NationStates Jolt Archive

Spaam and Dennisov to Play for prestigious Trophy

Today the presidents of both footballing nations announced that they would play eachother 3 times to see who can claim themselves worthy of the Lehua Hoopai Shield.

The venue for the first game:
http://www.sportscollegetickets.com/_venues/tx/carter_stadium_football.gif

The game will be played tomorrow when two of the nationstates classics will decide over 3 games who is the best.
A nice detail is that both these nations failed to qualify for this year's WorldCup, both losing their play-off games. Both Spaam and Dennisov are old names in the world of football and the game will be broadcasted live in both countries.
The venue, the Amon G. Carter Stadium, is known within Dennisov for it's rugby and alternate rules football matches. However, the stadium was as much chosen because of its location as the availabity. It is rumoured that the Dennish Football Association will try and upgrade many of its country's stadiums in order to make a bid to host the WorldCup themselves.

The vacant post of manager is still undecided, the players who failed to qualify are more than likely asked to play for the Lehua Hoopai Shield.

Lehua Hoopai Shield

The great footballing nations of Dennisov and Spaam have come together
in unity to play for the newly created Lehua Hoopai Shield.

The three game tournament is named after the late great Spaamanian
footballer, Lehua Hoopai. Lehua was the greatest female footballer of her
time, and still stands as one of the greatest footballers ever, second in
Spaam only to the great Méla Sëhelin. Lehua also coached the national
team for 3 World Cups, until she was killed in the Great Evisceratomato
Massacre.

Dennisov and Spaam are two of the oldest nations in the World Cup, both
former finalists. Dennisov won the 4th World Cup, Spaam finished 3rd and
2nd in the 6th and 7th World Cup respectively. Unfortunately, both teams
failed to qualify for this World Cup, though both reached the 3rd place
playoffs.

The tournament is a best of three series of games, the winner of which will
hold the Lehua Hoopai Shield. The tournament will be played every two
years, alternating between the nations of Dennisov and Spaam. The first
Lehua Hoopai Shield will be held in Dennisov, and the first game will be
played in the Amon G. Carter Stadium tomorrow night.

OOC: For anyone who wishes to get the result of the first match as soon
as it comes out, it will be the result of the Spanish Cup quarterfinals first
leg match between Alaves and Celta Vigo on Thursday 23rd January at
7:00pm GMT. Dennisov will be Alaves, and Spaam will be Celta Vigo.

Spaam Starting Roster

[code:1:097ef84504]Fin Bólin [1] Goalkeeper
Fin Koli (c) [3] Defender
Simone Colosimo [4] Midfielder
Mykel Bók [5] Defender
Travis Dodd [7] Forward
André Gump [8] Midfielder
Ana Milik [9] Striker
Ferna Rékin [10] Midfielder
Nala Eromleb [13] Striker
Maddi Elrik [15] Forward
Ana Zykin [16] Defender
[/code:1:097ef84504]

Care take Manager Announced

A few hours before Dennisov and Spaam take the field for the first game in the Lehua Hoopai Shield, the care take manager's name was released by the Dennish Football Association.

His name: John D'Amico. He played on a decent level, but realising he would never achieve the absolute top he dedicated his talents towards becoming a referee. His contribution to charity are renowned throughout Dennisov as well as his passion for the game.

"This team needs discipline, but I also know that these same players are professionals and will do anything in their power to play to win."

The eleven players who will start the game were put behind D'Amico on a big white board.

GK:
Gerry Cheevers

Def:
Wildor Laroche
Francis Clancy
Albert Leduc
Borje Salming

Mid:
Roy Conacher *captain*
Aurele Joliat
Hod Stuart
Robert Bauer

Att:
Joe Malone
Harry Hyland

The Amon G. Carter Stadium is completely sold out for the first confrontation between these two great footballing nations.

Sara: And welcome to the first game of the Lehua Hoopai Shield. I'm Sara Darwish, and I'm here with guest commentator, Clem Gilson, the Dean of Lemmitanian Sports. How are you there Clem?

Clem: Lemmy.... horrible.... *sob*

Sara: Ooookay. Well, we're just about to kick off here, and Dennisov have the ball to start. Conacher, the Dennisov captain passes straight to Joliat, who's coming up against the Spaamanian captain Koli, and she passes back to Conacher. Long kick up to striker Malone, who makes the first shot on goal, but its easily taken by Bólin. Didn't take the Dennisovians long, did it, Clem?

Clem: Blood.... everywhere....

Sara: Um, sure.... Bólin kicked it long up the field, and Gump has it on halfway, being marked by Conacher again, so he passes to Colosimo, who's tackled by Clancy, and its succesful! Dennisov have the ball again, and have just moved it back to Leduc, then Salming, before finding and opening straight up to Bauer. Bauer has Rékin marking him, so he's pushing it across to Conacher, who's had a lot of touches on the ball, son't you think, Clem?

Clem: Barbecue sauce.... lemmings....

Sara: Right. Well, we're 5 minutes in, and I just saw the ball intercepted by the Spaamanian number five Bók who doesn't waste much time in making a long kick up the field, which succesfully finds Dodd. Dodd is marked by Laroche, so he passes to Elrik. Elrik is marked by Clancy, so she passes to Milik, who has Laroche moving over to her, so its back to Dodd. The defense is tight, so Dodd just moves it back to Gump, who's on the midway line.

Clem: NO! DON'T EAT HIM!

Sara: No, it looks like Gump HAS beaten the midfielder, and has kicked up to Milik, who's free for now, but has players descending on her. She's trapped in the corner, so she's just kicked it high and out, and.... whoa! Eromleb's got the ball, Cheevers is looking the wrong way, and Eromleb shoots and SCORES! Nala Eromleb, came from NOWHERE to score that goal, and Spaam is on the board just 8 minutes in. Thats fantastic stuff there from the enigmatic striker, don't you think, Clem?

Clem: ....

Sara: Clem, what are you doing? Clem? CLEM! NO! Put that chair down now! Cle....


Voiceover: We are experiencing technical difficulties.


Clem: Don't trust the spiders. They're out to get us. They ate one of us, and they'll eat you too. They might be listening. NO! I MUST WARN THEM! DON'T TOUCH ME! HEL...


Voiceover: We are experiencing technical difficulties.

That was utter crap, I thought I recognised it. It smelled from a mile away, or 1.6 kilometers.
Cheevers didn't pay attention there, the corner found Nala Eromleb and before you could say 'Oi pay attention' the ball was in the back of the net.
1-0 down after 8 minutes, that's bad, but enough time to try and get some back.
Malone kicks off, Conacher takes the ball. The ref blows his whistle, there is a chair on the pitch. Someone get that chair off the pitch!

Dennish captain Conacher resumes play, playing it wide to Bauer.
A nice deke by Bauer gets him past Rékin, a cross into the box, cleared by Koli.
The battle takes place in midfield, no clear winners yet.

Conacher seems eager to make his presence felt, but my that was a mean challenge on Gump.
Yellow card, the Dennish captain should be happy with that, he might as well been sent off for that, that was nasty in at least two shades of red.
The referee was quite lenient on Conacher. Free kick to Spaam.

Long free kick by Colosimo, right in the hands of Cheevers. With the wind today that might as well blown right into the goal, but this time Cheevers had his eyes wide open.

After a hectic start the game is calming down. Spaam seems very pleased with their current lead and until now I have only seen that ball that was cleared by Koli.
Dennisov hasn't had much to show for. Perhaps now, Bauer breaks through on the left hand side of the pitch, quick pass to Joliat who returns it to Bauer, cross in.
Hyland is waiting, pushing and shoving, making some room for himself, he knock it on, there come Malone, GOALLLLLL!!! What a scorcher, he rammed that ball in behind Bólin. I think they need to repair the net after that one.
A beautiful equaliser, let's see that in the instant replay.

Bauer and Joliat combining the set Bauer up for the cross. Hyland making some space for the header, out of position he knocks it on, right on the left foot of the unrushing Malone. Brilliant, it's all square again.
21 minutes played and we have seen 2 goals already. That's a goal every 10 minutes, I shudder to think what the end result is gonna be.

Milik kicks off, all the way back to Bólin. The Spaamian goalkeeper nudges the ball on to the defenders. Careful does it, Spaam looking to build up from the back.

The Dennisov defenders have their hands full with the 4 attackers Spaam brought to this game. Even though Dennisov is used to playing with a lot of men and women behind the ball, they really have to stay concentrated not to lose sight of one of those Spaamian defenders.

Long ball from the back, Dodd handling it magnificently, turning, oh my, it's well over the goal, they won't be seeing that ball for a few years.
Cheevers takes the goal kick, deep into Spaamian territory. Koli leaned on Hyland, free kick surely, no?! Nothing going on the ref signals, Koli climbed all over that poor man.

Zykin finds Colosimo on the touch line, nice flick of the foot to get passed Stuart, well played, but there is no-one open. Dennisov has possession. Salming plays it wide to Laroche, back to Salming. Not much movement up front, back to Laroche. Laroche makes some metres up the pitch, back to Salming, this would have been a stalemate in chess. Salming plays it wide to Bauer, who knocks it to center. Conacher is waiting for the ball.

Oh my, that was nasty, Zykin was way too late there. Conacher seems to be ok though. Bauer and Conacher are having some kind of discussion. Bauer to take the free kick as Conacher makes his way to the 16 yard box. Ball played to the side to Joliat, nice run by Conacher and it's spotted by Joliat, that will put him clear of the defense.

In comes the ball, good pace and a nice curl, excellent pace even, well beyond the first post, well beyond Bólin, WELL PLAYED, another one for Malone as he puts Dennisov ahead after 38 minutes.
Dennisov leads 2-1, just hold on to that lead chaps, it's only 7 minutes to half time.

That's it, the first 45 are done, Dennisov leads Spaam 2-1 at the break, I am still worried about that chair, but the ref seems unable to ascertain after it's origins.

We'll be right back.

And that it is, a right shame.
Anyway we are back, no more ketchup for me for a while.

Both teams have already made their way back on the field, no changes? Not as far as I can tell, no real reason either, both sides were playing well.
Eromldo to kickoff, short flick to Elrik.

During the break we saw an overview of both team's attempts to make it to the WorldCup, an utter disgrace that these two fine teams didn't qualify.
With some good play and excellent players on both sides, both these teams should have been able to qualify. They didn't.

Rékin finds a mate in the corner flag. Together with Salming and Leduc, they are having quite a nice tea party in that corner.
Rékin plays the ball between Salming and Leduc and leaves them both behind. Brilliant move by the Spaamian forward. A look up to see where to place the ball, and the cross.
It's Eromldo again, it's Eromldo yet again. What's with Spaam and early goals? That only took them 3 minutes and Dennisov and Spaam are back where they started, only with 4 goals instead of nothing.

Dennisov really should have known better, they come to the pitch thinking that the other team plays like they do, with patience, but in this day and age you have to be focussed from the word go.

Kick off for Dennisov, Hyland sends it back into his own defense. Salming with the ball, on to Conacher. Conacher making his way up the pitch. On to Joliat, bad ball by Joliat.
Rékin takes over for Spaam, they are using the direct balls now, Dennisov seems very vulnerable at this time. The ball didn't find a fellow Spaamian, Salming intercepted that one.
On to Conacher, once again making his way forward, he's being allowed a lot of space here, a lot of space. He plays it wide to Bauer, just waiting at the edge of the penalty area, curling shot by Bauer can Bólin get to it?
Oh my god, that was close, Bauer almost curled that ball in, but Bólin managed to get some gloved fingers to it. Cleared by Koli, that ball is airborne!
A lot of players waiting for it to come down. It's full there, the ball falls to Malone, surely?
YES! YES! Dennisov are back ahead, the goals are falling thick and fast, it's his 3rd! Malone takes Dennisov up to 3-2 against Spaam. What a game, what a game, this one should have been played in the WorldCup.
Hats flying all over the place, what's that some squid too? and a penguin?

3-2 what a game folks. Spaam to kick off again.
Eromldo has two, Malone has three, it's a game between these two strikers.

Ball taken by Conacher, he's sure working hard tonight.
He is making the difference tonight I feel, him and Bauer, these two players are very important to Dennisov, and of course Cheevers, and let's not forget Malone with his hattrick.
Conacher plays the ball into Hyland, who'se brought down, penalty?
This looks like a penalty to me, folks, what does the ref do?
The whole stadium is screaming for a spot kick...
And he gives one!

Less than an hour played and we are looking down the barrel of a 6th goal.
Hyland to take it.
The run.
He shoots, SAVED!!!
Rebound, Bauer scores!

Magnificent save by Bólin but no chance with that rebound, easy goal for Bauer.
4-2, where will this all end?

Another Spaam kickoff.
We are nearing the hour mark and we have already seen some amazing football tonight.

OOC: Eromldo! LOL!
And for all interested, the second game was the Belgian First Division match Sint-Truiden vs Beveren that was played today, with Spaam as Sint-Truiden.

IC:

Voiceover: We apologise for the interruption, and will now return you to the match.

Sara: Well, its just after the hour mark and Spaam is down 4-2 after two goals to the Dennisovians here at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Malone for Dennisov has scored a hattrick for their team, and Eromleb, affectionately called Eromldo by the Dennisovians is just one away from a hattrick on his own.
Going back to the action, we see Eromleb with the ball, but he's being marked heavily by Clancy, and is trying to get it out. He's getting frustrated here as the ball is stolen from him, and he trips Clancy and there goes the ref! Lets see if we can hear what he's saying....


Ref: Listen mate, that sort of thing is not on, I don't care what he did, there is no tripping.

Nala: But duh, he pushed me duh, its my ball duh.

Ref: I didn't see any pushing, but I saw tripping, and its not on mate. I'm gonna give you a warning, so make sure it doesn't happen again.


Sara: And the ref pulls out a yellow card against Eromleb, and awards Clancy a free kick. Clancy takes the ball and sends it down long to Joliat, marked by Gump, back to Salming, comes up agaisnt Dodd, so its a punt to Bauer, not making much headway here, but its a quick kick to Stuart, who missed the ball and it goes over the line, for a Spaam throw-in.
As they get the ball, I'd like to introduce my co-commentator for the remainder of the match, Fin DeCáno President of United Spaam. Welcome Mr. President.

Fin: Thankyou Sara. Its nice to be here, and to be given the opportunity to call this match between these two very fine teams. And please, call me Fin.

Sara: Its quite an honor, Fin. So I understand you're quite a fan of football, and played a little when you were younger.

Fin: Yes, and its was a great experience, though I was never the greatest player. My uncle however, was a great player, and was assistant coach during the qualifying for the third World Cup. That would be almost 40 years ago now.

Sara: That is certainly a long time ago. Interesting fact, in that Dennisov have a perfect record against us in international non-friendlies. Spaam is also down 4-2 here, what do you think are the chances of Spaam coming back?

Fin: Well, we seem to be playing rather well, but there is only 10 minutes left, and so I don't think we have much chance against such a strong team.

Sara: If we go back to the action, Elrik has the ball, and is free, crosses over to Eromleb who is hiding near the goal, dodges the defender Leduc and shoots, but its hit away by Cheevers, and Laroche is the one who kicks it down field to the Dennisov captain Conacher.

Fin: We can see here that even though we are making a lot of chances, the Dennisov defense is really strong, and they know that they are in a very good position to win the match. Dennisov is making a run down to the goal again....

Sara: Yes, its Malone with the ball, but there is a nice tackle there from the Spaamanian captain Koli, who frees the ball to Rékin and it goes back to the midfield game, with 5 minutes left in the match.

Fin: Dennisov are just suffocating the Spaam attack here, making sure Milik and Eromleb are always marked, since they are the big goal-scorers in our team. Fantastic defense, but you have to give our players credit for still managing to come up with chances.

Sara: Full credit, which shows our power in attack. Our defense has been a bit lacking today, which always seems to the bane of the Spaamanian team. Dodd has somehow found Milik, but the Dennisov defender Leduc forces her to take the ball over the line, so its a Dennisov throw-in.

Fin: Just a minute left in the game, and I think we can safely say that Dennisov has it won. Its been an impressive match though, with kudos to all players, especially Nala Eromleb, who looks strangely familiar....

Sara: So thats game! Dennisov have won easily here, with a 4-2 scoreline, and Spaam is down one game in the best of three series. Thankyou, Fin, for helping me commentate, and best of luck in running the country.

Fin: *laughs* Thankyou Sara, and best of luck in calling these games. Its been a pleasure.

Sara: Well, thats all we have time for today, but look forward to the second match to be played next week. Good night.

Dennisov 4
(Malone 21, 38, 51; Bauer 54)

Spaam 2
(Eromleb 5, 48 )

Dennisov leads the series 1-0

An excellent game, we saw 6 goals in that one. Very uncharacteristic for the Dennisov team. Both teams were obviously willing to take some chances, and they got the rewards.

Two players did exceptionally well, Nala Aromleb from Spaam and Malone for Dennisov, scoring 5 goals between them, amazing stuff.

The second venue for the Lehua Hoopai Shield will be held in Faulkner where the newly built stadium in honour of late Dennish manager Roger Neilson is.

http://www.phys.psu.edu/images/scenery_photos/stadium.gif
Roger Neilson Memorial Colosseum

Eromleb

Doesn't sting as much if you misspell it ;)

The department of phonetics issued a statement this morning.

They want to bring it to the Dennish population the proper spelling of foreign names. Whereas many words in Dennish are spelled different from the spoken variant, this does not always go for nations of the foreign persuasion.

A case in point is the name of the Spaamian striker that found the goal twice in last night's game between Dennisov and Spaam. The commentators, being of sound mind and able body, were quite inventive working around this problem, calling the Spaamian player all sorts of names. Especially after Eromleb managed to get one passed Cheevers a whole range of names was tried and used. Many Dennish spectators both on site and at home were exposed to variants such as: 'that bastard', Eromldo, 'annoying git' and 'that Spaamian player'.
However after investigation by the Dennish Department of Phonetics the correct spelling of the player in question was obtained.

These recommendations were handed out to the commentators and broadcasters throughout Dennisov.

We can only hope that the mistakes and inproper use of incorrect names can finally come to an end.