NationStates Jolt Archive

Ue Alt pulled up his black sock tightly over his left ankle, and looked round at his team-mates. He smiled slightly. He knew that most of them, like him, were feeling a little nervous, but rearing to go. Out there, in the stadium, there would be a fair number of Ariddian supporters, heaps of Tanah Burung spectators, and, no doubt, the media to record this match for posterity. It was only a football match, but it was important to all involved. Neither Tanah Burung nor Ariddia had been present on the international stage for a long while, in terms of football. To add to that, the match was scheduled as part of some nation-wide party; the whole of Tanah Burung seemed to be overflowing with a sense of fun, as if finally released after long pent up. Which, in view of the fact they were celebrating their renewed independence, was not particularly surprising.

Still, it provided an ideal setting and atmosphere for the game, and Alt told himself he would do his best to give them a good show. It seemed fitting, somehow.

He glanced over towards the door. His team-mates were talking amongst themselves, laughing; they seemed relaxed, but there was a definite hint of nervousness in their voices nonetheless. In addition to everything else, this game would be the first time their abilities were put to the test. This was an entirely new, inexperienced team – its predecessors, who had played in the World Cup decades ago, having long since retired. The beginning of the match was only minutes away now. They stood or sat waiting in the changing room; most countries had separate changing rooms for male and female players, but Tanah Burung didn’t seem too particular on that matter, so the whole team was gathered in one room. Even indoors the air was hot and rather humid. Alt looked over at Sandrine.

“Ready?”

“As I ever will be.” She smiled, stood, and stretched.

“Everyone remember the words of the anthem?” Phillip Lukeson asked humorously. “The cameras will be watching our lips.”

Ue Alt grinned.
“Let’s go,” he told them, motioning them toward the door.


= = = = =

Ariddian team
GK: Sandrine Leduc (1)
DEF: Yves al Jahdali (9) ; E Te (3) ; Phillip Lukeson (18) ; Tim Wald (14) ; Jean Kitenge (11)
MID: Ue Alt (cpt; 12); Michael Swimmer (21) ; Ta I (17)
ATT: Frédéric Clément (8) ; E Lel (20)

Substitutes:
GK: Ludovic Hue (4) ; Karim Chem (22)
DEF: Kolo Kouassi (7) ; Anan Bounthaiyavong (16) ; James Fields (5) ; Peter Roberts (13)
MID: André Delherbe (15) ; John Sanjeeb (19) ; Uol Lat (6)
ATT: Clémentine Ramirez (2) ; Ismail Faraj (10)

Colours:
Home
Red top with a black slash going from the left shoulder to the right hip, and the same on the back. Black shorts. Red socks. No other markings, and no sponsors.
Away
The exact reverse. Black top, red slash, red shorts, black socks.
Goalkeeper
Dark green top, with the same black slash. Pale, apple-green shorts. Black socks.

The FALE (and, to TB, OOCly, the MLP ;)) welcome Tanah Burung and Ariddia back into the international fray.

Matebian City

The cliffside stadium had fallen into a terrible state of disrepair since its last glory days, way back in World Cup 5, when it had been the scene of Lemmitanian and Brazillican triumphs. Its walls bore the mark of mortar shells, evidence of the recent war against the usual Evil Colonial Occupier -- now replaced with a kinder gentler foreign force which, everyone hoped, would turn out to be peacekeepers rather than yet another wave of nasty foreign occupiers.

Although decrepit, Matebian Stadium had been given the full range of upgrades. The pitch was freshly sodded and rolled, the stands emblazoned with banners in red and black -- whether to welcome the Ariddians or because those were the colours of top domestic league squad Black-and-Red Army was a question best left unasked. Rivers of free beer flowed through the state-of-the-art open alcohol trough that ran down each aisle. On close inspection, even the beer appeared to be tinted red. The walls were bright with banners: the flags of both nations, and the green flags of the Tanah Burung Crocodiles, reborn after many years of absence from international football.

As the Ariddian players emerged, a hearty cheer came from their own fans and the locals, who seemed more interested in the party and the chance to meet attractive foreigners than the result. A roar followed as the Crocs, dressed head to toe in plain green, followed. On the Jumbotronic Enormo-Screen, scenes flashed across: the opening ceremonies of the first-ever World Cup in Ariddia, the young Crocs accepting donated uniforms that allowed them to take part in World Cup 2, that Cup's championship match loss to Al Quds, and goal after goal by both teams, against foes hated or respected. As the screen dissolved into red splotches, short excerpts played from the national anthems of both countries and from the Internationale, and the referee came out, dressed in his best skirt, to toss the coin.

Crocodiles line-up:

GK: Martina (seconded from the hockey Cassowaries)
DEF: Kamal Suwiryo; Mikah da Cruz; Alianza Povo; Alex Maubere
MID: Rosa Baboza (captain); Aloysius Helder; Bi Tarak; Hassan Al-Arabi
ATT: Ab Francisco-Clone version 7.5; Jespere Ilcomte

Substitutes:
GK: Radovic the Morbidly Obese
DEF: Tira Masu; Tarantula
MID: Mark Fortress-of-Revolution Jones; Dorcas Fateh
ATT: Theys Budiarjo; Wang Ming

The FALE (and, to TB, OOCly, the MLP ;)) welcome Tanah Burung and Ariddia back into the international fray.

Thank you. :)


“Well, they certainly know how to throw a party,” Kitenge commented appreciatively, as the music of the anthems and the Internationale died down – the latter echoed seemingly by the entire stadium, and the supporters of both sides. The setting would be a memorable one, and he could see by the looks on his team-mates’ faces that they were just as impressed as he was.

Of course, they could have expected it. They had arrived in Tanah Burung three days earlier, and, although they hadn’t had that much of an opportunity yet to enjoy all that the sunny, friendly land had to offer, Kitenge could think of no better place for the team to make their come-back to world football.

Both teams quickly took their places on the field, Alt facing his counterpart Rosa Baboza in the centre circle, as the referee tossed a coin. The toss favoured the Ariddians, and Alt opted for the first kick. He passed it quickly to his young fellow midfielder Ta I, while the two forward players surged ahead. A new cheer went up as the game was underway.

I passed back to Alt who sent the ball on to Clément, some fair distance inside Tanah Burung’s side of the field. But the latter’s defence had organised quickly, and there was clearly no opening as yet. After a few attempts to break through, Clément, still in possession of the ball, passed it over to Lel. . . from whom a swift da Cruz promptly whisked it away for Tanah Burung. Alt and Swimmer bore down on him. In these early stages, both sides seemed full of energy, fuelled perhaps by the atmosphere in the stadium. . .


OOC: For those who might be wondering, the score has been randomly generated by Bedistan, but we’ll keep it a secret for now. You’ll have to follow the match and count the goals. ;)

Black sliced through green, yet the green wall held on defence, for now. Drums pounded in the stands. "La-faek, La-faek, La-faek," the chants went. Crocodiles, Crocodiles, Crocodiles. The Crocs were back on their heels, fighting an early Ariddian onslaught, but for now no one seemed too bothered.

Da Cruz was happy with his steal, and then terrified as two Ariddians bore down upon him. Before Swimmer could reach him, he passed the ball to his friend and Lovefest University team mate Alex Maubere.

Maubere waited as the dangerous cross soared lazily towards him: forward to Al-Arabi? Or would Baboza get free?

Clément tore through with a burst of speed none of the Croc defenders ahd seen coming, intercepting the ball. It looked like Martina was about to face her first shot...

Clément slipped between the defenders, as the cheers from the Ariddian supporters in the stadium rose above the hush of the home fans. At the last moment, he passed back to Swimmer, who kicked a swift shot. . . Martina leapt, and blocked it firmly. The crowd of Tanah Burung’s supporters found their voice again.

And then the Ariddian team were quickly getting themselves organised again as the ball made its way rapidly up to their end of the field now. Maubere passed to Tarak, who pressed into Ariddian territory, before passing to Baboza. . . Al Jahdali swiped it away the next moment, but there were no Ariddians close enough to control it, and Tanah Burung’s clone player Francisco had it now.

Ariddia’s defence rallied well, and kept the attackers at bay for a while, until a shot by Francisco hit the upper bar. Leduc fumbled to grab it as it bounced away at an awkward angle, but only succeeded in pushing it back to the gathered players. . . from which came a kick, sending the ball right past her. She leapt at it, and brushed at it with her fingers, but succeeded only in deflecting it slightly when it was already inside.

The first goal, as Leduc scrambled to her feet, shaking her head, had gone to Tanah Burung.

Twelve minutes later, fuelled perhaps by a realisation that the opposite team had dominated these first stages, Ariddia’s eleven players had pressed through to hound Tanah Burung’s defences. As da Cruz got the ball and tried to clear it, Lel intercepted it, and passed to Clément, who tried a quick shot; the ball hit the side bar and bounced off wildly, as Ta I dashed in. She hit it with her head, and sent it in for an equaliser.

It's the season for comebacks... Kaze Progressa have returned as well! Great RPing - we missed you.