NationStates Jolt Archive

Welcome to the second edition of the Draggonii Inviyatii Pre-World Cup Showcase.

Last time around we were pleased to offer a very entertaining and exciting tournament. And we sincerely hope that we can do so once again. Let’s see who can rise to challenge the current champions from Sarzonia for the right to take home the Draggonnii Arcea Tropia (Sea Dragon Trophy)

In an effort to offer more squads the chance to compete, we have decided to expand this edition’s field to 32 participants. At least that is the idea, should everyone accept the offer to play. The number of matches will remain at 6 per squad - guaranteed. To achieve this the field of competitors will be broken down into 8 groups. 3 matches of group play will be held. Only the top side from each group will advance to the Championship bracket. The 2nd squads from each group will move into bracket play as well - but for what will amount to 9th place at best. 3rd sides will compete in bracket play and so will the bottom ranked sides from each group. Theoretically this will place much more importance on every match that is played.

Seeding per group will not follow standard methods and it will be possible (though highly improbable) to have a group with the highest ranked 4 squads together. NSFootySim will be used to determine the results of the matches.

The latest KPB rankings will be used, but it is necessary to point out a change to this edition of the Draggonnii Inviyatii. Any nation (such as myself) who sends it’s “B squad” or “2nd team” will suffer a 10 rank penalty by doing so. That means that the Sea Dragon “B” squad will play the tourney with a ranking of 53 rather than 43.

Following will be a list of squads invited to compete in the 2nd Draggonnii Inviyattii. Please note if you accept or decline the invitation as soon as possible, so that we know how many squads will be participating and who we might need to replace. The tourney will begin as soon as the group stages of the BoF are done. That will allow plenty of time to accept, post rosters, and bash opponents in pre-tourney RP. We hope to see each and every one of you in Andossa Se Mitrin Vega for the event.

Sarzonia - Defending Champ
Tadjikistan - 2nd Place
Starblaydia - 3rd Place
Casari - 4th Place
Wentland
Becquerelia
Bazalonia
The Archregimancy
Haraki
Swilatia
ASMV
Tynelia
Dorian and Sonya
Qazox
Green Wombat
Spaam
Hypocria
Cuation
Ariddia
New Montreal States
Milchama
Audioslavia
Mr Chuck Norris
The Kazoo Peoples
Schaivonia
Georgeonia
Krytenia
Chicanada
Praying2God
Cataduanes
Squornshelous
Giant Zucchini
Atheistic Right
The Islands of Qutar

First team playing with a few U21's on the bench

OC: My opponent, if they RP first, may do the following:
Choose my goalscorers Y
Godmod Scoring Events Y
RP injuries to my players Y
Godmod injuries to my players Y
Hand out Yellow cards to my players Y
Hand out Red cards to my players Y
Godmod Other Events Y

+0 please

Team Colours

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c58/Krytenia/CUA.png
Goalie Home: All Black, even the cap
Goalie Away: Imperial Purple all over

Stadium

Southern Island Peaks

An all seater modern stadium, retractable roof, special look is the old clock on the West bank. Capacity of 40,000, seats the colour of the national team. On the hot southern island ruled by General Jared, brother of the ruler Jude to gain him goodwill, the heat and sudden rain can be off putting. Beside a rushing river, quite a few ball boys have never returned from going in the river which is called "Catincoa death."

Manager

Jude Takerath-21-Manager: Passionate, he can often be seen on the sidelines trying to rally the team. A clever man, he knows how to manipulate the media but lacks the man management skills to rally the team in dark times. Otherwise a recluse, his glasses only add to his scholarly look. When the team isn't playing, he will study, read or play a game of chess.

Squad

Tactics: Mostly a defending side, they will push forward if behind by anything up to two goals in the last twenty minutes. Normally, they lump the ball forward for the lone forward to hold up till players get forward. Willing to use the offside trap and press from front to back

SS SS

LM CM RM
DM
LB CD CD RB
GK

Starting line up:

Gary Jens-29-GK.
Tall, tanned, agile, good at narrowing the angle, he has many strengths. He has three flaws however: his fiery temper, crosses and being somewhat inconsistent. This man can make a fantastic save only to let a 30 yarder through his legs. Willing to sweep up behind the defence

Only playing due to Seamen's retirment


Leslie Butcher-22-LB:
inexperienced but quick and eager. Likes to attack but his shots tend to be wayward. Does not like having to man mark someone as someone good with the ball can tear him apart and fairly short so lacks ability in the air. Otherwise a promising defender who deserves his chance

Philip Cole-33-RB
Solid defender lets little past him. Slow but not enough to be much of a hindrance. Dependable but if something unexpected happens, he gets caught out. His left foot is injury prone.

Jamie Hargreves-32-Def/Mid:
plays anywhere in defence or in midfield but is pretty average. Good as fresh legs but that is about it. Heavens help us that he starts for us at the moment


Jonathan Yan 30-CB-captain:
strong in the air and in the tackle, this man has emerged from troublesome youth to a quality defender. Lacks pace but has threat in the air that will be useful at set pieces.

Rio Samba-32-DM:
A ball playing centre back but prone too playing off the pace and for being distracted. Recently been tried aat DM and deserves his chance since Abel retired.

Steven Milnar-27-Winger:
Has progressed up the Cuation league as a promising talent but has never quite fuffiled it. A winger who looks to sneak into the box and score, he is also pretty good when he stays wide. Replaces the retired Stanely Edwards

Timothy Ashton-32-RM:
A true winger uses power, pace and tricks to get past his man so he can hit a stinging cross in. Loves to attack and has a blistering shot. One of those looking for flick on from target man. Can get isolated and frustrated

Roy Ferguson-35-CM:
box to box midfielder with a nasty temper. His job is too support the attack or defence, depending on the situation. Fair passer of the battle, good tackle but few goals in his career, he tends to leave shooting to others. Legs going as heplays his last cup

Rual Mendisez-23-striker:
Pacy small goalscorer. Doesn't fit in with the style of play and can not dribble or jump much but useful in the counter attack or to chase a lead. Can suffer from his own doubts and arrogance.

Cuation’s joint top goalscorer at Bof 25

Peter "Beanpole" Tanner-35-striker:
The target man, big and good at holding up the ball. Lacks speed and fails to score but his main job is to bring others into the game. Last tournment as age creeps up with him

Bench

Jude Tanner- GK-20

Regular for U21's, gets to play in this pre season tourney but won't be there for the World Cup. His performances have prevented his club from going down but is said to be looking to join a big team. Plays fair but can be absent minded on the pitch. Slow off his line.

CB: Mickey Dawlawn -19

Great at recovery tackles, he is a useful defender. Lacks authroity and can be found slow against pacy skillful players. Another U21 player in this cup, will he be found out?

Heskey Anderton-30-LM/ST:
a striker played out of position on the left wing, covering for the lack of left wingers. Tall and strong in the air, he works hard but has the tackling ability of a striker and tends to fall over too much. Fans are on his back

Giovanni Hatzori-32-playmaker:
hates to defend and can stop bothering if he is in a mood. However when he is in the mood and gets forward, he is wizard of all aspects of the ball. Due to his ego, he can lose the battle after taking to many people on/trying something too spectacular also pulling the team out of shape is a risk with him. Looks for flick on

Cuation’s joint top goalscorer at Bof

ST: Pual Keane-22

Pacy player like Rual Mendiz. Will be looking to get in behind defences and finish any chances he gets. Perhaps too similar but now he is too old for the next U21 Cup, he can try to cement his place for the World Cup.

Bazalonian Bazalopes

Kit: Using same as WC27

Style +1

Coach: Neil Kabants

Forwards:

Peter "Wolfie" Hobble (31, BSL)(c)
Lucas Reaver (32, SSB)
James Kantwell (33, FFSA)
Irchov Michael (34, BSL) ... said Ir-ch-ov Mi-ch-ael (ch is a gutteral)
Colin Neil (35, BSL)

Midfielders:

Anthony Creek (21, FFSA)
David McMahon (22, SSB)
Benjamin 'Benny Boy' Peters (23, BSL)
Victor Boney (24, SSB)
Keith Gilmore (25, SSB)

Defenders:

Kevin Balsom (11, BSL)
Andrew "The Bandit" Creek (12, FFSA)
Fjord Perts (13,FFSA)
Shane Smith (14,BSL)
Steve Conne (15, SSB)
Malcolm Halliwell (16, FFSA)
Hayden Peterson (17, SSB)

Goalies:

Jeffery Constantine (01, BSL)
Paul Kanga (02, SSB)
Micheal Clarks (03, FFSA)

*Bold denotes starters

My opponent, if they RP first, may do the following:
Choose my goalscorers Y
Godmod Scoring Events Y
RP injuries to my players Y
Godmod injuries to my players Y
Hand out Yellow cards to my players Y
Hand out Red cards to my players Y

OOC: Awww... Aren't you going to invite my crazed puppets? Don't worry, I wouldn't either :p

I'll put my roster here by Monday and this will probably have the Milchama second team as we want to have our first team in AOCAF although we might put our first team here. We'll see on Monday.

Khim Aiming Higher Than Third
Tadjik Tigers Set For Starblaydi Lions' Vengeance

After a near-perfect inaugural Draggonnii Inviyatii, in which Starblaydia lost only one match of their six games, Khim Azanulbizarn's side will once more make the short trip across the Nemyan Straights to Andossa Se Mitrin Vega.

Manager Khim Azanulbizarn has promised that his side will not be a 'B' Team, though quite whether it's the 'A' Team is under debate. If, as rumoured, players like Marissa Cortez, Petyr Kaminsky and Leo Valaise (Who? Exactly - Ed.) are included, either Starblaydia has some incredible young hidden gems, or Khim-boy is keeping something from us.

"Tis nae the full 'Eh' team, laddies," Khim said in his own inimitable style, "but ah donnae have ma full Eh Team in mae heed yet. Ah ken most of 'em, but ne all. So we're away to Veejer to find oot who's going where."

Um, yes. Quite.

Assurances that some of the World's best will be starting for Starblaydia; worldwide household names like Dasha Tolkacheva, for instance, are guaranteed to be in the Starting Eleven, but as for the rest, who knows? All once can say about the 28th World Cup, to be held in a year's time (OOC: by my timeline this is 1 year before the Cup, a year after the Ylompics), is that Starblaydia's team for that will depend on individual and team performances in this tournament.

"That be what ah bloody said in ma interview, laddie!"

We'd never turn down a trip to sunny Andossa Se Mitrin Vega.

Hypocria is delighted to accept its place. A roster will follow at some non-specific point in the future.

So the Fighting Norris blew their chances at qualifying in the World Cup… so what? Coach Bob Janney has recently submitted a lineup for the much-anticipated Draggonii Inviyatii Pre-World Cup Showcase. This "A" team lineup can be seen below.

The roster of Mr Chuck Norris
# Name-(Age)-Amount of Goals in World Cup sanctioned events
Head Coach
Bob Janney (31)
● He is infamous for his in-depth group analysis, but not for his coaching ability. While some people may view this as a problem, Bob Janney always manages to squeeze out a couple wins.
Goalkeepers
1 Mr. Bednarik (26)
● His humble beginnings as a hockey goalie paved the way for a successful goalkeeping career. He had several shining moments in the World Cup the most notable being only ceding two goals in the 2-2 draw against the offensive dynamo of Liverpool England.
2 Allen Price (23)
● His ego frustrates many players on the team. However, in the event that Mr. Bednarik cannot goalkeep for any particular reason, Allen Price will have to step up to the plate.
Defenders
3 ♪ (?)
● Recruited off the streets of downtown New Poorleans, ♪ can’t speak English and no one knows anything about him. However, he’s proven that he can in fact contribute to a national football defense and has played a key role in several matches.
4 Ido No (21)
● His talent is considered to be low and his IQ even lower. Why this man is still on the team… nobody knows.
5 Banana Mann (26)
● Yet another non-contributer to the squad, this man is just taking up space.
6 Grode Miller (29)
● Most commonly known for his skiing abilities, which now seem falsified, he thought he’d give football a try.
7 Jack Moon (22)
● A player who has actually emerged with some talent, he has certainly helped the Fighting Norris defense.
8 Scottest Hovest (24)
● The self proclaimed best Scott in the world, his ego is second only to Allen Price’s. However, while Price can’t back up his talk, this man can.
Midfielders
9 Pat Smock (25)
● Easily the most known man in The Holy Empire of Mr Chuck Norris, known for appearances on AA Live, mass producing the 512 Disc DVD set “Mass and You” and attending random leadership conferences. His sole purpose for being on the team is to generate ticket sales. He was started throughout the qualifiers, but has recently been removed from the starting lineup.
10 Donald Rump (36)
● Responsible for supporting Mr Chuck Norris’ “Powerhouse” economy, this man’s surprisingly got some talent.
11 Chaz Woolery (32)
● He has hosted/appeared on every game show ever aired on Mr Chuck Norris’ cable television. He should probably stick to his game show hosting because he’s awful at football.
12 Zach Brickhouse (20) 1 Goal
● One of the few players on the team who actually have experience in football beyond the recent Baptism of Fire, he was one of Japan’s best midfielders until he was deported for skipping one day of school. The first and only Fighting Norris midfielder to date with a goal.
13 Yianni Karvo (22)
● Just to warn everyone now, Yianni plays dirty. He in fact plays so dirty that he was suspended for a good amount of the Baptism of Fire after he was caught intentionally beating several opponents into submission. However, he’s mellowed down his act and is showing more talent every match.
14 Randy Cross (29)
● Easily has the biggest afro of any player on any team. This man, along with Pat Smock, is the primary substitute for the Fighting Norris midfield.
15 Paper Mario (Paper Doesn’t Age)
● And you thought he was just a video game character. His weightlessness and aerodynamic form allow him to cover a great amount of the field, making him a deadly midfielder. Although no one has tallied the amount of assists this player has, we can assure you it’s by far the most on the team.
Forwards
16 Chuck Norris (Supercedes time and therefore has no age) 22 Goals
● Two Words: Roundhouse Kick. This man is the heart and soul of the team and will not hesitate to score a goal in any given match.
17 OJ Pimpson (28) 4 Goals
● Let’s just say he’s got a deadly shot.
18 The Burger King (Doesn’t seem to age) 3 Goals
● That’s right, you all know him. His dashing smile and uncanny speed make him a threat.
19 Rob Janney (21)
● He’s the coaches son who only acquired a spot on the squad because former Fighting Norris defender Baka Laka Daka Raka was declared ineligible to play. Nepotism is alive and well.
20 John Fedo (18)
● New to the squad, Fedo has made quite a name for himself in The Holy Empire of Mr Chuck Norris’ newly formed football league. Known for his immense power, Fedo has earned himself a spot on the starting lineup.

“As you can see, we’ve changed some things around”, exclaims Bob Janney, coach of the Fighting Norris. “Terri Tup has decided that his age and lack of play have forced him to retire. On a more somber note, we’ve given up searching for long-missing Jimmy Huffa, and he has been removed from the squad. However, John Fedo has joined the squad and has been added to the starting lineup at the expense of midfielder Pat Smock. This means that we will in fact shift to a 3-3-4 formation from a 3-4-3. As always, I’m coaching my team with an all-out attack.”

Starting Lineup
GK Mr. Bednarik
D Scottest Hovest
D ♪
D Jack Moon
MF Zach Brickhouse
MF Yianni Karvo
MF Paper Mario
F Chuck Norris
F OJ Pimpson
F The Burger King
F John Fedo


[[OOC]]
My opponent, if they RP first, may:
Choose my goalscorers Y
Godmod Scoring Events Y, but don’t make me look too bad :)
RP injuries to my players Y
Godmod injuries to my players N
Hand out Yellow cards to my players Y
Hand out Red cards to my players N
Godmod Other Events N
[[OOC]]
I’m gonna roll with a +5 modifier and a 3-3-4 formation.

The Generally United Nation of The Kazoo Peoples will send their WC28 squad to Andossa Se Mitrin Vega for the Second Draggonnii Inviyatii. Fans and players alike will be treated to a dazzling display of athletic ability as we'll see the "A" team (the national squad, the "Kazoos") come onto the field.

A roster will come as soon as it is finalised (OOC: after we've been knocked out of the Finals, which will probably be Friday) with player retirements, contract terminations, etc.

(OOC: But for now, our formation will be a +3. Also, since we will be co-hosting the BoF with Legalese, please don't expect too much RP-wise. But that'll only hurt us and not anyone else).

If you RP first, do what you like as long as its fun for all!

http://users.pandora.be/bdc/Tadj/TNFF.gif
Tadjikistan Tigers

Coach: Alexander Zaev (49)

Starters
1. P Suchomlinov(34) GK Anicon Tursunzade
2. P Kuthakov(31) D SKA Pamir Dushanbe
3. A Zaparov(24) D Vaksh Qorgontheppa
4. V Ashurov(32) D SKA Pamir Dushanbe
5. V Marinov(22) M FK Khujand
6. D Kirponos(26)c M Regar-TadAZ Tursunzade
7. Y Maximov(28) M Regar-TadAZ Tursunzade
8. P Zverev(28) M Regar-TadAZ Tursunzade
9. S Saradov(34) F Vaksh Qorgontheppa
10.Z Tulberdiev(28) F SKA Pamir Dushanbe
11.Z Zyrianov(27) F Regar-TadAZ Tursunzade

Substitutes
12.V Khairullayev(24) GK Regar-TadAZ Tursunzade
13.G Adayev(19) D Vaksh Qorgontheppa
14.P Skoropadski(30) D SKA Pamir Dushanbe
15.P Rakutin(25) M SKA Pamir Dushanbe
16.A Romanov(23) M Regar-TadAZ Tursunzade
17.S Orlitsa(20) M Regar-TadAZ Tursunzade
18.A Mezov(22) F SKA Pamir Dushanbe
19.R Nabiyev(23) F Vaksh Qorgontheppa
20.V Sakhno(28) M SKA Pamir Dushanbe
21.P Kulikovskij(21) D BDA Dushanbe
22.B Iswolski(20) GK Vaksh Qorgontheppa

Five new names in the starting team, replacing Michael Pliiev and Lavr Kornilov and troublemakers Andreev and Polozkov, while this is an A-team, it is still somewhat expermental, only the three WC27 strikers are still present

Style Modifier is 0
Tadjik Kits(by JMC):
http://users.pandora.be/bdc/Tadj/TDJ.png

"Sir..."

"Yes, Smee?"

"We have a letter from Andossa Se Mitrin Vega..."

"Oh, just say yes and tell them we'll be along later. I've got things to do. Now, Mr Sudoku, where shall I put this seven?"

The Casarans will gladly show up once again, although the roster must wait until national team tryouts have taken place.

Ergo the Paladins, who will be tinkering with their roster after the World Cup.

Draggonnii Inviyattii 2nd Edition

***Georgeonia***

Manager - Robert "Mad Cap'n Bob" Hughs

Style Modifier - +0

Formation - 5-3-2

Kit - Home: Dark Grey Shirt with Navy Trim, Navy Shorts, Dark Grey Socks.
Away: Yellow shirt with Black Trim, Black Shorts, Yellow and Black Socks.

Squad -

# Name Position Age Caps Goals

Goal Keepers

1 Aldous Nedrick (GK) 24 18 0
12 Cory Moloney (GK) 25 1 0

Defence

2 Radclyffe Ryan (CB) 28 19 0
3 Matty Fagan (CB) 25 19 0
4 Larus Owino (CB) 22 19 1
10 Owain Latimer (WB) 22 19 0
11 Sherlock Adomako (WB) 28 18 0
13 Spike Gittens (CB) 17 1 0
14 Luther Dudley (CB) 20 0 0
15 Humphrey Stephens (CB) 18 0 0
21 Merrion Stilk (WB) 20 1 0
22 Derren Roffey (WB) 19 2 0

Midfield

5 Jon Yaqoub (M) 26 16 1
6 Tylor Benge(c) (M) 25 19 3
7 Montague Dica (M) 20 18 0
16 Tarquin Ray (M) 23 3 1
17 Weldon Walkington (M) 24 1 0
18 Morden Whybrow (M) 19 1 0

Strikers

8 Rolph Camplin (S) 27 18 3
9 Gaetan Majewski (S) 23 19 5
19 Cliffton Caldwell (S) 17 1 0
20 Barry Cunningham (S) 21 3 1


My opponent, if they RP first, may do the following:
Choose my goalscorers Y
Godmod Scoring Events Y
RP injuries to my players Y
Godmod injuries to my players Y
Hand out Yellow cards to my players Y
Hand out Red cards to my players Y

OOC: Ariddia will be taking part. I'm not sure yet whether I'll be sending my normal squad, or a "B squad" such as my Olympic squad, or maybe a combination of both. If only to take into account the fact that Ariddia's footballers have become professionals, and may be needed by their clubs.

Although for those playing in Vegan clubs, perhaps that wouldn't be such a problem.

Anyway, more info coming once I've thought it out.

Starblaydia Roster Unvieled
We want the cup this time!
http://www.starblaydestudios.co.uk/Images/SFA-Logo.gif

I Give My Opponent Permission
(and actively encourage them) To:
====================
Choose My Scorers
GodMod Any Goalscoring Events
Yellow Card Players
GodMod Other Events for Humourous Intent
====================

Goalkeepers
1. Julio I Kyrile, GK, 34 - KaMaRi kali Xentira (Rejistania 1st Division)
12. David Bedford, GK, 29 - Vecchio Victors
19. Balin Grimzabar,GK, 24 - Karak Ungor Chiefs

Defenders
2. Adimurtiz Drazarim, R/LB, 23 - Karak Ungor Chiefs
3. Markko Rakkinen, LB, 26 - Tabeck FC
5. Juan Valdez, CB, 24 - Tabeck FC
6. Antonis Kouvas, Captain, CB, 29 - Kiiarana City (Vilitan Stellar)
13. Ricardo Almeida, RWB/RB, 27 - Kiiarana City (Vilitan Stellar)
14. Alberto Belmozzi, CB/CF, 27 - Gateway Bay (Kaze Progressa)
20. Magdalena Ruiz, LB, 18 - Tabeck Lightning

Midfielders
4. Pedro Rujano, C/DM, 22 - Na~ovi Nanti (Rejistania 1st Division)
7. Paul Noble, R/CM, 26 - Vecchio Victors
8. Fillipo Zinaldi, AM, 19 - Vecchio Victors
11. Marissa Cortez, C/LM, 20 - Lightbringers
15. Georges Blanc, CM, 31 - Floral FC (Bedistan)
16. Petyr Kaminsky, R/LM, 21 - Internashionale
21. Tara Niodonna, C/DM, 20 - Daii Raiders
22. Durum Rage, AM, 24 - Karak Ungor Chiefs

Forwards
9. Maivia Von Erich, SC, 24 - Widdrington Wolves
10. Dasha Tolkacheva, SC, 27 - Iskara Daii
17. Ajaccio, SC, 26 - Corinthian Spirits
18. Roberto Vega, SC, 30 - Internashionale
23. Johan Keifner, CF, 22 - Tabeck FC

The Archregimancy will return, but reserve the right to use the tournament to blood some new players - so a roster will follow later.

Haraki Hawks coach Lloyd vargas was pleased to hear of his team's invitation to the second annual Draggonnii Inviyattii tournament in Andossa Se Mitrin Vega. However, he announced that the team roster announcement would have to wait, as the Hawks would be undergoing some changes following the World Cup XXVII Cup of Harmony, and that he would be submitting the World Cup XXVIII roster for the tournament. His announcements for the team will be once the tryouts and considerations for the new World Cup team are finished.

Tynelia will happily accept the invitation for this growing international soccer event. Tynelia has learned from its previous error in not allowing the national squad to play together much before entering the world cup and so will field its world cup 28 roster, ((ooc in my timeline a year after the DI)) which is in the process of being chosen at this time, for the event.

once the team has been finished a roster shall follow.

Becquerelia will gladly accept a invitation to the Draggonnii Inviyatti, and will post a roster soon. Unless you've actually invited a nation called Bequeleria, which we certainly are not.

Oopsie. Sorry Becquerelia. I messed that one up and now have it corrected.

Sarzonia wishes to accept the invitation and defend our championship.

The Most Serene Republic of Qazox would be honored to play in the second Draggonnii Inviyatii. The squad will be the same as the squad from the CoH.

(ooc just wondering does this tourney help your KPB rankings or not? just asking)

The squad heading to Andossa Se Mitrin Vega will be as follows:
thw team will play a +1 if possible and play a liberal 3-3-4

NAME (age)--QFL team
Starters in Italics

GOALKEEPERS
Reggie Hassok (20)--San Guano
John Frorr (26)—New Recife

DEFENDERS
Kiel Venice (23)—16 Graffix
Harden Homer (29)—Vogg United
Jarod Megia (20)--Kibbutz
Helena Sexton (27)--SaxerVilla
Jim 'the Real' McCoy (25)--SaxerVilla
Q'Bert Kong (23)—Saint Nash
Joanne ‘Square’ Root (21)—Real Qazox

MIDFIELDERS
Andrew Mason (24)—New Recife
Shaun Brady (29)—Rockport AC
Jamie Bookman--(21)--Joehio Ajax
Dylan Greene (26)—Rockport AC
Qa-Tram Reaz (23)—Joehio Ajax
Balrog Vega (25)—Lorax City
Roberta Lee (26)—Pika City

WINGERS
Anthony Mason (25)—Qazox City
Francis Alouette (22)—Fromburg Aston
Marie Goya (20)—Fromburg Aston
Maria Gretzky (24)—New Bruxen
Alicia “Speedy” Gonzalez (22)—San Guano
Alana Broker (19)--Iguana de Mia

(ooc just wondering does this tourney help your KPB rankings or not? just asking)
OOC: No, it's just for fun and bragging rights if you win.

Sir Charles "Charlie" Charles looked at the squad list. Then he looked at Edgar Bluff. Then he looked at the squad list. Then at Bluff.

"Is this an April Fools?"

"No, not at all."

"Then why have you picked the entire Crowhurst team?"

"Well, they're champions, aren't they?"

"Yes, but they're not the best EVERYWHERE, are they?"

"I'm trying something out. A little experiment. Let's see whether a honed team of eleven - particularly Barnesy's mob, who've come through together - are better than a collection of individuals randomly put together. I might alternate teams throughout. I have not sussed it out yet."

"Well, on your head be it..."

1 Dennis Tracey – goalie, 21, Crowhurst

2 Ian Talbot – right-back, 21, Crowhurst

3 Bertie Tanner – left-back, 21, Crowhurst

4 Johnny Lane – centre-half, 21, Crowhurst

5 Steve Moon – centre-half, 21, Crowhurst

6 Bobby Jones – midfield, 21, Crowhurst

7 Adrian Loder – right-wing, 21, Crowhurst

8 Ginger Collins - centre-forward, 21, Crowhurst

9 Tommy Barnes – centre-forward, 21, Crowhurst

10 Norman Cooper – centre-forward, 21, Crowhurst

11 Peter Davey – left-wing, 21, Crowhurst

12 Ben Tewkesbury – goalie, 31, Donington

13 David Eager – right-back, 18, Melboro

14 Fred Waddell – left-back, 22, Petterham

15 Brian Culthorpe – centre-half, 24, Tynefield

16 Mike Bateson – centre-half, 26, Blackport

17 Steve Yaxley – right-wing, 24, Tynefield

18 Col Forbes – centre-midfield, 23, Gt Bellstead

19 Tim Randolph – centre-midfield, 27, Gt Bellstead

20 Cosmo Kent - left-wing, 24, Warpstone

21 Francis Treves – centre-forward, 23, Alumgreen

22 Hoppo Hopkins - centre-forward, 27, Royal Heath

23 Crash Robinson – goalie, 18, Thatchem Utd


(+3 mod, RPers can do what they like, within reason)

Ariddia's squad for the second edition of the Draggonnii Inviyattii:

GK: Sandrine Leduc (1)
DEF: Anan Bounthaiyavong (16); Peter Roberts (13); James Fields (5)
MID: Ue Alt (cpt; 12); Michael Swimmer (21); Ta I (17); André Delherbe (15)
ATT: Ismail Faraj (10); Clémentine Ramirez (2); Hanifah Kyaw (3)

Substitutes:
GK: Ludovic Hue (4); Awad al Maharmeh (22)
DEF: Eot Ja (20); Aush Song (7) ; Carl Labarque (11) ; Ie Ewe (14)
MID: John Sanjeeb (19); Wol Eosh (6); Cyril Lange (18)
ATT: Ul U (23); William Smith (8) ; Nam Hyok-Jun (9)


Four members of Ariddia’s national team – Clément, al Jahdali, Kitenge and Wald – are unable to participate in this competition, due to being needed by their clubs in Audioslavia and Krytenia. Therefore the following changes have been made:

* Ariddia’s defence will be constituted entirely of substitutes (Bounthaiyavong, Roberts and Fields will be starters).

* Kyaw will be starter instead of a substitute.

* Four new players have been called upon. They will all be substitutes. Carl Labarque (def), Ie Ewe (def) and William Smith (fwd) are all amateurs and members of Ariddia’s Olympic male football team. Nam Hyok-Jun (fwd) is an Ariddian Arctic Islander, who plays for the AAI club Fetuo FC.

My opponent, if they RP first, may do the following:
Choose my goalscorers N
Godmod Scoring Events Y
RP injuries to my players Y
Godmod injuries to my players N
Hand out Yellow cards to my players Y
Hand out Red cards to my players Y
Godmod Other Events Y

Ariddia will be competing with a style modifier of +4, if applicable.

All relevant information on the Rouge-et-Noirs can be found here (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Ariddia%27s_football_team).

As ever, the Ariddians will try to frighten and entertain their opponents at the same time by performing the ulek (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Ulek) at the start of every match.

Alexandria Times-Tribune-Post-Gazette-Chronicle-Journal-Enquirer

Sports Section

MFA still not sure about team selection

The MFA now has one of the greatest dillemas a football association can have on its hands at the current moment. It has two competitions to go too at the same time with no competition taking precedence over the other. Both the Dragonnii Invitational and AOCAF tournaments are taking place at the same time and the MFA according to President Calvin Chintermantomantoman are, "In a big dillema which has no right answer. We are asking each player which tournament they would rather play in and some have said the Invitational while other have said AOCAF. As of right now we know this much here will be some of the roster for each tournament that we shall release today. The official rosters of who plays where along with bios shall be done sometime tommorow we guarantee."

So here are the rosters for the Dragonii Invitational so far:
Gk: Tuck Koolerc
D: Mariosz Florfenord
D: Kyoga Marcazumi
M: Chuck Farenstein
M: Marcus Lyles
F: Floren Albentine
F: J.J. Faren
F: Kelvin Joseph

And for the AOCAF tournament this is the roster so far:
Gk: Clay Finton
D: Silas Milckey
D: Keith Fleesh
M: Darian Flinters
M: Marin Miller
M: Jonny Rintell
F: Marc J. Floren
F: Matt Bantin
F: Aaron Kary
All: Kevin Grensboro

[OOC: For the second time in a row, the Draggonnii Inviyattii has fallen in what is in RL a really inconvenient time for me. I apologise in advance to ASMV for not being able to devote as much time to this as I would like - it's not a lack of interest on my part, just that RL sometimes has to come first].

THE MONASTIC TIMES

MFA TO USE INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENT TO BLOOD NEW TALENT
"Need to test the next generation" Says Official

The Monastic Football Association today announced that the Archregimancy's national football team would not be contesting the Draggonnii Inviyattii in Andossa Se Mitrin Vega. "Between the imminent arrival of Holy Week and the need to prepare for hosting the next World Cup, the lads simply aren't available" said a senio archimandrite, speaking on condition of anonymity. "So we're going to use this as an opportunity to blood some new talent - see how they perform on the international stage. We need to test the next generation".

-------------------------------------

OOC: In practical terms, there's no set line-up for the Archregimancy this tournament. If you RP first, just randomly pick a mixture of the following names to put together a team of 11 playing an orthodox 4-4-2 formation [style modifier, if relevant, 0]. Yes, you can repeat names - there's three Fr. Michaels on the usual national squad, after all. Where there are slightly different forms available, I've provided alternatives

Some Common Names:
Fr. Alexander
Fr. Michael
Fr. Gregory
Fr. Nicholas
Fr. John/Ivan
Fr. Dmitri/Demetrius
Fr. Gennady/Gennadius
Fr. Paul/Pavel
Fr. Basil/Vasily
Fr. Mark
Fr. Joseph
Fr. George
Fr. Anthony
Fr. Sergius/Sergei

Some Less Common Names:
Fr. Polycarp
Fr. Justinian
Fr. Silouan
Fr. Seraphim
Fr. Hippolytus
Fr. Zosimas
Fr. Tikhon
Fr. Innocent
Fr. Christophorus
Fr. Theophilus
Fr. Photius

And, openly copying Starblaydia (academic research is merely properly attributed plagiarism)...

I Give My Opponent Permission
(and actively encourage them) To:
====================
Choose My Scorers
GodMod Any Goalscoring Events
Yellow Card Players
GodMod Other Events for Humourous Intent

Have fun!

Alexandria Times-Tribune-Post-Gazette-Chronicle-Journal-Enquirer

Sports Section

Milchama announce roster

Well the Milchama Warriors have finally announced their rosters for both the AOCAF and Dragonii Invitational tournaments today, according to Calvin Chintermantomantoman they were "Tough decisions that we had to think long and hard about before finally deciding who to choose. I believe that we made the right selections with good amount of A and B teamers on each roster. Without further ado here is the roster for the Draggonii Invitational.

Gk: Tuck Koolerc- The former number 1 of Milchama is coming on his last legs and decided to end his run on the Milchama team with the Draggonii Inviyatii as the starter.
D: Mariosz Florfenord- Big and slow but is finally getting his chance to play on the Milchama first team and hopes not to dissapoint.
D: Kyoga Marcazumi- Finally getting to play central defense after sucking there in his only international appearance there against Rordia. He played well off the bench in WC27 and hopes to continue his performance in this tournament.
D: Brandon Callers- Hoping to finally make it back to the national after his WC24 debacle on defense. Has gotten older and improved since then his speed might get him on there but he needs a good performance in this cup.
M: Chuck Farenstein- A great crosser who has decided to take advantage of this oppurtunity to play in a new tournament. Always on the edge of the national team picture has never made the Milchama A team and probably never will.
M: Antoine Sanchez- Great passer. His play has been magnificent in helping Milchama reach their first ever World Cup.
M: Barrett M. Lonnon- A star at the recent U21 World Cup where he helped Milchama reach the second round (again). Because of the unknown middle initial clearly going to be the next great Milchamian star.
F: Bat Nackson- Usually in the middle in the league but will need to play wing to be on the national team so is learning the trade in a non-ranking tournament.
F: Dunston Copperlee- The most all around player in Milchama history is playing in the middle this time around to help his scoring touch.
F: Floren Albentine- A great goalscorer will partner Spot Nielson in the next World Cup since Marc J. Floren is retiring from international play. Is considered the next Floren and has the goalscoring record to prove it.
F: J.J. Faren- A wonderful crosser who has decided to play here to help teammate Bat Nackson of the Fish Lords get used to playing on the wing.
Substitutes: (All subs are U21s)
F: Kelvin Joseph
M: Marcus Lyles
D: Chase Mergle
F: Tilar Flitty
GK: Fletcher Roy

*****bump*****

OK Guys and Girls,

I originally stated that the second DI would kick off as soon as the BoF reached the knockout stages. I really did not expect it to be this long now without even beginning. I had hoped for 32 squads but that was probably shooting a bit high.

21 squads are signed up and ready to go. I would like now to invite Atheistic Right to join the DI. That will leave two spots open that will be awarded to the first two squads that sign up following this post regardless of whether or not they are on the initial invite list. We will run with 24 squads. I will post an updated schedule this weekend as well as some PR based RPs to get things going. If 24 squads are signed up by Monday 10th we will kick this thing off on Tuesday.

OOC - To the Archregimancy. I do understand that RL comes first. I will appreciate if you post anything but understand why you probably wont. Good luck and have fun.

The Islands of Qutar wishes to sign up, I would have RPed more during the WC but Mumps got in the way, but all cleared up so RPs will be happening

Lion was surprised when he received a letter inviting the Archeopteri to the Draggonnii Invitational, He was disappointed when the original invites went out that they did not receive one, infact he was pondering an assination attempt of one of the people that work at ASMV's national FA. But luckily for ASMV such an assination was not needed and they got the invite.

Lion formulated the following response to the invitation


To Whom it may Concern;

Despite being in a state of war, we have decided that such an appearance could only cement our place in the international community. And to such ends we will be accepting the invitation to Travel to ASMV and take part in our first Draggonnii Invitational. We will be sending the same team as was in the Cup of Harmony.

Best Wishes, Lion
Atheisitic Right Football Association

((DI event is one year before the world cup in my timeline))
4-3-3 style. (-1) modifier

Coach- Seamus Flannigan O’Connell age 44 – O’Connell is the fiery leader of the Tynelian League champions the Varrik Titans and named as the coach of the national team after former Coach Marcus O’Meara was forced to resign. Many had criticized O"Meara's overly cautious play style which seemed to doom the team once they got behind in earlier international play. O’Connell is a more attack minded person which reflects back on his own play style during his prime years some fifteen years ago before a broken leg abruptly ended his career. While still concerned with a strong defense many feel the hot tempered Irishman will be the one to give the offense enough of a kick to present better results this time around for the national squad.


Positioning

Masterson Kenders A.Collins MacDougal
Pytte Leason B.Collins
Li Jacobs Stossels
Whiteworth

G- Amy Whiteworth (26-starter) Since her coming out party at the World Cup group stage in the World Cup 27, Whiteworth has taken the title of best keeper in Tynelia from Vladimar Malloy. Her nickname “Amazing” Amy was coined when she led Tynelia to a 2-0 shutout over the much higher ranked Nanakaland squad in group play and followed that up with a 1-1 draw against a top 10 Total n Utter Insanity team her next match. She nearly rallied the team to a CoH qualifying spot but the team fell one goal short.
G- Vladimar Malloy (29-reserve) the man known as "The Wall" for his ability to seemingly block everything sent his way been surprassed by “Amazing” Amy as the top keeper after the Cup of Harmony. Some have claimed he’s lost a half step at his age and that this might be his final world cup appearance. However he is still an intimidating force to reckon with in the net.

F- Jay Masterson (26-starter) the flashy flamboyant Masterson was the league's goal scoring leader for the fourth time in five years. After some questioned his intensity during the group play of the previous World Cup he has become extremely focused in attempting to silence these critics this time around. He turned some heads with his recent marriage to Tynelian Soccer Weekly special reports reporter Harmonie Harris but this has not affected his game in the least. Cynics claim the reason he has looked so forward to the coming competitions so he could get away from his endlessly babbling wife.
F- Brian Kenders (25-starter) a teammate of Masterson, Kenders has continued to be happy feeding his scorehappy teammate in league play and led the league in assists the past three years. His own scoring touch is still missing however as he went scoreless himself this past season in league play.
F- Anya Collins- (21- starter) The younger sister of Brad Collins, Anya has really stepped it up this season as an all round player. In only her second year of league play, Anya made the top ten in assists and top 15 in goals scored earning her a spot on the team.
F- Alan MacDougal- (20- starter) The brother of Tynelian Olympian speed skating bronze medalist Ginny MacDougal, Alan is ready to show that the MacDougal men can make as big a splash on the world stage as the women. One of seven MacDougal children Alan has been instilled with a competitive drive his while life. A rookie in league play Alan broke the top ten in goals and set a rookie record for goals breaking Jay Masterson’s seven year old mark which was enough to earn him a spot on the team
F- Troy Wallace (30-reserve) Wallace is a veteran of thirteen years in the game at some level and is known in the league for his trickery. He always manages to find the seam in an opponent’s defense and takes advantage of that when the defense over responds to a fake attack which usually leaves a teammate wide open. While not as dominant as he was earlier in his career the “Duke of Deke” is still a wily ball handler with a killer shot. Some have said he volunteered to step back and be a reserve in order to get some of the young legs on the field more.
F- Joe Richards- (25- reserve) Richards finally took the next step after two years of showing potential and broke into the top ten in total scoring this season. An aggressive player by nature he is mindful that he can’t do it all himself and so has a respectable number of assists this season to go with his goals.



M/F- Brad Collins (28-stater) Collins has slightly mellowed as he has gotten older with a career low 4 yellow cards this year. Some say he’s suddenly trying to set a good example for younger sister Anya but his attacking style is still firmly in place. O’Connell plans to place him on the opposite side from Masterson to keep opposing defenses honest. He was switched to forward at the halfway point of league play this season which is more suited to his play style but has been returned to the midfield by Coach O’Connell for the coming Cup.
M- Jeff Leason (25-starter) Leason has continued his stellar defensive ways since the World cup and is now almost a nonfactor on offense because of it. For this reason O’Connell has made him the center of the defense knowing that he’ll let very few breakaways up the middle.
M- Adrian Pytte (30-starter) The former MVP has seen the future of the game and knows he probably has only a few years left as one of the elite. Managing to stay among the top ten in both goals and assist, Pytte is now hoping to pass on his experience to the younger members of the team to help them through the new experience of world play. Pytte has been named Team Captain by Coach O’Connell.
M/F/D- Andy Martins (23-reserve) Once a controversial choice to be included, the grandson of President Jacob Martins has emerged into another future star in the game. O’Connell admitted that had he kept the same formation as last Cup Martins would have been named a starter. Solid both offensively and defensively Martins has even experimented with playing shifts as a forward and as a defender. His versatility will no doubt come in very handy this time around.
M- Bret Brantley (29-reserve) Brantley was a bit of a surprise choice as he was injured for a good part of the season with a broken arm and was only really getting back into his regular form when the season ended. O’Connell defended his choice saying that he had the experience at this sort of thing already and no one else really had that great a season to replace him.
M/D- Donna Kent (25-reserve) Kent again led the league with a +11 scoring differential as her defense has continued to improve. Injuries to her team forced her to switch to defense for part of the season and she acquitted herself well before she returned to her regular spot. Offensively she is a better ball handler and passer than shooter scoring just one goal this season with an average amount of assists.

D- John Stossels (28-starter) Stossels is living proof of having "soccer in your blood". Both his parents and his grandfather were all soccer players in their day though national leagues weren't around then. As such Stossels was almost raised on a soccer field and is almost never found out of position or caught off guard. Stossels was the four time Defender of the Year with his streak finally ending this season when he finished second in the voting to Tal Li. Even more savvy than before Stossels has been accused of being a mind reader as he can read where a pass is going almost before the pass is made.
D- Karl Jacobs (27-starter) Still argueably the best ballhandler in the league, Jacobs is often lost in the shuffle when it comes to Tynelian defenders. However Jacobs is a quiet leader and has always been able to hold up his end of the bargain on defense. He will usually be the one to take the ball upfield to start an attack.
D-Tal Li (22-starter) The fastest man on the team, Li finally ended Stossels’ stranglehold on defensive player of the league honors. More aggressive than Stossels is in going after a player carrying the ball, Li knows he has the speed to recover from any mistakes if someone does get by him. Li was the leader this season in steals.
D- Reggie Moore- (30- reserve) a good angle defenseman, Moore is excellent at forcing the opponents to stay along the perimeter and take bad angle shots. He has fast feet and can steal a ball from a dribbling opponent in a flash and start it up the other way. He was fourth in the league in steals this season.
D- Bonnie Davis- (24- reserve) Davis is another newcomer to world play but earned her spot with a +6 scoring differential which placed her fourth overall in that and she was fifth in the league in steals making her someone who was more than capable of holding onto a one goal lead late in a game.


((ooc- next week will probably be pretty busy for me at work so my RP will probably be shorter/more sporadic than my usual novels :) ))


<EDIT- forgot to add the RP notes
My opponent, if they RP first, may:
Choose my goalscorers Y
Godmod Scoring Events Y, but don’t make me look too bad
RP injuries to my players N
Godmod injuries to my players N
Hand out Yellow cards to my players Y Brad Collins a good candidate
Hand out Red cards to my players N
Godmod Other Events Y

OOC:
My opponent, if they RP first, may do the following:
Choose my goalscorers - Y
Godmod Scoring Events - Y
RP minor injuries to my players (Miss the rest of the current game, but no further games) - Y
Godmod/RP major injuries to my players - N
Hand out Yellow cards to my players - Y
Hand out Red cards to my players - N
Hand out red cards to Alicia Ribald, Luke Ford, Manuel Cortes, Richard Weber or Sandy Thorpe - Y
Godmod Other Events Y

Haraki Hawks coach Lloyd Vargas today announced the lineup that will be heading to Andossa Se Mitrin Vega for the second Draggonnii Inviyattii pre-World Cup tournament, and the twenty-eighth World Cup after that. There are some changes from the World Cup XXVII lineup, most notably that two of Haraki's oldest veteran footballers have retired, either from international play or in general. Also many of the reservists and starters from the last team have been moved around the field or onto and off the bench. Vargas is playing with a new team, that much is clear, even though many of the players are the same.

He has also announced Haraki will be using their customary 2-5-3 setup, emphasizing a strong presence in the midfield to allow both defensive and offensive play. Two forwards, five midfields and three defencemen allow the Hawks to send seven players forward to attack or bring eight back to defend, giving them a very versatile approach to the game. The team will be playing with a +2 offensive modifier, as befits Vargas still trying his new aggressive coaching strategy.



Mike Zendar – Forward, Captain, national superstar – Kiros Tigers FC
A national hero and all-round great player, he has the best kick in all of Haraki. With a total of fifteen goals in international play, he has scored more than twice as many goals as any other Harakian player. He’s a great leader and a superb offensive player, which is why he gets to be captain of the team.
Samuel Sharp – Forward – North Susa FC
Another great forward, he scored six goals throughout WC27 and its associated tournaments, bringing him third in scoring for the Hawks, after Zendar and Cortes. A young player compared to some of the others, he still has a good deal of experience playing for the North Susa football club, of which he is a veteran of four years.
(R) Alicia Ribald – Forward – Arkia Serpents FC
One of the two Ribald sisters, who have taken Harakian football by storm. The older of the two, she is an aggressive offensive player who can handle the ball past anyone in Haraki club play. With a fierce sense of national pride, many have speculated that, had Haraki taken a standard 3-4-3 setup, she would have been the third forward.
(R) Matthew Thompson – Forward – Uses Coast FC
Uses Coast’s major goal scorer has secured a spot as Haraki’s second reservist forward for WC28, mostly due to an upturn in his goal scoring and skill in play over the last season. Usually thought a good, if not spectacular player, over the last season he took a dramatic swing up, leading Uses Coast in scoring and bringing him to the forefront of the race for Haraki’s Forward spots. It’s little wonder that Vargas and Zendar picked him for their second reserve forward. Although he may not see much play time, he’ll definitely prove himself when he does.

Thomas Neils – Centre – North Susa FC
One of the older players on the team, Neils is an excellent team player. His passing is second to none, allowing him to drop the ball wherever it needs to be at the drop of a hat. He had the most assists of any Harakian player throughout World Cup 27, and is tied with Samantha Ribald for fourth-most goals of the team, each with three in international play.
Richard Weber – Centre – North Susa FC
The youngest player on the team and also most likely one of the best, he is considered the best rookie ever in Harakian football, even surpassing Mike Zendar as a youth. In his three seasons in Haraki club play, he has already gotten into the top five scorers (per season) of all time. He’s aggressive, tough, fast and strong, and has a maddeningly offensive mindset. No doubt many people are expecting great things from him.
Samantha Ribald – Centre – Arkia Serpents FC
The second and youngest of the Ribald sisters, she is not quite as aggressive as her sister, but still a dangerous opponent. She proved herself a capable offensive midfield during World Cup 27, and has scored one goal in every international tournament she has ever been in for Haraki.
Julie Vern – Centre – Arkia Serpents FC
A young woman, whose parents were immigrants to Haraki. She grew up in the port city of Arkia, playing football with herself on the streets. As such, she is the best ball handler on the entire team, and can run faster than any other player on the Haraki Hawks while maintaining control of the ball. A reservist for WC27, she was made a starter after her outstanding ball handling led to overwhelming Harakian posession in multiple games throughout the previous World Cup.
Manuel Cortes – Centre – Atherlon United Football Club
A surprisingly aggressive player, he stands only 5’9” tall and under 150 pounds, but makes up for it with a dangerous attitude. He’s leading the Haraki league for penalties against, because he’s very good at riling up opposing players, mainly because he’s so damn cocky. His playing style is loose and uncontrolled, but also raw and primal, and surprisingly effective. He is second on the team for goals in interntional play.
(R) Lawrence Foster – Centre – Viusa Centre FC
A slow but steady supporting player, he is a very large man. With close to ten years in Haraki club play, he’s never been a star player, but is always the anchor of the team, supporting offensive and defensive plays equally. He makes an excellent all-round player, and while not the fastest runner on the team, makes up for it in bulk.
(R) Luke Ford – Centre – Arkia Serpents FC
Another player whose role on the team is similar to Foster’s, there are still numerous differences between their styles. Ford is smaller, faster and more of an enforcer for the team. He is in the top three players in the Haraki Football League (HFL) for penalties, and while not a great scorer, can still pull off some good shots, and a lot of good passes.
(R) Allison Keyes – Centre – Uses Coast FC
An ardent feminist and fast offensive midfield, Allison Keyes is a strong all-round player, although mostly on the offence. She’s been playing for the Uses Coast football club for five years even after getting a four-year degree from the University of Kiros, granting her a certain veteran’s right on and off the field.
(R) Catherine Veritas Ezaniea – Centre – Caltis Football Club
The highlight of the Caltis Football Club, widely regarded as the worst big-city team in Haraki. She scores most of their goals and prevents more goals from being scored than the goalkeeper does. Unsurprisingly, she is the only player on the Hawks representing Caltis FC. Scored a goal against Starblaydia in her very first-ever international game.

Bruce Forrester – Defence – Isasi Warriors FC
Surprisingly nimble for a man of his size, Forrester dominates the right side of Haraki’s end. Very few can get the ball past him, and he manages to be fast, big and in control at all times. His main weakness is a self-imposed inhibition that he never takes the ball up past half, preferring to always pass to someone farther up and return to his comfortable defensive spot.
Sandy Thorpe – Defence – Pethic-Ferria FC
A simple man from the Borderlands, the massive mountain range in the north of Haraki. Still speaks with a Borderland accent, and signed to the only football club in Haraki proud of the fact that they’re Haraki’s equivalent of hicks. Based out of Pethic and representing the entire massive province of Ferria – mostly deserts and mountains – Thorpe is the embodiment of the Pethic-Ferria football club. Big, relatively slow, but impossible to stop once he gets moving. A dangerous opponent with a powerful, if somewhat inaccurate, kick.
Jonah Menike – Defence – Kiros Tigers FC
Plays on the same team as Haraki superstar Mike Zendar, and was originally slated as a reservist for the tournament. He was brought in after Peterson was injured in the first game of the Pre-WC27 Baptism of Fire, and has not sat out of a game since. In numerous games he has been single-handedly responsible for keeping the ball out of the Harakian end. Fast, nimble, and with a quick and powerful kick, he has even managed a goal in international play.
(R) Werner Vittenbach – Defence – Rion Area FC
Born of immigrant parents, Vittenbach managed to get a slot on one of Haraki’s worst football club teams just this season, hoping to break out and be signed to a better team. He displays excellent speed, agility and passing, although his shooting could use some work. Very young and energetic, and one of the youngest members on the team at twenty-two, having gotten a four-year degree from the University of Atherlon before signing to Rion Area FC. He played starting defence all four years for the first-tier UoA team, and was signed straight out of university by Rion Area, desperate to improve their defence to keep shots away from their bad keeper.
(R) Nathan Rogers – Defence – Uses Coast FC
An all-round good player. He excels at nothing but is good at everything, and got Haraki’s last reserve spot for defence. Not expected to see much play. Did not see much play throughout all of World Cup 27 and its associated tournaments.

Mark Stone – Goalkeeper – North Susa FC
The HFL’s best goaltender, far and away. Just in the time he has been in the HFL for the North Susa club, he has taken them to four final games and won two of them. For some time he was compared to Tynelia’s Vladimar ‘The Wall’ Malloy as starting keepers in international play, but proved them wrong when he stopped all shots for a 3-0 shutout against Tynelia in the Cup of Harmony.
(R) Susana Hamilton – Goalkeeper – Arkia Serpents FC
Another good footballer to come out of the streets of the port city of Arkia, where poverty levels have risen so dramatically over the last thirty years that she came from the exact same background as reserve midfield Julie Vern. Has only ever played only one game in international play, versus Imperial Moose, after Stone was incapacitated in a red card-worthy attack, and allowed only one goal past her against a fierce offence.
(R) Bobbie Morris – Goalkeeper – Atherlon United Football Club
Goalkeeper for Atherlon United, he’s a decent enough keeper, but nothing phenomenal. Definitely worth keeping an eye on, but only if both others are incapacitated. Maybe if Mark Stone retired early or if Morris got a lot better over the next few years he might secure a primary reservist or even a starter spot.

Coach – Lloyd Vargas
Once a star player for the North Susa football club, which has historically been one of the best teams in the country, he retired at age thirty-six and has been coaching North Susa ever since. He’s taken them to three championship games and two victories in the five years he’s been coaching them, and now has been appointed the head coach for the Haraki Hawks. He will probably keep on coaching the national team until he retires from coaching as well, which is a long way in the future.



The changes from last year's team are as follows:

Defenceman Owen Peterson retired from football altogether, citing his age and the injury to his tendon as reasons. His tendon was injured in the very first game of the pre-WC27 Baptism of Fire and kept him out of that tournament entirely. After seeing how well his replacement, Jonah Menike, played, he voluntarily gave up his starter spot to the young man. In his retirement, he has been replaced on the bench by new blood Werner Vittenbach.

Forward Zachary Burns, the oldest player on the team and captain of the HFL's Atherlon United Football Club (The captain was Peterson until he retired), retired from international play, citing his reasons as 'The other teams are too fast for me' and 'I need to spend more time with my family, not go off gallivanting around the world playing football in games where I don't even play. I'm happy just to stay at home in Atherlon with my wife and children, and play football against other HFL teams.' He was replaced on the reserve forward bench by Matthew Thompson, the surprise breakout star of Uses Coast FC. Burns had not seen any international play through the entire World Cup XXVII year, spending all his time on the bench.

Reserve centre Archie Wilkes did not make the team this year, Zendar and Vargas choosing instead to take new blood Richard Weber and make him a starter.

The defensive starting lineup remains the same, with the same three starting defenders and the exact same goalkeepers. The starting forwards are still Samuel Sharp and Mike Zendar. But the starting centres have been switched up, bringing Julie Vern up from reserve player to starter, and bringing Richard Weber straight into a starting spot. Lawrence Foster and Luke Ford were both relegated to spots on the bench, but are considered the two primary candidates for replacement of a player who does badly. Also if Haraki needs a show of force on the field, they are the ones Vargas will most likely turn to.

Attack is the Best Form of Defence



It’s not long now before the start of the second Draggonnii Inviyattii but the question of who exactly will be representing the Autocracy is still yet to be answered. With teams already competing at the AOCAF in Krytenia and the Cup of Harmony is Spaam the national pool of players is looking a little thin.

“We’re looking at a number of possibilities”, an HFA spokesman revealed. “But what are certain of is a Hypocrian national side will be competing in Andossa Se Mitrin Vega in some form. And we‘re not just going to roll over like last time either.”

The tournament is expected to highlight the new attacking outlook of the Autocracy’s football authorities. It’s already been seen in the Cup of Harmony and the trend is expected to continue here. “We tried playing defensively”, an insider at the football association admitted. “But it’s just not our natural game. We’re a Verdana nation and like our neighbours in Nedalia, Bettia and Shiteland* we’re going to playing incisive attacking football.”


* Or Spruitland as they are sometimes known.

If there is still space, the Krytenian team would like to accept its invitation.

SIDE ANNOUNCED

Branstone hopes to build a bench worthy of the name in Inviyattii

NEW MONTREAL - The Ministry of Morale and coach William Branstone have announced the side for the Second Draggonii Inviyattii in ASMY, where the Paladins will be hoping to build on their fifth-place finish in the previous tourney, but will face more competition as the field expands, with more established teams and ambitious upstarts hoping to grab the spot now held by the Paladins.

Coach William Branstone has announced that "one or two starting spots, as well as pretty much every single reserve position, is wide open, and a decent showing here will earn you a ticket to playing in the Dome all WC28."

Without further ado (starters in bold, (HS) indicates high school side, formation will be a +1):

GK 43 Ted Bates, age 23, Ville-Marie Metropolitaines - With Paul Chasson firmly ensconced in goal for the Paladins, Bates will be fighting to keep his spot on the bench against a pair of young keepers. Dysfunctional Mets defense not helping him any as club continues permanent occupancy of North Coast Major Divison basement.

GK 8 Yann de Kere, age 18, Hull Lecote (HS) - de Kere turned in 15 blank slates leading Lecote to a 20-3 record. Signing with Hull Rockets after graduation, should accelerate through the organization.

GK 19 André Bailleul, age 16, Medlerville High (HS) - Youngster from Bates' alma mater will be lucky to see any time on the field.

-------------

D 2 Yannic Laurier, age 22, Fort Constantine All Greens - The poor performace of the Paladins backs in WC27 convinced Laurier that his job security would be in doubt if he didn't go to ASMV instead of relaxing in his new 2 million dollar house this off-season.

D 10 Olivier Gaston, age 17, Frog's Academy (HS) - Talented, punishing back will need to learn to control quick temper in order to keep starting position.

D 5 James Goddard, age 18, New Montreal Pere-Marquette (HS) - Inner-city back plays smashmouth football. Dark-horse candidate to seize a starting spot if either back in front of him stumbles.

D 91 Timothy Green, age 15, Aylmer Redwall (HS) - Young, promising back relies more on finesse than power to protect the back. In the absence of a U21WC Branstone has decided to throw him to the wolves and see if he makes it.

-------------

MF 7 Fabrice Lagrange, age 17, Frog's Academy (HS) - Dominant presence in the centerfield both at football and baseball will try to quarterback team that has never played as a unit before.

MF 15 Jesse Miller, age 20, Repentigny War Eagles - After a mediocre performance in WC27, burly back will attempt to demonstrate to Branstone that he deserves to take the field in the Dome for WC28.

MF 41 Phillip Yates, age 23, NM Capitaines - See "Miller, Jesse," although Yates is more of a balance between speed and power when he's not hurt.

MF 49 Hugh Faulkner, age 21, Philemon Mariners - Desiring to add his offensive punch to complement Villeneuve and Labranche in the front line, Branstone will use the tourney to see if some defensive tactics can be drilled into Faulkner's brain. Expect painful performances in the early going - but Branstone will have to manage to keep his cool, since this was all his idea in the first place.

MF 50 Jerome Latruite, age 16, St. James Lutheran Academy (HS) - Private-school prodigy will be a tough sell to co-hosts The Archregimancy if he makes the WC28 team, but might be too good to leave off.

MF 87 Albany Plattsburgh, age 18, Patriarch's Academy (HS) - Solid all-around performer. Extremely low-key. Every coach's dream.

MF 6 Pete Cassel, age 17, Jainville (HS) - Defensive prodigy lacking in offensive talents will find time on the field when a lead needs to be held.

MF 9 Edgar Forks, age 20, Dorion Alouettes - How Forks will react on going back to being a benchwarmer from being the centerpiece of a renewed Als attack is questionable. If he can keep his patience, Branstone will probably give him a second look as a sub for when a goal is needed.

MF 14 George Beauregard, age 18, New Montreal rue St-Anne (HS) - Following in his older brother Cécil's steps, hopefully with more success.

MF 22 Jean-Claude St-Charles, age 15, Valdemont ave. St-Michel (HS) - Strong presence on the wing, but his age and inexperience will keep him riding grass for most of the tourney.

-------------

F 1 Gilles Villeneuve (captain), age 21, NM Patriotes - He could be basking in the luxury of a 5.75-million-a-year contract and a guarenteed spot on the national team. Instead his offseason will be spent providing leadership and offensive power in ASMV. We think he's crazy, but maybe that's why he's the captain and we're the reporters.

F 70 Jack Basset, age 18, Beaconsfield Sanders (HS) - Villeneuve's understudy has no hoping of landing national team starting spot, but is front-runner for Hugh Faulkner's spot as the "third wheel of the front line."

F 34 Elmo Øostead, age 18, Grand Plains (HS) - Country boy's never been to a city larger than Hapsburgh (pop. 310,000) and will have more problems than contending for a starting spot.

F 88 Nick Bedford, age 16, Lennoxville Central (HS) - Buried beneath enough talent to (insert expression of your choice here.)

OK. it looks like we have a tourney.

Atheistic Right, Islands of Qutar, and Krytenia are all in.

That makes 24 squads. The size of the groups will be cut from 4 squads to 3.
The top team from each group will move into the championship bracket and so on. This will mean only 5 matches guaranteed per squad instead of 6.

The Draggonnii Inviyatti will begin on Monday afternon or evening (CST US) sometime. Style modifiers of =5/-5 will be accepted. Should have said that before.

Group Draws will be announced this time tomorrow after I get some sleep, coach my 10-12 year old soccer team, and have time to actually get it done.


IMPORTANT EDIT!
After thoughtful consideration, I do not like the idea of group play consisting of only 2 matches per squad. Therefore each squad will play each other squad in their group twice before moving to bracket play. That means seven games per squad over 9 match days. With the BoF getting such a late start there is plenty of time to get done. Thanks

Team Announced



After much deliberation the HFA have unveiled the squad that will be travelling to Andossa Se Mitrin Vega. With the best players competing in Spaam at the Cup of Harmony this squad is a blend of experienced internationals, left out of the CoH, and the best younger players the Hyper League has to offer.


Style
An attacking +4

Coach - Matthias DiMarco
It’s been a long time in coming but DiMarco is finally in charge of a senior international squad. He was the Autocracy’s first Under-21 manager and looked certain to be promoted to the senior side until the HFA went with a big name foreigner.


The Best of What's Left


1. Alex Derevko (35, GK, 22 caps) - Hypocrium City
Derevko has been something of an unfortunate figure in the national side. First he was kept out of the side by Ricardo Kindelan and now the younger Alexei Lomaia is the new number 1. But in the twilight of his career, and with Lomaia with the CoH squad, Derevko has a last international hurrah.


2. Ryan Steiner (27, DR, 8 caps) - Dynamo Rasium
A tough tackling fallback who has been on the fringes of the international side for several years.

3. Lucas Vyntra (18, DL, 0 caps) - Hypocrium City
There are high hopes for the Hyper League champion’s new signing. Vyntra is an exceptional talent who could become a fixture in the national side for years to come.

5. Marius Black (32, DRC, 46 caps) - Partizan Drissa
An experienced defender who has a reputation for having something of a short fuse. Black has played in the final of the Under-21 World Cup and twice in the AOCAF final so he is no stranger to the big stage. He’s experience at the back should prove invaluable.

6. Goran Baric (24, DLC, 0 caps) - Hypocrium City
Baric has been a regular in the Hyper League champion’s for some time but he has never made it into the international side. Now he has a chance to show what he can do.


4. Luc Sinclair (34, DMC, 30 caps) - Partizan Drissa
An experienced and battling midfielder player who has made half his international appearances from the bench. Sinclair will add some steely determination to the side. He also captains the team.

7. Glenn Whelan ( 26, AMR, 0 caps) - Kester Town
A diminutive former Under-21 international who lacks a bit of pace but has plenty of tricks under his sleeve.

8. Alex Rytter (30, AMC, 51 caps, 7 goals) - Turoki Isle (Vilita)
A talented attacking midfielder who was surprisingly left out of the Cup of Harmony squad. The Vilita based playmaker is capable of the killer pass that can unlock any defence. He scored against Ariddia in the last Draggonnii Inviyattii.

10. Jens Dregan (22, DMC, 0 caps) - FC Pydna
Nicknamed the “Destroyer” by his team mates, Dregan is an uncompromising rock in the centre of midfield. He can break up opposition attacks all day long but can also unleash some shocking challenges.

11. Hugo Montoya (19, AML, 0 caps) - Coral City Islanders
A quick and tricky winger with a wand of a left foot. Looks like the natural successor to Robert Bercali.


9. Victor Blanco (29, SC, 0 caps) - Bronkstone FC (Nedalia)
The nation’s forgotten striker. Blanco may hit plenty of goals in the Nedalian Premier League but it seemed to become a case of out of sight, out of mind. Fortunately DiMarco remembered him from his Under-21 days.


Formation


Blanco


Montoya Whelan




Rytter
Dregan Sinclair





Vyntra Steiner
Baric Black


Derevko



Kit
(Supplied by Ediraf)

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a359/Hypocria/HypocHome26_.pnghttp://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a359/Hypocria/HypocAway26.png


And . . .

My opponent, if they RP first, may do the following: Anything you like, just no killing m'kay.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a318/stormgiantxxxl/ASMVFNN.jpg

DI Draws Announced!

This is Kellan Kildan reporting to you live from Stadii Se Draggonnii Arcea.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a318/stormgiantxxxl/ASMVStadiumEdit.jpg
Today the normal sea of blue and yellow has been replaced by a complete myriad of colors. Fans of the participating squads of the 2nd edition of the Draggonnii Inviyatii have been given 5000 seats each to play witness to the brand new opening ceremonies of this Pre-world Cup Event, and Purples, Greens, Reds, Blues, and even Pink can be seen amidst many other colors.

Twenty four nations will compete for the right to take home the Draggonnii Arcea Tropia. Returning Champion Sarzonia is back to defend their title. Tadjikistan returns as the runner-up, a title Starblaydia would love to revoke after the Tadjik win over them in the semis last time. Casari and Krytenia also come into the tourney ranked in the top 20 in the world.

But the field is even more star-studded than that. New Montreal States and the Archregimancy have returned, along with The Islands of Qutar, The Kazoo Peoples, and Wentland. Our footballing friends in Cuation, Hypocria, and Ariddia have made the trip again.

Then there are some of the best up and coming squads on the WC scene. Mr Chuck Norris, Dorian and Sonya, and Georgeonia join Haraki, Tyrelia and Atheistic Right here as sides really on the rise. Bazalonia, Bequerelia, Milchama, and Qazox round out the field and are ready to make some noise themselves.

Top to bottom of this DI tourney offers great squads that should all be squads to deal with in WC28 which will begin exactly 1 year from today. But for now they are here. And we are ready for some action.

Let’s now turn the proceedings over to Lord Valentin Quintaro, Chairman & Supervising Manager of the Draggonnii Inviyatii Selection Committee for the announcement of the groupings.

“Welcome to ASMV for what we all hope will be another successful showcase of the best talent in the WC community. 24 nations have been drawn into 8 groups of 3. And here are the groups!” Quintaro wiped the sweat from his brow as he paused for a moment.

“Group1- Defending Champs, Sarzonia! The Kazoo Peoples! And our very own Sea Dragons!” A pause between announcements allowed the new V-tronic equipment to cast holographic highlights of each squad’s WC27 highlights on the pitch for what turned out to be a very impressive display that brought thunderous cheers from the crowd as one great play after another was replayed before them in virtual reality.

Group 2- The Islands of Qutar!, Wentland! Mr Chuck Norris!

Group 3- New Montreal States!, Qazox!, Bequerelia!

Group 4- Tadjikistan!, Ariddia!, Bazalonia!

Group 5- Casari!, Dorian and Sonya!, Georgeonia!

Group 6- Krytenia!, Haraki!, Atheistic Right!

Group 7- Starblaydia, Milchama!, Hypocria!

Group 8- The Archregimancy!, Cuation!, Tynelia!

Those are the groupings for the 2nd Draggonnii Inviyatii. Now back to Kellan Kildan.

Wow! The group draw has thrown us some surprises! So now let’s break down the groups.

Group 1 sees Sarzonia return to defend their championship, but a tough grouping will see them face off against The Kazoos and our Sea Dragons to have a chance to do that. Sarzonia should move on to the championship bracket and things look bad again for our own squad.

Group 2. Another tough group with Qutar and Wentland set to battle for 1st. But Mr Chuck Norris has been known to pull a big upset or two. The Fighting Norris will have to do that here in back to back matches if they want to move on.
Group 3. NMS is the heavy favorite here but Qazox and Bequerelia will both be looking to prove themselves. Should be a fun group to watch.

Group 4 is where Tadjikistan will begin work to try for a return to the finals. Ariddia will hope for some ggod luck, while Bazalonia might find themselves struggling like they did in the last DI.

Group 5 offers Casari what should be an easy path to the Championship Bracket. Dorian and Sonya and Georgeonia may be a little outclassed here for this tourney. That will all change soon enough for both of these fast climbers in the rankings.

Group 6 offers another easy path to the Championship Bracket as Krytrenia should handle Haraki and Atheistic Right without a problem. Haraki might be able to shock some people though. Atheistic Right is poised for a bottom finish to the tourney, and that makes Bazalonia happy.

Group 7. If there is a “Group of Death”, this is it. Starblaydia has stated they want to avenge a semi final loss to the Tadjiks. Milchama and Hypocria will have something to say about that. The Sea Dragons got a tough draw, but at least it wasn’t this one.

Group 8 will see The Archregimancy battle Cuation for the top spot. Tynelia will be happy to get any points at all here.

That is the way they will match up. All that is left now is to decide who will move to what bracket. Can Sarzonia and Starblaydia rise to the challenge of their groups or will we see a new champ? Can Casari and Krytenia hold off squads a year or two away from being a legitimate chance or will new blood be seen as a side to carefully watch? Those questions are unanswered. But we do know it will be exciting to watch.

Coach O’Connell “Surprised” By Draw

“What th’ bloody ‘ell did you say!?!” was reported the first words out of new Tynelian national soccer coach Seamus Flannigan O’Connell when he learned of Tynelia’s draw in the Draggonii Invitational. “They got us wit’ who?!?!” was the second thing the furious irish descended coach could say, of a printable variety at least.

Today Tynelia learned they drew a pair of top 40 teams who many think will obliterate the up and coming Tynelian squad. First up is top thirty Archregimancy and followed up by Cuation only a few ranks behind. Tynelia is nearly double the rank of either one of these teams and has a tough road ahead. With a pair of games against each of the higher seeds, it will be a sound test of how much Tynelia has improved since the previous World Cup and Cup of Harmony play as they gear up for next year’s 28th World Cup. A strong showing here will certainly encourage the team for that tournament.

This will also be a test of Tynelia’s more offensive set after failing with a defense first second and third mindset under Marcus O’Meara. If they are blown away by the rest of the group it might be a sign that they need to go back to a more defensive mindset still. This will mark the first international start by Amy Whiteworth as the starting keeper. She had done a tremendous job in the past Cup play but now the burden of being the starter is squarely on her shoulders. Once he had calmed down Coach O’Connell had this to say about his team’s chances.

“People may think that we ‘ave our work cut out fer us. Well I say we got nothin’ ta’ lose here. These other teams are supposed ta’ be the favorites so let ‘em. All I can say is that Amy’s played these top 50 teams before when we were a wee baby in this sort o’ thing. If memory serves me she beat Nanakaland, tied Total n Utter Insanity, lost a close one ta The Kazoo Peoples and drew with The Islands o’ Qutar. So she won’t be afraid of goin’ up against these two teams. It’ll be a tough road ta’ run as far as winnin’ the group an’ all but we’ll git our share of points doncha worry none about that. Don’t be surprised if we’re beatin’ one of these teams when alls said and done.

“An’ one more thing, and this is ta’ me boys and girls. Dinna let me catch ya playing like a bunch of kittens chasin’ a ball o’ yarn. If ya stink the place up like ya did for O’Meara I won’t be as forgivin’ if ya git my meanin’ ”

So with this defiant and threatening note, Coach O’Connell prepares his team for the first round of matches in this winner take all version of group play. Once play begins all games will be shown on national television and will be followed up by Tynelian Soccer Weekly as usual to continue its tradition of national soccer coverage. While many believe our team has little if any chance it’s been seen many times that anything can happen in a short period of group play.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b20/Casari/4sport.png

Casaran Draggonnii Inviyattii Team announced
Many Familiar Faces back to start the next campaign

Casari plays a 0 in international competitions, but plays a 3-1-2-1-3 formation.

Name Age Pos Prior Experience
Vivica Hill 41 General Manager WC24-27
Vivica Hill 41 Head Coach WC24-27
Greg Ruhlman 41 Assistant Coach WC27
Dick Eidswick 48 Offense Coach WC24-27
Giancarlo Fivialli 43 Defense Coach WC24-27
Bri Norman 41 Goalkeeper Coach WC24-27
Willi Hutchenson 64 Head Scout WC24-27
Nickolas Veran 46 Head Trainer WC24-27

Returning Players
No. Name Club Age Pos Prior Experience
1 Scott William Tyrellia City 33 GK WC24,27
3 Ari Saienz Tyrellia City 35 LF WC24-27
6 Arthur Delia Brighton Hill FC 25 CB WC27
8 Javis LeMurry West Baronies SC 32 HB WC25-27
11 Lari Elsise Cornerian 26 RF WC27
12 Jared Livingston Fedala Imperials (Macabees) 28 LF WC27
14 Edward Roe Shelby FC 35 RF WC25-27
15 Alberto Larini Winton Market SC 34 FM WC24-27
18 Jay Letra Tyrellian International 32 RB WC24-27
19 Reginold Edson Shelby FC 29 RM WC27
21 Leonard Fillmore United Arcadian 26 LM WC27
22 Oscar Swanson Shelby FC 28 LB WC27
34 Salvidore Rooney West Baronies SC 36 GK WC24-27
39 Welam Delo Astra Royal SC 27 RM WC27
43 Scott Nermeier Factory Row SC 25 CB WC27
45 Edward Loransi FC Fairford 26 CF WC27
50 Terry Isar Queenstown SC 28 HB WC27
66 Will Samson Tyrellia City 27 LB WC27
68 Brian Nelson Tyrellia City 33 RB WC24-27

New Players
No. Name Club Age Pos
4 James Leriani Cornerian 24 LM
9 Robert Scoir Tyrellian International 27 CF

Feel free to do what you like. Please don't kill anyone or injure half the team, though.

Moment of Truth
By Simon Grinchik, part time sportsjournalist

Much has been said about Zaev and his boys during the last World Cup, especially critic Georgi Shpagin pointed his arrows at Tadjikistans new coach after the Tadjiks learnt that they had gone from 9 to 15 on the World Ranking. While they rose and held out for many years, now for the first time in 16 years they sunk away.

'What goes up, must eventually come down' one fan commented on Tadjikistans downfall 'I've learnt to face that we'll never win anything, we've been in a Cup of Harmony final and got beat by a small insignificant team, even this Draggonnii Inviyatti we have yet to win.' For a moment there he forgot that Tadjikistan lost to a higherranked team that had already won the World Cup years ago. 'Yes, but look at them, they went down too. Atleast they got to win something.'

And thats the general feeling that lives among Tadjik fans, somewhat dissapointed about their team performances [or the lack thereof], they dont have high expectations. Alexander Zaevs task as Coach will be a really though one, having to get his team back in shape and up that ranking list.

'I think its a good draw' Zaev said yesterday 'Ariddia and Bazalonia, neither of these teams managed to break through to the World Cup finals or playoffs so thats encouraging. We know we can beat them. Though I am aware that this is a somewhat experimental team, the strikers are all still around, the midfield has lost its best player [Michael Pliiev] but gained a new talent in the form of Daniel Kirponos while the whole defence was turned upside down and reformed. I'm still looking for new talent and maybe I'll one or two guys, but this is the base with which we'll have to work.'

BLACK OXEN AND BEQUERELIA

Paladins face four matches against a pair of up-and-comers

ASMV - The Paladins have relocated to ASMV for the weeks leading up to the tourney, practicing and touring the country while awaiting the start of the tourney.

This draw "is, although much easier than the last draw [which featured then-world #1 Sarzonia and hosts Andossa se Mitrin Vega], still poses a significant challenge," said coach William Branstone. "These are two nations unfamiliar to most fans of NMS football, and we anticipate some good matches against them. We're the 200-pound giant in the room, and that's good, but we've got two heavily armed people looking to knock us down a peg, and that's not so good. With only one spot advancing to the championship rounds, we can't afford any slipups against these guys."

Group 8 Draw

Only two games for Cuation but both will be a test. The Monks with whom relations have slid will be one masive test for Cuation's team in this pre season Cup while Tynelia are a promising side who will fancy an upset. For both games, a full team will be sent out as Cuation try to build up form.

The last cup was a disaster and Cuation never fully recovered but with the side ageing and no real replacments emerging, this may just be a finall hurrah before Cuations slides down the rankings.

ASMV fans can be expected to back us and we wish all sides the best of luck.

Oh Thanks A Bundle



The group draw for the Draggonnii Inviyattii has been made and the Hyppos have been placed in Group 7. Obviously it would have been too much to ask for an easy group but this, this is just silly. Sure the fans are absolutely delighted at the prospect of a couple of local derbies but as the draw was made coach DiMarco seem to lose all colour from his face. And here’s why . . .

Starblaydia

Former world champions, four time winners of the AOCAF and general all round show offs. The Purple Peril could not have enjoyed watching Srazonia lift this trophy four years ago and they’re back to make amends. And with one team to advance from the group we have to get a result against them. No problem, we’ve done it a couple of times before. Just not for a while. And never in open play. And never outside the AOCAF.

Past Meetings

AOCAF IX (Cockbill Street)

Quarter Final
Hypocria 1 - 1 Starblaydia (aet)
Hyppos win 5 - 4 on penalties


AOCAF XI (Bettia)

Quarter Final
Hypocria 1 - 1 Starblaydia (aet)
Hyppos win 3 - 2 on penalties


AOCAF XII (Chicanada)

Group B
Hypocria 0 - 3 Starblaydia



Milchama

Oh it’s on now. Those accursed Warriors from Milchama have become public enemy number 2 (Spruitland, before you ask) after they denied the Hyppos a place in the recent World Cup. Previously results against Milchama had been good but in that one of playoff match in Fmjphoenix the form book was turned on its head. Ironically Milchama had been experiencing the type of luck that had earned them the tag of the “new Hypocria”. Ninety minutes in Vanguard killed of that nickname. Revenge dammit!


Past Meetings

Cup of Harmony 16 (New Montreal States)

Group 2
Hypocria 2 - 1 Milchama


Cup of Harmony 17 (Praying2God)

Group 2
Hypocria 2 - 1 Milchama


World Cup 27 Qualification Playoff (Fmjphoenix)

Hypocria 0 - 2 Milchama



Around the Groups

Group 1
Sarzonia are the defending champions and after being one of the Stars’ victims as they scythed through everyone in our World Cup qualification group we find it hard to bet against them. Sorry Sea Dragon and Kazoo fans but Sarzonia are too good.

Group 2
Why couldn’t we have gotten this group? The Islands of Qutar will narrowly pip Wentland to the post with Chuck Norris bringing up the rear. So to speak.

Group 3
This is an easy one for the Paladins. Bequerelia are a spirited side but they and Qazox will ultimately fall short.

Group 4
Again, this looks like being a one horse race. Arridia are always capable of challenging but the Tadjiks will be too strong. Bazalonia don’t have a prayer.

Group 5
They will be feeling fairly confident in Casari after this draw. Dorian and Sonya and Georgeonia will have to be on top of their games to stand a chance. Even those bikini top kits may not save the Mystic Unicorns in this one.

Group 6
Another easy one. This time it’s Krytenia that benefits from the luck of the draw. Neither Haraki or Atheistic Right look strong enough to challenge the Aces.

Group 7
Damn Blaydis

Group 8
This one is slightly more tricky. I think it’s safe to rule out Tynelia but the Archregimancy and Cuation are equally matched. And after recent tensions between the two nations the matchups between them could get nasty.

Alexandria Times-Tribune-Post-Gazette-Chronicle-News-Journal-Enquirer

Sports Section

Milchama get a awful awful draw

We could not be reporting worse news to you our readers after our recent draw in ASMV. We got put in Group 7 in a three team group, the thing that matter though is who we are against. Of course we are against Starblaydia and Hypocria which is by far the toughest draw of any group. With one or two teams advancing in the group it looks hard for the Warriors to advance. Coach Jamie Smith said, "This was bad luck there is no other way to put it. We can overcome this bad draw but it will be hard and will involve some luck. We did make the World Cup last time although we would have liked some better results... Really I just want to beat Hypocria again because right now to make them hate us even more would be great and something I would relish."

Now to the infamous Milchamian predictions:

Starblaydia- A tough side that we have never beaten if we have ever played them before. Just made the semifinals in the World Cup where we failed miserably and in stunning fashion. Despite our want of beating them it looks very unlikely unfortunately.

Hypocria- It's them again! After beating them (unfortunately it was them) to get to the World Cup to get our asses kicked. They want revenge but we are still better than them anyway. It will close fought but we will win in the end.

So that means 3 points and no advancement unfortunately or maybe advancement if there are two teams advancing we're not sure about that.

Note: This takes two years after World Cup 27 in my timeline.

http://www.geocities.com/becquerelia/images/bnff.gif
BECQUERELIA
National Football Team


Style: 5-3-2
Modifier: -3 defensive


ROSTER

HEAD COACH
Macarius Ransome, age 64
10 Wins, 8 Losses, and 10 Draws in International Play

ASSISTANT COACHES
John Meurer, age 50

Alexander Helmcamp, age 50

FORWARDS
#1 Peter Constantine, age 31, Starter, Captain
28 Caps, and 15 Goals in International Play

#9 Ceolwulf Novoselic, age 31, Starter
28 Caps, and 7 Goals in International Play

MIDFIELDERS
#19 Michael Silva, age 27, Starter
28 Caps, and 1 Goal in International Play

#11 Ambrose Wainwright, age 29, Starter
28 Caps, and 0 Goals in International Play

#18 Daniel Abigantus, age 28, Starter
18 Caps, and 1 Goal in International Play

#22 Niceaus Annunziata, age 21
8 Caps, 1 Goal in International Play

#23 Paul Annunziata, age 21
8 Caps, 1 Goal in International Play

DEFENDERS
#3 Stephen Grohl, age 32, Starter
28 Caps, and 0 Goals in International Play

#20 Ceslaus Goldsmith, age 30, Starter
28 Caps, and 0 Goals in International Play

#16 Keyne Hawkins, age 28, Starter
28 Caps, and 0 Goals in International Play

#12 Thomas Strazzabosco, age 26, Starter
19 Caps, and 0 Goals in International Play

#5 Blaise Rouillard, age 23, Starter
16 Caps, and 0 Goals in International Play (3 Caps, and 0 Goals in U-21 World Cup)

#17 Tychon Wuestenberg, age 22
10 Caps, and 0 Goals in International Play (3 Caps, and 0 Goals in U-21 World Cup)

#21 Quentin Diorbaugh, age 20, Starter
8 Caps, 0 Goals in International Play (3 Caps, and 0 Goals in U-21 World Cup)

GOALKEEPERS
#2 David Deneen, age 30, Starter
28 Caps, and 0 Goals in International Play

#4 Rainbold Shiflett, age 27
28 Caps, and 0 Goals in International Play


TEAM KITS
As always, Becquerelia's jerseys are designed and produced by Mercury Athletics, Becquerelia's permier sportswear suppliers.

Becquerelia's home uniform. (http://www.geocities.com/becquerelia/images/becquereliahome.gif)
Becquerelia's away uniform. (http://www.geocities.com/becquerelia/images/becquereliaaway.gif)
Becquerelia's alternate uniform, should the opportunity ever present itself to use them. (http://www.geocities.com/becquerelia/images/becquereliathird.gif)
Becquerelia's goalie uniform. (http://www.geocities.com/becquerelia/images/becquereliagoalie.gif)


My opponent, if they RP first, may do the following:
Choose my goalscorers Y
Godmod Scoring Events Y
RP injuries to my players Y (Don't kill anyone. But if you really, really want to kill one of my players or coaches, just telegram me and we'll talk about it.)
Godmod injuries to my players Y
Hand out Yellow cards to my players Y
Hand out Red cards to my players Y
Godmod Other Events Y

"So, Bob, Islands of Qutar and Mr Chuck Norris. What do you know about them?"

"Qutar...new bugs, like us, not that much experience in international football. Doubtless using the Dragon tourney for further expo. Very dangerous, they won the Cup of Harmony when we could not get out of the groups. Should be good games against them."

"What about Mr Chuck Norris, Bob?"

"Don't know about them. There were rumours that the earthquake that hit South Wentland last year was caused by the team doing jumping jacks. And that their chief export is pain. Oh, and they can divide by zero. Which is nice. Should be tough games against them."

"How about the squad selection, Bob? Has the Bluffmeister lost it?"

"Well, we'll see. An entire Crowhurst team. Will he play them? It's like Blockbusters, will a team playing with knowledge of each other beat individuals?"

"I'll have a P, Bob."

"You're not funny, Len."

Group 5

Casari (19*)
Dorian and sonya (93*)
Georgeonia (100*)

Squids Face Exciting Group Stage

Georgeonia look to have been drawn into a reasonable group, avoiding some particularly
nasty groupings such as goup 2 and group 7. They will face off twice against each of
their opponents, neither of whom they have played before. Let's take a look at the
squids' opposition:

Casari (19*)
Even before taking into account the increase in rank the world cup finals will have
provided, it is clear that Casari are one of the best teams that the squids have ever
had to face. Analyses in the media of other nations has predicted that they will top
this group without breaking a sweat, and frankly we find it difficult to argue.
Freshly returned from a trip to the world cup finals, playing against the world's best
teams, they will be expecting to make short work of their opponents here. Like the
Squids, Casari play with a balanced +0 style, but are also adopting an unusual
3-1-2-1-3. Georgeonia may find it difficult to adapt to this new formation, but on the
other hand, the squids' 5-3-2 overlapping wingback formation may be ideally suited to
take advantage of the lack of width Casari's formation provides. Overall, however,
Casari have named a strong team, with all but two of their players having world cup
experience, and both of their opponents may struggle to take anything from them.
Predicted finish - 1st
Predicted points from this team - 1

Dorian and Sonya (93*)
A young and rising team, like the Squids, D and S should provide two close and hard
fought games. The difference in rankings between the teams is sufficiently small to
make the outcomes of their encounters very diffiult to predict, and they should
provide entertaining viewing. D and S performed marginally better than the Squids at
wc27, but on the other hand, Georgeonia were more sucessful in the recent cup of
harmony. D and S will be playing with a slight attacking style modifier, and so the
Squids may choose to make use of their five defenders to stem incoming attacks, before
trying to score on the break with long balls forward to the strikers, a tactic which
has proved successful against far more highly ranked attacking teams. D and S,
assuming no formation changes from the cup of harmony, will play an attacking 3-4-3
formation, which is a little unusual, but should pose no particular problems for the
squids.
Predicted finish - 3rd
Predicted points from this team - 3

Mad Cap'n Bob has indicated that he will be playing a mixture of young and experienced
players for this tournament, in order to help make decisions regarding the squad for
wc28 qualifying. Expect therefore to see some exciting new talent on the pitch for the
Squids, as well as some familiar faces.

*rankings pre wc27 finals and CoH

Chuck Norris News
For All Of Your Fighting Norris Coverage

Hello good football fans, it's that time of year to see the Fighting Norris underachieve... again! However, now the Fighting Norris are set to lose in a non-World Cup sanctioned tourney. This tourney is known to most the world as the Draggonnii Inviyatii pre-World Cup showcase. The groups have already been drawn and here to comment on the Fighting Norris' group is the coach of the Fighting Norris, Bob Janney.

"Hello of our loyal fans, Bob Janney here. I'm just letting you all know now that we've been drawn into group 2 with 29-ranked The Islands of Qutar and 35-ranked Wentland. Being as new as we are to the football world, we don't know too much about them. However, we do know that they both participated in Baptism of Fire before ours, meaning their first World Cup was World Cup 26, one cup before ours. The Islands of Qutar actually won that Baptism of Fire, beating the now World Cup threat The Kazoo Peoples 3-2, while Wentland didn't get past the qualification round. Both teams must be good as they both qualified in their first World Cup tourney, much better than we did. In the 26th World Cup proper, Wentland failed to win a match while The Islands of Qutar managed upset World Cup power Starblaydia 3-2 to score 3 points, but failed to get to the second round. I don't like predicting, but I'm gonna do it anyway. We face both of these teams twice.

The Islands of Qutar- We lose 2-3, We lose 0-2
Wentland- We lose 0-2, We draw 2-2

Basically, if we move on, it'll be one heck of a fluke. In our last eight matches, we've forged 3 draws and suffered five losses without a single win. I SO BADLY WANT A WIN! However, considering the Total n Utter dominance of the two teams in our group over us, we won't find it here. For once in my life, I'm not being optimistic, we're screwed. Even with Chuck Norris back from injury, WE DON'T HAVE A CHANCE! I'll be back after matchday one with some group analysis for all of you who get sick pleasure out of us losing."

Keep in mind that any and all ranks in this post are according to the post-WC27 qualification round. This means that the current Cup of Harmony and World Cup proper haven't been included as they are not yet over.

Vargas was unenthusiastic about the results of the group draw. Krytenia took the top spot in Group Six. In World Cup XXVII they had made it all the way to the second round after qualifying before being eliminated by football giants Audioslavia. They looked poised to take the entire group against the hopes and dreams of Haraki and Atheistic Right. However, Vargas was also willing to fight tooth and nail to get his team a victory over the supposedly superior Krytenian team and the ability to move on to better, higher places. He predicted at least a victory over Atheistic Right, fellow Baptism of Fire-ers who had not displayed quite as much success as the Hawks. However, he had seen more surprising results than even an Atheistic Right victory over Krytenia in all his days in football.

He had hopes, but they were far from reality. He had to admit that Haraki would most likely finish second in the group, behind Krytenia but ahead of Atheistic Right, and lack the ability to move any further, although not from lack of trying.

Unicorns To Face Casari, Georgeonia

The Mystical Unicorns have been drawn into group 5 for the Draggonnii Inviyatti. And it really could not have been any better for the squad. Casari of course is expected to run away with the group, but tough matches against Georgeonia will determine the second spot. Pehaps casari will suffer a letdown after they look at the group and relax too much. We can hope. We really thought about the bikini kits but Hypocria is probably right - they wont help that much. We will save them for Eauz again. They worked on them.

The Squad will be the same from both WC27 and the CoH. The usual 3-4-3 fromation will take a slight shift to a +2 style.

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e228/Sonya0111/DorianandSonyaKeeperKits.jpg
Head Coach: Luthien Oronar
Asst Offense: Lessien Arnatuilë
Asst Defense: Idril Mithrandír

* denotes starters

Goalkeepers:
13 Alassea Sáralondë Age:18*
11 Alassea Culnámo Age:16

Defenders:
22 Eámanë Súrion Age:17*
21 Nessa Elendil Age:18*
24 Nienna Palantír Age:17*
29 Lessien Mithrandír Age:16
27 Alassea Ancalímon Age:15

Midfielders:
30 Tári Falassion Age:17*
35 Elemmírë Carnesîr Age:18*
31 Uruviel Telemnar Age: 18*
38 Nátulcien Eluch`div` Age:17*
37 Nátulcien Arcamenel Age:15
32 Ireth Telemnar Age:16
33 Nienna Cúthalion Age:15

Attackers:
43 Merenwen Súrion Age:17*
41 Morwen Inglorion Age:18*
40 Altáriël Telperiën Age:17*
45 Merenwen Sáralondë Age:15
47 Gilraen Tinúviel Age:15
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e228/Sonya0111/DSPitchChart.gif

You can do anything that does not include loss of life or limb.

THE MONASTIC TIMES

ARCHREGIMANCY UNKNOWNS FACE SCHISMATIC HERETICS
Team Officials Expect to Spend Half-Time Arguing Over Filioque


In a nation where the coming arrival of Holy Week has the entire citizenry more than slightly distracted, the Draggonnii Inviyattii tournament in Andossa se Mitrin Vega has passed largely unnoticed - especially since the Archregimancy is being represented by a rotating squad of young unknowns rather than the usual national team.

But one thing has made some people back home take notice. One or two. Here and there. Maybe. And that's the group draw which pitches the Archregimancy squad against the slightly obsessive Catholic schismatics of Cuation and the Irish-coached (and therefore possibly Catholic schismatic) nation of Tynelia.

Senior officials at the MFA are said to be 'concerned' over drawing Cuation, especially given that nation's apparent recent obsession with the idea that Archregimancy football officials are conspiring to bribe referees to throw matches in favour of Cuation's opponents - a wholly unwarranted accusation that MFA officials would continue to blithely ignore if it wasn't for now having to face the Catholic Heretics on the field of play.

MFA officials expect the test Archregimancy trainee squad to waste a lot of time arguing over the finer points of the heretical nature of the filioque with their Catholic opponents.

OOC - I have a quick comment concerning the group draws. I wanted to see what would happen with a random group draw. That resulted in very tough groups for 1,2, and 7 while 4,5,and 6 are decidedly lopsided according to rankings. I apologize to all squads with the tough draws. But I am one of them as well. I decided not to change them this time around for two reasons. 1 - This tourney doesn’t count for anything besides fun, and 2- the draws produced some really great matchups. Anything in groups 1 and 7 as well as The Archregimancy/Cuation situation. Next time around I will be giving consideration to returning to a more standard type draw that creates more even groupings. After the DI concludes, I would like feedback on that subject.

Now as to how the tourney will unfold. You will play each team in your groups twice during pool play. The top squad from each group will move to the Championship Bracket. The Second squad from each group will move into the Secondary Bracket and the bottom squads will move into the consolation bracket. Each bracket will see each squad play 3 matches. Hope that clears up any confusion.

IC - Now for the group play schedule.

MD1
Group 1 The Kazoo Peoples vs. ASMV (Errion Vega Stadii, Errion Vega)
Group 2 Wentland vs. Mr Chuck Norris (Tapia Ries Civic Arena, Tapia Reis)
Group 3 Qazox vs. Becquerelia (Carrington Championship Arena, Carrington)
Group 4 Ariddia vs. Bazalonia (Yumbo Jumbo Sports Complex, Radiance)
Group 5 Dorian and Sonya vs. Georgeonia (Island Beachfront Arena, Isla De Marte)
Group 6 Haraki vs. Atheistic Right (Inferi Domei, Tua Monafu)
Group 7 Milchama vs. Hypocria (Stadii Se Draggonnii Arcea, Errion Vega)
Group 8 Cuation vs. Tynelia (Meldenburg Mountain Fieldhouse, Meldenburg)

MD2
Group 1 ASMV vs. Sarzonia (Stadii Se Draggonnii Arcea)
Group 2 Mr Chuck Norris vs. The Islands of Qutar (Island Beachfront Arena)
Group 3 Bequerelia vs. New Montreal States (Meldenburg Mountain Fieldhouse)
Group 4 Bazalonia vs. Tadjikistan (Carrington Championship Arena)
Group 5 Georgeonia vs. Casari (Yumbo Jumbo Sports Complex)
Group 6 Atheistic Right vs. Krytenia (Tapia Reis Civic Arena)
Group 7 Hypocria vs. Starblaydia (Errion Vega Stadii)
Group 8 Tynelia vs. The Archregimancy (Inferi Domei)

MD3
Group 1 Sarzonia vs. The Kazoo Peoples (Inferi Domei)
Group 2 The Islands of Qutar vs. Wentland (Stadii Se Draggonnii Arcea)
Group 3 New Montreal States vs. Qazox (Errion Vega Stadii)
Group 4 Tadjikistan vs. Ariddia (Meldenburg Mountain Fieldhouse)
Group 5 Casari vs. Dorian and Sonya (Tapia Reis Civic Arena)
Group 6 Krytenia vs. Haraki (Island Beachfront Arena)
Group 7 Starblaydia vs. Milchama (Carrington Championship Arena)
Group 8 The Archregimancy vs. Cuation (Yumbo Jumbo Sports Complex)

MD’s 4-6 will feature the same matchups as MD’s 1-3 respectively. Stadiums will be announced later.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a318/stormgiantxxxl/ASMVMapV2.png

ASMV Announces Roster

With the ASMV WC squad involved in the AOCAF, the B Squad again gets the nod to face off against opponents in the Draggonnii Inviyatii.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a318/stormgiantxxxl/ASMVBKeeperKits.png
Head Coach- Brittanie Imburg
Asst Head Coach - Genna Tortorelli
Offensive Asst - Tari Klatt
Defensive Asst - Nolan Sprenkal
Keeper Asst - Moisses Machi
Staff MD - Lucilla Macneal
Trainer - Tamara Patee
Media Manager - Hal Rosh
Event Coordinator - Darius Zupncic
Waterboy - Armand Summeral

Keepers:
4 - Georgeanne Mellet,18
6 - Levinia Colding, 20.

Defenders:
54 - Fidel Berte, 24
34 - Rob Hoeckman, 26
20 - Dana Obensheim,17
32 - Rod Trailing, 23
21 - Beata Sjostrovic, 28
40 - Briann Donchez, 22
44 - Pura Goffinet, 21
50 - Francine Boyar, 24
41 - Hal Dubitsky, 27

Midfielders:
22 - Moses Bessemer, 19
18 - Bulah Monteroza, 21
15 - Virgen Sacayanam, 20
10 - Virgin Stiober, 19
57 - Valena Arturo, 21

Attackers:
5 - Broderick Wallenstein, 24
9 - Kabe Tribby, 23
39 - Elanore Griffazzi, 22
00 - Melodie Quilici, 18

Tidal Surge 5-3-2 formation, -1 Style

“Welcome everyone to Tynelian Soccer Weekly’s pre- Draggonnii Inviyattii preview edition. This is Sal Spikeman along with Anna Dalespin with a quick look at Tynelia’s chances for this tourney. So Anna how does it look for us this time?”

“One word Sal, bad. We draw a pair of top 40 teams and only the group winner advances. Both the Archregimancy and Cuation are ranked well ahead of Tynelia and just about every prognosis for us claims that Tynelia will be lucky to grab any points at all against these two. I think that’s unfair to Tynelia however. While that might have been a solid option when we first entered international play three years ago Tynelia has improved a great deal since that time. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Tynelia even win one of their four games against the higher seeds and possibly add a draw or two in the process. While 4 or 5 points probably won’t be enough to advance, its still much more than people expect and will be a good bit of momentum for the World Cup next year.”

“Well Anna we start things off with Cuation. They’re a pretty balanced squad on both offense and defense so expect a pair of low scoring matches which could benefit Tynelia as low scoring games are what we seem to do best. Many still wonder if our slightly more offensive mindset will translate well against the defensive tradition Tynelia established in the last World Cup. However that same outlook cost Tynelia points in a few matches other believe and welcome a bit more attacking to prepare for the next World Cup.”

“That means Sal, that the pressure will be on the keepers more than last time as well. More offense means fewer defenders to help break up opposing attacks. However Coach O’Connell is confident that his keepers will be up to the task.”

“The Archregimancy is an interesting case though. While the highest seed in the group, it’s been mentioned that they will be playing a lot of new players this time around which means they will probably not be as cohesive as their regular national squad is. Another balanced team as well so figure on more low scoring games here as well. Again something that may help Tynelia.”

“That’s correct Sal, with a bit of a second team feel here the Archregimancy may indeed find the going not as easy as their regulars would. In fact I think they may be Tynelia’s best chance at getting a win as over have of the Tynelian squad has World Cup experience and will actually be the more seasoned squad in these matchups. Of course the Archregimancy has a longer tradition in the sport to help counter this.”

“So what are your picks Anna?”

“I think Cuation will win with a 2-1-1 record for 7 points. Tynelia will surprise with a 1-2-1 mark for 5 and the Archregimancy brings up the rear with a 1-1-2 record for 4 points.”

“Ok then Anna, we’ll all find out soon enough. As usual the games will be shown on live television and we’ll be here afterwards for the postgame show. Until then good night everyone.”

"Bazalopes Face Haraki. Do we have a chance?" by Nev Gould

Our last Draggonnii Invitational saw the Bazalopes in the bottom two teams of the whole tournament,. Facing up against nations like Arrida and Haraki seams to make us destined for another bottom bracket, though the battle for wooden spoon seems to be destined for the Team from Atheistic Right.

You may have heard about them, but only due to a war between them an Collonie. Atheistic Right claims Collonie attacked un-provoked while Collonie has made some sort of claim that Atheistic Right had sent a biological agent through the mail system. However we have seen no evidence of this and the government has stated that it sees no reason to side with either nation at this moment. Particularil as Athesitic Right are a bunch of Godless heathens who keep nothing sacred.

All I can say if certain rumours I have been hearing about certain Atheistic Right Coach-related 'incidents' then, but once again these are just rumours and we wait for any evidence to suggest such things.

.................

BFP, Net Crimes Building

Stan was looking at the previous newspaper article the investigation into the Attack on Soccer World Online and EG Inc. He picked up the phone and dialed his bosses extension.

"Sir, What if Atheistic Right was responsible for the attack on EG Inc." (Stan)

"Well.... Since the investigation has stalled, no real information has come up at all. You could see if this yeilds anything. But remember we need results, the Government is starting to think we can't do our job properly. So we can't waste too many man hours following this hunch of yours." (Luke)

"Yes, Sir I'll get on it right away." (Stan)

Stan thought to himself "Waste man hours?! We are not doing a b****y thing" as he started researching Atheistic Right

OOC: You'd forgotten about this didn't you!

After just surviving through the Cup of Harmony, Lion, the head of Atheistic Right Football Association, looked over reports from other nations. The ASMV comment about Atheistic Right in their report of the Draggonnii Invitational Draws "Atheistic Right is poised for a bottom finish to the tourney, and that makes Bazalonia happy."

Infuriated Lion, and when he read the Bazalonian article also predicting a last place for the Archeopteri infuriated him even further. Though something started to tick over in his mind... A plan to play with both ASMV and Bazalonia at the Same time. He started to organise the details.

And we look forward to see what's ahead:


http://www.geocities.com/becquerelia/images/qazox.gif Qazox____vs.____Becquereliahttp://www.geocities.com/becquerelia/images/bnff.gif


BECQUERELIA READY FOR DRAGGONNII CHALLENGE
First Match-Up Against Qazox


CARRINGTON, ASMV (JNS) - The last time Becquerelia traveled to Andossa Se Mitrin Vega, they were defeated in a World Cup qualifying round game.

"Thank goodness all were playing for is pride right now." said Head Coach Macarius Ransome.

Pride is definitly important. The team would love to take home the Draggonnii Arcea Tropia and show their mettle against some of the best teams in the world, but this tournament has a another factor to it: breaking in new National Team players.

"We've added two new midfielders. Niceaus and Paul Annunziata are the most talented twin midfielders I've seen in my life, and that's saying something." remarked Assistant Coach John Meurer. "Also, we've added Defender Quentin Diorbaugh, a tough little ball-hawk. All three of these guys have U-21 and Ylompic starting experience, and we can't wait until these guys really get going on the pitch."

"Of course, all our core players from the Baptism of Fire and World Cup are back," said Coach Ransome, "which might give us a leg up on the rest of the teams in the compitition, who feature a lot of new or inexperienced players in their line-ups."

Of course, the team is still focused on their Matchday 1 game against Qazox. "It would be easy to ignore the Black Oxen and focus completly on New Montral States." said Defender Stephen Grohl. "But that's dangerous thinking. Qazox is a tough nation. We know, we've been around as long as they have. And to advance forward in the qualifying, you've got to win the whole group. And that entails beating Qazox."

Squids prepare for day 1 opponents

Mad Cap'n Bob announced an inexperienced side for the Squids'
first matchday against Dorian and Sonya, with a few veterans
to anchor the team. The squad will be as follows:

# Name Pos. Age Caps Goals

Starting 11:

1 Nedrick (GK) 24 18 0

13 Gittens (CB) 17 1 0
2 Ryan (CB) 28 19 0
15 Stephens (CB) 18 0 0

21 Stilk (WB) 20 1 0
22 Roffey (WB) 19 2 0

16 Ray (M) 23 3 1
6 Benge (c) (M) 25 19 3
18 Whybrow (M) 19 1 0

19 Caldwell (S) 17 1 0
20 Cunningham (S) 21 3 1

Substitutes:

12 Moloney (GK) 25 1 0
4 Owino (CB) 22 19 1
10 Latimer (WB) 22 19 0
17 Walkington (M) 24 1 0
8 Camplin (S) 27 18 3

Cuation Kick Off Date

Cuation will be played the promising side of Tynelia on Match Day 1. They predict Cuation to advance through the group but with only four games, a reserve monk side and Cuation ever inconsistant, they could go through just as easily.

We predict our record to be 1-2-1, our first game being a draw with neither side scoring. Rumors are that the Cuation managment are planning to give the U21's a start in the first game as Cuation can catch up if they lose. A risky gamble if it is true.

Qazox City Herald

Group draw for Draggonnii Inviyattii 2nd Edition, cam out and Qazox got a short stick this time. the group is: New Montreal States a world power, and BECQUERELIA a familiar foe from the prevoius Baptism of Fire. we've never played these teams, but should be a good time by all as World Cup 28 is only a few months away.

Chuck Norris News
For All Of Your Fighting Norris Coverage

The schedule of the Fighting Norris for the second Draggonnii Inviyatii was recently released and can be seen at the end of this newscast. All of us here are very eager for the first matchday, but that is yet to come. To fill the void of time, we have Bob Janney here to do some group analysis and comparrison.

"Hello everyone, hopefully you'll find this semi-interesting. I've calculated the group average world rank for every group in an effort to determine the best/worst groups. Here's what I found, the groups listed from the overall hardest (best average rank) to the overall easiest (worst average rank).

Group 1: 26
Group 7: 29+(2/3)
Group 8: 47+(2/3)
Group 4: 50+(2/3)
Group 2: 51+(1/3)
Group 3: 56+(1/3)
Group 6: 65+(1/3)
Group 5: 70+(2/3)

Average Team Rank: 49.71
Number of teams below average: 10
Number of teams above average: 14

In observation, our group isn't easiest, but it most certainly isn't the hardest either. We look forward to our matches with great anticipation and I hope that all will attend."

Schedule for the Second Draggonnii Inviyatii
Matchday One: Vs. Wentland
Matchday Two: Vs. The Islands of Qutar
Matchday Three: Bye
Matchday Four: Vs. Wentland
Matchday Five: Vs. The Islands of Qutar
Matchday Six: Bye

Keep in mind that any and all ranks in this post are according to the post-WC27 qualification round. This means that the current Cup of Harmony and World Cup proper haven't been included as they are not yet over.

MD1 Scores

Group 1
The Kazoo Peoples 2:1 ASMV

Group 2
Wentland 4:0 Mr Chuck Norris

Group 3
Qazox 2:1 Bequerelia

Group 4
Ariddia 3:0 Bazalonia

Group 5
Dorian and Sonya 3:0 Georgeonia

Group 6
Haraki 3:1 Atheistic Right

Group 7
Milchama 2:0 Hypocria

Group 8
Cuation 3:1 Tynelia

Standings

Group Squad GP W D L PF PA GD PTS

1 Kazoo Peop 1 1 0 0 2 1 1 3
1 sarzonia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1 ASMV 1 0 0 1 1 2 -1 0

2 Wentland 1 1 0 0 4 0 4 3
2 Isl Qutar 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2 Mr Chuck N 1 0 0 1 0 4 -4 0

3 Qazox 1 1 0 0 2 1 1 3
3 NMS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 Bequerelia 1 0 0 1 1 2 -1 0

4 Ariddia 1 1 0 0 3 0 3 3
4 Tadjikistan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 Bazalonia 1 0 0 1 0 3 -3 0

5 Dorian & S 1 1 0 0 3 0 3 3
5 Casari 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 Georgeonia 1 0 0 1 0 3 -3 0

6 Haraki 1 1 0 0 3 1 2 3
6 Krytenia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
6 Atheistic R 1 0 0 1 1 3 -1 0

7 Milchama 1 1 0 0 2 0 2 3
7 Starblaydia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
7 Hypocria 1 0 0 1 0 2 -2 0

8 Cuation 1 1 0 0 3 1 2 3
8 The Archreg 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
8 Tynelia 1 0 0 1 1 3 -1 0

The banter following the match with Mr Chuck Norris was something to behold. "Beat that, then," said Norman Cooper to the "others". "4-0!"

"I think Qutar will be a bit more difficult," said Fred Waddell. "They're above us in the rankings, won the Baptism of Fire..."

"Bet you a tenner you won't put four past Mr CN..."

"You're on..."

The game had been surprisingly easy as the Wentland team, with familiarity of playing together for ten years, had their ESP going. A ball from Jones into an apparent space which the Norris team left was collected by tiny Peter Davey, whose burst of speed was read by Cooper and who bulleted a header home for the first. Three debutants combining to score.

The second was a belter. Jones again holding in midfield chipped one to the edge of the box and Ginger Collins, playing in the hole, volleyed it almost over his shoulder into the top corner. 2-0 just before half-time.

The third saw Talbot overlapping Loder and sending in a cross. The defence had been drawn to Cooper and Barnes but they were making dummy runs and Davey at the far stick had an empty net. Three-nil with twenty to go.

And the fourth, equalling Wentland's biggest-ever margin of victory, came late on, with a break from a corner, Davey's prodigious pace taking him to the brink of scoring, but when his shot rebounded from the keeper's body Tommy Barnes chipped lazily into the empty net.

Edgar Bluff rewarded the Crowhurst eleven by keeping them for the second match against Qutar. He warned them, though...they were not playing in the last 2 games...the experiment was all-important.

Unicorns Off and Running

Queen Sonya sat in the box above the pitch at Island Beachfront Arena in Isla De Marte, ASMV for her squad's first match here against Georgeonia. Both sides had a great showing in the qualifiers for WC27, overachieving from their 211th world rankings. Then came the CoH where the Unicorns failed miserably and Georgeonia had little more success. And now the two sides had been granted a miracle by being placed in the same group with only Casari as a higher seed to watch for.So Queen Sonya sat there not knowing what to expect as the two sides faced each other for the first time.

The match began with both sides trying to feel each other out. The first half seemed rather dull until Altáriël Telperiën broke free and scored just minutes before the half ended. But the feeling was that of an even match at the half. Coach Luthien Oronar gave his girls quite an earful during the break. And that must have made a difference.

The second half proved to be decidedly one-sided as D&S scored twice (Merenwen Súrion - 53', Telperiën 71') without allowing a goal from the Squids who made a valiant effort but could not get past keeper Alassea Sáralondë who more than proved she should be the starter following her having been benched near the end of the WC27 run.

The Mystical Unicorns now have a bye date to prepare for the match against Casari. Queen Sonya has already talked to the squad and let them know she wants a victory over the Casari squad. After a horrid Ylompic venture, this would be a great victory over the host of those games.

Mystical Unicorns give Squids the Horn...

Near limitless potential for bad smutty puns aside, last night's
game was one of the most dissapointing in the Squids' short
history. After the three-nil defeat to a team just seven places
above them in the world rankings, some critics have questioned
Mad Cap'n Bob's decision to play a near reserve side in the match.
The manager was resolute, however, maintaining that the purpose of
this tournament is to prepare for the world cup, not to win at all
costs, and that the match had given him the chance to see some of
his less experienced players in action. This did little to
appease the angry fans who had travelled to see the match. The
Squids' performance was not entirely without merit, and indeed they
even enjoyed a period of sustained pressure in the second half,
with Cunningham unlucky not to score, but the Unicorns always looked
one step ahead. "Perhaps they were just distracted by playing against
a group of teenage girls in skimpy outfits" remarked one
digruntled fan after the match, "they need to learn to keep their
minds on the game." Whatever the reason for the heavy defeat, Mad
Cap'n Bob has admitted that he will be switiching to a more
experienced line up for today's match against Casari. "Today I'm
experimenting with possible starting line-ups for the world cup."
remarked the manager, "Nothing is certain yet, of course, but I'd
like to have the chance to see how the squad performs when I mix
the best of the old and new talent." Will the team suffer another
humiliating defeat, or will the changes of personel allow a shock
result against the highly fancied Casari? Only time will tell.

Squad for today's match against Casari:

# Name Pos. Age Caps Goals

Starting eleven:

1 Nedrick (GK) 24 19 0

3 Fagan (CB) 25 19 0
2 Ryan (CB) 28 20 0
4 Owino (CB) 22 19 1

10 Latimer (WB) 22 19 0
22 Roffey (WB) 19 3 0

16 Ray (M) 23 4 1
6 Benge(c) (M) 25 20 3
18 Whybrow (M) 19 2 0

9 Majewski (S) 23 19 5
20 Cunningham (S) 21 4 1

Substitutes:

12 Moloney (GK) 25 1 0
3 Stephens (CB) 18 1 0
11 Adomako (WB) 28 18 0
7 Dica (M) 20 18 0
8 Camplin (S) 27 19 3

“Hello everyone, this is Tynelian Soccer Weekly on the field correspondent Dana Lee here today. Unfortunately due to a power outage at the studio we are unable to send you to Sal Spikeman and Anna Dalespin for your regular program so it’s all up to me today. Our team fell 3-1 to Cuation today and now hope to do better against the Archregimancy in our next match before we get a bye. With me is Tynelian Coach Seamus Flannigan O’Connell who no doubt hopes to come away with some points in this next match.”

“Right ya’ are there lass. Though the squad played like a bunch o’ mamby-pamby Brits. Its not too tough to remember that yer supposed ta’ attack more if you’re gonna score. They haven’t figured that out yet. But they’d best do better next time if they want ta beat those dress wearin’ monks.”

“Before I forget Coach. Why is the entire team doing laps around the field after the match?”

“That’s part o’ my motivatin’ plan. Ya see, every time they lose, they run five laps around the field. Lose two in a row and they do ten laps. If they win, they don’t have ta run and get to subtract five laps from their total. If they draw, then they don’t have ta run at all but the lap total for next time doesn’t change none. Unless its ta a team that’s got no business tiein’ us then they damn well are gonna be a runnin’ “

<the team just happens to pass by at that moment and Andy Martins calls out to O’Connell>

“Coach why are the reserves running? We weren’t even in the game?”

<O’Connell begins screaming at him>

“Ya lazy good fer nuthin’ just cause your grandpappy’s the president don’t make ya any better than da rest o’ yer team! You’re runnin’ cause if you were playin’ better maybe I’d start ya and then maybe we might have won. But yer not good enough to start then maybe a few laps will git ya motivated some ta do better. This is a team boys an’ girls, ya play together, ya run laps together, all for one an one for all. Git that into yer heads and maybe ya might start winnin’ some games. Five extra laps fer ya Martins fer opennin’ yer flap!”

<O’Connell turns back to Lee as Martins groans>

“Ya see lass, there’s no special privileges or nuthin’ on a team I’m runnin’ These boys and girls need ta become a fine Brit arse kicking soccer machine if they think they’ll be doin’ anythin’ in the World Cup. O’Meara was too soft on ‘em so its up ta me ta toughen them up some.”

“I see. So what do you plan to do different in your next match?”

“Well lass, if these lazy good fer nuthin’s out there get their heads inta the game then they might do better. Bloody ‘ell they’re playing the second team after all, if they can’t do somethin’ against them we may as well head home now. But let me tell ya a secret dana.”

“What’s that coach?”

“Ya see lass, I’ve found the surest way to git a team over the hump. Lots of times, a young squad gets nervous before playing the established teams, sacred of makin’ mistakes and all that and that usually makes them do it even more. BUT if you make your team more scared o’ what their coach will do to ‘em if they lose, then there’s not a bloody thing that will happen on the field that’s gonna bother them worse than facin’ me after they lose. It may not pay off here but I’m bettin’ that by the time we play in the Cup next year, the boys and girls will be wettin’ themselves at the thought of facin’ me if they don’t qualify this time around.”

“That’s interesting Coach. Do you think it will work?”

“Well it bloody well did for the Titans. Course it’ll be a bit tougher with lazy Brits like Masterson on the squad.” <pauses to yell at Alan MacDougal> “Ya call yerself an Irishman? Yer a disgrace ta the name playin’ like ya did today! Let’s go show me some hustle man!” <turns back to Dana> “They just need a bit more seasoning, bunch of wee babes for the most part on the team. But they’ll be ready, I promise ya that.”

“Thanks Coach O’Connell. Well I’m afraid that’s all the time we have for now. Thanks for stopping by here today Coach and good luck tomorrow.”

“A pleasure lass.”

<O’Connell then turns and walks towards the field yelling at the team as they continue their laps>

“Well that was an interesting interview to say the least. Hopefully next time the power situation will be straightened out and Sal and Anna will be back to take care of things once again. For now I’m Dana Lee, goodnight everyone.”

Qutar Sports News Network

Good Afternoon Qutar, we take you live to the Qutari Football Association Headquarters in Cere for a press conference on Qutar's involvement in the Draggonnii Inviyattii. The President is coming out now, and so is our national manager Paul Dove.

President John Wright : Thank-you all for coming, I know there have been some press rumors about our involvement in the next Draggonnii Inviyattii tournament and I am delighted to say that we are in this tournament, this tournament is a showcase for World Football. Now i'll hand you to Paul to tell you about the team we'll be sending

Paul Dove : Well I know some of you have called me pig-headed, stubborn and other such things, but I am going to field an unchanged team from the latest World Cup. I really do beileve in this team, and the players. Luck just hasn't been on our side, decisions that should have gone in our favour went against us. But I beileve this team will show its metal on do very well in the competition.

Press Reporter #1 : Is there truth in the rumour that you are set to retire after this campaign?

Paul Dove : Well, I'm not as young as I used to be but if at the end of this tournament I feel that I can still be the best for the job and the QFA agree I would stay on as manager.

Press Reporter #2 : President Wright, how much money did you embezzle from the government?

President John Wright : Thats it for questions today

http://members.lycos.co.uk/rockface2004/images/team.jpg
The formation and starting line-up

Pual Keane Debut Hatrick

Young players, Pual Keane, Mickey Dawlawn, Jude Tanner made their senoir starts but only Pual impressed for Cuation. The striker replaced Rual Mendiz and wil hope to start the next game after getting a hatrick.His energy seemed to unsettle a Tynlia that seemed reluctent to attack.

The first goal was a goal poachers's dream, Amy Whiteworth's parry from a testing effort by Ashton resulted in a goal mouth scramble. The ball went everywhere until Pual flicked out a leg, steering it into the net.

The second was another matter of instinct and luck deserting Whiteworth. Beanpole flicked one long ball down the left where Milnar collected it. Clear on goal, he took his time but Whiteworth pushed his shot against the bar, the rebound headed in by the quick Pual.

The third showed everyone that he could do more then goal hang, taking on Karl Jacobs for pace then jumping over the challenge of Tal Li. 1-1 with the keeper, he allowed Amy Whiteworth to come out then gently chipped the ball over her and into the net. 3-0

Jay Masterson scored a fantastic goal, controlling a diffifcult bouncing ball before humliating Jamie Hargresves three times, nutmegging Dawlan then drawing Jude Tanner out. Feinting to shot, he got Tanner to commit himself then rounded the keeper before walking the ball into the net. A goal to win any match but alas only a conslation.

After the game, Tynelian's manager had them doing laps around the pitch for some strange reason. They had tried and aqquited themselves better then the scoreline suggested. We have a restday for the next match whereas that poor team need rest before facing the monks.

Scorers for Cuation this cup
Pual Keano 3

PALADINS READY FOR BEQUERELIA

Branstone, team attend Bequerelia/Qazox match; Branstone: "Should be a good match."

ASMV - Fans lucky enough to secure tickets to the Group 3 opener here in ASMV would have noticed something unusual in the front row - a large section of people in blue and silver, lead by an acerbic Audioslavian madly scribbling notes while intently watching the Bequerelian side.

Yep, the Paladins and about two hundred fifty or so supporters were at the match, and they aren't buying into the 3-0 result favoring Qazox.

"It'll be a tough one, that's for sure," said Branstone. "We're motivated and ready to go, but they'll be as well, and it'll go to whoever plays the hardest out on the pitch. That said, let's go play some football."

The first game for the Paladins is tonight, at the Meldenburg Mountain Fieldhouse.

Chuck Norris News
For All Of Your Fighting Norris Coverage

What's that in the sky Fighting Norris fans? Is it a bird? A plane? Wait a minute...

IT'S FAILURE!

Wait until you hear this one guys...

Mr Chuck Norris 0
Wentland 4 (Norman Cooper 40, Ginger Collins 43, Peter Davey 70, Tommy Barnes 89)

Must we go into detail on this one? The Wentland offense began beating on the Fighting Norris offense right off the bat. Many found it surprising that it took 40 minutes for forward Norman Cooper to score Wentland's first goal. What only seemed to crush the Fighting Norris' non-existant hopes even more was when Wentland forward Ginger Collins chalked another score only THREE MINUTES LATER! the half closed with Wentland up 2-0 and the Fighting Norris team gasping for air.

On would think that a two-nil lead would be enough to send a team on the defense, but Wentland just kept on pounding away with what seemed to be an unknown interior motive. The Fighting Norris continued to struggle to advance the ball whatsoever. Not only that but Wentland summed up the last twenty minutes of the game with two more goals. This would make the score the worst defeat that the Fighting Norris have suffered since the pointless Turori vs. Fighting Norris match in World Cup 27, which was also a 0-4 routing.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"For the love of all that is good and holy," babbles an incoherent Bob Janney, coach of the Fighting Norris. "I just want to win ONE GAME! Is this too much to ask for? What have I done to earn this!? I mean honestly... I don't know what to do anymore..."

Yes Mr. Janney, we'll sum up what you mean at the end of this newscast. Speaking of which, please observe our new portion of this newscast the Fighting Norris failure streak, I think all of you watching will enjoy it. After all, who wouldn't get pleasure from watching the Fighting Norris suffer?

Schedule for the Second Draggonnii Inviyatii
Matchday One: Vs. Wentland (Loss 0-4)
Matchday Two: Vs. The Islands of Qutar
Matchday Three: Bye
Matchday Four: Vs. Wentland
Matchday Five: Vs. The Islands of Qutar
Matchday Six: Bye

Fighting Norris Failure Streak:
In the Fighting Norris' last nine games:
Record: (0-3-6)
Goals For: 7
Goals Against: 22
Goals Difference: -15
Motto: You can't possibly play worse than the Fighting Norris!

QAZOX CITY HERALD

This finally went well for Qazox today after a 5 game winless streak in international play, as the Black Oxen beat Bequerelia 2-1 in a hard fought match. Scoring opened in the 33rd minute as Super Star Bequerelian Forward Peter Constantine, blasted one past John Frorr, still subbing for an injured Reggie Hassok. the equalizer came in the 44th minute as a misplayed throw-in by Bequerelia allowed Maria Gretzky to weave through only 2 defenders to tie the match at 1-all.

Things got a little chippy in the 2nd half as each squad had 2 players receiving yellow cards for hard tackles. Stephen Grohl and Keyne Hawkins got yellows for Becquerelia, while the yellows went to Jarod Megia and Kiel Venice for Qazox. in the 70th minute, after Stephen Grohl's yellow card, Marie Goya lofted the direct kick just over David Deneen of Becquerelia's out-stretched arms to give the Black Oxen the lead. Dispite numerous attacks in the last 10 minutes, Becquerelia could not re-tie the match.

Here's the standings so farin group three:
Qazox 1 1 0 0 2 1 1 3
NMS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Bequerelia 1 0 0 1 1 2 -1 0

MD2 Scores

Group 1
ASMV 1:2 Sarzonia

Group 2
Mr Chuck Norris 1:1 The Islands of Qutar

Group 3
Bequerelia 0:3 New Montreal States

Group 4
Bazalonia 1:1 Tadjikistan

Group 5
Georgeonia 0:2 Casari

Group 6
Atheistic Right 0:3 Krytenia

Group 7
Hypocria 0:6 Starblaydia

Group 8
Tynelia 1:3 The Archregimancy

Group Squad GP W D L PF PA GD PTS

1 Kazoo Peop 1 1 0 0 2 1 1 3
sarzonia 1 1 0 0 2 1 1 3
ASMV 2 0 0 2 2 4 -2 0

2 Wentland 1 1 0 0 4 0 4 3
Isl Qutar 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1
Mr Chuck N 2 0 1 1 1 5 -4 1

3 Qazox 1 1 0 0 2 1 1 3
NMS 1 1 0 0 3 0 3 3
Bequerelia 2 0 0 2 1 5 -4 0

4 Ariddia 1 1 0 0 3 0 3 3
Tadjikistan 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1
Bazalonia 2 0 1 1 1 4 -3 1

5 Dorian & S 1 1 0 0 3 0 3 3
Casari 1 1 0 0 2 0 2 3
Georgeonia 2 0 0 2 0 5 -5 0

6 Haraki 1 1 0 0 3 1 2 3
Krytenia 1 1 0 0 3 0 3 3
Atheistic R 2 0 0 2 1 6 -5 0

7 Milchama 1 1 0 0 2 0 2 3
Starblaydia 1 1 0 0 6 0 6 3
Hypocria 2 0 0 2 0 8 -8 0

8 Cuation 1 1 0 0 3 1 2 3
The Archreg 1 1 0 0 3 1 2 3
Tynelia 2 0 0 2 2 6 -4 0

THE MONASTIC TIMES

MONKS DEFEAT CATHOLICS
Football Team Wins Too

A group of Archregimancy monks last night defeated a group of Catholic schismatics in open debate about the heretical nature of the filioque clause. Our brave lads rightly pointed out that the doctrine of the double procession of the Holy Spirit opened up the Papist heretics to the charge of Sabellianist heresy.

In other news, the Archregimancy unusual test squad of inexperienced footballers were inspired through prayer to beat another group of Catholics from Tynelia. Or at least this reporter believes them to be schismatic Catholics. The evidence is unclear, though references to Irishness suggest they are. Unless they're Presbyterian or Church of Ireland Irish, in which case they're even more heretical than the Catholics. But I'm sure it doesn't matter. If Irish history has taught us anything, it's that the residents of the Emerald Isle are able to discuss their religious differences in a calm and rational manner without recourse to hysteria or violence.

The Archregimancy line-up last night was:

GK:
Fr. Antipas

DEF:
Fr. James
Fr. Barsanuphius
Fr. Processus
Fr. Martinian

MID:
Fr. Pharmuthius
Fr. John
Fr. Callinicus
Fr. Terence

FOR:
Fr. Maximus
Fr. Zeno

This line-up is subject to change as the tournament progresses, but Fr. Pharmuthius and Fr. Maximus made an early claim on more permanent spots in the national team through their scintillating performances on the left, that led to a Fr. Maximus hat-trick from three exquisite crosses from Fr. Pharmuthius. Both players later dedicated their performance of threes to the Holy Trinity.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b20/Casari/4sport.png

Boys of the Fifth Campaign start off with a solid 2-0 win
Early DI matches expected to be somewhat soft

Aye, that might be a bit of a slight to the competition, but we love early-season confidence.

A solid 2-0 win in the Tigers' first match against Georgeonia kicked off the campaign, leading into the next match against Dorian and Sonya.

"We're showing some decent early form." GMC Hill said to the media after the game.

"But there's still some glaring holes in our game which we have to work out. A few years of club football will throw these guys out of practice."

"Bazalonia on par with Tadjikistan?" by Nev Gould

The upset, well sort of, of the tournament so far. The Bazalonian Bazalopes faced the team Tadjikistani team and came away with a draw. This still leaves the Bazalopes at the bottom of the group table, however unlike last DI, we actually managed to get some points. Now our next match is a bye day so unless the Tadjiks loose to Arrida by more than 3 points then the Bazalopes will stay at the bottom of the table. Though by successfully drawing the Tadjiks we can hold our head up high.

....

Caines now had something to celebrate, a Draw against the Tadjiks was a major feat for the team, however it was hard for the team to find a place where the natives would serve them. The people of ASMV had long memories about the Peter Hobble incident. Eventually they found one and celebrated the win. Nothing really exciting happened. The players got drunk and staggered back towards the hotel. When they reached where they thought it was it wasn't there. They where so plastered that some people checked their pockets to see if they left it in there and they just stood around the streets unsure what happened. It was not long until police sirens, the fire dept and a number of ambulances came. What the team didn't really notice was that there was now a smoking pile of rubble where the hotel had once been. The death or casualty toll is currently unknown.

(OOC: ASMV: Feel free to fill in those numbers and respond appropriately)

Lion chuckled as he received the call. "It is done." that was the only thing that was said. He could just imagine the Bazalopes returning to see their hotel destroyed (or being destroyed in the blast; he didn't care) They'd think next time before dissing Atheistic Right.

The plan was simple, blow up the hotel that the Bazalopes where staying at. It didn't matter if they where in it or not, but I suppose it would be more of a point if they where not in the hotel. Either way an Atheistic Right explosives expert was a 'tourist'. He had come and watched all the Atheisitic Right matches and he received a call as soon as the media reports came in from ASMV and Bazalonia. "Blow up the Bazalonian Hotel". This was not from Lion directly but to Lions contacts back in Atheistic Right and then eventually came back to the explosives expert.

The explosives expert had a preference for making a point rather than exploding people so he waited till the Bazalopes went out to celebrate their draw against Tadjikistan before setting off the explosion. Of course it was as controlled as possible and he placed a number of briefcase bombs at certain critical location to the Hotels infrastructure. He had got a friend to get a copy of the blueprints for the Hotel. And each bomb was set to go off a certain time after being activated the higher ones first and then the lower oes after. They where activated by remote control. and he was over the road in a nearby alley when he activated the bomb. After he activated the bomb he disappeared into the night and it was only 30 seconds after he pressed the button that the first bomb went off, causing the night sky to light up. He then called back to Atheistic Right confirming that the job had been done.

Improved Squids team still second best

The Squids suffered their second straight defeat last night,
this time two-nil against the far higher ranked Casari.The
standard of play was higher than in the recent match
against Dorian and Sonya, and the defence looked far more
assured, but the Squids are still having problems scoring.
Georgeonia will now have to work hard in their remaining
two matches in order to avoid finishing bottom of the
group, and will take full advantage of tomorrow's rest
day before attempting to avenge their opening day defeat
at the hands of Dorian and Sonya.

Tradedy Strikes Carrington - DI!!

This is Edgar Rupiy’a reporting live from Carrington in the heart of Andossa Se Mitrin Vega.

Tragedy tonight as The Royal Wesenhause Hotel has been the target of terrorist attack. The Hotel was located in the Centre Toloqui where several other important structures were also located, including Carrington Championship Arena where just last night the Bazalonian squad played Tadjikistan to a 1-1 draw. Coincidentally the Bazalonian squad was staying at the hotel that was targeted.

Little information is known at this point. The Royal Wesenhause has been leveled and there seems to be significant damage to surrounding buildings. A spokesman for the hotel has issued a release stating that some 1200 persons were registered at the hotel before the blast. Most of the guests were here for the matches of the Draggonnii Inviyatii that is currently underway. Also it is reported that some 436 employees of the hotel were scheduled to be working at the time of the incident.

We now turn things over to Daniel Marques of the Carrington Defense Authority.

“At 10:20pm local time, an explosive device was detonated in the Royal Wesenhause Hotel. The hotel was booked to full capacity due to the sporting events being held in Carrington at the time. We know that some 65% of registered guests are presumed to have been in the hotel at the time of the incident. Rescue and recovery crews are working as hard as possible to find any survivors that may be hidden in the rubble. Also more than 300 people have been admitted to local trauma centers with injuries relevant to the blast, most being mild burns and glass cuts.

It is feared that those remaining in the destruction that was the hotel are dead. We will have more on the status of any survivors as that information comes to us. We do have a general list of who might have been in the hotel at the time of the blast. Around 750 ASMV citizens are reported as registered here or as being employees scheduled to be working at the time. Another 400 or so are reported as being of Bazalonian citizenship, including the Bazalope squad which was not present at the time of the explosion. A number reported to somewhere over 200 are known to be of Tadjik citizenship, having also been here for tonight’s match. The other 300 or so guests were of Ariddian, Milchaman, and Starblaydi nationalities, presumably here for the match tonight or tomorrow.

The CDA has called in the VDF for national assistance in dealing with the tragedy. Several terrorist groups are on the short list of suspected bombers. Also on that list are several regional neighbors who may have an objection with ASMV’s current regional stance in regards to alliances there. Bazalonian officials have also requested that we look into the activities of anyone from Atheistic Right, as they have had issues with that nation before.

Rest assured that the VDF and CDA will do everything possible to bring these terrorists to justice. That is all for now. Are there any questions at present………………………………........


In related news, The Draggonnii Inviyatii Organizational Committee has announced that the games will continue with added security at all facilities being used by international citizens. Matches scheduled to take place at Carrington Championship Arena, will be moved to Lighthouse Stadium in Amarillo.

More news to follow as it becomes available.

Chi Sun-Times-Tribune-Domestic-International-Star-News-Today

Sports Section

Milchama score victory over Hypocria

Whenever one of your rivals you always want to win. Espiecially when they are playing their heart out to beat you. That is exactly what happened to Milchama yesterday as they beat Hypocria 2-0. Coach Jamie Smith said, "We played a great game today, I'm particularly happy about our defense which did not allow a goal at all. That is the kind of defensive effort we need against Starblaydia to win. If we can keep this up then we have a chance against the Blades."
Now onto the match report:

The Warriors started off well as Brandon Callers practically played midfield and made some good offensive moves as found an actual midfielder Chuck Farenstein open and Farenstein found J.J. Faren. Faren's cross was of course spot on and the finish by Copperlee was also great as his ball went over the keeper's head and into the net for a 1-0 lead. After that the game slowed down as the teams went into a midfield strruggle which lasted the entire rest of the first half. The score at halftime was 1-0 Milchama.

Second Half Report:
The second half began right where the first half ended in a bore. The game stayed that way except for an exceptional goal by Floren Albentine where after receiving a pass from Antoine Sanchez he moved right through the defense and put a perfect shot on net and we swear the Floren could not have done better.

Final Score:
Milchama 2 (Copperlee 21, Albentine 69)
Hypocria 0 (Hypocrian GD after two games 0 for, 8 against)

MD3 scores

Group 1
Sarzonia 2:1 The Kazoo Peoples

Group 2
The Islands of Qutar 2:2 Wentland

Group 3
New Montreal States 4:1 Qazox

Group 4
Tadjikistan 6:1 Ariddia

Group 5
Casari 3:0 Dorian and Sonya

Group 6
Krytenia 3:2 Haraki

Group 7
Starblaydia 1:0 Milchama

Group 8
The Archregimancy 1:3 Cuation

Group Squad GP W D L PF PA GD PTS

1 Sarzonia 2 2 0 0 4 2 2 6
The Kazoo P 2 1 0 1 3 3 0 3
ASMV 2 0 0 2 2 4 -2 0

2 Wentland 2 1 1 0 6 2 4 4
Isl Qutar 2 0 2 0 3 3 0 2
Mr Chuck N 2 0 1 1 1 5 -4 1

3 NMS 2 2 0 0 7 1 6 6
Qazox 2 1 0 1 3 5 -2 3
Bequerelia 2 0 0 2 1 5 -4 0

4 Tadjikistan 2 1 1 0 7 2 5 4
Ariddia 2 1 0 1 4 6 -2 3
Bazalonia 2 0 1 1 1 4 -3 1

5 Casari 2 2 0 0 5 0 5 6
Dorian & S 2 1 0 1 3 3 0 3
Georgeonia 2 0 0 2 0 5 -5 0

6 Krytenia 2 2 0 0 6 2 4 6
Haraki 2 1 0 1 5 4 1 3
Atheistic R 2 0 0 2 1 6 -5 0

7 Starblaydia 2 2 0 0 7 0 7 6
Milchama 2 1 0 1 2 1 1 3
Hypocria 2 0 0 2 0 8 -8 0

8 Cuation 2 2 0 0 6 2 4 6
The Archreg 2 1 0 1 4 4 0 3
Tynelia 2 0 0 2 2 6 -4 0


MD4 Schedule

ASMV vs The Kazoo Peoples - Island Beachfront Arena
Mr Chuck Norris vs Wentland - Meldenburg Mountain Fieldhouse
Bequerelia vs Qazox - Yumbo Jumbo Sports Complex
Bazalonia vs Ariddia - Stadii Se Draggonnii Arcea
Georgeonia vs Dorian and Sonya - Inferii Domei
Atheistic Right vs Haraki - Lighthouse Stadium
Hypocia vs Milchama - Tapia Reis Civic Arena
Tynelia vs Cuation - Errion Vega Stadii

Bazalonian Federal Police - Press Release

The violent explotion killing 386 Bazalonians and destroying the Royal Wesenhause Hotel in Carrington, Andossa Se Mitrin Vega was a despicable act performed terrorists. We are liasing with various police and law enforcement agencies within Andossa Se Mitrin Vega and together we will help bring the purportrators of this horrific act to justice. We are also looking in to any potential links between the explotion and the hacking of EG Inc's computer network.

The investigation is movng forward and there is nothing at the moment that can be released to the public but we have a number of avenues that will be investigated. The government of Bazalonia has also sent a request for law enforcement co-operation between the BFP and Andossa Se Mitrin Vega agencies. We are yet to receive a response from them but we beleive there will be a positive response.

Tomorrow will be a day of national mourning as special church services will be held to remember those that lost their life, and for the rest of the Draggonnii invititational we can announce that the Bazalopes will wear black armbands for the remainder of the tournament.

.............

The BFSA sent the following message to the ASMV national football association.


In memorial for all those that lost their lives in Carrington we would like to propose a memorial match between our Bazalopes and your Sea Dragons. The match would be called the Royal Wesenhause Hotel Memorial Rembrance Match, after the Draggonnii Invitational. We would suggest that this match be held in the Carrington stadium as the first match there after the disaster. We wish to hear back from you on this matter.

Yours Sincerly, James Gaines
President of the BFSA


OOC: We'll need to decide on the details. See TG

The Atheistic Right team had nothing to do as they had a buy, however the person that bombed the Royal Wesenhause Hotel ad alot of things to do. He needed to get out of ASMV. Luckily there was a ship registered, flying the Bazalonian flag and containing the details of a Bazalonian registered boat. However the boat was not Bazalonian, it was infact an Atheistic Right boat. The name on the stern was "The Rose". And this was the boat where he had to get to. 'The Rose' is well within ASMV territorial waters but, he couldn't go yet, but there he was near the southern edge of the ASMV mainland, waiting for The Rose to start going so he could meet them and do a high-speed swap.

<in the Tynelian Capitol Buliding>

"See Mr. president what did i tell you about letting all those crazy Irish in here? Because of them places like the Archregimancy think we're a bunch of relgious nutbags like them! And on top of it we lost to them!"

"Easy there Minister Smith, while we can't be bothered with religion ourselves if some people want to involve themselves with it let them. Keeps them from trying to overthrow the government. Besides, you know the main reason why we got the Irish here was to help improve our chances in international competition. Well that and the fact we couldn't get any British soccer players to emigrate."

"But still, do we wnat to become a target like this Mr. President? Everyone who doesn't think that our 'religion' is right will target us for attack. Just like the one that just hit the DI. Clearly some religious nutbag was behind it."

"That may be John but we know we weren;t the target, this new strategy by O'Connell doesn't seem to be working at all. However his coaching style means that we'll be ready to win every marathon run if he keeps the team running after every loss."

"Its said he's had enough of Whiteworth, claims she's too British for his liking, even though she's not british. He plans to go with Malloy these next two games, he might even boot Whiteworth off the team."

"Hmm can;t have that, she's the people's darling after her last Cup showing. Better go have a chat with him then, can't let O'Connell kick her off the squad. he seems a bit...hot tempered for the job. How did he get it anyway?"

"Well Mr. President, people were angry at O'Meara for his overly timid defensive style. It worked to some degree but many felt we'd never get over the hump and become a top team with that style. O'Connell promised a more attacking style but so far all it has done is increase the number of goals allowed and not really improving our attack any. And he makes a good target for the press to keep the pressure off the team, from sources other than him of course."

"I see, well i think we're done here Minister Smith, be sure to deal with the Whiteworth problem will you?"

"Of course President Martins."

((ooc- sorry about the lack of RP so far, work's been busier than expected this week.))

Qazox City Herald

New Montreal States is good, very good. The Paladins whupped our beloved Black Oxen 4-1 yesterday. The match was almost over before it began and NMS scored 3 goals in the first 11 minutes of the match. the goals were scored by Gilles Villeneuve who scored in the 3rd and 7th minutes and Jack Basset in the 11th. Qazox answered back with a goal in the 33rd minute, scored by Anthony Mason to cut the lead to 1-3, but Jack Basset answered once agin in the 40th minute to provide the winning margin. the second saw both teams play with subs to ensure no injuries to main players, but the Black Oxen had other things on their minds.


We now turn things over to Daniel Marques of the Carrington Defense Authority.

“At 10:20pm local time, an explosive device was detonated in the Royal Wesenhause Hotel. The hotel was booked to full capacity due to the sporting events being held in Carrington at the time. We know that some 65% of registered guests are presumed to have been in the hotel at the time of the incident. Rescue and recovery crews are working as hard as possible to find any survivors that may be hidden in the rubble. Also more than 300 people have been admitted to local trauma centers with injuries relevant to the blast, most being mild burns and glass cuts.

It is feared that those remaining in the destruction that was the hotel are dead. We will have more on the status of any survivors as that information comes to us. We do have a general list of who might have been in the hotel at the time of the blast. Around 750 ASMV citizens are reported as registered here or as being employees scheduled to be working at the time. Another 400 or so are reported as being of Bazalonian citizenship, including the Bazalope squad which was not present at the time of the explosion. A number reported to somewhere over 200 are known to be of Tadjik citizenship, having also been here for tonight’s match. The other 300 or so guests were of Ariddian, Milchaman, and Starblaydi nationalities, presumably here for the match tonight or tomorrow.

The Black Oxen, of course had to deal with the terrorist attack on the Royal Wesenhause Hotel in Carrington, Andossa Se Mitrin Vega, where the Qazox players were staying. Fortunately, the Black Oxen where out on the practice field when the attack occured, and there is no reports of any Qazoxian nationals dying. Our prayers and thoughts are with Bazalonia,Tadjikistan, Arridia, Milchama, Starblaydia ,and Andossa Se Mitrin Vega who had visitors or workers staying in that hotel. My the Holy Ox bless those who died in this cowardly attack and may the Holy Ox poop on those who perpetrated the attack.

Group 3 standings
NMS 2 2 0 0 7 1 6 6
Qazox 2 1 0 1 3 5 -2 3
Bequerelia 2 0 0 2 1 5 -4 0

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b20/Casari/4sport.png

Another comfortable win puts Casari on top of their group
Fans pleased by exciting start

A 3-0 win over Dorian and Sonya went to continue the fan's rejoicing in Andossa Si Mitrin Vega today.

"It's rare we put out a team that can actually handle most of the competition without a last-matchday thriller." One fan, who was still somewhat able to see through the haze of drunkenness, said.

Hill, however, continued to put a negative spin on the team's play. "Our problems are not being fixed. If we don't, we're going to get slaughtered by the real powerhouse teams."

Yesterday's match started with a trademary Hill Go-for-the-throat fast start, resulting in a Livingston goal at the 6 minute mark. From then on, Casari was solidly in control of most of the game.

"It's just nice to see them win." Another fan said.

NMS TURNS IN SOLID FIRST HALF, ABEIT MARRED BY TRAGEDY

3-0, 4-1 wins eclipsed by hotel bombings in Carrington

ANDOSSA SE MITRIN VEGA - What's been a grand performance in the qualifying round so far for the Paladins - a 3-0 win over Bequerelia and a 4-1 win over Qazox has been marred by tragedy in the form of a terrorist attack on a hotel in Carrington where players and fans from the Bazalonian national side were staying.

"We extend our deepest sympathies to the victims of the tragedy in Carrington, and offer any assistance we can provide to the victims in their hour of need," said Chief Paladin Frog, leader of the New Montreal States. "Likewise, we will extend any aid we can provide to track down the wretches behind this horrific crime."

Reports that reservists on the team might be replaced with members of the White Rangers, the NMS special ops unit, or that a unit of White Rangers has been detached to provide extra security for the side could not be confirmed, but long-distance charges on calls to ASMV on a phone bill obtained from a confidential source in the War Department suggest that this could be a possibility.

"So you couldn't beat the Qutaris?"

"What's the point? Gotta leave you something to play for."

"Yeah, yeah. You got outplayed. Lucky to snatch a point."

"Luck don't enter into it. We deserved that penalty."

"If Howell hadn't had a brainstorm it would have been 2-1."

"And what about those saves from Stone? Pretty decent...we'd've mullered them without that."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Now you'll see what a proper national team can do...none of this one club nonsense..."

"Well, you'd better beat the Norrises. We don't want to go home early thanks to you lot. Youve got 4 to beat."

"C'mon, they're wise to that now."

***

Bluff had been true to his word. The Crowhurst eleven were dropped and replaced wholesale by a more conventional line-up from the best of the rest.

12 Ben Tewkesbury

13 David Eager

14 Fred Waddell

15 Brian Culthorpe

16 Mike Bateson

17 Steve Yaxley

18 Col Forbes

19 Tim Randolph

20 Cosmo Kent

21 Francis Treves

22 Hoppo Hopkins


"Howzit feel not being the number 8?" kidded Tommy Barnes. "Bet you didn't think numbers would go that high?"

"Ha bloody ha. The number doesn't matter, it's who's wearing it."

"Doubtless. Well, go on then, you've got to nick a few..."

Unicorns Fall to Tigers

What can we say? We are really beginning to hate these guys. A pitiful showing in the Ylompic Games, which they hosted. And now a 3-0 loss to them here. We need a good rivalry, and we think we have found it in the form of Casari. Uggghghhhh.

The match was not well played by the Unicorns. Some sources attribute that to the plan of playing bad enough in the CoH to grab the Wooden Spoon. A plan that worked out nicely, I might add. But it was too much to ask the girls to switch gears and ramp it up for this match.

Next time we will pull out all the stops. Bikini kits. Hidden trophies to bash in heads. Whatever it takes to get a win over these guys.

Casari. Uggghhhh.

MD 4 Scores

Group 1
ASMV 1:1 The Kazoo Peoples

Group 2
Mr Chuck Norris 2:7 Wentland

Group 3
Bequerelia 3:3 Qazox

Group 4
Bazalonia 1:2 Ariddia

Group 5
Georgeonia 1:1 Dorian and Sonya

Group 6
Atheistic Right 0:5 Haraki

Group 7
Hypocria 1:1 Milchama

Group 8
Tynelia 0:3 Cuation

Standings

Group Squad GP W D L PF PA GD PTS

1 Sarzonia 2 2 0 0 4 2 2 6
The Kazoo P 3 1 1 1 4 4 0 4
ASMV 3 0 1 2 3 5 -2 1

2 Wentland 3 2 1 0 13 4 9 7
Isl Qutar 2 0 2 0 3 3 0 2
Mr Chuck N 3 0 1 2 3 12 -9 1

3 NMS 2 2 0 0 7 1 6 6
Qazox 3 1 1 1 6 8 -2 4
Bequerelia 3 0 1 2 4 8 -4 1

4 Ariddia 3 2 0 1 6 7 -1 6
Tadjikistan 2 1 1 0 7 2 5 4
Bazalonia 3 0 1 2 2 6 -4 1

5 Casari 2 2 0 0 5 0 5 6
Dorian & S 3 1 1 1 4 4 0 4
Georgeonia 3 0 1 2 1 6 -5 1

6 Haraki 3 2 0 1 10 4 6 6
Krytenia 2 2 0 0 6 2 4 6
Atheistic R 3 0 0 3 1 11 -10 0

7 Starblaydia 2 2 0 0 7 0 7 6
Milchama 3 1 1 1 3 2 1 4
Hypocria 3 0 1 2 1 9 -8 1

8 Cuation 3 3 0 0 9 2 7 9
The Archreg 2 1 0 1 4 4 0 3
Tynelia 3 0 0 3 2 9 -7 0

MD 5 Scedule

Sarzonia vs ASMV - Yumbo Jumbo Sports Complex
The Islands of Qutar vs Mr Chuck Norris - Lighthouse Stadium
New Montreal States vs Bequerelia - Tapia Reis Civic Arena
Tadjikistan vs Bazalonia - Stadii Se Draggonnii Arcea
Casari vs Georgeonia - Errion Vega Stadii
Krytenia vs Atheistic Right - Meldenburg Mountain Fieldhouse
Starblaydia vs Hypocria - Inferii Domei
The Archregimancy vs Tynelia - Island Beachfront Arena

This is Danial Maques reporting live from Carrington, ASMV.

Amidst the rubble here, there has been a ray of hope today. 63 people were found alive and rescued from what most likely should have been certain death. Few details are being made know to us at this point, but we can confirm some of the survivors as Tadjik and Bazalonian. Sadly we must report that no Vegans have been found alive to this point. The body count now stands at more than 250, with many, many more still missing.

Sources close to the government say that they have a more definate idea of who masterminded this horrid tragedy. Cell phone and other records have produced this information, but we have no other details at this time. Bazalonian officials have been called in to be a part of the investigation due to the losses of that nation here.

It has now been confirmed that White Rangers from NMS are accompanying their national team until things here have been resolved. Presidente Commandante Viastormin Vega has issued formal request for all other nations to take the same actions.

It may be mere coincindence, but the squad from Atheistic Right is now being placed under near arrest as they are accompanied by members of the VDF. Unofficially the count is two VDF soldiers for every AR player. We can not confirm if this is for their safety or ours.

In other news, it is now rumored that ASMV and Bazalonia will play a commemorative match in Carrington once the stadii is reopened for use. More details to follow.

Haraki's new World Cup XXVIII team was coming down off a severe mental high. In a group paired with Atheistic Right and Krytenia, they had managed to pull off several impressive games. The first, their opener versus Atheistic Right, Haraki won 3-1 and dominated the whole game, clearly proving that Vargas and Zendar's choices for the new team were well made. The Hawks controlled the ball for twice as long as the opposition during the first half, and nearly as much again during the second half, thanks mainly to the ball handling skills of Julie Vern, who secured a starting spot on the Hawks team this year and whose ball handling has only improved since last time she took an international field in the WCXXVII Cup of Harmony.

However, she managed no goals during the first game, instead letting the three goals go to three of Haraki's star offencemen: Mike Zendar in the 20th minute, Richard Weber in the 33rd, and Samuel Sharp in the 70th, with one interspersed Atheistic Right goal at 40 minutes in, a quick shot that made it past keeper Mark Stone before he could get a hand on it. However, the Hawks outplayed their opponents and outshot them all throughout the game, pulling off a sound opener.

Haraki 3 - Atheistic Right 1
Zendar (20)
Weber (33)
(40) AR Midfield
Sharp (70)


Haraki's next game was not quite as impressive. The Krytenians, coming off a 3-0 victory over Atheistic Right, already apparently Group 6's punching bag, were met hard and fast by the Hawks, who did their best to pull off a defeat but simply couldn't manage it. Manuel Cortes got off his first goal of the tournament at 32 minutes, breaking the ice of the game, but it was quickly followed by two goals from the Krytenians in rapid succession in the beginning of the second half. Samantha Ribald managed to tie the game with twenty minutes left to play, but Krytenia pulled off a late-game goal to drive home their victory. The Hawks, somewhat downcast, left the field, but knew they would have a chance to make it up.

Haraki 2 - Krytenia 3
Cortes (32)
(51) Midfield 'A'
(59) Forward 'A'
Ribald (73)
(82) Forward 'B'



But the Hawks were back on their feet soon enough, with their third game against Atheistic Right. It was a shooting gallery. The opposition barely managed a half dozen shots through the entire game - Understandable, given the off-field situation regarding their nation. Haraki managed five goals throughout the game, the most ever scored by a Harakian international team, besting the previous record of four goals. Mike Zendar and Richard Weber dominated the shooting, although the others came in to make their plays as well. Star supporter Thomas Neils managed his first goal of the year near the end of the game, but overall shooting was dominated by Haraki's 'classic four' offensive players: Zendar, Sharp, Cortes and Weber. Originally dubbed the 'classic three' by the Harakian media, the others except Weber were the top three scorers of the previous year, and with Weber seemed back to make their triumphant return.

Haraki 5 - Atheistic Right 0
Weber (15)
Cortes (22)
Weber (40)
Neils (68)
Zendar (76)

The Bazalopes came onto the field with black armbands, in commeration of the bombing of the Hotel they where staying at. They faced Arrida, the team in which they lost in their fist match of the DI.

The team was fired up scored an early goal James Kantwell assisted by Peter Hobble. Peter Managed to get himself on the left wing right up close to the end of the field on the Arridian side of the field. He made a risky cross that in a mass of players James Kantwell managed to get a hold of it and just tapped it in with his feet into the goal face, there was just a mass of players and it was hard for anyone to identify friend from foe.

However the fire in the Bazalopes faded quickly as the Arridian team tied the scores up in the 41st minute. which they added another goal making a win in the 69th minute.

Either way, the Bazalope team performed quite well even though they lost and respected the memories of those that died in the hotel incident.

(Before the Match against Haraki)

*knock* *knock*..... *Knock* *Knock*.... *KNOCK* *KNOCK*

Lion was not expecting anyone to be knocking at the door so he went to the door and cautiously opened it, this was his first and only mistake as soon as he had turned the knob the door was thrown open pushing Lion back across the room.

It was the VDF. "Are you Lion?" asked one of them. He confirmed with a nod of his head. "We are the VDF, you are under suspicion of orchestrating the bombing of the Royal Wesenhause Hotel. You and your team will be constantly in our company from now on until any further actions occur, if they do."

Lion protested... "But I didn't do anything...."

"You are not under arrest at the moment, but we have evidence to suggest you are the one that ordered the bombing on the Royal Wesenhause Hotel, whose current official Death toll is 258. And to help ensure the safety of our citizens and those visiting to watch or take part in the Draggonnii Invitiational."

"I don't suppose I have any say in this at all?" queried Lion

"No." was the only response he got

............

(late in the Match against Haraki)

"Where the #@&$! is the #@&$! defense. #@&$!. 4 down... and oh #@&$! another one. #@&$! VDF." exclaimed Lion as Haraki drew further ahead

His VDF minders looked at him in a funny.

"What the #@&$! are YOU looking at." said Lion returning their gaze with one that looked like it could the moon in half

The Crowhurst team on the bench were rolling around laughing. "Two-nil! After ten minutes! Ha! Ha! Ha!"

Edgar Bluff was not pleased. "Shut up, you lot, that's not helping."

"They said we were rubbish. They said they'd hammer this lot. They're two nil down!"

"They're not used to playing together. Bateson and Waddell just got mixed up there."

"But two-nil down? They said that our four-nil was rubbish. They've got to get six now! Ha! Ha! Ha!"

"They could do that, there's still nearly eighty minutes left."

"Or they could lose ten-nil..."

Tommy Barnes however had noticed something. "You see they’re all attack, attack, attack. A bit like us but more so?”

Bluff encouraged him to go on.

“Well, that defender, the number 8, Hovest? He keeps abandoning the left-back position.”

“Yes, that’s ripe for exploitation. We need to get the ball over the top but we can’t control midfield.”

“How about switching things around a bit? Eager’s got pace…”

“Yes, he could move up to midfield and we could push Yaxley further up. It makes it sort of 3-4-3 like theirs, but we may get some more control...but I think we might be better by bypassing midfield entirely? Just long-ball it over the top?”

Bluff therefore ordered Yaxley and Kent to move up to join the strikers. Randolph and Forbes had to hold midfield with Eager and Waddell having slightly more advanced roles.

And there were immediate dividends as the Norrisians kept getting caught offside. No real goal threat. But the more experienced Swifts – Hopkins and Treves – were able to hold back onside…which was making the Norris defence more and more nervous.

The break came in the 34th minute, from a free-kick for offside Culthorpe launched it forward, Hopkins nodded it on and Treves sprinted forward just at the right time to volley home. Two minutes later and it was 2-2, a bamboozling move confusing the defence, Horvest was all at sea and Yaxley took the ball on through the gap to score his first ever international goal. And just on half-time it was three, Treves from a Kent through ball.

The team-talk at half-time was a bit less rancorous than it might otherwise have been. But the Crows were keen to remind the Swifts that they needed another three to emulate their first match performance. “And even then our defensive record is better.”

That needle was just what the Swifts needed to boost them and within five minutes of the second half it was 5-2, Treves completing his second international hat-trick and Hopkins scoring after a Kent shot was fumbled.

Norris fought back and nearly snuck a goal back when namesake Chuck Norris launched a beaut that came back off the woodwork. But that galvanized the Swifts and with 20 minutes left it was 6-2 from a Kent free-kick.

“One more, lads! That’s all we need…”

That one more came with six minutes to go from an unexpected source. Brian Culthorpe was not a recognized goalscorer and rarely came up for corners. But he did for this one and hung around at the edge of the area, just in case. And the ball did indeed get punched clear to him and he just blasted it back. Through everyone.

7-2. The biggest ever win for the Swifts, as Treves was quick to remind Tommy Barnes. “Yeah, but remember what you said about us against Qutar, Frankie?”

Edgar Bluff was not going to make changes after that...

Qazox City Herald

Well we're alomost done here as well. a 3-3 Draw with Bequerelia, leaves Qazox with 4 points out of 3 games and with New Montreal States having 6points and 2 games left, the Paladins only need to draw in their remaining games to win the Group. a win tommorrow vs Bequerelia would but them through, and give us 2nd place.

In today's macth, a Rivalry was born, in my opinion, as both teams combined for 4 yellow cards and 3 redcards. Last time out 2 players on each side had yellows and in the 7th minute, the two squads seemed like they wanted to finish what was started last time as Kiel Venice recieved a yellow for a hard tackle on Peter Constantine of Bequerelia. This was Kiel's 2nd yellow so he'll sit out the re-match against New Montreal States. Bequerelia's Keyne Hawkins answered only 4 minutes later with his yellow card for pushing down Marie Goya. That act started a brawl that lasted for over 5 minutes as Keyene Hawkins and Jarod Megia punched the living crap out of each other. Both men recieved a red card, leaving both teams with 10 persons, while both men were escorted out by stadium security.

After that complete mess, things settled down a bit as Peter Constantine opened the scoring in the 19th minute. He follwed that up with another goal in the 33rd to give Bequerelia a 2-nil lead. Qazox got on the board in the 42nd minute on a goal by Maria Gretsky.

As the second half began, both teams seemingly had calmed down a bit and in the 65th minute, Michael Silva scored to give Bequerelia a 3-1 lead. After Silva's goal, you could almost see the storm clouds brewing as Daniel Abigantus was given a yellow for what appeared to be a hard shove on Qazoxian midfielder Shaun Brady in the 77th minute. Brady got up and started cursing out Abigantus, and Abigantus responded with a punch to Brady's jaw. The referees were quick to get involved, giving Abigantus a red and Brady a yellow for instagating. With Bequerelia now down to 9 men, Qazox pressed foward with a 6 person attack and Alicia “Speedy” Gonzalez, who was subbed in for Jamie Bookman in the 78th minute, scored her 1st goal at the 81 minute mark to cut the deficit in half. Bequerelia couldn't sustain any defensive pressure and in the 85th minute, Francis Alouette tied the match at 3-all. Both teams spent from the match and the events during the match just ran the clock out for the last 5 minutes. After the match both teams refused to shake hands, as is traditional after a 'friendly' and one can only wonder what will happen if the two squads meet in World Cup 28 Qualifing?

Group 3
NMS 2 2 0 0 7 1 6 6
Qazox 3 1 1 1 6 8 -2 4
Bequerelia 3 0 1 2 4 8 -4 1

OOC - I will catch up on the RP tomorrow. Have an early morning.

MD5 Scores

Group 1
Sarzonia 4:2 ASMV

Group 2
The Islands of Qutar 6:1 Mr Chuck Norris

Group 3
New Montreal States 2:1 Bequerelia

Group 4
Tadjikistan 5:1 Bazalonia

Group 5
casari 3:0 Georgeonia

Group 6
Krytenia 3:0 Atheistic Right

Group 7
Starblaydia 2:1 Hypocria

Group 8
The Archregimancy 5:1 Tynelia

Standings

Group Squad GP W D L PF PA GD PTS

1 Sarzonia 3 3 0 0 8 4 4 9 Championship Bracket
The Kazoo P 3 1 1 1 4 4 0 4 Seconadary Bracket
ASMV 4 0 1 3 5 9 -4 1 Consolation Bracket

2 Wentland 3 2 1 0 13 4 9 7
Isl Qutar 3 1 2 0 9 4 5 5
Mr Chuck N 4 0 1 3 4 18 -14 1 Consolation Bracket

3 NMS 3 3 0 0 9 2 7 9 Championship Bracket
Qazox 3 1 1 1 6 8 -2 4 Secondary Bracket
Bequerelia 4 0 1 3 5 10 -5 1 Consolation Bracket

4 Tadjikistan 3 2 1 0 12 3 9 7
Ariddia 3 2 0 1 6 7 -1 6
Bazalonia 4 0 1 3 3 11 -8 1 Consolation Bracket

5 Casari 3 3 0 0 8 0 8 9 Championship Bracket
Dorian & S 3 1 1 1 4 4 0 4 Secondary Bracket
Georgeonia 4 0 1 3 1 9 -8 1 Consolation Bracket

6 Krytenia 3 3 0 0 9 2 7 9
Haraki 3 2 0 1 10 4 6 6
Atheistic R 4 0 0 4 1 14 -13 0 Consolation Bracket

7 Starblaydia 3 3 0 0 9 1 8 9 Championship Bracket
Milchama 3 1 1 1 3 2 1 4 Secondary Bracket
Hypocria 4 0 1 3 2 11 -9 1 Consolation Bracket

8 Cuation 3 3 0 0 9 2 7 9
The Archreg 3 2 0 1 9 5 4 6
Tynelia 4 0 0 4 3 14 -9 0 Consolation Bracket

MD 6 Schedule

The Kazoo Peoples vs Sarzonia - Meldenburg Mountain Fieldhouse
Wentland vs The Islands of Qutar - Errion Vega Stadii
Qazox vs New Montreal States - Inferii Domei
Ariddia vs Tadjikistan - Tapia Reis Civic Arena
Dorian and Sonya vs Casari - Lighthouse Stadium
Haraki vs Krytenia - Yumbo Jumbo Sports Complex
Milchama vs Starblaydia - Island Beachfront Arena
Cuation vs The Archregimancy - Stadii Se Draggonnii Arcea

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b20/Casari/4sport.png

3-0 Win sets Casari on to Championship Bracket once again
Meaningless game against Dorian and Sonya tomorrow

In what pretty much decided the entire group, a 3-0 win over Georgeonia today put Casari on the road to the Championship bracket.

"I know you guys wish I'd have more to say, but really, it's just a sign we have a decent start this year, and hopefully we keep improving." Hill said to the press.

MD 6 Scores

Group 1
The Kazoo Peoples 0:4 Sarzonia

Group 2
Wentland 1:3 The Islands of Qutar

Group 3
Qazox 1:3 New Montreal States

Group 4
Ariddia 0:0 Tadjikistan

Group 5
Dorian and Sonya 1:4 Casari

Group 6
Haraki 0:2 Krytenia

Group 7
Milchama 0:0 Starblaydia

Group 8
Cuation 2:1 The Archregimancy

Standings

Group Squad GP W D L PF PA GD PTS

1 Sarzonia 4 4 0 0 12 4 8 12 Championship Bracket
The Kazoo P 4 1 1 2 4 8 -4 4 Seconadary Bracket
ASMV 4 0 1 3 5 9 -4 1 Consolation Bracket

2 Isl Qutar 4 2 2 0 12 5 7 8 Championship Bracket
Wentland 4 2 1 1 14 7 7 7 Secondary Bracket
Mr Chuck N 4 0 1 3 4 18 -14 1 Consolation Bracket

3 NMS 4 4 0 0 12 3 9 12 Championship Bracket
Qazox 4 1 1 2 7 11 -4 4 Secondary Bracket
Bequerelia 4 0 1 3 5 10 -5 1 Consolation Bracket

4 Tadjikistan 4 2 2 0 12 3 9 8 Championship Bracket
Ariddia 4 2 1 1 6 7 -1 7 Secondary Bracket
Bazalonia 4 0 1 3 3 11 -8 1 Consolation Bracket

5 Casari 4 4 0 0 12 1 11 12 Championship Bracket
Dorian & S 4 1 1 2 5 8 -3 4 Secondary Bracket
Georgeonia 4 0 1 3 1 9 -8 1 Consolation Bracket

6 Krytenia 4 4 0 0 11 2 9 12 Championship Bracket
Haraki 4 2 0 2 10 6 4 6 Secondary Bracket
Atheistic R 4 0 0 4 1 14 -13 0 Consolation Bracket

7 Starblaydia 4 3 1 0 9 1 8 10 Championship Bracket
Milchama 4 1 2 1 3 2 1 5 Secondary Bracket
Hypocria 4 0 1 3 2 11 -9 1 Consolation Bracket

8 Cuation 4 4 0 0 11 3 8 12 Championship Bracket
The Archreg 4 2 0 2 10 7 3 6 Secondary Bracket
Tynelia 4 0 0 4 3 14 -9 0 Consolation Bracket


Bracket Play Day 1 Schedule

Championship Bracket
Sarzonia vs Islands of Qutar - Stadii Se Draggonnii Arcea(Errion Vega)
New Montreal States vs Tadjikistan - Tapia Reis Civic Arena(Tapia Reis)
Casari vs Krytenia - Island Beachfront Arena(Isla De Marte)
Starblaydia vs Cuation - Inferii Domei(Tua Monafu)

Secondary Bracket
The Kazoo Peoples vs Wentland - Errion Vega Stadii(Errion Vega)
Qazox vs Ariddia - Lighthouse Stadium(Amarillo)
Dorian and Sonya vs Haraki - Meldenburg Mountain Fieldhouse(meldenburg)
Milchama vs The Archregimancy - Yumbo Jumbo Sports Complex(Radiance)

Consolation Bracket
ASMV vs Mr Chuck Norris - Riviera Stadii(Triarii Rivii)
Bequerelia vs Bazalonia - Mariachi Musica Stadii(Callypso)
Georgeonia vs Atheistic Right - South ASMV Stadii(Panderros Que)
Hypocria vs Tynelia - Visionary Arena(Voque)

Qazox City Herald

Well we did a bit better this time out vs. New Montreal State as we only lost 3-1 this time. The loss of 2 of our better defenders due to the incidents with Bequerelia our last match. The goals were scored by: Gilles Villeneuve 15th, 33rd; Jack Basset 77th for NMS and for Qazox the lone goal was scored by Shaun Brady in the 60th minute. Both teams seemed not to play thtier best once again as New Montreal State had already clinched a Championship Bracket Berth and Qazox was in the Seconadary Bracket. This menas the best Qazox can finish is 9th place and the worst is 16th, so at least we can say we beat out at least 8 teams in this Tourney. The 1st secondary match for Qazox is against Arridia, a squad that almost beat out world power Tadjikistan for the Group 4 title. A very tough match-up for Qazox indeed. The winner will play the winner of The Kazoo Peoples vs Wentland, while the loser shall, of course, play the loser of that match.

The Bazalopes had a day off today, they went and watched the Kazoo Peoples versus Sarzonia match. What they weren't expecting was the white wash of a match it turned out to be. The scoreline says it all TKP - 0, Sarzonia - 4.

As for the situation with Atheisitic Right and the Hotel bombing. The VDF have seemed to have taken their Archeopteri, which I do beleive is a type of fossil, into some sort of custody. Exactly why the Atheistic Right squad is in custody has not been announced by the VDF but most speculation has it firmloy set on their involvement in the bombing. If so then you can bet that the Bazalonian Government will push for the harshest penalty under ASMV law, even if that entails the Death Penalty.

In the consolidation Brackety Bazalonia is up against Bequerelia, we shouldn't have a too harder time against these first time World Cuppers, but if the World Cup has taught us anything it is, That just because a match should be easy does not mean it will.

It was a mixture of laughter and anger in the dressing-room after the game. The Crowhurst contingent was partly delighted, partly aghast that they were out of the main placings following a tortured display by the remainder of the squad. "And you had a go at US for only getting a draw!" yelled Tubby Jones. "Now we're out! All you needed was a bloody point..."

"Shut up, fatso," said Fred Waddell. "These things happen."

"And what about that penalty? Why the bloody hell didn't you let Frankie take it, Tim?"

"I felt confident...I take them for the Bells regularly..."

"Trevesy's a goalscorer. You nearly hit the bloody corner flag..."

"Shut up, Tubby," said Tommy Barnes. "That's not gonna help us much now, is it?"

"Well, he gets on my wick. Bells this, Bells that...remind me who won the title again..."

"That's enough, all of you," said Edgar Bluff. "You're gonna be mixed for the consolation."

The team for the game with the Kazoos was an interesting one:

1 Dennis Tracey – goalie, 21, Crowhurst

13 David Eager – right-back, 18, Melboro

3 Bertie Tanner – left-back, 21, Crowhurst

15 Brian Culthorpe – centre-half, 24, Tynefield

5 Steve Moon – centre-half, 21, Crowhurst

18 Col Forbes – centre-midfield, 23, Gt Bellstead

7 Adrian Loder – right-wing, 21, Crowhurst

21 Francis Treves – centre-forward, 23, Alumgreen

9 Tommy Barnes – centre-forward, 21, Crowhurst

10 Norman Cooper – centre-forward, 21, Crowhurst

20 Cosmo Kent - left-wing, 24, Warpstone

"Let's see how you fare as a mixture..."

Lloyd Vargas sighed. A 2-0 loss to Krytenia had doomed all his hopes of a winning bracket. Even a win by only one goal would have put them in the lead and the champions' bracket. Sadly, such a result was not to be.

Now they had been slotted into the Second Bracket, with their first pairing being Dorian and Sonya. Vargas wasn't exactly looking forward to it, but then again he wasn't really looking forward to anything anymore. His team's failure in all their tournaments the last year in the World Cup had brought his morale for international football down a lot. Now failing to qualify directly ... It was just too bad.

Dorian and Sonya. They went 1-1-2 with a 5 and 8 goal record. Haraki had gone 2-0-2 with a 10 and 6 goal record. Vargas just hoped his luck hadn't run out yet.

Stars advance to championship bracket again

The last time the Sarzonian national football team took part in the Draggonnii Inviyattii tournament, they stumbled to a 1-1-1 finish in the groups stage and looked for all the world like a vulnerable team. However, they got hot when it mattered, rolling to three straight wins in the championship bracket, including a 4-1 win over Tadjikistan in the championship final.

This time around, the Stars coasted to a 4-0-0 record in Group 1 with a 4-0 pasting of The Kazoo Peoples sending the Stars into the knockout rounds against onetime Baptism of Fire Champions The Islands of Qutar. However, Coach Dave Wilson is already warning his team about complacency.

"I told them, 'remember what happened in the World Cup'," he said. "We were expected to cruise through to the knockout stage and we were eliminated before the kickoff of the third match. I also told them that I would be evaluating them the same way I did when we were playing Rejistania.

"The people who don't want to play for this team will be weeded out. Mark my words." What has gone unsaid, however, is the fact that Coach Dave Wilson will also be under scrutiny for his team's performance in the World Cup finals after cruising to a undefeated 16-0-0 record in qualifying. Wilson said he was concerned about the team's ability to handle adversity after facing "next to none" in the World Cup qualifying stages.

"I honestly believe that having to deal with adversity in the qualifying stage prepares you better for the World Cup finals than coasting to an unbeaten mark," he said. "We faced real adversity during the match against The Kazoo Peoples in the Finals last time out and we faced adversity against Casari and we didn't do well. That's why I challenged the team before we played the Orange-Blues."

Wilson said he was calling a press conference before World Cup XXVIIII begins to address "his and the team's future," but also added that he wouldn't tell "anyone" what his plans would be.

"I'm going to keep a lid on this tighter than national security secrets," he said. "I don't want to fuel any speculation. I want that to end with the press conference."

PALADINS REWARDED FOR GROUP-STAGE DOMINANCE WITH MATCH AGAINST UNBEATABLES

4-0 record means nothing against unstoppable Tadjiks

ASMV - Well, bugger.

After stuffing Bequerelia and Qazox into small tight spaces and punting them around for 90 minutes, per expectations, and barreling into the Championship Brackets, the Paladins have been rewarded with a match against their old nemesis Tadjikistan. And by "nemesis," we mean "dominant partner in an S&M relationship."

Yep, the Paladins have gone 0-0-4 against these guys, always losing by at least two goals, and usually three. Looks like we'll be gunning for fifth place again.

[This article on the free online edition of the Presse-Journal Devoir has been brought to you by unfoundedspeculationaboutdavewilsonsfuture.com - your official site for getting into the mind and under the skin of Sarzonia's national coach!]

Chuck Norris News
For All Of Your Fighting Norris Coverage

We'd like to start off by apologizing for our two-day absence from the air, but even newscasters take holidays sometimes. However, CNN is back and ready to roll more Fighting Norris news than ever. We won't go into significant detail as to not hurt anyone's hopes too much, but the Fighting Norris finished last in their group of three after suffering a loss to Wentland (2-7) followed by a loss to The Islands of Qutar (1-6). They now find themselves in the consolation bracket paired up against none other than the hosts of this tourney, the Andossa Se Mitrin Vega Sea Dragons.

Here to comment on the Fighting Norris' most recent matches is their coach, Bob Janney.

"Hullo everyone, this is Bob Janney. I must apologize now for the continued failure of our team as seen at the end of the newscast, but this is a new day. We're now in the bracket portion of the tourney where every match counts. At best, we end up in 17th place, at worst, dead last at 24th.

Our next match is of course against the ASMV Sea Dragons, who are hosting this tourney. Do we stand a chance... maybe. Is it okay if we lose? Definately. Luckly, this tourney is not World-Cup sanctioned and thus isn't part of our world rank, this is merely for fun and experience. So after doing some thinking, we've gained from this tourney what we were supposed to, experience and preparation for the big tourney. However, we certainly don't want to get last place because that's never fun. All we need to do is win ONE of our NEXT THREE MATCHES and we won't get last. We'll try our best, because it's all we've got to give. Hopefully you haven't lost all faith in me and my team, we will improve... I promise".

Schedule for the Second Draggonnii Inviyatii
Matchday One: Vs. Wentland (Loss 0-4)
Matchday Two: Vs. The Islands of Qutar (Draw 1-1)
Matchday Three: Bye
Matchday Four: Vs. Wentland (Loss 2-7)
Matchday Five: Vs. The Islands of Qutar (Loss 1-6)
Matchday Six: Bye
Matchday Seven: Vs. Andossa Se Mitrin Vega

Fighting Norris Failure Streak:
In the Fighting Norris' last twelve games:
Record: (0-4-8)
Goals For: 11
Goals Against: 36
Goals Difference: -25
Motto: You can't possibly play worse than the Fighting Norris!

Alexandria Times-Tribune-Post-Gazette-Chronicle-Journal-Enquirer

Sports Section

Milchama to play the monks again

This was unexpected but it has happened anyway as the Warriors are going to play the Monks from the Archregimancy. Our history against them is not favorable as in our meeting we lost at home in the second round in the last Cup of Harmony. Since then of course much has changed and neither of our first teams are playing in this cup as the Warriors have this weird ABC team going while the Monks have their B team's simulcra in because of Lent and Easter. Although maybe with easter ending the real players will be back. We don't know and we don't care all we know is that the Warriors have been fading very fast since barely losing 1-0 to Starblaydia on MD3. That game seemed to tucker them out as they then tied Hypocria in a poorly played game. Hopefully though the 0-0 draw against Starblaydia can help the Warriors get some confidence and maybe we can beat the Monks. Coach Jamie Smith said, "We need to play more attacking football. The whole tournament I feel like we have not gotten the attacks that I would like to see. We need to be able to create offense after Floren but we have not shown the ability to do that so because of that I introduce to you the newest member of our team Marc J. Floren. He will take the place of Bat Nackson who will move to the bench as Dunston Copperlee takes his true place on the wing."

Anyway the prediction:

Milchama win by a 2-1 scoreline with Floren scoring both goals.

Now to the rest of the infamous Milchamian predictions:
Considering we're not in the Championship Bracket we're not going to predict it and nobody cares about the consolation that's just there so that all teams get a certain amount of games in.

That leaves the secondary bracket which goes as follows:
The Kazoo Peoples vs Wentland- This is a very close one but Wentland wins as TKP tends to perform badly in the DI.
Qazox vs Ariddia- Ariddia beat the Ox people easily. The World Cup founders are clearly better than that challenge.
Dorian and Sonya vs Haraki- Haraki wins. We don't know why but trust us we're Milchamian
Milchama vs The Archregimancy- I think ASMV hates us we get the hardest matchup in everything.

Milchama vs The Archregimancy- I think ASMV hates us we get the hardest matchup in everything.

OOC - I really don't hate anyone
I know the groupings came out very tough for several of us. I explained that at the beginning of a previous post. But I see now why not seeding squads by rank is unfair to both higher and lower ranked sides firsthand. And I probably stretched things a bit when I wanted to expand the DI. All that and a busy RL schedule at present has made this DI almost forgettable at times. I apologize to everyone for that. The matchup of Milchama vs The Archregimancy was simply 2nd spots in groups 7 & 8 playing each other.

The 3rd edition of the DI will return to a 16 squad field with a more standard seeding process. I now understand why that is important.

Now for todays scores:

Bracket Play Day 1 Results


Championship Bracket
Sarzonia 1:0 The Islands of Qutar
New Montreal States 1:3 Tadjikistan
Casari 1:3 Krytenia
Starblaydia 2:1 Cuation

Secondary Bracket
The Kazoo Peoples 3:3 Wentland - AET (Wentland wins 4-2 on penalty Kicks)
Qazox 2:0 Ariddia
Dorian and Sonya 0:2 Haraki
Milchama 1:1 The Archregimancy - AET (Milchama wins 5-3 on Penalty kicks)

Consolation Bracket
ASMV 3:0 Mr Chuck Norris
Bequerelia 1:0 Bazalonia
Georgeonia 1:3 Atheistic Right
Hypocria 4:2 Tynelia




Bracket Play Day 2 Schedule

Championship Bracket

Sarzonia vs Tadjikistan - Errion Vega Stadii
Krytenia vs Starblaydia - Stadii Se Draggonnii Arcea
The Islands of Qutar vs New Montreal States - Meldenburg Mountain Fieldhouse
Casari vs Cuation - Yumbo Jumbo Sports Complex

Secondary Bracket

Wentland vs Qazox - Island Beachfront Arena
Haraki vs Milchama - Inferii Domei
The Kazoo Peoples vs Ariddia - Tapia Reis Civiv Arena
Dorian and Sonya vs The Archregimancy - Lighthouse Stadium

Consolation Bracket

ASMV vs Bequerelia - South ASMV Stadii
Atheistic Right vs Hypocria - Riviera Stadii
Mr Chuck Norris vs Bazalonia - Visionary Arena
Georgeonia vs Tynelia - Mariachi Musica Stadii

"Come on Defense peoples..." yelled Neil Kabants as a Bequerelian Midfieldermade a move into the Bazalope half.

"Look out for.. yes, him the one that now has the ball..." he continued asthe Bazalope defense failed to mark another Bequerelian Midfielder who had a good shot on goal. The only thing is that, both sides knew it but there was not much could be done as the Bequerelian launched the ball from the ground with an almighty kick. The ball seemed to sail gracefully through the air and into the top left corner of the net. There was nothing that Jeffery Constantine could have done with that.

"Fluke." yelled Neil again towards the Bazalonian players, ignoring the Bequerelian celebrations. This was in th 67th minute of the game and while the Bazalopes did seem to have a number of good attacking they seemed to let them slip by just not keeping an eye out on their opponents. And then there where numerous missed chances, a couple of saves by their keeper but most of them sailed over the net or to either side. The Bazalopes managed to score no goals for the entire match, whether or not this was a psychological thing related to the bombing or the black arm bands, no one knows.

The Bazalopes next match will be against Mr Chuck Norris, another one of those teams from the WC 27's Baptism of Fire that have done extremely well. Whether the Bazalopes beat them or not is something that no one really knows.

If the people of Atheistic Right believed in Curses then they surely would have had a "Curse of the DI". But as they don't they just believe that religious fanatics rigged the result so that they would lose. However this was reversed today when the Atheistic Right Archeopteri faced Georgeonia.

Scorpion and Snake where both instrumental in the goals, each of the three goals been in some way or another linked to one of these players. Scorpion scored one goal, Snake scored one goal and Snake assisted Jackal in scoring the 3rd. They where scored in the 12th, 39th and 45th minutes respectively.

There is a bit of controversy surrounding the last goal whether or not the half-time whistle had gone before or after the ball broke the plane of the goal mouth but considering the result would not have mattered either way.

The Georgeonia side scored their only goal right after half-time, the team rejuvinated and managed to score one goal, however that was it as the Atheistic Right Defense firmed up and there was no more chances for the Georgeonian team for the rest of the match.

Lion and the squad had seemed to gotten used to the prescence of the VDF and it started to seem normal.

..........

Meanwhile in Southern ASMV, The man that actually had bombed the Hotel was still waiting for the signal from the boat so he would go... however, when he woke up the boat was gone and there was a note left for him. Someone had swam from the boat left the note, swam back and then the boat disappeared. The note said... "Job not finished return to Carrington, more instructions once there."

[OOC - note to Milchama.... Easter isn't over yet for my team. Orthodox Easter is next weekend]

MONASTIC TIMES

HOLY WEEK UPON US
NATION LOSES INTEREST IN INVIYATTI

The Monastic Football Association today breathed a sigh of relief that Holy Week would distract the nation from the team's increasingly disastrous appearance in the Draggonnii Inviyatii.

If losing to the Catholic Schismatics in Cuation twice wasn't enough, the experimental B squad then lost to the Hebrews of Milchama on penalties, and find themselves now forced to face a bunch of what appear to be non-human (and probably pantheistic heathen) Elves in their next match.

"With Palm Sunday behind us, and a week of severe fasting ahead of us, who cares about a football tournament?" said a senior archimandrite, speaking on condition of anonymity.


[OOC: I'm now unavailable for RL reasons until the 22nd at the earliest. Apologies to ASMV for the lack of quality Archregimancy RPs, but as explained before, this tournament has fallen at a bad time in RL terms for me for the second time in a row... It's not lack of interest on my part, just bad timing]

Qazox City Herald

HOLY OX!!!!

Qazox shocked the football world yesterday by beating World Cup founder Ariddia 2-nil, to advance to the semi-finals of the secondary bracket at the second Draggonnii Inviyattii. Most prognosticators picked Ariddia to walk all over the Black Oxen, but this time Qazox held it own against a world power and pulled off the upset. Goals were scored by Kiel Venice, in the 34th minute, launching a 15 yard direct kick into the net in his first game since being ejected from the Bequerelia match earlier this week. The second goal came in the 82nd minute as Marie Goya scored after a cornerkick was misplayed by an Arridian defender, she then lobbed into a relatively unprotected goal sealing the match for Qazox. Up next is Wentland who beat the Kazoo Peoples 4-2 on Penalties to advance.

OOC - I really don't hate anyone
I know the groupings came out very tough for several of us. I explained that at the beginning of a previous post. But I see now why not seeding squads by rank is unfair to both higher and lower ranked sides firsthand.
OOC - I don't know whether that matters, given that the tourney does not count for rankings; it does at least shake things up a bit, with unusual pairings and newer/smaller teams being able to get some distance. I quite like the idea of totally random groups.

"So, what do you think of that then, boss? Better mixed or not?"

"I think we're better as Crowhurst," said Tubby Jones, half-smiling. "We had a 75% record..."

"Shut up, Tubby...it was a great game..."

"Well, lads, you did OK, it was indeed a great game, I thought we'd thrown it away when they came back from 3-1. But that penalty practice worked out fine."

"So what are we going to do for the next game, then, boss?"

"Easy. We have the diametrically opposite team..."

23 Crash Robinson – goalie, 18, Thatchem Utd

2 Ian Talbot – right-back, 21, Crowhurst

14 Fred Waddell – left-back, 22, Petterham

4 Johnny Lane – centre-half, 21, Crowhurst

16 Mike Bateson – centre-half, 26, Blackport

6 Bobby "Tubby" Jones – midfield, 21, Crowhurst

17 Steve Yaxley – right-wing, 24, Tynefield

8 Ginger Collins - centre-forward, 21, Crowhurst

22 Hoppo Hopkins - centre-forward, 27, Royal Heath

19 Tim Randolph – midfield, 27, Gt Bellstead

11 Peter Davey – left-wing, 21, Crowhurst

((OOC- sorry again on the lack of RP, like the foul monks that obliterated me 5-1 this was a busy week for me , though in my case work related so i haven';t been able to do too much))

"So Minister Smith, are you sure this is a good idea?"

"Yes Mr. President, continuing "technical difficulities" for TSW headquarters will keep our people from finding out just how badly our team is being pummelled in the DI. I still want to find out how Lee kept her satellite hookup for that first report."

"Don't worry about that Smith, that was just the first match so there was still some hope at the time. I still think that you're overdoing it. The people need to know what they have to look forward to in the Cup."

"Sir, i also have to take into acount the foul mouthed papist in charge. His last interview had to be censored due to language after O'Connell went nuts after the Archregimancy crushed us. Not to mention losing to Cuation again. Then he found out we'd be facing Hypocria in the Consolation round. This is before we lost that match too mind you.The man is a loose cannon. He was all for declaring war against the British when he found out about that, in the Consolation round even. Something about Albion screwing with the irish again. Plus there's this."

<Smith hands president Martins a document>

"What's this?"

"Its a petition signed by every single member of the team asking for O'Connell's removal. It seems they consider his coaching style unsuitable for a man in his position. They are also not happy about the fact that they may find themselves running 40 laps AFTER every match if they keep losing. They claim this makes it even tougher for them to play their next match with dead legs which continues the vicious circle. I can have O'Connell taken care of if you wish Mr. President."

"No Smith, he's too public a figure to mysteriously vanish like most of the other problems your people like to deal with. No just start looking for a new coach. Preferably British, two Irishmen in a row haven't done too well, we need to find a better source. Check the records and let me know. When the DI ends so will O'Connell's head coaching tenure. Too bad the man promised so much and delivered so little."

"Whatever you say Mr. President."

OOC: Sorry for the short and basic RPing this week and right now. I've been busy and preoccupied with other things, and my mind hasn't been on making up my usual detailed game analyses. I trust this effect will wear off fairly soon, and I'll be back to my usual self.






Lloyd Vargas was somewhat pleased. Although his enthusiasm for football had not yet returned, he was proud of his team. The original team he and Zendar had put together the previous year was back with experience, and some new recruits were there to add some flavour to the team. Ones who he had made note of in the game versus Dorian and Sonya were Richard Weber's spectacular goal near thirty minutes in, in which he actually curved it around behind the goalkeeper, who made a perfect dive for it only to find its trajectory had changed as it sailed into the net. It marked Haraki's fiftieth international goal and, according to Vargas, was a spectacular one to hold that title. Also of note was that at halftime he had pulled Sandy Thorpe to get Werner Vittenbach in, and he and Jonah Menike working together had foiled multiple perfect scoring opportunities. The only last new addition that had seen no time on the field was Matthew Thompson, the Hawks' new forward, but he seemed content on the bench for now.

The second goal ahd come fifteen minutes into the half, from Samantha Ribald. Thomas Neils, Haraki's star supporter and the man with the most assists of anyone in the HFL, took it up the field. A quick pass over to Mike Zendar, and Zendar knew he didn't have a good shot. Neils got into a better position, and Zendar passed back to him, despite the defence's desperate attempts to block the pass. Neils was set up perfectly for a kick, but the keeper was ready for it. Instead, he faked the shot and passed over to Ribald, who simply tapped it into the corner of the net, giving Haraki a two goal lead.

The rest of the game was relatively unexciting. Nothing happened of importance, and the game ended ninety-two minutes after the start with Haraki up by two. Although Dorian and Sonya had gotten in a number of good shots, Haraki's star keeper Mark Stone had been on top form and managed to stop everything that got by his defence.

Haraki 2 - Dorian and Sonya 0

Weber (34)
Ribald (59)

Stars 'hop' Islands 1-0

Coach Dave Wilson had every right to be concerned when his Sarzonian national football team faced The Islands of Qutar. That team won a recent Baptism of Fire Cup and advanced to the World Cup Finals in its first attempt, a feat which anyone from a football savvy nation realises is very difficult.

Seventy nine minutes into the quarterfinal match of the second Draggonnii Inviyattii tournament, the Stars (4-0-0 in group play) had every reason to be nervous. The Islands of Qutar were consistently getting the better of the match against a team that was expected to advance to the later stages of the World Cup, even though it flamed out in the group stage. However, defender Mike Cole surprised everyone on the pitch with a bicycle kick that gave the Stars a 1-0 lead they would never relinquish.

"We weren't getting anything done with our attack players," Cole said. "I saw an opening and just went for it, and you saw the result." The result turned a Islands of Qutar side that looked satisfied to escape to extra time and possibly penalties into a desperate group looking for an equalising goal, while the Stars went from nervous to elated in a matter of seconds.

"I normally don't like Mike going forward and exposing the backline," Wilson said. "But he has great instincts and it's foolish for me to squelch them. He's going to be a major factor on this team in World Cup XXVIII." Sarzonia faces Tadjikistan, their opponents in the first-ever Draggonnii Inviyattii final that went to Sarzonia by a 4-1 margin. However, Wilson said he expected the Tigers' best shot.

"They're going to be primed for revenge," Wilson said. "We saw what happened in the World Cup with The Kazoo Peoples beating us. We need to make sure we play our brand of football and focus on the match at hand."

PALADINS LOSE TO TIGERS AGAIN

Really, it's just too much to talk about, so we're going to take the day off and go fishing

Chuck Norris News
For All Of Your Fighting Norris Coverage

Yes fans, foes, viewers, whatever the heck you are, the Fighting Norris have lost... again. This time, the loss was to Draggonnii Inviyattii hosts, Andossa Se Mitrin Vega by a score of 0-3.

All three scores from Andossa Se Mitrin Vega were produced by their forward, Kabe Tribby, who was thrilled to pull off a hat trick. He drew first blood at the 37th minute, again at the 40th, and polished off the day with a third in the 44th. That's right, Mr. Tribby managed to land the ball in the goal three times in seven minutes. One would think the Fighting Norris would pick up on this, but no, they let him score again and again. Here to comment on the current state of the Fighting Norris is their coach, Bob Janney.

"Hello everyone, this is Bob Janney, and I understand that we're still losing, but things are bound to get better. After losing our most recent match, the best our team can place is 21st of 24. Whatever happens, I just don't want to get last. This means we must win one of our next two matches under any circumstances. I realize that our team has continued failing, but keep in mind, this is really revving us up for the 28th World Cup, where we hope to do rather well. Our next match is against 83rd ranked Bazalonia, whom we think we can pull off a win against. Wish us the best of luck."

Schedule for the Second Draggonnii Inviyatii
Matchday One: Vs. Wentland (Loss 0-4)
Matchday Two: Vs. The Islands of Qutar (Draw 1-1)
Matchday Three: Bye
Matchday Four: Vs. Wentland (Loss 2-7)
Matchday Five: Vs. The Islands of Qutar (Loss 1-6)
Matchday Six: Bye
Matchday Seven: Vs. Andossa Se Mitrin Vega (Loss 0-3)
Matchday Eight: Vs. Bazalonia

Fighting Norris Failure Streak:
In the Fighting Norris' last thirteen games:
Record: (0-4-9)
Goals For: 11
Goals Against: 39
Goals Difference: -28
Motto: You can't possibly play worse than the Fighting Norris!

OOC - Sorry about my RP as well, Honey. Your thingy gives me nothing to RP in shutout losses :p

I might join Milchama fishing.

OOC - Stop apologizing for any lack of RP. It's a busy time of year and my comment was not designed to attract apologies anyway. :p

Bracket Play Day 2 Results


Championship Bracket
Sarzonia 3:3AET Tadjikistan - (Sarzonia wins 5-4 Pens)
Krytenia 2:1 Starblaydia
The Islands of Qutar 3:2 New Montreal States
Casari 1:2 Cuation

Secondary Bracket
Wentland 1:2 Qazox
Haraki 0:2 Milchama
The Kazoo Peoples 4:4AET Ariddia (Kazoos win 5-4 Pens)
Dorian and Sonya 0:2 The Archregimancy

Consolation Bracket
ASMV 2:0 Bequerelia
Atheistic Right 0:3 Hypocria
Mr Chuck Norris 0:1 Bazalonia
Georgeonia 0:1 Tynelia




Draggonnii Inviyatii Final Day

Championship Bracket

Sarzonia vs Krytenia - Championship Match - Stadii Se Draggonnii Arcea
Tadjikistan vs Starblaydia - 3rd Place Match - Errion Vega Stadii
The Islands of Qutar vs Cuation - 5th Place Match - Yumbo Jumbo Sports Complex
New Montreal States vs Casari - 7th Place Match - Tapia Reis Civic Arena

Secondary Bracket

Qazox vs Milchama - 9th Place Match - Island Beachfront Arena
Wentland vs Haraki - 11th Place Match - Inferii Domei
The Kazoo Peoples vs The Archregimancy - 13th Place Match - Tapia Reis Civiv Arena
Ariddia vs Dorian and Sonya - 15th Place Match - Lighthouse Stadium

Consolation Bracket

ASMV vs Hypocria - 17th Place Match - South ASMV Stadii
Bequerelia vs Atheistic Right - 19th Place Match- Riviera Stadii
Bazalonia vs Tynelia - 21st Place Match - Visionary Arena
Mr Chuck Norris vs Georgeonia -Dead Last Match - Mariachi Musica Stadii

"Bazalopes Win a DI Match!" by Nev Gould

It was close in the first round of the Draggonnii Invitational where we got our first points but a win it wasn't/ And then along came Mr Chuck Norris and graciously stepped aside and let a goal in. The Bazalopes in their first, and most controversial Word Cup in which they managed to Draw a world soccer power but failed to knock Collonie off the map, a team that was ranked in the 200's. Knew what it was like to be a one man show, that man was Peter Hobble. And it seemed that the poor failings was a result of the teams reliance on this one man.

Not to knock Mr Chuck Norris, himself but the team in which he leads, must be a team not just filler and to heap everything on one man's shoulders. This is where they seemed to fail in the latest match. Bazalonia 1 - Mr Chuck Norris 0. With experience on the receiving end of many 1 man shut-downs the Bazalopes managed to reverse th play and shut down Mr Chuck Norris. They did that by not allowing him to get the ball, he had at least 2 defenders on him and whenever he didn't have the ball (which was for most of the match) the team kept the ball awy from him, mostly by stealing the ball awy from the 'fillers' in the team. However this took alot awy from the Bazalopes Attack they did score in the 27th minute but was not able to score another goal.

Talk to us again when you have a proper team, and then we'll have a match.

Chuck Norris News
For All Of Your Fighting Norris Coverage

Wow, the Fighting Norris are still falling further into the depths of total n utter failure. We're about to give up on them and leave. Here's their most recent match:

Mr Chuck Norris 0
Bazalonia 1 (James Kantwell 27)

The Bazalonian Bazalopes had little trouble with the awful Fighting Norris by simply homing on their power forwards and shutting down their offense. We're honestly thinking about dropping the Fighting Norris right now... their that bad. Let's have coach of the Fighting Norris Bob Janney give us some input.

"It's okay everyone, we're just in a slump. Most teams have to go through a period like this where nothing seems to go right. It may be true that our failure streak is longer and more severe than most, but we're bound to get out of it sometime. We do have good news, our next and final match is against Georgeonia, the first team we will play in the tourney ranked lower than ourselves. The bad news is that if we lose... we lose it all, and I can't have that happen because if we do lose, I'm only a couple of losses away from getting fired and I personally wouldn't appreciate that. Wish us the best of luck and be sure to follow us through the 28th World Cup, in which you can find our roster Here (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=10781712&postcount=22). I'll see you all again soon."

Schedule for the Second Draggonnii Inviyatii
Matchday One: Vs. Wentland (Loss 0-4)
Matchday Two: Vs. The Islands of Qutar (Draw 1-1)
Matchday Three: Bye
Matchday Four: Vs. Wentland (Loss 2-7)
Matchday Five: Vs. The Islands of Qutar (Loss 1-6)
Matchday Six: Bye
Matchday Seven: Vs. Andossa Se Mitrin Vega (Loss 0-3)
Matchday Eight: Vs. Bazalonia (Loss 0-1)
Matchday Nine: Vs. Georgeonia

Fighting Norris Failure Streak:
In the Fighting Norris' last fourteen games:
Record: (0-4-10)
Goals For: 11
Goals Against: 40
Goals Difference: -29
Motto: You can't possibly play worse than the Fighting Norris!

Oh, so we're playing for 13th?
Citizens turn head from DI, look towards Baptism of Fire

"Sir, what is your thoughts on the national team doing so poorly in the Draggonnii Inviyatii, held in Andossa Se Mitrin Vega?" our roving reporter asks a passerby.

"Droogani Inulativi? Se Dons Motrin V8? What in the bloodly 'ell are you talking about?"

"Never mind."

Similar interviews revealed more of the same -- people just didn't seem to care.

Leading sports analyst Cob Bostas had this to say:

"You see, there is currently another tournament going on in The Kazoo Peoples. It's called the Baptism of Fire. Hundreds of thousands have crusaded to our lovely pitches in our hometown to watch many young teams get their start. It's quite a sight!"

Agreed. As for who's out on the pitch?

"That's for anyone to decide. Manni Aka hasn't even released a roster!" said Bostas.

"Hm. Guess I didn't," said Head Coach Aka, when questioned at his hotel room earlier this morning. "Oh well, the tournament is almost over anyway. We just want to thank Andossa Se Mitrin Vega for hosing us anyway, and we'll be back next year just to prove that we care. Or something along those lines."

By the way, the Kazoos are 2-1-3 ("A respectable total," said Aka).

MD1: TKP 2:1 ASMV
MD2: OFF
MD3: Sarzonia 2:1 TKP
MD4: ASMV 1:1 TKP
MD5: OFF
MD6: TKP 0:4 Sarzonia

Squad GP W D L PF PA GD PTS

1 Sarzonia 4 4 0 0 12 4 8 12 Championship Bracket
TKP 4 1 1 2 4 8 -4 4 Seconadary Bracket
ASMV 4 0 1 3 5 9 -4 1 Consolation Bracket
Secondary Bracket
MD7: TKP 3:3 Wentland - AET (Wentland 4:2 TKP APK)
MD8: TKP 4:4 Ariddia AET (TKP 5:4 Ariddia APK)
MD9: TKP vs. The Archregimancy (13th Place Match)

Alexandria Times-Tribune-Star-News-Today-Post-Gazette-Journal-Enquirer

Sports Section

Milchama to play in the 8th place match again

This is becoming too predictable. After finishing second in their group the Warriors dominated their next two games (Well one game really, winning in penalties isn't really dominating). The Monks were tough opponents but the Warriors came out on top in the end by getting some penalty kicks. Marc J. Floren and Dunston Copperlee looked excellent in that match but in the end it was the coolness from the spot and Clay Finton who prevailed as he beat Friars Zeno to clinch the win for the Warriors. Coach Jamie Smith said, "Well we proved again that we can play with the best. The more I look at it the more I see our World Cup performance as a fluke and that the more we play the better we will get. I know we are not doing this against full A squads but we are doing well and if the B's can play with the B's why can't the A's play with the A's?"

The game came down too the offenses of both teams. The Warriors though proved to be very agile and Floren's goal in the 21st minute confirmed this. After that though the Warrior attack stagnated the Monks played well but the defense held out and they did not score until the 68th minute when Fr. Zeno got a ball from Fr. Terrence that he headed in beautifully. That left it too penalty kicks which the Milchamians were perfect in as they went first and after the one save from Finton was enough for the win.

Final Score:
Milchama 1 (Floren 21)
Archregimancy 1 (Zeno 68)

Then came Haraki and these WC new/old comers were overwhelmed by the Warrior attack as they succumed to a 2-0 loss. The Warriors were attacking from the opening whistle as they started the scoring in the 2nd minute when Barrett M. Lonnen cracked a great shot that went in for the Warriors. After that they continued the onslaught and did not stop until they had scored a second in the 35th minute when Chuck Farenstein found Floren Albentine whose remarkable put the Warriors up 2-0 over the Hawks and from there they cruised to victory. Coach Jamie Smith said, "This was another good result and just shows that if we had not been unfortunate in our group draw we would be able to challenge for the Draggonii Invitational championship right now." This overconfidence is definitely typical of Milchamians and naturalized citizens like Smith.

Final Score:
Milchama 2 (Lonnen 2, Albentine 35)
Haraki 0 (The Ox people again)

That's right we're playing Qasox for 8th I have a feeling we are going to win.

Also what the hell is Milchama fishing?

Hawks to Play for 11th Place
From the Atherlon Times Sports Section

Tom Bucket, Andossa Se Mitrin Vega. The Haraki Hawks were bested by Milchama in a 2-0 loss last night, deposing all Harakian hopes for a Second Placement championship. With Milchaman goals in the 2nd and 35th minutes, the Hawks' offence, even with Richard Weber, was unable to make their way past the opposition to tie up the game and possibly give Haraki an overtime victory.

Instead, Haraki will play for 11th place in the 2nd Draggonnii Inviyattii tournament in Andossa Se Mitrin Vega. Those we are facing for this less than presitigious rank are the Hawks' old friends Wentland, whom Haraki shared a qualifying bracket with in World Cup XXVII. It should prove to be an interesting game for sure.


Sports blurb by Tom Bucket, Football Correspondent for the Atherlon Times.

Qazox City Herald

We did it again.. Qazox has upset a good team for the second straight match, this time Wentland fell to the improving Oxen, 2-1. The match was a purist's dream as only 2 fouls were called the whole match, but both of those fouls helped propel Qazox into the 9th place match. The scoring opened in the 39th minute when Marie Goya headed home a cross-pass lob from Anthony Mason, to give the Oxen a 1-0 lead. Wentland's Tommy Barnes, answered that goal with one of his own in the 45th minute, seconds before the hlaftime whistle. Both squads came out attacking and countering in the second half, but niether keep, Dennis Tracey for Wentland or Reggie Hassok for Qazox would allow any shots to pass them. The aforementioned fouls came in the 86th minute as Ian Talbot was called for a hand-ball on a shot by Maria Gretzky. This set up Qazox for a direct kick, which was taken by Jamie Bookman, his shot hit the cross-bar and ricocheted back to him and Bookman was just run over by Talbot. The referee promptly gave talbot a yellow card, and once again Qazox had a direct kick. Bookman lined up once again to take the shot, but passed back to Jarod Megia, who was playing way out of position. Megia shot the ball right past Dennis Tracey and with only 2 minutes left, the Black Oxen again.

Up next for Qazox is a familar foe, Milchama. That's right the team that just barely edged us out for WC 27 qualifing. In two previous matches vs.the Warriors, we upset them at Milchama 4-2 and drew them at home 1-all. Hopefully the third time won't be a charm for Milchama and Qazox will take home the 9th place trophy.

Draggonnii Inviyatti Final Results


Championship Match
Sarzonia 3:1 Krytenia - Sarzonia is Back-To-Back DI Champions. Congrats.

Third Place Match
Tadjikistan 2:4 Starblaydia

5th Place Match
The Islands of Qutar 1:0 Cuation

7th Place Match
New Montreal States 2:0 Casari

9th Place Match
Qazox 0:1 Milchama

11th Place Match
Wentland 4:0 Haraki

13th Place Match
The Kazoo Peoples 1:2 The Archregimancy

15th Place Match
Ariddia 3:0 Dorian and Sonya

17th Place Match
Andossa Se Mitrin Vega 3:2 Hypocria

19th Place Match
Bequerelia 2:1 Atheistic Right

21st Place Match
Bazalonia 1:5 Tynelia

Dead Last Match
Mr Chuck Norris 3:3AET Georgeonia (Mr Chuck Norris wins 4-3 on Pens)



Congrats to Sarzonia on their 2nd Consecutive Draggonnii Arcea Tropia.
My thanks to everyone who participated. I know it is a busy RL time
for most people (including myself), and I appreciate the efforts that
everyone made as far as RP is concerned.

Great luck to everyone in WC28. See y'all there!

And Atheistic Right. When I have time I will catch up with you on the whole
bombing thing and set things right.

And Milchama, I believe she meant fishing with NMS :p But you can join them fishing if you like.

Thanks again, everyone.

Qazox City Herald
Guess the 3rd was the charm. Milchama and Qazox met on the field for the 3rd time in 2 years (Qazox time of course) and this time Qazox lost to the Warriors. The match, one of the better played I've ever seen, was nip and tuck the whole way, but in the end, Milchama's experience edged out youth as the only goal was scored in the 57th minute by Milchama's Marc J. Floren, who has scored all 4 goals for Milchama against Qazox.

The 10th place finish here, proves that with a bit more experience, Qazox can compete with the best of the world. They won't win a World Cup anytime soon, but the Black Oxen are one of the up-and-coming squads in the world. With Qualifing for World Cup XXVIII just around the corner, this team looks to upset some powerhouses and get into the Cup. Time will tell how far this team can go, but since its inception just before the last Baptism of fire, the Qazox team record over the last 2 years is a very respectable 15wins-4draws-14 losses. A 5th place finsh at the Baptism of fire, in contention for a playoff berth at WC XXVII qualifing shows determination and grit. If the Black Oxen get into a Cup, they won't be an easy out.

Stars bring another title home

The scene was familiar in so many ways. Sarzonia were playing in the final of the Draggonnii Inviyattiii tournament for the second consecutive time and finished the day as repeat champions after a convincing win in which they conceded only one goal, this time by a margin of 3-1. Adding to the familiarity was the opponent: Krytenia, whom the Stars haven't lost to since the group stage of the first-ever AOCAF tournament during World Cup XVI.

The Stars concluded a perfect 7-0-0 run with Coach Dave Wilson looking on for signs that his roster needed a major shakeup and convinced the coach that most of the team could and should stay with the senior national team.

"These lads and lasses showed me no lack of effort, no loss of desire," he said. "In fact, they played hungry. That's what I was looking for."

"We've decided to play our hand with what we've got," Wilson continued. "We've had disappointing results in both the AOCAF tournament and the World Cup and I'd like to see us bounce back from those performances and play the way I expect us to play."

Wilson added that the team would return to the Draggonnii Inviyattii tournament "as long as Andossa Se Mitrin Vega will have us." He added that the team's second Draggonnii Arcea Tropia would be considered "a good trophy and one that should give us some positive momentum heading into the next World Cup."

"The competition level at this tournament should only improve now that more prominent teams are competing in it," Wilson said. "I look forward to this being a tradition that does well, and to a friendship with the people of this fine country."

Chuck Norris News
For All Of Your Fighting Norris Coverage

They did it!
We don't have to drop them!
They didn't lose it all!
Congratulations to the Fighting Norris, who managed to win, but only by ONE PENALTY KICK!

Mr Chuck Norris 4 (Norris 21, 33, 45)
Georgeonia 3 (Majewski 15, 27, 39)

The first half was quite literally a score fest. It seemed that every other charge by either team ended in a score with virtually no defense having any effect on the game. The two teams' stars did the most of the dirty work, each racking up a hat trick, but it wasn't them who won the game.

What won the game was the utter lack of offense in the second half, forcing the game to go into penalty kicks, which is amazing for the Fighting Norris because they have a ton of good shooters. The penalty kicks went something like this:

Chuck Norris Gaetan Majewski
OJ Pimpson Rolph Camplin
The Burger King Tylor Benge
John Fedo Jon Yaqoub
Zach Brickhouse Montague Dica

That pretty much says it all, the match was won when Montague Dica missed the goal altogether, giving the Fighting Norris a 4-3 advantage and the win. That missed shot landed Georgeonia in last place and ended the Fighting Norris' massive failure streak. Here to comment on the match is coahc of the Fighting Norris, Bob Janney.

"We did it! We didn't lose! The failure is over! We didn't get last! World Cup, here we come!"

That pretty much sums it up. We'll see you all again when the 28th World Cup starts.

Schedule for the Second Draggonnii Inviyatii
Matchday One: Vs. Wentland (Loss 0-4)
Matchday Two: Vs. The Islands of Qutar (Draw 1-1)
Matchday Three: Bye
Matchday Four: Vs. Wentland (Loss 2-7)
Matchday Five: Vs. The Islands of Qutar (Loss 1-6)
Matchday Six: Bye
Matchday Seven: Vs. Andossa Se Mitrin Vega (Loss 0-3)
Matchday Eight: Vs. Bazalonia (Loss 0-1)
Matchday Nine: Vs. Georgeonia (Win 4-3)

Cuation 6th Place

A news black out due to the recent death of Jared, the ruler of the Southern Islands, has meant we have been unable to report on the news of recent events. Storming through the group stage and thrashing the monks twice put Cuation in the top bracket.

Indiffirent results there have seen Cuation gain a credible 6th place. Overall a good cup as some young players got a lot of expirence and striker Pual Keane's form has given the management food for thought.

The Atheistic Right Archeopteri where headiing to the Airport in them bus hired by the team while in ASMV. The VDF forces where also on board... when the driver went to brake when coming towards a sharp corner the pressure was there for a second and then not as the brake line broke away and disconnected itself the bus had too much speed and tipped over the side of the road and down the embankment.... There where maybe one member of the VDF that survived...

Behind the bus also heading for the Airport was the bomber... he looked with glee as he saw the bus go over the side and fall down te embankment... His jjob was now complete.... and it was time to go home. By co-incidence he was booked on the same plane that the Atheistic Right Soccer team was meant to be on..... If he had thought about this it would have been ironic, but he didn't... He wanted to get out of this strange country and back home where he .. well wasn't safe... but at least he knew he wasn't safe. Where in ASMV he didn't knoow whether he was safe or not.

Ariddia finish on a win

It was a match for the sheer sake of it, as Ariddia took on Dorian and Sonya for the – admittedly relative – glory of a fifteenth place. Whatever the outcome, the team would finish lower than in the first edition of the competition, where they had ended up in twelfth place. “But there were only sixteen teams back then,” as one supported pointed out. “Ariddia finished fifth from last, and this time they’ll have done much better!”

Such matters, however, were of little importance as the Rouge-et-Noirs did their best to finish on a high note. For some, it would be their last match in the red and black outfit, and a chance to shine for posterity. A convincing two-nil lead at half-time, courtesy of Faraj and U, was confirmed with a third goal by the omnipresent Kyaw, giving Ariddia a solid three-nil victory by the time the whistle blew.

Hanifah Kyaw summed up the general feeling after the game.
“For a team missing some of its top players, we haven’t done all that badly, have we? See you in the World Cup!”

Alexandria Times-Tribune-Post-Gazette-Chronicle-Journal-Inquirer

Sports Section

Floren scores game winner in last game for Milchama

In the final game of an illustrious career Marc J. Floren scored the game against the Qasox Black Oxen to give Milchama 9th place in the second Draggonii Invite. The Warriors played in the 8th place game in the last Draggonii Invite and won the 8th place game there to finish 8th. Of course this time all hopes of finishing 8th were done for after the Warriors did not win their group but they rebounded well as they were led by Marc J. Floren in the outrounds and won the secondary bracket to finish 9th overall.

That is not the big story though, the big story is that Marc J. Floren has played his final game in a Milchama shirt as he is retiring from international football. Floren, who is Milchama's all time leading goal scorer in both international and league play, has been a huge part of the Milchama World Cup squads from World Cup 23 to World Cup 27. He was the leading scorer of the team from WCs 24-27 and has scored over 75 goals in international play. His goal scoring ability is second to none and his help to the younger Milchamian has been great in helping us become a world power. Floren decided to retire because he "Didn't want to hold the youngsters back. While I am might be very good now, I'm getting older and in a few World Cups I won't be around anymore. It is important to get them the experience now rather than later." His one goal was to play in a world cup a goal he achieved in World Cup 27, even if it was with mixed results for the Warriors.

His goal against the Oxen was brilliant as he headed in corner kick from Dunston Copperlee in the 57th minute. He jumped way over two Oxen defenders before heading the ball in to gurantee the victory for the Warriors and a 9th place finish in his last ever game. The goal seemed to signify his entire career for the national team, his brilliance but Milchama's growing pains and losing on the international stage to more experienced teams despite his best efforts.

Final Score:
Milchama 1 (Floren)
Qasox 0 (Shutout!?)