NationStates Jolt Archive

"Tuckworth for Mayor!"

"Hurrah for Hezza!"

"Three cheers for John Bowman!"

These were just some of the cheers that echoed around the streets of Nova Britannicus and beyond. Jubliant people cried in delight as the 'lowly' Navy-Blues held two-time World Champions Eauz to a One-All draw.

"Good evening, Guru Yandaki," Charles T.F.I. Worsley greeted the foreigner with a raised glass, "Gin?"

"I have told you before, Charles," Yandaki turned on Worsley, a look of terrible anger on his face, "I did not summon an invisible Daemon to guard the Britannicus net!"

"Um," Worsley was lost for words.

"Oh," said the Guru, his face softening, "you meant the drink, didn't you?"

"Yes, rather."

"Please accept my apologies. I have been under great strain remembering and repeating the various Rejistanian chants," he reached forward to take the glass of gin, "the worship of Taderekansa requires much energy."

"Ah," again Worsley was lost, "Good show."

"Not really," Yandaki said, "some candles, an altar, a symbol of untold power, a legion of obedient monks, all their power being brought under my boot, to grant me the ultimate power!"

"Ah." Worsley searched for something he could relate to, "Cigar?"

"No, I am so sorry, the... artifact gives off some quite flammable fumes."

"Ah." Worsley stared at the floor some. "Good show by the Navy-Blues boys, eh?"

"Apparently so."

"Didn't watch the game?" Worsley was shocked. "I thought you were employed by the NBFA?"

"Quite."

"So what were you doing?"

"I was," Yandaki began, "inciting one of the great deities of Inikreasism, in an effort to aid Nova Britannicus' drive to the World Cup."

"Eh?"

"Video," the Guru hurriedly corrected himself, "I was watching the video, uh, tapes. Yes, that's it."

"Good show, old boy."

De Ja Vu
Lovisa Loss Fucks Slaves

The last time Audioslavia played Lovisa was in a world cup first round, they lost the match, and ended up missing out on the second round.

This afternoon in Belmore, The 'slaves again fell, and now pray for the right result in the CS/CH game.

Audioslavia looked good in the game. Not great, but good. Oskari hit the topside of the bar with a header and Marriot was making oppotunities left right and centre, but still the 'slaves couldnt break through. Lovisa too, had an equal share of posession but seemed to lack the firepower up front. That was until the 51st minute when Johnstone was caught napping at the back at the Lovisan number nine sliced right past him and finished perfectly past Andersson for 1-0.

Cockbill Street play Commerce Heights tonight in a match of immense importance for both teams and Audioslavia:

Group C
[1] Lovisa 1 2 0 3-2 5
[2] Audioslavia 1 1 1 4-2 4
3- Commerce Heights 0 2 0 1-1 2
4- Cockbill Street 0 1 1 2-5 1

Audioslavia require Commerce Heights NOT to win, and Cockbill Street to NOT win by five goals or more

Commerce Heights need to beat Cockbill Street[/b]

Cockbill Street need to beat Commerce Heights by five clear goals.

Three reasons why Audioslavia are going through to the second round

1: Cockbill Street have never beaten a ranked team by more than five goals

2: Commerce Heights are yet to win, and have amassed just one goal in two games

3: Audioslavia have failed to get into round two just once since World Cup 10

Three reasons why Commerce Heights are going through to the second round

1: They are higher ranked than Cockbill Street

2: The last time Audioslavia lost to Lovisa, the 'slaves went out on four points, with Lovisa being joined by a capitalist nation as qualifiers, both on five points

3: They are as yet unbeaten (stupid reason i know, but they are favourites to go through now)

Three reasons why Cockbill Street are going through to the second round

1: 5-0 scorelines against ranked sides have been done before. Look at One Red Dot.

2: They will be more geared up for the match than usual. The 'street play a lot better with their backs against the wall.

3: Manager Lee Branson is Audioslavian and beating Commerce Heights will mean that Audioslavia wil go through. Of course, he is the consumate professional and will be lookng to get a five-goal win to get his own side through and get one over on his old buddy, and 'slaves caretaker manager, Dave Mill

Monk Jaju: Giving up, I do! (makes a move as if throwing something on the ground and spitting on it)

Monk Taka: What did you read?

Jaju: The symbols are not clear...

Taka: Tell me what they said!

Jaju: Someone is there and is not there, a path leads west, and a green leaf falls down.

Taka: good!

Jaju: Good?

Taka: These symbols might appear random, but I am sure they have a meaning! Were they more clear than static noise?

Jaju: Yes, they were very clear and repeated.

Taka: Then we found a trace... even though it is not exactly clear what it says... If you spent hours without finding anything, we would be wrong here.

Jaju: oh, you are true with that...

Taka: Now we need to find out the meaning... a path leading west...

Jaju: Someone being here and not being here...

Taka: That shows at least magical influence...

Jaju: It does... maybe we can get additional information from the higher powers...

Taka: Can you ask them whether the someone is here and on the path?

Jaju: Interesting thought... I will! (the ceremony with the pendulum and the chants starts anew. After a while) The someone reached the destination...

Taka: I made some thoughts myself... I think that the man is initialised, he has spiritual powers... How else can he be at two locations at the same time?

Jaju: A riva... interesting idea...

Taka: How else can all the correct ceremonies be done?

Jaju: by more than one person?

Taka: Find more than one person capable of doing the ceremonies in Nove Brittanicus.

Jaju: I wouldn't even expect one person.

Taka: see, two are much more improbable.

Jaju: Yeah, and remember that riva is not only a rejistani phenomenon: Jingus Gonorrhea did it in the U21, catholic saints were said to have done it. There is a certain chance, that the person is no rejistani...

Taka: wow, I cannot believe that we where that successfull that early.

Jaju: This is no TV series but an RP...

Taka: right...

*The Druida team are walking off the pitch. Behind them, the scoreboard appears to tell it all. DANCE 2 REVOLUTION 2-0 DRUIDA. That's never going to be enough, Squornshelous are playing Jeruselem, a game they must have won by now. The trundle off the pitch into the changing room seemed to take forever. As they got inside, the oldest man in Eauz stood there waiting for them.*

Old Eauzian: "Ah come on now. It isn't that bad."

Trefor "Elastic" Edwards (GK): "Of course it is. The Druida curse strikes again. Last game of the group stage, we bottle it and let someone else through."

Garth Cymru (Mid): "And what's worse is that those frikkin' Druids are through, and they knocked some team in Orange and Blue out on the way."

Old Eauzian: "But it isn't that bad. Is it."

Edwards: Of course it's bad. It doesn't get any worse for a Druidan. EVER!"

Old Eauzian: "No, I don't think you're understanding quite what I'm saying, are you? I just heard it on Belmorian radio, Squornsh drew. We made it!"

*Cheers erupt around the changing room*

Edwards: "So, who are we playing next?"

Old Eauzian: "In the second round, Druida will play Bedistan."

*The cheers become less muted*

Old Eauzian: "What did I say?"

Edwards: "Boss, Bedistan are perenial semi-finalists."

Old Eauzian: "So... not good then?"

Edwards: "It probably could be better. A lot better..."

Cymru: "But look at it this way - we've never made it this far before! And Bedistan aren't as fantastic as they once were. Come on lads, we could do it!"

*They all stare at Cymru. But then, as each team member realises that what he says rings true, they all start to nod their heads and make those positive kinds of sounds that people make when somethings just filled them with shedloads of confidence.*

Old Eauzian: "Come on lads. I should have been in bed two hours ago. Let's go."

Crystils lose match, win group

The Crystilakere Crystils lost their first World Cup 19 finals match on Matchday 3 against Kaze Progressa by 2-0. Crystili goalkeeper Emiliano Addis was at fault for the first progressan goal, straying 20 yards out during a Crystilakere attack, only for Kaze Progressa to intercept and see an incredible lob from 65 yards easily catch Addis wrong footed. Of all the nations on their way to the second round, only Eauz has conceded more than Crystilakere, and Addis may be feeling pressure from some of the youngsters for his starting goalkeeper position. For Kaze Progressa, the win was a taste of what could have been in World Cup 19, as their performances against Melmond and Sarzonia left them 3rd in the group and out of the competition. In the other matchday 3 game, Melmond score the only goal against Sarzonia that put Melmond back into the second round. The low-scoring win kept Crystilakere on top of the Group D table, the first time they have finished 1st in their group in the World Cup Finals. Crystilakere 0 - 2 Kaze Progressa


Group D
[1] Crystilakere 2 0 1 6-4 6
[2] Melmond 2 0 1 3-2 6
3- Kaze Progressa 1 1 1 2-1 4
4- Sarzonia 0 1 2 1-5 1


While the people celebrated the advance to the second round, the coaching staff prepared for what will surely be the toughest match in Crystilakere history. The Crystils have been drawn up against Audioslavia for the second round. The two teams have met before but never on a stage quite like this. Crystilakere will reportedly fall back into a 5-3-2 formation for the game, hoping to take a scoreless draw into penalty kicks and win by luck of the spot kick.



Crystilakere Crystils (5-3-2 Against Audioslavia)
HEAD COACH: Hazem Emam
U-21 COACH: Boubacar Dragov
ASST COACH: Liali Munavelli

GK Emiliano Addis
D Alpha Siboldi*
D Filippo Ferraro <- He Scores Headers Off Corners
D Donato Arrigoni
D Oussent Nón
D Dimitri Ferraro
M Darren Whelan
M Nina Nonaaia*
M Sebastian Wolf
F Reidulf Piao*
F Toader Pold*

SUBSTITUTES
GK- Gaetano Novello, Alwasi Tystrup*, Alcir Barbara*
D- Alejandro Ayala, Francesco Schiavon*, Salvatore Redaelli*, Rene' Niljssen*, Abdelilah Escobar*, Jules Hitoto
M- Giuseppe Zucco*, Maurizio Cavallo, Riccardo Vecchi, Paolo Gallo, Massimiliano Rosi*, Giovanni Quira*
F- Carlo Romano, Christian Benedetti, Benjamin Kuhn*, Michael Baker*, Noel Adiguzel*

Crystils in rugby switch

Nine members of the Crystilakere Crystils nationstates world cup finals team have abruptly quit and joined the newly formed national rugby team leaving Crystilakere football coach Hazem Emam in a shortage of substitute options. All of the nine players were cited as saying they were fed up with consistently being overlooked by Emam for a starting role despite their strength and ability. The one exception former Crystilakere central defender Jules Hitoto stated that he never much liked football anyway so rugby was a good move for him. Long-time backup goalkeeper Gaetano Novello leads the switch to the rugby team, leaving Under-21 youngsters Alwasi Tystrup and Alcir Barbara to fight Emiliano Addis for the goalkeeper position. Joining Novello in the newly formed rugby union will be former defenders Alejandro Ayala and Francesco Schiavon. Under-21 midfielder Massmiliano Rosi joins experienced substitutes Paolo Gallo and Riccardo Vecchi as new additions to the rugby team, while little-used attackers Benjamin Kuhn and Christian Benedetti will kick aside the football and pick up a new target the next time they are on the pitch. These experienced footballers will be joined by attackers Billario Gallo, Mattias Spagatti and Marian Vicenzio and defenders Mark Leiter, Reddy Malio and Rene Corbetla from the Crystilakere minor league of rudby as the first members of the Crystilakere national rugby team.

Jeruselem Government News

Jeruselem become Roadblock and stop Squornshelous

Squornshelous needed to beat Jeruselem to make the last 16 of the World Cup XIX. Jeruselem who had lost narrowly to D2r and Druida were already out of the running but would decide who goes through.

Well Jeruselem held up Squornshelous to a 1 ALL draw and sunk it's chances making the D2R vs Druida game a battle to top spot. Squornshelous managed three draws in this group stage with cost it big time with the inability to win winnable games. While Jeruselem were winless, they were not little pussy cats to run over with truck.


Group H
[1]- Dance 2 Revolution 1 1 0 4-3 4
[2]- Druida 1 1 0 2-1 4
3 - Squornshelous 0 3 0 4-4 3
4 - Jeruselem 0 1 2 2-4 1

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Do to a lose-lose situation in the two proposed Knockout Schedules, the Knockout Stage matchups will be redrawn live tonight in #sport on irc.esper.net

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'Slaves Bow to Branson
Cockbill Street draw sends 'slaves through

It was never really on the cards for Cockbill Street to go through, their 3-0 opening day defeat meaning they needed to thump ex-champions Commerce Heights for five or six goals to qualify. The 'street gave it their best shot but could only draw 1-1, a result which sends Audioslavia through.

The Second Round

Tadjikistan (25) Vs Eauz (9)
Tadjikistan have gone from strength to strength in recent years. Unqualified in WC17, First round in WC18, and now second round in WC19. The tigers will hope to upend favourites Eauz and turn some of the hype that has surrounded the team since their inception into reality. The Blues of Eauz won't be an easy team to beat of course. Eauz became only the third side in history to win two world cups when they beat Bedistan in a cracking WC16 final. Eauz are considered to be at least the second best side in the world at the moment, despite the WC rankings placing them ninth behind the likes of Vilita, Squornshelous, Iansisle, Audioslavia and Kaze Progressa, five sides who have taken their positions in the top ten largely thanks to holes created by the likes of Lemmitania, Oglethorpia, Tanah Burung, Brazillico and Giant Zucchini after their departures from world football. This reporter argues that both Tadjikistan and Eauz have it in them to win the world cup. Eauz are proven, Tadjikistan are not, and that could be the difference between the two sides tommorow night.
Prediction: Eauz 2-0 Tajikistan

Nova Britannicus (45) Vs Turori (14)
No one is really sure how the world cup rankings place Turori in 14th place. The team's performance so far on home soil has been sketchy at best, their only win coming against choke-artists Iansisle, the side were lucky to escape their group after coming up short against 58th ranked Shonar Bangla. Thankfully, the Bangles's only loss was by two goals, and so the Turori Eels went through on goal difference. That said, the Eels have a fast team, with players capable of scoring against even the better nations and no one is really going to write them off completely when they come up against a side thirty places below them in the rankings. Nova Britannicus fit that description, but possibly won't roll over as easily as that. They came through a tight group in top spot, remaining unbeaten against Vilita, Eauz and Starblaydia. If that sentence doesn't say it all about their ability to overcome the odds then just look at their qualifying group. NB out-scored and out-pointed both Liverpool England and fellow suprise packages Aquilliana. Turori have home advantage and many will favour the plucky Vilita-lite team, but the amount of talent in this years Nova Britannicus's team isn't represented by their rank, and one would have to expect this match to be hard-fought, if a little shy on goals.
Predicition: Nova Britannicus 0-0 Turori, Nova Britannicus to win 1-0 in extra time

Lovisa (19) Vs Melmond (13)
Lovisa and Melmond are two sides that recieve less credit than they deserve. Lovisa are always, always a threat whilst Melmond's WC17 third-place is less down to luck than many would want to believe. However, wheras Lovisa have always shown signs of being able to beat the bigger sides (Their last match was a 1-0 win over third-ranked Audioslavia) they've never really shown signs of actually improving. Fair enough, they can beat teams but they just don't do it often enough to warrant a prediction of a semi-final place or the like. Melmond on the other hand, have always looked like they could be 'that team' some day in the future. The semi-final appearance in World Cup 17 was a bit of a clue, but their poor showing in World Cup 18 shows that they aren't quite there yet. Nevertheless, the Melmondian league is widely regarded as one of the better in the world and their national team has to catch up soon. This reporter picks them to sweep the Lovisans aside, but they may have to wait a little longer for further glory.
Prediction: Lovisa 2-4 Melmond

Audioslavia (3) Vs Crystilakere (20)
Audioslavia blitzed their qualifying group, but aside from a 3-0 win over Cockbill Street they haven't looked like a top three side at all recently, gaining one point from their last two games. Nevertheless, against the right team, Audioslavia are more than capable of knocking in a few goals and winning comfortably. Crystilakere however, aren't the right side. The Crystilakere side have denied Audioslavia TWO appearances in the U21 world cup final. Furthermore, the side have looked a lot more impressive in the first round, beating Melmond before knocking four past a Sarzonia side who looked far from the sort of team that gets four goals knocked past them. Losing 2-0 to Kaze Progressa was a bit disappointing, but KP beat Audioslavia 3-0 in WC18 so who knows what to expect. This reporter, unfortunately for the 'slaves, expects Audioslavia to bow out in their customary second-round position.
Predicition: Audioslavia 1-2 Crystalikere

Total n Utter Insanity (12)Vs Wella (35)
TnUI scored the joint-highest amount of points in the first round with two wins and a draw. Their matches, two one-nil wins and a goalless draw, are testament to their counter-attacking style and their solid defence. The TnUIans are long overdue for some glory, but they'll need to start scoring more goals to be viewed as real contenders for the cup. Luckily for them, Wella hardly look like a side that is going to upset them. One could argue that Wella's top spot in their WC19 qualifying group contradicts that last statement, but their showing so far in the finals has been far from impressive. OK so they beat Rejistania, but this year's Rejistania side is far from the Rejis side that has dominated world football for the past eight years. Wella could only scrape past them 1-0, and a subsequent defeat to One Red Dot (who were vanquished 5-0 by NEWI Cefn Druids) along with a draw with the druids isn't the form of a great team. Wella may well overcome TnUI, the Insanicians have never been skilfull or world-beating, but they are nothing if not determined, dogged, and capable of beating sides like Wella.
Prediction: Total n Utter Insanity 1-0 Wella

NEWI Cefn Druids (15) Vs The Belmore Family (37)
Its unusual for the second round a world cup not to throw up a match between two great teams, but this time it hasn't really happened. Therefore, i'm picking this match to give us the match of the round. The Druids are now a force in world football after years of struggling and they are every bit capable of sweeping aside a team ranked 37th in the world. However, this is no ordinary 37th ranked team, this is The Belmore Family, a side who for so long looked on the verge of greatness before drifting away into obscurity. Every four years, the world takes a sideways glance at TBF, wondering if they are going to finally find the right players and the right formula to once again make an impact. Every four years the world hasn't been impressed and has turned back to watching Rejistania, but not this year. The Belmores outscored everyone in their group by more than double, their only belmish coming in a 1-0 defeat to Total n Utter Insanity. Finally, TBF are starting to resemble the TBF sides of old: Great attack, awful defence. They sent TLC packing with a 3-0 win and beat Svecia largely thanks to their partizan home crowd. Its that home advantage which could sway the match their way, but NEWI Cefn Druids will be very difficult to overcome. Despite being ranked 15th in the world, the Druids have long been feared and respected as one of the best ten sides in the world. The match will be close, but the Druids possibly have too much for the the Belmores, and this - probably high scoring - match will end with a win for the away side.
Prediction: NEWI Cefn Druida 4-2 The Belmore Family

Bedistan (16) v. Druida (30)
Everyone's favourite choke-artists couldn't have been luckier in the first round, coming through in top spot due to their having scored more than two goals in three games. They did make it however, and the usual thing to say now would be that they will hit their stride and overcome the Druidians. It would be the usual thing to say, of course, if Bedistan were a top-ten side with a great team. They aren't. They're aging side doesn't reek of the semi-final stench like lion sides of old and their new green kit is possibly less tasteful than the Druidian Rainbow's godawful travesty. Speaking of godawful travesties, Squornshelous came a cropper to Druida in the group stage, finishing a point behind them after three draws. Had Squornshelous had the anything resembling the firepower that their WC5-18 sides had, they would be playing Bedistan here in the tie of the round. They don't, they aren't, and so we have to watch a match between two nations kitted out in something that Vivian Westwood would be ashamed to call her own. If Vivian Westwood was blind and had no arms. Bedistan to go through.
Prediction: Bedistan 2-0 Druida.

Dance 2 Revolution (10) Vs The Eagle's Nest (7)
The match of the round for you statisticians, a public execution for those of you who believe D2R are talentless wretches, but a boring match for those who will watch it. The statistics show that Dance 2 Revolution had their best record by far in the first round, whilst the Eagles Nest had the worst of all the qualifiers. TEN have the edge in skill, but D2R know how to win games, something TEN don't do enough, as anyone who's ever read the list of teams which have appeared in the world cup finals will tell you. Everything points to a D2R win, but the feeling in everyone's gut is that they know The Eagles will prevail. We don't know how, but they just will. Maybe its the name. Whats more scary, a nest containing eleven birds of prey... or eleven dancing che guevaras?
Prediction: Dance 2 Revolution 2-2 The Eagles Nest, TEN to win on penalties.

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Do to a lose-lose situation in the two proposed Knockout Schedules, the Knockout Stage matchups will be redrawn live tonight in #sport on irc.esper.net

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in the fifty minutes it took me to write my post, it probably took you three seconds to post this and make me re-do my work :/

in the fifty minutes it took me to write my post, it probably took you three seconds to post this and make me re-do my work :/

Still gets credit, and theres a good chance at least ONE of them will be right :)

To: President Alvin Ker <a_Ker@asword.gov.rd>
From: Head Coach Chris Gwee <cgwee@asword.gov.rd>
Subject: Matchday 3 and Qualification Results
Sent on: 22 June 2010 1900h GMT

We are pleased to say that although we did not defeat the top of the world, we did however drew with them 1-1. Unfortunately, this was insufficient to make it to the next round, losing out only to goal difference. This, therfore, ends our WC19 run. We will be returning shortly, and will start training for WC20.

TENFA Points Out Official Table Error

Conspiricy? Nah, Just Probable Typo

TENFA has reported that there is a GLARING error in the Group G Table that has implications in the draw...that TEN was not given credit for a tie and as such has lost a position.

The table as posted by Turorian Officials.


Group G
[1] Bedistan 1 1 1 3-2 4
[2] The Eagle's Nest 1 1 0 2-1 4
3- EL CID THE HERO 1 1 1 2-2 4
4- Adam Island 0 2 1 1-3 2


TEN tied Adam Island, tied Bedistan, and defeated EL CID THE HERO, givng them 1 win and two ties and 5 points. Thus the table should be:



Group G
[1] The Eagle's Nest 1 2 0 2-1 5
[2] Bedistan 1 1 1 3-2 4
3- EL CID THE HERO 1 1 1 2-2 4
4- Adam Island 0 2 1 1-3 2


When TENFA head Josh Adams was asked if it was part of a Turorian Conspiricy in retaliation from previous cups, he replied. "Nah, it's just a typo. TBF authorites already acknowledge it. Just want to make sure that all match prognosticators realize that. Besides Who would try to screw over another team in an international tournament anyway? I mean come on, if it happened, all hell would break lose."

Location: Hetkali, Rejistania
Time: During the World Cup 19 Qualifiers, a day or two before Rejistania lose to Wella, as a matter of fact.

Guru Yankdaki nodded his head in respect to the giant statue of the Rejistanian God Taderekansa. Upon a large stone plinth in stood the likeness of the Inikresaistic diety, a chubby, jolly character sitting with his legs crossed beneath him in the lotus position. A great pair of angelic wings sprouted from his back as his beaming smile stared down at the passers by.

The great temple was mostly an open courtyard, surrounded by walls and fountaions. behind the statue, however, was the place where the public were not allowed to go. Yandaki's black and red robes swirled around him as he had a quick look at the guarded door to the inner sanctum.

"May I be of help?" a quiet voice, speaking Rejistanian, interrupted Yandaki's thoughts.

"I am not requiring any help, thankyou," the Guru replied in broken Rejistanian, "I am just browsing."

His helpful Rejistanian phrasebook had the correct grammar for a shopping spree, but little else.

"Please do not be entering that part of the Temple," the Rejistanian continued, obviously a monk by way of his Orange costume, "that part is for monks only."

"Thankyou, I understand,"

Yandaki pretended to have noticed something interesting beside one of the fountains and went off to investigate. As he stood, inspecting the carvings on the side of the ornate water feature, he tried to think how he was going to take his objective.

Obviously, he was no action-hero. As much as he would have liked it, he was not able to kick down a door, karate-chop a few monks then backflip over the wall and escape on a helicopter, all while smoking a cigar and firing a machine-gun from his hip. That meant he would have to use his talents.

Looking around, he noticed a few of the small monks in the courtyard. Here was as good a place as any to test his powers. He took a deep breath and began muttering to himself, he hand making a small gesture of power in the air. The tattoo on the back of his neck, hidden by a high collar, began to glow a deep blood red colour. He saw a few of the meditating monks open their eyes and look around. They could feel his engeries. Yandaki quickly cancelled the incantation and pretended to adjust his hairstyle.

That meant Daemon-summoning was right out. If some of the more psychically-aware monks could pick-up the tell-tale signs of him casting such a simple gesture, then the summoning of any Daemon, great or small, would quickly be noticed and repelled. That left only one option. He picked up his mobile phone and cleared his throat. He dialled a number from his speed-dial list.

"...yes?" it was a woman's voice on the other end, calm and determined.


"Ah, Miss Hamilton?" Yandaki said, his voice soft and nervous, "this is Guruki Ihju, from the Psytroxi Ministry of Antiquities?"

"Oh, hello Mister Ihju," she replied, "can you give me a few moments?"

"Of course."

Down the phone line Yandaki could hear what sounded like gunshots, and a bit of screaming, then a thud. Everything went silent for a few moments. Then he heard her voice again.

"Now, Mister Ihju," she said, slightly out of breath and sounding very refreshed, "you have my complete attention."

"It has come to our attention, Miss Hamilton, that an ancient Psytroxi symbol of power, long considered lost or stolen, is residing inside a Rejistanian temple. All efforts through the... usual channels have failed-"

"And so the more 'unorthodox' channels are required?" she interrupted him.

"Exactly."

Some 32 hours later, the Nova Britannician archaeologist, adventurer and all-round super-babe Keira Hamilton was sneaking around the back of the Temple of Taderekansa in Hetkali, in the dead of night. The moon was hidden every so often behind the clouds, giving her ample oppurtunity to creep up to the wall and lob her grappling-hook over the wall. A quick burst of effort later and the shapely black-clad figure of Keira was over the wall and silently into the inner sanctum of the Temple.

Without making much noise, Keira crept through the most holy parts of the temple. Lit by braziers, she hugged the walls to keep herself in the shadows and out of sight.

There were footsteps coming down the sanctum, the short pacing of a small monk. Keira flung herself up against a pillar as he passed, but he stopped just in front of her. Keira drew her gun, even though it was silenced there would still be a hefty bang and a large pool of blood.

The monk muttered something in Rejistanian, but Keira just couldn't pull the trigger, with her Magnum aimed directly at the back of the man's head. With a soft sigh she merely cracked him over the back of the head with the grip, dropping him to the floor.

"Sorry, old boy." she said to herself.

With a crazy montage of opening doors, leaping chasms and ducking under traps, Keira found herself in front of the altar, resting gently upon it was The Sinijiil, symbol of Taderekansa.

"Yoink!" she said, by way of habit, as she lifted the symbol from its resting place and dropped it into her backpack. Now all she had to do was get out...

You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’
Melmond Welcomes Dead Stars In Their World
By Henry Kalangalangalang of the Melmond City Herald

KIONAO, TURORI—Well, sometimes a team just kind of asks for a butt kicking of some sorts. There wasn’t much of a history between the sides from Melmond and Sarzonia on the pitch, but there was great respect between the sides. The Sarzonians saw the Melmondians as a strong side and the Melmondian saw the Sarzonians as a football power of the future, a side much like the Melmondian World Cup 17 squad. Thus far the Sarzonians really haven’t played up to the hype in their first ever World Cup and it was up to the Fearless Farmers to make sure that the Stars don’t fulfill a destiny like the famous World Cup 17 squad as a Melmond win or tie would eliminate Sarzonia from the competition. A win would put the Fearless Farmers in the Round of 16 or possibly as group winners if Kaze Progressa beats Crystilakere by a sound margin of goals. Anyway, it appeared to be a very entertaining matchup until Sarzonia head coach Dave Wilson had opened his mouth with this entertaining nugget, “We're going to have to go at Pauline Hulme. We think we've got an advantage in the physical department there.”
This really was a cheap shot at the pride of the Fearless Farmers, as physicality has been the centerpiece of the style of the side ever since Manager David Bixler took over at the top position. The Melmond backline and midfield has had the reputation for being one of the most physical in the world, and Sarzonia dare said that they were going to try to beat the Fearless Farmers at their own game. Also, some of the women on the Melmond side perceived some sexism in that comment as they felt that their side could dominate a woman like Pauline Hulme on the pitch. Little did they know that Pauline Hulme has a killer instinct on the pitch and Veronica Dean is amazingly aggressive for her size and has quite the temper. Both of the ladies really had the match of their lives against the team now condemned to be the Dead Stars.
It was a rather dismal day at Kionao Park in where else but the city of Kionao, as the Turorian monsoons just poured down during the night. Throughout the first half, it appeared that the Fearless Farmers were playing a “rope-a-dope” strategy of some sorts. Sarzonia dominated the possession of the ball in the first half, but they were far from dominating the match, as Melmond seemed to enjoy just seeing the Stars just fade away. Their strategy of short passes was thwarted by the finesse members of the Melmond backline; Notint Hecloset and Charles Unne, always showed up at the right place to intercept or break up those passes. And when the Stars were foolhardy enough to try a longball or any ball in the air for a while, the physical members of the Melmond backline; Trav Strachan and Veronica Dean delievered the punishment by pushing their way into position and kicking the ball away and making very well timed if not brutal tackles. Many times the Sarzonians have looked at the referee for a card of some sort, but the referee just let them play. The Melmond attack seemed rather rested as the first half ended, but both the Melmond backline and the Sarzonian attack were basically wearing mud. However, the Fearless Farmers seemed to be reveling in the moment unlike the Stars whose attack, especially captain and striker Brian Wilson, were feeling absolutely no good vibrations as he limped off the field and was substituted for the second half in favor of the fresher Bruce Badger.
The second half was one more of counterattack. Sarzonia tried its hardest to get an attack going, but the fatigue from the first half started to catch up to them and the Fearless Farmers put some rather strong counterattacks, but the Sarzonia midfield and backline tried to deliver on their promise of some physicality of their own. They especially did key on Melmond midfielder Pauline Hulme, who made some great passes in the prior World Cup matches. However, the Melmondian attack showed a resilency the Sarzonian attack just didn’t have. First blood would strike as a goal for the Fearless Farmers would come from the unlikeliest of sources. A tight mark was held for both of Melmond’s strikers Tim Remans and Gene MacDougall and the rest of the Sarzonia backline and midfield were really trying to grind out the Melmond midfield. However, some heads up play would result in the first and only goal as Melmond midfielder Jake Cormier headed on a longball from Melmond defender Charles Unne. The ball was taken by Melmond midfielder Alfred Smith who was looking for an opening to pass or cross the ball to either Remans or MacDougall. Remans seemed to be in good position for a short while, but Smith’s cross was short. Or it seemed at first until Pauline Hulme muscled past her defender made a diving header which took the Sarzonian goalkeeper Troy Perkins by surprise and gave the Fearless Farmers the 1-nil lead that it will keep from the 71st minute to the end of the match. Melmond will advance to the Round of 16 on its own!

Goals
Hulme, MEL 71st

Cards
None

Standings

Other Group D Result
Kaze Progressa 2 – Crystilakere 0

Group D
Pts W D L GF:GA GD
1. Crystilakere 6 2 0 1 6:4 2
2. Melmond 6 2 0 1 3:2 1
3. Kaze Progressa 4 1 1 1 2:1 1
4. Sarzonia 1 0 1 2 1:5 -4

Team Stats
Goals: Tim Remans (1), Jake Cormier (1), Pauline Hulme (1)
Cards: Gene MacDougall (1)

Melmond World Cup Schedule

v Crystilakere (Iobabao Legendary Park, Mliona-Lpaka, TURORI) L 2-1
v Kaze Progressa (Iobabao Legendary Park, Mliona-Lpaka, TURORI) W 1-0
v Sarzonia (Kionao Park, Kionao, TURORI) W 1-0
v Crystilakere (THE BELMORE FAMILY)

Next Game
vs. Crystilakere (THE BELMORE FAMILY)

The nation of Turori said that keeping the planned knockout round groups was a lose-lose situation. We’ll we beg to differ. Originally, we would be playing the side from Lovisa for a much more interesting affair, but with the magic of random lots, the Fearless Farmers will have to play the Crystils of Crystilakere for a second time in this World Cup. Both sides shouldn’t be happy about playing their matches in The Belmore Family. Not only is The Belmore Family a long way from Turori, the Crystils will miss being in their own region and the Fearless Farmers certainly wouldn’t appreciate playing in a nation rumoured to have nuclear weapons pointed toward Melmond for merely being a capitalizt nation. Also, we have no clue what city or stadium this match will be played in. Anyway, The Belmore Family has a reputation of taking things a little schlower. Anyway let us hope sportsmanship and the Fearless Farmers prevail. Here is the Manager David Bixler’s starting lineup for the revenge match which means a little more this time around.

GK- Snhp Xtfuinxm
D- Notint Hecloset
D- Veronica Dean
D- Charles Unne
D- Trav Strachan
M- Peeko Noodleschlausen
M- Alfred Smith
M- Pauline Hulme
M- Jake Cormier
F- Gene MacDougall
F- Tim Remans

For tickets to The Belmore Family and the match, call the Therewegoes Travel Agency at 3-18-357-9009. There are few tickets reserved so call very soon!!! The Belmore Family may seem like simple folk with their slow, laid back attitude. However, The Belmore Family is the founder of the GODMOD technology, so watch your step while you are visiting!

Le LIBRE

Equality is good

Everyone showed up at the Almintora National Stadium in Turori, even Karl Marx, as Eauz was up against the top team in Group B, Nova Britannicus. The Wall, Devereux would sit out of this match, as he was not feeling well. Starting in his spot was Jacque Costé. It proved to be a good move, as during the 10th minute of play, the Nova offence was on the attack. A Nova attacker kicked the ball, going off the woodwork, as Rousoi went down on the dive. While down, another Nova attacker scooped the ball up, and kicked it to the net. Fortunately for Eauz, Costé was there and blocked the ball from going in the net. Costé kicked the ball out of play, and for a throw in. D’Aubigne, who prepared for the Eauz attack, picked up the throw in from Nova. Her pass though was picked off, as Nova surged up the field. The defence was preparing for the attack, as the ball was lifted in the air, but Rousoi was there to knock the ball out of play. At this point, Eauz was finding out what Starblaydia and Vilita were up against. The free kick sailed over the group of players, as the wind picked it up. A Nova player got the ball and passed it around the penalty zone. The Shake & Bake play was on, as an NB forward sent the ball out to a mid-fielder, who launched the ball into the net, past the diving Rousoi. After 36 minutes of play, Nova was up 1 – 0, and ahead of the two time champs, well of the past. At the 4 minutes later, frustration started to mount for Eauz, as Godenot knocked down a Nova player, resulting in a free kick. The kick sailed towards the net, but Rousoi was there to make the save and knock it away. The ball though went into the possession of another Nova player, who took a shot, sailing over the woodwork. At recess, Nova, the surprise team were up 1 – 0. As the Eauz players headed to the locker room for a break, fans threw things on the field, and booed the poor performance of their once great team. Also at half time, Eauz and Nova found out that the Vilitan and Starblaydia match finished at a 1 – 1 tie. This gave Eauz a bit of life to try and at least get one more goal, and they could advance. The first half saw the surprise Nova team hold possession of the ball about 64% of the time.

The second half finally started, as it appeared that Eauz was more spirited and ready to try and take three points. 2 minutes after the break, Eauz was attacking, as Alia received a pass from Vasser. Alia quickly let a shot go, but the keeper who got a hold of the ball blocked it. Fast-forward 10 minutes later at the 57th minute of play, as Eauz kept on the pressure. Camus brought the ball up field, and attracted a few Nova players, leaving a Rousseau open for a pass. Rousseau got the ball, and passed it off to Vasser, who let go of a rocket, which hit the crossbar, bouncing back into play. Alia jumped up to try and head it, but the Nova keeper was there too. The keeper looked like he pushed Alia a bit, but the referees didn’t blow the whistle. Eauz finally broke the Nova defence in the 71st minute of play, as Camus sent a long shot towards the net, which bounced off the woodwork and into the air. Theodoric, headed the ball over to Alia, who sent the ball into the net, giving Eauz the tying mark of 1 – 1. The two teams seemed to play pretty evenly, as the match finished up at 1 – 1. With the tie, both teams advanced to the next round of play. Eauz advanced, despite being tied with 4 points, as they had the +1 GD over the team from Vilita. Despite what people predicted, only one of the favoured two teams advanced as Eauz and Nova will continue.

As for the next round, it appears that Eauz will be up against NEWI Cefn Druids. The Druids and Eauz have faced off against each other, a few world cups ago, as they met up 4 times, with Les Bleus taking the last match. Nonetheless, this match should be a well played on both sides, and possibly some rough play.

Round of 16

Matchup 1: Tadjikistan (Norway) v. Turori (Ireland)
Matchup 2: Nova Britannicus (Ecuador) v. Audioslavia (Czechia)
Matchup 3: Dance 2 Revolution (Mexico) v. Druida (Russia)
Matchup 4: Lovisa (United States) v. Bedistan (Denmark)

Matchup 5: NEWI Cefn Druids (Japan) v. Eauz (Portugal)
Matchup 6: Crystilakere (Uruguay) v. Melmond (Sweden)
Matchup 7: The Eagles Nest (Netherlands) v. Wella (Cameroon)
Matchup 8: Total n Utter Insanity (Greece) v. The Belmore Family (Morocco)

It was the night before the big match. Lee Branson, having gone through the training routines for the one hundred and sixty-fourth time and the tactics for the two hundred and twenty-third (each time with different instructions), finally called it a night for his already worn out players.

“Now, lads, go through this in your effing sleep, d’you hear me? In YER EFFING SLEEP! I know I’ve said every game is important, but this game is more important than anything you’ll ever play in yer sodding, miserable lives as half-professional footballers!”

"Calm down, g'irgah. It's only a game of football," Helen Carpenter said as she joined the rapidly breaking-up party at the training ground in Iobabao.

"What? Let me get this straight. YOU - are asking ME - to calm down - about football?!"

"Yes. After all, as someone said, it is only the most important of all unimportant things on this earth."

"Really. Bit of a change in attitude there?"

"Well...WE DON'T STAND AN EFFING CHANCE OF QUALIFYING ANYWAY SO WHY BOTHER!" She suddenly started shouting mid-sentence, blowing Lee off guard.

"Um...good...analysis..."

"Thank you. Now go and win that match."

---

It was a quarter past three. Robert Andrews and his girlfriend, Christine Storvik, had just filtered into the stadium, and Robert, optimistic as ever pre-match, started wondering about possible second round opponents.

"Melmond'd be nice, I'm sure they could do some nice media fighting with the C-mail...if the Melmond City Herald ever gets back home on the clacks, that is. Or Crystilakere, they're the guys just north of us in Atlantian Oceania - we'd get some practice before the AOCAF thingy..."

"I hate to tell you, Robert...the Streetians are not through yet, and they need a semi-miracle for that to happen. Beating Commerce Heights once is an accident. Twice is a coincidence. Thrice...well, it would come pretty damn close to a conspiracy."

"It's sixteen years since they won the World Cup. Grow up, live in the present..."

"I suggest you do. Since when have the Streeters had any class players? Apart from that cutie Philip, that is."

"Rikki Stone...Thorgeirr Axewielder..."

"They ended their careers playing for Alan City. The club that have made history with the worst possible way to spend a billion dollars."

"Shut it. I want to enjoy the game."

"Me too - without you preaching your incessant optimism."

"Or you preaching your incessant pessimism."

---

Thirteen minutes gone and the Streetians were down already. Lee Branson had used up all his English curses, all his Gaelic curses, and in desperation started on dwarfish swearwords - mostly expressing a fervent wish that he wanted to leave this effing job with effing poor players and effing mad populations pretty effing quickly. It wasn't his fault that these guys couldn't form an organised back four...or that the linesman was more blinkered than a 'Slavian fan when that side was on its way to becoming awful, too. 0-1...and just as he looked up at the screen, he realised some guy with an unpronouncable name had scored on Audioslavia. It was going to be a long afternoon.

---

"So that's it, then." Helen concluded, as the Capitalizt bowler hats went up in the air cheering the 1-0 goal. "We're out."

"How many times have you said that through history?" Thor replied, groaning.

"About nineteen. And guess what? I've been right every single time."

"Gee, thanks...ry'rath!"

"You know, I just had this crazy idea. It seems like everybody care about our national team and the coach - so why not have public elections? Heck, we have elections about government in this country - whereas more people have opinions about football?"

"You mean...make it a...popularity contest?" Thor shuddered.

"Why not? It's not like we have a clue anyway."

"True...but we like to think we nominate coaches on merit..."

"No, we nominate on who gives the highest bribes. You know that. Woohoo, 1-1. Well, with Lovisa beating Audioslavia it doesn't really seem to matter, does it."

---

Epilogue, from the C-mail, a week afterwards.

COACH ELECTIONS CALLED
Candidates to Coach Must Get Practice in IRC2

Five candidates have applied for the job as Streetian g'irgah after the World Cup 19 debacle in Turori. Following a qualifying series which was nail-biting to the very end, and a finals group where they really had no chance at all, the Streetian Department of Sports have decided to go the way of public elections - apparently the first of its kind in the world. The five candidates are as follows, presented with preferred formation and nationality:

Lee Branson (Audioslavia, 4-3-1-2)

Lee Branson is an experienced manager and footballer, with some charisma on the line and with good knowledge of Streetian football after four years as manager, and favours a physical and attacking style of footballing. His results are nothing to write home about, although he boasts that he's the only human coach to take the Streetian side through qualifying (WC14 we had a dwarf, WC17 a MLD). He will be first up in the IRC tournament.

Kansu Lyku (Rejistania, 6-3-1)

A true Karela-man, through and through. Fan of Karela lines and their horribly defensive tactics, Mr Lyku promises to make the Streetians feel different about defense - as it will make their talented footballers win games. The tactic is as simple as it is boring - tackle, win the ball, and send it up to Rhianna Peters and let her do the rest. The six-back line will ensure 14 0-0 draws in qualifying.

Guy François (Eauz, 3-3-4)

Assuming that everyone should get their chance to star in the team equally, under the communist system, Mr François will practice a rotation system - rigidly. Defenders in one match may be strikers in the next. A radical thinker and idealist, but in the polls, a favourite among the poorer parts of the nation.

Ivar Axewieldersson (Cockbill Street, 4-4-2, 11 dwarves)

Afraid of the Streetian culture being watered down by puny humans and trolls, Ivar Axewieldersson is a candidate being put forward by the most extreme of dwarfs. Not favoured by neutrals, he will put the apartheid system back in place, making three Streetian teams and only allowing the one dwarf team to participate in the main World Cup matches. Hopefully, he will get his go against Nonesuch so he doesn't mess up.

Trefor Trefor (Druida, 3-5-2)

Exiled from Druida, Trefor Trefor is one of millions of Trefors that are completely indistinguishable. He is rumoured to have a fetish for rubber chickens, like most other Druidans, and is probably the most eccentric character of the five. Still, deep down, he is said to have some non-Trefor-ish characteristics - like the ability to pronounce every other word without throwing in about six "ll"-sounds at random.

Strike Birds Draw Dangerous Wella

TEN Prepares for Knockout rounds

With the fate of star forward Siggy Secour's playing career in doubt, the Nest will circle the wagons against a hot and dangerous Wella team in their Round of 16 game. Secour's injury was a very bad sprain, and he is very doubtful for this match. Coach Adams has not named the starter for his spot yet, claiming that practice will be the determining factor. "I gotta see which of the boys wants it the most"

If the Nest is able to defeat Wella, then they would play one of a few familiar foes, The Belmore Family, which is co-hosting and playing on home turf, or Total n Utter Insanity.


Meanwhile in other news, the Isle of Vorpal Bunnies has continued to elude all attempts to find it. It is unsure if the Isle (and it's team) can be found by the time WCXX draw stars up.

Finally, it is rumored that at least 5000 of the cheerboxes that were sold and then recalled amid a TEN downspirial have not been returned. Apparently a few of them have turned up in Rejistania and One Red Dot. Why exactly they were being recalled is now a bit of contention, as there are conflicting reports coming out of the Nest.

The Tribune Tribune
Serving Druid Tribune and the surrounding area.

UH?
DEJA VU FOR DRUIDA
By Trefor Blackmore

After losing 2-0 to Dance 2 Revolution and earning themselves a match-up against Bedistan in the round-of-16, hosting officials have now informed us that they've re-drawn the fixtures, and Druida will be up against... Dance 2 Revolution.

Now, stop me if I'm wrong, but didn't I say that we've only just played them, right? And we thought they'd knocked us out, only for a fluke to send us through? So where is the justice that they get to knock us out again? Surely that's more than just a little unfair?

So who will win this time round? It really isn't worth reviewing, is it? We saw the pair play just a matter of days ago, and the rainbows were thumped. But then, were they just feeling of the Druida curse? I reckon not. We're just what is best described as "not that good". If D2R don't progress, something's definately gone wrong. Though I, for one, won't be complaining!

The only complaint I do have is that both sides have to be carted off all the way to Turori to play the same fixture that took place in The Belmore Family just days ago. I mean, where's the logic in that. You'd neer get anything that crazy if Druida ever got the chance to host a cup*.

REGIONAL REVIEW

Of course, Druida aren't the only team from Atlantian Oceania in the World Cup. To be so would be a great honour, but also very unlikely. So let's see how everyone's been doing.

Co-hosts Turori were in Group A, and qualified in second place behind Tadjikistan. They'll go on to face... er... Tadjikistan. You mean we're not the only ones?

In Group B, Vilita and Starblaydia were overwhelming favourites to goi through, but both were beaten to the next round by that little place next to Starblaydia, Nova Brittanicus. Surely that table is upside-down? Surely they can't keep this run going against Audioslavia next.

Group C contained a nation new to Atlantian Oceania but familiar to us all, Cockbill Street. But the less said about how they did, the better, eh? Apparently, there's a Druidan in the running for their managers job. I wouldn't employ him. Hell, there isn't even a Druidan in charge of the Druida team.

Group D, and another two AO teams. Sarzonia, who've been at war without anyone else in the region knowing, didn't do too well. But then, they probably had other things on their mind. On the other hand, Crystilakere somehow managed to beat Melmond to the top of the group to earn themselves a tie in the next round with, uh, Melmond... That's three now. Hmmmm.

Onto Group E, where another familiar name recently added to Atlantian Oceania, The Lowland Clans, were plying their trade. They sadly didn't make it, being beaten into third by hosts TBF and not-hosts TnUI, who go on to play each other again in the next stage. Who the hell made this draw?

Group F saw some place called NEWI Cenf Druids win a group containing multiple world champions Rejistania, who finished bottom. Another upside-down table, methinks.

Group G proved to be the biggest shock of the World Cup, as not one AO team was in it. Not a single one. Out of interest, despite it being close, the expected teams went through.

And so onto Group H, where the mighty Druida scraped through. And are coming back to AO to play D2R again. I know how unexpected it is, but let's get as many of us as we can over there to get behind the lads as they try to make it to the World Cup Quarter-Finals. Unfortunately, we can't go and berate NEWI Cenf Druids at the same time, they're still in The Belmore Family, but won't it be good to see the lads in a land not too far away, eh?



*- NOTE: Apparently, I've just been informed that Druida will be hosting the next cup, along with Starblaydia. Someone should have pointed that out before I went and made a fool of myself.

Also worth noting is that the mis-spelling of NEWI Cefn Druids is deliberate. Just a rivalry thing, y'know...

Le LIBRE

Round of 16 Preview

It is finally here, the knock out round of the 19th World Cup, and due to the fact that the hosts believe the 1st of A plays 2nd of B is outdated or a lose-lose system, some teams will be on the move. Eauz, who were originally playing in Turori, are now scheduled to play in The Belmore Family. Eauz, and many of their fans will be flying to TBF in a few days to start training and preparing again for the match. Before leaving the nation of Turori, a few Eauz supporters went around the city and spray painted the walls, and hung up communist propaganda posters around Turori. The communist party of Turori was in support of this, and used it to their advantage in the political stage of that country. Police tried to find these culprits, but were too late. When the Eauz team arrives in TBF, a few of their national players will get themselves used to the nation, as Devereux and Rousseau will be playing for Alan City in the near future of the up coming season.

The Preview of the 8 matchups:

Matchup 1: Tadjikistan (Norway) v. Turori (Ireland) – Tadj finished the group stage on top, but have not proved to be 100% ready to make a run for the cup. They didn’t dominate during the group stages, with only 5 points in a very easy looking group. Despite this, they do seem to have a good combination of offence and defence. Turori will have home field advantage in this section, as they hope that their fans will put them over the top.
Predictions: Tadjikistan 0 – 1 Turori


Matchup 2: Nova Britannicus (Ecuador) v. Audioslavia (Czechia) – Audioslavia was expected to be better in their group, but ended up in 2nd place. If it wasn’t for the surprise team of Nova and the way they went through the group stage of knocking off group favourites Vilta and Eauz, Audioslavia would be an automatic pick. Look for the Nova magic to appear again, in a match of: Nova Britannicus 2 – 1 Audioslavia

Matchup 3: Dance 2 Revolution (Mexico) v. Druida (Russia) – D2R has been a magic team of late in the World Cups, as they tied with the most points in group stages with TnUI. Their offence was pretty well evened out wit ha 6 : 3 ratio. Druida surprisingly qualified for the match, despite losing their last match day, and having 4 points. These two teams met up already in the group stage where D2R won 2 – 0, expect D2R to take this match again.
Predictions: D2R 2 – 1 Druida

Matchup 4: Lovisa (United States) v. Bedistan (Denmark) – Lovisa is one of those teams, which you sit and scratch your head, wondering how they achieve to get so far in the cup, yet are not usually very active. Lovisa toped their group over Audioslavia, with 5 points. Surprisingly, they did it by only scoring 3 goals and conceding 2. This team seems very efficient at winning. Bedistan will also be a tough team, who in the past has been great, but hasn’t had the ability to go very far lately. At this time, last cup, they were eliminated, and sent home. Bedistan though has shown some bright spots, as they too qualified by only scoring 3 goals and conceding 2.
Predictions: Lovisa 0 – 0 Bedistan AET Lovisa 0 – 1 Bedistan

Matchup 5: NEWI Cefn Druids (Japan) v. Eauz (Portugal) – The Druids offence is on fire, as they scored a group stage high, 8 goals, and their defence wasn’t bad either, only conceding 3. This team also tied favoured, and number 1 rank, Rejistania at 2 – 2. Eauz will have its hands full, as they know what it feels like to be brought down by a weaker team. Ie: Nova. Eauz though will have to rely on their experience and talent to get them through the match.
Predictions: NEWI Cefn Durids 2 – 2 Eauz AET NEWI 3 - 2 Eauz

Matchup 6: Crystilakere (Uruguay) v. Melmond (Sweden) – These two teams met up in group stages, and will not be happy to play each other again. The last time in group stages, Crystilakere stunned the evil CapitaliZt nation of Melmond by a 2 – 1 score. Melmond, though will be revising their system, and prepare for a change in results this time.
Predictions: Crystalakere 3 – 1 Melmond

Matchup 7: The Eagles Nest (Netherlands) v. Wella (Cameroon) – We are not sure if Wella has something magical about them, or if Margaret loves them, but some how, they always seem to end up somewhere deep in the World Cup. This time, they will be up against TEN, who just qualified with 4 points, and were even more efficient with their goals for and against, scoring 2 and conceding 1. This paper though sees Wella’s magic for this cup drawing to a conclusion.
Predictions: The Eagles Nest 1 – 0 Wella

Matchup 8: Total n Utter Insanity (Greece) v. The Belmore Family (Morocco) – These two team hate each other, and there could be a fight or some disturbing business between the two teams. TnUI finished the group stages easily, with 7 points and only scoring 2 goals and conceding 0. TBF will have home field advantage, and will be looking for revenge again TnUI, who won against them 1 – 0. With home field advantage, it appears that TBF will probably take this match.
Predictions: Total n Utter Insanity 1 – 2 The Belmore Family

Stars strike out in Cup

The Sarzonian national team knew they had to win against Melmond to have a chance to advance to the knockout stages of the World Cup. However, they also had to watch the match between fourth ranked Kaze Progressa and hope Crystilakere won or drew the match. Unfortunately for the Stars, they couldn't take care of their own end, losing 1-0 to Melmond to eliminate them from the World Cup.

"We played right into their hands," Coach Dave Wilson said. "We had the possession advantage but we couldn't get anything past that backline."

Wilson's plan to attack midfielder Pauline Hulme by playing physically backfired as Hulme scored the Fearless Farmers' only goal in the 71st minute. The Stars' plans were derided in the Melmondian press as "sexist" but forward Brian Wilson, nursing an undisclosed injury, dismissed the charges.

"It's not sexist to say that you want to play physically against female players," Brian Wilson said. "I can't believe they'd say my dad was being sexist. He didn't say they can't play football." Unfortunately for the Wilsons and the rest of the team, a Stars team that normally is loath to give opponents anything to post on their bulletin board walls gave Melmond something to fire them up.

"If they want to use that as motivation, fine," midfielder Bobby Convey said. "But I can assure you, we were trying to play a solid gameplan against a perceived weakness. There was no disrespect meant. Period."

For the Stars, their first trip to the World Cup finals ended in disappointment, but the team swears they'll be a better team for it.

"We got a taste of what world class football is all about," goalkeeper Troy Perkins said. "We faced the world's fourth ranked team and didn't blink and we faced the 12th ranked team and didn't crawl into a hole and die. We just have to be more consistent."

RP Cut Off Round of 16

Night has fallen over the the city of Widdrington. Since five days, the monks had a room in a pub in the centre of Widdrington. Jaju did not feel good about wating that long, but Taka insisted on observing closely. Every evening, the two monks observed the building of the NBFA. Nearly the entire day, they were in their room, making plans, praying and preparing. People made comments about them 'being greek' due to the strange sounds coming out of the room (when they thought Jaju and Taka would not notice), but otherwise they did not care. Now was the day for the coup. Of course it would be a break of the laws of simu to simply break into the building and despite the situation, the two decided that they can not do that. Their plan was different: After work finishs, the cleaning personel enters the building. Jaju and Taka wanted to pretend to belong to them to get into the building. Their clothes, they wore looked exactly like the ones of the cleaning personel. The only difference was that the monks did wear clogs. The shoes were the biggest problem for mimicing the appearance since the monks are not allowed to wear anything made of leather. When the monks already thought about going barefooted, Taka found a small store selling curiosities from all over the world which had these clogs.

From what the monks knew, one woman, who was called Martha always comes late. Apparently she has another job, a family and barely makes ends meet. Taka and Jaju arrived in time at the back entrance. They told the others that Martha's youngest son has scarlet fever and she does not want to leave him alone. The women nodded and commended their selfless help. The monks entered the building with the rest of the cleaning personal.

Strike Birds FINALLY Find Offense
5-0 Thrashing of Wella Most Goals Scored By Nest In Knockout Rounds. Ever.

Unable to play their trademark 3-4-3 with the injury of Secour in the last group play game, the Nest came out with a traditional 4-4-2 and put much more emphesis on thier midfield, and it paid in dividents as Star midfielder Horace scored 3 goals, Weber Strong and Glim Graerstiow added 1 each to make the final tally 5-0 over a shellshocked Wella team.

Secour was seen running with the subs during the second half, raising speculation that he may in fact be able to play the Quarterfinal match against either Total n Utter Insanity or The Belmore Family. The Nest has seen both teams in international play however.

The Nest is 2-0-2 against TnUI getting two 1-0 wins over the Insanicans in WCXIV, but losing 0-1 in WCXVI and XVII, the loss in 17 knocked the Nest out in the Round of 16, the first loss in the Nest's history in the Round of 16.

Against The Belmore Family, The Nest tied in WCXIII, and won in XV 2-1 in group play.

Rumors have been spreading about a possible new aquisition for a secondary mascot to be debuted at the Quarterfinal match. Rumors also say that he is in fact not a new mascot, just an out of work mascot.

Known scores so far:


Round of 16 Quarter Finals Semi Finals Final Champion
--------------------------- -----------------------
| _ | | _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ |
|Tadjikistan |_| | -----------------------
| _ |------- ------------
|Turori |_| | | -------------------------- / \
| | | | _ | / \
--------------------------- | | _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ |_|| | |
|----| _ |------- | |
--------------------------- | | Audioslavia |_|| | \ /
| | | | | | \_ _/
|Nova Britannicus 6 | | -------------------------- | | |
| PK's |------- | / \
|Audioslavia 7 | | -------------------------- | |
| | | | _ | | |
--------------------------- | | _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ |_|| \ /
|----| _ |------- | |
--------------------------- | | _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ |_|| | | |
| _ | | | | | | |
|Dance 2 Revolution |_| | | -------------------------- | / \
| _ |------- | | | / \
|Druida |_| | | -------------------------- | | | |___________|
| | | | _ | | | |
--------------------------- | | _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ |_|| | | |
|----| _ |------- | |
--------------------------- | | Lovisa |_|| | |
| | | | | | |
|Lovisa 2 | | -------------------------- | |
| |------- 3rd Place Play-Off |
|Bedistan 0 | -------------------------- | --------------------------
| | | _ | | | _ |
--------------------------- | _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ |_|| | | _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ |_||
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------| |-------|----| _ |
--------------------------- | _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ |_|| | | _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ |_||
| _ | | | | | |
|NEWI Cefn Druids |_| | -------------------------- | --------------------------
| _ |------- | |
|Eauz |_| | | -------------------------- | |
| | | | _ | | |
--------------------------- | | _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ |_|| | |
|----| _ |------- | |
--------------------------- | | _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ |_|| | | |
| _ | | | | | | |
|Crystilakere |_| | | -------------------------- | | |
| _ |------- | -------------------------- |
|Melmond |_| | | | _ | |
| | | | _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ |_|| |
--------------------------- |----| _ |-------
| | _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ |_||
--------------------------- | | |
| | | --------------------------
|The Eagles Nest 5 | |
| |------- |
|Wella 0 | | -------------------------- |
| | | | _ | |
--------------------------- | | The Eagles Nest |_|| |
|----| _ |-------
--------------------------- | | _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ |_||
| _ | | | |
|Total n Utter Insanity |_| | | --------------------------
| _ |-------
|The Belmore Family |_| |
| |
---------------------------

"You do realise we're probably the only team in the World who are still undefeated in World Cup matches?"

"Yes, Charles, but tonight we are playing Audioslavia," replied his friend, "and they're not too shabby... what is that racket?"

"New cleaners, they wear clogs, apparently." Worsely replied.

"Damn foreigners."

The match had been underway for around fifteen minutes and Nova Britannicus were playing remarkably well. Deep within the Nova Britannicus Football Association's Headquarters in Widddrington, however, not all was well in the world...

...

"No! Do not be sacrifing a lamb, you fool!" Yandaki was yelling at one of his minions. "Taderekansa does not find that sort of thing acceptable. Go stab an orange or two!"

In the hidden depths of the chamber, Guru Yandaki was inciting the symbol's powers. He could feel the Navy-Blue defences being breached, so began chanting again. He was sweating with the effort he was expending to keep the Britannican defences pure.

...

"Tessem, for Audioslavia. Lovely ball out to the right wing, for Rijsbergen. Plays it in to Marriot, beautiful ball by Marriot, McIlroy is in here! Must be!

"Oh my! An incredible challenge from John Bowman, the captain! But look, he's found Willis and here come Nova Britannicus! Willis, up to Charlie Bowman, its five on three, great chance here. Ball is squared to Seaford... GOAL!!!

"Royal Seaford has given Nova Britannicus a One-Nil lead over Audioslavia in the first half! There are some thirty ranks between them and Nova Britannicus have turned the KPB's on their head! Incredible counter-attacking football from the Navy-Blues!"

Le LIBRE

Now what?

As the knock out round finished, the favoured team, Rejistania, was missing from the round of 16, as they showed one of their poorest performances. Eauz, another favoured to win the cup, were fortunate enough to make it to the round of 16. Eauz was faced up against NEWI Druids, and many assumed that Eauz would win this match, but they were wrong. The Druids shocked Eauz by a late goal during the 80th minute of play, which sent Eauz packing. Now with two of the favoured teams out, who will take the 1st place trophy home? This could be the chance for The Eagles Nest to finally bring home a title, as they have always had a tough time with Eauz and Rejistania. Official ranks are not in yet, but it appears that Eauz will be sitting around the 13 – 15 rank range. So what now for the Eauz team? Many assume that the coach of the team will be fired, and some players will be cut in favour of other players. Eauz will be hoping to return to the great for they once were, but with the current situation, it appears bleak and dark at best.

"Maybe you can do the cellar" said one woman, the others referred to as 'Elizabeth'. It was clear by the expression on her face that this was normally her part and she wanted to do the work of Martha, which in her opinion was less. Since Jaju saw a falling leaf in the swings of the pendulum, he accepted that task. "ah, and there is a locked room, don't go there!" Taka asked in a not-that interested voice: "What are they storing there? Things the tax should not know?" Elizabeth shrugged. After some other short instructions, the two monks walked down the stairs into the cellar of the building.

The cellar was not just used to store things, there was actual work done. Some offices were there and the archive of the NBFA. The monks had experiience with cleaning since this is part of their work so they started sweeping the floor and used that to find out which door is locked. Fortunately, they did not start looking openly for the door because one of the team came down and wanted to see whether they worked properly. Eventually, they noticed a strong energy from a remote part of the building. They gave up their camouflage, took off their shoes and went there. The strong kansu, they felt was their guide. Eventually, they found a door to a room, which seemed to glow from the energy that was behind it - or from a spell that guarding it. Jaju took out his pendulum and made it swing again. His lips formed the words of the chants, but he himself remained absolutely quiet. Taka also observed the moves and read their meaning. When Jaju put the pendulum back into the pocket of his shirt, both monks stepped back, turned to the door and made a complicated gesture in exacly the same way at exactly the same time. The door shook in its angles, then a sound of breaking wood was heard and it fell into the corridor. The monks jumped out of its way.

The Bedistan Sports Digest

Four More Years
Lions 0-for-15 in winning the World Cup

Somewhere in TURORI -- Bedistan faced Lovisa in the second round of World Cup 19. Again. And at first everything was fine, with the score ending 0-0 after 90 minutes. Unfortunately for us, this is the World Cup proper, which leads us to the horror that is extra time. The aging Lions squad had apparently forgotten to take their energy supplements before the match, because the team's defense totally collapsed during extra time, so much so that Lovisa would not stop at one goal, but would add a second one before it was all over. So the Bedistan Lions go back home yet again, still Cupless and now without a quarterfinal appearance for three consecutive Cups, tying the record set in World Cups 10-12. WC10 ended in the second round, there was no WC11 (at least that's what any Bedistani will tell you), and WC12 ended in the first round. World Cups 17, 18, and 19 have all ended in the second round.

As has become customary, team manager Mike Davidson had no comment on the situation.

Final score:
BEDISTAN 0
LOVISA 2 (Lovisan Guy #10 96, Lovisan Guy #11 111)

Retirement Announcements
Eight players will not return for World Cup Twenty

The following Bedistan World Cup Nineteen players are retiring from international football prior to World Cup Twenty:

No Pos First Last Age Club Club Nation

DEFENDERS
85 D L Ian Hammond 34 O'Connor Greens MEL
88 D C Carl Chang 36 Soldado Barcoenfuego KIN
92 D R Dave al-Armani 35 Acosta Browns MEL

MIDFIELDERS
86 M R Ted Best 34 Graceville Salamanders BED
89 M C Phil Patel 34 High Mountain Buffalo BED
91 M L Sam Willow 34 Cali Purples MEL
96 M C Nick Yu 34 Islanders KZP

FORWARDS
84 F C Jackson Reinhardt 35 Carter FC BED

Aside from Best and Patel, all were starters in WC19, and Reinhardt was the team captain. Word on the street (no, not the Street) is that Sven Cardinal will become the new captain, but this has not been confirmed. With these retirements, only two players remain from Bedistan's runner-up WC16 squad: Cardinal and midfielder Nathan Gordon.

Yandaki whirled as the door to his chamber was split assunder by a powerful counter-spell. Mid-chant he ceased invoking the power of the Sinijiil. On a football pitch somewhere in Turori, Eddie Hogue steps on the ball and falls over. Jussi Oskari takes it from him and plays a through-ball to Oliver Dannes, splitting the under-prepared Britannican defence right down the middle. Dannes simply taps past the goalkeeper and Audioslavia equalise.

"You?" he said, outraged, "How did you...? No matter. Continue chanting!"

Yandaki turned his attention back to the two Rejistanian monks. His own minions' chanting would have to suffice for now. He approached them as they stepped through the now-broken door, blue-white flames of powerful energy building in his hands.

"The symbol shall not be yours, Rejistanians!"

Crystils double over Melmond, NCD Awaits

The Crystilakere Crystils extended their world cup finals run with a second win over Melmond in these finals. The Crystils opened up their world cup run with a win over Melmond, before defeating Sarzonia to finish first in their group. Despite a loss to Kaze Progressa, the Crystils bounced back and overcame Melmond once again to earn a Quarter Finals place with region mates NEWI Cefn Druids. The Druids defeated Eauz 1-0 to reach the Quarter Finals, and it will be an Atlantian Oceania square off in The Belmore Family. While it is sad that one team must go home, fans of both teams should take some pride in knowing that whichever side loses, it will still be a win for the people of the region as a whole, and will certainly be a great match. Crystilakere 1 - 0 Melmond

Predictions:

(Predicted teams are in CAPITAL LETTERS, teams already confirmed are in normal writing)

Round of 16 Quarter Finals Semi Finals Final Champion
--------------------------- -----------------------
| | | AUDIOSLAVIA |
|Tadjikistan 0 | -----------------------
| |-------
|Turori 1 | | --------------------------
| | | | _ |
--------------------------- | | Turori |_||
|----| _ |-------
--------------------------- | | Audioslavia |_|| |
| | | | | |
|Nova Britannicus 6 | | -------------------------- |
| PK's |------- |
|Audioslavia 7 | | --------------------------
| | | | AUDIOSLAVIA _ |
--------------------------- | | _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ |_||
|----| DANCE 2 REVOLUTION _ |-------
--------------------------- | | _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ |_|| |
| | | | | |
|Dance 2 Revolution 1 | | -------------------------- |
| |------- | | |
|Druida 0 | | -------------------------- | | |
| | | | _ | | | |
--------------------------- | | Dance 2 Revolution |_|| | | |
|----| _ |------- | |
--------------------------- | | Lovisa |_|| | |
| | | | | | |
|Lovisa 2 | | -------------------------- | |
| |------- 3rd Place Play-Off |
|Bedistan 0 | -------------------------- | --------------------------
| | | DANCE 2 REVOLUTION _ | | | AUDIOSLAVIA _ |
--------------------------- | _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ |_|| | | _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ |_||
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------| THE EAGLES NEST |-------|----| NEWI CEFN DRUIDS _ |
--------------------------- | _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ |_|| | | _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ |_||
| | | | | | |
|NEWI Cefn Druids 1 | -------------------------- | --------------------------
| |------- | |
|Eauz 0 | | -------------------------- | |
| | | | _ | | |
--------------------------- | | NEWI Cefn Druids |_|| | |
|----| _ |------- | |
--------------------------- | | Crystilakere |_|| | | |
| | | | | | | |
|Crystilakere 1 | | -------------------------- | | |
| |------- | -------------------------- |
|Melmond 0 | | | NEWI CEFN DRUIDS _ | |
| | | | _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ |_|| |
--------------------------- |----| THE EAGLES NEST _ |-------
| | _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ |_||
--------------------------- | | |
| | | --------------------------
|The Eagles Nest 5 | |
| |------- |
|Wella 0 | | -------------------------- |
| | | | _ | |
--------------------------- | | The Eagles Nest |_|| |
|----| _ |-------
--------------------------- | | Total n Utter Insanity|_||
| | | | |
|Total n Utter Insanity 3 | | --------------------------
| |-------
|The Belmore Family 2 |
| |
---------------------------

The Tribune Tribune
Serving Druid Tribune and the surrounding area.

PLANE VANISHES
FOOTBALL TEAM FEARED DEAD
By Trefor Evans

The plane carrying the Druidan football team home following their 1-0 defeat at the hands of Dance 2 Revolution in Turori mysteriously disappeared in the skies over NEWI Cefn Druids last night. The flight, a relatively short one in international terms, vanished from air traffic control's radar screens around 35 miles north-west of the city of Newton Vale, in one of NEWI Cefn Druids more rural areas.

It is thought that almost the entire Druidan football team were killed, along with their manager, the oldest man in Eauz, and all coaching staff and regular reporters on the team. The only member of the team known to have not is goalkeeper Trefor "Elastic" Edwards, who is thought to have left on a seperate plane back to The Belmore Family to tout himself around the various clubs there.

The biggest mystery is how exactly the plane simply just vanished. One minute it was flying along, the next it wasn't. Perhaps when, or maybe if, the wreckage is found, we will find out. Otherwise, we may never know.

Hello, and welcome to another edition of...

BTF in TBF

...and what a show we have for you tonight! Yes, last time you joined us, the Druids were looking good for the second round, and they confirmed it with a one-all draw against the hairdressers of Wella. Without Alan Belmore. Yes, there is life for the Druids without their wonderkid.

And just to prove the point, they've gone and done it without him again! OK, so it wasn't the greatest game ever, Eauz not as good as they've been historically and the Druids relying more on the McDonald brothers at the back than usual, but hey, it's the result that counts. NEWI Cefn Druids 1 Eauz 0. The double World Champions off back home, and a guarentee of a new name on that there trophy.

So will it be ours? NEWI Cefn Druids would be, if they made it, the first nation with a name of more than two words to win the trophy. However, the Druids aren't exactly favourites. Next up for them are their regional rivals Crystilakere, who have history on their side by only having a single word name.

The pair have met on four previous occassions, twice in Vilita and twice in Legalese. In Vilita, the pair shared a goalless draw at the sixth Cup of Harmony, before the Druids overcame the Crystils in extra-time of the final of the second AOCAF championship. Since then, two games at the last AOCAF saw a victory each, though the Druids eventually went home with the spoils. Again.

So who has the upper hand. It is thought that Alan Belmore will be back for the Druids, one reason for Crystilakere to be fearful, but this is as far as either side has ever been in this competition before. Either side will be in new ground if they win, so the chances are, the winners will be whoever can hold their nerve best.

And for the whole thing? Well, I was going to tip Audioslavia until some guy from Liverpool England cursed them by saying they would do it. Then I would say The Eagles Nest, until someone at Le Libre tipped/cursed them. So we'll go for TnUI, simply because... er... well, because tipping ourselves would be suicidal, and if the Insanicians win, then that says a lot about the rest of us, doesn't it?

Heh.

I've been BTF, still in TBF 'til at least the quarter-finals. Until the final? With a bit of luck, and the Belmore magic, it could still be...

The guru made a gesture and threw the energy towards them. Taka quickly moved his hands towards it with the palm forward and hissed something. The flaring projectile changed its direction and flew threw a wall nearby (maybe it hit a plane in NEWI Cefn Druids). Jaju and the guru both started drawing something in the air. After the gestures of power were finished, two creatures appeared, both appearing corporal but were slightly glowing from the spells creating them. The guru created a lion, which nearly instantly started attacking the creature, which Jaju created: a hornet of the size of one hand. The hornet flew on the head of one of the minions and the lion made him fall down when he tried to jump onto him but instantly got up and continued chanting as if nothing happened. The fight between these two creatures continued when the hornet tried to sting the lion but his prank nearly hit it. The monks and the guru controlled their stand-ins with gestures, hisses and shouts.

Is it me, or is there a mistake in the quarterfinal fixtures (http://forums2.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=7826962&postcount=20)?

Is it me, or is there a mistake in the quarterfinal fixtures (http://forums2.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=7826962&postcount=20)?

Yes TnUI plays TEN not TBF

Jaju and Yandaki were struggling against each other, their powerful creations tussling with each other. The hornet buzzed around the lion, attempting to sting it. In return the lion roared and swiped its powerful claws at the irritation flying around it.

Taka, the much more in-experienced monk, was standing by, wondering what to do, his powers were ineffective against Yandaki's sheer force of will. Taka looked at what he had to use as a weapon. Next to him, by the splintered door, was the mop and bucket they used on their cleaning duties.

He darted across to it, and picked the bucket up by the handle. It was still full of dirty water, and he swung it around his head. Jaju was reeling now, the Lion had smahsed aside his hornet and was closing in for the kill. Taka flung the plastic bucket with al his might, striking Yandaki clean on the forehead, knocking him to the ground.

...

"French! He's clean through here, Charlie French, breaking through, must be! Oh no! He's blasted it way, waaay over the bar. A wasted oppurtunity. He could have won it for Nova Britannicus in the last minutes of extra-time!"

...

Yandaki cursed as he regained his feet, wiping the dirty water from his face, his teeth bared in anger. His Lion had vanished, though a blast of fire from his fingertips engulfed Jaju's creation, vapourising it.

"Enough of this," Yandaki said to the monks, "I shall finish this myself."

With another invocation, his hands began to glow with the unholy blue-with fire once more. Taka took the mop and broke the head off with his foot, ready to weild it as a staff. Jaju took up a prepared fighting stance.

This would be it.

Eels return to Quarter Finals

------------------The Turori Eels snuck past Tadjikistan for to clinch their second consecutive appearance in the World Cup quarter finals. The Eels had previously faced Tadjikistan in the group stage, where the two teams met on Matchday 1, the result ending in a draw. The Eels then defeated Iansisle before losing shockingly to underdog Shonar Bangla, but held on to the second spot in the group, behind Tadjikistan, and the random draw paired the two in the second round.

--------------------The match was a messy affair with many stoppages, and neither side could really get their game going. It was the Eels who eventually broke the deadlock 15 minutes from time with Akamoari Liano firing an effort from just outside the box that shot accross the face of goal and careemed in off the goalkeepers right hand post. Neither side would get much of a chance in the remaining time, and the match closed out seeing the Eels advance once again to the Quarter Finals.

Eels Host World Cup Quarter Finals

----------------For the first time ever, the World Cup Quarter Finals will take place on Turorian soil. It is a special occasion for Turorians, who have previously held World Cup action at home during the Vilitan-Hosted World Cup 17. World Cup 17 saw 3 group stage matches and One second round matchup hosted at the Almintora National Stadium, in Almintora. Almintora National returns to host the first of two Turori-Based World Cup Quarter Final matchups in World Cup 19.

----------------The first matchup sees hosts Turori square off against world number three rank Audioslavia, who barely escaped a penalty shootout with the overachieving Nova Britannicus, at Almintora National Stadium. All tickets have already been sold out, so don't even think about going near the stadium without a ticket.

----------------The second matchup is of a much lower profile, with the extremely un-supported Lovisa taking on the sometimes-followed but sometimes missing Dance 2 Revolution, with this matchup taking place at the Cednia Beach Center. The Winner of these two matches will clash at the Almintora National Stadium for a place in the World Cup 19 Final!

Turori v. Audioslavia
Almintora National Stadium
Lovisa v. Dance 2 Revolution
Cednia Beach Center

TnUI do double over TBF

After a narrow 1-0 victory over TBF in the group stage TnUI set up a second round match against...TBF. The Belmorons actually managed to score this time leveling the game at one all after an early strike in the 14th minute put the Insanicians in the lead. The score would stay level until the second half. TnUI changed kit at half time displaying the new "Alan Belmore Sucks" T-Shirt and Shorts. The Belmorons protested, but due to WCC regulations set up by the Insanicians they couldn't do anything about it. This seriously annoyed the team and partisan crowd. In the ensuing fight the Insanicians lost 2 players and the Belmorons 3 players and a manager. Without direction and a player down the Belmorons were on the defensive. Although they held out valiantly till the 77th minute they couldn't hold out any more as the Insanicians took the lead with a nifty 1-2-1-3-GOAL. Soon after it was three as the Belmorons seem to capitulate the match. Alan Belmore, now 192, threw down his Zimmer frame and ran on the pitch. He scored a goal that gave the Belmorons hope, but it was too little too late as the Insanicians won 3-2 to set up a Quarter Final Match up with The Eagles Nest.

TBF Region Quarter Final scores Telegrammed, Turori Region to come shortly

An eruption of blue fire flew towards Taka. Jaju hissed and tried to indirect it but it hit the broomstick Taka was carrying. Taka shouted a spell and the fire did not in high speed destroy the stick (and his hands) as the guru wanted but stayed on the top of it as if it was a torch. Taka stepped forward and waved it towards the guru. The guru smiled in a way indicating superiority while losing substance and disappearing. Taka could not control the fire anymore and threw the stick away before it started consuming the stick, then the guru became visible again. Nova Britannicus and Audioslavia score in their respective PKs. Jaju attacked the guru by a series of flaring lights, but a quick defending gesture made them reflect in many directions. Taka was hit and fell on the ground, screaming in pain. Nova Britannicus took the lead after the second PK. The guru also replied by a series of shorter impulses of flares. Taka and Jaju tried to block the energy but a flare, which Taka blocked hit Jaju. The experienced monk shouted but remained on his feet. The score: NB 4 - AS 2. Jaju hissed something to Taka, who managed to get on his feet again, then he started creating another series of a bit brighter flares. The guru made a hiss and an a bit arrogant gesture and the flames were reflected. However, inside of the lights were corporal projectiles, which passed through the shield and hit him. Yandaki howled of pain. Audioslavia shortened NB's lead to a 4:3. Jaju and Taka create a snake-like moving light crawling in knee height through the air towards the guru. He sends a complicated spell to stop it. Jaju and Taka send a spell to make the 'snail' advance through it. For a moment, the air is filled with glares and flares then the snail dashes forwards and upwards and hits the guru between the legs. The score is 4:4, now sudden death penalties deicide.

OOC: whoa, that is the longest match-report not related to soccer at all.

Storms Wash out Quarter Finals


Heavy rains and thunderstorms have washed out the Turori Regional Quarter Final matches, and the rains have yet to subside. However, the Cednia Beach Center, where the Lovisa v. Dance 2 Revolution matchup was scheduled to take place, has a retractable roof which has since been closed, making it the more likely that the Center will host both the Dance 2 Revolution v. Lovisa and the the Turori v. Audioslavia matchups once the pitch is deemed playable again. Field Crews are working round the clock with the Turori FA to finish preparing the stadiums and resume Finals Competition for World Cup 19.

[OOC: It is kinda related to a match, Rejis. Just not a match you're involved in ;)]


Yandaki struggled to his feet, grasping at a piece of loose metal on the floor. With a sudden yell he hurled it at Taka, catching him on the cheek, snapping the monk's head back in pain, a deep cut emerging on his cheek, blood trickling down his face.

"Willis, of Iskara Daii, up to try... Goal. Cooly done by Wilbert Willis. Nova Britannicus Up Five-Four."


Jaju quickly responded with a magical bolt of his own, pushing it towards the Guru with all his remaining force. Still trying to get to his feet, Yandaki's shoulder flared with pain as the blast of energy hit him.

"The pressure's on here. Black, the substitute must score... In off the post! It's Five-All in sudden death!"


Again they tussled, their mental powers matching each other blow for blow. As the power built up, Yandaki's sheer ammount of will forced the more-powerful Jaju to take a step backwards.

"Now, the captain, John Bowman, for the Navy-Blues. Goal! Andersson went the right way, but it squeezed past him. It's Six-Five and the tension is mounting."


Yandaki, fearing the monks would soon overpower him, cast himself a shield. Around his body a bright blue bubble appeared, buzzing quietly in the dark, with only the chanting of his minion's and the aggressive yells of the Rejistanian monks to accompany it.

"Jodey Tessem, absolutely must score now. Oh! He's tapped it straight down the middle and fooled Tuckworth completely. Six-All!"


"Give me your hand, Taka," Jaju said.

Taka duly put out his hand, held by Jaju, who closed his eyes. Together they cast a spell of as-yet unseen force. A huge bolt of power shot towards the Guru's sheild. With a sound like the breaking of a thousand glasses, the sheild vapourised with a flash, knocking Yandaki flat to the ground, breathless and sweating.

"Can James Bates, the centre-back, keep up the pressure on Audioslavi... no! It's been saved! And the 'slaves can win it here...!"

Crystils magical run continues

The partying started early last night in Crystilakere as word came in from The Belmore Family that their beloved national team had overcome their fellow Atlantian Oceania opponents NEWI Cefn Druids. There is a history between the teams, the Druids being the team that broke Crystilakere hearts stealing the AOCAF Final in extra time. Extra time aside, the lifetime series was pretty even heading into this world cup 19 quarter final match, but one team entered with a bit more heart.

The NEWI Cefn Druids players may have been affected by the fact that the 20th world cup was going to Druida, so soon after NEWI Cefn Druids failed in it's attempt to host the world cup. The Crystils had the support of the nation behind them, despite being far away in the Belmore Family. As word spread of the Crystils victory, party lights could be seen from the skies, and accross the Crystilakere channel. Forces from Diamindokere were called in with little notice to suppress any over-the top celebrations, but spent more time celebrating themselves. The match report has yet to reach Crystilakere, but it is believed to have been a very impressive performance by the unfavored Crystils. The team now await their Semi-Final oponents, who will be one of The Eagle's Nest or Total n Utter Insanity. Crystilakere 2 - 0 NEWI Cefn Druids

Farewell Our Fearless Farmers
Crystilakere Advances With Another One Goal Victory
By Henry Kalangalangalang of the Melmond City Herald

THE BELMORE FAMILY—Here at the Melmond City Herald, we like to accentuate the positive, so we will focus less on the defeat that was given Melmond National Team courtesy of the surprising Crystils of Crystilakere and more on the positives of the World Cup campaign that was for the Fearless Farmers. The rematch between the Fearless Farmers and the Crystils reminded me much of the match between Melmond and Kaze Progressa during the group stage, except the hallmark of this match was not ineptitude, but aptitude by both sides. Crystilakere scored the only goal of the match rather early at the 8th minute off a corner kick in which defender Fillipo Ferraro headed the ball past Melmond goalkeeper Snhp Xtfuinxm. Crystilakere had the possession advantage for most of the first half as they played a wide open style early on. However, Melmond goalkeeper Snhp Xtfuinxm, played a solid match from the 8th minute on, stopping every shot Crystilakere had to offer. The second half saw Melmond slowly gaining momentum as the Melmond backline started to wear down the Crystilakere attack. Melmond was getting more and more attacks. Unfortunately for the Fearless Farmers, Crystilakere goalkeeper Emiliano Addis decided that he was going to have the match of his life. Addis has been underachieving quite a while for his club side in Melmond, Bezrukova Turquoises. Perhaps he was saving up all his talent to slight Melmond in the World Cup. The matchups were certainly favorable for Addis, as he plays on the same club side as Melmond’s most prolific striker Tim Remans. Addis always seemed to be one step ahead of Remans and as for the other Melmondian striker, Gene MacDougall, the concentrated defensive lineup of the Crystils was able to shut him down. Nor could any of the Melmondian midfielders find a way to put the ball past Addis. The Fearless Farmers played valiantly, but the Crystils had a great gameplan and flawless execution and fully deserved their accolades thus far. We wish for a win-win Crystilakere and Audioslavia final now as Audioslavia was the Melmondian consensus pick to win it all and with Crystilakere, there would be no shame losing to an eventual champion.
Anyway, what we want to do is celebrate this World Cup 19 campaign. This side showed some flashes of dominance, such as with the 6-nil victory over up and coming program Fmjphoenix and a 5-1 victory of The Eagles Nest. There will be four players who will be retiring from the national team, one who is retiring from football proper. Longtime Melmond national team starting goalkeeper will be hanging up his cleats for good at the age of 42. He started for the Melmond National Team since he was a 19-year old kid, and seemed to just get better with age. He was one of the main reasons why Melmond reached their third place finish in the first ever World Cup and why the Fearless Farmers were able to stick around in World Cup 19. Defender Trav Strachan is retiring from the national team. He was known for being one of the leaders of the David Bixler managed physical Melmondian backline and for having a knack to completely shut down opposing strikers. Alfred Smith is also retiring from the national side after coming into his own on the famed World Cup 17 third place squad. Also, solid defensive midfielder backup Scott St. Clair is also retiring from the national team. We wish them all the best in their future endeavors.

Goals
Ferraro, CRY 8th

Cards
None

Standings

Other Round of 16 Results
Turori 1 – Tadjikistan 0
Nova Britannicus 1 – Audioslavia 1 (6-7 after PK)
Lovisa 0 – Bedistan 0 (2-0 after ET)
Dance 2 Revolution 1 – Druida 0
NEWI Cefn Druids 1 – Eauz 0
The Eagles Nest 5 – Wella 0
Total n Utter Insanity 3 – The Belmore Family 2

Team Stats
Goals: Tim Remans (1), Jake Cormier (1), Pauline Hulme (1)
Cards: Gene MacDougall (1)

Melmond World Cup Schedule

v Crystilakere (Iobabao Legendary Park, Mliona-Lpaka, TURORI) L 2-1
v Kaze Progressa (Iobabao Legendary Park, Mliona-Lpaka, TURORI) W 1-0
v Sarzonia (Kionao Park, Kionao, TURORI) W 1-0
v Crystilakere (THE BELMORE FAMILY) L 1-0

"We must finish it! do something!" said Taka as he saw that Jaju seemed to be pondering.
"But, when he is in a mentally link to the Sinijiil... that would be an ultimate hadi."
"We must block the link..." said Taka.
Jaju murmured something in agreement and then started sending out another kind of flares. They flew in the direction of Yandaki, but they did not hit him instead they formed another shield around him. The Sinijiil suddenly stopped emiting the soft light, it did before. The minions run off in shock. Henry Tuckworth had no chance to save that shot of Kharl Tanner, the Slaves win in sudden death penalties. The players of Nova Britannicus looks uteerly confused - as if they just woke, up from a very good dream. The monks start chanting a text, older than the the Rejistani island. According to the legend, it came from the time when the Kansu-crystal was still intact. the Sinijiil started glowing again, but not in the soft light but in with high intensity and in a very clear white. The monks closed their eyes.

They did not remember being unconscious, but they woke up in the monastry in Hetkali, where priest Xaheta congratulated them for their success in regaining the Sinijiil.

ooc: lol @ NB/Rejis's RPs, i actually wrote on for the Britannicus-Audioslavia match a while ago when i was back home, but i forgot to post it and i can't get it now im back at uni :/ heres a little RP for the game now

'Slaves Get One Nova On Britannicus
Second Quarter-Final appearance in a row for 'slaves

Nova Britannicus - 3-2-5
--------------------------------------------|
| 1 |
| Tuckworth |
| |
| 2 5 3 |
| J. Bowman Bates Fletcher |
| |
| 4 8 |
| Willis Hogue |
| |
| 6 10 |
| French Winthrop |
| 11 9 18 |
| Caliban C. Bowman Seaford |
| |
--------------------------------------------
| |
| 9 7 |
| McLlroy Dannes |
| |
| 11 10 |
| Jansen 14 Marriot 6 |
| Oskari 4 Rijsbergen |
| Tessem |
| |
| |
| 3 5 2 |
| Carel Johnstone Fox |
| |
| 1 |
| Andersson |
--------------------------------------------
Audioslavia - 3-5-2

It was to be Dave Mill's greatest test as a manager. Win this game and he would become, by default, Audioslavia's joint-second greatest manager of all time. Not bad considering he is still officially just a 'temporary' replacement for Paul Ward.

Standing in the way, however, were a Nova Britannicus team which had impressed in the first round and were looking for another scalp. The side had got out of a group containing Eauz, not-hosts Vilita, and Starblaydia, and they had done it undefeated, sitting on top of the group.

The 'slaves opened up on Nova early, making use of their extra men in midfield. Tessem, Oskari and Marriot made up the central parts of Audioslavia's game, breaking up counter-attacks and getting the ball towards the strikers and the wingers. Marriot had a shot saved well by Tuckworth, Dannes headed over the bar and a tricky run by super-winger Arie Jansen almost ended up as brilliant goal but for a tremendous last-ditch tackle by James Bates.

It was the back-three of Bates, Fletcher and Bowman that kept Nova in the game in the first half, and it would be a Bowman tackle that would set them up for a counter-attack which turned lethal.

Rijsbergen and Marriot combined to let Ally McLlroy through on goal in the thirty-eighth minute, but Bowman was watching and waiting and dived in to spectacularly deny the Audioslavian striker with a clean tackle. Bowman cleared, and all of a sudden Britannicus were on the counter, their five strikers giving them a huge numbers advantage over the back three of Audioslavia, with the midfield pushed up to far to help. The ball came low to Royal Seaford (no, it isn't the name of a town) who smacked the ball past Andersson for 1-0.

A goal to the good, Nova Britannicus had their tails up and started causing the 'slaves all sorts of problems in the run-in to half time. Caliban and Bowman both came close as time and time again they found themselves behind the Audioslavian defence. The 'slaves finished the half in tatters, and it would take some good words to get them to come out for the second half looking like a team capable of equalising.

Whatever Mill said, it took a long time to work. Audio and NB both had their fair share of chances in a very open first ten minutes of the second period, but as time went on the 'slaves started to get the better of a tiring Nova side. Striker Daley Black came on for centre-half Arne Carel and the 'slaves started playing with an ultra-attacking 2-5-3 formation for the final quarter of an hour, with Jodey Tessem dropping back slightly to help out the defence, and Rijsbergen playing more as a wing-back than a wing forward. Still however, the 'slaves couldn't seem to find the oppotunities as the NB defence held firm, but jsut as the situation was starting to look ominous for the 'slaves, they were given a gift by NB midfielder Eddie Hogue, who mis-controlled a simple ball and allowed Jussi Oskari to disposess him. Oskari sprinted towards goal as we've seen him do so many times in Audioslavia counter-attacks. He played the ball up to Dannes, Dannes turned his man and flicked the ball under Tuckworth and Audioslavia had equalised.

The goal forced the 'slaves to drop back, with striker Ally McLlroy being replaced by midfielder Karl Tanner, playing his first game since breaking his leg last year. NB attacked earnestly, but both sides were now suffering from fatigue and the last few minutes of the second half were played out with little incident.

Extra-time followed in a similar fashion, the best chances falling to Alexander Marriot, who jinked past Bates and Fletcher only to lose his touch and let the ball bobble to the NB keeper, and Charlie French, who lept onto a scything ball by Hogue but smashed his shot high and wide.

1-1 at the end of extra time, the match would go to penalties.

Charlie Bowman scored for Nova, Oskari replied for the 'slaves. Then the two goal-scorers stepped up. Royal Seaford converted his penalty with aplomb, but Ollie Dannes's spot-kicked left something to be desired as the striker pinged the ball off of the top of the bar. Caliban then scored for NB, leaving Greigs Johnstone with a hell of a lot of pressure coming up to take Audioslavia's third. Greigs hit the ball hard and straight, clipping the underside of the bar on its way in. 3-2 up, Nova Britannicus needed to keep the pressure on and did with a Winthrop goal to make it 4-2. Ally Marriot took Audioslavia's penultimate penalty knowing that nothing less than a goal would do. He finished brilliantly, but still, a Nova Britannicus goal would give them the victory. Charlie French stepped up, but just like he had skied a sitter in the final minutes of the game, he skied this one, and the 'slaves were given a life-line as long as Petr Rijsbergen could score the 'slaves fifth penalty. He hit it hard and true into the bottom corner, and it was sudden death.

Willis scored for Nova, Black for 'slavia, and it was now up to the players who hadn't wanted to take a penalty. Captain John Bowman stepped up and did his duty to Britannicus for 6-5, but Jodey Tessem cancelled his shot out with a delicate chip. It would come down to James Bates, but the number-five hit his shot too cautiously and too obviously to Andersson's right, and the big goalkeeper saved. On the brink of the 'slaves third quarter-final appearance in history, the 'slaves looked to Karl Tanner, who last played a world cup match back in World Cup 17. Tanner stepped up, picked his spot, and drove Audioslavia into the quarter finals.

FINAL SCORE
Nova Britannicus 1 (Seaford 39)
Audioslavia 1 (Dannes 81)
Audioslavia win 7-6 on penalties

21:58, Outside a pub in Audioslavia

Hundreds of Audioslavians in mostly claret and green colours are celebrating en masse in the street outside the pub, shouting '1-0' over and over again. There is a happy, if scared, reporter also outside, talking to a camera.

"Yes... yes Suzanne but am in on air... oh am... oh sh.. ahem.. Hello, I'm Rolan Nolan, reporting from outside the Rocha Arms Pub in Cornellby, where hundreds of Audioslavian fans are celebrating their side's berth in the semi-finals of the World Cup after ousting hosts Turori in the quarter finals. If i can just... speak... hello sir, whats your name?"

A very drunken man, about thirty years old, stumbles in front of the camera

Man: Alright mate! Hozit goin?

Reporter: Very good! Were you watching the game?

Man: Aye! Aye wiza beatn them scm! 1-0! COME ON THA 'SLAVES

Reporter: Are you excited about the semi-finals?

Man: Aye Aye! wiza gunna wn tha whol thang! C'MON! Woo!

Reporter: What did you think of McLlroy's goal?

Man: Aww man, hiza, hiza fkn genius! Got tha ball aboot hundrid miles oot and smashed it in wi his right foot

Reporter: Yes it was excellent, this is Rolan Nolan reporting from Cornellby, back to you in the studio Suzanne..

Suzanne: Yes thankyou. Audioslavia's win has incited another country to back them for the World Cup, with Liverpool England predicting the 'slaves to win the final against NEWI Cefn Druids. In other news, NEWI Cefn Druids were defeated by Crystalikere in the quarter-finals of the world cup. I've been Suzanna Quintro. G'nite strumpets.

Code:
Round of 16 Quarter Finals Semi Finals Final
---------------------------
| |
|Tadjikistan 0 |
| |-------
|Turori 1 | | --------------------------
| | | | |
--------------------------- | | Turori 0 |
|----| |-------
--------------------------- | | Audioslavia 1 | |
| | | | | |
|Nova Britannicus 6 | | -------------------------- |
| PK's |------- |
|Audioslavia 7 | | --------------------------
| | | | _ |
--------------------------- | | Audioslavia |_| |
|----| |-------
--------------------------- | | | |
| | | | | |
|Dance 2 Revolution 1 | | -------------------------- |
| |------- | | |
|Druida 0 | | -------------------------- | | |
| | | | _ | | | |
--------------------------- | | Dance 2 Revolution |_|| | | |
|----| _ |------- | |
--------------------------- | | Lovisa |_|| | |
| | | | | | |
|Lovisa 2 | | -------------------------- | |
| |------- 3rd Place Play-Off |
|Bedistan 0 | -------------------------- | --------------------------
| | | _ | | | _ |
--------------------------- | |_|| | | |_||
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------| _ |-------|----| _ |
--------------------------- | |_|| | | |_||
| | | | | | |
|NEWI Cefn Druids 1 | -------------------------- | --------------------------
| |------- | |
|Eauz 0 | | -------------------------- | |
| | | | | | |
--------------------------- | | NEWI Cefn Druids 0 | | |
|----| |------- | |
--------------------------- | | Crystilakere 2 | | | |
| | | | | | | |
|Crystilakere 1 | | -------------------------- | | |
| |------- | -------------------------- |
|Melmond 0 | | | _ | |
| | | | Crystilakere |_|| |
--------------------------- |----| _ |-------
| | |_||
--------------------------- | | |
| | | --------------------------
|The Eagles Nest 5 | |
| |------- |
|Wella 0 | | -------------------------- |
| | | | _ | |
--------------------------- | | The Eagles Nest |_|| |
|----| _ |-------
--------------------------- | | Total n Utter Insanity|_||
| | | | |
|Total n Utter Insanity 3 | | --------------------------
| |-------
|The Belmore Family 2 |
| |
---------------------------

Crystils ready for semi finals

The Crystilakere Crystils began preperations for their first ever appearance in the world cup finals by relaxing in a really cool spa and being waited on by some really good looking woman in minimal amounts of clothing. Yea the players loved it, too bad someone let the press in and the headlines in the morning paper are going to be about how the Crystilakere national team spends its free time instead of the nice build up to the match article we were all looking forward to reading. Crystilakere still do not know who they will be playing in the semi finals possibly due to the fact they have spent the time secluded to the world. That or the fact that stupid newspapers would rather run a story about the team having a night of fun rather than posting important things like scores. Not even the official scores thread has the scores so the Crystils will just have to prepare as though they are taking on both The Eagle's Nest and Total n Utter Insanity, and hope for the best with whichever team shows up.

Crystilakere Crystils (5-3-2 Against The Eagle's Nest or Total n Utter Insanity)
HEAD COACH: Hazem Emam
U-21 COACH: Boubacar Dragov
ASST COACH: Liali Munavelli

GK Emiliano Addis
D Alpha Siboldi*
D Filippo Ferraro <- He Scores Headers Off Corners
D Donato Arrigoni
D Oussent Nón
D Dimitri Ferraro
M Darren Whelan
M Nina Nonaaia*
M Sebastian Wolf
F Reidulf Piao*
F Toader Pold*

SUBSTITUTES
GK- Alwasi Tystrup*, Alcir Barbara*
D- Salvatore Redaelli*, Rene' Niljssen*, Abdelilah Escobar*
M- Giuseppe Zucco*, Maurizio Cavallo, Giovanni Quira*
F- Carlo Romano, Michael Baker*, Noel Adiguzel*

Welcome to the final edition of...

BTF in TBF

...as we watched a sorry Druids side crash out in spectacular fashion to Crystilakere. How did it happen? Did Alan Belmore try to do too much? Was the system not right for the players? Are the Druids just teh biggest pile of excrement ever? Well, probably all of these, but the truth is, the Druids are coming home. However, they will be flying in to Turori, before sailing into Port Scadock in western NEWI Cefn Druids. Apparently, they won't fly all the way home because a number of players have expressed safety worries after the Druida team's plane mysteryously vanished off the system above NEWI Cefn Druids.

And after such a result, you can't really blame them. I've been BTF in TBF, and until Liam Gessemschmitthaagen-Po comes to you with coverage of World Cup 20, this is goodbye from CBN.

Turori to Host World Cup Final

----------------Turori's Almintora National Stadium in Almintora, Turori has been selected to host the Final of the 19th Nationstates World Cup. The match will be scored on Wednesday, One day after the 3rd Place Playoff in The Belmore Family between the semi final losers, at Alan City International.

----------------The Semi Finalists compete today for a place in either of these matches. In the Turori region, Dance 2 Revolution squares off against Audioslavia at the Cednia Beach Center, while Total n Utter Insanity look to finally take the cup honestly, but have to overcome Crystilakere at The Belmore Family's Grippa International if they hope to compete for the cup in Turori.

Ally's heart was in his mouth. He, and they, were that close, it felt like they could touch it. "Crystalikere... that'd be a fuckin' brilliant match, maybe get to get them back for the two times they knocked us out of the U21s on penalties". Ally could remember his parents talking about moments like this, the 'slaves marching onwards to the final, sticking five past Squornshelous, four past Commerce Heights. "Never again lad" he said, "Those days are over", just after Lovisa had dumped us out of World Cup 15 before we'd even played all of our first round games. That was when he was but a mere twinkle in the eyes of the guy who irons the players' names and numbers on the Audioslavian football shirts. This was it now though. All we have to do now is score more penalties than Dance 2 Revolution, and were through. The final. Kickass.

The referee's whistle hit him like a dart in the back of his neck, and he turned round to see Peter Andersson trudge down towards the goal. Unlike the last shoot out, the penalties would be taken in the goalmouth near the opposition fans. He felt for Andersson as the D2Rians started jeering as he took to the goalmouth. D2R's goalie Verdio Day sits outside the area behind the goal-line, and their striker, some guy called Uber who hit the bar earlier, drops the ball on the penalty spot.

The match had been shit really. That Uber guy hit the bar in the first half, Jackie came close with a header and Ollie should have hit that loose ball in, but other than that nothing had happened. Last time Audioslavia got to this point in a world cup there'd been nineteen goals in their three knockout-round matches. This time there'd been three. 1-1, 1-0, and now 0-0. Not that Ally was complaining, as long as they got to this final he didn't have a care in the world.

Uber trotted up casually, swung his right foot and watched the ball sail sweetly into the bottom corner with Andersson nowhere. 1-0 D2R with one penalty taken. The D2R fans behind the goal went crazy and Uber beat the air with his fist, further exciting the crowd. Ally turned and saw Jonno make the walk of hope towards the goal, to the sound of boos from behind the goal but cheers from the partizan Audioslavian crowd which occupied a lot of the stadium. Greigs Johnstone was a good penalty taker, the captain always knew he had a job to do and more often than not he did it. Jonno's style was different from Ubers. Where the Revolutionian was calm, Jonno was aggressive, he sprinted up to the ball and pelted it as hard as you'd expect a six-foot-four centre-back to pelt a football. Bang, bottom corner, nothing Day could do but sprawl hopelessly.

Jonno walked back with a serious look on his face, staring at the 'slaves manager Dave Mill and repeatedly hitting the air around his stomach with his fist. Dave patted his shoulder and a few team-mates gave him appreciative hugs, with Ally being one of them. Doing this made him miss D2R score their second penalty with sub Trix beating Andersson to his left. 2-1, now it was Jackie McLlroy's turn to answer back. "COME ON JACKIE, YOUR THE MAN" Ally shouted, but Jackie was concentrating solely on the goal as the ref gave him the ball. Putting it down, Jackie wiped a bit of scuff off of his boots, took five steps back, and waited for the referee's whistle. The ref took his time, letting Jackie sweat, before blowing for the striker to take his shot. A slow run up, a side-footed shot to the goalkeepers left, but the goalie had guessed the right way. Ally watched the ball hit Day's chest with a sickening thud, punctuated by the roar from behind the goal as the D2R fans got excited about the lead. 2-1 up, they could make it a two-goal lead with this next goal. Kehsoot walked up the pitch, stuck the ball down, and booted it past Andersson who didn't even move. It was all looking bleak for the 'slaves, these D2R bunch had done their homework, they knew how to take penalties.

Daley Black would be the next 'slave to try his luck, and as the 21-year old striker walked downfield, Ally caught sight of Jackie McLlroy on the verge of tears. Going over to him, Ally put his arm round his shoulder. COME ON DALEY SON! he shouted. Daley didn't turn back, he just stuck his thumb up in the air. Settling the ball down, Daley turned and walked back to the edge of the area. The ref blew, Daley started jogging. His jog turned into a run, and he struck the ball sweetly to the goalkeeper's left. Day however was onto it and, with the same sickening thud, got hit hand to the ball, or was it his wrist? It looked like he mis-timed it, either way, the ball had been sent upwards. Ally felt his heart skip a beat. Rushing upwards, the ball clipped the underside of the bar and fell into the top corner of the goal. Day had just missed out on the save of the century and he looked like he knew it, looking at the ball behind him with disgust.

Daley breathed a sigh of relief and, in his typical style, gave goalie Day the 'wink and the gun'. Peter Andersson saw him and smiled down at himself. Daley walked back to the pack of Audioslavians with the biggest grin you'd ever seen, that kind of 'almost fucked up, but nah, im a lucky fucker' grin. Jackie grinned back. "See?" Said Ally, still with his arm round his pal. "Just you watch mate, Pete'll have this next one, theres no way". Pete seemed to feel the same, jumping on his goalline and waiting for the next D2R player to take his best shot. He was gonna get this one, no bother. Number seven 'Li' walked up to the ball, but the guy didn't have the firey look that the other penalty takers had had. He looked almost scared. "I can take him" thought the goalie, "I can have this little bastard, he aint scoring past me". Li ran up to the ball and shot, but Peter knew where it was going immediately and dived to his left, getting his arm in the ball's way and sending it over behind the goal. The 'slaves were back in it, and the players knew it, jumping about with relieved looks on their faces. Peter punched the air. Now they could get back on level terms if Jodey Tessem could score this one.

Jodey was one of the few players in the squad over the age of 30. He wasn't quite old enough to remember the last 'slavian semi-final, but Dave Mill was, and the manager gave him a word and wink as he made his way to the goal. He needn't had bothered of course, Jodey's was the calmest brain on the pitch, thats why he played right in the middle, exactly where you'd want someone who plainly didn't know how to fuck up. Ally watched the goalie, Verdio Day, try and stare out the midfielder, but Jodey would have none of it. Running up to the ball, he made three glances towards the left-hand side of the goal and angled his body to put it that way. Day wasn't gonna fall for that old chestnut though, and he leapt to the right-hand side, flailing harmlessly at Jodey's shot which was blasted through the middle where Day was standing just the other second ago. 3-3 with one penalty each left, it was basically sudden death.

By now, all the Audioslavian players were standing in a line with their arms around each other's shoulders, psyching each other up. The D2Rians were sitting down, occasionally bellowing the odd motivational phrase to their goalie or to each other. Both sides looked nervous as hell, but none more nervous than nineteen year old D2Rian Naoki Maeda, who went to take penalty five for Dance 2 Revolution. Ally could sense it, Pete could sense it in goal, this was going to be interesting. Naoki just didn't look like he wanted to be there at all, still, he was probably more than capable of hitting a ball into a goal from so many yards. Either way, Pete was ready. Stepping up for the shot, Naoki gave Pete the old 'eyes' treatment that Jodey had given the D2R goalie just moments before. Unlike Verdio Day, Peter fell for it, sprawling to his left as Naoki fired the ball away to his right. To all the world it looked like the young lad had scored, but at the last second, with the last inch, the ball curled a fraction to the right and smacked off the post and rebounded back into play. Peter jumped up and smashed the air whilst the rest of the 'slaves side celebrated. One goal, one goal and they could be in the final. Naoki trudged back, visibly upset, and was comforted by his team-mates.

Dave Mill tapped Ally on his shoulder. "Penalty five" he said. "Your turn". Like Ally needed reminding. He made his way down the field to the tune of his friend Arie Jansen egging him on. Ally turned round and gave him a wink and thumbs-up sign. "4-4, one penno left. If i score, we're through, if i miss, we could be out. Its like a fuckin movie". He'd expected it to take forever to walk up the field to the goal, but before he knew it the ball was on the spot and the referee had his whistle in his mouth. Marriot turned away and walked ten paces away from the ball, as he'd done since every penalty kick he'd taken since he was five. Turning on a six-pence, the referee blew the whistle for him to take the penalty. He didn't hear. Everything had gone silent except for the sound of the wind and the sound of his footsteps. His feet sank into the soaked ground as he started his run up. He wasn't even going to look at the goalie's body language, he wasn't going to anticipate anything, he was just going to smack that ball as hard as possible to the left side of the goal. That was it. Hard as possible, to the left. One second from now it'd all be done with, the ball would be in the back of the net, or it'd be over the bar, or it'd be hitting the keeper's legs, or his arms, or the post, or he'd scuff it completely. He didn't want that. Just smack it, keepers' right, keepers' right, he won't have time to dive... but he did last time, he almost got Daley's when he smacked it to the left, he might get mine... feck... keeper's left, hit it to the keepers left! THUD.

Ally lost his footing from the change of direction and his left foot gave-way as he hit the ball. It wasn't the hardest shot in the world, or it might have been, Ally couldn't tell as he was tumbling to the floor. Day was nowhere, Day was nowhere he was going the wrong way! But the ball, was it on target. Still in mid-air, he tried to look where the ball was going, but could only see it as a blur, with the faces of the D2R fans behind the goal all staring, many with their fingers crossed or their hands on their faces. All of a sudden the cross-bar came into focus, and Ally made out that a white object had hit the bottom of it, just before he hit the ground and lost all sense of direction completely.

There was a sound, it was far away, but it was a familar sound that he knew from somewhere, although Ally seemed to feel that it wasn't a sound he felt he heard often enough. It was the sound of thousands and thousands of Audioslavians going fucking mental. 22 men in claret and green coloured clothes were sprinting towards him, 22 D2Rians were slumped on the floor, including their goalie who was hunched over his knees in the goalmouth. Ally disappeared under a cloud of players. After twenty-eight long years, the 'slaves were in a world cup final.

FINAL SCORE
Dance 2 Revolution 0
Audioslavia 0
Audioslavia win 4-3 on penalties

WORLD CUP FINAL PREVIEW
Audioslavia Vs Crystalikere

Possible Line-up:
http://www.geocities.com/lifeobrien/crysaud.txt

Spotlight on: Audioslavia
To say the 'slaves have been uninspiring would be an understatement. Aside from a very good qualification run and a hefty three-nothing win over Cockbill Street, the 'slaves have been abysmal. In the five games since that win, they have amassed just three goals, never scoring more than one goal per game. On the upside however, they have only conceeded three. Another possible upside is their new-found talent in penalty shoot-outs. They'll need it, as Crystaikere have a bit of a history with Audioslavia over the dreaded ten spotkicks. The crystals knocked out the 'slaves in two consecutive U21WC semi-finals, both on penalties.

Route To The Final:
W3-0 vs Cockbill Street
D1-1 vs Commerce Heights
L0-1 vs Lovisa
D1-1 vs Nova Britannicus (won 7-6 on penalties)
W1-0 vs Turori
D0-0 vs Dance 2 Revolution

Spotlight on: Crystalikere
The Crystals are unlikely finalists on paper, having never been nearly so far before, but they have been solid on the route to the final. After topping their qualification group they beat Melmond in the first round, before thumping four goals past a Sarzonia side which didn't look like a side that it would be easy to score four goals against. The side haven't conceded a goal in the knockout stages and, with Audioslavia's troubles in front of goal, Crystalikere look like they could have an advantage.

Route To The Final:
W2-1 vs Melmond
W4-1 vs Sarzonia
L0-2 vs Kaze Progressa
W1-0 vs Melmond
W2-0 vs NEWI Cefn Druids
W2-0 (AET) vs Total 'n Utter Insanity.

So who's gonna win? Well lets look at the signs. This will be like a home match for Crystalikere, playing in their own region in a country friendly with their own. They're only meetings with a team of Audioslavia's description have both ended with victories, albiet in penalty shoot-outs. They've had a more impressive run, not conceeding a goal in the knockouts and scoring five, compared to the 'slaves scoring three and conceding three. Their opposition has been better as well, beating TnUI and NEWI Cefn Druids in the last two rounds, two names which carry a lot more weight in the football world than Dance 2 Revolution and Turori, no disrespect to either. Also, theres superstition. Audioslavia always crumble under pressure, and every tom dick and harry in the world is pipping them to win.

On Audioslavia's side, they have experience, they have been in a world cup final before, but most of all they have the players. Messrs Marriot, McLlroy, Oskari and Jansen have shone in the tournament and are fine examples of why Audioslavia is in the top three, and why they have been in world's top-ten for the past thirty-two years. It will be a close match, don't expect it to be high-scoring, so don't expect Audioslavia to hit that 500-goals-in-professional-football mark just yet. The prediction: Crystalikere 2-1 Audioslavia. AET

There now follows a little bit about why there will be no NEWI Cefn Druids at World Cup 20...

The Daily Druid
ELECTION DAY SPECIAL!

SMITH ODDS ON FOR VICTORY
Will fly into Cefn later for final rally cry.
By Trevor Manley.

Leader of the party of Druida and president of the People's Republic of Druida, Margaret Smith, will fly into Cefn today for the final rally of this election campaign. Smith has been reasonably quiet throughout the campaign, what with having a nation to run already, but his support across the whole of the Druidish lands is that great that he hasn't really had to do that much, his supporters have done that for him. Indeed, it is thought by some that he is travelling to Cefn more for a victory parade than a rally, but other experts suggest that the race is still close between himself and the Former Minister for Lost Things...

- - - - - - - - - - -

Meanwhile, on a plane somewhere above Eastern NEWI Cefn Druids...

Unnamed helper: "You mean to tell me you're not at all nervous about the result?"

President Smith: "Why should I be? You've seen for yourself the support I have all over the Druidish Lands. Obviously, if I'd have had more time on my hands, we would have walked it, no doubt. But we'll still win."

Unnamed helper: "Oh. Well, I'm going to get a drink to staedy my nerves. Want one?"

President Smith: "No. I'll be fine, thanks."

*As the unnamed helper leaves for a different area of the aircraft, a shadowy figure, face covered by a balaclava, emerges from behind a chair, and creeps up on President Smith...*

Shadowy figure: "Not nervous, eh? You should be."

President Smith: "Why... what... uh?"

*Shadowy figure pulls out a gun.*

Shadowy figure: "You should know by now that it isn't safe for Druidans to fly. What a mistake. You really are as stupid as they say."

President Smith: "Please... don't..."

CLUNK!!!

*The shadowy figue collapses on the floor*

Unnamed helper: "Sir, I wondered what I should do with this empty bottle."

President Smith: "You... saved..."

Unnamed helper: "Well, as you always say, that's what my job is. Now to get this monster unmasked..."

*They pull off the shadowy figure's balaclava, only to find...*

President Smith: "Oh my god!"

Unnamed helper: "Sir, you're doing it again. You're atheist, remember?"

President Smith: "Sorry. But it's..."

Shadowy figure: "...The Former Minister for Lost Things. I know. But it was the only way. Our only hope."

*With this, the Former Minister for Lost Things grabs a parachute.*

FMfLT: "But don't worry. When you tell the world, they'll never believe you. It'll make you look a fool, and I shall cruise to victory."

*And with that, he opens the doors, and jumps.*

President Smith: "He's right, you know. Dead right."

Unnemed helper: "Don't be stupid sir. The whole thing's on the security camera up there. He hasn't got a leg to stand on!"

President Smith: "He.. hasn't?"

Unnamed helper: "Of course not. Come on, once we land, we'll tell the people down there, and that'll be the end for him, and the Druidan Lands will be united as one!"

- - - - - - - - - - -

The Daily Druid
ELECTION RESULTS SPECIAL!

SABOTAGE FOILED, SMITH WINS BY LANDSLIDE
NEWI Cefn Druids to join Druida within the week.
By Trevor Manley.

A landslide victory at the polls for Margaret Smith of Druida has been the result of an eventful day in Druidish, or should we say Druidan, politics.

Firstly, an attempted assassination of Smith by his main rival, the Former Minister for Lost Things, was officially confirmed by Cefn-Mawr Police. Indeed, it was confirmed that he is also under investigation for the disappearance of the Druida football team, the shooting of Trevor Kallins and the crashing of the plane of the Margaret Army.

The result of this saw a sharp decline in the Former Minister's support, and he ended up in a lowly fourth place, even behind the racist Druidish Party's David David David. Outgoing President Geraint Griffiths came second, with just 18% of the vote, with Smith polling 71%.

So I guess this is the end of our nation of NEWI Cefn Druids. We've had a topsy turvy history, but for the masses, teh last couple of decades hasn't exactly been the best of times, and a new start under the flag of Druida is just what the people of this nation needed. NEWI Cefn Druids is dead. Long live Druida!

Crystils call for Total n Utter Insanity forfeit

Crystilakere head coach Hazem Emam has called for the forfeiture of the Total n Utter Insanity team from the World Cup after fans from the nation brutally murdered Crystilakere Under 21 manager Boubacar Dragov. Dragov was close friends with Hazam Emam and both played together in the past. Crystilakere are calling these acts the most disgusting ever committed as a result of a World Cup match and the nation responsible should be hit with severe punishment. Emam went on to compare the citizens of Total n Utter Insanity to the puke that gets stuck in your mouth and goes back down. Dragov was murdered following the world cup 19 semi final that saw Crystilakere beat Total n Utter Insanity 1-0. The Crystilakere Under-21 team that was in Total n Utter Insanity for the Under 21 tournament there had to be evacuated due to threats, but Boubacar Dragov did not make it out alive. Crystilakere will play on today in the World Cup final match where they hope to beat Audioslavia and claim their first world cup. It is funny that the Crystils should face Audioslavia in the world cup final, as originally the two teams were scheduled to meet in the second round, after Crystilakere finished first in group D and Audioslavia second in group C. Complications saw the first draw replaced with a new draw, causing Crystilakere to fly unwillingly to The Belmore Family to begin it's amazing run. It will be quite the homecoming when Crystilakere returns to Turori in Atlantian Oceania, and are sure to have some sort of home field advantage during the match.

Crystilakere Crystils - World Cup 19 final
http://www.starblaydestudios.co.uk/Images/CrysFinal.jpg

----------------------------
The Result of the World Cup 19 Final has now been Telegrammed.
----------------------------



Thank You to all that participated, and best of luck in World Cup 20.

The Minister for explaining World Cup Deaths in TnUI, Fuzzy Dice and Cheese Graters had this to say:

"TnUI will not forfeit from either competition. The law of survival of the fittest comes into precedent here, and your manager wasn't fit. Also we think you should get your facts straight, his murder wasn't brutal it was gruesome. Good day to you sir!"

THUMP...THUD... tsshh... ROAR

Crystalikere's winger Nonaai wheels away towards the crowd, arms aloft, being pursued by most of the other Crystil side. The defensive wall that Audioslavia had created simply stood there, staring at the goal and at the ball that nested comfortably in the bottom corner of it. Audioslavian goalie Peter Andersson picked himself up, dusted himself down, and booted the ball out. The contrasting emotions of both sets of players was echoed in the behaviour of both sets of commentators. In Audioslavia's commentary booth, commentator Barry Jameson was trying to remain neutral, commenting on how the free-kick was 'beautifully struck', albiet in a somewhat melancholy way. Crystilakere's commentary booth is a riot of colours and excited voices. "A superb free-kick... and the Crystils.... are a goal up in the world cup final! Nonaai stepped up and curled it beautifully round the wall... Andersson was well beaten, its in off the bar and the Crystils are one step closer to the championship!"

The 'slaves kicked off again, but couldn't muster up enough energy to get any decent attacks before the half-time break. 'Slavian manager Dave Mill takes his men into the changing room.

"Ok guys" he says, looking around at the 'slave team, all of which look tired. "This is it. This is where all the practice we've been doing over the past year and a half has to pay off. We're a goal down, thats it, its not the end of the world. We outplayed them for the first twenty minutes and then we let them get back in with a few chances, we've got the midfield, lets use it. Instead of knocking it up to Jackie and Ollie lets play it about, make the bastards run. You notice how, when you two get the ball in midfield, Jussi? Ally? You notice how theyre onto you like a shot? That is NOT a cue to try and take them on, thats a cue to pass it around them. Theyre man-marking you, so don't start fannying about when you have the ball! Knock it around, get into space, THEN fanny around, as long as it comes to something? You understand?"

And so, just like the opening minutes of the first half, the 'slaves came out firing on all cylinders for the second. Marriot, Oskari and Tessem started knocking the ball out and opening up the Crystilakere midfield, and all of a sudden the 'slaves were getting chances again. 51st minute: Oskari's through-ball finds Dannes. The striker turns his man beautifully and with a sweet, low drive, smacks the ball past Addis. The world stands up to get a better look at the television, and then slumps down and eats more crisps/potatochips as the shot nicks the outside of the post and goes out of play. 55th minute: Jansen whips a corner into the box, Dannes rises like the proverbial salmon and nods the ball down for Johnstone who is arriving on the edge of the area. The centre-half smacks it like you'd expect a six-foot-four centre-half to smack a football and the world gets off its collective ass again. It cringes for a second, but then slump down as Addis gets his hands in the way and palms the ball over the bar. The world then sighs as the 'slaves waste the corner. Apart from those parts of the world which fall under the category 'pub in Audioslavia'. These places see people smashing glasses and bottles on the floor as Audioslavia come close time and time again.

Seventy minutes have gone and Jansen flicks the ball into the box, but his pass falls well short, and is intercepted by captain Ferraro. Ferraro goes to hoof the ball upfield, but instead picks out a perfect fifty-yard pass to Wolf on the left wing. Wolf sprints upfield, cutting in towards the goal, which is blocked only by the goalie, substitute Zareh Artaxiad and Arne Carel. Artaxiad goes to intercept Wolf but slips and falls on his arse. Wolf carries the ball past him and plays it square to the centre-forward Romano. With one touch he carries the ball in front of him and sets himself up for a shot. With Andersson off his line and in no-mans land he contemplates a lob, but instead thinks 'fuck it' and decides to bury the ball in the corner. He sets up, swings his foot, but before his foot can follow through and sweep the ball in for 2-0 his leg iis kicked away by a desperate Arne Carel. Romano tumbles to the ground and the ball bobbles towards Andersson who doesn't even bother picking it up. The referee is already pointing to the spot, whilst reaching for a card. Its red, Carel is sent off for a profession foul, and its all falling apart for the 'slaves.

The players crowd round the area. With a quarter of an hour to go, a two-nil scoreline would definately bury the game. However if Nonaai misses, then it might just spur the 'slaves on. Its Nonaai vs Andersson. The Crystalikere winger sets the ball down on the turf and walks back calmly. The referee blows the whistle, and he turns round and swoops in for the kill. With a blistering crack he lets rip and sends the ball crashing towards the goal. Its another moment for the world's heart to skip a beat, and for a split-second the guy-in-charge-of-the-scoreboard goes to change the scoreline to '2-0'. Peter Andersson has different ideas though, and with a gallant leap he spreads himself accross to the left hand side of the goal and knocks the ball away for a corner. Johnstone and Artaxiad jump on his to congratulate him, whilst Nonaai looks at his feet for a second before getting ready for the corner. Whelan whips it in. Johnstone rises for it, but can't out-jump Fillipo '<--- he scores headers off corners' Ferrari who beats him to it and diverts the ball towards goal with his forehead. Andersson is left rooted to the spot and is forced to watch the ball dip over him, and off the bar and in the air. Andersson, now back-peddalling, is off balance and its anyone's ball, but Tessem is there to beat Pold in the air and head it away to safety.

Ten minutes left and the 'Slaves are struggling to get the ball out of their own half, let alone get an equaliser. The Crystils constantly put pressure on the blank space in their defence, Tessem has to cover and as a result the midfield is torn apart from the middle, allowing Non, Whelan and Wolf to run riot whilst Nonaai gets in cross after cross. Poid gets a half-chance from a deflection, and a Pold header is cleared off the line before the 'slaves embark on what looks like their last attack of the world cup, bang on the ninety minute mark. Johnstone disposses Romano on the edge of the box with a brilliant sliding tackle and knocks the ball along to Arie Jansen. Jansen's electic pace has not waned over the ninety minutes and he sets off, skinning Nonaai and getting the ball up down the left hand side. A square ball sends Oskari through, and its three on three at the Crystilakere end with every player on both teams sprinting up behind them, even Audioslavia's goalie is making his way up the pitch. Oskari plays a one-two with Marriot and, with the return pass, nut-megs Siboldi to let in Jansen again on the left hand side. Jansen's cross is fast and perfectly placed, coming to Dannes like a dart. Dannes however, leaves it and lets the ball run through his legs. It seems like the wrong option with Arrigoni right behind him but the Crystil left-back can't react quick enough and the ball rebounds off of the inside of his left leg, and falls straight to Jackie McLlroy.

McLlroy steadies himself. He's nine yards away from goal, parallell with the right-hand line of the six-yard box. The goalkeeper is covering the opposite post, and is scrambling to get accross. He's basically on his own. The three defenders have been torn apart by the swift move and the midfielders aren't anywhere near the goal. The ball bounces towards him agonisingly slowly, and all he has to do is direct it into the goal. McLlroy breathes, sets himself up for the easiest goal he'll score in his life, and with a swift movement of his left foot, moves to sweep the ball into the centre of the goal to get the match into extra time. Or maybe not, maybe the 'slaves could get a second injury-time goal and turn the game around completely at the death. Either way, he was going to score. Meeting the ball sweetly, McLlroy swivels and hooks the ball goalwards. Collectively, the entire Crystilakere side groan whilst the 'slavian side get ready to celebrate like they've never celebrated before.

And then the ball hits the post.

And goes out of play.

And the referee blows for full time.

McLlroy sinks to his hands and knees and smacks his fist against the floor, cursing in every Audioslavian word under the sun. He fucked up, he got too much of his foot round it, he should have controlled it, he should have just walked the ball in, he should have waited til the ball was on his favourite right foot. He should have done a million things, but he didn't. It was a one-in-a-million chance of him MISSING for christ sake, but he did, just because he took the wrong option.

The Crystilakere players pile on each other at the edge of the pitch near the blue area of the crowd, who are currently infinitely more vocal than the claret and green area. Crystilakere are the world champions, and the 'slaves are left to ponder about what might have been.

FINAL SCORE, FROM THE FINAL OF WORLD CUP 19
CRYSTILAKERE 1 Nonaai - 37th
AUDIOSLAVIA 0

So...

WC 19 Champions --- Crystilakere
WC 19 Second Place --- Audioslavia

WC 19 Third --- TnUI or D2R?
WC 19 Fourth --- TnUI or D2R?

So...

WC 19 Champions --- Crystilakere
WC 19 Second Place --- Audioslavia

WC 19 Third --- TnUI or D2R?
WC 19 Fourth --- TnUI or D2R?

D2R was third, beating TnUI in the 3PPO.

All you need to do is look in the scores thread, coz I told V if he didn't post the final scores I'd kill him :D