Copa Rushmori IV - Logria (RP/Rosters/Results)

[Kazzoria]

Sarcastic Times

Oh what terrible football! How awfully we have been playing! First an awful win again the Whirl Islands which finished 3-2. They totally had the game and terrible play from us gave Liam Miller a hat-trick while they played out of their skin and scored two amazing goals achieved through hard work and poor defending.

We then had another awful display against Palacios and Rodallega. This time we managed an awful 3-1 win and they deserved to win it. Awful football down the wings from Ash got the ball into the box for Ethan Trent to blast in a terrible goal. Veille then scored a totally undeserved and sloppy goal just before Liam Miller put a terrible third in from an awful header.

Next we have Transilveinia. I have only one word on this game. We're doomed, I don't see any point in even turning up for it. The fact is most fans are going to be staying in their hotel rooms because they can't be arsed to turn up. I expect us to be thoroughly beaten by these amazing footballers, I would even recommend buying a swimming pool to fill with all those tear that you'll cry when we lose.

[Logria]

GROUP PHASE, MATCHDAY THREE
Group A
Logria 0-3 Cotdelapoms - Royal Stadium, Palliston (cap 80,000)
Sirain 2-1 Greater Cotswalds - Trinity Park, Broome (cap 47,000)

TEAM               P  W  D  L  F  A  GD  PT
Cotdelapoms        2  2  0  0  6  1  +5   6
Sirain             3  1  1  1  2  3  -1   4
Logria             2  1  0  1  2  3  -1   3
Ansernia Islands   2  0  2  0  0  0   0   2
Greater Cotswalds  3  0  1  2  2  5  -3   1

Group B
Queer Poco el Mono Ara 0-2 Mytannion - Morley Road, Liodence (cap 52,000)
TaeGyeongGiJang 0-3 Saugeais - The Old Forest, Hudstone (cap 44,000)

TEAM                    P  W  D  L  F  A  GD  PT
Mytannion               2  2  0  0  7  2  +5   6
Nethertopia             2  1  1  0  3  2  +1   4
Saugeais                3  1  1  1  6  6   0   4
Queer Poco el Mono Ara  2  1  0  1  2  2   0   3
TaeGyeongGiJang         3  0  0  3  1  7  -6   0   E

Group C
Pasarga 3-0 Virabia - Melbourne Road, Itchensea (cap 43,000)
Nova Cambria et PBI 1-2 Albundania - Coxgrove Park, Bradley (cap 33,000)

TEAM                 P  W  D  L  F  A  GD  PT
Pasarga              2  2  0  0  5  0  +5   6
Albundania           3  1  1  1  4  5  -1   4
The Hidden Paw       2  1  0  1  5  4  +1   3
Nova Cambria et PBI  3  1  0  2  4  6  -2   3
Virabia              2  0  1  1  1  4  -3   1

Group D
Isla Pilsen 2-0 Whirl Islands - Eastwood Park, Holmecaster (cap 71,000)
Transilveinia 2-0 Kazzoria - Tower Stadium, Speake (cap 58,000)

TEAM                    P  W  D  L  F  A  GD  PT
Isla Pilsen             2  2  0  0  3  0  +3   6
Kazzoria                3  2  0  1  6  5  +1   6
Transilveinia           3  1  1  1  2  1  +1   4
Palacios and Rodallega  2  0  1  1  1  3  -2   1
Whirl Islands           2  0  0  2  2  5  -3   0

[Isla Pilsen]

letters to our dear intelligent island
from Mario Boss, Isla Pilsen NT coach

Reserves are a vital part of any football team. Yes, that's correct, the reserves. It is true that they are mostly forgotten by the supporters, and that they sometimes do not even participate in the matches, but their existence is essential. Not only to replace the starters when these get injured or are suspended, but to help the coach to introduce strategy changes, or just to participate in the match in better conditions than the others who have been playing for several minutes. Therefore, a team without quality substitutes is a doomed team, because one time, sooner or later, they will need a good reserve. A team without good substitutes is a team stuck at the same formation, at the same strategy, unable to surprise their opponents or adapt themselves to the game situations. Worst than this, without good reserves a team places too much responsibility in a restricted group of players, and if one of those isn't in a good day, the whole team may suffer like in a line of dominoes. You can have the dream starting eleven, but if no one of your substitutes is up to the task, you may be upset by a average team with good reserves. Isla Pilsen learnt this lesson. We have an excellent squad. It is far away from the quality of the world's best, but our substitutes are as good as our starters. Therefore, I can make changes in the line-up and formation without worrying with a performance drop, and also create different, efficient and cool moves and strategies involving many different players. And, if it's a bad day for one of my starters, it may be a great day for his direct substitute. This is a good footballing system. And good for the players too, because the reserves never feel themselves inferior: they know their importance and that they will be used.

You may think that this is just talk and no action, but I am proving that this is true during this Copa Rushmori. Okay, we have played only two matches, but nearly all of the players I have available in the team have already participated. Leo Sclerus is a true goalkeeping guardian, and he did well in our opening game, but Saci Pererê also showed his might in the second match, jumping with his only foot in order to reach even the most difficult shots. At the defence, Pérez continues to impress millions with his zig-zag movement, making people dizzy and causing panic in those suffering from labyrinthitis. Woody Allen is his partner, distracting our opponents by making them laugh and impressed at his stories. But what about their substitutes? Mozart is a true genius, and can make even people cry with his works of art, while Predizon sometimes appears as the perfect footballer, even if soon after he forgets which team he plays for. About the central defenders, King Solomon rules the defensive area, and everyone respects him, with Cobra being the more technical and kind defender. But no one can forget Gisele Bündchen, her beautiful face, breats, body, buttons, legs, feet, and footballing ability too, of course!

What about the midfield? We have the versatility of Sidenir, the midfielder who can subsitute any of his team mates, and at the same time be substituted by one of the reserves, as when he substitutes someone he leaves his position as a starter open for a substitute, this is logical. On a more defensive position, there is our guard dog Mike Tyson, who guarantees us that he'll take the ball, or take the opponent down. But what about the psychotic Sabrina, beautiful face but dark mind, and the patriotic native Gamarra? They are as important as the starters, and the fact that they've already played in this Copa Rushmori proves this point. As for the offensive midfielders, there is the brave and loyal Eusthatius Bryennius, a true warrior for our nation, who plans his moves like if he were entering behind enemy lines. Elton John is already a known face of our squad, dancing around the opponent defence and finding the perfect opportunities to make an assist or even score a goal, singing his triumphs loud. But, when needed, the experienced otorhinolaryngologist Zanata is here to help, inspired by all the children she treats as a doctor.

And the attack is perhaps the most special sector of all. Ahania is a supernatural being, and some could even consider her to be a Goddess, but she is treated and acts like a common player of the squad, seeing the importance of team work and good team chemistry and relationship in order to succeed. Even Pedro Regueiro, who usually remains too proud and somewhat arrogant to offer help or even accept it from others, is learning that his performance improves if the same happens with the other players. And their substitutes are key ones too, and played as starters in our previous match: Usain Bolt could be also called Usain Arrow, or Usain Thunder, as even the cameras sometimes fail to follow him when he is running. As for our last player, The Goat... well, everyone must admit that just the entrance of a sentient goat on the pitch is already something special, let alone one so talented in the sport. And, with this combination of good strategy, good team chemistry and a squad that has as many good substitutes as starters, makes Isla Pilsen ready to fight for a second trophy. And, during our campaign, I'll keep pointing out the advantages of a good bench during a football game.

[Virabia]

"Jed, who do you make me out to be?" asked Dan over the phone, "Do you honestly expect me to believe that you had an interview with Choam Nomsky. He's dead. Everyone knows he's dead."

Jed protested, "Dan, I've talked to him. Honest"

"You play me for a fool Jed," Dan said, "Which shows me that the fool is really you"

"I'm telling the truth. I had an interview with Choam Nomsky. If you don't believe me, I'll prove it to you"

"You'd better be. I want you and him to fly down to Vonghurst and then you can show me his existence in person, and I want you and him to be in front of me by the day after tomorrow. If your not..."

Jed interrupted Dan, "And If were not?"

Dan was furious that Jed had interrupted him like that, "First, don't interrupt me like that. Second, if your not. Well then, have fun looking for an organisation that doesn't mind when their reporters dilly dally around interviewing dead people."

"Chief, I hardly think that is at all a fair punishment. Even if I were to leave on the next flight out, I'd struggle to make it there on time. Couple this with the fact that I have no clue where on this planet Choam could be. After my interview with him, we went our separate ways."

Despite Jed trying his hardest to get the Chief to move back the deadline, his efforts failed. No amount of complaining would change that fact either. Right now, he wished for nothing more than to never have bothered with the interview in the first place. How much he'd pay to go back in time and change his decision. Not that it mattered now. He was now on a manhunt for someone who had been dead for four years.

[Logria]

GROUP PHASE, MATCHDAY FOUR
Group A
Ansernia Islands 0-2 Cotdelapoms - Melbourne Road, Itchensea (cap 43,000)
Greater Cotswalds 0-0 Logria - Coxgrove Park, Bradley (cap 33,000)

TEAM               P  W  D  L  F  A  GD  PT
Cotdelapoms        3  3  0  0  8  1  +7   9   Q
Sirain             3  1  1  1  2  3  -1   4
Logria             3  1  1  1  2  3  -1   4
Ansernia Islands   3  0  2  1  0  2  -2   2
Greater Cotswalds  4  0  2  2  2  5  -3   2   E

Group B
Nethertopia 0-1 Mytannion - Eastwood Park, Holmecaster (cap 71,000)
Saugeais 0-0 Queer Poco el Mono Ara - Tower Stadium, Speake (cap 58,000)

TEAM                    P  W  D  L  F  A  GD  PT
Mytannion               3  3  0  0  8  2  +6   9   Q
Saugeais                4  1  2  1  6  6   0   5
Nethertopia             3  1  1  1  3  3   0   4
Queer Poco el Mono Ara  3  1  1  1  2  2   0   4
TaeGyeongGiJang         3  0  0  3  1  7  -6   0   E

Group C
The Hidden Paw 0-0 Virabia - Royal Stadium, Palliston (cap 80,000)
Albundania 2-1 Pasarga - Trinity Park, Broome (cap 47,000)

TEAM                 P  W  D  L  F  A  GD  PT
Albundania           4  2  1  1  6  6   0   7   Q*
Pasarga              3  2  0  1  6  2  +4   6
The Hidden Paw       3  1  1  1  5  4  +1   4
Nova Cambria et PBI  3  1  0  2  4  6  -2   3   E**
Virabia              3  0  2  1  1  4  -3   2   E
*Pasarga and The Hidden Paw meet on MD5; one of them will therefore finish on no more than six points, qualifying Albundania.
**Pasarga and The Hidden Paw meet on MD5; one of them will therefore finish on at least seven points, eliminating Nova Cambria et PBI.

Group D
Palacios and Rodallega 1-2 Whirl Islands - Morley Road, Liodence (cap 52,000)
Kazzoria 4-1 Isla Pilsen - Tower Stadium, Speake (cap 58,000)

TEAM                    P  W  D  L  F  A  GD  PT
Kazzoria                4  3  0  1 10  6  +4   9   Q
Isla Pilsen             3  2  0  1  4  4   0   6
Transilveinia           3  1  1  1  2  1  +1   4
Whirl Islands           3  1  0  2  4  6  -2   3
Palacios and Rodallega  3  0  1  2  2  5  -3   1   E

[Logria]

GROUP PHASE, MATCHDAY FIVE
Group A
Logria 0-0 Ansernia Islands - Royal Stadium, Palliston (cap 80,000)
Cotdelapoms 6-1 Sirain - Trinity Park, Broome (cap 47,000)

TEAM               P  W  D  L  F  A  GD  PT
Cotdelapoms        4  4  0  0 14  2 +12  12   Q
Logria             4  1  2  1  2  3  -1   5   Q
Sirain             4  1  1  2  3  9  -6   4   E
Ansernia Islands   4  0  3  1  0  2  -2   3   E
Greater Cotswalds  4  0  2  2  2  5  -3   2   E

Group B
Queer Poco el Mono Ara 3-2 Nethertopia - Morley Road, Liodence (cap 52,000)
Mytannion 3-0 TaeGyeongGiJang - Tower Stadium, Speake (cap 58,000)

TEAM                    P  W  D  L  F  A  GD  PT
Mytannion               4  4  0  0 11  2  +9  12   Q
Queer Poco el Mono Ara  4  2  1  1  5  4  +1   7   Q
Saugeais                4  1  2  1  6  6   0   5   E
Nethertopia             4  1  1  2  5  6  -1   4   E
TaeGyeongGiJang         4  0  0  4  1 10  -9   0   E

Group C
Pasarga 1-0 The Hidden Paw - Melbourne Road, Itchensea (cap 43,000)
Virabia 3-1 Nova Cambria et PBI - Coxgrove Park, Bradley (cap 33,000)

TEAM                 P  W  D  L  F  A  GD  PT
Pasarga              4  3  0  1  7  2  +5   9   Q
Albundania           4  2  1  1  6  6   0   7   Q
Virabia              4  1  2  1  4  5  -1   5   E
The Hidden Paw       4  1  1  2  5  5   0   4   E
Nova Cambria et PBI  4  1  0  3  5  9  -4   3   E

Group D
Isla Pilsen 0-0 Palacios and Rodallega - Eastwood Park, Holmecaster (cap 71,000)
Whirl Islands 2-2 Transilveinia - Tower Stadium, Speake (cap 58,000)

TEAM                    P  W  D  L  F  A  GD  PT
Kazzoria                4  3  0  1 10  6  +4   9   Q
Isla Pilsen             4  2  1  1  4  4   0   7   Q
Transilveinia           4  1  2  1  4  3  +1   5   E
Whirl Islands           4  1  1  2  6  8  -2   4   E
Palacios and Rodallega  4  0  2  2  2  5  -3   2   E

QUARTER-FINALS - Scorinated Fri 28 Jan
1: Cotdelapoms v Albundania - Melbourne Road, Itchensea (cap 43,000)
2: Mytannion v Isla Pilsen - Morley Road, Liodence (cap 52,000)
3: Pasarga v Logria - Coxgrove Park, Bradley (cap 33,000)
4: Kazzoria v Queer Poco el Mono Ara - The Old Forest, Hudstone (cap 44,000)

[Kazzoria]

Hello and welcome. For once they have hired a real reporter for this cup, even though I'm an amateur and only 14 years old. I'm on work experience. Anyway with a decent string of results the Kazzoria second team managed to top the group ahead of the last time winners Isla Pilsen. With that we make it through to the quarter-finals. In the quarter-finals we play QPeMA. Oh crap.

We had a disappointing game against Transilveinia. It started badly with them taking an early lead and then dominating a despondent Kazzorian side. In the end they managed to get a second goal and they wrapped the game up. The game was a disappointment and with that the tiny little travelling crowd walked slightly drunk and sad to their hotel rooms.

In the last game we managed a win. But this wasn't just a win, it was one of the greatest win that Kazzoria have ever recorded. In this game the reserve team picked up their form and managed to go into the next round confident. We beat Isla Pilsen 4-1 with Jack Anderson taking a hat-trick and setting up the other goal. With the 4-1 win Kazzoria went into the next round in first place.

[Logria]

And now, after a longer than intended break...



QUARTER-FINALS
1: Cotdelapoms 2-3 Albundania (aet, FT 2-2) - Melbourne Road, Itchensea (cap 43,000)
2: Mytannion 1-4 Isla Pilsen - Morley Road, Liodence (cap 52,000)
3: Pasarga 5-0 Logria - Coxgrove Park, Bradley (cap 33,000)
4: Kazzoria 3-3 Queer Poco el Mono Ara (aet, FT 3-3, QPeMA win 1-3 on pens) - The Old Forest, Hudstone (cap 44,000)[/quote]

SEMI-FINALS - Scorinated Tue 8 Feb
5: Albundania v Isla Pilsen - Trinity Park, Broome (cap 47,000)
6: Pasarga v Queer Poco el Mono Ara - Eastwood Park, Holmecaster (cap 71,000)

THIRD PLACE MATCH - Scorinated Wed 9 Feb
Loser 5 v Loser 6 - Tower Stadium, Speake (cap 58,000)

IV COPA RUSHMORI FINAL - Scorinated Wed 9 Feb
Winner 5 v Winner 6 - Royal Stadium, Palliston (cap 80,000)

[Isla Pilsen]

Alright, you remember that my intention was to use these letters to praise the importance of our substitutes, and how much they are decisive for us to get the positive results. However, in this quarterfinal match versus Mytannion, the starters did the job well enough and could give us a huge lead before I could make any substitutes. This is very good for the team, as this increases the general morale and our confidence that we are close to another title, but not as good for my memories, since I wanted to praise myself for making good substitutes and for selecting the right reserves to play. But further thought brought me a light on this issue: during the second half, I made substitutes in the team, and Isla Pilsen maintained the good level of performance. So, my conclusion is that the changes I implemented didn't harm the team and were crucial for us to continue having a great game. So, my work was essential in order to keep the team on a good level and, therefore, win the match. I am sure you agree with my opinion. So, let's talk about my decisions...

The first substitution of Isla Pilsen happened when we were winning by 3x1. Regueiro had scored one of the goals, while Elton John scored the other two. The goal we suffered was thanks to an impressive shot from outside the area, and Leo Sclerus had no fault in suffering the goal. My decision was then to improve the defensive sector of the squad, willing to guarantee the advantage that we had. Sidenir left the match, being replaced by Gisele Bündchen. While King Solomon was the strength of the defence, Gisele was the grace, and proved that he has more than good looks when she dribbled two opponents before passing to the attack in one move. Perhaps they were under hypnosis at that instant, but this cannot be proven. My second decision was then to remove Pérez and put Mozart in his place. The zig-zag move wasn't working well during the match, and Mozart could give us a more fluid approach to the match, making an interesting duo with Woody Allen on the left. And this worked really well, as it was a pass from Mozart that allowed Mike Tyson to score our fourth goal in the match, with an excellent headbutt on the ball... yes, that wasn't just a normal header.

That goal destroyed the hopes of Mytannion, which were already small, and put us with one foot on the semifinals. So, I decided to impress with the last available substitution. Regueiro left the match for the entrance of The Goat. The goat's different body structure, way of walking and speaking caught everyone of the opposite team on surprise, and we nearly scored with him. Running with four members, The Goat managed to achieve superior speed in order to defeat the defender, and used its strong head to head the ball towards the goal. It was already commemorating when we heard the sound of the ball hitting the post... no goal, but still a win, thanks to our players' qualities and, of course, my interference.

[Logria]

SEMI-FINALS
5: Albundania 1-0 Isla Pilsen - Trinity Park, Broome (cap 47,000)
6: Pasarga 1-2 Queer Poco el Mono Ara - Eastwood Park, Holmecaster (cap 71,000)

THIRD PLACE MATCH - Scorinated Wed 9 Feb
Isla Pilsen v Pasarga - Tower Stadium, Speake (cap 58,000)

IV COPA RUSHMORI FINAL - Scorinated Wed 9 Feb
Albundania v Queer Poco el Mono Ara - Royal Stadium, Palliston (cap 80,000)

[Logria]

THIRD PLACE MATCH - Scorinated Wed 9 Feb
Isla Pilsen 4-2 Pasarga (aet; FT 2-2) - Tower Stadium, Speake (cap 58,000)

IV COPA RUSHMORI FINAL - Scorinated Wed 9 Feb
Albundania 2-1 Queer Poco el Mono Ara - Royal Stadium, Palliston (cap 80,000)