wouldn't you, you Celtic b*****d!"
"well, thank you for your time"
"what are you talking about, dumbass?"
"i represent Ayrshirean 1 news."

this kind of racism has not been reported by any other member of the squad, or any other team. however, i would advise all Ayrshireans at the cup to avoid going to the Red Lion pub, about 600 yards from the Ayrshirean hotel.

Of course, things come up like this all the time. And in this case, it is just the one person. I thank the Babbage Islands and Saorgeois for stamping down on abuse this world cup. The stadiums, the accommadation, the security. It is all fantastic.

[Ancharmunn]

Leading on from here.

The last few months had been pretty turbulent for Logan Watt. A detective inspector within the Sayercooan Constabulary he and indeed the rest of the department had been hit hard by the murder of Chief Inspector Malachy MacKenna, the senior officer within the department. More shocking however had been the aftermath. The revelations of MacKenna's corruption and complicity with local crime lords.

Watt had played a minor role in the investigation to bring MacKenna's killers to justice. It was an investigation that had proven long, drawn out, and ultimately showed MacKenna's links to the local underword to be merely the tip of the iceberg. Tip-offs had largely led nowhere, and indeed by the time the killers of MacKenna had been identified and found the Sayercooan Criminal Investigation Department had been led of something approaching a goose chase.

Eventually though it had proven to be a successful investigation, and more than a useful one. The killers were found and successfully charged. Why though had they committed their deed? Surely it'd be a job to extract that from them. As it turned out it wasn't. They had been more than happy to spill the beans in exchange for a lesser sentence, and what beans!

Drug smuggling in around the Sayercooan Free Port had been presumed to be the extent of MacKenna's underworld dealings. However, his interests stretched much further than that. From dodgy bank accounts in Bleak Rock to exploiting the natural resources around Terramidia, from ensuring police complicity in the Free Port to setting up contacts for some of Montréal's more nefarious characters he'd had his fingers in many pies right across Rushmore. Too many pies in fact, and ultimately it had caused his fingers to have been burnt.

The investigation into the murder of MacKenna had now been put to rest, but the leads from it remained very hot. They were why DI Logan Watt now found himself where he was. Posing as Léonard Le Mével, a “Cotdelapomais” people smuggler luring guillible Mytanars from the slums of Nastro island to false promises of a better life in Cap Nordique. He had gone undercover.

[Ubeki beki beki beki stan stan]

Stachland Reds

Reds Prepare for Second Half of World Cup 60 Qualifying
by Witold Elliott

Solidly in second place in Group 19, the Stachlandic national football team comes into the second half of qualifying looking to retain that position.

It would seem that, once again, second will be the best that the Reds can manage, as Cassadaigua has a five-point advantage, having failed to drop even a single point on their way to a perfect seven wins in the first half of qualifying.

The Reds rounded out their first seven games with a 4-1 demolishing of Licentiapacisterra at home. Lyle Verdak scored first, in the seventeenth minute, though the visitors were able to equalize with less than a minute to play in the first half to even the score at 1-1. In the latter forty-five minutes, however, the Reds dominated their opponents, scoring thrice to cruise to victory.

Scoring goals were Ratin Beenum, Janus Chambliss, and Zachary Zeelowe, in the sixtieth, sixty-seventh, and eighty-first minutes, respectively.

In the second half of qualifying, the Reds will have four games at home in Generalife Union Arena, and three matches on the road, those three being against Cassadaigua, Camwood, and Licentiapacisterra.

[Gyatso-kai]

Bisons Halway Through Qualification; ATOP GROUP 3!!!

ONLINE EDITION

12 JUNE 2012.2

TOURNAMENT - World Cup of Football

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After an exciting first half of the 60th World Cup Qualifying Round, the Bisons hold a tenuous grasp of first place in Group Three; with a record of 5-1-1, they are just two points of ahead of our friendly rivals in Mapletish.

"I am just glad that we have stayed on top the entire half," spoke Head Coach Boba Vhett at a press conference in Beijing as the Bisons get ready to face Bitternia at the Stadia Capital at the start of the second half of World Cup Qualifications. "We have played hard to get where we are now, and I have no intention of allowing the ade to slow down any time soon."

After scoring low in the first half with the traditional Avatarian 4-4-2, Vhett and the rest of the coaching staff have shifted the Bisons into a more offensively-based 4-3-3; while originally intended to accomodate the loss of Pre Kryse from the Mapletish red card, when asked in an interview, Vhett wants to see if the more offensively-minded formation results in higher goal numbers to better space the Bisons from the rest of the group.

"Sure, we are atop of Group Three. Sure, we are winning our matches. However, winning a game by a single goal is not enough in the World Cup. We need to win our matches by two, three, even four goals. Especially when we are facing unranked and Bottom-200 teams who have yet to even find their identity."

Boba Vhett, Head Coach, Men's National Football Team

When all is said and done, the Bisons still have their work cut out for them in the remaining seven games of the World Cup Qualifying rounds. They need to increase their attacks, decrease the amount of goals which continue to slip by the keeper, and even shut down their opponents well before the second half begins. Will this new strategy work for the Bisons? will Nishimura continue to start, leaving young gun Bai'a Kita warming the bench game after game? What of Pre Kryse; what is his fate?

Continue watching the World Cup and find out for yourself...

Here are the matchday summaries for the first seven games played by the Bisons:

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BITTERNEA 2 - 3 GYATSO-KAI
Venue: **smudge**, *smudge*, Bitternea (*smudge*% Capacity)

The first game in the World Cup campaigns have traditionally been games in which the Bisons come into view of the international community, and fail their first test on the pitch. This round, it looked to be much the same, with two goals from Bitternia before the hal and just a single goal from Wakahisa. Following the substitution of Bai'a Kita, the Bisons would make a strong push to the finish, with a pair of goals from Tsukino Hachiro and A'den Skirata before winning the match 3-2. A brief celebration at the 90th minute caught the eyre of Head Coach Boba Vhett, who was sure to let the men of his team know this.

Starting Eleven: Bai'a Kita₁, Kim Dong Su, Wong Haru, Miyamoto Kaoru, Kobayashi Ren, Maki Li, Kotyc'e Bralor, Tsukino Hachiro, Pre Kryse, Wakahisa Hikaru, Kad'e Tay'haai₂
Substitutes: Nishimura Kenshin₁ [44'], A'den Skirata₂ [75']
Goal Scorers: Wakahisa Hikaru [21'], Tsukino Hachiro [58'], A'den Skirata [81']
Assists: Kad'e Tay'haai [21'], Pre Kryse [58']

GYATSO-KAI 1 - 0 THE ARCHREGIMACY
Venue: Stadium of the Republic, Republic Centre, Republic Capital Territory, Gyatso-kai --- 85,221 (101.83% Capacity)

What was set to the be the second biggest match for the Bisons, a "best-of-the-best" derby between the two top horses of Group Three turned into an one-goal game between both parties.

An early goal for the Bisons from a left corner kick by Pre Kryse which connected with a header by Wong Haru in the twelth minute was the only point in the match.

"I still cannot believe that was the only goal," spoke Pre Kryse in a post-game interview. "The Archregimacy is a powerhouse of the football world, and to have them come to Gyatso-kai, face the Bisons, and not score a single goal is shocking to say the least."

Shocking is right, though with the next round bringing the Bisons to the Dreamed Realm for the first time in the history of the team. The National Sports Council is urging the fans of Gyatso-kai to not travel to The Archregimacy due to both the sexists traditions of the country, as well as the forceful attempts of the monks to attempt to convert those visitors. Instead, the National Sports Council has stated that all fans should visit their local sports bar, pub, or even their local club to watch the game live on the ASPN family of networks.

Starting Eleven: Bai'a Kita, Kim Dong Su, Wong Haru, Miyamoto Kaoru, Kobayashi Ren₁, Maki Li, Kotyc'e Bralor, Tsukino Hachiro, Pre Kryse₂, Wakahisa Hikaru, Kad'e Tay'haai
Substitutes: Akiyama Qiangyi₁ [78'], Himura Katsu₂ [80']
Goal Scorers: Wong Haru [12']
Assists: Pre Kryse [12']

VIRABIA 0 - 1 GYATSO-KAI
Venue: **smudge**, *smudge*, Virabia (*smudge*% Capacity)

The third match of the tournament, the Bisons came out yet again and silenced an unheard of team 1-nil. While many were expecting the Bisons to score multiple goals, the absence of Kad'e Tay'haai as well as several midfielders due to a stomach bug caught from eating at a local 'Asian' 'restaurant' the day before the match saw the Bisons shift from the common 4-4-2 formation to one more defensive in nature to counterbalance the absence of a middle assault. This game also saw the showing of a few reserve players who have mounted so few caps for the Bisons.

The lone goal came just shy of the start of the second half, when Wakahisa Hikaru and A'den Skirata made a strong push to the front and do a double-strike on the Virabian goalkeeper who failed to stop a rebound in the 46th minute. It would be a long game, watching the reserves sink into a rhythm with the regulars. Perhaps this was all a way to get everyone more playing time...

Only Vhett knows...

Starting Eleven: Bai'a Kita, Akiyama Qiangyi, Wong Haru, Miyamoto Kaoru, Bao Yiyong, Maki Li, Ngo Quyen, Tsukino Hachiro, Himura Katsu, Wakahisa Hikaru, A'den Skirata
Substitutes: None made
Goal Scorers: A'den Skirata [46']
Assists: Wakahisa Hikaru [46']

GYATSO-KAI 2 - 1 THE HAN EMPIRE
Venue: Meshgeroya'yaim, Keldabe, Keldabe Autonomous Province, Mandalore, Gyatso-kai --- 81,330 (101.80% Capacity)

A special treat for the fans at the Meshgeroya'yaim as the Bisons faced off against the Han Empire. With an exciting thirty minutes of play occuring before Yim Hwan-Sei would score the first goal of the match for the Hans, it would turn to be bitter sweet as just three minutes later, Yim would go down on a run-of-the-mill tackle by Miyamoto Kaoru and have to be helped off the field. No penalty was rewarded, no cards flashed, and game play resumed.

The absence of Yim would prove to be detrimental to the Hans, with back-to-back goals coming in the 60th and 61st minutes on fast strikes by both a well-rested Wakahisa Hikaru and a healthy Kad'e Tay'haai; with each forward earning a goal and an assist, the Hans were simply left helpless as the Bison offfence simply lead the Han defence on a thirty minute game of cat-and-mouse...

Always fun to watch... Though if only they had scored more goals...

Starting Eleven: Bai'a Kita, Akiyama Qiangyi, Wong Haru, Miyamoto Kaoru, Kim Dong Su, Maki Li, Ngo Quyen₁, Tsukino Hachiro, Himura Katsu₂, Wakahisa Hikaru, Kad'e Tay'haai
Substitutes: Kotyc'e Bralor₁ [59'], Pre Kryse₂ [76']
Goal Scorers: Wakahisa Hikaru [60'], Kad'e Tay'haai [61']
Assists: Kad'e Tay'haai [60'], Wakahisa Hikaru [61']

DAEDRIC STELLAR EMPIRE 2 - 2 GYATSO-KAI
Venue: *smudge*, *smudge*, Daedric Stellar Empire

What started off as a flawless victory run ended in the Daedric Stellar Empire as a single-point draw against the 294th ranked Daedric Stellar Empire. At home, it seemed to give the Daedricans enough strength and ability to stand up to an early onslaught of goals from the Bisons, who went to the half 2-nil.

However, in the 75th minute, the Bisons would seem to give up a little early, and the ever-eager Daedricans would close in quick, scoring their first goal in the 80th minute. With constant pressure and the Bisons off-balance, the Daedricans would score the equaliser. Without the composure known the Bisons, the men would spend the last ten minutes of regulation, as well as an additional two minutes of stoppage time, trying to score just a single goal...

It just wouldn't be enough...

Starting Eleven: Bai'a Kita, Kim Dong Su, Wong Haru, Miyamoto Kaoru, Kobayashi Ren, Maki Li, Kotyc'e Bralor, Tsukino Hachiro, Pre Kryse₂, Wakahisa Hikaru₁, Kad'e Tay'haai
Substitutes: A'den Skirata₁ [81'], Ngyuen Bình Đức₂ [89']
Goal Scorers: Tsukino Hachiro [21'] , Kad'e Tay'haai [37']
Assists:None

GYATSO-KAI 3 - 5 MAPLETISH
Venue: Stadium of the Republics, Republic City, Republic Capital Territory, Gyatso-kai --- 84,800 (101.33% Capacity)

What was supposed to be the second-most exciting game of the first half turned into one of the most heated matches in Gyatso-kai history.

After the 18th minute long-range sniping by Kad'e Tay'haai bringing the first goal of the match, unfortunately the Mapletish side would score an equaliser in the 21st minute by Peres De Oliver. This would be the end of goal scoring for the first half, however, the period was not free of excitement from other actions. After the De Oliver goal, Wong Haru would be charged with an unintentional hand-ball due to an unpunished shove by John Davis, resulting in a yellow card for Haru due to his oh-so-gentle shove back. Tsukino Hachiro would join in on the shoving-fest with a hard push to Vander Varate for his supposedly harsh comments on the integrity of Tsukino's girlfriend. The call would also see the Lions' first yellow card, given to Varate for his award-winning dive.

It would be the red card-yellow card combo for Pre Kryse and Maki Li which would steal the show. With Pre Kryse infuriated by an uncalled tripping by Steven Johnson, he would end up charging towards the ref, screaming and yelling in Mando'a. Maki Li would go to calm Kryse down, trying to get between him and the ref. However, Loki Pederson --- the presiding referee for the match, would have nothing of either man and immediately sent Kryse off with a red card, and then tossed the yellow in to Maki's face. In his post-match report, Pederson stated that Maki was 'insulting the ref in some language' and that he would not acknowledge Pederson's request to use English.

Damn shame...

The loss of Kryse would prove to be disasterous for the Bisons, who were unable to adapt to his absence. Two free kicks would follow after Maki's second yellow card, giving Di Natalie a free goal against the already-battered Kita. Tay'haai would score the second goal for the Bisons, and even with Skirata's usual last-minute goal, it just wasn't enough and the Bisons took their first loss of the 60th World Cup.

Starting Eleven: Bai'a Kita₁, Kim Dong Su, Wong Haru [X], Miyamoto Kaoru, Kobayashi Ren, Maki Li[X] [X], Kotyc'e Bralor, Tsukino Hachiro[X], Pre Kryse [X], Wakahisa Hikaru₂, Kad'e Tay'haai
Substitutes: Nishimura Kenshin₁ [53'], A'den Skirata₂ [X]
Goal Scorers: Kad'e Tay'haai [18' , 62'], A'den Skirata [77']
Assists: Kotyc'e Bralor [62'], Kad'e Tay'haai [77']
Card Summary:

Player		Card Given	Reason [Time Given]
Wong Haru	Yellow		Handball [23']
Tsukino Hachiro	Yellow		Shoving [31']
Pre Kryse	Red		Verbal / Physical Assault of Official [49']
Maki Li		Yellow		Verbal Berating in Unknown Language [49']
Maki Li		Yellow		Tripping [52']
A'den Skirata	Yellow		Rough Tackle [68']

ACHTERVOLGING 0 - 1 GYATSO-KAI
Venue: *smudge*, *smudge*, Achtervolging

Following the debacle against Mapletish, the Bisons needed to pull a strong victory ahead of the halfway mark in order to mainatin control of Group Three. In a change of line-up, Bai'a Kita would be pulled from the starting line-up for the second time in his international career, and replaced with the far-more-experienced Nishimura Kenshin. When asked for an interview before the match, Kita turned down all reports, and for the match, looked rather sullen on the bench.

In addition to the keeper change, with Pre Kryse out from the red card, the Bisons also started the match in a different formation, the 4-3-3, which would see A'den Skirata starting alongside Wakahisa Hikaru and Kad'e Tay'haai for the first time. The 4-3-3 is a position which can be tailored for offence or for defence with just the simple switch of one of the midfielders; with the Bisons running Tsukino Hachiro and Himura Katsu in the middle, it was obvious the system was set on offence.

However...

With a running start and the lone goal of the game just seven minutes in, the Bisons failed to re-strike the net; whether it was the difficulty of playing without Kryse, the unfamiliarity with the new formation, or even punishment from the spirits, the Bisons remained at 1-0 the entire match.

Starting Eleven: Nishimura Kenshin, Akiyama Qiangyi, Wong Haru, Miyamoto Kaoru, Kim Dong Su, Maki Li, Tsukino Hachiro, Himura Katsu₁, Wakahisa Hikaru, Kad'e Tay'haai, A'den Skirata
Substitutes: Kotyc'e Bralor₁ [74']
Goal Scorers: A'den Skirata [7']
Assists: Kad'e Tay'haai [7']

---

:::IN GROUP THREE:::

Matchday 01, 05 June at ₁₆₇Bitternea --- WIN 3 - 2
Matchday 02, 06 June vs ₂₆The Archregimacy --- WIN 1 - 0
Matchday 03, 07 June at ₁₀₆Virabia --- WIN 1 - 0
Matchday 04, 08 June vs _NRThe Han Empire (Daehanjeiguk) --- WIN 2 - 1
Matchday 05, 09 June at ₂₉₄Daedric Stellar Empire --- DRAW 2 - 2
Matchday 06, 10 June vs ₆₈Mapletish --- LOSS 3 - 5
Matchday 07, 11 June at _NRAchtervolging --- WIN 1 - 0
***12 June --- TOURNAMENT BYE DAY***
Matchday 08, 13 June vs ₁₆₇Bitternea
Matchday 09, 14 June at ₂₆The Archregimancy
Matchday 10, 15 June vs ₁₀₆Virabia
Matchday 11, 16 June at _NRThe Han Empire (Daehanjeiguk)
***17 June --- TOURNAMENT BYE DAY***
Matchday 12, 18 June vs ₂₉₄Daedric Stellar Empire
Matchday 13, 19 June at ₆₈Mapletish
Matchday 14, 20 June vs _NRAchtervolging

Statistics in the Tournament: First Half

Player			Line		Caps	Goals	Assist
KITA Bai'a		STARTING	6	--	--
NISHIMURA Kenshin	ALT		3	--	--
CHU Takumi		RESERVE		0	--	--
MIYAMOTO Kaoru		STARTING	7	--	--
KIM Dong Su		STARTING	3	--	--
WONG Haru		STARTING	7	01	--
KOBAYASHI Ren		STARTING	5	--	--
AKIYAMA Qiangyi		ALT		3	--	--
BAO Yiyong		ALT		1	--	--
FUJIMOTO Zhong		ALT		0	--	--
ZHANG Jijian		RESERVE		0	--	--
XU Lingbo		RESERVE		0	--	--
MAKI Li			STARTING	7	00	--
BRALOR  Kotyc'e		STARTING	6	00	01
KRYSE Pre		STARTING	5	00	02
TSUKINO Hachiro		STARTING	7	--	--
NGO Quyen		ALT		1	--	--
TRAN Bảo		ALT		0	--	--
HIMURA Katsu		RESERVE		4	--	--
WAKAHISA Hikaru		STARTING	7	02	02
TAY'HAAI Kad'e		STARTING	6	06	04
SKIRATA A'den		ALT		5	04	--
NGYUEN Bình Đức		ALT		1	--	--
PHAM Vinh Lành		RESERVE		0	--	--

[United commonwealth of ayrshire]

United Commonwealth of Ayrshire 1-0 San Nitrento.

In the 15 minutes before the match, the new manager of Ayrshire announced that he had been practicing free kicks and close shots with the team. This certainly became apparent. Here is a run through of the match.

30 seconds: San Nitrento whistle a shot over the bar. Ayrshirean fans boo both teams.
3 minutes a throw in is awarded to San Nitrento. They take it well, but a wasteful lob forward is easily saved.
4 minutes: a screamer from Ayrshire's Jonny Rowe is parried by the keeper. A corner is given.
5 minutes: the corner goes to Sam Miller, but goes well over the bar.
8 minutes: the fans go wild when the San Nitrento midfielder goes down. A yellow is given to Ben Lewis. A free kick is awarded from 65 yards out.
9 minutes: the free kick is easily saved by Bichan. He throws the ball out to the right.
10 minutes: with Corcoran on the wing, Rowe gets in the middle... Just to the left.
13 minutes: Ayrshire looked in serious trouble there. The striker for San Nitrento got round the keeper, but thankfully, the defender Malone was on the goal line.
15 minutes: Ayrshire's first injury! Miller goes down outside the box. He is subbed for Joseph Tett.
16 minutes: the free kick is just about saved.
19 minutes: after a scrapple by the Nitrento goal, the ball is cleared out. Throw in to Ayrshire.
20 minutes: The throw in is taken by Black. It is immediately intercepted.
22 minutes: a serious foul on Corcoran. The referee reaches into his pocket... The red is pulled out.
23 minutes: Corcoran seems alright to take the free kick. He does so, and it goes miles out.
27 minutes: a corner is given to San Nitrento.
28 minutes: gets saved.
31 minutes: Chadwick gets the ball and passes it to Rowe, who is brought down.
32 minutes: the ball comes to the San Nitrento striker. It is shot straight over.
37: A fan throws a missile onto the pitch. He is arrested and taken away.
43: it is just before half time, and a ball gets to the Ayrshirean player Tett. He shoots... AND SCORES. The manager punches the air.
45+4 half time.

47: San Nitrento seem quite shaken by their losing. Their passing seem to be half hearted.
50: a corner is given to the San Nitrentoese.
51: the shot is parried over the bar by Bichan.
55: signs appear in tue ayrshirean stands saying "BICHAN YOU HERO!"
56: Bichan funnily enough makes another save. The ball goes out to Malone on the right.
58: GOAL for Ayrshire! Oh, the referee says it's offside. Ayrshire look furious.
61: San Nitrento playing vigourously now, as two shots in thirty seconds are saved.
65: a shot from Rowe! Oh, that's unbelievable! Ricocheted off the bar!
66: a substitution made for San Nitrento. Defender for defender.
68: Miller shouts from the stands: "come on Ayrshire." the fans give the military salute, and shout at the nitrento fans.
71: a nitrento shot just goes over.
75: Rowe gets round the keeper, and... Oh, it's gone wide. Unbelievable!
76: Substitution made. William Kenyon for Tom MacNeill.
77: rain begins to fall.
79: the salutes begin again. The Ayrshireans are spurred on.
82: Bichan makes a fantastic save. Out for the corner.
86 oh, how close! A header off the bar, and cleared to the midfield.
87 last ditch attempt from nitrento! Unfortunately, straight into the keeper.
90+2. after 5 minutes of midfield play, full time.

[Homelands our]

My Hoel shirt collection

Hello I am Tim Hulo. Ever since I was little (6/7 maybe) I have loved football shirts. Now I'm 37 and thirty years on it's no different. My first top was the White and Blue one worn by the national team before world cup 57, it's not the prettiest thing. Now I didn't have any strips when I was I kid. Was that the start of my fascination? Now as I reach my midlife I have set my self a goal. Is it possible to collect all 14 shirts for the different teams in the HOFA elite league. Now some foreigners when you read this may think that it's too easy, only 14 clubs. It's nigh on impossible to get anything other that a Island of Jersey/Napio Lions/that city's team(s) top.  So a mammoth challenge begins!

1.Jersey North 34/1/67
Well my first top is not one of the big two. It's my local side and the team that I support. The main reason you don't get many island of jersey shirts up this end is that you would get shot if seen wearing one (metaphorically of course)! Only since buying this top as it dawned on me that red and black work together, except on a (russian) roulette wheel. In all this is an amazing replica and it's price tag of just 8horos makes it even better. One small thing though I think the socks should be red and not the current black but that's just me.

2.Island of Jersey 1/20/23
Making the 2 hour journey south for this one. Before I begin I would just like to say that I have no pleasure what so ever in buying this but I  have to for the collection. No wonder the nickname for this team is the all whites. The plain White top is similar to jersey untied, they play in the challenge league. The whole idea of the White does not sound very nice at all but I appearance this is very, nice, this could be the ultimate top. The only reason I don't wear this is because of where I live.

3. ek888 267/21/68
Now for the big team from east kilbride, 888. Don't ask me where those numbers come from! It's green and blue and works well. You wouldn't think it would, but it does it blends in with everything near enough. With the top split in quarters you get a nice balance. ek888 seem to be the flop team, before every season pundits in the media always say they will do well but the never do. I had to travel to east kilbride for this top I really think it was worth it, every Horo I spent on my flight. I might pick up untied and city top during my stay here.

4. East Kilbride City 267/21/68
City is east kilbride's secondary team after ek888. And they lack in miles of the skill 888. City are most defiantly a mid-table side and I not see them going anywhere at any end of the HOFA elite league soon. On to the top, it's ugly, very very ugly. I am not a fan of this grey and green. I may even go as far as saying it looks like bird poo. It's horrible. Sitting outside the stadium I thought if this is what they like then how good champions would they be. I would not like this strip to represent homelands our in the TQCC at all, it would be an embarrassment to our stylist.

5. Apfol Town 34/54/77
Now to the smallest club in the league. Apfol town come from the small town of Apfol. The population is just 56,000 and that shows at fans meetings as they are the least represented club. Towns ground is perhaps a fitting name for the stadium. The all black look is very nice I would recommend getting this strip, it's that nice. The strips of orange and green down the sides make it even better. More is to like about this town is the pies the best in the multiverse I'd say but that's up to you.

To be continued

[Gyatso-kai]

.:: The Golden Lotus Hotel, Beijing, Jing Prefecture, Earth Kingdom, Gyatso-kai .::
1519 hours local time (UTC+8), 13 June 2012.2

And now we turn to sports. Live in Beijing we have Elle Lao reporting on tonight's match. Elle?

As the television in the room played on, Pre Kryse sat staring out the window. The room was well-kept, as every room in such a grand hotel was, yet somehow, this room felt different. Sure, the Mandalorian armour piled neatly next to the television distracted from the rich decor of the room; combining rustic nomadic warrior with elitist Beijing style never went well. Sure, maybe it was the suitcase fully pack...

Or it was simply the room just didn't look lived in

Tom, I am standing here in front of the Stadia Capital, awaiting the press conference with the men's national football team. I have been told that no players will be allowed to interview with the press; however, Head Coach Boba Fett will be answering any and all questions we may have.

It is Vhett, you half-blooded etyc'aruetyc'dala. Why do the aruetii insist on changing 'vh' to 'f'?

Elle, what can we expect from this press conference?

More than likely, Tom, not very much. Fett is notorious for his tightly lipped interviews, in which he unveils rather little about the team before any game.

He is not a schoolgirl... He doesn't gossip...

That he does, though, it is admirable... Gives the opponent less to work with.

Yes, but it leaves us, the fans, in the dark too. Many are wondering about the fate of both Bai'a Kita and Pre Kryse, both of whom did not play in the Achertoging match and who were relieved of duty during the Mapletish fiasco.

At least she said my name right, thought Kryse as he turned from the window to watch the television.

Have we even seen Kryse since Mapletish?

No, we have not. Since his exit from the field with the red card, Kryse has been in hiding from fans and the press. When asked to speak about the situation back in Achtervolging, Fett said he was not at liberty to discuss the matter and that we would just have to wait and see.

Traditionally, when players have been red carded, hasn't Vhett sent them home for a few games to regroup and collect themselves?

Yes, he does. However, Kryse may still be travelling with the team; as a sort of punishment by Fett to...

The television was quickly silenced as Kryse stood from the chair. He looked back at the window, and down to his phone. It was dark, silent, and the way he stared at it, he was expecting a call at any moment.

"Tired of listening to her mispronounce Bo'buir's name?"

The voice of Kotyc'e Bralor as he walked out of the bathroom echoed in the room. He was dry, save for his hair, and with a white towel tied tightly around his waist.

"How hard is it to pronounce Vhett? I mean really..."

"Isn't Elle from Charicific Valley? They do not have Mandalorians over there, you know...Well, save those in the peacekeeping forces..."

"No excuse. She has been following us since WC59, you would think she would have learned by now."

"Cut her some room, Pr'ika," Bralor stated as he pulled up his undergarments. "At least she is better looking than that hog we had follow us last Harmony..."

"You and good-looking women, Kotyc'e," Kryse stated as he walked towards the bathroom. "I swear they are all you think about."

"Not true at all," Bralor gasped as if insulted. "I also think of food... Now, what's for lunch before we head to the game?"

"I really wish you would just let me stay here," Kryse complained, spitting once into the sink. "I feel like I am getting sick."

"Sorry, alor'ad ke'gyce'a me to bring you..."

"Do you think he'll make me dress?"

"Probably not," Bralor spoke as he adjusted his undersuit; it was tradition for the men of the team to dress in their national attire, and since Bralor was Mandalorian, this meant full armour. Save the helmet, of course. "We are trying to get Katsu into the line-up, to favour this new formation we are using. At least you got to practice some, right?"

"I suppose... Felt good, even if I am unsure about the 4-3-3."

"It takes time to get used to, just like everything else. Remember when we switched from the inverted 4-4-2 to the new 4-4-2. You and I were constantly on the wrong side of the field, and Vhett always was shouting, 'Ke'mot!!! Me'bana?!' at us."

Both men laughed briefly before the resumed getting ready.

"Come on, I want to eat something before we head over... I am starving."