NationStates Jolt Archive

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w175/candelariaandmarquez/CAMAFA5.png
The Seventh Di Bradini Cup
An Under-21 International Tournament

This is the seventh instalment of a tournament now widely recognised as the world's international Under-21 competition. For the first – and, if there’s any sense left in the world, final – time, the tournament appears to have decamped from Starblaydia, birthplace of the eponymous and recently deceased sporting hero, in favour of Candelaria And Marquez, for reasons that may never become entirely clear.

Asides from wondering quietly whether you wouldn’t mind not mentioning the whole ‘Di Bradini actually being alive and well in an intangible realm on the edges of our understanding’ thing to ordinary Candelariasians, the competition ploughs on as usual – twenty teams have sent their finestish young talent to the Candelarias, in the hope of emerging as champions of the seventh Di Bradini Cup!

Eight, or possibly four, or even merely two, years ago; the sixth DBC saw the four elite Under-21 nations in the world – Valanora, Newmanistan, Daehanjeiguk and Candelaria And Marquez – royally crowned once more by reaching the semi-finals, with the victors of the very first DBC taking their second title. But the years have moved on, most teams will be fielding entirely different XIs, and the cup is well and truly up for grabs.

The RP cut-off for the first round of matches will be at around 1700 UTC of the 20th of November… unless there aren’t many rosters up by then, it which case we’ll fudge it a bit, I guess. Seriously, what were you people thinking entrusting us with this?!

OOC: Besides the seedings for the group draw, performances in previous DBCs will count for nought here. The effect of RP bonuses will not be quite as pronounced as previous tournaments, allowing for a little more randomness – no bad thing, as far as I’m concerned, but future hosts may see it differently. So might I if you-know-who wins… :D

Score Modifiers between +/- 2 will be considered.

Group Draw
Group A ~ The Albrecht Group
Colbourne (roster (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=14227889&postcount=14))
Myedvedeya
Miroxia
Newmanistan (roster (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=14225222&postcount=6))
Yafor 2

Group B ~ The Caires Group
Taeshan (roster (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=14223829&postcount=2))
Greal (roster (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=14224230&postcount=3))
Cafundéu (roster (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=14224663&postcount=5))
Kjomasasopia (roster (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=14228661&postcount=16))
Candelaria And Marquez (roster (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=14229348&postcount=21))

Group C ~ The Costal Marquez Group
Jeruselem (roster (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=14224573&postcount=4))
Nethertopia (roster (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=14226277&postcount=8))
Daehanjeiguk
Kura-Pelland
Secristan (roster (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=14227652&postcount=13))

Group D ~ The… Other Group, For Want of a Better Term
Valanora (roster (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=14226915&postcount=11))
Sorthern Northland (roster (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=14229833&postcount=25))
Cassadaigua (roster (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=14226390&postcount=9))
Blouman Empire
Lovisa (Lovisa (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=14230068&postcount=27))


Match Schedule
MD1: 1v2, 3v4, 5 bye
MD2: 3v5, 1v4, 2 bye
MD3: 2v4, 1v5, 3 bye
MD4: 1v3, 2v5, 4 bye
MD5: 4v5, 3v2, 1 bye

QF1: 1st A will play 2nd B
QF2: 1st B will play 2nd A
QF3: 1st C will play 2nd D
QF4: 1st D will play 2nd C

SF1: Winners of QF1 v QF3
SF2: Winners of QF2 v QF4

Stadia
Solidarity Stadium (http://nswiki.net/index.php?title=Albrecht_Turkish#Home_stadium), Albrecht (http://nswiki.net/index.php?title=Albrecht) – (66,200) – 1st listed Group A matches, QF1, Final
Millerman Sheppard Stadium (http://nswiki.net/index.php?title=Albrecht_FC#Home_stadium), Albrecht – (40,614) – 2nd listed Group A matches, SF1

The Kaleta Online Dome (http://nswiki.net/index.php?title=Caires_Sports#Home_stadium), Caires (http://nswiki.net/index.php?title=Caires) – (38,838) – 1st listed Group B matches, QF2
The McNeil Bingo Arena (http://nswiki.net/index.php?title=Caires_City#Home_stadium), Caires – (31,150) – 2nd listed Group B matches, 3PPO

The Estadio Arrigo Nacional (http://nswiki.net/index.php?title=Arrigo_Portuguese#Home_stadium),Arrigo (http://nswiki.net/index.php?title=Arrigo) – (44,123) – 1st listed Group C matches, SF2
La Neuva Decimotercia (http://nswiki.net/index.php?title=Cathedral_City#Home_stadium), El din (http://nswiki.net/index.php?title=El_din) – (27,227) – 2nd listed Group C matches, QF3

Marlow Park (http://nswiki.net/index.php?title=Green_Island_%28football_club%29#Home_stadium), Zapata (http://nswiki.net/index.php?title=Zapata) – (31,616) – 1st listed Group D matches
The Estadio Francisco Álvarez (http://nswiki.net/index.php?title=Marquez-Onwere#Home_stadium), Onwere (http://nswiki.net/index.php?title=Onwere) – (30,538) – 2nd list Group D matches, QF4

Were coming to the second to last year for most of the team members, before some will join the national team and some will not.

Coach-Lyran Srategos
Ass-Mike Nemier

Isaac Newton 43 19 GK Ranju(Daehanjeiguk)
Chuck the Duck 7 19 LD Laketown Pythons
Alan Pearsin 77 19 CD New Capetown Niffers
Rickys Meyerse 11 19 RD Wannum(Daehanjieguk)
Axe Lewis 8 19 RM Atlantea Hurricanes
Jake Del Rio 33 19 RCM Capetown Crocs
Zack the Geek 17 19 LCM Capetown Crocs
Myan Inca 44 19 LM None
Alan Gregory 42 19 LS Pyeonyang Gukjei
Jamie Spenser 23 16 CS Ying Jing Yankees
Ricky Zellefrow 14 19 RS Wiechester FC
SUBS
Argentin Royal 2 19 GK None
Zeke Rogers 3 19 D Wolfin Wolves
Steve Komen 4 19 M Bayern Phoenix
Theo Aztec 5 19 S None

http://s237.photobucket.com/albums/ff41/838millionman/th_Grealflag56-1.jpg
Greal announces its Di Bradini Cup Squad

Home Kit (http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff41/838millionman/GrlHome4.jpg?t=1217507061)
Away Kit (http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff41/838millionman/GrlAway455.jpg?t=1217507095)

Team Formation
4-4-3


# 1 GK Raul Grunt (22 years old)
# 2 DEF Henry Watson (23 years old)
# 3 DEF Richard Turner (26 years old)
# 4 DEF Mecca Oma (24 years old)
# 5 DEF Sam Hardy (27 years old)
# 6 MID Howard Anderson (23 years old)
# 7 MID Sebastian Expan (22 years old)
# 8 MID Francis Volodislav (24 years old)
# 9 FOR Michael Istoma (23 years old)
# 10 FOR Ross Trent (Captain) (25 years old)
# 11 FOR Qin Lang (23 years old)


# 12 GK Ivan Wilson (24 years old)
# 13 DEF Kash Fraser (23 years old)
# 14 DEF Edward (Eddie) Towner (25 years old)
# 15 DEF Fred Murrow (28 years old)
# 16 DEF Shia Adamson (25 years old)
# 17 MID Adam Fan (26 years old)
# 18 MID James Peters (23 years old)
# 19 MID Tony Soaps (22 years old)
# 20 MID Paul Turton (21 years old)
# 21 FOR Oliver Dickens (24 years old)
# 22 FOR Eko Tasser (22 years old)
# 23 GK Dennis Willows (26 years old)


If my opponent posts first, he/she may:

Choose my scorers?: Yes
Yellow card my players?: Yes
Red card my players?: No
Injure my players?: Yes (I'll determine the severity)
Godmode injuries?: No
Godmode scoring events?: No
Godmode other events?: No

Sasha Stadium (http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff41/838millionman/olympic-stadium.jpg?t=1218671185)
Attendance: 120,000

Style Modifier: +1

Jeruselem's 7th Di Bradini Cup U21 Cup Team

*** Brought to you by Radio Man ***
*** The radio station for real men ***

Coach: Ray Mann the Real Man (real name is Ray Flowers)
Formation: 4-3-3 (+2)

(Think of the team is a well-behaved version of SN, real surnames not shown)

GK
* 16, Reggie Man
* 19, Gavin Man

DEF
* 17, Michael Man
* 19, Merginn Man (no relation to Merginn Moffat)
* 15, Joseph Man (not Jewish)
* 18, Obama Man (not actually Black)
* 20, Yakim Man
* 18, Krazar Man

MID
* 19, Henry Man
* 16, Peter Man
* 16, Micky Man
* 18, Tony Man
* 17, Grendel Man
* 18, Rasta Man

STR
* 18, Johnno Man
* 17, David Man
* 16, Fred Man
* 20, Lambert Man
* 16 Hubert Man

RP Permissions
Choose my goalscorers Y
Godmod Scoring Events Y
RP injuries to my players N
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

CCFM RELEASES ANOTHER LIST OF UNKNOWN PLAYERS
TO PLAY ANOTHER U-21 COMPETITION

Style: Very Offensive

Here is the list of 23 players (number-name [age, team, rating]):

Use the BOLDED names

Goalkeepers:

1- MURILO Fonseca (18, América, B)
12- Nikos MENAKILIS (20, Metropolitano, B)
22- TOM Silva Prado (18, Rio Bonito, C)

Full-Backs:

2- José Luiz Gusmão Nunes "ZÉ LUIZ" (21, Porto Lacruz, B)
6- IGOR Teixeira Robles (21, América, A)
14- LEONARDO Aragão (18, A.F.F., B)
16- Erik Paviani Moura "PEIXEIRA" (19, Carandirú, C)

Defenders:

3- Luciano Alvarenga DATENA (21, Central United, A)
4- WILLIAM Silva Jerônimo (18, Albrecht FC [C&M], B)
13- MÁRCIO Jordão LIMA (20, Cafundó do Juta, B)
21- Luciano Borges SCHMIDT (20, Tabajara, C)

Defensive Midfielders:

5- Pedro Moreno Cardoso "PEDRINHO" (20, Clube Imperial, A)
15- MARCUS VINÍCIUS Serafim Rochelle (21, SC Lasft, B)
17- Ulisses LEMOS (17, Galáxia, C)
20- WERNER Costa Gausmann (17, Atlético Jutense, C)

Offensive Midfielders:

7- Fernando MARQUES (21, América, B)
8- Kauã Cardozo SERRANO (20, Galáxia, A)
10- Marcos Durvaldi PAQUETÁ (18, Serrano, B)
23- Ricardo Quirino SOUTO MAIOR (21, Atlético Jutense, B)

Attackers:

9- André Lopes MATOSO (20, Petardos S/A, A)
11- Anti ILMARI (19, Cafundó do Juta, A)
18- WANDERLEY de Paiva (19, Albrecht FC [C&M], C)
19- Jorge Morais ACOSTA (20, Serrano, B)

Coach: Christophe Argentier (Ariddian)

Formation (offensive 4-3-3):

------------------------------Murilo------------------------------
-----Zé Luiz----------Datena--------William--------------Igor-----
-----------------------------Pedrinho----------------------------
----------Serrano------------------------------Marques----------
-----------------------------Paquetá----------------------------
---------------------Matoso----------Anti Ilmari------------------

Kits (home-away-third):

http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm1/Starblayde/ediraf/CafHome4.jpg
http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm1/Starblayde/ediraf/CafAway4.jpg
http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm1/Starblayde/ediraf/CafThird4.jpg

NOTE: This roster was typed up, in it’s entirety before the World Cup 43 qualifiers began as it was intended to be our 7th Di Bradini Cup roster in Starblaydia, a competition that never got off the ground. All Caps and goals therefore are pre-World Cup 43, as well as the ages of the players. On our timeline, this Cup is going to be played when it was “supposed” to have been.

Newmanistan generally plays a 4-3-3formation.

If my opponent RP’s first they may:

Choose my goalscorers: Yes
Godmod scoring events: Yes
RP injuries to my players: Yes, but just to the extent of saying so and so was injured. I’ll determine the severity.
Godmod injuries to my players: No
Hand out yellow cards to my players: Yes
Hand out red cards to my players: Yes, but no more then 1 per game.
Godmod other events: TG your idea for approval first. No deaths/stadium damage.

** COACHING STAFF **

Manager: Brian Carson (Managerial Caps: 95; U-21 Caps: 21, All-time Personal U-21 Record: 19-0-2)
Age: 53
Club Team: Pocono City Capitals
Background: Carson continues to lead the U-21 team. He may just be the all-time winningest coach in Di Bradini Cup history by now, but if not he is certainly amongst the top 3-5. He has led Newmanistan in this competition since our first attempt, our championship back in the 4th version. He has an outstanding ability to catch on to opponent’s tendencies and making appropriate adjustments, earning him a reputation as a tactical master. He is a player’s manager who does not show anger in front of his team as he feels that demoralizes them. Carson also has a great track record with the Capitals in the NPL. He also leads the senior team.

Assistant: Chris Merrill
Age: 46
Club Team: Dover City Mountaineers
Background: Merrill has been the assistant coach in the previous three Di Bradini Cups, and even though they coach rival NPL teams, they have a good rapport with one another at this level. Why mess with a good thing? He’ll be back.

**** STARTING LINEUP ****

GOALKEEPER
Name: Andrew McClure (Caps: 0 Clean Sheets: 0)
Pos: GK
Age: 16
Jersey #: 1
Club Team: South Tier Seagulls
Bio: McClure’s rise to stardom is your classic tale of hard work and determination. It took him a while to get the hang of this goalkeeping bit, but in the last three years or so of his training he has really hit on something, and his progression has skyrocketed incredibly. Being signed by South Tier has only made him better as well, and the Seagulls will be hoping he can be the final piece to their puzzle.

DEFENDERS
Name: Curtis Stilwell (Caps: 0 Goals: 0)
Pos: LB
Age: 17
Jersey #: 5
Club Team: South Tier Seagulls
Bio: South Tier’s emphasis on creating a stronger defensive system is evidence by the fact that they have three starters in defensive roles that are all 20 years of age or younger. Stilwell is a hard-nosed defender who loves to be physical with anyone. He’s still a bit raw with some learning to do but this experience should definitely help him out.

Name: Scott LaFave (Caps: 6 Goals: 0)
Pos: LCB
Age: 20
Jersey #: 3
Club Team: Daytopia Racers
Bio: Scott is a tall, aggressive defender who is wise beyond his years, mainly because he plays for such a horrible team in Daytopia. His Racers always seem to be defending, so while frustrating, it has made him a better player quicker. He takes no crap from the other team, and isn’t afraid to take a chance with a hard tackle. Usually, he is smart about it, but it will probably see him get booked every now and then. He returns for his second Di Bradini Cup. Rumors have it that LaFave is interested in playing overseas.

Name: Brett Taratino (Caps: 5 Goals: 0)
Pos: RCB
Age: 20
Jersey #: 7
Club Team: South Tier Seagulls
Bio: Brett was a teammate of LaFave’s as they were growing up, and they are very excited about playing together again. He was the target of an eventually successful large transfer offer that will see him move to the South Tier Seagulls this coming season. Brett is a similar player, tall, and aggressive. This combination may have some less tough strikers get a little antsy about taking the ball up the center of the pitch. He’ll probably get booked a little more often then LaFave, he also returns for his second Cup as a starter.

Name: Alex Lampert (Caps: 6 Goals: 0)
Pos: RB
Age: 21
Jersey #: 4
Club Team: Centralia Cougars
Bio: Lampert is another of those great defenders that Centralia seems to have an endless supply of. Alex is a very studious person, taking up after his father, who is brain surgeon. Lampert may have gone in that direction too if not for his football ability. He is the quickest of the starting defenders, with average height, and average physicality. He, too, starts for the second Cup in a row.

MIDFIELDERS
Name: James Seidler (Caps: 6 Goals: 0)
Pos: LM
Age: 21
Jersey #: 12
Club Team: Springfield Thoroughbreds
Bio: Seidler is the Brett Prescott of this team. He is just as nasty, rough, and aggressive with the opponent, often assigned to the other team’s top scorer to rough him up and get in his head, so that he is looking behind him when he should be focusing. But like Prescott, Seidler is smart about it. He knows when to do it, and when to lay off; thus not getting as many bookings as you might think someone like this would. He can also play the game, he’s got a great finishing touch, and sets up the strikers with outstanding crosses with great frequency. He was also a starter four years ago.

Name: Dirk Brogan (Caps: 6 Goals: 1)
Pos: CM
Age: 21
Jersey #: 11
Club Team: Stroudsbourg Panthers
Bio: Brogan is an all-around talent, who can really serve multiple roles for the team based on the way coach Carson wants to go about doing things. He is the kind of player who may not be incredible at one thing, but he does everything very well, and very consistently. He has great vision, and actually is a little reminiscent of Matt Caufield, who started at this spot in two Di Bradini Cups, which is what Brogan is doing now.

Name: Stanley Rocco (Caps: 0 Goals: 0)
Pos: RM
Age: 17
Jersey #: 9
Club Team: Loudon Leopards
Bio: Rocco can be both an offensive and a defensive midfielder, and that versatility will come in handy. He can be a very physical player, so opponent’s won’t get away not getting hit by avoiding James Seidler. Rocco can also have a bit of attitude problem, and coach Carson will hope that doesn’t become an issue.

STRIKERS:
Name: Brett Carlson (*** TEAM CAPTAIN ***) (Caps: 15 Goals: 7; U-21 Caps: 6, U-21 Goals: 4)
Pos: LS
Age: 20
Jersey #: 10
Club Team: Pocono City Capitals
Bio: Is this the next Jeremy McAllister? Could he even be better? He signed with Pocono City and Brian Carson at the age of 14, and then in the most reason NPL season made an immediate impact despite his young age. He’s only going to get better, and now on a team with other young players, playing for his coach at the club level, look for Carlson to be the new person carrying the flag for the Empire as the leading Di Bradini Cup scorer. After starting in Di Bradini 6, he is plenty motivated to win what McAllister won, a Di Bradini Cup Championship

Name: Calvin Lane (Caps: 3 Goals: 0)
Pos: ST
Age: 20
Jersey #: 17
Club Team: Putnam Lake Eagles
Bio: Lane has blazing speed, and after being a strategic substitute four years ago, he has really been peaking of late with Putnam Lake, where he plays alongside Jeremy McAllister in the attack. He’s expected to have an outstanding tournament. Carlson Lane will be a tough road for the opposing defenses to deal with. At one time, Lane was considered streaky but that is now a thing of the past as he has matured. He is now a consistent scoring force.

Name: Kevin Taylor (Caps: 0 Goals: 0)
Pos: ST
Age: 20
Jersey #: 53 (superstition)
Club Team: Hampton Bulldogs
Bio: Once one of the worse teams of the NPL, Taylor (along with substitute Chris Farrell), the Hampton Bulldogs have gradually climbed the ladder. Taylor is a player that should work well as a sidestreet off of Carlson Lane. He doesn’t quite have the dynamic speed of those two, but he’s no slowpoke either. Expect him to be a step behind for a drop back pass option or to pounce on rebounds that the other two generate. He was a reserve four years ago.

**** SUBSTITUTES ****
Name: Justin Graham (Caps: 0 Clean Sheets: 0)
Pos: GK
Age: 16
Jersey #: 21
Club Team: Thumbria Bay Sharks
Bio: Graham has impressed coach Carson mainly due to his vision and anticipation skills. He’s an acrobatic keeper, so when he makes a great save, it will definitely make the highlight reel. A lot of serious experience could be an issue as Thumbria Bay was only a “B” league team last season, although they have been promoted into the NPL for the upcoming year.

Name: Todd Benjamin (Caps: 1 Goals: 0)
Pos: CB
Age: 19
Jersey #: 2
Club Team: Southport Tigers
Bio: Southport may be getting a little like Centralia now with their defensive focus, and Benjamin is proof of that. He is a tall defender, but doesn’t yet use his height to the advantage in the way that he seems most capable. Probably, in time with some bulking up, he will, and then become more physical. He has a lot of potential, and plays in a good system at the club level for developing defenders. Moves up from being a reserve in the last Cup.

Name: Michelle Norton (Caps: 3 Goals: 0)
Pos: CB
Age: 21
Jersey #: 8
Club Team: Fairfield City Admirals
Bio: The one Brian Carson let get away from him in Pocono City. He originally wasn’t sold on Michelle, so when Fairfield City presented a transfer offer, he let her go. It’s proved to be a rare mistake of his as Michelle is truly blossoming into a fine defender. She is knowledgeable, and has great awareness. Physicality isn’t her claim to fame, but she’s not afraid of it. Was also a substitute in the last Cup.

Name: Brian Donaldson (Caps: 0 Goals: 0)
Pos: MID
Age: 20
Jersey #: 13
Club Team: South Charlotte Condors
Bio: Despite his age, Donaldson was not on the last Di Bradini Cup team as he has been a bit of late bloomer. Brian is primarily an offensive player, and will often be used up front by the Condors during NPL play, and could be used in that capacity here. He is a player on the upswing and could actually steal a start or two from Stanley Rocco if it’s a game where Carson wants to go with a more up tempo style of offense.

Name: Chris Farrell (Caps: 0 Goals: 0)
Pos: ST
Age: 19
Jersey #: 18
Club Team: Hampton Bulldogs
Bio: A club level teammate to Kevin Taylor, it appears that here he may be a substitute for him (or the other strikers). Chris is very agile and can dribble around defenders easily, but when they get physical with him, he is still vulnerable. With a little bulking up, Chris will become more of a complete player. He has the work ethic and has been spending countless hours in the gym to do exactly that. He was a reserve in the last Cup.

**** RESERVES ****
Name: Mark Campbell
Pos: GK
Age: 16
Jersey #: 25
Club Team: Pocono City Capitals
Bio: Campbell is the backup keeper to the starter in Pocono City, who is Boris Bykovsky of Myedvedeya. The young Campbell has been a studious pupil of the foreign superstar and it has improved his game quite a bit. Don’t expect to see him in any action, though, unless the Rockets are hit with a rash of injuries.

Name: Chris Lombardi
Pos: CB
Age: 17
Jersey #: 22
Club Team: Brighton Bulls
Bio: A tall physical defender who plays with an edge. Needs to improve his defensive awareness slightly, perhaps, and this is expected to come in time, as after all he is only seventeen. He has also only played in Newmanistan’s “B” League to this point, but Brighton recently won promotion, so he will be able to improve his game at home as well. He has a winning attitude.

Name: Scott Lopresti
Pos: MID
Age: 18
Jersey #: 23
Club Team: North Charlotte Wildcats
Bio: Scott is a defensive minded midfielder in every way. It’s been rumored that the Centralia Cougars are interested in acquiring him, but so far he remains a Wildcat. He is able to help out the offense with an accurate long ball, though.

Name: Nick Roberts
Pos: MID
Age: 21
Jersey #: 19
Club Team: Springfield Thoroughbreds
Bio: An offensive minded midfielder, Roberts has always been a streaky player and is also a late bloomer. As such, he wasn’t really considered for the 6th Di Bradini Cup, but is ready to go now, should he get an opportunity. He has a great finishing touch, but the only knock on him is that he doesn’t really have the elusiveness that would wish he had.

Name: Tony Dempster
Pos: ST
Age: 15
Jersey #: 16
Club Team: Brighton Bulls
Bio: Dempster has just signed a contract to play with the Bulls, a recently promoted “B” League team, and has the kind of speed potential that has scouts drooling. He’s still young, obviously, so he is working on putting the rest of his game together, but he shows the potential to be a great scorer. Brian Carson certainly noticed this in him and named him to the team, likely more for him to get the experience of interregional play then for him to actually play. But, who knows?

The Probably-Seventh Probably-Di Bradini Cup Group Stage Draw

The lights in the Re-Unification Building’s vast auditorium dim, and the assembled representatives of the twenty football associations wind their conversations to a hush.

Lights slowly reappear from the ceiling of the stage, and what follows is too unpleasant to recount in detail at this point. Possibly later, once it’s been thoroughly edited for the sake of any under-sixteens reading.

Suffice it to say, they were treated to a song-and-dance show from twenty children representing the countries involved – a Candelariasian-Cafundelense girl from Arrigo, a Candelariasian-Yaforite boy from Bove, a Khatib-Gassett native of Imperial Han decent, a Candelariasian-Northlandish lad presumably found by chucking a stone at a playground in the west end of Old Albrecht, a Candelariasian-Vano…

Okay, that’s going a bit far. It was a wee lad with Spock ears.

An official handing-over ceremony, involving a somewhat bemused and curiously stocky Starblaydi native being passed the cup itself from a Vanorian representative, before acting CAMAFA President Sam Mc O’Neil took hold. There then followed a lovely little tribute to Di Bradini himself, marred only by Mc O’Neil’s unfortunate and continual use of ‘Simone Di Brandini’.

The hosts opted not too much about after that, bringing on the pots. The draw system was explained simply – the twenty nations were separated into five pots, ordered firstly by their DBC6 performance, then (in the case of Kura-Pelland) performances from previous DBCs, then those FAs which signed up for the previous shot at the DBC7, and finally the most recent sign-ups, likewise in the order that their letters reached us in Albrecht. It was added that neither the EesseffValanora nor C&M were automatically placed in any particular group as reigning champions and hosts respectively. Please note furthur that groups have been randomised, and are not presented in seedings order...

Group A
Colbourne
Myedvedeya
Miroxia
Newmanistan
Yafor 2

Group B
Taeshan
Greal
Cafundéu
Kjomasasopia
Candelaria And Marquez

Group C
Jeruselem
Nethertopia
Daehanjeiguk
Kura-Pelland
Secristan

Group D
Valanora
Sorthern Northland
Cassadaigua
Blouman Empire
Lovisa

Match Schedule
MD1: 1v2, 3v4, 5 bye
MD2: 3v5, 1v4, 2 bye
MD3: 2v4, 1v5, 3 bye
MD4: 1v3, 2v5, 4 bye
MD5: 4v5, 3v2, 1 bye

(e.g. on MD1, Group A will be Colbourne v Medvedeya at the Solidarity Stadium, Miroxia v Newmanistan at the Millerman Sheppard Stadium, with Yafor 2 having a bye).

QF1: 1st A will play 2nd B
QF2: 1st B will play 2nd A
QF3: 1st C will play 2nd D
QF4: 1st D will play 2nd C

SF1: Winners of QF1 v QF3
SF2: Winners of QF2 v QF4

Stadia
Solidarity Stadium (http://nswiki.net/index.php?title=Albrecht_Turkish#Home_stadium), Albrecht (http://nswiki.net/index.php?title=Albrecht) – (66,200) – 1st listed Group A matches, QF1, Final
Millerman Sheppard Stadium (http://nswiki.net/index.php?title=Albrecht_FC#Home_stadium), Albrecht – (40,614) – 2nd listed Group A matches, SF1

The Kaleta Online Dome (http://nswiki.net/index.php?title=Caires_Sports#Home_stadium), Caires (http://nswiki.net/index.php?title=Caires) – (38,838) – 1st listed Group B matches, QF2
The McNeil Bingo Arena (http://nswiki.net/index.php?title=Caires_City#Home_stadium), Caires – (31,150) – 2nd listed Group B matches, 3PPO

The Estadio Arrigo Nacional (http://nswiki.net/index.php?title=Arrigo_Portuguese#Home_stadium),
Arrigo (http://nswiki.net/index.php?title=Arrigo) – (44,123) – 1st listed Group C matches, SF2
La Neuva Decimotercia (http://nswiki.net/index.php?title=Cathedral_City#Home_stadium), El din (http://nswiki.net/index.php?title=El_din) – (27,227) – 2nd listed Group C matches, QF3

Marlow Park (http://nswiki.net/index.php?title=Green_Island_%28football_club%29#Home_stadium), Zapata (http://nswiki.net/index.php?title=Zapata) – (31,616) – 1st listed Group D matches
The Estadio Francisco Álvarez (http://nswiki.net/index.php?title=Marquez-Onwere#Home_stadium), Onwere (http://nswiki.net/index.php?title=Onwere) – (30,538) – 2nd list Group D matches, QF4


If there are any glaring errors, and there *will* be, don't hesitate to let me know...

TEAM ROSTER

Here it is, our roster for the seventh instalment of the Di Bradini Cup. The players are young, and eager to prove themselves. They're ready for the highest levels of football and really want to prove themselves. Especially the players of the Nethertopian amateur division would like to move to professional clubs. Let's hope for a succesful tourney for them, then. The Nethertopian national XI is also known as the Falcons. The U-21 XI will be called... Err... Yet another bird to find... Ah, the Vultures. Just like Good ol' C&M described them.

NOTE: Players also preforming in the CoH will be playing in this tourney. It seems like we're going to get knocked out in the first round anyway.

ANOTHER NOTE: Players performing in the Nethertopian amateur division are transferable without a fee. But, players in italics are part of the Nethertopian Young Player Pool and clubs from the CMSC have dibbs on them, if any are interested.

The kit
Nethertopia's home kit will be Starblaydi White and Purple, in honour to Simeone Di Bradini, with a band of our tricolore diagonally positioned.. The Vultures' away tenue, however, will be in our original Nethertopian colors.

http://img125.imageshack.us/img125/8005/nethertopiau21yf2.png

THE STAFF
Manager: Sjors Opdeheuvel
Pretty laid back coach, ex-manager of The Peregrines. Got fired in favour of Ricardo Garcia as coach for CMSC2 team NAPPC, when NAPC and the Peregrines merged. He's now returned to the exiting game of football to take his revenge and maybe a prospect of getting into club football again. Likes to play standard diamond 4-4-2, with a slightly attacking approach. Balances tactic and motivational speeches decently.

THE TEAM
Nethertopia will play in a 4-4-2 formation, with a diamond midfield. Style modifier is +0.5, slightly attacking.

Starters
Goalkeeper: Mark Water
Age: 20
Number: 1
Club: Tenderville United (Nth club, performing in C&M's CMSC2)
Bio: The third keeper for TdvUtd, but also the most promising one Nethertopia has. This guy has catlike reflexes, and is renowned for his interceptions from dead ball situations. He is, however, a very bad penalty kick stopper.

Left defender: Igbinna Agbo
Age: 20
Number: 2
Club: Pearl of the Old Duchy (Nth Amateur first division club)
Bio: This guy is one of those defenders that's invisible a whole game. He doesn't stand out on one thing at all, but he rarely makes mistakes. And if he makes them, they're unimportant. He's very consistent and that's why he's a favourite of Opdeheuvel.

Central defender: Yannick de Woudt (C)
Age: 20
Number: 5
Club: Arrigo Portugese (C&M's CMSC1), on loan to Tenderville United
Bio: Yannick is tall, has a good header, a nice tackle and is able to play in the centre of the defence as well as on the left. This guy is getting ready for the big Falcons.

Central defender: Mark Maas
Age: 16
Number: 3
Club: FC DePardenti (Nth Amateur first division club)
Bio: A tough guy, this one. He has a great tackle, and a love for yellow cards, it seems. Has a fairly good header, is able to play a defender’s game the way it should be played. He is not quite clever, however.

Right defender: Marcos Thysis
Age: 18
Number: 4
Club: Ratos Island Seaside (Nth Amateur first division club)
Bio: Originally from the Nth Eagle Islands, but neutralised to Nethertopian. He's able to take out any attacker he wants, without crossing the line. He's impassable one-on-one. His only problem is his positioning, something he's working on right now.

Central defensive midfielder: Wim Smits
Age: 20
Number: 6
Club: The Grey Towers (Nth Amateur first division club)
Bio: Has the luck of having no weaker foot. This fellow is able to play on every position on the field. He’s small and quick. He also takes a nice corner and has a good long ball forward and cross. Lacks the ability to shoot.

Left midfielder: Michel Mulder
Age: 17
Number: 8
Club: Ratos Island Seaside (Nth Amateur first division club)
Bio: This guy is a psycho, but also an extremely talented left midfielder. He’s crazy as crazy can be. Once punched a referee in the face, when he was fourteen and was expelled from the playing field for half a year. Still a phenomenon on the field, able to take out anyone he wants, with tricks, amazing speed and a perfect high pass.

Right midfielder: Tom van Dijk
Age: 21
Number: 7
Club: FC DePardenti (Nth Amateur first division club)
Bio: Pacey, able to take out defenders by sprinting. Doesn't’t try much tricks, but is able to do if necessary. Likes to sprint to the base line to give the ball up front. Has disciplinal problems, though.

Central attacking midfielder: Erwin Visser
Age: 16
Number: 10
Club: Ashdom City (Nth Amateur first division club)
Bio: A penalty expert. This guy really, really loves through balls. Has a strong tackle, for a midfielder. He’s considered to be very loyal. This guy has a nice shot from long range.

Striker: Arjan Jakobs
Age: 17
Number: 18
Club: NAPPC (Nth club, performing in C&M's CMSC2)
Bio: One of the jewels of Nethertopian football. People have called him the next Abdoulaye Soro and rumours go that several big clubs are chasing him. Originally scouted by Rob Kietecs, but refused to sign at TdvUtd because he's from Peregrinus City, and refused to sign at the Peregrines' rivals.. Great shot, great positioning, great player.

Striker: Erik Visser
Age: 17
Number: 9
Club: FC DePardenti (Nth Amateur first division club)
Bio: Prolific, able to score with ease. Is short, can’t make a good header. Takes free kick rather well. Great shot, weak left foot. Is considered to be lazy, but that might be the young age.


Subs
Goalkeeper: Theodorus "Teddy" Marshall
Age: 17
Number: 12
Club: Tenderville United (Nth club, performing in C&M's CMSC2)
Bio: Teddy is 1.88m and still growing. He's the first goalie in TdvUtd's A1, a big talent. Doesn't outstand in anything, but isn't bad in any goalie ability at all. Has the potential to become the first choice goalkeeper for the Falcons.

Central defender: Jan Smit
Age: 21
Number: 13
Club: NAPPC (Nth club, performing in C&M's CMSC2)
Bio: Tough defender, part of the NAPPC reserves squad for most of the time, but has sat on the bench with the first team for a couple of times, has had four matches of playtime, of which one from the start. A typical I-wouldn't-like-to-anger-him type.

Wing defender: Robbie Hendriks
Age: 17
Number: 14
Club: Ashdom City (Nth Amateur first division club)
Bio: Robbie plays as a wing defender: He tries forward runs as much as possible. He’s a proper defender, not world class though. Probably the least player on this roster.

Left/central midfielder: Richard Schaap
Age: 18
Number: 15
Club: Ashdom City (Nth Amateur first division club)
Bio: This guy is more CMSC2 level, but he’s listed as great talent because of his work rate and determination. What he lacks in technique and tactics, he makes up with giving 100% at every match, working like a horse.

Right/central midfielder: Marcel van der Laan
Age: 19
Number: 16
Club: Mignon City FC (Nth Amateur first division club)
Bio: Prefers the centre of the field, but is able to take the right side as well. Your average central midfielder. Strong, leader capabilities, likes do discuss arbitral decisions with the referee. Has an extraordinary free kick. Good stuff, this one.

Striker: Bas Smit
Age: 18
Number: 42
Club: The Grey Towers (Nth Amateur first division club)
Bio: Over two meters tall already, brilliant header. Decent striker, not really top of the notch yet. Has a lot to learn about the game, has a lot of talent. Preferred back number is 42, his answer to life. Will fit in well in a system with a lone striker

Striker: Karel de Witte
Age: 21
Number: 11
Club: FC DePardenti (Nth Amateur first division club)
Bio: Regular base player at FC DePardenti. Looked about to break through two years ago, when NAPPC was about to sign him because of his brilliant technique and tactical play, but got called off at the last moment, when he failed his medical test. Hasn't played on his top notch level since then.
___________________

You can do whatever you like with my players, just don't kill them off, OK?

Yes! They found a space for us! Thank you, entrants 18-20!

Ok so now we need a roster!

Starters in Blue
Subs in Green
Reserves in Red

Coach: Ashley Ryan Age: 37

Goalies:
#1- Kristen Stockton, Age: 18
#20- Tara Cherney, Age: 20
#21- Gabrielle Odoms, Age: 19

Defense:
#3- Courtney Poole, Age: 18
#5- Allison Endres, Age: 21 *Team Captain*
#2- Michelle Garrett, Age: 17
#4- Rachel Trombley, Age: 16
#6- Alyssa Tates, Age: 20
#7- Paige MacAdam, Age: 15
#17- Kelsey Moreno, Age: 17

Midfield:
#9- Meghan Burns, Age: 19
#8- Jennifer Lowry, Age: 19
#12- Ashley Nolan, Age: 17
#15- Caitlin Loiselle, Age: 20
#16- Kelsey Frampton, Age: 16
#22- Natalie Longo, Age: 17
#23- Bridgette Paulsen, Age: 21

Forwards:
#11- Stacie Kerrigan, Age: 16
#10- Erica Daniels, Age: 16
#14- Emily Haskins, Age: 21
#19- Amber Kessler, Age: 18
#18- Liz Heilman, Age: 20
#13- Kristen Spencer, Age: 19

If my opponent RPs first, he/she can:
Choose my scorers? Yes
Yellow card my players? Yes
Red card my players? Yes, no more then one please.
Injure my players? No
Godmode injuries? No
Godmode scoring events? Yes
Godmode other events? Why not, just don’t kill anyone or seriously hurt anyone

THE ROCKET REPORT

DI BRADINI TIME

Pocono City, Newmanistan- The Rockets have this wonderful legacy and are all ready to leave for Starblaydia to add to it. They’ve entered three Di Bradini Cups. They’ve made the final of three Di Bradini Cups, sadly only winning one, but still an impressive record. Playing in Starb..... wait? What? This can’t be right. My intern has just informed me that the 7th Di Bradini Cup is being held in Candelaria And Marquez and they are still not sure if it will officially be called a Di Bradini Cup. Couldn’t they find me a better intern then this? Anyway, the Rockets are set to go to Starblaydia and perhaps get a little payback towards one of the nations that kept them from qualifying for the World Cup by making them see nothing but sky blue and white victories, which they have gotten so used to there, except for in finals. Alright, now my intern is handing me a piece of paper. Dammit, Katie, I still don’t have my coffee yet! Ok now back to Starbl.... holy crap! It is actually true. The 7th Di Bradini Cup is being held in Candelaria And Marquez. This is just amazing. Katie, you’re the best intern a man could ever want! Now, the Rockets will have begin a new legacy in their country. Not that they can’t. Despite the fact that none of these Di Bradini Cup finalist teams have led to us putting together a team that could qualify for the World Cup yet, Newmanistan will be a favorite wherever they play. Perhaps, they might even play Candelaria And Marquez for the first time!

All kidding aside, all this went down very quickly that it does take you a little time to catch up. The Di Bradini Cup is going to be played in Candelaria and Marquez this year because there seems to be factors affecting Starblaydia from hosting this extremely important competition. (It is for us, anyway). The calling it of the Di Bradini Cup is very probable, but not official as we are not sure if the Starbladyis will raise a stink over it. They could, but I would also the think that the continuation of the Cup in the honor of the great late Simeone Di Bradini completely shows the reach that Simeone had to the entire world, and it is a great honor. The Cup is not planned, at least right now, to be played all the time in Candelaria And Marquez, and a possible Newmanistanian hosting of it shouldn’t be ruled out, but don’t look for that quite yet. They get things done quickly in Candelaria And Marquez as well as the group draw is already complete. Damn, and I’m just starting my first cup of coffee with all this news. Not that anything is wrong with playing in Candelaria And Marquez, we had our run through the Cup of Harmony 34 through their nation even though the eventual championship was won in Ad’ihan. Our greatest moments were in Albrecht. And look, we’re in the Albrecht. They know what they’re doing here, don’t they? Perhaps that Cup of Harmony 34 run was just the start of us having an equally title-game filled run here as we did in Starblaydia. That’d be just fine with us! Newmanistan’s group A-mates are Colbourne, Miroxia, Yafor 2, and Myedvedeya. The first two we should handle. The last two, we probably will as well. Yafor 2 is the toughest opponent of the group, and Myedvedeya still needs to get their feet off the ground in DBC ranks, so other things we may know about the KGB shouldn’t quite scare us. Our official schedule is as follows. Games noted with an (A) are at the Solidarity Stadium in Albrecht and ones noted with a (B) are at Millerman Sheppard Stadium, also in Albrecht.

MD1- vs Miroxia (B)
MD2- vs Colbourne (B)
MD3- vs Myedvedeya (A)
MD4- vs Albrecht Night Life (various Locations) aka Bye
MD5- vs Yafor 2 (A)

From the offices of the VSC does the Marauders information come.

My opponent, if they RP first, may do the following:
Choose my goalscorers Y
Godmod Scoring Events Y
RP injuries to my players Y (be reasonable)
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 Y

Modifier = +1

Kits

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v637/chellote/HomeKit.jpghttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v637/chellote/AwayKit.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v637/chellote/ThirdKit.jpg

Home Away

For those players listed without Academies, please assume that they are free and open to transfers.

Manager
Alejand Cartain
Age: 12,458
A relatively young manager who has spent time on the staff of Raynor City, Rinaldi, and FC Capri during each of their title runs. He's unusual for the managers of Valanora as he favors a more defensive approach to the game. It is unsure whether or not he will change the successful tactics of the previous manager though, given the show they gave on their way to a title run.

Assistant
Ryan Malkoa (Rennidan)
Age: 28
Not much is known about this man from Rennidan apart from that he is young, owns an island, and has a privately funded militia. Asked about what made him the top choice above the other eight applicants, he convinced the VFA that he could provide better security and still get the lads and lasses in shape. Considering the priority, or lack of, that the VFA give the DBC, he was awarded the job without soo much as a background check.

Keeper
1 Finduilas Nénharma, Rinaldi Academy
Age: 21
Sex: F
Height: 5'9"
Weight: 132 lbs
Agile and very demonstrative about what is going to happen inside the area, she is a near polar oppisite of Ciryatan in the attitude they take towards the game. Probably not the best keeper that could have been found, but Cartain believes that she has the ability to become something great.

Defenders
2 Valaina Tinúviel
Age - 19
Sex - F
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 147 lbs
Tinúviel is a speed demon who also know how to mix it up in the middle of the park when things tend to get a little rough. She is best suited for playing out on the outside of the park where she can use he speed and agility to augment the attack, but is also smart enough to know how to control the backline as a centerback. Her intelect and natural ability is one of the reason why this unattached lady starts.

6 Amroth Súrin, Night Academy
Age - 21
Sex - M
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 160 lbs
A lad who has been born and raised in the rich southwestern part of the majestic capital of Valanora, he is used to the very best in life. His skills are quite raw, but the natural talent just flows off of the young man like the fog off dry ice. Not the most coordinated in the attacking party of the game, yet he has a good head on his shoulders if it can reach the ball.

37 Fingolfin Séregon, Baysleef Academy
Age - 21
Sex - M
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 168 lbs
The slowest of the three defenders, but the best marker and with the best positioning. Fingolfin will do his job well in the back end, but not venture forward for the attack at the risk of being exposed on the counter.

Midfield
29 Ricardinho, Petardos S/A (Cafundeu)
Age - 20
Sex - M
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 162 lbs
After succesfully rescueing the last DBC squad and being given time on the senior team, the Cafundelense born winger makes one last trip to the DBC, in hopes of defending his title. Many think that the lad has all the skills of Morose, va Drake, the Kries twins, and the hero that was Jere Jannian combined. Only time will tell if he can live up to that kind of reputation, but for now, he is the second most dangerous man on the side.

14 Lúthien Inwëlin, Night Academy
Age - 21
Sex - F
Height: 5'8"
Weight: 121 lbs
Small and not the expected choice at the starting center midfield spot, she however proved on the training ground that size does not matter. With all the talent and world class facilities at her disposal, this lady will no doubt make her name known by the end of the tournament, for some reason.

15 Valandil Ancalímon, Valanari Academy
Age - 20
Sex - M
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 170 lbs
A childhood friend of Inwëlin, the two have always looked out for each other whenever they were in a situation, on the pitch or off it, until they choose different academies. Still, he is the muscle that Inwëlin does not have in the center of the park, and their familarity with each other should do well in helping the Marauders dominate the midfield.

11 Elendil Amandil ~
Age - 19
Sex - M
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 159 lbs
A lad from Ibinni who, like soo many of the Vyintanese who want to play professional football, sentin a tape to the Capri youth director. Impressed by the film, he handed it over to Cartain, and because of that, the lad is now starting on the DBC squad. Some of the other players dislike how easily he was able to get the spot, but if his skills help defend their crown, they would find it hard not to let him into their good graces.

12 Tinúviel Hardanal, Valanari Academy ~
Age - 21
Sex - F
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 152 lbs
Unlike Ricardinho, Hardanal is not built to be a sensational offensive threat out wide, but more of a possessive winger. She is probably the weakest link the starting eleven as she is not the fastest nor the best marker, but has tons of heart.

Strikers
16 Finwë Celebrindal, Clube Imperial (Cafundeu)
Age - 21
Sex - M
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 192 lbs
Celebrindal was obviously built to be a linking striker with his size and control of the ball. Combined with the speedy little Anwamanë, I expect some miraculous goals between the two, as they seem to compliment each other very well.

9 Lúthien Anwamanë, Green Island (Candelaria And Marquez) ~
Age - 21
Sex - F
Height: 5'8"
Weight: 134 lbs
Blazing fast, and just when you think she has hit top speed, she puts on the turbo and notches it up another level. He time with the Green Island training staff has almost put her confidence woes behind her. Still prone to an occasional bad game, yet she has matured greatly since two years ago.

Reserves
GK: 4 Amras Táralóm, age 18, Juavi Academy (M)
CB: 7 Uruviel Eärfalas, age 17 (F) ~
CB: 6 Arotias Súrin, age 19 (M)
CB: 8 Lenwë Palantír, age 19, Valanari Academy (M)
LW: 5 Elerossë Falassion, age 21, Baysleef Academy (M) ~
RW: 13 Celahir Melwasúl, age 19, Gladerial Academy (M)
MC: 17 Daeron Elanessë, age 18, Wexax Academy (M) ~
MC: 18 Lólindir Culnámo, age 17 (M)
AMC: 20 Gilraen of Dorthonion, age 19, Longview Academy (F)
ST: 28 Oropher of Nargothrond, age 21, Mar Sara FC (M) ~
ST: 10 Elwing Palantír, age 20, Rinaldi Academy (F)

Nénharma
Súrin Tinúviel Séregon
Ricardinho Inwëlin Ancalímon Hardanal
Amandil
Celebrindal Anwamanë

Captain: Finwë Celebrindal
Left Corner: Tinúviel Hardanal
Right Corner: Ricadinho
Set Pieces: Ricardinho
Penalty Taker: Finwë Celebrindal

~ Denotes Vyintanese

(Hey, look at that, another nice tournament to compete in and abandon from RP once we're halfway, because we only seem to lose. Or summat. I smell another disappointment, with the randomness numbers. Oh well, at least the previous rankings don't count in this tournament. Here we go!)

"This is the NPBC, with NPBC sports. My name is Jens Werner and today we will be discussing the 7th Di Bradini Cup. We of course have Tycho Gerbrands in the studio, as well as Jan Smit, who joins our Vultures as substitute. Let's have a look at our schedule first."

[screen flashes to show group and schedule]

Group C Matchday Scheme
Jeruselem MD1: Jeruselem - Nethertopia
Nethertopia MD2: Bye
Daehanjeiguk MD3: Nethertopia - Kura-Pelland
Kura-Pelland MD4: Nethertopia - Secristan
Secristan MD5: Daehanjeiguk - Nethertopia

W: "That looks rather nice, doesn't it? We have no clue what to expect. Anything is possible. It's really weird to know that everybody has a shot at the trophy and that there isn't one exact favourite. Now joining me are Tycho Gerbrands, NPBS Sports' own analyst and Jan Smit, defender with NAPPC and substitute player on the Vultures. Welcome Guys."

G: "Hello, good to be here again."

S: "Hi. Jens, Tycho..."

W: "Let's get this thing going. Tycho, what do you think of the draw?"

G: "It's difficult. But it's always difficult, isn't it? I mean, if you look at the A-teams of this list, and then compare the rankings, then we have Jeruselem 8, Daehanjeiguk 10, Kura-Pelland 17 and Secristan 66. All are placed above us, so they'll be likely to pop up with some awesome teams. But it's not the World Cup. It's something completely different... Anything could happen here. We're going to have to wait to find out."

W: "So the tourney is really up for grabs! Jan, another question, What's the status of the Vultures?"

S: "Currently it's quite good. The Nethertopian Young Player Pool players are in fact negotiating with some CMSC1 clubs and it seems their are getting into different clubs. The others really hope for another contact, but we'll have to see where they end. I'm happy with my own NAPPC contract status, just like the rest of the Nethertopian profclub players."

W: “And how about your new manager, Sjors Opdeheuvel?”

S: “I know him from my time with NAPPC that he’s a gifted manager. He really has the capabilities to lead us to greater heights. It’s a shame they sacked him in favour of Ricardo Garcia. It might be logical, but I think that the two of them could learn a lot from each other. In the end I’ve got to admit that he’s probably the right man on the right position, on the right time.”

W: “I see. So you guys really support him. That‘s good in a team. Tycho, any favourites?”

G: “Candelaria And Marquez should be able to lift the trophy, with a bit of luck. But I also see Newmanistan or Valanora as biggest teams on the pitch. To be short, the old winners. But after such a long amount of time, anything could happen. It’s going to be a close call and nothing is certain.”

W: “Right, but Jan, do you see our Vultures lift the cup?”

S: “Not really. We don‘t have the strength for it. Yet. Maybe in two years.”

W: “Ah, that‘s too bad. Tycho, any chance at seeing any Di Bradini cup coming to Nethertopia?”

G: “Maybe, but not too soon. It might happen in a few years, but I don‘t think the nation is ready for it. But we‘ll see.”

W: “Ok. Oh, that was all the time we had for today. We‘ll see you again another time, on NPBC Sports. My guests today were Tycho Gerbrands and Jan Smit. And my name is Jens Werner. Goodnight.”

The Secristan Department of Sports has concluded bidding for the Di Bradini Cup 7 team which will be held in Candelaria And Marquez. Bidding was wide open, and many parents showed their true colors by bidding for their children to try and propel their sporting careers even if they were probably too young for this level. The end result was a team that looks more like a U-17 team then a U-21 team. But the SDOS doesn’t care, they got their rusas.

Players age in ( )

Modifier: +2

Starters:
GK: #1 Brian Carver (16)
LB: #6 Eric Fraser (14)
LCB: #5 Anthony Wachter (16)
RCB: #16 Shawn Wooliver (17)
RB: #2 Trevor Orton (17)
LM: #15 Scott Tollisen (13)
CAM: #9 Kurt MacMillan (15)
CDM: #10 Matthew Marino (16)
RM: #19 Chris Coventry (14)
LS: #11 Michael Cardona (13)
RS: #12 Andrew Bianchetti (14)

Subs:
GK: # 22 Phil Partico (17)
CB: #8 Joel Shapiro (16)
CB: #4 Eddie Mortensen (17)
MID: #14 Tyler Benware (14)
ST: #20 Terry Castaglia (17)

Reserves:
GK: #23 Lucas Newmark (14)
CB: #3 Nick Palmquist (15)
CB: #7 Jordan Grant (16)
MID: #13 Bob Angeloni (17)
MID: #18 Rick Schatzer (17)
ST: #17 Brian Tucker (14)
ST: #21 Chris Harmon (16)

Choose my goalscorers: Yes
Godmod Scoring Events: Yes
RP injuries to my players: Yes (but only say they are hurt)
Godmod injuries to my players: No
Hand out Yellow cards to my players: Yes
Hand out Red cards to my players: Yes, One Card maximum
Godmod Other Events: No to crazy unrealistic stuff. Yes to reasonable events.

Style modifier +2
4-3-3
Gk's
#1 Jeffery Hawk (18)*
#18 Ken Young (17)
Def
#3 Kerry Johnson (19)*
#4 Henry Lamar (20)
#5 Peter Jankovic(16)*
#6 Walter Eddy(17)*
#7 Bryan Vance(18)
#8 Tyshawn (17)*
Mid
#9 Cam Kulemin(17)*
#10 Richard Oren (19)*
#11 Fred Simplton(18)
#12 Gregory Bryans (17)
#13 Keyshon Williams (18)*
Fwd
#14 Carl Taylor (19)*
#15 Nathan Johns (16)
#16 Reggie Mcneal (17)*
#17 Shon Francis (16)*
Choose my goalscorers: No
Godmod Scoring Events: No
RP injuries to my players: No
Godmod injuries to my players: No
Hand out Yellow cards to my players: Yes
Hand out Red cards to my players: Yes one card only please

OOC: Just a question. When is MD1? I am just wondering to see how many days I will miss on. I have an exam Saturday morning so it is now getting time for me to stop coming on here doing RP's etc. A roster and RP will go up, but it won't be for about 48 hours (unless I'm to drunk from celebrating the end of my uni degree :p). Oh and thanks for letting me in.

31 Man Squad For De Bradini Cup VII:
FORMATION: 4-3-3
KIT:http://i488.photobucket.com/albums/rr245/SorthernNorthland/Asal%20eide%20spoirt/Kjomasasopia.png
ASTERISK INDICATES STARTING XI
KEEPERS:
*Indigo Lochlainn, 20, #1
Bench:Jared Dubhghlas ,19, #12, Reserves: None.

DEFENDERS:
*Dwayne Mathews,21, #3
*Nicky Byrne,20, #18 (C)
*Shel Jude,17,#5
*Charlie Abel,19,#35
Bench:Carson Trafford, 14,#87;Emlyn Jere,21,#4
Reserve:Braidy Gerallt,19,#30
MIDFIELD:
*Trefor Tristen,20,#41
*Malachy Dougal,16,#33
*Llyton(Clyton) Simpson,17,#2
Bench:Raymond Lindon,20,#66;Alastair Mickey,19,#7
Reserve:James Aney,19,#39
FORWARDS:
*Cairbre Islwyn, 20, #27
*Siorus Comgan,20,#8
STRIKER:
*Joshua Jessup,19,#10
Bench: Temple Dillon,20,#77; Brenden Jess,16,#19
Reserve:Jaarad McCann,20,#23

Merit Selection:Mili O'Finigan,14 [+]; Right Tibia, 4 Months

If my opponent RPs first, he/she can:
Choose my scorers? No
Yellow card my players? Yes
Red card my players? No
Injure my players? No
Godmode injuries? Yes/
Godmode scoring events? Yes
Godmode other events? Yes

THE ROCKET REPORT

GETTING SCREWED AGAIN

Albrecht, Candelaria And Marquez- You remember the Second International Basketball Championships, don’t you? Newmanistan, having been the runner up, would have received a nice second ranking for that tournament only to have the tournament organizers say that the rankings for the first tournament weren’t going to matter. We had a decent tournament anyway, but it would have been nice to have that ranking thing that they can fall back on in the, you know, World Cup. Such as what Az-Cz, Lovisa, and Quakmybush continuously do. That was just one example and it passed over. Now, it’s happening to us again. The organizers of this new Di Bradini Cup have decided that they will do away with previous rankings and make everyone have to start from scratch again. Newmanistan, as the #1 ranked team having made the last three finals no longer sees that advantage. There’s a conspiracy afoot, my friends. The “When Newmanistan reaches a top ranking we must do away with the rankings and start over.” conspiracy. How about we reset the KPB rankings? Only when Newmanistan reaches the top 10, of course. If they were so fortunate. Then it would be under the disguise of “needing to modernize the World Cup.” Uh yeah, don’t say we didn’t see this coming. How this should affect the Rockets on the pitch shouldn’t matter, and it will still be up to them to execute and do the little things. But for such a unilateral decision to be made by the CAMAFA does have Empress Jessica a little upset. Her Highness released the following statement on the issue:

“The CAMAFA, which organizes one of the best domestic football programs in the world has dropped the ball with this decision to not respect the countries who have been dominant in the Di Bradini Cup, and putting us even and on the level of first time countries. The Newmanistanian Football Association does not approve of this decision. Let this be known. While on the field, your ranking shouldn’t mean anything, we all know that there is some power in which it holds. They are wishing to have more random results, which in other words, shows that they wish to bring down the top nations of the tournament, something that we have worked hard to achieve. We were a little surprised that they would do this given that they themselves were also one of the elite ranked teams. To me the disappointment was the lack of discussion between the top football associations to see where we should go from here instead of what seemed to be a unilateral decision. If they wanted to lessen the impact of the rankings, then that would have been a compromise, but to eliminate them, that just irks me. Let’s do away with KPB rankings for World Cup 44 then.”

We then asked the Empress if she would consider withdrawing Newmanistan from the tournament based on this decision:

“I’ve never considered that. And I won’t. This is an important competition, and our young players need it. This is also the main competition that our own NPL teams usually try get international transfers off of, more so then the World Cup. I believe that we still have the talent and the desire to get back to the final. It’s just frustrating that in competitions where ranking is something that Newmanistan has in their back pocket sees them reset, and in competitions where we don’t have it, the ranks stand in full force. Don’t forget the International Basketball Championships.”

Well, we soon see the impact of this decision the what had been a great Di Bradini Cup run. Hopefully it can continue in the wake of this devastating blow.

(OOC: This should be taken with about 50% seriousness. The quote by the Empress does represent the opinion of the nation, however. But at the same time do not think its as big of a deal as this post makes it out to be).

^ wow man that must suck for you. definitely investigate into that

OOC: Just a question. When is MD1?

The RP cut-off for the first round of matches will be at around 1700 UTC of the 20th of November… unless there aren’t many rosters up by then, it which case we’ll fudge it a bit, I guess.

*cough*

The Albrecht Herald Online>Sport>Football>Breaking News

CAMAFA ‘bemused’ by Empress statements The ruling body of Candelarias football has reacted with a delicately raised eyebrow to the formal complaints raised by the Newmanistanian FA, as apparently governed by the country’s Imperial dictator, and reiterated somewhat less eloquently by their Kjomasasopian counterparts.

A statement released on the CAMAFA website in the last half hour describes the Newmanistanianians’ grievances as having been “made with the best of intentions and contain valid points, but are rejected by the somewhat haphazardly-appointed DBC7 governing body.”

It continues, “In a transparent sense, the only impact of any seedings on a competitive event such as this would be in deciding the make-up of the groups – Newmanistan were duly seeded second, as defeated finalists at the DBC6, and have as a result been given an ‘easier’ task to make the quarter-finals than, for example, their Secristanian neighbours.

“In the more opaque manner by which rankings can be said to have an impact on ultimate match outcomes, the SFA stressed on numerous occasions that such an influence was ‘very minor’ – minor enough to allow Newmanistan themselves to lift the title on their first outing, in a final against fellow debutants from the Fujisawan Territories. The NFA will also note the first-time success of Popay and the Pazhujeb Islands in years past. We would also suggest that her imperial highness has shown disrespect in the achievements of the Newmanistanian squads of DBC5 and DBC6 in making the final, by suggesting that this would have been considerably less likely without the use of a rankings boost. Their results, and those of their young counterparts from C&M, Valanora and the Han Empire, were achieved through consistently high-class performances, not those of their elders in years past.

“While we fully acknowledge that, in many tournaments, the use of the past accreditation of results as a solid factor in helping to determie the outcomes of present-day matches is most desirable, we question its use in a youth tournament in which the playing staff varies massively from tournament to tournament – particularly given the length of time between previous outings of the DBC, however much the NFA may wish to ignore this obvious historical fact in their squad selection for the DBC7.

“Media descriptions of the CAMAFA’s decision as representing a ‘devastating blow’ would suggest that confidence in this particular set of Newmanistanian players is not high, hence the understandable wish to rely on the residual support of past glories. Perhaps the NFA fears that their senior team’s current run in the Cup of Harmony, which is presumably also currently occurring in the Candelarias in the timeline that the Empire appears to inhabit, will prove a distraction to Brian Carson’s youngsters.

“The CAMAFA sincerely regrets that this decision, the effect of which will be – to quote again – ‘very minor’, has been seen to be taken without appropriate dialogue with concerned parties, but fail to see why her imperial highness would be so unnerved by the move. In truth, this issue is minor compared to the CAMAFA’s more controversial commitment to reverse the automatic and tediously predictable link, observed in previous DBCs, between amount of national media activity etcetera in these ‘threads’ and the outcome of matches – which has typically rendered the actual playing of matches somewhat farcical when the outcome was clearly predestined. The Small Blues of C&M have benefited consistently from this link in years past, which – with the greatest of respect to our SFA counterparts who have run this event with wisdom and efficiency for many cycles – had served to make the DBC perhaps unique in its sheer predictability.

“The NFA can be assured that continued fine onfield play from their team will result in the greatest possible likelihood of further success – greater, indeed, than the vast majority of similar tournaments. We are however pleased that the NFA have chosen to raise this issue now, rather than wait until after any tournament exit – at which point their complaints would surely smack somewhat of sour grapes, from an international perspective. The CAMAFA remains fully supportive of a Newmanistanian bid to host the eight DBC, in the event of continued Starblaydi taciturnity; and, while we would disagree with the decision, would be respectful of any NFA judgement call in enhancing rather than lowering the monotonous inevitability of match outcomes.

“The CAMAFA wishes both the Newmanistanian and Miroxian teams the best of luck in their match this afternoon, and promises to go without supper should the Rockets fail to win eight-nil.

“As an aside, the CAMAFA are also duty-bound to point out that they don't, in fact, organise the CMSC, worse luck.

“On a further matter, we would like to thank the Nethertopian FA for coughing at the appropriate moment. We appreciate that this tournament does seem to be going along at a fair old whack, but it’s not as though national FAs haven’t had plenty of warning to provide their official rosters and such like. Matchday One will go ahead in a few hours, as stated, sobriety or none.”


(OOC: This should be taken with about 25% seriousness. I acknowledge the point you make, and really should have raised this issue for thorough discussion and a consensus agreement beforehand, sorry. The impact really won’t be large, however, compared to previous DBCs – though Star, who does appear to be watching down on us from on high, might well correct me on the previous influence of rankings.

I’m simply mindful of the fact that in my five previous attempts at this tournament, I can think of perhaps two matches which I either won, lost or drew when ‘expecting’ a different outcome. Perhaps the Small Blues have just been freakish in that regard, but I’m surely not the only one who feels that the seemingly predestined nature of each and every fixture detracted from this tournament in cycles past. We could save ourselves a lot of trouble by just voting on who did the best RPs and had them the imaginary trophy there and then, rather than all this pointless scorinating business.

As it happens, for the sake of transparency, I’ll be using a different bonus calc and NSFS settings than I’d planned, to easier facilitate ESF’s scorination of the C&M group matches, which will probably further serve to decrease the chances of Newmanistan not making the final.

Again, I genuinely apologise this wasn’t discussed, but I can’t honestly see it as being a major problem over the course of the tournament.)

Candelaria And Marquez National Under-21 Football Squad for the Seventh Di Bradini Cup

Permissions: Don’t kill anyone important.

Style Modifier: +0.8

Squad:

Manager: Since the CAMAFA decreed that managers would only get one shot at the DBC, six have been and gone in rather different directions. Lloyd Donnelly departed after a successful spell at Albrecht FC, won the DBC, took the helm at the Big Blues and is now retired after a mid-CoH coup several years ago. Adam Williamson had had thoroughly meh spells at C.A.L. and Turks’ Club before arriving at the under-21 post at Donnelly’s recommendation – he recently lifted the Corganen Championship as United Trilan head honcho.

Andy Le Lan came in from taking Abiodun North to fifth in the CMSC1, and went on to take the Albrecht FC job and reach a TQCC final. Jerry Huntick spent over a decade at KT Hotspur before becoming the only under-21 coach to fail to take the Small Blues out of their group. Trevor Organ, yet another former Albrecht FC boss, was on sabbatical from the Hopeless SC international job when he guided the Small Blues to the semi-finals once more. He’s since gone on to be the sort-of-co-manger of Nethertopia.

After Mark Baker’s stint at the ‘lost’ DBC7, the CAMAFA have brought in the slightly less inspiring figure of Matt Sampson, fresh from being sacked as Caires Sports boss. He’s keen on trusting youth, but that’s hardly recommendation alone for this high-profile appointment.

*Sighs*

Anyway, Sampson typically employs a suicidal 4-3-3, but that seems less likely with this group – and a tried-and-tested 4-4-2 diamond looks to be once again on the cards, with a possible initial line-up of Becker – Lopulalan, O’Brien, Wang, Rodríguez – Pappas, Kilgore, Avola, Lloyd – Lewis and Adams. We dinnae really know, though. Take yer pick.

Goalkeepers:

23. Russ Becker, Aged 20, Turks’ Club, STARTING GOALKEEPER
Picked for the previously-arranged DB7, Becker’s first team experience comes entirely in the CMSC2 but the impression he has made on a young Turks’ Club team looking for promotion is undeniable, and this intelligent and athletic youngster has already been pinpointed as the eventual successor to Sbaïz.

1. Nicholas Murphy, 19, Green Island
Kkk…Kkkk…Kk… Yes, the sound there of barrels being scraped, with Murphy having recently returned to the GIZ to pressure the current number one following a stint with semi-pro Hanlon Warbirds. A big boy for his age, and an imposing presence, but one doubts he’s really going to get much better than this. I don’t suppose anyone knows a foreign ‘keeper with a Candelariasian nan?

13. Christian Fernández Montes, 18, El din Marbles
A goalkeeper is the second-youngest player on the squad? Lord help us. The youngest stopper to feature in the CMSC1 for years, and in Harry Rosalia and ‘CFM’ the Marbles have two of the most highly-rated Candelariasian ‘keepers for about that long too. Almost as big as his surname, he’s springier than Rosalia but still needs to work on the fundaments and can be a tad punchy.

Defenders:

2. Gwynfardd Lopulalan, 21, KT Hotspur, STARTING RIGHT-BACK
The first Bettian Candelariasian to represent his country beyond Rushmori shores, the full-back impressed over in Land de Wood on loan enough to earn a starting spot for the Spur. Though generally considered a right-back, he’s cultured enough to start anywhere across the backline, and is clearly a special talent… and how could he not be with a name like that? And he scores occasionally as well! Bless.

6. Eric O’Brien, 21, AFC MN Smith, Captain, STARTING CENTRE-BACK
Clearly a Big Blue of the near future, O’Brien has just about everything you could want - tall, strong, comfortable on the ball and a little bit Northlandish, he’s also a natural leader. He still needs to iron out his occasional lapses in concentration and poor judgment in distributing forwards, but he should be on the senior team in no time. Not that that proves much, in a general sense. Joint-worse record in the World Cup we had, dontcha’know.

12. Tonzing Wang, 21, Caires Sports, STARTING CENTRE-BACK
An unsurprising pick, given Sampson’s former managerial status and our paucity of centre-halves (there’s a whole bunch coming through, but they’re all a tad inexperienced as yet). Wang at least has a full CMSC1 season behind him, and the powerful defender will be his manager’s eyes and ears at the back. He also rates highly on Silly Name Watch, though it’s unfortunate that he takes a spot ahead of Turks’ Club player Hla-Thein.

3. Joe Rodríguez, 21, El din Marbles, STARTING LEFT-BACK
Clichéd as it is, his versatility may be his undoing – once it’s shepherded him into the senior squad, at any rate. Best as a left-back, the tall and composed El din native (one of four in the squad) has filled in on the opposite side and in the middle, and his silly big grin has already made him something of a cult hero at his boyhood club.

5. Adrián Gallo, 20, El din Marbles
Another player benefiting from the Marbles’ thin squad and superb XXXI (though Carlos Panadero is hardly chuffed about losing three of his stars to the DBC), the youngster has been a first-choice pick at centre-half for a while now. Fresh as a daisy after coming back from a lengthy injury spell, Gallo is slight but skilful.

14. Austin Neal, 19, Caires City
The surprise factor in the Errant Knights’ bid for a second league title, the right-back came in to replace the injured Stephen Trease – a fellow City product – and never looked back, despite his age. A wing-back with a fine cross and silly piercings, he will pressure the more experienced Lopulalan but could also end up being used alongside him if circumstances so dictate.

20. Marco Antonio Ortíz, 21, Loudon Leopards [Newmanistan]
Arrigo-born, El din-raised, now living in Loudon – Ortíz is similar to Rodríguez as an out-and-out, left-footed defender (balance? Bah!), offering little in the way of forward momentum but genuine safety at the back.

Midfielders:

7. Diego Fernando Pappas, 21, Marquez-Onwere, STARTING RIGHT MIDFIELDER
After a wait that seemingly lasted since he was in nappies, the DFP arrives at the DBC. He is, not to put too fine a point on it, really rather good – not the finished article yet, by any means, but possessing a revoltingly subtle touch and change of pace. Still rather in-and-out, and still struggling to find the back of the net, but MarquezOW wouldn’t be without their latest Calamocha kid, and all the Wendell money in the world won’t see his position on the naranja’s right challenged.

8. Chris Kilgore, 20, Cardarel FC [Yafor 2], STARTING OFFENSIVE MIDFIELDER
He grew up in a large extended family of goat herders on Sloane Island, making Chris one of three not-actual-C&M-citizens in the squad. Having been the stand-out performer for the Sloane Wanderers during their brief CMSC1 stay, Kilgore is now based amongst Yaforites and (probably) impressing Cardarel locals with his deft touch and runs into the box and whatnot.

4. Francesco Avola, 20, Loudon Leopards [Newmanistan], STARTING DEFENSIVE MIDFILEDER
Another foreign-based player, Avola was prized away from MarquezOW at a time when the riches offered actually mattered a jot to them. There’s a tantalising two-season buy-back clause there however, and a strong performance in, um, C&M, could make that an increasingly probable outcome. Undeniably skilful – though that should surprise no-one, Avola also hailing from the freakish player-producing village of Calamocha.

17. Nic Lloyd, 21, Caires City, STARTING LEFT MIDFIELDER
Pleasingly, here’s another player draw from the reigning league champions – funny how they appear to have produced a youth system all of a sudden after Elgin Dannat left the academy to take the top job at the club… Anyhoo, Lloyd has no obviously redeeming features – he’s not particularly quick, nor skilful, nor great from crosses, nor a prolific scorer – but remains an immensely reliable all-rounder, either as a forward or left-winger.

11. Leandro Vásquez, 20, Caires Sports
A somewhat controversial pick, but as a Sampson buy from McDonald SC his presence is hardly surprising. A Candelarian native, despite the name, he’s actually been one of the Knights’ more consistent performers this term, offering pace and no little ability down the left.

14. Will Sussex, 18, Green Island
The youngest player in the squad, inching in ahead of KT Hotspur’s Harvey Vavasour; the Zapata-born, box-to-box midfielder should be a regular name on the international scene in years to come, having ousted former C&M international Reiban Okeke in the GIZ XI.

16. Spencer Jones, 20, Turks’ Club
Avola’s rival to a C&M representative place since their schooldays, Jones is a composed tough-tackler and the captain of CMSC2 challengers Turks’ Club. There’s nothing else interesting to say about him. This is a thoroughly dull set of players, frankly.

22. Al(bert) Owen, 21, Southern Village [Land de Wood, on loan from KT Hotspur]
Equally competent on either flank, though right-footed; Owen possess a keen eye for the pass and, more importantly, a first name which done indeed include brackets on his birth certificate for some ungodly reason. Will probably become the second Bettian Candelariasian in under-21 blue, although the link here comes slightly more tenuously through his grandfather.

Forwards:

9. Luke Lewis, 21, AFC MN Smith, STARTING FORWARD?
An ickle fella and natural finisher, though overshadowed by his club partner this season. Not quick, not strong, not especially mobile, and often injured; he has emerged as a versatile player equally competent as a goal poacher or defensive-annoying partner for…

10. Danny Adams, 19, AFC MN Smith, STARTING FORWARD?
Decent as Lewis is, his fellow Bove native is better. A proper old fox-in-the-box, but with height and swinging elbows; Adams certainly knows where the back of the net is and, as one of the CMSC1’s leading scorers with midtable MN Smith, he will be a massive loss to the Smudgers’ chances of a respectable finish.

15. Lawrence Amey, 20, Caires Sports
To be honest, this is a little bit embarrassing, but we’ve actually got some really rather good young forwards here, who could well be called upon to drag the Small Blues out of any number of holes. Not that we actually want to win the thing, of course. That would ask unfortunate questions. Anyhoo, Amey has gorgeous flowing blond locks and dribbles like a baby – he can play up front, and can put it about if needs be, but Sampson typically gave him a free role for the Knights.

19. David Spooner, 20, Candelaria-Allemali
Only time will tell if the highly-rated status of the ‘famous five’ forwards in this squad can transfer overseas (yeah, but you get the idea), but Spooner is another whose goals have lit up the CMSC1. Despite the squad numbers, there’s every chance he’ll start from the off – and brings a firm strike and positional sense along with a fine physique. Bad hair, though.

21. Josh Belmore, 20, Caires Sports
Born within a week of Amey and a playing partner since nursery school, Belmore is the more adept finisher – though you probably wouldn’t know it on this season’s performance where the Yaforite Sorin Acraan has been frequently preferred in midfield than allowing the Candelariasian to complete a three-man attack. It’s a brave call, considering the handful of young CMSC2 stars putting them away with a rather greater frequency, but Sampson remains trusting of his boy. As for the…? I’d say almost certainly not, but y’never know.

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w175/candelariaandmarquez/CAMHome4.jpg http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w175/candelariaandmarquez/CAMAway4.jpg

Inside look at what’s going through the minds of our team for our first game. Taken from a Spacebook chatroom. Screen names are made up and any connection to an actual person is completely coincidental.

<XxXDaganBabii12XxX 9:23PM> (Ashley Nolan) Hey like I say we sneak outta here.
<Hottsockerchik0001CP 9:23PM> (Courtney Poole) Like where should we go.
<GoalieGurlKristen12354 9:24PM> (Kristen Stockton) No! We need to go to sleep so we are ready for our game with the Blouman Empire.
<XxXDaganBabii12XxX 9:24PM> Dey have a funni name.
<SexiiiDaganErica 9:24PM> (Erica Daniels) Yea I wuz just thinking that like they blow men.
<Hottsockerchik0001CP 9:25PM> No dats ur job
<XxXDaganBabii12XxX 9:25PM> lol
<SexiiiDaganErica 9:25 PM> LMAO
<oOoOoStacieKRulez16oOoOoO 9:26 PM> (Stacie Kerrigan): LMFAO!!!! Like totally. So like do they have ne hotties?
<GoalieGurlKristen12354 9:26PM> Time for bed, girls. Come on.
<XxXDaganBabii12XxX 9:27PM> Good idea. Go to bed Kristen.
<Hottsockerchik0001CP 9:27PM> lol
<GoalieGurlKristen12354 9:28PM> No I meant for all of you. We have a nine o’clock curfew for a reason.
<oOoOoStacieKRulez16oOoOoO 9:28 PM> The good gurlz do. LOL!!
<SexiiiDaganErica 9:29PM> LMAO
<GoalieGurlKristen12354 9:29PM> Stacie come on. I don’t want to be a mother but we need to win games.
<oOoOoStacieKRulez16oOoOoO 9:30 PM> I jus came 4 da unsupervised partying!
<SexiiiDaganErica 9:30PM> Hellz yeah
<GoalieGurlKristen12354 9:31PM> Oh boy. This will be fun. Go to bed!
<GoalieGurlKristen12354 9:35PM> It got quiet in here.
<GoalieGurlKristen12354 9:37PM> Hello?!
<GoalieGurlKristen12354 9:42PM> Guess they did go to bed.
<GoalieGurlKristen12354 9:47PM> You all better not just leave me hanging like this on the field too!
<GoalieGurlKristen12354 9:51PM> Ok then.

<GoalieGurlKristen12354 9:55PM> has left the chatroom

<oOoOoStacieKRulez16oOoOoO 9:57 PM> Yes she’s gone!
<SexiiiDaganErica 9:57PM> LOL Good night Kristen!
<XxXDaganBabii12XxX 9:57PM> Haha never underestimate the power of behind the back Instant Messaging.
<Hottsockerchik0001CP 9:58PM> Sleep tight goalie gurl!
<oOoOoStacieKRulez16oOoOoO 9:58 PM> Damn right
<SexiiiDaganErica 9:58PM> Coach is in room 107. Da assistants are in 132 and 138 most of da parents that came are between those numbers.
<Hottsockerchik0001CP 9:59PM> How’d u find dat out?
<SexiiiDaganErica 10:00PM> I have my wayz!
<oOoOoStacieKRulez16oOoOoO 10:00 PM> Sweet!
<SexiiiDaganErica 10:01PM> So like we go down to like 250 n go down that stairway and we are home free 2 have sum fun tonight.
<Hottsockerchik0001CP 10:01PM> Hellz yeah!
<Hottsockerchik0001CP 10:02PM> has left the chatroom
<oOoOoStacieKRulez16oOoOoO 10:02 PM> has left the chatroom
<XxXDaganBabii12XxX 10:02PM> has left the chatroom
<SexiiiDaganErica 10:03PM> has left the chatroom.

(Rockets players gather in the hotel meeting room)

Carson: Alright, listen up. Today we take the field against Miroxia, a nation in which we should be able to defeat. But there is to be no complacency. Newmanistan has a very special record in the Di Bradini Cup, and it’s not about to end to these guys.

LaFave: Oh don’t worry coach. You can count on us.

Carlson: Yeah I look forward to continue to uphold the legacy of the great Jeremy McAllister and the Di Bradini Cup. Such an honor, thanks again for making me the captain just like you did with J-Mac in the 5th Cup, coach.

Carson: Well you’ve earned that.

McClure: Coach I just have to say that it is quite an honor to be the starting the goalkeeper for this team. Thank you so much for this opportunity and I will not let you down. I promise.

Carson: You earned that Andy. For a 16-year old keeper, your vision and awareness is outstanding. I see a lot of Corey Hennis in you. You can have just that kind of a career.

McClure: Man! Really, you think that? Corey Hennis?!

Carson: Yeah. And I remember Corey giving me that reaction when I told him he would back up Kevin Dalton in the Baptism of Fire. You have a bright future and I like your work ethic. And I know Shawn is a great coach out there in South Tier, I have a lot of respect for that team.

Stilwell: South Tier in the house!

Carson: And with defenders like Curtis in front of you, like your used to, it should be nice and comforting.

McClure: Yeah, I think so.

Stilwell: Yeah don’t worry, you won’t be facing tough shots. We got a real good D. We’re stacked all over the place, man!

Lampert: We look good but still gotta go out there and execute. It seems weird that it’s not in Starblaydia, but just like we’re a new team compared to the ones that one out there, we’re going to start our own legacy and do it on another country’s turf.

Carson: Hey Alex, is it true?

Lampert: The Cafundeu thing?

Carson: Yeah, what team was that.

Lampert: Central United.

Carson: I remember another Newmanistanian defender who used the Di Bradini Cup as a springboard to a great career that included him going to Cafundeu at a young age. Still on our senior team now.

Lampert: Brooker?

Carson: You got it! Look at what Brooker has done for us and his Dunboor FC club has done in Cafundeu. I know Central isn’t at that level out there, but they have confidence in you and it’s for good reason. There’s no reason you can’t have a Brooker-like career son.

Carlson: Go for it, man! Good luck out there but remember it’s an expensive place.

Lampert: Thanks man. Coach I guess you’ll be glad to see me leave Centralia, right.

Carson: That is most definitely a benefit of the deal, yes!

LaFave: I wonder if anyone would ever sign me from out of the country. Daytopia is so small. I like it but you know. Is Dunboor FC looking?

Seidler: Dunboor’s stacked, man. Especially in the back. Stay in Daytopia, the team would be relegated without you.

Carson: Alright listen up everyone. I like what I see here. We are a loose bunch, very relaxed with an air of confidence. This comes from our reputation, but remember we have a lot to prove still. What past Newmanistanian junior teams have done is a great thing for the Empire, but I know everyone in this room wants a title. We didn’t get that four years ago. We can’t take Miroxia lightly. We should beat them. Don’t listen to the people predicting 6-nil or 8-nil victories. We can’t score 6 goals without getting one. All we have to do is score more then them.

LaFave: Damn right!

Carlson: Go Rockets! Let’s get this victory.

(OOC: Very entertaining response! It’s been so long since I’ve done a Di Bradini Cup (or at least I’ve done too many other tournaments since then!) I forgot about how much the rankings were lessened. But I don’t think they were completely eliminated. We actually only lost two games combined in our entire Di Bradini history, of course they were two finals. I guess I just am overprotective of the dynasty! ;) It's all good, let's play and get to work on that 8-nil win! )

"Say why don't these people like us Alejand? We're basically the same type of people, except us being elves and them being humans. Is it really that big of an issue that it causes such strife and distrust between our two nations? Why is it that two seemingly very similar nations that share a love of sport and acceptance of cultures can not get along themselves?"

The young manager looked deeped into the eyes of the young girl and tried to see just what she was trying to get at with her questioning. He believed that Valaina Tinúviel was just trying to better understand the world around her, still being curious in her infancy. Yet something about the questions irked Alejand Cartain, as if the very nature of the questions shattered the foundations upon which he lived his life.

"Truthfully, I have no idea why they despise as they do. Perhaps the Gnomes of Az-cz were right about them when they declared soo many years ago that they were nothing but flaming speciesists and would never change. I had held out hope that they would overcome this affliction, but more and more I am begining to believe that we will forever be in their eyes, despised."

"Surely there must be something we could do, some action or gesture that could break the ice between our respective capitals. I know already that Green Island has reached out and tried to mend the wounds that have occured between our civilizations. Surely if such people as the Zapata men can accept us for who we are, then so can the supposedly more civilized people of the nation."

"I don't think there is such a course of action that would deter the Candelaria government, or the people if we were to get past that first barrier, to curtail their lies and misinformation about our people and our country. It is at a point now that all signs show towards an inevitable war or civil tension that will leave a black mark on foriegn relations for centuries to come. The elders of a future generation will look at ths situation and teach their students about the failed policies of two governments who refused to give any ground towards the other, and the result will be of the ugliest sorts."

"We can at least try can we not? Have we ever sent anything as a token of our appreciation for their football or culture or anything? Something to give them a reason to look beyond the manipulations of a corrupt and distrusting past, and to look forward to a future in which elves could freely walk in their lands without the fear of a black bag? I just happen to have a few dozen bottles of Oure de Travei 1337 that my grandfather had given to me should we win the DBC. I think however that they would be better served as a peace offering to the government of the hosts more than a celebratory drink. Don't you agree?"

"If it so suits you, then I will mail them to their President this evening. I highly doubt that this will have any effect, but it is your wine, you are allowed to do with it as you so desire youngling."

Snorthern national U21 team for the 7th Di Bradini Cup
http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/5357/snfald4.png

Number, name, age, position (n/a for goalies and forwards), club (clubs country in brackets if not a Sorthern club)

Goalkeepers:

1: Dirk Weber, 19 y/o, Eastlands
13: Alan Parry, 19 y/o, Areck Furness
23: Alexander Holzer, 20 y/o, Marx-Stadt

Defenders:

2: Bernard Labbé, 21 y/o, right back, Khalmar-Tijhus (Cafundéu)
12: Danny Foulkes, 20 y/o, right back, Locomotiv Shingon
3: Callum Parker, 20 y/o, left back, Red Star Cork
22: Charlie Graves, 18 y/o, left back, Corcaigh
5: Alan Cooper, 20 y/o, centre back, St. Patricks
6: Michael Neubert, 20 y/o, centre back, Marx-Stadt
15: Liam Welsh, 20 y/o, centre back, Lispole Strand
16: Luke Dunn, 20 y/o, centre back, Heathfield United

Midfielders:

7: Anthony Higgins, 20 y/o, right winger, Fenians Sport Club
17: Anton Fry, 19 y/o, right winger, Albion Athletic
11: Uang Shi, 19 y/o, left winger, FC Juahzhou
21: Liam Turner, 20 y/o, left winger, Hillaton Downs
4: Zhou Zhixin, 19 y/o, central midfielder, Reading Town
8: Marek Krofcky, 17 y/o, central midfielder, Snowspire
14: Pantelis Antoniadis, 19 y/o, central midfielder, Little Greece Olympia
18: Ben Boyce, 19 y/o, central midfielder, Heathfield United

Forwards:

9: Jon Andrews, 20 y/o, Corcaigh
10: Abdullah Al-Harbi, 20 y/o, Lispole Strand
19: Matt Griggs, 18 y/o, Heathfield United
20: Ian Watkins, 20 y/o, New Ireland

Manager, Chicão Trombada

Formation is 4-4-2 with a style modifier of +2.
Numbers 1 to 11 for game are the usual starters.
Feel free to make a couple of changes to the line up though.

Kits

Home/Away
http://i488.photobucket.com/albums/rr245/SorthernNorthland/Asal%20eide%20spoirt/SNWC44kits.png

RP thingy

My opponent, if they RP first, may do the following:
Choose my goalscorers Y
Godmod scoring events N
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 (although PM me about it first)

DBC7, Matchday One

Group A

Colbourne 2-1 Myedvedeya
Miroxia 0-5 Newmanistan


Group B

Taeshan 1-0 Greal
Cafundéu 0-3 Kjomasasopia


Group C

Jeruselem 2-5 Nethertopia
Daehanjeiguk 1-3 Kura-Pelland


Group D

Valanora 2-0 Sorthern Northland
Cassadaigua 4-0 Blouman Empire



Well, to be fair, it wasn't eight-nil...

http://www.biezanow.net/~dominik/lzpn1.JPG
The U21 Lovisa Team for 7th Di Bradini Cup

Goalkeeper:
[1] Ole Virge Skoftlund (20, Atma Teatanic)
[12]Marcin Zeerg (17, Gravity Rafaelburg)
[18]Tomasz Jadek (16, Motorola Goar)


Defenders:
[2]Arne Flo-Baekke (19, RCL Atma)
[3] Max Coveygh (17, TFL Ventura Ulfborg)
[7] Bernard Nowak (19, Rancilio Shepenyagah)
[13] Jaroslaw Witek (17, Start Nylanders Sint Vilbeert)
[14] Laurent Blanc (15, LGS Shepenyagah)


Midfielders:
[4] Claude Classen (20, Edda EB Ulborg)
[8] Victor Sainer (20, SD Borland Leve)
[9] Tomasz Malik (19, EDF Atma)
[10] Kristian Sangovor (17, FC Leve)
[15] Mateusz Pajdak (16, RCL Atma)
[16] Markus Zuggler(16, Lovos Atma)

Strikers:
[5] Clas Classen (21, Visby-Nestle Quarcoo)
[6] Sebastian Franke(21, EMC Goar)
[11]Mikka Petalahti (15, Blaupunkt Leve)
[17]Vlad Vladovski (20, EBBC Bosch Atma)


Home & Away Kits
Kits created by:
http://www.starblaydestudios.co.uk/Images/ediraflogo.jpg
http://www.biezanow.net/~dominik/LovHome4-1.jpghttp://www.biezanow.net/~dominik/LovThird4.jpg

Lil' Purple Knights Defeat Greal

In yet another low scoring game yesterday the Purple Knights took on Greal in the first game of the Seventh Di Bradini Cup. The Knights would win the game behind the masterful keeping of goaltender Isaac Newton. He had great help from his defense. The Tae score came of the foot of the youngest member of the team 16 year old Jamie Spenser. The Knights look as if there in top form and should compete in there group. It shall nbe a nice tourney. Stay tuned for more scores.

Taeshan 1-0 Greal

It was a tough game, but Taeshan quickly overwhelmed Greal in the second half. Today there will be no matches for Greal, but tomorrow, Greal will play Kjomasasopia. Ross Trent says that Greali will probably not qualify this year due to the new competition.

The Jeruselem coach was mad at his players after smashed 5-2 by Nethertopia ...

"What's wrong with you? We're supposed to win! You lot. We're MEN. Look at you, crying like little girls. Stand up. Don't act like little girls. I want all of you to work harder now. If you play like that, I might as well have a Kate Sallad or Princess Marie on the team. At least they have a talent. They can actually play football. I know you lot are kids but I need more. We want to show an all male team from Jeruselem can beat the best. Stop crying and hugging your little dolls! I demand a win next game. It's no good playing with limp wrists. You lot ... wake up! Work harder."

Coach's mobile phone rings ...

Coach: Hello?
Dazza: Hi, it's Dazza here. I watched the game.
Coach: Oh hi, err ... it wasn't pretty.
Dazza: You said this lot were the future.

Coach: Err, well it's their first game. I think they'll get better.
Dazza: They defended worse than Jeru FC drinking too much.
Coach: Don't worry, I'll whip them into shape.
Dazza: I'll be watching.

Coach: My boys will show those girls how it's done.
Dazza: Not from current performances. I've got schoolgirls better than that.
Coach: I know what I'm doing, these boys will be great.
Dazza: Well, I hope so.

<Coach hangs up the phone>

"Ok, the Bike is watching us. You made me look like a moron. 20 laps around the training tomorrow! No, make the 50!"

Myedvedeyan U-21 Squad

KIT: http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/1572/myedvedeyacw5.png

Myedvedeya's Under-21's prepare to take on the world to prove that they have the greatest players who weren't quite good enough to make it to the senior squad yet.

STYLE MODIFIER: +2

FORMATION: 4-4-2

All players are available for club contracts- if they are not signed to foreign leagues, they will be signed by Myedvedeyan clubs at the end of the tournament.

MANAGER:
Count Mikhail Ilyevitch Fedorov
At the Age of 37, he is probably next-in-line for the senior team job, once Bagration decides to retire... or dies, one or the other. A good tactician, but does everything essentially the same way as his mentor Bagration does it on the senior team. None too creative.

FORWARDS:
#3 Vlademyros Konstantinovitch Mavropoulous-Stoliarenkovsky- Age 18. The man with the single longest name in the history of Myedvedeyan (and perhaps world) football, Mavropoulous-Stoliarenkovsky is the child of one ethnically Russian and one ethnically Greek parent. Hopefully for the young bears, his talent is as long as his name.

#12 Vanya Dimitrovitch- Age 17
Dimitrovitch is a large, powerful right forward, with a rocket for a shot, and not much else. He has decent ball skills, and decent dribbling, but is not outstanding in either of those areas.

#18 Karel Nikov- Age 15

#21 Vladimir Askanov- Age 20

#14 Aleksander Smirnov- Age 18

MIDFIELD:
#27 Giovanni D'Ancona- Age 17
Younger brother of senior squad player Nicola, and an equally promising talent. He and midfield partner Sergey Rostov are known for not only their talent, but also their off-field antics.

#2 Stanislav Markov- Age 16
Quick, small, and skilled are the words that best describe this young midfielder. The Bears expect him to be a skilled contributor to their world cup 44 squad.

#16 Sergey Rostov (Captain)- Age 19
A brilliant midfield creator with fantastic field sense, Rostov is the captain and general of this U-21 side. Along with D'Ancona, is known for his off-field antics, especially relating to women, who seem to find the pair extremely attractive.

#9 Konstantin Petrovsky- Age 14
The youngest, and possibly most promising player on the squad, Petrovsky is rapidly developing into a fantastic player in every regard. Look for him to shine in this tournament, and make the senior squad at 18 in the next world cup.

#8 Aleksander Vertin- Age 18

#31 Aleksander Bolkov- Age 20

#19 Vassili Denisov- Age 15

#7 Ibrahim Kasparov- Age 16

#15 Kostya Markov- Age 20

#11 Maksim Forsov- Age 17


DEFENSE
#17 Ivan Ulyanov- Age 18
Younger brother of star senior winger Grigor, Ulyanov has developed into a great defensive talent.

#5 Ivan Kolkaev- Age 20
Kolkaev is big and slow, but never gets beaten to a ball in the air. Overall, he is a good anchor for the center of the defense.

#26 David Ben Dayan- Age 17
The first member of Myedvedeya's jewish minority to wear the brown and black, Ben Dayan has proven to be a skilled, fast defender. He will probably play in more of a defensive-midfield role, and will help to build attacks with his impressive speed.

#24 Grigory Lomonosov- Age 18
A right-defender skilled with the ball on the ground and in the air, Lomonosov's only weakness is his lack of speed.

#22 Dimitar Lobovitch- Age 16

#13 Vadiym Mikhaiylichenko- Age 15

#30 Ivan Borskovo- Age 17

#34 Vladimir Molotov- Age 18

#10 Mikhail Morosov- Age 16

GOALKEEPERS
#1Vladimir Shcherbatsky- Age 17
A keeper with fantastic tactics, and slightly weaker physical ability, he could excel in a few years with strict conditioning and strength training.

#33 Nikolai Dimitrov- Age 15

#25 Vanya Fimbrionov- Age 17

RP PERMISSIONS:
Choose My Goalscorers: Y
Godmod Scoring Events: *
RP Injuries to My players: Nothing Tournament-ending, but Yes
Godmod Injuries to my Players: N
Hand out Yellow Cards to my Players: Y
Hand out Red Cards to my Players: If you really feel the need...
Godmod other Events: *
*- Don't Godmod unless you tell me first and I agree to it.

Captain: Sergey Rostov
Set Piece Taker (Includes PK's): Vanya Dimitrovitch
Shootout order: Vlademyros K.M.S., Sergey Rostov, Stanislav Markov, Vanya Dimitrovitch, Konstantin Petrovsky
Right Corner: Konstantin Petrovsky
Left Corner: Giovanni D'Ancona

NORMAL STARTING LINEUP:

#3 Mav-Stoli. #9 Dimitrovitch

#27 D'Ancona #2 Markov #16(C) Rostov #9 Petrovsky

#17 Ulyanov #5 Kolkaev #26 Ben Dayan #24 Lomonosov

#1 Shcherbatsky

THE ROCKET REPORT

ROCKETS DOMINATE IN OPENER

Albrecht, Candelaria And Marquez- It doesn’t matter where they play these Di Bradini Cup games, the Rockets showed that they are still one of the world’s top teams at the junior level, by crushing Miroxia by the score of 5-nil. Before you think “It was only Miroxia”, let’s give credit to Brian Carson and the coaching staff for having the team be so ready and prepared to immediately be on top form. A group of youngsters, who had only played together in practices, looked as though they had been together as a collective team for years. They were in control of the match throughout, leaving the 40,614 at Millerman Sheppard Stadium, many of them Newmanistanian fans, in awe at what was a considerable gap in class between the nations.

Newmanistan came out on the attack right away and there was nothing that Miroxia could do to stop it. In just the games 2nd minute, they would open up the scoring and it would be a signal of what was about to be a long day for Miroxia. It was the first rush on goal, instigated by a Stanley Rocco run up along the right wing, and a cross that seemed to have the defense confused for some unknown reason. The pass found Calvin Lane and the Miroxians expected him to shoot, not deliver a soft pass to Kevin Taylor, who was on his right side. But he did, and the goalkeeper didn’t have time to react before Taylor took the shot and placed it perfectly inside the top right corner for the one goal lead. The Rockets wanted to be sure to get this game off to a good start, and there couldn’t be any better way to do so then to score so early in the match. When you have an opponent back on their heels like this, especially when your reputation far exceeds theirs, the best thing to do is go for a quick knockout punch, so the team was not satisfied with just one so quickly. They went right back at it again, and even though, initially, Miroxia was stronger on defense this time, they could not stop the ball from finding the back of the net again in the 11th minute. Brett Carlson and Calvin Lane, as they are expected to do during this entire tournament worked some pretty passes between themselves, before Lane would pick up his second assist of the game with his pass to Carlson in which Brett scored the goal. He beat the keeper to his left, and the Rockets were up two goals to none. Just as the Rockets were hoping for, this led to Miroxian facial expressions of “oh boy, this is going to be a long game”. Newmanistan took their foot off the gas for a brief little while, and Miroxia did take advantage of this, generating some decent chances that may have gotten their confidence up for a brief bit. In particular, Andrew McClure made a nice 26th minute stop to keep the Rockets up by two. Miroxia kept some pressure on after, but the Newmanistan defense did a good job keeping their shots to being easy saves for McClure. In the 40th minute, the Rockets dealt a major blow to any confidence that Miroxia may have been generating by scoring their third goal of the game, and it was on a great individual effort by Dirk Brogan. After getting the long ball from Alex Lampert, Brogan had an inspired sprint down the center of the pitch, and took a shot. It probably should have been stopped, but it wasn’t, and Newmanistan now led 3-nil, an advantage they took into the break.

Coach Carson knew that how much that third goal changed the complexion of the game. It looked as though Miroxia could have been showing some signs of life there and that they wanted to do everything they could to get back in the match, but the Brogan goal would be damaging to that. He also saw the confidence and comfort level in the locker room, and the message was simply to finish out the game strong.

A Miroxian effort to get back in the game was expected to start the second half, and they did try for a while to be aggressive with the offense and push for some goals. This wasn’t very effective due to great play by the Newmanistanian defense, and with so many men committed to the attack, you had the feeling that the Rockets were going to get one on the counter attack. They had tried a couple long balls, but 51st and 54th minute efforts for the home run pass only led to an offsides call. But if nothing else, it was killing time. The 58th minute such long ball saw the team able to stay onsides, and it was Brett Carlson with a rush on net. He had one defender back and two options to pass it too, either Calvin Lane or Kevin Taylor. Taylor already had one, he thought, so he would let Lane have the shot, and Calvin fired it into the net for the fourth goal of the game. That seemed to finish off the Miroxian comeback efforts, and Brian Carson went with some earlier then normal substitutes to get some other people more playing time then they might be seeing in other games. In the 77th minute, one such player made the most of it, as Chris Farrell would pick up a goal, set up nicely by his club teammate Kevin Taylor to make it five-nil. Five goals with five different goal scorers. Brian Donaldson nearly put his name in the scoring book as well in the 87th minute, but his shot just missed, and smacked the post and back out. Still an impressive victory regardless of who the opponent may have been. Next up will be Colbourne, and the Rockets will be ready for that game, especially since Colbourne recently upset Newmanistan in World Bowl IV action. A little payback could be in order here.

Here is some post game reaction:

Carson: “Great game in every aspect. It was an easy game to coach. The players went out there and executed the game plan. I hope we can play like this in every game.”

McClure: “I didn’t have to make a lot of stops, but it’s a real treat to get a clean sheet to start of our Di Bradini Cup run. I owe it to my teammates, my job was pretty simple.”

LaFave: “Getting off to the big lead was obviously huge. We knew that they best way to get them to stop thinking that they could pull off an upset was to jump on them early and we definitely did that. When they had their moments, we were ready for them, and Andy made a couple nice stops there in the first half.”

Seidler: “We will have tougher games. This may have been more of a tune up, but we were in sync, and that’s good.”

Carlson: “It was a lot of fun, but it was just one game, and there are stronger opponents out there.”

NEWMANISTAN 5
Taylor (2')
Carlson (11')
Brogan (40')
Lane (58')
Farrell (77')

MIROXIA 0

(OOC: This probably would've been better posted yesterday, but it was only at about five to five yesterday that I realised I still needed to write it so meh. So either consider it a pre tournament RP posted late, or in typical Sorthern timekeeping the team arrived a day late.)

A plane is standing on the tarmac of Beningrad International Airport's airfield. It is a plane destined for a great place in the world, a truly spectacular place, a place many say you should go to before you die. Or at least it would have been had Sorthern Northland been drawn into the Albrecht Group for the Di Bradini Cup. Instead they'd been drawn into the group that has politely been named merely The… Other Group, For Want of a Better Term. The reason for the plane still being on the ground and not flying high, up in the sky, is that one of it's passengers is delayed. On board the plane, the Sorthern U21 football team wait patiently, discussing topics varying from, who got which female fan pregnant, the advantages of polyester over cotton whilst cycling, the lifes and works of Freud and Marx, the benefits of cheese producing hamsters, whether Airport or Airline is a better television show, whether Cardiff is in some made up place called Wales or an equally mythical place called Scotland and just who their new coach who has yet to turn up is. Or even for some, just where exactly it is they were going.

Anton Fry: “TO STARBLAYDIA!”

Ben Boyce: “Er, Anton mate, we're going to Candelaria And Marquez.”

Fry: “No, we're going to the Di Bradini Cup, that's in Starblaydia.”

Boyce: “Previous ones were, yes. But Starblaydia isn't hosting it this time. I mean perhaps after those terrorists from Inisnadun tried blowing their stadiums up last time they decided not to host it any more.”

Fry: “Really? Oh shit. I got a visa to go to Starblaydia not Candelaria And Marquez. I'm going to be stuck in the airport for the whole tournament like the team for the 4th Di Bradini Cup was!”

Boyce: “Ha ha! No you'll be fine, you're a Sortherner. With the amount of immigration between the SN and the C&M you're practically Canderlarisian anyway.”

Fry: “Isn't the term for someone from Candelaria And Marquez a Candelarian?”

Boyce: “Erm, er. No! Not if they're from Marquez.”

Fry: “Whatever, oh hey! Look this plane has a mini bar in the back of every seat.”

Boyce: “Of course it does, it's a Sorthern Northland Airlines plane.”

Fry: “Ah good point, hey who's this bloke wearing nothing but an extremely ill fitting thong who's walked onto the plane?”

Just walked onto plane man: “Hey Sorthern Northland Under 21 team, man. I am Chicão Trombada, man. I am your new coach, man and with me we will win, man, and we will score much with the ladies, man and, oh hey man, this plane has a mini bar in the back of every seat, man. I love Sorthern Northland, man.”

Boyce: “It's Chicão Trombada, man, our new manager, man.”

Fry: “Oh well he seems like quite a character. Didn't he escape from the Landau Institute? Should fit in round here just fine.”

Boyce: “Yeah, I heard he walked all the way from Valanora to Sorthern Northland to get on this plane. Which I think he'll also be flying.”

Fry: “What about the bits where there's a load of sea between Valanora and Sorthern Northland?”

Boyce: “Like I said, he walked all the way.”

Fry: “Wow! You mean he's Jesus?”

Boyce: “I'm sure he'd agree with that.”

Trombada: “TO THE PUB!”

Boyce: “Well he's certainly picking up the Sorthern psyche very quickly.”

Fry: “What a man!”

KIDS GET A CHANCE

Secristan is in the Di Bradini Cup. Why, you may ask? Why would people care to purchase a pay-per-view telecast of a bunch of high school age kids running around and kicking a ball when apparently the Secristan Department of Sports didn’t get the memo that this was a U-21 tournament and not a U-17 tournament. We have a 13-year old starting forward for pete’s sake! They say he’s going to be the next big thing in Secristan. Michael Cardona’s father is a successful business owner and his mother works for the Secristan Department of Housing, so he definitely has the funding to be successful when he gets older, but he’s only 13!

We asked Katie Simpson, our Secristan Department of Sports representative a series of questions about this tournament. Here they are:

“Katie, Why is Secristan in the Di Bradini Cup?”

“It’s a wonderful opportunity for us to showcase the great young talents that our upper class has been able to produce for us. By having their parents bid, we were able to generate a lot of revenue for the SDOS which we will use for a purpose to be determined.”

“Didn’t you all realize players could be up to 21? The oldest player is 17!”

“Yes we did. The 18 to 21 people had to place their own bids so they found themselves getting outbid by more well off adults who wanted to make sure their kids had this jump start to pursue a career in sports.”

“But you have two thirteen year olds and three fourteen year olds in the starting lineup. How can the team have success like this?”

“Maybe they will surprise you. It doesn’t matter if they have success anyway, we made money off the bids and that’s what matters. If they do, they can get endorsement deals at a young age and avoid going to high school, or really caring about their grades once there, allowing them to have more time for hanging out and doing things teens would rather do. Which should serve as plenty of motivation.”

“How much revenue does the SDOS expect to get from pay-per-view?”

“We’re not gonna bother with pay-per-view. It’s going to be on free TV. We were going to put the Jeruselem game on pay-per-view but were very disappointed to see that they were going with a team of all men.”

Ok so there you have it. Maybe that all made some sense.

(Rockets players gather in hotel room)

Carlson: Yeah boy! Who’s next!?! Who wants some of this?

LaFave: Let’s see on my handy Di Bradini Cup schedule it says that Colbourne is next.

Carlson: I hate Colbourne! Those bastards!

LaFave: I know you want to win but why so much anti-Colbourne hostility.

Carlson: If not for them we have a perfect record in the World Bowl right now. Perfect! But no. You’ve been watching the World Bowl haven’t you?

LaFave: I’ve caught bits and pieces of it, yes.

Taratino: The Rockets gave that game away. They were in control and two costly interceptions returned for touchdowns and Colbourne beat us.

LaFave: That sucks but what does it have to do with the Di Bradini Cup?

Carlson: Nothing and everything at the same time. It means nothing for the actual World Cup but it means everything as far as I want to completely lay the snack down on these guys, run up another five goals on them, make them wish they never entered the Di Bradini Cup.

LaFave: Sounds good to me, I’ll go with that.

Lampert: Let’s remember though guys, we can’t score five goals all at once. We had a nice gameplan against Miroxia and we executed it very well. Got the early one and kept adding to it. We provided good D and good goalkeeping.

Seidler: You guys are right about making Colbourne pay, and I will be sure of it. Some of my tackles will be a little more pronounced today.

Lane: Thankfully you’re on our side!

Carlson: You are so going to be like Brett Prescott one day, James. I can tell that’s what someone is trying to do with you. Groom you to be the next Prescott since he’s probably going to retire soon.

Seidler: Prescott’s my idol. Most intimidating player in the world. That’s right, I said the whole damn World!!

Lafave: He’s very intimidating, but that might be pushing it a little. Or a homer bias, maybe.

Seidler: Nah hear me out. You have other nations continuously mention Prescott in their press releases. It’s the kind of publicity that is normally reserved for one of the world’s top scorers or one of the top keepers. Prescott is neither. He gets a couple goals but that’s it. He’s feared because of how physical he is. And he’s smart about it. He’s an agitator, gets under your skin and throws you off your game like no other. That’s who I want to be.

Taratino: Sounds good man!

Lampert; It just occurred to me that I might have to play against Brett in Cafundeu now.

Carlson: I think that’s why we all love Brett so much. We know how much he pisses people off on other national teams. But because he plays for a club team in Cafundeu, he doesn’t piss us off just the same at the domestic level.

Lafave: Never thought it of it like that, good point, man.

Lane: Back to Colbourne, they’re pretty boring with what they let you do, they answer no to everything.

Carlson: What do you mean?

Lane: Was just looking at their roster. They like to play like us, a 4-3-3 and wide open.

Carlson: You mean they’re going to play right into our hands?

Lane: Looks like it.

Carlson: Ok I need to calm down or I am going to get really overconfident and take them way too lightly.

Lane: Can we get five different goalscorers again?

Carlson: That’s be sweet. Let’s not get carried away though. One goal at a time and as long as we score one more then them, we’re good.

More Spacebook chatroom discussion:

<Hottsockerchik0001CP 9:33 PM> (Courtney Poole): Hellz yea! Take dat Blowmens!!!
<SexiiiDaganErica 9:33PM> (Erica Daniels): I like thought dey wud b good cuz the other team dey got is good but we like totally killed them n I got 2 goals!!
<oOoOoStacieKRulez16oOoOoO 9:34 PM> (Stacie Kerrigan): I got one too!
<Hottsockerchik0001CP 9:35 PM>: Dat was so fun!
<XxXDaganBabii12XxX 9:35PM>: (Ashley Nolan) Give a shot out to Kristen on her clean sheet! Yay Kristen!
<GoalieGurlKristen12354 9:36PM>: (Kristen Stockton) Thank you we did good today.
<CaptianAllie21CD000 9:36 PM> (Allison Endres): Yes we did a great job, it’s time for bed now. We want to do just like we did last night and go to bed early so we are ready for our match with Lovisa.
<oOoOoStacieKRulez16oOoOoO 9:37 PM> Ya I agree we shuld do just wut we did last night right Erica?
<SexiiiDaganErica 9:37PM> Yea im tired newayz
<Hottsockerchik0001CP 9:38 PM> How good is Lovisa?
<GoalieGurlKristen12354 9:38PM>: Pretty good they’re senior team is in the World Cup quarterfinals.
<oOoOoStacieKRulez16oOoOoO 9:39 PM>: OMG!!!!!
<Hottsockerchik0001CP 9:39 PM> What?
<XxXDaganBabii12XxX 9:39PM> What
<oOoOoStacieKRulez16oOoOoO 9:40 PM> I wuz just looking at da roster of Lovisa and piccies of da players and Claude Classen is jus so hottttttttttttt!!!!
<CaptianAllie21CD000 9:40 PM> Well you’ll see him tomorrow. He’s 21 like me, you’re 16.
<oOoOoStacieKRulez16oOoOoO 9:41 PM> : Sooooo?
<SexiiiDaganErica 9:41PM> Dayummm he’s a hottie
<GoalieGurlKristen12354 9:42PM> Yea you will see him after the game. So get a good night sleep so you are ready and looking good when you do.
<Hottsockerchik0001CP 9:43 PM> *yawn* Yeah its an important game. We did great though. 4-0! That rocks!
<XxXDaganBabii12XxX 9:43PM> Courtney Ferugson would be proud.
<CaptianAllie21CD000 9:43 PM> So am I, we’re good!
<oOoOoStacieKRulez16oOoOoO 9:44 PM> We have bye after dis huh?
<CaptianAllie21CD000 9:45 PM> Yes.
<GoalieGurlKristen12354 9:45PM> Alright I’m off to bed. I can count on Allison to be a good role model for you younguns.
<oOoOoStacieKRulez16oOoOoO 9:46 PM> Good nite
<SexiiiDaganErica 9:46PM> Goodnite goalie gurl!
<CaptianAllie21CD000 9:47 PM> Yes I will Kristen, good night!
<GoalieGurlKristen12354 9:47PM> Goodnight!

<GoalieGurlKristen12354 9:47PM> has left the chatroom

<oOoOoStacieKRulez16oOoOoO 9:48 PM> Byebye!
<CaptianAllie21CD000 9:48 PM> Ok so here’s the deal, Meghan Burns and I rented three rooms next to each up on the 5th floor away from the coaches and parents. We have tons of shit up there and some locals we met. Meet me on the 5th floor, going up the stairwell between 315 and 316.
<SexiiiDaganErica 9:49PM> hellz yea
<XxXDaganBabii12XxX 9:49PM> Sweet!
<oOoOoStacieKRulez16oOoOoO 9:49 PM> Kristen wuz rite u r a good role model for us. Let’s go!
<XxXDaganBabii12XxX 9:50PM> has left the chatroom
<Hottsockerchik0001CP 9:50 PM> has left the chatroom
<SexiiiDaganErica 9:50PM> has left the chatroom
<oOoOoStacieKRulez16oOoOoO 9:50 PM> has left the chatroom
<CaptianAllie21CD000 9:50 PM> has left the chatroom.

The Albrecht Herald Online>Global Edition>Sport>Football>Opinion
Letting the side down
By Mack Hession

Those of you reading the Capital Edition of this fine publication may not entirely realise it, but there exists – in the strange, far-flung corners of our land such as Allemali and Arrigo – a certain sense of resentment towards Albrecht.

Such a thing is inevitable, of course – it is here where our laws are codified and reformed, our politics internal and external decided. Albrecht determines the very future of the nation, it has the power of life and death, success and failure, over millions of Candelariasians. It is where the money is, where the jobs are, where the nightlife is, and where the daylife is as vibrant and diverse as anywhere in the region. The architecture and learning, the country’s faith and science, music and humour, the great minds of the country are eventually dispelled into the heaving melting pot of Albrecht.

Though shattered by the 12/5 atrocities, it retains the greatest pull for foreign tourists – how very dare it?! – and is, against all reason, positively booming. At one time, decades ago, Albrecht seemed set to become merely a museum piece – a perfectly preserved fossil of the battered old Republic of the Candelarias, while other cities rose to become the beating heart of the new nation of See-un-Em. And yet it has not only survived, but expanded; for who can now claim that Hoxton or Lexaton or Sorres or Liverpool are not now every bit as much Albrecht as Songstress or Thompsontown or Bramlive or Irish Street? The government may be Modern Liberal, the city council Unionist, its population drawn from hundreds of cultures – but we Albrechters have never been more united, more sure of our place as the past, present and future cheerleaders for our little islands.

Insufferable bastards, in’t we?

Now that I’ve scared off all our readers from those benighted hovels beyond our metropolitan pale, it is time that the rest of us dropped our voices to the merest whisper and privately admitted the truth. We are Candelariasians first and Albrechters second, we all secretly know that. And when it comes to the Small Blues – for so long the favoured symbol of the Candelariasian heart – we are failing utterly to pull our weight.

While it may be the senior national football team that captures the column inches and viewing figures, the efforts of their younger counterparts have captured the mood of the country since their first battling run to the final of the Justantina Cup. The senior team are old friends, the under-21s exciting new acquaintances who are somehow charged with the responsibility of reflecting the best – and, where possible, worst – of modern C&M. While that may be a false and hopeless mission, the Small Blues have certainly provided consistent international success of a kind that they themselves, after the inevitable graduation into the senior team, can only dream of repeating.

They are, if nothing else, a glimpse into the near future – and, for we Albrechters, that future is ominous indeed. Not a single player in the twenty-three is draw from Albrecht FC, Albrecht Turkish or Albrecht Independent. Nor are any others natives of the capital who just happened to have come through elsewhere. Albrecht, the largest city in the country, its footballing hotbed, a place with – let’s not beat about the bush – more black people per square mile than anywhere in the Candelarias; is turning its back on its responsibility to the nation’s footballing success.

Now yes, you might argue that this is but a mildly interesting blip. The Big Blues squad at the World Cup, after all, contained five players from capital clubs and no fewer than eight raised in the city or the ‘burbs. The best anywhere else could manage was El din, with three locals. Surely, with statistics like that, there’s nothing to worry about?

But when is the next generation of Albrechters going to make the impact that history suggests they clearly will? Scorpions obsessives at every Albrecht FC reserve and academy game speak highly of Matthew Logan, Alex Wang, Simon Chinn and Thomas Rich – but so they did of Daniel Armour, Peter De’Ath and Lee Keyes, future ‘stars’ whose light has already faded into obscurity. The truth remains that when they next generation of Albrecht FC stars come through, they will be Han – and Imperial Han, at that. Samseong and the Empire will have the last laugh if what was once the country’s great academy of football turns its back on its neighbourhood. There are two academy graduates at this Di Bradini Cup, and one even bears the perfectly Candelariasian name of William. But both are Cafundelense – they may even see action this evening, after Cafundéu’s dreadful start to their DBC7 campaign – and these ones aren’t about to switch allegiances in a hurry.

Turkish fans need not look so smug, either. Just as Albrecht FC may well not have a single player in the next senior squad, so Niv Cohen might well be the Millermen’s only national star – and he’s Bove born and bred. Just when will Zachary Adekunde, Wolf Davidson, Mo Dirie, Zachary Witt and Kire Barnett get their chance at the Solidarity Stadium? Just when will we see them in blue and green?

Instead, this squad relies on players from traditionally more mid-table sides. Four are drawn from Caires Sports – hardly surprising, given Sampson’s former club allegiance, but a worry when the Knights’ future production line looks set to take on an increasingly Yaforite hue. The El din Marbles offer much in defence, but they might as well up and move to DePardenti, or somewhere, and have done with it if the make-up of their current youth squads is anything to go by. MarquezOW will always produce talent – but will they need to, with Sam Wendell’s billions now sloshing around in their back pocket?

The country needs Albrecht to up its game, just as the talented youth of the capital city needs their clubs to stand up for their rights and renew their commitments to grassroots development.

I don’t want this to be a sour piece. How could I possibly get away with that, not when the Di Bradini Cup has come to these very shores, not when we are once again welcoming the world here! Caires locals can look forward to watching the future of Cafundelense football in person, as they take on a C&M side that may well ultimately include several of the Kaleta Online Dome’s most recognisable faces. There are Jeruselemites braving the streets of El din, Green Islanders and Eesseffians renewing their mutual affections, Cassadaiguan girls sampling the delights of the university city of Onwere, or possibly the other way round. There are Sortherners… well, everywhere, but that’s not really the point. This is a fine month to be an outward-looking Candelariasian.

And those of you who’ve managed to sneak tickets to Colbourne v. Newmanistan or Miroxia v. the Yaforites, please do enjoy it. But remember, as you snuggle into the warm seats of the SS or MSS, that watching foreign starlets can only ever have limited appeal. We need our own boys – and girls – to come through, or the nation, and the youth of the capital, are never going to forgive us.

Alright, all you provincial bumpkins! You can come back now!

With the team’s Di Bradini Cup debut nearing, we asked 14 year old striker Andrew Bianchetti a series of questions:

“Andrew, what do you think of Candelaria And Marquez so far?”

“It’s alrite”

“How good do you think you guys will do?”

“I think we will win the whole damn thing.”

“That’s always a good positive attitude to do have but are you worried that the team is too young compared to the other teams?

“No.”

“Could you elaborate on that please.”

“Could I what?”

“A lot the teams have older players. They might be better because of that.”

“They ain’t gonna be shit and you’re gonna see that tonight against this stupid country.”

“Well Daehanjeiguk is actually pretty good. In fact they are a former champion.”

“Who gives a shit. They ain’t nothin’ We’re gonna kick em around like a beggar in the ghetto.”

“Is this gonna propel your career do you hope?”

“Probably. I just want to get chicks. Most girls think I look 16 or 17.”

“Well let’s worry about the soccer first.”

“There’s nothing to worry about. We’re gonna crush these losers. They were a champion. They ain't gonna be tonight."

This, gentlemen and ladies, is your matchday two cut-off.

KURA-PELLANDI UNDER-21 TEAM
Style modifier +1.337
Starting lineup 1-11, playing 4-1-2-1-2/'diamond 4-4-2' formation

In a true case of 'literalism', the age limit is set to 20 rather than 21.

GOALKEEPERS
1. Michael Peroutka (GK, 19)
12. Stephen Baddeley (GK, 20)
22. Harry Hawkin (GK, 19)

DEFENDERS
2. Ciaran O'Malley (LB/CB, 20)
3. Vincent Karlsen (CB/SW, 18)
4. Jan van Hogan (CB, 18)
5. Fabio Pirelli (RB/RWB/RM, 19)
13. Kevin Aguilera (CB, 20)
14. Boris Welsh (LWB/LM/LB, 20)
17. Dennis Crimson (RB, 17)

MIDFIELDERS
6. Oscar Kingsley (DM/CM, 20)
7. Tan Holden (LM/CM, 18)
8. Marcus Paulsen (CM/RM, 18)
9. Ben Ravinella (AM/CF, 19)
15. Bill Kenton (RM/RW, 19)
18. Hugo Anson (CM, 18)
19. Peter Tipper (AM/CM, 20)
21. Liam Aguro (DM/CM/CB, 17)

FORWARDS
10. Geraint Bonham-Cooper (CF/ST, 19)
11. William Lacamoire (ST, 17)
16. Craig Philips (CF/LW, 19)
17. Liam Horwood (RW/RM, 20)
20. Dermot Sergeant-White (ST, 20)

DBC7, Matchday 2

Group A

Miroxia 1-1 Yafor 2
Colbourne 1-2 Newmanistan

Pos Team P W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Newmanistan 2 2 0 0 7 1 6 6
2 Colbourne 2 1 0 1 3 3 0 3
3 Yafor 2 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1
4 Miroxia 2 0 1 1 1 6 -5 1
5 Myedvedeya 1 0 0 1 1 2 -1 0

Group B

Taeshan 1-0 Kjomasasopia
Cafundéu 2-0 Candelaria And Marquez*

Pos Team P W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Taeshan 2 2 0 0 2 0 2 6
2 Cafundéu 2 1 0 1 2 3 -1 3
3 Kjomasasopia 2 1 0 1 3 1 2 3
4 Greal 1 0 0 1 0 1 -1 0
5 Candelaria And Marquez 1 0 0 1 0 2 -2 0

Group C

Daehanjeiguk 0-2 Secristan
Jeruselem 4-3 Kura-Pelland

Pos Team P W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Nethertopia 1 1 0 0 5 2 3 3
2 Secristan 1 1 0 0 2 0 2 3
3 Kura-Pelland 2 1 0 1 6 5 1 3
4 Jeruselem 2 1 0 1 6 8 -2 3
5 Daehanjeiguk 2 0 0 2 1 5 -4 0

Group D

Cassadaigua 1-2 Lovisa
Valanora 1-1 Blouman Empire

Pos Team P W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Valanora 2 1 1 0 3 1 2 4
2 Cassadaigua 2 1 0 1 5 2 3 3
3 Lovisa 1 1 0 0 2 1 1 3
4 Blouman Empire 2 0 1 1 1 5 -4 1
5 Sorthern Northland 1 0 0 1 0 2 -2 0

*Scorinated by ESF. Worse luck...

Purple Knights on Top of U21 World

It's amazing. The Knights are the top team right now in the Di Bradini Cup. Although they have only played younger, less expierienced teams the Knights looked good. They again one last night 1-0 over the young Kjomasopian team. It was an all out brawl for the ball. The Knights showed there supieriority, and seniorority by defeating the young team. The Knights go the second clean sheet of the year from goalie Isaac Newton and a crowd pleasing goal from a Mr Ricky Zellefrow to win the game. The Knights were all over the other team so it wasnt a suprise, and with two games left in the group stage it is looking good for the Knights with a bye, the big XC&M rivalry game, and the Cafundeuns up in the future. Wow this schedule will be tough.

THE ROCKET REPORT

CLOSER, BUT STILL A WIN

Albrecht, Candelaria And Marquez- After matchday 1, goalkeepers across the Di Bradini Cup were put on alert. You need to improve! The first matchday saw two teams score five teams, one score four times, and two teams put up a three-spot. Today, with the exception of a game between Jeruselem and Kura-Pelland, no one scored more then two goals. Keepers and defenders can rejoice on their overall day of redemption. That’s just putting a nice spin on a 2-1 victory over Colbourne that might leave the spoiled Rockets fan thinking, that was it? Well, it was a win, was it not? Part of the reason could have been a flashback to the World Bowl Meeting between the same very two nations where Newmanistan dominated play but Colbourne stole the game. It couldn’t happen here too. Not in the Di Bradini Cup. Oh, and we would like to thank Taeshan for some nice matchday three motivation for our team. Taeshan claimed just a little while ago that they were “the top team in the Di Bradini Cup.” Oh really, Taeshan? Just because we’re not in your group doesn’t mean it’s safe to overlook us! Given Newmanistan’s history with Taeshan, don’t you think they would know better then that? Anyway, let’s get back to Colbourne.

In the early stages of the match, it was pretty obvious that Newmanistan was trying to score five goals at once. They were making way too many passes, and then trying to make those fancy highlight reel type passes, that would either lead to a turnover or an offsides play. With Colbourne also in a 4-3-3, it led for a lot of midfield room for both teams to maneuver in, and while at first glance we thought this would be something that favored our side, it seemed as though it favored the opponent just because the Rockets were using it to try and make the pretty plays. Carson could only shake his head on the sidelines. They weren’t exactly in danger of going down by a goal during this period, but this would have to stop sooner or later. Eventually they would have to get back to fundamentals. He could have barked out orders from the sideline, but he remained patient, and wanted to see if the kids could realize where they were going wrong on their own. As the minutes wore on, it seemed as though maybe they were getting the picture, but Colbourne was helping them re-focus too, as around the half hour mark, it began to be them that were controlling the play. Andrew McClure made some timely stops, including a terrific save in the 34th minute off of Carl Taylor. The defense held firm, and the offensive players slowly began to realize that they needed to respect this opponent. At the half, we had not yet seen a goal, and it looked as though it might just be playing into the hands of the underdog.

Brian Carson was aware of the World Bowl game where the Rockets dominated Colbourne then on consecutive turnovers, and blew that game, but he didn’t feel that it would be necessary to bring that up now. If it were the senior team, he would have likely blasted some of their efforts to make highlight reel goals instead of just making and taking the high percentage pass and shot. But this was different, and it was about a lesson. Carson didn’t holler or yell but instead he instructed his team on why you cannot overlook any opponent, and why the game of football is still all about doing the basics against anyone. He told them that’s what they needed to do, and the team seemed to get the message.

At the start of the second half, things went a lot better for Newmanistan. The players calmed down a bit. This wasn’t going to be a 5-0 rout like they had over Miroxia. Colbourne was a stronger opponent, and you could see that they took Carson’s message to heart in slowing the pace of the match down and making safer passes. Colbourne had other ideas, and wanted to go on the attack. For them, this was their time to strike, and after about ten minutes, they had some more quality opportunities, but the defense, led by Scott LaFave and Alex Lampert made some nice plays and McClure didn’t face many too difficult chances. Going back the other way, Newmanistan found themselves with a 3-on-2 rush on Jeffrey Hawk in the 62nd minute, and they kept it simple this time. And just like Carson thought it would, this would lead to good things as Brett Carlson scored the goal to put the Rockets out in front, finally, with the first goal of the game. The team was excited after the goal, and maybe too excited, as a quick 64th minute Colbourne rush resulted in a sudden equalizer. Now, this game would be a test of character for the young Rockets. They would pass this test, and did not allow Colbourne to get any momentum from that goal. At first they seemed a little tentative, as if they were afraid to make a costly mistake, but Carson provided the signals to them to go for it. In the 79th minute, a cross from James Seidler found Kevin Taylor perfectly, and Taylor delivered the header past Hawk for the big goal. And this time, they were mindful of playing defense right after they scored, and kept Colbourne from getting any more chances.

It ends up being a 2-1 Newmanistan win, and despite Taeshani claims that they are on top of the U-21 World with their 2-0-0 record, statistically, Newmanistan is at the moment, also with a 2-0-0 and a better goal differential then Taeshan. The Rockets next match against Myedvedeya may prove to be quite a test. The junior KGB have some highly talented youth, but the Rockets will be up for the match, no question. Expect a good one, though we think Newmanistan will have enough to handle them.

Phone conversation ...

Coach: See Dazza, my men are superstars!
Dazza: They still can't defend to save their lives.
Coach: Oh come on, you're the one who pushed attacking football in the World Cup team.
Dazza: Yeah, but conceding 8 goals in two games isn't good either.

Coach: They will kick more ass next game.
Dazza: I don't know. Yes, they scored four goals but they only scored 2 last game. We haven't even played the big boys as yet.
Coach: Kura-Pelland are a big team.
Dazza: But I'm talking the Han and bigger teams.

Coach: I'm sure my team will just get better.
Dazza: Your goalkeeper is useless. Even my husband could do better.
Coach: Well, he's always drinking.
Dazza: Can't he drink after the game?

Coach: The team is full of drunks.
Dazza: You're not coaching Southern Northland?
Coach: Well, they are almost SN in some ways.
Dazza: Maybe falling backwards in the goal isn't good for stopping goals.

Coach: Yes, I'll ask him to move forward a little.
Dazza: He doesn't say a lot.
Coach: Oh yeah, he just slurs and mumbles.
Dazza: That's not good.

Coach: Don't worry, we'll score enough goals.
Dazza: Yeah but one day you'll score no goals.
Coach: Maybe we can put on the other keeper when he knocks himself out by accident.
Dazza: Like how?

Coach: Walking into a fist.

unlucky to lose second time around, i see this as purely inexperience and fatigue, as the team is competing in 2 tournaments at the same time (CoH and DiBC)

well, we pulled out of cup of harmony, so all of our focus is now on DBC, until Oxen Cup 9 comes around...

OVER-RA-TED! OVER-RA-TED!

If you thought that not many Secristanis were going to attend the first game of the Di Bradini Cup, then you were would have surprised as many seemed to make this trip to the Estadio Arrigo Nacional in Arrigo, Marquez. The motive could have been as simple as our business leaders wanting to use this opportunity to check out the country of Candelaria And Marquez and see if there would be any potential for business deals from their people. They would watch a soccer game between our very under-21 team and the champions of the Di Bradini Cup 5, the well known Daehanjeiguk side. A 19th-minute goal by 14-year old Andrew Bianchetti put the young Millionaires in front by a goal, and Brian Carver made it hold up as the Han tried to get back in the game. One of their players had to be helped off the field after Eric Fraser laid out a brutal defensive tackle, and the Han midfielder did not return. The lead held strong as this group of Han did not look one bit like the championship caliber team that they brought here before. In the 58th, Secristan extend the lead to 2-0 on a goal by Matthew Marino and the chants of the Secristanis in attendance began of “Over-rated (clap clap, clap clap clap), Over-ra-ted!” in an obvious response to the projections that this Daehanjeiguk team was supposed to be good and now about to fall to 0-0-2. It got louder as the game got closer to its conclusion as many Arrigo natives began to join in. At the end, the Millionaires took care of business against Daehanjeiguk and look forward to their next opponent, Jeruselem, who’s group of men so far has done nothing but embarrass their country with two losses in their first two games.

We got a chance to interview 14-year old Eric Fraser after the game.

“Congratulations on your win, Eric.”

“Thank you.”

“That was quite a win over a nation with a good history in this.”

“I studied history a little bit in school and you know why it sucked?”

“Why would that be, Eric?”

“Because it was all old and in the past. Who cares about that shit now. That’s what those Han are. Like who gives a shit what they had done before.”

“Well you guys did a good job in beating them.”

“We knew we would.”

“You laid out a punishing hit on one of their players who did not return. Your thoughts?”

“My thoughts is that I hope the other teams we play saw it because that might be them.”

“We can expect more of this from you?”

“Yep.”

“Can you guys beat Jeruselem.”

“Jeruselem sucks. They should have played the schoolgirls then we would have had a lot of fun. I wish we could play that other team of girls.”

“Who, Cassadaigua?”

“Yeah we went to play them.”

“Well maybe you will.”

“Yea ok I gotta go.”

“Bye Eric!”

A group of Sorthern players sit in the bar of their hotel discussing how best to spend their bye day.

Danny Foulkes: “My God, these bye days are boring. Does anything even happen in Zapata?”

Jon Andrews: “Well it certainly seems like nothing does.”

Luke Dunn: “Not true, in this brochure I have here, it says there is currently a paint drying exhibition happening in a local art gallery.”

Foulks: “Paint drying? I'd rather watch grass growing than paint than paint drying.”

Dunn: “Well we could do that then. I mean there's a few parks and stuff.”

Anton Fry: “What about fishing? I mean this place is the centre of the fishing industry in this country.”

Ben Boyce: “Er we can't go fishing. Me and Welshy tried stealing one of the boats as we were coming back through the port from the pub last night. We got caught and they banned our whole team from boarding any water faring vehicles in the town.”

Liam Welsh: “Yeah, I was a tad annoyed that they wouldn't even let us keep that fish we'd managed to catch.”

Fry: “Right. Well what about watching the other games in our group? See what threat they might have when we play them?”

Foulks: “Threat? What threat? We've got Blouman Empire, a bunch of amateurs probably, Lovisa, a team made up of plumbers, and Cassadaigua, a bunch of underage whores to play. The only threat they'll have is either breaking our toilets or giving us chlamydia. This group is a piece of piss. Speaking of which I could actually do with one now.

Fry: “That's a bit of an arrogant view to take.”

Boyce: “Meh it's Foulksy, that's the way he is.”

Andrews: “You know, this town is really boring. Why couldn't we have got drawn in the Albrecht group? At least then we'd have been able to hang out in Irish Street.”

Boyce: “Oh yeah, that's a pretty good place, went to primary school there, good times those were. Me and Eric O’Brien from the C&M team were best mates back then, we used to get up to all sorts of stuff back then.”

Dunn: “Yup, well as much as I'm sure we'd all like to hear about your love life Boycie, I've found us something to do.”

Rest of group: “Oh?”

Dunn: “Yeah, look there's this huge museum of fish!”

Andrews: “Meh I suppose it's better than doing nothing.”

Chicão Trombada: “TO THE FISH MUSEUM, MAN!”

THE NETHERTOPIAN SPORTSTIMES

VULTURES TAKE OUT JERULELEM MEN
SOMETHING, SOMEWHERE WENT TERRIBLY WRONG
Arrigo, C&M - The Vultures have broken the tradition of losing the first match of a tournament, started by the Falcons in the Oxen Cup 8, which continued in the WC qualifiers and the CoH. Suddenly, the future looks bright.
The Vultures were part of an amazingly high-scoring match, which saw 7 goals. The vultures started off weak, with the Jeruselemites taking the match in control. They were able to score from a free kick, taken by Man in the 17th minute.
From that moment on Nethertopia was hungry for goals. They started to hunt for the ball and were able to gain the upper hand on midfield. The Vultures scored their first goal in the 24th minute, a long-distance shot from Erwin Visser.
Jeruselem was able to put more pressure on the game, which really became a battle for the midfield possession. The Vultures and the Men were able to both score a goal before the final whistle for the first half. Man scored a header from a corner in the 37th minute, but Nethertopia once again crawled one back just before stoppage time in the 43rd minute. Michel Mulder gave a high through ball on the side, reaching Erik Visser (Visser and Visser are cousins, by the way), who gave Man no chance one-on-one.

The second half Saw Marcel van der Laan hit the field instead of Wim Smits. The match seemed to change a lot because of this, it seemed like the Men were totally worn out. They were fierce the first five minutes of the game, but it were the Vultures who broke the deadlock.
Arjan Jakobs recieved the ball from De Woudt, 30 meters away from the goal. He started a rush, bypassing Man, Man and Man. He eventually lobbed the ball behind Man, who stood too far away from the goal.
Especially Man seemed worn out by this, and Man didn't look too good as well. Man was taken off by coach Mann, for Man. But this didn't seem to help, as two minutes after the 3-2 it was again Jakobs, who made his second of the match. This time he received the ball from Van Dijk, after losing his man Man, took the ball on the chess, with his back facing the Goal of Man, and put the ball behind Man with a beautiful bicycle kick.
After the 4-2 the match kinda bled to death, especially because Man and Man didn't believe in a comeback anymore. Mann tried to fire his men up, but it didn't work.
In the 92nd minute it even got worse for the Men, because Jacobs furfilled his hat-trick. He scored a free kick, after Man had tackled him at the edge of the box. Visser took the free kick quickly, suprising Man, who was able to just tip it out of the goal, but Man didn't cover Jakobs, who scored the rebound.

Score recap:
Jeruselem 2 (Man 17; Man 37) - Nethertopia 5 (Visser 24; Visser 43; Jakobs 50, 52 & 90+2)

Coach Ashley Ryan was livid after the team’s 2-1 loss to Lovisa and it was time to let the team know just how she felt. “You girls looked like shit out there! I mean that, what the hell was wrong with you?”

The team, after losing the hard fought match thought the coach was being a little too harsh over the loss, they seemed to play fairly well for the most part. It’s not as if they were defeated 5-nil. Captain Allison Endres stood up and tried to defend her teammates, “Coach that’s not completely fair, no one is happy that we lost but let’s not get too carried away over one game.” That was a mistake. As Allison would soon find out.

“No, Allie.” said the coach. “Most of you looked like shit and I mean that literally. Do you think I was born yesterday? Do you think that I did not notice how many of you seemed to be so hung over that you could barely run out there. I understand that you gave an effort, but it is not easy trying to coach a group of girls who should be looking up to the older ladies on this team as role models, but the older ladies are drinking their asses off, and providing it to the youngest of our players, and who knows what else. You were so out of sync Allie, it’s not funny and in fact I should strip the captaincy from you.”

That got Allison’s attention, as the coach continued, “But I’m not. There is only one reason why I am not and that is I do not want the media all of the sudden blowing all of this out of proportion and tearing this team apart when the Di Bradini Cup is still young. Allison, you see that Cassadagan flag over there and the picture of me handing you the captain armband?” (Allison nodded) “I want you to go up there, stand next to it and tell everyone here how much you drank last night and how many other players were drinking with you up on the 5th floor, on the night prior to an important game.”

Endres didn’t realize until just now that she got busted. How else would coach have known about the party? If she did know, why didn’t she say something before now? “Get up there!” shouted the coach as Allison walked up unsure of what she should say now. Should she deny it and try to say she knew nothing of that party, or should she admit it? Then if she admits it, should she name any other names and get her teammates to start disliking her. And to have to say this under a Cassadagan flag next to a picture of what was once a great moment was obviously designed to make her feel shame. She stood under the flag as the coach repeated the question. How should she answer, and the longer it would take her to answer, she knew the more guilty she would look. She looked into the concerned eyes of players like Stacie Kerrigan and Erica Daniels, perhaps seeing herself when she was five years younger. There was only one way she could answer this question. “What are you talking about, coach? What does a party on the fifth floor have to do with any of us. I was in bed by 10:00 so I could be ready for this game and now you have me up here trying to make me feel bad for something I didn’t do!” Allison walked back down, took a deep breath and feared the response.

“Very nice, Allison.” the coach sarcastically answered. “You know that hot guy you added to your friends list on spacebook this morning?” (Endres thought for a second) “That was me, using a fake picture. Well actually it was of a past boyfriend, but anyway. I saw some of the comments. So, I know. Care to still deny it?” Endres just looked in the coach’s eyes. The battle was lost. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry about everything.” she confessed.

Coach didn’t respond. “Miss Kerrigan and Miss Daniels, what do you have to say for yourselves?” Before they could answer, coach Ryan knew it wasn’t necessary, “Well I know why when Claude Classen tackled you in the 12th minute, Stacie, it took you a long time to seemingly get over it.” Stacie was about to respond but got tongue tied. “We have a bye day coming up, and when we get back to playing let me assure you that there will be much stricter controls around here. I am disappointed in all of you. We came here with the honor of representing Cassadaigua, and you were all chosen because you have great talent at what you do. The Di Bradini Cup is a catalyst to your future careers, and the government didn’t have to provide all of us funding to come all the way out to Candelaria And Marquez. We need to make Cassadagans proud! And for the world to respect Cassadaigua as a great sporting nation, not as just a group of teenage hormones running wild. You all think about that tonight! If you were focused on this game, maybe we could have avoided the loss.”

(Coach Carson gathers the team together)

Carson: So, what did we all learn last night against Colbourne?

Carlson: Not to take teams lightly.

Lane: Don’t try to be too cute with the ball.

Carson: What we saw last night was a team, us, who thought they would win just by showing up. We had such a strong opening game against Miroxia that I think a lot of us thought that this game would be just as easy since Colbourne is not a team ranked very highly on the senior side.

LaFave: We tried. They were just a lot better then we thought they would be.

Carson: Which is exactly my point. I hope we learned the valuable lesson last night. Every team in the Di Bradini Cup is a good team. There are no pushovers, and we can’t be going into these games trying to make the beautiful plays, like you were trying to do. I’m all for nice looking goals, but there’s a time and a place.

Lampert: And nice looking goals are never staged goals. They aren’t pre-planned. They just happen naturally.

Carson: Absolutely right, Alex. I know I have some creative playmakers and ball movers here, and that’s a good thing, I never what you to stop doing what comes naturally to you. But we must maintain a focus on the fundamentals, and in respecting our opponents.

Carlson: I’m sorry coach.

Carson: It’s nothing to apologize for, Brett. Your young. This is what the Di Bradini Cup is all about. You all have this great talent to play this wonderful game of football, but you have to know how to use that talent. I have seen some of the most talented players in the world never pan out because they were trying to play beyond themselves.

Lane: You’re right.

Taylor: Yeah, sorry about what I tried to do there in the 14th minute especially.

Lane: That would have been nuts if we scored like that though.

Carson: Yes it would have. And I think you guys have gotten the message. Or next opponent is one that we especially cannot look beyond, and it will probably be our toughest of the group stages. Myedvedeya is a team on the rise and they have some very good talented people playing for them. We need to be going over the tapes very carefully that the scouting staff has provided to you.

Lampert: Yeah they are pretty good.

Taratino: I’ve noticed that some Myedvedeyan players have made their way into the NPL, do you think NPL teams will be looking to pick players off their roster and we could be seeing even more of them?

Carson: Probably, I’m sure there will be a lot of interested eyes on this game, and you know is aware of that. The Myedvedeyan players. This was something I was going to bring up, actually.

Taratino: Cool.

Carson: These Myedvedeyan players are well aware that Newmanistanian clubs could be offering them a nice big contract based on the fact that there has already been activity between the two leagues. Therefore, they will be sure to be at their best in a game between the countries. We’ll need to match this intensity.

Carlson: Will do.

Lane: Definitely no messing around today.

Carson: They like to beat you tactically, so I will be on my game as well.

Lampert: Yeah, they most definitely will be taking care of the simple plays and the fundamentals, if we're not up to it, they can eat us alive.

Seidler: Don't worry man, we've learned our lesson from Colbourne. We'll be ready for these Bears.

(OOC: Greal, did you get the memo that this is an Under-21 tournament? You're entire team, save one person, is OVER 21!)

Valanora Times
Yet Again Do We Dance

Two games into this Seventh, or is it 8 or 7.5, Di Bradini Cup, and the Mini Marauders again begin showing why the majority of the public thinks it is wrong for us to send a side. Despite the age to species relation ratio debate that continues on despite fourteen years of competing in the tournament, we were abit compelled to come back after we just had to go and win a title last tournament. Foolish on our part I know, at least for those who stick to the idea that this tournament is in clear bias against us, but what else can you do when your FA demands that you create a dominance that has never been seen before in the sport? You have to go out there even in tournaments that by most accounts you shouldn't be touching with a ten foot pole and do your damnest to win the bloody thing, for pride and glory if nothing else. Such silly concepts that these two words carry, yet they have the power to motivate epic actions from man and elvin kind alike. It's like a SURGE of power into the veins of the combatants on whatever battlefield they claim and drives them on when they should fall over out of breath in a defeated mess. It is in these moments that our heroes are soo proudly made, in the most foolish of decisions that lack all reason and rational, and despite all that they result in some sort of glorified victory. That is why we revere the likes of Zacharius, Kyla Night, Jere Jannian, and the St. Louis brothers soo much, for their flawed determination in the face of helplessness.

Does this group of players of some sort of heroic leadership type inside them? I would love to say it would be Ricardinho, but his silent demeanor makes me hesitant to do so, as well as how we have not exactly started off in the best form this Cup. Yes we did win our first match quite handedly over Sorthern Northland, but they have no history in this competition where we are twice crowned champions. Anytime you have a debutant against the king, more often than not, the king is going to show why he has the crown. Then came the speed bump known as The Blouman Empire, who defied the odds and held the side to a one all draw. It's all rubbish that game, with nothing that can be taken from it, except that if you do not prepare as if you are going to be tested by even the lesser teams of a meaningless tournament. The goal by the Cafundelense born winger was the only bright spot, and that came from a broken play by the Blouman backline. Perhaps hiring that young Rennidan millionaire was a bad idea, how about that VFA?

Now the Marauders have it all to do if they care to make the knockout stages once again, falling to third in the table with the upstarts of Cassadaigua even looking to have their swing at us. How quickly the confidence of you and your oppenents changes at the first sign of any type of slip in form. You go from being the most feared side ever to step foot on a football pitch to being a side that anyone can steal a point off of. Where is the respect, where is the admiration, where is my damn wine?! Oh right, we sent it to the bloody President of these cursed isles to make some sort of peace offering, but they didn't care, just going to show why the majority of the media outside the sports section dislike this place soo much. Oh well, we are off to dance again, hopefully a tad more graceful like a gazelle than that crocidile two step.

Article by Cander Marsi

(OOC: Greal, did you get the memo that this is an Under-21 tournament? You're entire team, save one person, is OVER 21!)

The complex rules of this pesky 'new competition', eh?

__________________


“Cannibals… As if we haven’t got enough on our plates…”

“You should remember that,” the President’s husband muttered sleepily, “It’d make an excellent campaign slogan if it ever becomes an electoral issue.”

“I mean, really! Here’s me, trying to force through draconian anti-terror legislation, break apart a grossly beurocratic and utterly pointless yet curiously popular space programme, utterly reform the immigration system, and pioneer the new SolidBottom childcare facilities whilst being accused of introducing kibbutzim –”

“I was just being overly dramatic, dear…”

“…and this blasted Prudence Chicago woman is trying to get us to legalise cannibalism again…”

“Why do all these people have such ridiculous names, anyhow…?”

“Honestly… I’ve got meetings with angry Italians tomorrow, I’ve got to tape a message of support for the dolly bird standing for the Kura-Pellandi liberals, there’s Pacitalia Day celebrations in Caires tomorrow evening – did you know we even had a Pacitalian community? They’re having fireworks an’ everything…”

“It’s a tough life, being President,” Michael nodded sagely.

President Morton scowled at him over her reading glasses. “I just think I’ve got more than enough to worry about without cannibalism. And we’ve got to admit the whole paedophile-bus-drivers thing tomorrow. The last thing I need right now is to have to sack the Transport secretary. We need all the Tory coalition partners we can get…”

“Quite so,” the First Husband sighed whilst the couple’s Second Dog and First Cat clambered over him to take their place in the centre of the First Bed. “But perhaps it’s about time we put all that to backs of our mi–”

“And –”

“Yes…?”

“And, all that’s without Russell bloody Lawrence dancing with ee ell vee ee ess over there on Green Island… The man’s a law unto himself. They’re in Onwere tonight, you know that?”

“Is that a particular problem?”

“Onwere? Onwere that voted for a genderqueer half-Nethertopian as their MP? If anyone’s going to ignore the mainstream media and start to seriously consider the concept of elves, it’s those soapdodgers…”

“I’m sure they’re still too distracted by the brief stay of those lovely Cassadagan ladies.”

“‘Ladies’ is pushing it a little, from what I hear,” the President muttered primly, giving the back of her husband’s head an old look. “I suppose we should be thankful they’re all at aged at least fifteen and three quarters, otherwise there’d be hell to play…”

“Probably best not to think about it too much, dear,” Michael told her, somewhat hypocritically. “Get some sleep, Robyn. Everything’ll seem brighter in the morning.”

“Yes… I suppose you’re right.” She turned and flicked off the lampshade by the bed. “G’night, Mike. G’night Arthur. G’night Boris.”

“Miaiow…”

They lay in the traditional silence of the Candelariasian boudoir, staring at the faces in the artexing.

“Y’know,” the President commented after a while. “I’ve still got that wine the you-know-whoms sent us…”

The lampshade on the opposing bedside cabinet was flicked on hastily. “Really?”

“Yes. Oure de Travei 1337, says ‘ere…”

“Start of the Hundred Year’s War,” Michael yawned.

Robyn smiled. She’d always felt her husband was wasted in the laminated nametags industry. “The finest wine in Valanora… Magnificent is the wine from Travesian, enough to wash even the darkest troubles away…”

“Says that on the bottle?”

“No, it’s all in… y’know… roons. But having spent a while as junior Food, Agriculture and Fisheries minister does have its perks.”

“There’s no risk of us being ferried away to their realm and made to dance until we drop dead or else our toes are worn away, I don’t suppose?”

“I don’t really think they’re that sort of elves, Mike,” the President replied calmly, removing a pair of wine glasses stored in her presidential pyjamas for reasons of narrative brevity and pouring the Oure de Travei.

“What’re they doing sending you plonk, anyway?”

“I think the young ones’re taking it upon themselves to thaw the proverbial ice… I suppose I should write them a thank-you note, or something…”

“Perhaps,” Michael mused carefully, sipping at the priceless beverage, “you should, y’know… explain things a little. They migh–”

“Our concerns are our concerns, and ours alone,” his wife snapped. “They can think whatever they like of us. Put the telly on.”

“Why…?”

“I want to see what the result of the under-21 game was. It’s always useful to predict what the mood of the nation will be tomorrow…”

Michael rolled over and grabbed the remote from the dressing table. The television in the corner of the bedroom pondered its options for a moment, before finally deigning to *pop* into life.

“…ampson was well received on his first visit back to the Kaleta Online Dome since losing the Caires Sports job, and named three Knights in his starting eleven. The four-three-three, with Allemali’s David Spooner leading the line, was a surprise – but clearly designed to meet the side put out by the Cafundelense’s Ariddian coach head on. It didn’t come off. The Small Blues were behind within ten minutes, a panicky Russ Becker clearance from Eric O’Brien’s nonchalant back pass came out to Matoso, and the Petardos S/A youngster held the ball up long enough to allow Paquetá to move into the area, avoid O’Brien’s desperate challenge, and finish comfortably.

“The hosts remained stubbornly fixed to their task, but were forced to call upon Becker – and clearances from O’Brien and Joe Rodríguez – on several more occasions during the first half, before Spooner finally put the teenage goalkeeper Murilo under real pressure.

“Replacing the ineffectual Josh Belmore for Chris Kilgore at half-time, the Candelariasians began to take control of the game, and Lawrence Amey was unfortunate to see his fifty-ninth minute penalty shout waved away by the Dancougan referee, following Albrecht FC starlet William’s tackle on the edge of the area. Amey and Spooner had further chances, but C&M hopes were killed off on seventy-five with a lovely solo goal from Marques, a former protégé of Javier Sanchez during his time at the Américan helm.

“In a historical sense, this represented a rare ninety-minute defeat for the Small Blu–”

“Probably best not to raise the paedophile-bus-drivers tomorrow after all, then?”

“Mm, I was thinking that…”

“…lection wrong – to that end, Luke Lewis and Danny Adams, both of MN Smith, look set to be given starts in the Taeshan match at the McNeil Bingo Arena, along with Caires City stars Nic Lloyd and Austin Neal. The Small Blues and Purple… Squires, I guess, have met on numerous occasions, with the Candelariasians having a significant advantage over the Taeshanese over the years. Much of the visiting side will remain familiar to Candelariasian viewers, but pundits believe that this could finally be the year that Ricky Zellefrow and company make their competitive breakthrough. The run-up to the game is expected to see well-attended protests by locals, in opposition to Taeshanese military activities overse–”

“God… They’ll go out and protest about a conflict that doesn’t even concern them directly, imagine what they’d do…”

“…munity figures, including former snooker star David oh my god we have a rugby team, and Caires FC left-back Andrew Pierce, have appealed for Caires locals to help make the game a sporting celebration rather than a heated affair. The office of President Morton, who is due in the city tomorrow to attend the Pacitalia Day festiviti–”

“Ugh, don’t remind me… Honeshtly, Mike, I can remember nortoria for north-east, and futaboli, and pomagranata, but I’m buggered if I’m going to be conjugating by tomorrow…”

“Um… Talking of conjugating, I –”

“…ile, the youngest side in the tournament, Secristan, were shock two-nil winners over the Han in Arrigo, Andrew Bianchetti and Matthew Ma–”

“Y’know,” the President giggle, “I don’t want t’put the pigeonsh amongsh… amongst the cats, but there might be a shmall amount of alcohol in thish wine?”

“I was ponderin’ that shelf shame thing, Missus President!”

“Oh, come here, Mister Preshdent’s husband!”

“Ooh, I –”

“Rraroaw!”

“Miaaiaow!”

“Ach… Sorry Arthur, Borish… Prob’ly best you make yourshelves scarce…”

“…ith the Blouman Empire, leaving Group D wide ope–”

“Y’know, you can switch the telly off now, Mike…”

“Yeah… I was just thinking, y’know, they might show highlightsh of the Cassadaigua game, or…”

“You can switch the telly off now, Mike.”

“Right you are, Mrs President!”

*CLICK*

DBC7, Matchday 3

Group A

Myedvedeya 0-2 Newmanistan
Colbourne 3-3 Yafor 2

Pos Team P W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Newmanistan 3 3 0 0 9 1 8 9 Qualified (A1)
2 Colbourne 3 1 1 1 6 6 0 4
3 Yafor 2 2 0 2 0 4 4 0 2
4 Miroxia 2 0 1 1 1 6 -5 1
5 Myedvedeya 2 0 0 2 1 4 -3 0

Group B

Greal 0-1 Kjomasasopia
Taeshan 2-3 Candelaria And Marquez*

Pos Team P W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Taeshan 3 2 0 1 4 3 1 6
2 Kjomasasopia 3 2 0 1 4 1 3 6
3 Cafundéu 2 1 0 1 2 3 -1 3
4 Candelaria And Marquez 2 1 0 1 3 4 -1 3
5 Greal 2 0 0 2 0 2 -2 0


Taeshan leads Kjomasasopia on head-to-head record, danke. Cafundéu leads Candelaria And Marquez on head-to-head record.


Group C

Nethertopia 2-0 Kura-Pelland
Jeruselem 0-2 Secristan

Pos Team P W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Nethertopia 2 2 0 0 7 2 5 6
2 Secristan 2 2 0 0 4 0 4 6
3 Jeruselem 3 1 0 2 6 10 -4 3
4 Kura-Pelland 3 1 0 2 6 7 -1 3
5 Daehanjeiguk 2 0 0 2 1 5 -4 0


Jeruselem leads Kura-Pelland on head-to-head record.

Group D

Sorthern Northland 1-2 Blouman Empire
Valanora 1-0 Lovisa

Pos Team P W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Valanora 3 2 1 0 4 1 3 7
2 Blouman Empire 3 1 1 1 3 6 -3 4
3 Cassadaigua 2 1 0 1 5 2 3 3
4 Lovisa 2 1 0 1 2 2 0 3
5 Sorthern Northland 2 0 0 2 1 4 -3 0


*Scorinated by ESF

THE ROCKET REPORT

ROCKETS WIN GROUP EARLY

Albrecht, Candelaria And Marquez- There may be two matchdays officially in the 7th Di Bradini Cup, but the Rockets already know that they will be heading to knockouts after disposing of Myedvedeya 2-nil at Solidarity Stadium. Now, with the team having a bye day next on the schedule, the players know that they can relax and enjoy the city of Albrecht, which I am sure they are eager to do. With a 3-0-0 record and leading Group A, the Rockets have wrapped up the group title quite early. I guess this isn’t something that comes as a surprise to the rest of the World competing in this Cup, but it good to see that this group is off to just as quick of a start.

Gone was the careless play that we saw against Colbourne. This was a much more businesslike performance by the Rockets, who seemed to have plenty of respect for their opponents, and their early approach was much like what you would see the senior team trying to do at the start of the game. First, they focus on maintaining possession, and being sure all their passes were in order. Myedvedeya is the kind of team that likes to out think you, so coach Carson was sure to emphasize solid positioning and smart passing. They didn’t force plays and when they didn’t have the ball they did a good job being cognizant of what the KGB was trying to do with it. This meant that it took a little while before we saw any real good scoring chances from either side. In the 10th minute, goalkeeper Andrew McClure made an incredible diving stop on a shot on the guy with the long name. After just two tries at pronouncing the full name of the young striker, the announcers realized that by the time they finished his name, he had already done something with the ball and it was getting them behind, so he was simply referred to as “V” for the rest of the match. In the 19th minute, it was the Rockets turn to get a great chance, but Vladimir Shcherbatsky showed us that he could make great saves too with a nice stop on Brett Carlson. There were some reports that Shcherbatsky could be one of the players being looked at by Newmanistanian domestic clubs due to the fact that the senior club keeper for Myedvedeya, Boris Bykovsky, has had a pretty strong start to his career in Pocono City. He’s still a little raw, and it may have shown on the 29th minute score off the foot of Stanley Rocco, his first interregional goal. With the defense a little more focused on Carlson and Lane, Rocco took a shot that the keeper must not have picked up well off his foot for the goal. But if the Myedvedeyan fans in attendance thought that was a soft goal, he made up for it with some big saves late in the half. We went to the break with Newmanistan holding the 1-nil lead.

Carson didn’t have a complicated message for the team at the halftime. That message was already delivered before the game, and the team showed strong fundamentals in their execution. They got an understanding of their opponent, and were playing about as well as you could have wanted. Obviously, Myedvedeya would come out in a more offensive mode, and the team would need to be ready.

As the second half began, young Konstantin Petrovsky tried to carry this team on his shoulders. He is only 14 years of age, but he has a fantastic skills set, and the mainstream media in his homeland is already pegging him to be on the senior squad for World Cup 44. That’s a lot of pressure to put on a young kid, but one Brett Carlson of the Rockets can certainly relate to that. After all, it was Carlson was constantly heard that he would be the “next Jeremy McAllister” even when he was 14 years old. Petrovsky showed his talents and made some nice passes to his teammates in front of him. They were just defended well by the Rockets back end, and saves were made by McClure when needed. Not to be forgotten, Sergey Rostov also tried to build on what Petrovsky was trying to generate, and Rostov was simply robbed by McClure in the 58th minute. Moments later, Rostov set up “V”, but Brett Taratino made a brilliant defensive play to stop what looked to be an equalizing goal. For a while, it was beginning to look like the young KGB was going to tie this match up if they could just get the Rockets defense to crack, but they were so strong back there. And in the 71st minute, Newmanistan would make their comeback effort twice as hard. Dirk Brogan showed that he could set his teammates up as well and delivered a perfect cross into the penalty area for Brett Carlson. Carlson got a step on the big redwood Ivan Kolkaev and slid the second goal of the game into the bottom left corner. With the Bears wanting to mount a comeback effort still, they were frustrated simply because it was the Rockets generating scoring opportunities in the final minutes, proving that you can’t score if you don’t have the ball. Eventually, the referee blew the whistle on what was a pretty good game, and a great win by the Rockets. Now, Group A is clinched, and they can enjoy their bye a little more.

Here is some post game reaction:

Carson: “It was a great game today, we had some good open discussion with where we felt we were as a team after the Colbourne game, and I know that right now I got a Di Bradini squad that’s as good as any we’ve sent to Starblaydia. Winning the group today before the bye wasn’t something that I immediately thought possible, but that’s something that the players have earned, and they should enjoy it as much as they can.”

McClure: “This was a great clean sheet for me because those guys are good team. I think you will see them have more success at some point, and we did a good job making sure that it wouldn’t start tonight.”

LaFave: “We gave ourselves a reality check before the match and it showed today with what I think you would agree was a more professional performance. We won the group with the win, so that’s pretty cool too. Didn’t thin that would happen so early.”

Seidler: “They have some pretty good players, but we have better players, and we got the win. Simple as that.”

Carlson: “I am really happy with the way we played tonight and I am proud of all my teammates. We took care of everything that we needed out there from start to finish. Andy came up big for us with some nice saves, and we got a great result out of it. We probably didn’t have to have a bye right now, because we are in top condition and form still, but we’ll take it. Get out there and enjoy the city of Albrecht a little bit.”

NEWMANISTAN 2
Rocco (29')
Carlson (71')

MYEDVEDEYA 0

(OOC: Blouman Empire should be listed at 1-1-1).

Just a little thing but i would be ahead of Kjo based on H2H.

Lil' Purple Knights lose to Candelaria

Weel it was bound to happen. The Purple Knights lost there first game of the new, and maybe improved Di Bradini Cup to the home side Candelaria. The Marqueziens easilt slammed the Knights in a big flary, fast paced 2-3 game. The Knights were a tad slower then there opponents and that caused them there biggest game of the tournament so far. The Candelarians easily tromped past the Knights and know they have pretty much shook up the group.

The Knights scored the first goal on a Jamie Spenser header, off a Ricky Zellefrow crossing, assist. Then the Candelarians scored there three goals in the 40th, 56th, and 70th minutes. Then the Knights tried to get back into it with a Ricky Zellefrow ricochet offf the bar, but they would not score again, and the game was lost. The Knights next will either have Cafundeu in the biggest game after the Candelarian game, or they will have a bye so stay tuned for more.

Kura-Pelland's young guns were outgunned by a fine Nethertopian display, although 2-0 was slightly harsh on the side who deserved to score.

Both Visser cousins scored, the second game in a row this has occurred after their 5-2 dismantling of Jeruselem. But while the Nethertopians could have scored more, they were indebted to Mark Water, who brilliantly saved two William Lacamoire shots, the first from close range, the second a curling free-kick.

With one win from three games, the knockout stages seem unattainable despite the theoretical possibility otherwise. This team is widely seen as poor and hopes for the future are now even more squarely heaped upon the current side. That'd be the one who got knocked out twice to Lovisa then. No pressure.

THE NETHERTOPIAN SPORTSTIMES

CMSC MADNESS
NETHERTOPIAN YOUNG PLAYER POOL EMPTIED
El Din, Candelaria And Marquez - With the Vultures' cousins scoring again, in a 2-0 thriller against Kula-Pelland, the name of the young Nethertopians has been made. The players redirected to the Nethertopian Young Player Pool have all gotten a new club, except for Wim Smits. There seems to be interest in him as well, we'll soon know if he leaves Nethertopia as well. A review of the transfers:

- Erik Visser, FC DePardenti to El Din Marbles
A decent players to a decent club. Erik is looking to be the follow up of Jan-Paul Snip, who's not getting younger. We'll be hearing from him.

- Bas Smit, The Grey Towers to Marquez Onwere FC
We're not sure about this move. With Sam Wendell at the head of the team it seems like an uncertain transfer, with no future for Bas on the club. Unless he improves so much, that he keeps possible transfers out of the basic XI.

- Tom van Dijk, FC DePardenti to Port of Clotaire
Tom will be looking for a basic XI here, but we are not sure if he's ready for it. He'll have a tough time fighting for the position of right midfielder with Turkmen.

- Marcel van der Laan, Mignon City FC to MN Smith
This fella is going to help out MN Smith. A risky choice, but certainly one that has it's possibilities. This one could even have a few games as starter. We'll see.

- Erwin Visser, Ashdom City to El Din Marbles
Hey, wow, we didn't see that coming. The Marbles signing the second Visser as well. It seems like the cousins will be playing for one team, just like in the Vultures. This one is probably signed as long-term replacement for Marshall, we guess he'll be loaned out a few seasons first.

- Michel Mulder, Ratos Island Seaside to Green Island Zapata
This will be fun. With Hane Davies as manager of GIZ and Mulder with his mental state, we'll see a nice class of a person who isn't much of a disciplinarian, and a player who needs to have a disciplinary leading figure. This can only go two ways: Mulder becomes the best left midfielder ever known to Nethertopia, or he's going to end his career with failure.

- Richard Schaap, Ashdom City to Alvary Blades
Schaap has been signed by a CMSC 2 club, which is exactly where this guy belongs to be. He's not going to be an international, or something radical has to happen. He'll be satisfied with just his professional contract.

- Mark Maas, FC DePardenti to KT Hotspur
We're not sure about this... It could go anywhere. Mark is really young, so he's able to grow a lot, but it is to be seen if he's able to play himself within the basic XI of the Spurs. We guess we'll be seeing it in the next SMSC season.

- Robbie Hendriks, Ashdom City to Marquez Onwere FC
Basically the same story as with Bas Smit, we're going to have to wonder if this guy will end up in the basic XI. We're pretty sure he'll end up being transfer listed after one year, or placed in the reserves of Marquez OW.

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Violence against swans sees large increase following U21 loss

The Sorthern Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) earlier today reported an increase in violence towards swans following an alleged assault on Sorthern Northland U21 international Jon Andrews. Andrews, 20, was attacked by a swan as he left the hotel he is staying in with his team-mates to travel to Marlow Park for the Sortherners group match against Blouman Empire. Upon exiting the hotel and placing his bags in the team coach's boot, Andrew's is said to have been set upon by a mystery swan in what his strike partner, Abdullah Al-Harbi described as “a frenzied attack”. The attack has left Andrews with a number of injuries including a broken arm which meant Andrews not only misses the game against Blouman Empire but the remainder of the tournament.

Seen by many as key to Sorthern hopes and as the best goalscorer in the team, the incident has provoked much anger from Sorthern football fans with many seeking revenge. An SSPCA spokesman earlier released a statement expressing their concern at a possible backlash. “We are deeply saddened to report than since an incident involving Jon Andrews of the Sorthern U21 national football team, we have had a large number of reports of swans being attacked. This is an absolutely despicable response from these so called fans. Swans are gentle harmless animals, have they ever done anything to you to deserve to be attacked? No, of course not. We at the SSPCA call upon the police to act upon the powers they have available to them and throw the scumbags attacking these swans into prison.”

Sorthern Northland's Ambassador to Candelaria And Marquez, Donngal Ó Maoilbhreanainn also got involved in what has been dubbed “Swangate”, speaking to drinkers in the pub he runs in the Sorthern embassy in Albrecht, Ó Maoilbhreanainn stated, “Swans never harmed anyone? Bollocks, look at Jon Andrews, he's got a broken arm, broken ribs, a black eye, a broken ankle and a cut finger from this swan attacking him without provocation. Of course they harm people. I mean this is quite clearly a planned attack by the swam community of Candelaria And Marquez in association with their swan cousins around the world. Let me tell you this, swans. We will not stand for this clear act of war and I call upon all Sortherners, whether over here or at home to show these swans that we shall not be moved. Destroy their nests, pluck their feathers, get them tangled in fishing line, or just give them a good old kicking, do whatever it takes, I myself will be travelling to Zapata tomorrow to kick the swan that attacked Andrews. They asked for war and we'll give them war!” Quite how the authorities in Candelaria And Marquez will take Ó Maoibhreanainn's statement remains to be seen but at least one “Swan Protection Unit” is said to have been set up in the wake of it.

Meanwhile in Zapata, the search is on for the culprit of the attack. Local police have issued a statement describing the swan describing it as, “around 150cm in length with an estimated wingspan of around 220cm. The suspect has a standing height of around 100cm. It has a white plumage, a long slender neck, and an orange bill. The suspect is thought to usually be found in environments with water bodies such as lakes and rivers nearby and was last seen in a park near the Sorthern Northland team's hotel at around 4pm where it gave two policemen the slip.”

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Police in pursuit of violent criminal earlier this afternoon.

The Continuing Adventures of Giovanni D'Ancona and Sergey Rostov: Part I

7:00 PM, Myedvedeyan Team Hotel.

As the Myedvedeyan players finish their evening meeting, most return to their rooms, or to the common areas, to enjoy themselves for a while before dinner. As the mundane entertainment takes place, a highly-expensive looking car pulls out of the hotel parking lot...

Rostov (driving): Brand new, one of the first 5 to come out of Iskandar's workshop. You like?

D'Ancona: It's alright. Of course, nothing like a Lamborghini or a Ferrari...

Rostov: Really... (turns onto the highway)

D'Ancona: This seems unnecessary... Isn't something like this more suited to... say... parking lots?

Rostov: (slams on the accelerator)

D'Ancona: (yawn)

Rostov: and... 60...100...125

D'Ancona: Pretty good... for a little domestic-made kid's toy.

Rostov: (shifts to sixth) 150...175...

D'Ancona: Keep this up much longer and I might have to let you drive a real man's car.

Rostov: Turn coming up. Might want to fasten that seat belt.

D'Ancona: Don't see the need for that... maybe if this thing was going fast

Rostov: (whirls the car onto a winding backroad)

D'Ancona: This should be fun... shame your machine drives like its' on snow tires...

Rostov: (deftly steers the car around curve after curve)

D'Ancona: How much did you spend on this thing?

Rostov: Three hundred thousand.

D'Ancona: You'd think they'd give it some handling for that kind of cash... what a shame.

Rostov: (Slams on the emergency brake while flipping the steering wheel, causing a screeching 180)

D'Ancona: A commendable trick. I'll use it next time we race to look at you when I cross the finish line.

A phone conversation

Dazza: That sucked ...
Coach: At least our keeper played well.
Dazza: I think the team were drunk still.
Coach: They had a hard night the day before.

Dazza: Chasing girls?
Coach: No, that was zero like our goals today. Just a lot of drinking.
Dazza: I didn't see the regular keeper.
Coach: He's in hospital after tripper over a puppy dog.

Dazza: How does one trip over puppy dogs? I don't do that when I'm drunk.
Coach: OK, it was close to pit bull terrier puppy dog.
Dazza: Ouch ...
Coach: Anyway, it wasn't bad for a bunch of hung over players.

Dazza: No more drinking for the next game.
Coach: Don't worry, we're running out of money so no more drinking.
Dazza: How come you're running out of money?
Coach: Personal insurance went up when they found out we're like Southern Northland.

Dazza: OK, I want to see a win next game. A good one.
Coach: The boys will perform, I hope.
Dazza: I don't know, you are playing the Han next.
Coach: Our boys can beat them soap operatics.

Dazza: I hope so too. We're looking like idiots so far.
Coach: My boys will show they are real men.
Dazza: They don't look like men. I know men when I see one.
Coach: You're just fussy, I know they are men.

Dazza: Some of them look Gay to me.
Coach: There's no Gays in my team.
Dazza: I don't know ...
Coach: Well, I assure you - I didn't pick Gay players for this team.

Dazza: I ran into your wife today.
Coach: Really?
Dazza: She's shorter than me.
Coach: I know.

Dazza: She's not very smart either.
Coach: Not everyone is a good looking genius like you.
Dazza: I reckon Sadie could match intelligence.
Coach: I think her Dad was alcoholic.

OOC: Yes I know this is backdated
THE EMPIRE TIMES

U-21 side has a new coach

With the 7th Di-Bradini Cup about to go underway and a new group of youngsters will be participating. The 7th installment of the cup will for the first time not be held in Starblaydia and will be hosted by Candelaria And Marquez.

The FFB has decided to also to begin with a new coaching staff to complement the new youngsters that will soon be showing off their skills on an international level. While Jack Newport has been coach, for the previous two tournaments his recent form with the Wedrom U-21 side the FFB has decided not to keep him on. The FFB made the announcement yesterday that they had signed up manager of the Regarmar U-21 side Dylan Kollp. Kollp who recently won the FFB U-21 competition with Regarmar is said to feel honoured to be selected by the FFB to take an international side and attempt to win the Di-Bradini cup. He has said that he will soon announce a finalised team roster. While it is not known who will be playing it is expected that Jacob Peterson who performed well in the World cup qualifiers and Cup of Harmony will be picked.

MILLIONAIRES TAKE THEIR SECOND

Secristan defeated the most disappointing team of the Di Bradini Cup tonight, defeating Jeruselem by the score of 2-0. This Jeruselem team, despite having the reputation of fielding teams having many attractive women on them, have decided to go with a group of young men, and many of them seem rather boring. The Millionaires couldn’t really care and in typical Secristani fashion were mocking their opponent during the game because of how poorly they were doing, something they have definitely picked up from their parents. For some, they tried to use the team’s six-nil defeat to Jeruselem at the senior level to motivate them further but it was hard, because this just did not seem like the Jeruselem they knew from World Cup qualifying. As such, they didn’t treat them like that either. Secristan controlled the play for much of the game, and picked up a goal by Andrew Bianchetti in the 11th minute, his second of the Di Bradini Cup, and had that added to by Chris Coventry in the 30th minute to give them the two-goal lead. They didn’t do much more after that other then play terrific defense. If this were the World Cup, the Millionaires would be riding high with back to back wins over Daehanjeiguk and Jeruselem but it could serve notice to those countries that Secristan is on the rise.

We got a chance to interview the 14-year old Bianchetti after the game.

“Drew you’re off to a good start, congratulations.”

“Thank you.”

“Two goals in the first two games is good. I’m sure you are happy with that.”

“Yea its cool.”

“Two early wins against nations who have a pretty good history in the sport is pretty impressive.”

“Why you guys always talking about history this ain’t school.”

“No but they have been good teams before.”

“I’m sick of before. Before doesn’t matter. Before ain’t shit. What matters is the now. Are we in Starblaydia?”

“Well no.”

“Then none of that matters. Ok.”

“I suppose it’s not bad attitude to have after all, not worrying about what these other teams that have been good in the past as it keeps you guys from being intimidated by their prestige.”

“Intimidated? Shit, hell no. Nothing intimidates us. We gonna kick everyone’s ass! Who’s next?”

“Nethertopia.”

“What their record and what their history.”

“They are 2-0-0 and don’t really have a history in this.”

“Thank you that’s what I’m telling you people. History ain’t shit. Not bothering them either is it?”

“Well I guess not.”

“Ok then I gotta bounce.”

After the meeting, Ashley Ryan knew she had to do something to have the team focus on winning soccer games, not seeing who can drink the most without passing out first. According to Allison’s spacebook, young Stacie Kerrigan apparently can drink with the best of them. Wonderful, she thought, but Stacie needs to be scoring like the best of them too, which is something that she showed she could do against the Blouman Empire. Something had to be done on the team’s off week. Catching Allison Endres and the young players partying is something that had to stay in house because if the media got a hold of the story it was destroy the team. That wouldn’t be fair for the team because she knows that everyone was not up there partying and several of her players have in fact been very committed to success. What though? Her mind drew a blank as she kicked her feet up in her hotel room and turned on the TV. Nothing was on, except for a recap of domestic action in Candelaria And Marquez. This would hold her over, even though she really wanted to see some Cup of Harmony highlights but they don’t seem to care about that anymore here. Towards the end of that show they talked about possible Nethertopian teams that may be promoted, and the name Tenderville United was mentioned. “Tenderville United,” she thought “Courtney Ferguson is making us proud out there. If only I could coach her right now.” She thought longer, “Cassadaigua is off right now in the Cup of Harmony for a little bit. Bingo!! I’m gonna surprise the team by having Courtney be a guest speaker. She’s going from Newmanistan to West Zirconia anyway, she could stop in Candelaria And Marquez. It would be on the way, maybe."

She wasn’t sure if Courtney would come, but figured she would. She’s familiar with Rushmore now, and stopping in Zapata would seem reasonable. She would make the call. “Courtney, could you come out here and give our young Di Bradini team some proper motivation. They seem to be motivated by other things right now.” Courtney instantly agreed and said she would be there tomorrow. “Wow” thought Ryan, “That was way too easy.”

The girls had a tentative night in Zapata. After being busted but not really being punished yet, they thought they should keep it low key. For the youngest players, they were just glad that coach hadn’t told their parents yet, and were smart enough to know that if they were caught again they would not be so fortunate. They weren’t expecting to be woke up so early, but when Ashley Ryan called for the 7:30AM team meeting, no one felt it would be good idea to question it. Courtney Ferguson had arrived, but she would enter on cue. Ryan assembled the team in a meeting room and began talking about being motivated to play soccer not to be on vacation. The players all knew who Courtney was. After all they are soccer players and they do know simple things like this. Ashley opened the door and cued for Courtney to come down the hall. She began talking about national pride and the team’s effort thus far in the Cup of Harmony when the door opened.

In walked Courtney Ferguson. The team just stared and opened their mouths real wide. A couple of the older players had played against Ferguson before so they weren’t in as much shock as some of the 18 and under kids who had never seen Courtney at all except for on television or at a game. Coach Ryan smiled as she knew that right away Ferguson would command instant respect from everyone in the room. Courtney asked the younger players to say their name and why they felt they were named to this team. After, she asked them how they felt when they were told that they would be representing Cassadaigua in this competition. This seemed to get the girls to think a little bit as Ferguson reminded that they were here not to party, but because coach Ryan and a collection of others who understand Cassadagan soccer were aware of their talents and felt that they were the best people to represent the country. It was a rare feat she said, and being that they were the first ever team that Cassadaigua sent here they should feel an even greater sense of pride. She then reminded them, at 27, she did not have this opportunity when she was their age. She allowed the younger kids to talk and express their opinions and reminded them that right now they are in on a worldwide stage. The players talked with Ferguson and the message was definitely delivered.

Courtney could not stay long. She had to get to West Zirconia for a training session as the team prepares for a match with Taeshan. But she left with one giant message. Defeat Valanora, which you can, and you can beat the nation that is playing for the World Cup championship right now. That would be a pretty good thing. She told them not to be intimidated by Valanora, just like her team was not intimidated by Candelaria And Marquez in the World Cup qualifying, getting four out of a possible six points in the two games. Before she left, she shook all of their hands and told them they would be watching from West Zirconia. The team was speechless as she left and coach Ryan simply smiled and uttered the words, “That’s what this is all about, ladies.” The team was then dismissed.

Coach was shouting at his good-for-nothing team when a couple of Jeruselemite girls turned up ...

Coach: Hey, what are you doing here!
Girl1: We just kinda walked in ...
Coach: No security guards to stop you?
Girl1: No, nothing ... not even a minder.

Coach: Great security ... never mind ... good thing you lot aren't terrorists
Girl2: Can we have an autograph?
Coach: Since you bothered to actually get in here, OK.
Girl1: Cool!

<Coach signs a few things>

Coach: You coming to watch our next game?
Girl1: Yeah, we support our team although this team seems a bit meek.
Coach: Not meek, drunk.
Girl2: EXplains the falling over stuff

Coach: Oh, that's the goalkeeper.
Girl2; He falls over a lot.
Coach: I know.
Girl1: Can we help?

Coach: You can play football?
Girl2: Well, we're members of St Mary's Catholic Schoolgirls team actually.
Girl1: We're on holidays here.
Coach: Oh yes, that school.

Girl1: Well?
Girl2: We want to help!
Coach: You look like fit young ladies.
Girl1: My name is Cassandra.

Girl2: I'm Monique, known as Moaner as well
Girl1: She's god damn noisy during sex. A bit like the Jeruselem World Cup coach.
Coach: I suppose you can help, we need to test our defenses. How about you two try to score against my team.
Girl1: I'm a defender but I'll do my best.

Girl2: I'm actually a goalkeeper.
Coach: That's OK, any help is welcome as long as I don't have to pay you.
Girl1: All we ask for a few cold drinks.
Girl2: And a ride back our rooms.

Coach: I think the budget can manage that. Say, you're not Han spies or something?
Girl1: We're not Han anything.
Girl2: Not me, there's bugger all security around there anyway.
Coach: It's a bit of a worry

THE NETHERTOPIAN SPORTSTIMES

SECRISTAN UP NEXT
FIGHT FOR FIRST SEED IN GROUP ABOUT TO BEGIN
El Din, Candelaria and Marquez - Both new at the tournament and both at the top of group C. In a few nights it's probably the battle for the victory of group C. A tie is enough for both teams to qualify.
While Nethertopia's attack has impressed in both matches, Secristan has yet to concede a goal. It seems that this team has the defenders of the future, but are able to score goals as well, with four goals in two matches. It is the question if the Vultures' top scorers are able to break the deadlock. Post Kura-Pelland reactions of the two Vissers and Jakobs were positive, with Jakobs stating: "[we] should be able to get a victory at hand, especially if we keep scoring like this. But it will be a close call."
The reaction of the two cousins on the question if they were able to continue their scoring spree, Erwin: "It's always nice to score in multiple games, but the real strikers in our team are Erik and Arjan. They should score, I'm just the person who passes the ball in front of their feet and gets lucky with long distance shots." Erik stated it a little bit different: "Our team is in top form now. We should be able to profit from that and beat those millionaire kids. We're trained to football, they bought their place in the team."

Nonetheless, those players who bought their places in the cup have beaten the Han and Jeruselem. That's quite good, seeing that those two teams are amazingly high on the ranking of the 'big teams', who should have a good youth. But the same situation has occurred to the Vultures, beating Jeruselem and Kura-Pelland. This will be a close call. The winner after 90 minutes will be the one with the most steady attack. And it is to be seen if the Vultures are the one with that. With Andrew Bianchetti also scoring two out of two and A steady Cardona next to him, we're sure to be on our guard. At least we have one thing we stand out in, strength. De Woudt, 20, versus Bianchetti, 14, shouldn't be a problem. We'll see what the match brings us.

The National Reporter Online: News with a View>National News
Bad Swan Theory Calls into Question Candelariasian Social Cohesion
By Naomi Scott

In the space of three days, a nation has been torn asunder and all pretence of civil society has evaporated in the face of a row that has left the Candelarias utterly divided. Father has been turned against son, sister against brother, lover against lover, though these three examples are mutually exclusive, even out west. And the questions at the heart of it all: Can C&M’s traditional multiculturalism and tolerance for alternative ways of life possibly survive the events of Zapata two nights ago? Is there still a place for swans in Candelariasian society?

Many would argue not, with solidarity joined with our Sorthern brothers so horrifically victimised by a previously unassuming member of the family Anatidae. The wanted individual himself remains at large tonight, despite a dragnet (or, in this instance, cygnet) operation in place by the Green Island Provincial Policing Authority, involving road barricades, intensive examination of liquid terrain features, and widespread DNA testing. Working alongside Jon Andrews, the Sorthern Northland striker who remains in intensive care at the Zapata General Infirmary; the GIPPA have produced an e-fit of the chief suspect and have called on all islanders to remain cautious in approaching him. The life-partner of the individual – who cannot be named for legal reasons – was arrested in a raid on an address within the Johnson’s Pond area of the city this morning, and is being held on suspicion of aiding and abetting the escape of a suspected miscreant.

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The GIPPA e-fit of the wanted individual

Authorities in Zapata were quick to react to the incident; despatching community relations officers to the scene to protect the city’s swan population from reprisal attacks but, as in Sorthern Northland, other areas of the country have not been spared. Sixteen separate incidences of assaults on swans had been reported across the Candelarias as of midnight last night, with a group of several dozen young men dispersed – and three of their number arrested – by police in Lesperance after a brutal attack on a locally-born Mute Swan. The men, who are believed to be mostly Candelariasian-raised Sorthern football fans, chanted ‘You only sing when you’re dying!’ and ‘No surrender to the RUIN!’ during the vicious beating.

Perhaps inevitably, other groups have been caught up in the fury, with local police and media across the country reporting an upswing in attacks of varying degrees of severity on ducks, geese and, in at least one severe case in Greater Arrigo, a badger.

Elsewhere, performances of Swan Lake set to take place next week at the Albrecht National Centre for the Performing Arts and Hill Side Primary School have been postponed indefinitely to avoid causing offence to the capital’s large Sorthern community. Special services were held at the Barton Street Mosque in Rose of Sharon this morning, with worshippers carrying ‘Not in Our Name’ banners on the basis that, according to Imam Gerald Evans, “it’s better to be safe that sorry”.

The reaction of central government has thus far been slow, with a Home Office spokesman describing the matter as a “concern for the Green Island authorities”, prompting widespread criticism from those on both sides of the ideological divide. Those attempting to stress their support for the country’s swan community have struggled to have their voices heard in the immediate aftermath of the Zapata incident, partly over splits between groups coming out in support of the first swan himself and those attempting to distance themselves from his actions. Maeve O’Fodhladha, President of the Peoples for the Protection of Swankind, described the incident as having been “grossly exaggerated, on behalf of the international conspiracy to defame an entire species”. The Media Studies student at Onwere University said that the Sorthern Northland under-21 team could expect a hostile reception at the Lovisa game in Onwere tonight. “The fightback starts here,” she proclaimed on TV1 today, “It’s time we started to break through the state’s web of misinformation”.

Other, more shadowy, organisations are believed to have sent a series of threatening letters to Candelariasian-Sortherners, resulting in a severe lined paper shortage across Albrecht, Clotaire and Melin.

For others however, such an incident was only a matter of time. Melanie Phelps, the former Worker’s Party activist who now writes for the Daily News, told RZA that her book Swandelaria: How C&M Sleepwalked into a Civil Nightmare, had forewarned that multicultural polices, soft policing, the unchecked immigration of alien avifauna, and the development of a ‘victim culture’ among the Cygnini family; was inevitably leading to a population of Candelariasian-raised swans harbouring a devout hatred of their new ‘homeland’ and its allies. “It’s ironic that a Sortherner was the first high-profile figure to suffer, but this is a widespread problem that will, in time, spell the death of C&M as we know it unless the public rise to act quickly and harshly against those who would do us harm”.

Phelps later insisted that this did not represent a call for vigilantism, but reports of clashes between opposing groups in the Roby Park district of Albrecht – home to the islands’ largest swan population – have emerged in recent hours.

With the CAMAFA promising to up security for all twenty teams involved in the ongoing Di Bradini Cup, the row has overshadowed the C&M side’s three-two victory over Taeshan. A brace from Luke Lewis either side of half-time and a seventieth-minute winner from Lawrence Amey gave the Small Blues their first victory of the competition and, despite defensive frailties, Matt Sampson is expected to name an unchanged starting eleven for the Greal match. Sampson and his captain Eric O’Brien, himself of partly Northlandish origin, appeared on TV1 last night to offer their support for their Sorthern peers. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Jon, his friends, family and team-mates at this difficult time,” Sampson explained. “It’s really shaken us up here in the C&M squad, but we’re doing our best to keep our minds on the job in front of us.”

The CAMAFA has rejected calls to suspend the next round of games, but a statement on their official website has insisted that they are “following nationwide events closely”, and will “react accordingly if the situation in Green Island and beyond deteriorates dramatically over the ensuing week.”. In an obvious case of one-upmanship however, the CMS Cup quarter-finals in mid-week will see the six Candelariasian and two Nethertopian sides wear black armbands. The Green Island versus El din Marbles game will also begin with a “minute’s applause for Jon”, according to the home club’s website.

"Are you sure? Shouldn't we be coming with you?"
"Joop, everything is going to be fine. I'm just going to the supermarket for a drink and some chewing gum. It's only on the other side of the park."
Marcos Thysis waved the Vultures' body guard away and left the hotel. He had to hurry, the shop was about to close in seven minutes. He hadn't even changed his clothes, he was still in his training suit. He made it just in time.

Marcos drank the last bit of his Blue Calf drink. He liked it, it had a cooling effect on him. He entered the El Din Park. It was quiet, just over eight pm. He spotted a nice bench and positioned himself on him. He took a gum. He liked the quiet sound of the park. All that nonsense about swans... Utter bullish.

Suddenly he heard a sound. He turned around. A duck was facing him. He looked at the Vulture, displayed largely on his training jacket. It took a step forward.
Marcos backed up. A loud "quack" was heard, again from behind him. Then the sound of flapping wings. Marcos didn't want to turn around, it was just like those horror movies. But with ducks. He knew there was a vulture on his back as well. He turned his head. It wasn't a pleasant sight.

*****

Joop Maalmans was over two meters tall and had a big chest. He was a typical security guard. But now he wondered what happened to the right defender of the Vultures. It had been half an hour ago that Marcos had left the building. but he still hadn't returned yet.

Suddenly he saw Marcos running. He looked like he was sprinting for his dear life. And a few seconds later Joop saw why. An army of ducks was chasing him in the streets of El Din. It was a miracle that Marcos was keeping himself safe from the ducks. Besides a security guard, Joop was also a birdwatcher in his spare time. And he knew that ducks are generally flying with 80km/p/h... But they were in such a hurry that they didn't seem to care about the other ducks, thus hindering them in their flight.

Marcos reached the revolving door, safe and well. Joop was astonished. The ducks looked possessed with the vulture of Marcos' jacket. Marcos quickly disposed it and the ducks seemed to calm down a bit.
Thysis was looking pale as a blanket. "Ducks..." He said. "Ducks... Bloody ducks..."
"Now now, mister Thysis, you seem to be very lucky the ducks didn't get grip of you," said Joop, still watching the birds. One by one they left the front of the hotel, to walk or fly back to the hotel. "Let's get you a nice cup o' tea, looks like you can use it."
"Ducks... Bloody ducks..."

ACLAF DUCK CAUSING TROUBLE

Apparently some people are watching too much TV? Our beloved ACLAF duck, who just tries to make sure people are getting the best value on various forms of insurance by showing up in odd situations is raising a stink in Candelaria And Marquez. People from Sorthern Northland, who drink and halluncinate way too much are reporting that this duck has caused some attacks, and now the Candelaria And Marquez police are focusing on this when they should be looking for underage miscreants out on the streets of their city. Actually, it's probably just a cover up by Sorthern Northland for the real actions of their players.

Anyway, ask about ACLAF at work. This report shortened due to fear of an imminent cut off of my disability insurance.

"What the bloody hell, not even a thank you note for all of those expensive and quality bottles of wine. That's it, I don't care what you say Valaina, these people will not change the habits of a lifetime. It is clear that they have absolutely no respect for us nor the integrity to at least give acknoledgement of fine gifts that cost a pretty silver coin to boot! It is an outrage, it wasn't even a political agenda but a gift from younglings for Elune's sake. What is wrong with these people?!" the eccentric and quite visably frustrated Alejand Cartain exclaimed as the team were back inside their hotel following their victory.

The beautiful but young Valaina Tinúviel rolled her eyes at the manager and took another bite of her cheese pizza. The team had ordered two dozen pizzas from the local Pizza Parlour. The deliverry boy had been quite flabergasted when Cartain handed him three silver coins and noted that it was worth $1,500. After nearly dropping the bags of pizza on the manager's foot, the boy had ran off screaming, "No more stinking fish for the month. Horray!" Naturally the teenagers ate their weight in the delicious pies while talking to each other about how each had down in the match and what they could do to better prepare for the upcoming matches. Not Valaina though, she was dissapointed that her gift had not even been deemed worthy enough for a thank you card and had casually mentioned it to Ricardinho when Alejand had overheard, which then caused his blow up.

"Really now sir, it is not that big of a deal. I am sure that the Madam President is quite busy and simply did not have the time to write a reply. I am just a youngling, even by human standards, and not some important dignatary that needs to be treated as royalty. There is no reason to have such a reaction sir, just calm down and help me finish off this last pizza will you?"

"Ah you lot should not even be eating that stuff, it will slow you down in your next game. Yet it's reall the principle of the matter Valaina, not that you might not be high on the priority list. Even the lowliest of people should be treated with some measure of respect, espicially when they send quite an elaborate gift. To treat it as just a token item and not worthy of a reply is not only a slap in the face to you and me, but to all people who would consider doing such an action. Big or small, each and everyone of us is worth something and to be treated as if that something is the most miniscule of specs is just not acceptable."

"Well, I suppose you are right to some degree sir. I think I know where you are coming from, but I can quite understand her position as well. In any case, I have already decided on my next course of action to try and continue the bridge building process for our two great nations. A letter!"

DBC7, Matchday Four


Group A

Colbourne 0-1 Miroxia
Myedvedeya 2-0 Yafor 2

Pos Team P W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Newmanistan 3 3 0 0 9 1 8 9 Qualified (A1)
2 Miroxia 3 1 1 1 2 6 -4 4
3 Colbourne 4 1 1 2 6 7 -1 4 Eliminated
4 Myedvedeya 3 1 0 2 3 4 -1 3
5 Yafor 2 3 0 2 1 4 6 -2 2

Miroxia lead Colbourne on head-to-head, Colbourne eliminated as a result


Group B

Taeshan 1-3 Cafundéu
Greal 0-5 Candelaria And Marquez*

Pos Team P W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Kjomasasopia 3 2 0 1 4 1 3 6
2 Cafundéu 3 2 0 1 8 5 3 6
3 Candelaria And Marquez 3 2 0 1 8 4 4 6
4 Taeshan 4 2 0 2 5 5 -1 6 Eliminated
5 Greal 3 0 0 3 0 7 -7 0 Eliminated

Taeshan eliminated on head-to-head with Cafundéu, top four ordered by head-to-head.

Group C

Jeruselem 5-1 Daehanjeiguk
Nethertopia 3-0 Secristan

Pos Team P W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Nethertopia 3 3 0 0 10 2 8 9 Qualified (C1)
2 Secristan 3 2 0 1 4 3 1 6
3 Jeruselem 4 2 0 2 11 11 0 6 Eliminated
4 Kura-Pelland 3 1 0 2 6 7 -1 3
5 Daehanjeiguk 3 0 0 3 2 10 -8 0 Eliminated

Jeruselem eliminated on head-to-head with Secristan, Nethertopia qualfies first on head-to-head with Secristan

Group D

Valanora 1-2 Cassadaigua
Sorthern Northland 4-1 Lovisa

Pos Team P W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Valanora 4 2 1 1 5 3 2 7
2 Cassadaigua 3 2 0 1 7 3 4 6
3 Blouman Empire 3 1 1 1 3 6 -3 4
4 Sorthern Northland 3 1 0 2 5 5 0 3
5 Lovisa 3 1 0 2 3 6 -3 3 Eliminated

Lovisa eliminated on head-to-head with Sorthern Northland


*Scorinated by ESF

THE ROCKET REPORT

ROCKETS IN CONTROL

Albrecht, Candelaria And Marquez- The Rockets sat back and relaxed on their bye week as a day of matches took place. Some of them may have cared to catch a match either in person or on television while others may have gone out and enjoyed some time out on the town. Coach Carson was very laid back about it, since the Rockets had already clinched as much as could be clinched in group stages. Let the players go out and have their fun, and as long as you don’t get arrested and are ready for the next match, then the night is yours. It’s a familiar message from Brian on off days when he feels that his team is in control of things, and that they definitely are in the 7th Di Bradini Cup’s group stages. A strong second place Group B team awaits that could be the likes of Cafundeu, or dare we say it; a too early showdown with Candelaria And Marquez. Of course, the underdog Kjomasasopia could sneak in there as well. I’m Clint Peterson, and I had this moment now to sit down with coach Carson for our latest one-on-one interview.

CP: Good morning everyone. I’m here with Brian Carson once again for one of our chats. How are you today, Brian?

BC: Out of curiousity, how many of these have we done now?

CP: Well our first international one was back in the 4th Di Bradini Cup. You’d think I’d have made enough money to retire by now.

BC: But we wouldn’t want you to do that. How about I ask you the questions today. A little role reversal, if you will.

CP: Hey why not. Spice this up a little bit, I suppose.

BC: So Clint, what do you think of the performance of the Rockets in the first three games?

CP: I think that they have played very well. The impressive goal differential of the team shows that they have been able to get it done each third of the pitch. McClure is providing great goal keeping, and out of the nine goals so far, six of them have been scored by different people.

BC: What do you think about that? In past Cups we have seen Jeremy McAllister light up the scoreboard. Don’t you think it is good to have this much more balanced attack?

CP: That’s a great thing. With so many people that can score the opponents will not be able to key in one or two particular people, and that should make everyone in the sky blue and white more dangerous. I’d have to say that their coach knows what he’s doing.

BC: How would you evaluate his performance thus far?

CP: Dammit I knew you were going to do this!

BC: Of course, so how about it?

CP: I think he has done a great job, but you don’t need me to tell you that, his record in the Di Bradini Cup simply speaks for itself. That said, I hope he has the team ready for what might be a tough quarterfinal match.

BC: I’m sure that he will. He knows who might loom out there. And he knows how much the home fans would love to see them win, and to especially defeat us in the process. The Rockets have been the hated visitor before and gotten a win, so I think they could do that.

CP: May I ask a question now?

BC: Go ahead.

CP: How do think the people and the officials in Candelaria And Marquez have done in their handling of the Di Bradini Cup?

BC: They’ve done a good job, there’s nothing wrong with anything they have done so far. They have gone out of there way to make it a pleasant experience for everyone involved, and we feel like welcome visitors in Albrecht. That might change if our nations were to meet in the knockouts, but right now, everything is great. We are enjoying our time here.

CP: Has any part of it felt different, with it being here and not Starblaydia?

BC: The first day of practice might have been. We’ve been through three of these and we were used to the Starblaydi culture. When we went back there for the 5th and 6th Di Bradini Cups I made sure I showed them the history of what our team did in the 4th Cup, because it was a real special moment given that we came in there as a nobody and won the title. We’re a somebody with a reputation now, but we still want the same result. After that, we just settled in. There’s a lot to like here, and it would be an honor to be the first Di Bradini champion of Candelaria And Marquez.

CP: Alright, do you have anymore questions for me?

BC: Actually yes. As a journalist, what’s different about covering the Di Bradini Cup and World Cup sanctioned events?

CP: Good one! Well I think the Di Bradini Cup is a lot more laid back. Part of it is because the players are younger, and part of it is probably because Newmanistan has such a strong track record in it, that you feel better that the games will end up with a more positive result. That’s the biggest thing. While nothing would compare to winning the World Cup, this can be a little more fun to cover. Is it like that to coach as well?

BC: I think so.

CP: Well that’s going to do it. The final game for Newmanistan in the group stage will be against Yafor 2, and then it will be on to the knockouts. Thank you for your time, Brian.

BC: And thank you for yours as well. We might experiement a little bit in the Yafor 2 match, so if you see a few new faces in the lineup, don’t say I didn’t warn you.

CP: I should have asked you about that.

BC: Well go ahead you still have time.

CP: Given that the game is completely meaningless for the Rockets, do you plan on making some roster adjustments.

BC: Yes I do. What exactly I haven’t decided yet, but look for some reserves to get playing time. You always like to try and get everyone involved, and here we have an opportunity, so it’s something I am looking to do.

CP: Alright, well on that note. Good luck against Yafor 2!

BC: Thanks Clint!

The Continuing Adventures of Giovanni D'Ancona and Sergey Rostov, Part II

8:20 PM, somewhere on a road in Candelaria and Marquez

(Rostov continues to take corners at high speed, now backwards)

D'Ancona: (yawn)... Anything impressive to show me?

Rostov: (whirls the car back to forwards orientation)

D'Ancona: It's not nearly as impressive the second time, Serge.

Rostov: (brings the car to a stop, right before the entry ramp to a highway)

D'Ancona: Weak brakes too... talk about overpriced.

Rostov: (takes out a second key, turns it in a hole just under the main one) Buckle up, Gio

D'Ancona: I hardly see that as necessary

Rostov: It won't start up again unless you put on your seatbelt

D'Ancona: Fine... (grudgingly buckles up)

Rostov: (Presses the START/STOP button)

(The entire car lowers to the ground, the spoiler retracts. The seemingly out of place "7" on the gear shift lights up)

Rostov: Here we go.

D'Ancona: I'll believe it when I see it...

Rostov: (Slams the accelerator) 60...100...125...150...

D'Ancona: Has a bit of kick, I'll give you that

Rostov: (shifts into 7th)

Car: All seatbelts are fastened. Top speed mode engaged.

Rostov: (Drives the gas into the floor.) 200...225...250...

D'Ancona: So, essentially, a poor man's Bugatti?

Rostov: Much faster... 255...260...

(A police car sees them, turns on sirens for a second, then gives up)

Rostov: They dont' chase what they know they can't catch

D'Ancona: I think they just want a little more challenge in their high-speed chases... something that doesnt resemble a cheetah running down a penguin

Rostov: By the way... 275...280...

D'Ancona: If this thing reaches 300, I'll be officially impressed.

Rostov: 285

Spacebook chatroom stuff- Before Valanora game!

<Hottsockerchik0001CP 1:27 PM> (Courtney Poole): I can’t believe Courtney Ferguson took time out of her schedule to see us.
<XxXDaganBabii12XxX 1:28PM>: (Ashley Nolan): Yeah that wuz really cool of her 2 stop by.
<oOoOoStacieKRulez16oOoOoO 1:28 PM> (Stacie Kerrigan): She iz meh hero she totally rockz my sockz!
<Hottsockerchik0001CP 1:28 PM> : I was surprised that she would come.
<CaptianAllie21CD000 1:29 PM> (Allison Endres): Well this tournament is a big deal. She’s cool I’ve played against her.
<oOoOoStacieKRulez16oOoOoO 1:29 PM>: Sweet!
<SexiiiDaganErica 1:29PM> (Erica Daniels): That must have been fun!
<CaptianAllie21CD000 1:30 PM> : No actually it wasn’t. Me being a defender and her a forward and all.
<oOoOoStacieKRulez16oOoOoO 1:30 PM>: Oh yeah
<GoalieGurlKristen12354 1:31PM>: (Kristen Stockton): She’s got such a sweet shot. I got one game to play against her.
<SexiiiDaganErica 1:31PM> : How’d you do?
<XxXDaganBabii12XxX 1:31PM>: Did u do good?
<GoalieGurlKristen12354 1:32PM>: She scored a goal on me but I made a couple saves too. They won the game.
<CaptianAllie21CD000 1:32 PM> : She’s not the only star our country will produce.
<XxXDaganBabii12XxX 1:33PM>: Yeah there are others out there like in Dancougar and Newmanistan maybe one of us will get to play out there.
<oOoOoStacieKRulez16oOoOoO 1:33 PM>: Playin in another country wud b weird but prolly also b fun at da same time.
<Hottsockerchik0001CP 1:34 PM> : There are alotta good leagues out there. Lets face it our league really is poor compared 2 a lot of them.
<CaptianAllie21CD000 1:34 PM> : That’s harsh but probably true.
<GoalieGurlKristen12354 1:35PM>: I’d believe it.
<SexiiiDaganErica 1:35PM>: So lyk who is dis Di Bradini dude.
<Hottsockerchik0001CP 1:36 PM> I think he’s a dead guy now.
<GoalieGurlKristen12354 1:36PM>: Usually things get named after someone after they die.
<oOoOoStacieKRulez16oOoOoO 1:37 PM>: Yea he a dead guy he wuz like a starblaydia hero.
<XxXDaganBabii12XxX 1:37PM>: Yeah he was from Starblaydia. That’s where most of these Cups were this is like the first time it’s not in Starblaydia.
<oOoOoStacieKRulez16oOoOoO 1:38 PM>: So dat’s why dey keep talkbing abut dat place.
<CaptianAllie21CD000 1:38 PM> : Di Bradini was an offensive star and he went on to be a World Cup Committee president or something like that. He was respected by most across the world. He died after the 4th Cup. He never got to see Starblaydia win World Cup 41.
<Hottsockerchik0001CP 1:39 PM> That’s kinda sad.
<GoalieGurlKristen12354 1:39PM>: Yea really.
<CaptianAllie21CD000 1:40 PM> : We better get going.
<oOoOoStacieKRulez16oOoOoO 1:40 PM>: Yeah I wuz about 2 say dat.

(OOC to Cassadaigua: how do you not go insane typing out all these screen names again and again?)

The Jeruselem coach talking to Dazza Dallas

Dazza: Bad luck there
Coach: I finally get the team to perform but it's too late.
Dazza: You lot should have beaten Secristan.
Coach: I know but no use crying over spilt milk.

Dazza: What you lot going to do with the bye.
Coach: Get drunk and get some girls.
Dazza: I thought the local girls were hard to win over.
Coach: There's some Jeruselemite girls around

Dazza: Jeruselem girls are the best still hey?
Coach: Well, you can depend on them for a good time.
Dazza: Yes, and it's all my fault.
Coach: Well, see you soon back in Jeruselem. It's time to prepare get back home unless Secristan withdraw their team.

Dazza: Not likely, they want to make lots of money.
Coach: Yes, they seem money obsessed.
Dazza: We're just sex obsessed.
Coach: Well, I'll take both.

DAMN VULTURES

Secristan’s bid to win the Di Bradini got a serious reality check in their recent match against Nethertopia. After defeating the likes of Daehanjeiguk and Jeruselem, the young Millionaires found themselves playing an opponent with not as much prestige but with plenty of that thing called dedication. It was also the first time that Secristan’s average age showed to be an issue and the Vultures of Nethertopia played a tactically sound game, and seemed able to outsmart our young Secristanis. The Millionaires had the better of play early, with the midfield doing an excellent job and created opportunities for Cardona and Bianchetti, only to see them denied by goalkeeper Mark Water. Water was by far the best goalkeeper the team has seen in the Di Bradini Cup. Once Nethertopia was able to get a handle on the tendencies of our team, they gradually took control of the match, beginning around the half hour mark and never letting go. They would score all three of their goals after this point, and there was nothing the younger Millionaires could do about it other then try and watch and learn. Though they didn’t seem to interested in that.

Secristan now has won two games and lost one with only Kura-Pelland remaining on their schedule. Like Jeruselem, we played Kura-Pelland in qualifying and they defeated us in both matches. This should be different, we hope. The kids did good against the other two high prestige teams, so hopefully they will come out and get a win here to advance to the quarterfinals. The Millionaires will advance with a win or a draw, but a loss would send Kura-Pelland into that second spot. Secristan could do no better then second place, and if they would be so fortunate, they would meet the winner of Group D, which looks like it could go a few different ways right now.

THE NETHERTOPIAN SPORTSTIMES

ANOTHER WIN
OPDEHEUVEL DELIGHTED, RESERVES GET A CHANCE
Arrigo, Candelaria And Marquez - Nethertopia, Vultures as we are, have waited for the opportunities to arise and take out our third opponent on the field, the Young Millionaires. While the scoreline might be exaggerated once again, the Vultures prove themselves to be a steady goal-scoring-machine.
If we look at the statistics, only Newmanistan and Nethertopia have placed themselves for the next round, both as group head. Both team also have the best goal difference, both achieving +8. With again the goals of the Visser Cousins and Jakobs putting in a third, the future of the Nethertopian attackers looks stable. With Mark Water a new Falcon keeper looks born. We knew he was good, but we didn't know he was this good.
The main question is if the Vultures can keep this pace up. They look on top of the world at this moment, but the question is, do they have what it takes if they will face Valanora, or Cassadaigua. These two nations seem to steam right through the second round and we're wondering if the Vultures could handle them. The biggest struggle until now was with Secristan and I don't want to be disrespectful, but the group D contenders seem to be a lot stronger than our group.
Still, the Han shouldn't be a problem. Already eliminated and the only team, besides Greal, to have 0 points. We should be able to win from their XI, we don't even know any players of them! But the Vultures shouldn't take this match too lightly, we wouldn't want any awkward surprises.

In different, but related news, Manager Sjors Opdeheuvel had decided to give the substitutes some time on the field. Daehanjeiguk will face the following basic XI:

---------------------------------Teddy Marshall-----------------------------------
Robbie Hendriks--------Yannick de Woudt---------Jan Smit-------------Marcos Thysis
-------------------------------------Wim Smits------------------------------------
Richard Schaap-------------------------------------------------Marcel van der Laan
----------------------------------Erwin Visser------------------------------------
-------------Bas Smit---------------------------------Karel de Witte--------------

wow top of group go you good thing! i personally see this as experience over the other sides because this team has been around one another for about 3 months prior in the CoH and the World Cup Qualifiers and the Baptism of Fire as well. keep goin strong KJO!

(OOC: Myed, I don’t! I just copy and paste from the first time I typed it and change the time!)

<oOoOoStacieKRulez16oOoOoO 9:18 PM> (Stacie Kerrigan): OMG!!! Like I bet Courtney Ferguson wuz soooo proud of us beatin Valanora.
<CaptianAllie21CD000 9:18 PM> (Allison Endres): Yeah Stacie I bet she was. Let’s hope that can get a win over Taeshan.
<SexiiiDaganErica 9:19PM> (Erica Daniels): U kno wut wud like b so fukkin cool?
<CaptianAllie21CD000 9:19 PM>: What?
<Hottsockerchik0001CP 9:19 PM> (Courtney Poole): wut?
<SexiiiDaganErica 9:20PM>: If they like could come watch us play.
<oOoOoStacieKRulez16oOoOoO 9:20 PM>: Dat wud like soooooo ROCK!!!
<CaptianAllie21CD000 9:20 PM> : I think they would if they could.
<GoalieGurlKristen12354 9:21PM>: (Kristen Stockton): I’d love to watch them play. What do you think about this Sorthern Northland team they seem a little odd.
<Hottsockerchik0001CP 9:21 PM>: They like to drink a lot in that country.
<XxXDaganBabii12XxX 9:22PM>: (Ashley Nolan): They like to drink a lot in every country.
<Hottsockerchik0001CP 9:22 PM>: Yeah but these guyz are crazy.
<oOoOoStacieKRulez16oOoOoO 9:23 PM>: I looked at the roster of them and dey don’t have a lot of hottiez
<SexiiiDaganErica 9:23PM> : Yeah dat one guy tho Charlie Graves he looked hottttt.
<CaptianAllie21CD000 9:24 PM>: Graves? You crazy?!
<GoalieGurlKristen12354 9:24PM>: If I had to pick I’d go with Jon Andrews.
<CaptianAllie21CD000 9:25 PM>: hell yeah!
<Hottsockerchik0001CP 9:25 PM> : Dammit he wuz mine. What was the deal with that swan or was it a duck.
<XxXDaganBabii12XxX 9:25PM>: There’s been a lot of different stories and I say good. Let them focus on birds while we focus on soccer.
<oOoOoStacieKRulez16oOoOoO 9:26 PM>: hellz yea I wanna make my country proud! We can make da knockouts.
<GoalieGurlKristen12354 9:26PM>: Secristan or Nethertopia. Interesting opponents both of them if we played them.
<Hottsockerchik0001CP 9:27 PM> : Nethetopia woud have serious home field advantage. But Courtney Ferguson would still root for us I think.
<CaptianAllie21CD000 9:27 PM>: She would she’s still a Dagan at heart.
<SexiiiDaganErica 9:28PM> : Secristan has sum hotties fo sho!
<oOoOoStacieKRulez16oOoOoO 9:28 PM>: yea dey r more our age or closer newayz.
<CaptianAllie21CD000 9:29 PM>: Kura Pelland is possible too but we really shouldn’t be looking ahead like this, its bad karma.
<XxXDaganBabii12XxX 9:29PM>: Erica what do you want with a 14 year old?
<SexiiiDaganErica 9:30PM> : They have 16 year olds. And I guess dey r like loaded.
<XxXDaganBabii12XxX 9:30PM>: They aren’t rich. Their parents are rich. They have nothing.
<CaptianAllie21CD000 9:31 PM>: lol
<GoalieGurlKristen12354 9:31PM>: lol
<oOoOoStacieKRulez16oOoOoO 9:31 PM>: LMAO!!!!!
<CaptianAllie21CD000 9:32 PM>: Only Sorthern Northland matters right now.
<XxXDaganBabii12XxX 9:32PM>: They’re obsessed with swans. Let’s be a bunch of birds and eliminate them!
<oOoOoStacieKRulez16oOoOoO 9:32 PM>: Damn right!
<CaptianAllie21CD000 9:33 PM>: Alright, big game, let’s all hit the sack.
<SexiiiDaganErica 9:33PM> : Awww. Ok good night.
<GoalieGurlKristen12354 9:33PM>: Good nite
<Hottsockerchik0001CP 9:34 PM> :Byebye!

<GoalieGurlKristen12354 9:35PM> has left the chatroom

<CaptianAllie21CD000 9:36 PM>: Ok the coaches’ final bed check is at 10:00 she says so you know she’s gonna sneak in a 10:30. Meet me up in room 604 at 10:45. Meghan Burns and I have rented a couple party rooms again.
<Hottsockerchik0001CP 9:37 PM> : And no more talking about it on spacebook!
<SexiiiDaganErica 9:37PM> : Hell yeah!
<XxXDaganBabii12XxX 9:37PM>: Sounds like a plan!
<CaptianAllie21CD000 9:38 PM>: Game doesn’t start til 7PM anyway. Practice isn’t til noon so we should be ok partying til like 3 or 4 then sleeping til like 11.

<Hottsockerchik0001CP 9:39 PM> : I agree.
<oOoOoStacieKRulez16oOoOoO 9:39 PM>: Hellz yeah!!!
<SexiiiDaganErica 9:40PM> : I like how we have so learned our lesson.
<Hottsockerchik0001CP 9:40 PM> : Like Courtney Ferguson never partied at this age either.
<CaptianAllie21CD000 9:41 PM>: We should have asked her about that West Zirconia Cup of Harmony game. Lol
<oOoOoStacieKRulez16oOoOoO 9:41 PM>: I kno rite!!

(Players gather in preparation for Yafor 2)

LaFave: Hey coach, have you thought about what changes your going to make to the lineup?

Carson: Why yes I have! Everyone take a seat!

LaFave: Cool (Players oblige)

Carson: Alright, everyone, as you know today's game is completely meaningless for us.

Taratino: I don't think I have ever heard a coach say that before!

Carson: Well, I could give you all a personal meaning, but I don't want to make my own individual record something that you should all be thinking about.

Lane: Tell us coach.

Carson: There's this streak that I have which I think is pretty special, and I hoping to see it continue. It's not just a personal streak really, it's a streak for the entire Empire.

LaFave: Shoot.

Carson: Newmanistan has never lost in the group stage of the Di Bradini Cup. We've never ever been drawn. We've been that perfect. It's a special statistic that you know, would be pretty cool to extend.

Carlson: That's not a personal record, coach. That's a national record!

LaFave: Damn right! Play to carry on the streak.

Carson: Newmanistan is 22-0-2 in the Di Bradini Cup lifetime. Those two losses were the finals that we lost the last two occasions.

Taratino: That must be continued. For the streak!

Carlson: For the streak!!

Taylor: I think we've found something to get a juices flowing for this match!

Lane: I'd hate to be the ones who blew it, and we know that we should beat Yafor 2.

Lafave: Yeah, they aren't as good as their senior team.

Carson: Alright boys, don't let the streak down! Same lineup as always.

(Carson turns over and whispers into the ear of assistant Chris Merrill) : I knew that would work.

Merrill: Right on!

THE EMPIRE TIMES

Eaglets Require Win

Later today the Eaglets will be stepping out of the field to play their final group stage match against Lovisa. This game is a must win in order for the team to have a chance in progressing through to the next stage. The team currently sits in third place 3 points behind Valanora and two points behind Cassadaigua. A win would put them on equal level with Valanora but would also require that Cassadaigua lose their game or the eaglets to turn around their -3 goal difference into at least a 6 goal advantage. While the team is up against the odds manager Dylan Kollp has expressed confidence in his team to be able to win the game and then rely on a bit of luck. The team is playing Lovisa which has so far only managed one win, but will prove a challenge to the Eaglets. If they are able to get into second spot it will mean the first time that an U-21 side from the Empire has been able to progress past the group stage.

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The number one blog for the Swangate controversy

Swangate: Could it kick start election and bring world peace? By Stoutdrinker1759

So it's been a few days since the “Swangate” controversy in which Sorthern U21 star Jon Andrews was savagely attacked by a swan on his way to a match. The fallout has already been widely covered, with some sections condemning the swan, the local police force in Canderalia And Marquez launching a huge scale man(er swan?)hunt for the perpetrate of the crime, while the money grabbing, child stealing, beer poisoners from Secristan have tried telling us the whole story is just a ruse to cover for some Sorthern misdemeanour. If you ask me the Secristani's are clearly involved in this anti-Sorthern conspiracy and probably paid the swan to attack Andrews so they could flog more of their so called insurance policies to swanaphobic football fans at the Di Bradini Cup.

Anyways, capitalistic conspiracies are not what I want to talk about in this blog. Nope, as mentioned earlier, the fall out from the swan attack has been quite large, especially here of course in Sorthern Northland, with widespread reports of attacks against the Sorthern swan community, and two different stories relating to the event caught my attention. The first of which involves the upcoming (if it ever happens) Presidential election. It's been nearly two years now since our previous President, Jimmy Sheridan vanished, believed to have ended up in Septentrionia. But despite him being missing for so long, we've yet to elect a new President. Mainly because everyone just assumed that the Workers' Party candidate, Morris O'Neil would win the election. However when asked about the “Swangate” issue he appeared to suggest the swam was merely an innocent individual who had acted under the instinct nature had given it. Whilst the Sorthern population can rarely be described as reactionary O'Neil's comments didn't exactly go down to well. This left his only Presidential challenger, Kirsty McDonnell of the Sorthern Revolutionary Party, with the chance to gain some momentum by publicly condemning the swan's behaviour and pledging to combat anti-social behaviour by swans should she be elected. Given the current mood in the nation this could well be a tactic that only lasts for the short term, but many political commentators are saying McDonnell would at present actually stand a chance if an election were to actually take place, something that was impossible just days ago. So could the criminal swan really trigger a historic change in Sorthern Northland? That is something we will have to wait to find out.

The other story of interest in the Swangate controversy is that of a group of young Candelariasian raised “Sortherners” who were dispersed (three were arrested) in Lesperance after brutally attacking a local swan. The thing that jumped out at me while reading this is that the men allegedly chanted ‘No surrender to the RUIN!’ whilst carrying out the attack. RUIN of course stands for Ríora Urraim dtí Inisnadún Náisiún which translate as Hounrable Road to Inisnadun's Nation (the group also has a splinter group called IKEA, short for Inishnadun Killing Enemies Army). The group is what the Sorthern government calls “a terrorist organisation” from the island of Inisnadun. An island off the south coast of Sorthern Northland that has a small but vocal separatist community. The group rose to prominence at the last Di Bradini Cup when a bomb planted by the group was defused by Starblaydi counter-terrorism officials just minutes before it would have killed hundreds, if not thousands of people. Why though does this matter? Well surely they'd be all for a Sorthern footballer being attacked by a swan and as such are unlikely to send their members to carry out reprisal attacks against swans, but if they are then perhaps they are prepared with a more friendly relationship with the homeland. However reports from Inisnadun today suggest the local swan population are currently being treated like gods. A RUIN spokesman even went on record to say “These youths who violently attacked a beautiful innocent animal are no members of ours. We believe the Sorthern government instructed them to carry out this beating in order to slander our rightful campaign for sovereignty of our nation in the eyes of the foreign community.” Meanwhile an Sorthern government spokesmen rubbished the claim saying, “The youths are RUIN members and this brutal attack shows just how evil and sadistic RUIN are. To accuse us of planting the youths to slander their name is cowardly. We don't need to do anything to slander their name, they do that well enough themselves.”

Whether or not Sorthern Northland do make it any further in the Di Bradini Cup, the tournament certainly seeming to have thrown up some interesting issues for us to consider.

If one was being charitable, you could describe 12 Robinson Street as a ‘house’, though it rather more resembled a heap of rooms, columns and other external fiddly bits apparently drawn from several dozen different architectural traditions and piled together in a manner that was unforgivably out of keeping with the overall look of the street in central Albrecht.

The office on the third floor, the one which mercifully eschewed the evil blue and green carpets and wallpaper of the rest of the edifice, was known as the Square Room and was, unsurprisingly, a perfect rectangle. Since late May the drapery and wallpaper had been a slightly sickly yellow, and Robyn Morton was beginning to regret that choice as her presidency clambered miserably onto its sixth month. She was currently wondering about rose taupe.

On the opposite side of the Square Room from her desk, a row of suitably disapproving British colonial governors, early premiers, prime ministers and Presidents stared down at her, mocking the private terror with which she had taken to most powerful job in the land. The many jowls of William Dawes Robinson himself started it all, keeping one eye on George Nitkin in front of him and the other firmly on the incumbent President’s work desk. And Nitkin looked at Peter Plummer, and Plummer – thanks to an ingenious trick of artistic wotzit – simultaneous glanced back at Nitkin, the first Tory premier having earned a second term after ousting Plummer, and forwards to Tomer Hague. “Welcome aboard,” the twenty-year prime minister’s glistening eyes seemed to say, with an added undertone of “You’ll join this lot eventually, no matter how badly you screw this up. Even James McManus has a place up here. Even Jeremiah Sampson, and who remembers him? Tell you what though, luv, you better hope you earn a flattering portrait, because one way or another you’re going to be up here forever. There’s no backing out now. Incidentally, love what you’ve done with the décor. What the arse is ‘rose taupe’ when it’s at home?”

Twenty-seven leaders of the British Candelarian Islands, the Candelarias, and Candelaria And Marquez, with George Nikolov staring unhappily at a wall, and Xavier Hrehoresin snaking around the corner. Then there was Israel Clark, and then there was James Anderson, and then there was a big yellow hole. President Roberta Brown-Morton was always going to go down in history, just as much as a Plummer or Sampson or Padovani or Allen, and would one day be staring down at a President who hadn’t even be conceived yet. For all that, the row of portraits of Candelariasian leaders was extremely egalitarian. The great and the good took their places on an equal footing alongside the ineffectual and the downright evil. Ultimately, the only way you could fail here was if your portrait proved to be the very last one. Ever.

President Morton glanced up as she dropped a polite letter to the editor of To Serve Man Magazine, who had inexplicably changed to Randy Utopia since last she’d looked, into the out tray; initially at a spot somewhere between Sidney Ferguson (May 1948 to March 1954) and Percival Dolezal (March 1954 to March 1956), and then to the silent television blaring away in the far left corner of the Square Room.

Other countries had their equivalents of Orwellian telescreens. So did C&M, to be fair, though explaining that two plus two really did equally fourteen to indigenous Candelariasians, never mind recent immigrants, whilst still maintaining the country’s place in the modern world, required rather subtler techniques. Diego Fernando Pappas, dancing down the left, evading the challenge of Henry Watson, delivering a cross-come-shot into the Greal box, Raul Grunt failing to gather, Danny Adams taking control and slotting home for the C&M opener, again, for the fifth time that evening; it was all part of the Bigger Picture. Every television set, the length and breadth of the country, was showing that goal right now. TTO and OnwereTV wouldn’t even bother to show alternative programming. And the people, bless ‘em, didn’t even realise that that wasn’t normal.

Talking of normal…

Taking another sheet of headed notepaper from a draw – she had always favoured the personal touch, time-consuming though it was – the President flourished her pen.

Robinson House
12 Robinson Street
Albrecht, CA2 2ES

24th November, 2008

Miss Valaina Tinúviel
c/o The Embassy of the Commonwealth of Valanora to the Protectorate of Green Island
43 Queen’s Street
Zapata, ZP1 7GH


Dear Miss Tinúviel,

I write to briefly express my warmest thanks for your most generous of gifts, a gesture which humbled myself and my department at a time when you and your colleagues on the ‘Mini Marauders’ no doubt have greater concerns that the alcoholic well-being of foreign heads of state. I can only express my gratitude, and hopes that the government of Green Island and City Council of Onwere have been as munificent in their roles as hosts as the Vanorian under-21 football team have shown themselves to be as guests.

Yourself, yourselves, and your people, are and have always been most welcome visitors to our shores, and it is my deepest w

Howard Anderson took a free-kick in his own half, which was intercepted by Francesco Avola. The Newmanistan-based player took the ball forward and played it to the feet of Chris Kilgore. The Sloane native controlled it with one touch, and launched the sweetest of volleys into Grunt’s net.

ish that a spirit of mutual appreciation and understanding can continue to grown between our two nations in years to come. Yourselves, as stars of the football field, will know only too well the impact that the likes of Espy va Drake, Abdul Ibadulla, and your own team-mate Lúthien Anwamanë can and do have on the bloody hell, they’re racking them up now, aren’t they?!

Luke Lewis peeled away after scoring his third of the Di Bradini Cup from Nic Lloyd’s corner, and the Small Blues suddenly looked on course for a rout. The President sighed and reached for the tippex.

As you may be aware, there are certain tensions that exist between our peoples and their governments, the causes of which are regrettably complex and not entirely of either of our nations’ making. I fear that I can explain no more than this, save

Save what? The President’s pen hung over the page, dribbling uncertain droplets of ink onto the off-white paper. What could she say? What would it matter, really, if one little elf –

“Would you like to find out, Roberta?”

The President didn’t turn around. She’d been in this job long enough now. Instead she merely shrugged. “Just this once,” she sighed, “what harm would it do?”

“It would leave the Birch Accords in a tattered mess upon your lovely carpet, for one thing.”

“She’s just a girl. Little more than an infant, given their life-spans. Besides, that’s the point, isn’t it? She’s not human, none of them are. Surely you can’t obje–”

“Miss Tinúviel’s people, sadly, are barely less callow and naïf than your own, Roberta.”

Another Lloyd corner was fired in, and this time the ball fell to Joe Rodríguez, the left-back, for four-nil.

“So what harm could it do? If you were that concerned about the Vanorians, you’d never have permitted the Green Island government to ma–”

“The affairs of your parasitic colony are of little relevance to us, Roberta. And do not presume to challenge me, simply because your country’s football team is doing rather well.”

Morton cursed inwardly, mostly because the… Other, had got it spot on, as usual. There was something about watching the Blues, of any age or size, that gave even the most dispassionate of ‘supporter’ an extra dose of bravado in the event of a sporting massacre of this kind of proportion.

And there was another corner, won by young Adams, delivered by Pappas, scored, this time, by the captain, Eric O’Brien.

“Remember, Roberta, we can end all this – the successful football teams, the visiting Vanorians, all of it – with but a whisper.”

“So could I,” Morton said calmly, staring fixedly at Ivan Dominik (February 1919 to January 1924). “And which of us needs all that more?”

She got the impression a face somewhere was glowering.

“Your pen, Roberta…”

The cold and the scent of honeysuckle dissipated, and the President was left staring at the letter in front of her. Still shaking slightly, she sighed.

…not entirely of our nations’ making.

Though I must of course remain entirely impartial, I wish you and your team the greatest of fortune in satisfactory outcomes this evening, and hope that your talents will be rewarded accordingly in the Di Bradini Cup’s later stages.

Yours in deepest thankfulness,

Dr Robyn Morton PhD, MP
President of the Republic of Candelaria And Marquez

DB7, Matchday Five


Group A

Newmanistan 7-0 Yafor 2
Miroxia 1-1 Myedvedeya

Pos Team P W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Newmanistan 4 4 0 0 16 1 15 12 Qualified (A1)
2 Miroxia 4 1 2 1 3 7 -4 5 Qualified (A2)
3 Colbourne 4 1 1 2 6 7 -1 4
4 Myedvedeya 4 1 1 2 4 5 -1 4
5 Yafor 2 4 0 2 2 4 13 -9 2


Group B

Kjomasasopia 1-3 Candelaria And Marquez*
Cafundéu 1-0 Greal

Pos Team P W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Cafundéu 4 3 0 1 9 5 4 9 Qualified (B1)
2 Candelaria And Marquez 4 3 0 1 11 5 6 9 Qualified (B2)
3 Kjomasasopia 4 2 0 2 5 4 1 6
4 Taeshan 4 2 0 2 5 6 -1 6
5 Greal 4 0 0 4 0 8 -8 0

Cafundéu leads Candelaria And Marquez on head-to-head record

Group C

Kura-Pelland 0-4 Secristan
Daehanjeiguk 1-2 Nethertopia

Pos Team P W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Nethertopia 4 4 0 0 12 3 9 12 Qualified (C1)
2 Secristan 4 3 0 1 8 3 5 9 Qualified (C2)
3 Jeruselem 4 2 0 2 11 11 0 6
4 Kura-Pelland 4 1 0 3 6 11 -5 3
5 Daehanjeiguk 4 0 0 4 3 12 -9 0


Group D

Blouman Empire 2-1 Lovisa
Cassadaigua 1-1 Sorthern Northland

Pos Team P W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Cassadaigua 4 2 1 1 8 4 4 7 Qualified (D1)
2 Valanora 4 2 1 1 5 3 2 7 Qualified (D2)
3 Blouman Empire 4 2 1 1 5 7 -2 7
4 Sorthern Northland 4 1 1 2 6 6 0 4
5 Lovisa 4 1 0 3 4 8 -4 3

Cassadaigua leads Valanora on head-to-head record, Valanora leads Blouman Empire on goal difference


*Scorinated by ESF


DBC7, Quarter-Final match-ups

Newmanistan v. Candelaria And Marquez @ Solidarity Stadium, Albrecht
Nethertopia v. Valanora @ La Neuva Decimotercia, El din

Cafundéu v. Miroxia @ The Kaleta Online Dome, Caires
Cassadaigua v. Secristan @ The Estadio Francisco Álvarez, Onwere


All games take place 25th November, 1700 UTC.

BAPTISM OF FIRE RIVALRY TO BE REVISITED

Secristan will be moving on in the Di Bradini Cup after defeating Kura-Pelland in dominating fashion, by the score of four to nothing. With the win, an interesting matchup is set up for the quarterfinals against Cassadaigua and that hasn’t been lost on the Secristan Department of Sports. If you remember this recent Baptism of Fire, the two nations met in the group stage and early on, we had ourselves a bit of a brawl. If we need to refresh the memory of our fans, which I’d find hard to believe, the incident occurred in the 12th minute. Cassadaigua’s beloved superstar Courtney Ferguson and our very own Jake Wesley got into a shouting match, and Courtney shoved Wesley to the ground like a whiny school girl only to see Lucas Kempski charge at her, grab her long hair and threw her to the ground. When a couple of her teammates came in to assist her, a full scale brawl had taken place that delayed the game for well over twenty minutes. The referee issued a total of eleven yellow cards in the incident, but none red as he hoped that the players would learn from their second chance. During halftime, there was a fight in the locker room area between Lucas Kempski and Jessica Keeley, and the violence poured into the stands.

It was in the stands that some of the worst incidents took place and where we hope that stadium security is well prepared and won’t find themselves focusing too much on birds. Secristani fans, as is their custom, instead of chanting loudly during games bring specialized jars in which they jiggle change with the jars specially made to amplify the sound of the change. During halftime, a group of Cassadaigua’s fans, whom people seem to think are all nice and friendly just because they are women, attacked a group of Secristani fans, stole their jars and beat them over the head with it. Three Secristanis had to be rushed to the hospital and two of these fans have been arrested. There may have been some violence the other way too, but we hope the hosts are ready and that security in Onwere is at an all time high to keep things from breaking out and the game better be assigned a referee that knows how to control a game. This incident got very little publicity other then in Secristan and Cassadaigua in the Baptism of Fire as perhaps many other nations simply weren’t looking this way at the time. Anyone who thinks that this meeting will be anything less or even more, think that the meeting will result in a bunch of teenage boys and teenage girls trying to exchange phone numbers with one another to set up a post game party certainly needs to be reminded of this incident, and in fact should be preparing for the worst. Because they are young, impressionable teenagers and they all will remember this incident that occurred in Cafundeu and will want to have their own role, not to mention the parents in the stands. They will be more passionate about this game and if just the slightest thing happens out there on the field, it is very possible that even greater passions will escalate amongst the spectators. Some other media sources have mentioned that Myedvedeya was our biggest rival in the Baptism of Fire, especially in the World Bowl. That wasn’t the case. We played them in the final, but it was a businesslike game. The biggest rivalry was right here with Cassadaigua. Bad blood will spill over, and law enforcement officials in Candelaria And Marquez better be prepared and shouldn’t just be looking at this as just another game.

Coach Ashley Ryan couldn’t be happier after the game knowing that her team qualified for the knockout stages. It was a 1-1 draw with Sorthern Northland, but it was well earned, as that opponent was also looking to do well in the Di Bradini Cup. Group D ended up with a three way tie for first place but ironically the only two games in which the Dagans did not win were against the teams not involved in the tie. They defeated both Valanora and the Blouman Empire during the group stage and had that inexplicable loss to Lovisa in which the team played in a very hungover state. Against Sorthern Northland, the effort of her team was better. Stacie Kerrigan scored in the 53rd minute to tie up the contest, and even though Stacie could sometimes be a handful to control off the field, there is no denying how much talent she has in her young body and now there is starting to be rumors that an international team is looking to pick her off this roster and a couple of other players to play overseas just like the great Courtney Ferguson is now. Maybe Ashley herself would be considered. All that is for another time. There is another matter to take care of. The game against Secristan promises to produce a lot of action and some of it might not exactly be what she has in mind.

The Secristan press has wasted no time in recanting the events that occurred in our Baptism of Fire group stage showdown. Since then there have been a few times in which the two nations came close to meeting each other again but it has not happened. This will be the first time they met since a game that saw eleven yellow cards, all of which could have been red if the referee was so inclined. She thinks she can control her team. It’s not partying she needs to worry about now, it’s fighting. It’s Secristani parents reminding their kids that Cassadagans should be looked at as the enemy and not someone to be associated with. It’s the fear that those kids, some of which have showed a violent tendency already, like that Eric Fraser act of thuggery in their Daehanjeiguk match, will do it again. As much as she loves Allison Endres, she knows that Allie can have a temper. Stacie Kerrigan can be a hot head. Likely other players on that Secristan team also have tempers. They are teenagers after all and sometimes they can get emotional and overreact which can lead to aggressive actions. The Secristan kids don’t want to embarrass their millionaire parents, and the Cassadagan girls want to prove that just because we are female doesn’t mean we are going to be pushovers. That’s why Courtney Ferguson and Jessica Keeley, among others, reacted the way they did in the Baptism of Fire. Now Ashley was going to have to deal with the residual effects. Yes indeed, she was hoping that Secristan would be the one country that Cassadaigua would not play in the Di Bradini Cup, but here they are.

The prospects of fan violence also concerns her. Even in Cafundeu, where you have to pay for everything, the fans of both nations got engaged in some unfortunate events at halftime that delayed the start of the second well over fifteen minutes. Neither us or them were completely innocent in what happened that day in the Baptism of Fire. Now in a nation where you don’t have to pay a fee for every movement, one is concerned about the parents and how they might act. Even though most of the players are around the age of 18, it is in youth sports where the parents of the players are often on their worst behavior. If something happens out there that even remotely reminds the parents of the Baptism of Fire incidents then things could escalate in a hurry in Onwere. Just great, coach Ryan thought. Not only does she have a game to coach and kids to babysit off the field, but she has all this to worry about as well.

We have not heard if security is going to be increased in Onwere and with the host nation Candelaria And Marquez obviously looking towards their own big quarterfinal matchup, this game could be overlooked. One thing we will agree with the Secristan media over is that this incident in the Baptism of Fire got very little press outside of the Baptism of Fire, and probably very little outside of the two nations involved. So maybe not everyone is aware of the kind of hostility that existed between the two then and was packed away ready to possibly be re-opened the next time the nations met in something. Neutral fans attending this match need to be forewarned of the things that could develop here. There is plenty of passion in what may just very be round two.

THE ROCKET REPORT

ROCKETS SEND MESSAGE

Albrecht, Candelaria And Marquez- They could have played tentatively, and got a quick win and prepared for the knockout stage. The game against Yafor 2 had absolutely no meaning as the Rockets had wrapped everything up. They clinched Group A after matchday three and had a bye afterwards in which to rest up even if they didn’t necessarily need to rest up. A heavy contingent of Rockets fans in Albrecht made sure their voices were heard, drowning out those of the visitors as Newmanistan completely made a mockery of the junior team of Yafor 2, defeating them by the score of 7-nil, completing a highly impressive group stage which saw score sixteen goals and concede only one. Maybe it wasn’t the most difficult group other then the presence of the sky blue and white, or perhaps being in the same group as us scared off our opposition before it even got started. Anyway you look at it, the final numbers from the group stage are extremely impressive, but will soon mean nothing when they have, at very long last, the first ever showdown with Candelaria And Marquez. But wasn’t that supposed to happen in a final? They will clash early and the Rockets will have to overcome the home field advantage that their opponent will have, but with the way Newmanistan played in the group stage, you have to like their chances.

Brian Carson could have gone with a lineup of reserves, and in fact, we thought that he would. Not the case. And really, why should he? They did just have their bye and the starters couldn’t be too rusty for the knockouts once they began. Yafor 2 quickly discovered that the Rockets were coming to play tonight, and weren’t about to give them anything, as demonstrated with the early physicality by the likes of James Seidler and Chris Stilwell. The Yaforites got the first shot on target of the match which was easily turned aside by Andrew McClure in the 5th minute. While McClure first may have been thinking he would have a busy day after that chance, he didn’t have a whole lot to trouble him after that. In the 14th minute, Newmanistan broke open the scoring on a relatively routine shot by Stanley Rocco. He was flying down the right wing, and was given a terrific pass by Kevin Taylor, and perhaps that was what fooled the goalkeeper. The shot was just in the right post, placed ideally, and the Yafor 2 keeper simply was not up to the task of stopping the shot. It may have been a little demoralizing to his teammates, who didn’t seem ready for play to resume. James Seidler laid out a nice tackle on a Yaforite midfielder and in the 18th minute, got another scoring chance started. Seidler delivered the ball into the penalty area, right to Brett Carlson, who got leverage on the defender in order to perfectly time and set up his header, and he did that to perfection. Just like that, it was 2-nil in favor of the Rockets, and in the Di Bradini Cup, when the Rockets jump out to a lead like this, you can pretty much mark it down as a victory. Newmanistan came into the match with a perfect record in the group stages in their history, and quickly were erasing any Yaforite hopes of being the team to put an end to the streak. The pace of the game slowed down briefly, but Yafor 2 never really looked like they were going to mount a comeback bid as everytime they had possession, the play was being broken up by fabulous play in the back end. Carrying the play, the Rockets took a few more shots at the Yaforite keeper, who was doing everything he could to keep his team in the game, but it was pretty clear that it wasn’t going to work out well for him. In the 41st minute, Brett Carlson scored his second of the game after making some dazzling moves with the ball and faking a pass over to Calvin Lane. The shot was placed low and inside the left post and the keeper got a late start to react to the shot. This gave the Rockets a commanding 3-nil at halftime and were pretty clearly on their way to a victory. They just don’t surrender leads like this in the Di Bradini Cup.

At halftime, no motivational speech was needed by Brian Carson. The players simply used the time to discuss what they did over the bye week and enjoy a moment of relaxation as Carson let them know how thrilled he was with their performance. Brian was probably thinking about when he should put in some substitutes, but again he wanted to be sure his team would not get too rusty. They needed to be out there playing, even if the second half was more of a scrimmage. He just didn’t sense that Yafor 2 would mount a comeback bid that would really challenge his team. Sure he felt they would try something, but he was very confident in the play of his team that they would take care of it.

The second half began with Yafor 2 trying to make it their half under the philosophy of if they can score three goals in the first half, why can’t we in the second? They forced McClure to have to move a little bit, but the two stops he made in the first six minutes of the half were very routine. If there was still anyone in the stands who had any doubt of what the outcome of this match was going to be, that was erased in the 55th minute when Calvin Lane got his name on the scoresheet, being the recipient of a fine pass into the box by Dirk Brogan, and placing it almost the same exact spot as Carlson did when he got his second goal of the game. But there would be more. A deflated Yaforite squad at this point was probably just hoping the game would be over, but the Rockets had more of a message to deliver. In the 63rd minute, Kevin Taylor would get his turn, becoming the 4th different goal scorer of the match when again it was Dirk Brogan setting him up with a great long ball. The keeper seemed to be anticipating a low show, and Taylor read that perfectly and roofed the shot just underneath the cross bar to put the game out of reach with the score of 5-nil. The fans in attendance wearing the sky blue and white were cheering and chanting like crazy while some of the neutral fans were beginning to fear the fact that this is what they are going to have to face in the quarterfinal. Brian Carson was aware that his team was delivering blows on a team that long threw in the towel, and he did start to call for his players to take their foot off the gas. But one player wasn’t about to buy into that, and that would be Brett Carlson, who scored two goals in the first half and wanted to end up with a hat trick. He was all over the place, and his teammates realized that he wanted to get that third goal pretty badly. In the 74th minute, he got turned the trick as Calvin Lane sent him a nice pass which he placed inside the left post to make it 6-nil, but to give him that very special hat trick in the match. The players were having fun now, and Carson would put some his lesser used substitutes on the pitch to finish off the game. In the 83rd minute, they got a goal from a bit of an unlikely source as defender Brett Taratino, who wasn’t playing that far upfield originally, saw some open space and ran with it before unleashing a shot from about 30 yards that he probably didn’t think would end up as a goal. But the Yaforite keeper, who just wanted to get his nightmare over with, seemed to think the shot would sail over the bar so he didn’t pursue it that much, but the shot suddenly arced down just in time to sneak under the crossbar and into the net. That would make it 7-nil, and would be where this game would end. A fun game for our players, but now they know it is time to get serious as Candelaria And Marquez awaits.

Here is some post game reaction:

Carson: “When you win like this the first questions you have to answer is why did you run up the score. Well, it’s pretty easy to score goals when your opponent has given up and they seemed to do that after we went up 4-nil. We did a great job today, and were absolutely outstanding in every aspect imaginable. We can’t get a big head off of it, though. Things are about to become much different. I’m excited about coaching against Candelaria And Marquez. It’s been remarkable that with us much success as we both have had in this Cup, that our paths have never crossed until now.”

McClure: “Easy day. I only made about five saves and only that first one was somewhat troubling. I expected better from them. It will be a lot different in our quarterfinal, that is certain!”

LaFave: “We were committed to extend our streak of never losing or even been drawn in the group stage. I think they expected us to be flat and come out just going through the motions, but that is not the Newmanistanian way, especially in the Di Bradini Cup.”

Lane: “In high school I was in a seven-nil win once, actually there was a game we won twelve-nil and I had nine goals. That was fun! You don’t expect to have those kind of scorelines in a matchup of this level, so when you do, you have to enjoy it. We did, but we also know it’s a one goal thing.”

Carlson: “Scoring a hat trick at this level is a great accomplishment and it is something that I will remember forever. Some might say well, the game was already won, but when I had my first two goals, they were the second and third goals of the match, so I think that they were pretty important. We are now very excited about playing Candelaria And Marquez and expect it to be a great day. We aren’t worried about their fans. I play for Pocono City. I’m used to being hated whenever I’m on the road. (Laughs).”

NEWMANISTAN 7
Rocco (14')
Carlson (18', 41', 74')
Lane (55')
Taylor (63')
Taratino (83')

YAFOR 2 0

OOC: Just a quick question C&M, why does Cassadaigua leads Valanora on head-to-head record? Doesn't the GD mean that we wouldn't have to worry about it? And damn just missed out oh well I know I wasn't active enough on here.

OOC: Just a quick question C&M, why does Cassadaigua leads Valanora on head-to-head record? Doesn't the GD mean that we wouldn't have to worry about it? And damn just missed out oh well I know I wasn't active enough on here.

I'll help... Cassadaigua defeated both you and Valanora, thus "elevating" them in the 3-way tie. After that, it came down to GD with you and Valanora.

(Rockets players gather before a training session)

LaFave: Anybody got any creative ideas on how to tick off the home fans?

Lampert: We don’t need to be ticking off the home crowd. Let’s just do what we always do and not let them bother us.

Carlson: It’s not a creative idea, but an early lead would do the trick.

LaFave: Yes it would but I was thinking like some real memorable moment. This is the first time we have ever played them in anything.

Lampert: There are a lot of countries we haven’t played yet in anything. They don’t do much else besides the World Cup and this. That’s why.

Seidler: A couple hard tackles will work. I don’t know who their fan favorite is, but if we rough him up a little bit, that will get them to really hate us.

Taratino: That’s your answer to everything, isn’t it?

Seidler: Because it IS the answer to everything.

Lampert: We don’t need to piss off the home crowd. If we win we don’t want them to hate us for the semifinal.

Carlson: Wait what was that I just heard?

Lampert: Uhm, I said if we win....

Carlson: Stop right there! What’s this “if” crap?

Lampert: Well I just want to be modest and respectful.

Carlson: That’s fine, but have the Rockets ever lost this early in knockouts before? No! We’re not about to be starting now.

Taratino: We stack up well, if this game wasn’t in Albrecht, we’d be more confident.

Lane: Exactly, we were by far the best team of the group stage. Even though the group was easy.

Seidler: Three and a half practice games, is what it basically was. Colbourne was good for a while.

Carlson: Myedvedeya had their moment too.

LaFave: So no creative ideas then, just go out there and score goals?

Carlson: Nah, look, we need to establish our Di Bradini legacy here now. These fans don’t know what all the fuss is about or how good we are because we have never played them before. It’s time to show them what they are missing.

Lampert: They have a couple guys from Loudon on their team, that should be able to help our scouting staff out.

Lane: Yeah, we have some good stuff on Oritz. Brett and I can take him. Practically all of their defenders are 21.

Seidler: Yeah wow they might be hurting for the next Di Bradini Cup. They will probably be all desperate and shit.

Carlson: This is my last chance too. I wanted to win one just like my idol Jeremy McAllister, and I almost did. If we can clear Candelaria And Marquez I think we have a good shot. It’s almost like this is an early final. I bet you the champion comes from this game.

LaFave: Maybe, damn the Han were pathetic this year.

Lampert: That’s gotta concern them. Valanora’s kicking around still. Ever since Newmanistan entered World Cup play, they have won three of the four World Cups.

Seidler: Spoiled brats.

Taratino: Well we have the same legacy here, guys. Let’s just do what we do and everything will fall into place.

Carlson: You got it!

right o. out of here. off to focus on Oxen Cup.

GAME TIME NEARS

As we get closer to the start of the game between Secristan and Cassadaigua, we continue to wonder just what may happen in this match. In our pursuit to get some answers we caught up with the parents of defender Eric Fraser, who is just 14 years old. Eric has played well so far and has shown that he has a mean streak, just ask that guy from Daehanjeiguk. It didn’t take long to figure out just where Eric got his nasty streak from. His father, William told us the message that he gave his son. “I don’t care if they are girls or not. Do what you have to do to win. If it means pulling hair, smacking them in face or taking a liberty with them when you got them down you do it. You’re financial future depends on Secristan doing well and losing to a bunch of broads will be a disaster and almost disgraceful.” His mother Janet reminded him that, “We bid for you to play in this so you are to do what we say. Cassadaigua is pure evil.” Eric vows that he will listen to his parents even though as he put it, “A couple of those girls are pretty hot. I wish I could be nice to them.” It’s not just Eric Fraser’s parents. Cliff Marino, the father of 16-year old midfielder Matthew Marino points out to his son that, “Soccer is a man’s game. If they only had one or two girls on the team then I could understand it but with the whole team being girls then it would be an embarrassment to our country especially after what happened in the Baptism of Fire if we lost this game.” Matthew’s response was a lot like Eric’s, “My parents are like crazy over this, dude. I have to do what they say even though I can think of other things I would rather do with a couple of those girls.” Then there was the response of 17-year old defender Trevor Orton, the oldest player on the team, “I told my parents that maybe we can use this game to make friends with Cassadaigua. The Baptism of Fire is over with and none of us had anything to do with that anyway. I mean they have some hot chicks on their team and I’d like to be able to get to know them better. They told me if I didn’t treat them as our worst enemy and be as rough as I could with them then I would never see another rusa from them.”

With those responses it is pretty clear who is calling the shots here. Almost every player on this team told us something to the effect that they wish they could treat the Cassadaigua girls nice and with respect because they found some or all of them attractive and would like to get to know them better. They didn’t seem to be too bothered by what happened in the Baptism of Fire because it did not affect them directly and it seemed as if it was such a long time ago. However the parents have brainwashed the kids and threaten severe punishments if they do not do as they want, which is to treat the girls the way that a woman should never be treated. For them it would be a disgrace if they lost to Cassadaigua and they better not allow that to happen. With these parents trying to make their kids violent machines instead of soccer players we can only fear the worst once this game begins. Maybe not on the field as much but these adults who have sounded much more childish then their teenage children will be in the stands as will fans of Cassadaigua. It’s pretty scary and we hope Onwere is ready.

Spacebook chatroom talk:

<SexiiiDaganErica 1:12PM> (Erica Daniels): So y am I supposed 2 hate Secristan again?
<GoalieGurlKristen12354 1:12PM>: (Kristen Stockton): Because of the Baptism of Fire.
<CaptianAllie21CD000 1:13 PM> (Allison Endres): In the Baptism of Fire don’t you remember what happened with Courtney Ferguson and Jessica Keeley?
<oOoOoStacieKRulez16oOoOoO 1:13 PM> (Stacie Kerrigan): da baptism of fire is like sooo over.
<SexiiiDaganErica 1:14PM>: yah but dat wuz a long time ago.
<GoalieGurlKristen12354 1:14PM>: They’ll do the same thing to you, trust us Erica.
<Hottsockerchik0001CP 1:14 PM> (Courtney Poole): Really those guys are a bunch of arrogant assholes and they are not our friends.
<oOoOoStacieKRulez16oOoOoO 1:15 PM>: It wuz just 1 game n like none of those ppl r back.
<CaptianAllie21CD000 1:15 PM>: Same country, same type of people.
<XxXDaganBabii12XxX 1:15PM>: (Ashley Nolan): It’s their culture sweetheart, they r brought up that way.
<CaptianAllie21CD000 1:16 PM>: I don’t care how young they are, I will hurt them if I need too.
<Hottsockerchik0001CP 1:16 PM>: Hell yeah!
<XxXDaganBabii12XxX 1:16PM>: Damn right!
<SexiiiDaganErica 1:17PM>: Listen 2 u are u any better then them when u talk like that.
<GoalieGurlKristen12354 1:17PM>: They know what’s best for you Erica.
<oOoOoStacieKRulez16oOoOoO 1:18 PM>: I agree wit Erica lik how is this gonna stop if we keep like holding a grudge.
<CaptianAllie21CD000 1:18 PM>: Don’t find out the hard way. You know I’ve been watching over u lately :::wink::: and I know what is best.
<oOoOoStacieKRulez16oOoOoO 1:19 PM>: But sum of dem are sooooo hotttttttttt!
<SexiiiDaganErica 1:19PM>: Hellz yeah!
<CaptianAllie21CD000 1:20 PM>: Most of them should be too young for you.
<oOoOoStacieKRulez16oOoOoO 1:20 PM>: hey just cuz dey might b too young 4 you doesn’t mean dey r 4 me.
<CaptianAllie21CD000 1:21 PM>: Whatever Stacie. Trust me they don’t care about how you look anyway they just want to hurt you. They are scum.
<Hottsockerchik0001CP 1:21 PM>: Let’s calm it down here tempers are running hot.
<CaptianAllie21CD000 1:22 PM>: Sorry Courtney you are right. Let’s chill.
<SexiiiDaganErica 1:22PM>: Would it really hurt if we at least tried to make friends.
<XxXDaganBabii12XxX 1:23PM>: You just don’t get it Erica. If you try to make friends you will get smacked across the face. That guy took Courtney Ferguson by her hair. By her fukking hair and toss her to the field then tried to kick her while she was down. He shoulda been convicted.
<GoalieGurlKristen12354 1:24PM>: He didnt even get a damn red card.
<CaptianAllie21CD000 1:24 PM>: Stacie and Erica do you not think someone like that kid Fraser would not do the same thing to you?
<oOoOoStacieKRulez16oOoOoO 1:25 PM>: u know wut?
<SexiiiDaganErica 1:25PM>: I dunno
<CaptianAllie21CD000 1:25 PM>: What?
<oOoOoStacieKRulez16oOoOoO 1:26 PM>: itz not fair 2 just think dat he wud
<Hottsockerchik0001CP 1:26 PM>: Stacie I hate to break this to you but just cuz you are hot doesnt mean that all guys are going to be nice to you.
<oOoOoStacieKRulez16oOoOoO 1:27 PM>: im gonna talk 2 him b4 the game if I can n try 2 get 2 know him then I hope he proves all u wrong.
<SexiiiDaganErica 1:27PM>: yea me too
<GoalieGurlKristen12354 1:28PM>: Stacie I have no idea what you just typed but it sounded like u are going to try to be his friend.
<Hottsockerchik0001CP 1:28 PM>: Let’s be realistic here. Secristan is scum.
<oOoOoStacieKRulez16oOoOoO 1:29 PM>: Wut about da cassadaigua fans that attacked the secristan fans with da jars. Was that the right thing 2 do 2?
<CaptianAllie21CD000 1:30 PM>: I’m sure they had it coming.
<Hottsockerchik0001CP 1:30 PM>: Exactly.
<SexiiiDaganErica 1:31PM>: We’re no better then them when we think like that.
<oOoOoStacieKRulez16oOoOoO 1:31 PM>: I kno rite!
<CaptianAllie21CD000 1:32 PM>: Well you’ll see I guess. Some of have to learn it the hard way more then others. I’ll still have your back when they try shit.
<XxXDaganBabii12XxX 1:32PM>: Yeah me too.

“Alright, come on… chop-chop, come along, simmer down… Now look, I’m pleased with that. Okay? You saw what they did to Cafundéu, Kjomasasopia are a decent side, and this wasn’t a piss-poor group, arright? Don’t tell anybody tell you otherwise.”

“It was though, wasn’t it?”

“I… Yeah, alright, thanks for that Danny. But, y’know, you can only beat what’s put in front of you, and they’ve got… weird kits, and nobody should underestimate the power of weird kits.”

“I’ve got a bit of a thing about spiders, gaffer, if that helps?”

“Yes! There you go, Nic, so we shouldn’t think that beating Kjomasasopia isn’t an achievement, arright? Ignore what the press’re saying, I know it’s difficult, playing this tournament at home, we’ve got a helluva lot of pressure to perform –”

“Particularly given how downhearted everyone is after that whole business with the swan.”

“Yes, Austin, particularly after that… But you’ve go–”

“And given how it doesn’t look like there’s going t’be another World Cup for ages, depending on how those weird time dilation people handle it.”

“And that, Gwynfardd, yes… It all adds to the pressure, but we have to igno–”

“Also, we’re playing Newmanistan next, right? And that’s, like, a grudge match, isn’t it, after a fashion? Everyone’ll want us to beat ‘em, considering how they kinda took our obscure-country-dominating-the-DBC crown an’ all.”

“Again, Tonz, you make a salient point… Look, they’re an excellent side, anyone can see that, but they’re far from unbeatable. They’ve got weaknesses, they’re young – look at Stilwell, he’s seventeen –”

“Nah, he’s nineteen, gaffer.”

“No, Marco, he’s definitely seventeen, and that means Diego, or Al(bert), of course, whoever gets the nod on the right, wi–”

“It’ll be me, though, won’t it?”

“Yeah. Sorry, Al, you’re only really here to make up the numbers…”

“Jus’ happy to be here, gaffer.”

“Good. Excellent attitude!”

“Well, not really, boss… I mean, we want to win this thing, don’t we, so…?”

“Yeah. Well, obviously, that’s what I meant, Eric… But look, kids like Stilwell, and Stanley Rocco, we ca–”

“Now he’s definitely nineteen.”

“And how would you know that, Frankie?”

“I just texted him to ask… He says his nineteen, and also good luck in the quarter-final, even though he already knows what’s going to happen.”

“Oh… He hasn’t actually told you though, has he? Given you any hints?”

“Nah… Me’n Marco an’ Cam may play for Loudon, but they’ll still want Newmanistan to win. To’ve won. Plus, doin’ that would risk tearing a hole in the fabric of space-time. Or a causality loop, or summat.”

“Right. Well, anyway, that’s good… probably, because it means that you’ll be able to know a lot more about Rocco – about all the Newmanistanians, actually – than they do about you. I think. Um. Anyway, point is, we’re going to meet them head on. Because man-for-man, I honestly say we’re better than them, apart from Brett Carlson, obviously… He’s just a beast… But, you’ve got t–”

“Don’t suppose anyone knows what the Newmanistanian score from their last group game actually was?”

“No! No, I don’t, Joe, and it honestly doesn’t matter. The best thing to do is to foc–”

“’ang about, I can probably get the highlights up on me mobile…”

“I’m sure that won’t be necessary, David, yo–”

“Jésus, María y José…”

“You said it, Adrián…”

The Small Blues froze in an awkward silence, some standing, some seating, some half-dressed, all staring at David Spooner’s cellphone. Taratino belted one from thirty yards out.

“Seven…” Luke Lewis breathed.

“Bloody hell…”

“To be fair,” Matt Sampson offered quietly, “the Yaforites didn’t actually have much to play for anymore…” There was a close-up of the dejected Yafor 2 ‘keeper. Sampson put his head to one side sympathetically. “Aww… Poor lad. Someone should put their arm around him…”

Josh Belmore nudged his Caires Sports colleague Lawrence Amey and rolled his eyes. “That’s Sampers gone for the evening then,” he muttered, before addressing the room brightly. “Never mind, everyone! At least it wasn’t eight-nil, right? Could’ve been worse. If we trust in our own abilities, if we stick to the game plan whilst keeping the keenest eye on theirs, if… several of their players are beaten up by swans…”

“We’re still going to have our arses handed to us,” Spooner said cheerfully.

“Yeah…” Spencer Jones glanced miserably at their infatuated coach and dejectedly slipped his shorts over his head. “Don’t suppose any of yous guys know how to play this field hockey thing, do you…?”

__________________

The Albrecht Herald Online>Sport>Football>DBC7
The Rockets Report
By Mack Hession

A simple quirk of the fixture list saw Newmanistan, as winners of the Albrecht-based Group A, given ‘homefield advantage’ at the Solidarity Stadium against the runners-up of Group B. Unfortunately for the Rockets, their opponents just happen to be the Small Blues of C&M.

Though financial interaction between Candelariasian and Newmanistanian club sides is a relatively recent phenomenon – Alex Parnett taking his place in the Albrecht Turkish midfield this season, while Reuben Blakeman is restarting his career at mid-table NPL side Olympia and a trio of C&M youngsters are at Loudon – the fortunes of the two countries’ international football pedigree has run parallel for quite some time now. On the senior front, the Big Blues triumphed in Newmanistan at the thirty-third Cup of Harmony before moving on to Spenson and taking the title, while just two years later the Rockets were placed in the Candelariasian CoH group before emerging ultimately victories in the Ad’ihani-based knock-out stages.

As for the under-21s, the Small Blues of Lloyd Donnelly and Adam Williamson were quite liderally on top of the world before being dethroned at the fourth Di Bradini Cup by the Fujisawan Territories. Only penalties stopped a first encounter with Newmanistan is that very final, and the Rockets went on to be defeated finalists twice more, avoiding a Candelariasian challenge along the way.

Beyond soccer, such is the sporting divide between the two countries – Gridiron, baseball, lacrosse and basketball versus rugby union, cricket, field hockey and… um… bocce? – that, to be knowledge, representative sides from C&M and Newmanistan have met just the once before now – three years ago, at the most recent Olympic Games, in the quarter-finals of men’s football competition. It was, to jog your memory, a two-one extra-time victory for the Newmanistantians – though frankly most of us sportswriters, and probably half of Trevor Organ’s squad as well, were more interested in the rowing.

Diego Fernando Pappas will be the only member of Matt Sampson’s team to take to the field against Newmanistan for a second time, following a brief and fruitless cameo as an eighteen year-old. The DFP and his team-mates will certainly be hoping that their previous encounter doesn’t constitute an omen but, if it is possible to call a favourite for this game, it would have to be the visitors.

Though much of their culture, sporting and otherwise, may seem strange and unnerving to us, like staring into a fractured looking-glass or something equally inane, one cannot argue with the respect felt towards Newmanistanian sports (the ‘s’ is somewhat telling here) by the ordinary Candelariasian in the street. Their prowess at consistently bringing through huge number of immensely talented sportsmen and women is matched by very few countries around the world and, though clearly there is something special about the one big island that they inhabit (one only need look at Secristan, for whom the majority of sportspeople achieve their international places through financial might rather than any sporting one and yet can still manage to sweep aside the likes of Jeruselem and Kura-Pelland), it remains perfectly clear that even Eesseffians may have cause to shiver on the day when the senior Rockets reach something akin to their full potential.

As for this particular team, it would be hard to say whether we have seen the best of them as yet – a seemingly ridiculous statement, given that their almost embarrassing seven-nil demolition of the Silver Wolves must at least come close to breaking Di Bradini Cup records*. Sampson could be forgiven for attempting to employ a defensive outlook, and rely on the added weight of a few thousand extra supporters in Hoxton to pull the Small Blues through. Anyone who followed his career at Caires Sports however will know that that was never going to be likely – instead, the coach will play a 4-3-3 with Luke Lewis and Danny Adams, goalscorers again against Kjomasasopia, ahead of Lawrence Amey, the Caires Sports player who has impressed during his brief appearances thus far. On the wings, Pappas and Nic Lloyd have been intermittently useful but will have to be at the top of their game here, while even greater pressure lies on Francesco Avola, the Loudon Leopards starlet. Austin Neal keeps his place at right-back, alongside Eric O’Brien, Tonzing Wang and Joe Rodríguez.

Whatever the outcome, it is hard to imagine this being anything other than a game to savour – and, at the very least, it will be a historic occasion. Neither side may be particularly popular with the neutrals – winning a competition played in your own backyard is so uncouth, and a fourth straight final appearance for Newmanistan would hardly give great encouragement to too many of the world’s other budding teams. Many would still argue however that there is every chance of the Solidarity Stadium hosting the possiblyDBC7 champions this evening, though Nethertopia or the Eesseff wait in the winner’s path.

With Cafundéu versus Miroxia representing the dud of the quarter-final draw, both Cassadaigua and Secristan will hold great hopes of making a debut final. Though one might hope that the two young sides might get along just fine, whatever the result, leave the field holding hands and skip off to a rainbow party, or whatever it is these young’uns do nowadays; all reports suggest that the bad blood between the two countries – a hangover from their mutual Baptism of Fire – could spill over into unpleasant scenes seldom seen at the possiblyDi Bradini Cup. Onwere City Council has reacted to the possibility by drafting in a large number of spare students from the OU to help keep order – the city as a whole having an antipathetic attitude towards mainstream civil policing – and one might be forgiven for holding not inconsiderable doubts about the match passing off without undue incident.

We can only hope not, but it will be an occasion to say the least. But can it possibly compare to the first under-21 meetings between C&M and Newmanistan, in which twenty-two young players will face arguably the greatest tests of their careers so far?

I’ve got my tickets. You probably haven’t.

Nyaaah!

*Further post-publication examination on my part revealed that the Small Blues’ six-nil victories over Sorthern Northland (opening group game, DBC3) and Ruskastan (quarter-final, DBC4), and Kura-Pelland’s seven-one beating of Taeshan (DBC1), were knocked out of the record books by the Rockets on matchday five. Assuming that this is the Di Bradini Cup, anyway…

THE NETHERTOPIAN SPORTSTIMES

FOURTH WIN SECURED
VULTURES HEAD TO KNOCK-OUT ROUND WITH A PERFECT RESULT
Arrigo, Candelaria And Marquez - The Vultures have defeated the Han team. It was a tough match, considering the team of who we don't know the exact name of put up a good fight. The reserves fought for what they were worth for and eventually came out of the match as winners.
Bas Smit was the man of the match on the Nethertopian side, scoring two goals. But before he netted his goals, the Han were in control of the match. As soon as the referee had blown his whistle the Han team pressured the Vultures. The players of Nethertopian side seemed nervous for the game, as most of them hadn't played a match yet and really wanted to make a good impression.
This caused the players to make many mistakes in the first thirty minutes. Jan Smit was the direct cause of the goal. His pass on Wim Smits, in the seventeenth minute, was too short. The Daehanjeiguk striker was quickly to feast on the ball and headed for goal, with only Teddy Marshall in the way. The striker took a shot at goal, but Marshall was able to block it. In an unfortunate fashion the ball landed in the feet of the same striker, then for an empty goal. It was a piece of cake to net the ball from there.
The Nethertopian side even got worse from that point. The Han were sweeping the Vultures away from the field. until Yannick de Woudt finally arised as the Vultures' hero. He was able to keep the goal clean and prevent the Han to even near it. The team took a good example of De Woudt and started to believe in theirselves again. Marshall finally got the hand on the ball and made two good saves, the second one, in the 40th minute, eventually leading in the first Vultures goal of the match.
After he saved a long-distance shot of a Han striker, h quickly threw the ball to Wim Smits. Smits kept good sight of the game and gave a long ball to Van der Laan. vdLaan saw that Smit was starting a run and passed a perfet through ball to him. Smit finished it off coolly in the bottom right corner.

The Han seemed down and out after the break. The pace was out of the match and both teams seemed satified with a tie. But not Bas Smit. He worked like a horse, making sure his teammates still believed in the victory. In the 56th minute a header he made from a corner landed on the post and another header just went over the bar.
But the most glorious moment of the Vultures' number 42 was in the 78th minute, close before the ending of the game. It was a quite peaceful moment in the game and Smit had the ball around 30 meters away from the goal. But Smit spotted that the Han keeper was far away from his goal and redirected the ball there with an amazing lob. The keeper was only able to reach for the ball where he couldn't see him and it hit the net after one bounce. Nobody in the stadium had expected this and it took a full ten seconds for the Vultures' fans to realise Smit had scored.
Erwin Visser was also close to his fourth of the tournament, after regular time. He directed a free kick to the goal, but it was nicely saved by the goalkeeper.

Goal recap:
Daehanjeiguk 1 (?????, 17) - Nethertopia 2 (Smit 40, 78)

Deliverred through the Vanorian embassy in Zapata, Valaina has sent the C&M president a letter.

To: Robyn Morton

It is with good authority of my friends inside the embassy that I have more than hope that this letter somehow reaches your desk. I was more than pleased to have recieved your reply to my gift and am quite happy that you have enjoyed in the fine wines of the Travesian vineyards. My concerns run more deep than whatever joy or dissapointment that me and my teammates might find in this tournament or any other sports competition in the world. My concerns squarely are and have been for the past decade, the continued amount of tension among our two countries.

I look through the pages of the texts that my instructors at the Academy give me, and apart from the game of footy do our countries even seem to speak with one another. It appears through each course of action that we are two halves of whole, as if we are looking at a mirror and one country is merely the reflection of the other, with a few blurred details in between. I find it such a shame that even though you claim that there is nothing but respect and warmth to my countrymen here in your country that at each and every turn, passage to your country is blocked from or to my own unless you travel through a third country first.

Make no mistake, I know that their are barriers in place set up by each of the respective governments to keep whatever schemes in place. Yet in this day and age when many of things that were scene as impossible just a mere centure afore, why must acceptance be among thos things lost between two common people? If I, but just a youngling amongst a near immortal race can see soo clearly between the lies and misinformation, then how many others are out there with ever the more wisdom and perception see it as well. What is it that must be done to close the rift that is widening every single second between our nations? I believe you and our own leaders to be of the upright and good sort, civilised in the ways of negotation. Then surely some sort of relationship in good will and meaning can be had between our nations if you were merely to sit down and try to resolve the differences. Please do not let the sins of a past life be made consequence on the new age of the world.

Health in Happiness
Valaina Tinúviel

"It's for real now," said Sjors Opdeheuvel. "We're going for the cup. We must go for the cup. We're practically on home ground here."
"Err... Sir, Doesn't Candelaria and Marquez play at home?" Ask Mark Maas. Sjors gave him a look and continued his speech.
"Look. I don't care we're facing Elves. Nethertopia hadn't played much elves before, but we should be able to beat them. Don't think of their reputation. They've lost two games already. They might be 'mighty, mythical elves', but we're Vultures. We feast on anything. We can have 'em."

The players in the locker room looked at their coach. He was right, they were facing a team that was beatable. The team only was in the knock-out stages because of the goal difference with the Blouman Empire. They were able to beat them.
"What are we doing here? Get on the training field, you guys!"

*****

"Good training guys, nicely done. Dinner will be served in two hours, I expect you all to be there."
The players gave a little cheer. This meant they were off for the next two hours. All they had to do was remain out of the way of vicious swans. And ducks. Maybe birds in general.
"I'm heading for the pool table, anyone in to join me?" Asked Teddy.
"Sure," replied Mark Water, "I'll join you."

Teddy focussed. All balls were in the pockets, except for the 8-ball. It was down to this shot. He wouldn't give Mark a chance.
*tak*
8-ball in the pocket. Teddy won. He smiled.
"Good game, Ted," said Mark. He was a bit disappointed, he always wanted to win, always.
"Indeed, nice shot," agreed someone who stood behind the two. The two Vultures turned around, facing Andres Garcia.
"Wooah! A world champion in the room! How nice to meet you," said Teddy. Everybody in Nethertopia knew who Andres Garcia, world champion of table tennis was.
Andres Laughed. "I decided to buy a ticket for the game. It'll be nice to see you guys in action. Maybe you lot will become the second Nethertopian world champions in one sport or another..."
"That's right, you were into football first! I didn't remember that... I mean, on that mountain... That's what everybody remembers. Right?"
"Indeed. All I have to tell about these days is that day on that wretched mountain. Man, I should really give Trent a call again."
"What's up with Trent Gump anyway? He's alright, isn't he?"
"Yeah, but his leg was amputated. I don't know if I'm crazy enough to enter the next tournament... They offered me a job as assistant manager at Tenderville United, so I think I'm going to accept that."
"Oh sweet," said Teddy enthusiastically, "you'll be in my team then!"
"Yup. Say, do you guys fancy a drink on my costs?"
"We would..." said Mark, "but we should be heading for the dining room. Care to join us there?"
"Sure."
And so the three left the pool table, for supper.

Righty-o, then... Your quarter-finals cut-off...

DBC7, Quarter-Finals


Newmanistan (2-2) Candelaria And Marquez (3-3 AET) (Candelaria And Marquez wins 5-3 on penalty kicks)*


Nethertopia 3-0 Valanora


Cafundéu 2-1 Miroxia


Cassadaigua 1-3 Secristan


*Scorinated by ESF



DBC7, Semi-Final match-ups

Candelaria And Marquez v. Nethertopia @ Millerman Sheppard Stadium, Albrecht

Cafundéu v. Secristan @ The Estadio Arrigo Nacional, Arrigo

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Sports Section - Articles written by Carlos Alberto Gujabre
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CAFUNDELENSES FINALLY NOTICE THE SUB-21 TEAM'S GOOD PERFORMANCES

Yes, it took a long time for our supporters to notice that there is a national football team of our country that has real chances of winning a title. After a small frustration in the main NT, which led to the CCFM firing Júlio Vargas to hire David Nefasto in his place, the under-21 team has already reached the semifinals of the Di Bradini Cup, the most important competition for youngsters. Cafundéu has tried many times to lift this trophy, but failed in all of those, many times with really poor records. But this time the team played well, winning its group and defeating Miroxia in the quarterfinals.

This was surprising, of course. After all, the Cafundelense supporters usually see the under-21 squad with great suspicion, as the team is usually composed by players that are reserves in their domestic clubs, including many unknown ones. In one Di Bradini Cup in which Cafundéu finished third, the supporters were able to meet players like Fausto, Zé Sho and Augusto César, who are all now players of the main NT. Now, once again, Cafundéu reached the semifinals of the cup, and the supporters finally start to see the under-21 team as a place for potential stars to shine.

Who will be this time? The eccentric goalkeeper Murilo? The strong and controversial defender Datena? Or William, who is playing in a foreign country? The smart and versatile midfielder Pedrinho? Maybe the midfielder/attacker Marques, or the more creative Serrano? Or maybe one of the attackers, like the aggressive Matoso or the son of Caj, Anti Ilmari? There are many candidates to become a star for Cafundéu, maybe even the coach Christophe Argentier, who, after a long and successful career coaching Cafundelense teams (something that he is still doing), is now showing his talent in coaching a National Team, aiming to become the first foreigner Cafundéu NT coach.

Yes, the Di Bradini Cup is an excellent competition exactly for this specific characteristic. The players in it aren't stars or idols in their teams, but have this as one of their main objectives. In the competition, they can wear the shirt which represents their country in football for the first time, the first step in reaching the dream of their lives, to be famous, respected internationally and playing for their countries. Unfortunately, it seems that most Cafundelense supporters don't notice this, and just ignore this competition. That's why it took so long for this newspaper to write something about this.

Maybe now that the team reached such an advanced stage of the competition the supporters will look at it with a different attitude. They need to respect and support these young players that are representing their country, and have a real chance of winning an international title. In the group stage, Cafundéu did a good job, finishing in first place. Now, in the quarterfinals, it defeated Miroxia in a good game. The semifinal game is approaching, against Secristan. Their players love money just like us, but we have more footballing talent in our blood, and can win this game. We have players looking for success, a coach looking for international recognition (as he has the domestic one)... a team looking for victories.

THE ROCKET REPORT

WHERE’S THE FINAL?

Albrecht, Candelaria And Marquez- Candelaria And Marquez won the Di Bradini Cup tonight on penalty kicks after a thrilling match that saw both teams play exceptionally well. Wait, no they didn’t, it just feel this way. For the first time ever, Newmanistan has lost a game in the Di Bradini Cup that was not the final, and Candelaria And Marrquez does have more games remaining if it wishes to be the champion. In the first meeting between the nations, other then that Olympic encounter, and playing in front of a very enthusiastic crowd, the Small Blues jumped out to a 1-nil lead in the 23rd minute only to see Newmanistan respond twice before halftime with scores in the 30th by Brett Carlson and the 38th by James Seidler. The lead held up for quite some time until a 73rd minute equalizer got Solidarity Stadium going absolutely crazy. The party was starting in the 108th minute as the home team (not us, by the way) took a 3-2 lead and the fans sensed a victory chanting various things relating to the Rockets returning to One Big Island. Newmanistan may have gone down tonight, but they weren’t going to go down with a fight, and in the 120th minute, Calvin Lane silenced the crowd with an equalizing goal making many begin to think that was just the latest piece of Newmanistanian magic,

Newmanistan does not have a ton of experience in games that go to penalty kicks, and many in the Empire do not like games being decided in this manner, even though the NPL does do the same, conventional thing in the Empress Cup. It was the first time that goalkeeper Andrew McClure found himself in this situation and his inexperience showed. The Small Blues feasted on the 16-year old keeper, definitely with a confidence that they were not about to be denied. McClure is a great keeper, and in time, he will be better in this situation. It was just a brutal environment for him. If he’s back here in four years, which he could be, he will be as motivated as one can be for a shot at redemption.

On second thought, our original statement looks like it was true as well. Candelaria And Marquez just won the Di Bradini Cup with this victory. A look at the other three teams remaining certainly must make the Small Blues the overwhelming favorite. Nethertopia is a regional rival for them, but it's a match they will probably win. Cafundeu is a well known footballing power, but at this level, the Small Blues have a much higher reputation. And Secristan? We doubt it, but perhaps a One Big Island team will advance to the final after all.

We thank you for your support of the Di Bradini Cup, as well as the job our hosts did during the competition just by the simple fact that they resurrected it. But they did a pretty damn good job with it on their turf as well. With the Cup of Harmony dream also being dashed today, we are now suddenly only left with the World Bowl. Hey, the Rockets are 7-1.

BOYS BEAT GIRLS

Replays of the incident showed on Secristani television before the game, and likely on Cassadaigua television also. Fans from both nations educated those Onwere citizens on what actually happened during that Baptism of Fire match from their own extremely biased perspective. Security was tight, and it didn’t take long for tempers to erupt. In the parking lot, a group of Secristanis were very upset when an ugly SUV from Cassadaigua stole the parking space that they were prepared to park in, and in fairness, the Secristanis were there first. They were further agitated seeing the Cassadaigua flag in the rear window and jumped the family when they got out. Others joined in before some college students serving as extra law enforcement broke up the fight before it got too out of hand. In the stands, other scenes began to take place, with both fan bases sure to boo as loudly as they could during the national anthem of the other nation. The Onwere folk could only look around and wonder what is with these people. After the anthems, and all throughout the stands fans of one nation hypocritically yelled at the other for being disrespectful during the anthem and led to some more fights. There was never a brawl, just instances of two to four people that needed to be broken up in several parts of Estadio Francisco Alvarez.

In the tunnel, it was a different story. The adults, including many parents, were going crazy. The teenagers were standing side by side in the tunnel, talking and telling jokes with one another, shaking hands, and getting to know their soon to be rival. Teenage boys will be teenage boys and teenage girls will be teenage girls. Unless of course, their parents have anything to say about such interaction. They took to the field and lined up just as they should. Secristani fans yelling “Kill those bitches! Break their legs” and Cassadaigua fans screaming to “Remember what happened to Fergie!” in reference to their senior captain Courtney Ferguson. The kids just wanted to play soccer. In the third minute on the first scoring chance of the game which went to Cassadaigua, Stacie Kerrigan was tackled by Eric Fraser. Stacie got back to her feet and the two appeared to be smiling to one another. It was after all a perfectly clean tackle. Not to the adults in the stands, though. “Get that scumbag back now!” yelled Cassadaigua fans. “Hurt her so she can’t walk again!” retaliated the Secristanis. Security wisely stood between fans that appeared troublesome. So went a game long cycle. Every time contact was made, it was in response to the Baptism of Fire and their child, no matter what jersey they were wearing, needing to hurt the opponent. The victim of the contact needed to retaliate immediately or something was wrong with them. “What’s with these people?” Matthew Marino asked Erica Daniels after a Daniels shot sailed over the bar in the 26th minute. “I dunno I can’t believe how they are acting.” Daniels answered. Even some of the older Cassadaigua ladies that may have been more willing to fight seemed to wonder this. In the 33rd minute, after Andrew Bianchetti scored to make it 1-0 Secristan, instead of celebrating, he helped up 21-year old Allison Endres who made a dive at him and missed in an effort to prevent the shot. The Cassadaigua captain seemed a little off guard by the gesture of the goal scorer, but smiled and gave him a pat on his back.

Mr. & Mrs. Bianchetti lowered their head in shame. Their son was supposed to taunt Endres. Maybe even try to spit on her while the referee wasn’t looking. What was with the niceness? Secristani fans stopped their cheers prematurely wondering why Bianchetti would not take the opportunity to mock the defender. The Cassadaigua fans saw it as a set up. It was a trick to give the girls a false sense of security before they would later strike. With those feelings came not a desire to be more friendly with one another but to actually dislike the others more. The score remained 1-0 into halftime and more isolated incidents broke out throughout the stadium. No brawls, just incidents of a few people going at it before security responded and took care of the matter.

The players walked into the tunnel for halftime in unacceptable fashion to the eyes of the fans. They were conversing and not getting in each others face. As they took to the field to begin the second half much of the same chants came from the stands. “Kill!” “Payback!” “Paralyze!” “Assault!” from supposedly successful and professional adults. Cassadaigua tied the game up quickly in the second half in the 49th minute on a goal by Stacie Kerrigan. They celebrated a little bit as the Secristani fans became irate that their kids did not jump one of the jovial girls and this led to a bunch of derogatory chants towards women that we care not to repeat. Cassadaigua fans replied with anti-male chants and soon enough the fans were hardly focusing on the game as it became a battle of the sexes in the stands. More fights were starting to break out and stadium security began getting especially busy. “This is sick.” Courtney Poole said to Trevor Orton. “I know I’m embarrassed to know that my parents are up there.” A goal by Michael Cardona in the 60th made it 2-1 Secristan and he did celebrate quite a bit, but did so with his teammates. He leaned over towards the Cassadaigua keeper so his parents would think he was taunting her but instead told Kristen Stockton that he thought she was doing a great job. And then too “act like I just insulted you as I run away.” Though it was a big goal she just allowed, Kristen raised her arms as if to beg for a card but smiled at Cardona while telling the ref, “Don’t really give him a card its ok.” The ref knew. He was definitely understanding that the players were getting along on the field and actually seemed to like one another while their parents and supporters wanted to make them ruthless animals.

Cassadaigua tried to tie the game with all their energy. In the 82nd minute, Stacie Kerrigan smacked the post with a shot and it bounced out. Sensing they just blew their chance Kerrigan hung her head in disappointment. Eric Fraser came over and gave her a pat on the back. “Stacie you just cost us this game you failure!” yelled her own fans. The know-it-all’s in the stands then shouted out what they would have done if not for their comfort of their chair in the stands. “Stacie you’ll never get a big contract with terrible shooting like that!” yelled more of her own fans. Erica Daniels tried to console her as Fraser could tell Kerrigan was fighting back a tear. It was tough enough to hit the post. She didn’t need to hear her own fans get on her case. Fraser tried to make her feel a little better but then got scolded by his own fans. “Get in that bitches face! Tell her how much of a pathetic excuse of a soccer player she is!” Fraser looked at Kerrigan and asked her, “They want me to get in your face. I hope you don’t mind this.” Fraser stepped in front of Stacie and gave her a soft kiss on the lips and a hug. Stacie blushed and smiled, whispering a “thank you” to Fraser. The crowd watched and had no idea what to think of it. In the 89th minute, Matthew Marino sealed the deal with a score. The game was all but over, and the whistle sounded eventually.

In the stands, Secristani fans taunted the Cassadaigua girls more, as well as their fans leading to a couple more isolated incidents. On the field, there was the expected handshake, but it was more then that. The players exchanged hugs, were smiling, and telling jokes. Eric Fraser and Stacie Kerrigan stood side by side for a while really getting to know one another and enjoying the company of the other. As the players walked off the field, they did so hand in hand with a player on the other team, all the while flipping off the people in the stands who wanted to see a fight.

There were children and there were adults at this game. It’s just that we didn’t expect that the children would be in the stands.

OOC Note: Probably my longest RP ever. This is a personal theme for me because at work I deal with some crazy parents towards their adolescent athlete and the demands they put on them and taking all the fun out of it. It’s really sad how some of them act. Special thanks to Cassadaigua for letting me roll with this theme.

The Albrecht Herald Online>Sport>Football>Opinion
Don’t worry, be happy
By Mack Hession

In a few weeks’ time, when the CMSC XXXI has drawn to a close, the CMSC2 play-offs have been completed, the CMS Cup final played, and Candelariasian clubs have endured their inevitable semi-final exists from the TQCC and Globe Cup, and final defeat in the SBCC (unless it’s Tenderville United ‘flying our flag’ in that competition, of course…); this little under-21 tournament will already be festering at the back of everyone’s memories. As important as such a competition is to the CAMAFA and Candelariasian populace alike, it’s hard for even a successful Small Blues side to compete with the affections of the country’s club sides.

Perhaps more so this year than any, as ironic as that seems. The PDBC7 has been unavoidable for anyone living on these shores for the last few weeks – now more than ever, following a quarter-final match-up against Newmanistan that delivered every ounce of drama we could possibly have anticipated. Not for nothing was this billed as the final played early, and the history books will do no justice to Neal, Carlson, Seidler, Pappas, Lloyd and Lane, nor those who defended admirably against a posse of goalscorers on fire. It justly took a penalty shoot-out to decide it, at which point the perils of playing a sixteen year-old in goal finally became plain for all to see. The unfortunate Andrew McClure aside, there was simply nothing to split these two sides.

The partying multitudes at Solidarity would have made neither head nor tail of such a notion, but it’s fair to wonder if there weren’t more than a few CAMAFA officials who offered up a private curse the moment Josh Belmore slipped in the winning conversion. One just doesn’t win in a competition of one’s own hosting, or even co-hosting. There’s something deeply unseemly about it, and the sweet manna of a third PDBC title would taste like ashes even to some of the most ardent C&M supporters, should the Small Blues make a victorious return to Hoxton in two games’ time.

Granted, the Eesseff won the World Cup, and West Zirconia are in the CoH final, but still…

The next match at least offers a genuine opportunity for unnecessary patriotism of a manner to temporarily wipe away any of these fears. The Nethertopians have arguably been the stories of this tournament, utterly dominant in a difficult group while the Small Blues struggled through their mediocre task, before brushing aside the young guns of the world’s prevailing footballing nation by three goals to nil. The Vultures are still the underdogs – how could they not be, when most ply their trade in the CMSC2 or the reserve and youth competitions of the Candelariasian top-flight? The local side will be under genuine pressure to beat their regional rivals; while, in the event of a Candelariasian victory, a rematch with Cafundéu following the opening day defeat, or a chance to oust the money-drowned Secristanian team at the final hurdle, would both whet the appetite for a C&M victory – at least in these parts. Overseas, it’s a different matter – make no mistake, the world will be gunning to see us lose sooner or later, and you really can’t blame them.

Ultimately however, it is time that the nation adopted a selfish poise, and acknowledged that a Candelariasian victory here would not only be welcome, but an achievement on a par with those accomplished at the second and third DBC. A trophy lifted in Albrecht should be cheered every bit as forcefully as one in Jhanna, a defeat to Nethertopia in the next round felt as crushingly as it would be anywhere else. Maybe even more so.

History is on our side, if nothing and no-one else; but, as we know, history counts for naught. This set of youngsters deserves our support every bit as much as any other, and if it’s nasty to win on home turf, well…

Let’s be nasty for a change, eh? And let’s enjoy it as well.

THE NETHERTOPIAN SPORTSTIMES

VULTURES BEAT MARAUDERS IN MEDIOCRE GAME
SMALL BLUES NEXT OPPONENT
El din, Candelaria And Marquez - The Vultures are through to the semi-finals by knocking out the Valanora Marauders, three to nil. The Vultures' victory was not at best, and certainly not deserved.
The other side of the Vultures has popped up today. Nethertopia has beaten the current world champions (OOC: congrats btw) with the small teams, but neither team deserved a win, to be honest. The first half saw the most goals.
The elves started their match very strongly. The Vultures were under constant pressure, nut sure what to do. The first ten minutes were a disaster for the Nethertopian fans to watch, who prayed for a miracle. Sjors Opdeheuvel finally came to the solution, with Wim Smits as stand-in defender and Erwin Visser moving back to central midfielder, forming a 5-3-2 formation. The Vultures started to dig themselves in, playing with eleven men behind the ball. Certainly a very ugly way to play, but it proved effective. After the Valanora storm had calmed down a bit the Vultures started looking for the counter. One was successful, in the 35th minute.
Tinúviel Hardanal took a corner, which landed safely in the hands of Water. He saw Erik Visser, who seemed to have overcome his laziness issue, pulling away from his man. Water quickly passed the ball up front, just before Visser arrived in offside position. He only had the keeper and a sprint of 50 meters before him. He rushed towards Nénharma's goal and didn't make a mistake, placing the ball with a curl in the top left corner..
The second goal was scored two minutes later, after two rather controversial decisions of the referee. Anwamanë was tackled by De Woudt, which should've been a free kick and maybe even a card. But the referee waved play on and the Vultures quickly seized on the ball. Tom van Dijk was fast with his pass to Visser, then in offside position, but not noted by any official, who then faced Nénharma for the second time. He placed the ball exactly the same way as the first time, scoring his second of the day.
Valanora remained strong in the remains of the first half, with Celebrindal almost spectacularly scoring out of a corner with a bicycle kick and a free kick landing on the post.

The second half was rather dull, to say the least. Valanora wasn't feeling like the match would pull into their direction, after their very unlucky first half and the Vultures felt that the game was played and focussed on the next game, as it seemed. But Opdeheuvel wasn't satisfied, he was yelling from the sideline as if he was coaching like it was the final of the World Cup. He eventually changed Jakobs for Bas Smit. Smit was eager to go on the field, hungry for goals. The striker that's recently been signed by Marquez OW inspired the rest of the team a little bit, but not enough for a revival of the match.
Valanora eventually got the chances to break back into the game, again a free kick, this time saved by Mark Water and Elendil Amandil facing the Vultures' goalie alone, but she was not able to keep her nerves and blazed the ball pver the goal meters high.
Erik Visser finally signed for his third goal of the evening, after regular time. He directed a free kick from twenty meters in the upper right corner, leaving an astonished crowd looking at where the ball went. The El din Marbles seem to have bought a very decent player with this guy.

Sjors Opdeheuvel seemed very happy about this victory, saying:
"This isn't the way I meant the team to play, but it really showed their efficiency. They got around the opponents' box only three times, returning with three goals. I have to admit that the referee was completely wrong about his decisions leading two the second goal, but yeah, that's football. We didn't give away too much chances, but as you've seen, we were extremely lucky with Valanora not being able to score. We're all looking forward in playing our neighbours, the always lovely side of the Small Blues of Candelaria And Marquez. We really want to teach those Candelariasians a lesson about football."

Score recap:
Nethertopia 3 (Visser 35, 37, 90+1) - Valanora 0

Current goal scorers:
Erik Visser 6
Arjan Jakobs 5
Bas Smit 2
Erwin Visser 2


THE SMALL BATTLE FOR RUSHMORE
VULTURES WANT REVENGE FOR FALCONS
Albecht, Candelaria And Marquez - The Vultures have seen what could happen to a team playing the Big Blues. The big neighbour is looking to win another game of Nethertopia and try to remain their unbeaten status against our little country.
While things not look exactly bright for Nethertopia, we are sure that the Vultures have a chance to beat them. The Small Blues have been defeated before in this tournament and of course the whole of Nethertopia wants this to happen a second time, preferably against the Vultures.
With Water, probably the strongest keeper of the tournament, on goal and the super attacking duo of Jakobs and Visser, assisted by the other Visser on the field we should have at least a small chance of beating them. The Small Blues particularly don't seem to even want to win the tournament, as it seems. If we can do something about it, we'll certainly stop them in their tracks. But the question is if this is even a realistic image of what could happen.
The Small Blues have eliminated Newmanistan, the team that looked like it was about to crush it's way through the tournament, to win it. The Small Blues effectively stood in their way, defeating them on penalties. The Vultures have the same status as the Rockets, so statistically and even practically the Vultures are eliminated even before they'll start the match. But the team is still on a perfect record, which gives us hope. Let's hope on a stunt. A miracle. A Nethertopian victory.

Meanwhile, Nethertopia's group opponent is facing Cafundéu. Both teams haven't shone in this tournament yet, but one of them will face the Vultures in either a final or a loser's final. It is weather to be seen which team it will be and in which match, but Opdeheuvel has expressed that a meeting against Secristan would be preferred. He stated: "There is no weak team in this tournament. These players are the future of football. But a rematch against Secristan would have my choice. We have already faced these guys and won. While mostly in a tournament opponents you've won of have the tendency to beat you, we already know their play and this would prove as an advantage to us. And they seem stronger than Cafundéu, so if we meet the Young Millionaires it would probably be the final!"

DBC7, Semi-finals


Nethertopia 6-3 Candelaria And Marquez*



Cafundéu 4-4 Secristan (4-4 AET) (Secristan wins 4-2 on penalty kicks)


DBC7, Third-Place Play-off


Candelaria And Marquez v. Cafundéu
@ The McNeil Bingo Arena, Caires
On 27th November, 1700 UTC


The Possibly Di Bradini Cup 7 Final

Nethertopia v. Secristan
@ The Solidarity Stadium, Albrecht
On 28th November, 1700 UTC
(Twice the potential RP bonus on offer)





*Scorinated by ESF, as you may have gathered by now

MILLIONAIRES DEFEAT MONOPOLISTS

In a classic battle of two nations with a similar economic focus and system of taxation, our young Millionaires defeated Cafundeu in penalty kicks to advance to the final to get some payback on Nethertopia. You didn’t think One Big Island was going to be shut out of a final appearance, did you? After an emotional game against Cassadaigua, things were a lot more normal against the nation that hosted the previous hostility with Cassadaigua. Despite fielding the youngest team in the tournament, Secristan is going to play for a chance to win this championship. For many of the players, they needed to make amends for their performance against Cassadaigua as many parents were very upset with the way that game ended. “My father told me that they would cut me off from any financial support because we were nice to the girls. The only way I could make up for it was to win this game,” 15-year old midfielder Kurt McMillian told us. His father defended his actions, “Teenagers especially at Kurt’s age like to think they know it all and are invincible. Kurt was instructed to help the team hurt those girls for that terrible country and not a single player on their team left with an injury, and I hold my son responsible for that. He was even nice to them.” Though if you want a response from a parent that will leave you shaking your head, here’s what William Fraser had to say. Mr. Fraser was extremely upset over his son’s actions to try and comfort Stacie Kerrigan and make friends with her. “I asked Eric that unless he was trying to force himself on her, the act of him giving her a small kiss after she choked and cost her team the game like the pathetic excuse for a soccer player that she is, that what he did was unacceptable and that I will never place a bid for him again. I am absolutely sickened by what he did and I asked for the coach to bench him for the Cafundeu game, and even offered to pay him to do it.” Eric was a little upset, but then had a startling message for his father, telling him “to shove his rusas up his, (rhymes with) class. After the game, Fraser had a deal to announce, “My parents may have seen the last of me because I just signed a contract with the Springfield Thoroughbreds (of Newmanistan), soon I will be making more money then them.”

Many of the kids had the feeling of confusion as to why their parents had treated them so poorly because they were nice to those girls, and Cafundeu caught them off-guard, scoring three goals in the first 30 minutes. The Millionaires got one back before halftime by Andrew Bianchetti, then fell behind 4-1 early in the second half. The game was over as far as their parents were concerned and many began to leave the stadium. Cafundeu fans were preparing for the final. Then after a ball sailed out of play around the 60th minute, Matthew Marino huddled the team together with a short and sweet message. “This whole tournament we’ve been doing it for our parents. Screw them. Let’s just have fun and see what we can do playing our way!” Six minutes later, Chris Coventry scored to close to within two. In the 74th, it was Michael Cardona and suddenly we had a game on our hands. Murilo was rattled, and the young Millionaires stayed on the attack, tying up the game in the 80th on a second goal by Cardona. The Cafundeu side was stunned but it wasn’t as much of a choke job on their part as it was something just taking control of the young Millionaires and making them invincible. After extra time we had penalties. Goals by Cardona, Bianchetti, Marino, and Trevor Orton won the game in a stunning fashion.

Like them or not, the youngest team in the Di Bradini Cup is still alive and well. A side once motivated by their parents money has now tried to separate themselves from that very influence. They are playing for themselves and it is full speed ahead. Only one team has beaten them in the Di Bradini Cup, and that team from Nethertopia is the only one left in our way. That squad must be ready though, because this is a much different Secristan team then they saw before. It is a team, not just a bunch of offspring of wealthy parents assembled for the glory of the adults. Rushmore vs One Big Island in the final. Just not the way you thought it would be.

THE NETHERTOPIAN SPORTSTIMES

THE SMALL BATTLE FOR RUSHMORE 2
VULTURES DEFEAT SMALL BLUES IN WEIRD MATCH
Albrecht, Candelaria And Marquez - The Vultures did it. The first time Nethertopia has beaten Candelaria and Marquez in an international match is in football indeed, but not on the full national level. The U-21 side of Nethertopia has beaten the younglings of their bigger neighbours, in what can only be called a match of mad standards. You can certainly say that the people in the stadium got worth for their money.
The Vultures seem to be weak when they start a match. Again they were the weaker side. In fact, the Small Blues stormed over the Vultures. The first fifteen minutes saw three goals, with the first two to from the feet of Danny Adams.
The Vultures didn’t start off with as much pressure as the Marauders had against the Vultures, but still attacked enough to confuse the Nethertopian XI, giving them a quick lead. After Michel Mulder lost the ball to Pappas in the fourth minute, the latter gave a quick pass to Chris Kilgore, who had cut in to the right wing of the field. The two combined themselves a way through the Nethertopian defence and when Kilgore finally passed the ball to Adams there was only Mark Water in the way of a goal. Adams didn’t make a mistake, lobbing the ball beautifully over the goalie.
The Vultures looked like they were stunned by this early goal, but seemed to wake up at the same moment. They launched an offence at the Small Blues, only to find themselves surprised by another goal of Adams, another four minutes after his first one. He received the ball from Avola around 30 meters away from the goal, surpassed his defender and surprised Mark Water with a shot from 20 meters.
The Vultures were looking really down after this second goal in eight minutes, but Opdeheuvel wasn’t ready to give up yet. He made a signal that the wingers had to switch places, not playing on, but from their sides, ready to cut into the axis of the field. This seemed like a splendid decision, as it immediately saw results.
In the fourteenth minute Tom van Dijk was able to play out his defender, cut to the middle of the field and produce a powerful shot, saved with catlike reflexes by Russ Becker. Wims Smits took the corner, which was headed into the goal by Arjan Jakobs.
No only one goal behind, the Vultures got the taste of it. The play was now in balance, with the unpredictable movements of the Nethertopian wingers, who occasionally switched sides and the individual brilliance of the Small Blues. Still, the Nethertopians would gain the lead before the break.
It was the combined force of the Visser cousins who where able to make the tie. Erwin and Erik had made a nice 1-2 combination and Erwin was able to finish the ball in the net with a low, dry shot. Erik Visser also got his goal, after failing to hit the target with the previous two free kicks he now made the next one.

The second half was more one sided. The Small Blues had refreshed themselves well in the break, or whatever Matt Simpson had done to his team to give them a boost again. The Small Blues equalled the match with a goal produced by Eric O’Brien, produced from 25 meters. It was a shot that would’ve broken the post into two, if it had hit it.
The Vultures looked a bit down again after this goal, but got lucky again. In the 55th minute Michel Mulder’s shirt was almost ripped off his body by Lopulalan inside the box. The referee had spotted this right and gave a penalty. Mulder took it himself, performing a perfect panenka.
Mulder eventually got himself into trouble, after arguing with the referee about a free kick three minutes later and received a yellow card.
Nethertopia went even further in the lead after an own goal by Rodríguez. It was a corner in the 66th minute, which he accidentally headed in own goal, leaving Becker chanceless.
Eventually the final score was reached, in the 78th minute. The Small Blues weren't believing in a victory anymore, as was Nethertopia convinced that it had reached the semi-finals. But Arjan Jakobs once again showed his talent by taking out two men with his tricks and netting with a bullet shot. Whether this guy is such a big talent or has all the luck of the world, we're not sure, but we are sure glad he's on our side.
The Vultures ended the match with only ten men, as Michel Mulder went frenzy after Mark Maas injured himself in an innocent duel with Tonzing Wang. The Little Blues hadn't spotted this and Mulder thought of it as a good idea to stop play by giving Pappas a karate kick. Mulder was quickly surrounded by eight furious Candelariasian players and a few Nethertopian ones defending Mulder, and a little brawl was the follow-up. The referee sent Mulder off the field directly and gave another two yellow cards, one to Avola and the second to Thysis.

Next up is the final, against Secristan. The Young Millionaires will be looking for revenge, after their defeat by the Vultures. Richard Schaap will be taking the place of Michel Mulder. The NeFA has suspended him for the next four Vultures and Falcons games.

Score recap:
Nethertopia 6 (Jakobs 14 & 78, Visser 25, Visser 37, Mulder 55, Rodríguez (OG) 66) - Candelaria And Marquez 3 (Adams 4 & 8, O'Brien 49)

Current goal scorers:
1) Erik Visser 7
1) Arjan Jakobs 7
3) Erwin Visser 3
4) Bas Smit 2
5) Michel Mulder 1
[5) Own goal 1]

"Isn't there a Di Bradini Cup happening around now?" Simeone Di Bradini asked.

"There's always a DBC happening," the Frostican technician replied, "time is meaningless, dimensions are infinite, the possibilities..."

Simeone tuned the man out. He'd heard this so many times that he rather fancied himself as being able to pull off running around in a retro slimline suit with Converse trainers and a pretty young girl at his side, all fitting into a phonebox. He figured his perspective would change in time - whatever that really meant now - to come around to the way of thinking in the Holy Empire, but for the moment he was still an uneducated pagan in a strange Dreamed Realm. The technician, however, was still speaking, and twiddling dials and pressing buttons, pulling levers and generally operating the machine.

"...though based on what your time-line thinking may possibly be, I'd hazard a guess that what you're after is... the Seventh Di Bradini Cup."

"It made it to seven editions?" Simeone asked, suitably impressed, "Looks like someone remembers me still, probably some old - or very young - fool at the SFA who's trying to keep my name out there. Anyway, nice to see it running. How's the old team doing?"

"Let's see," the technician twiddled a few dials and read, what was to Simeone, Dreamed technological tea-leaves, "not in the knock-outs, I'm afraid."

"Ah well," Simeone said, "can't have everything. Who beat them to the last.. eight, was it? Some old veteran nation we know everything about, or some young punks new and fresh and up to the task?"

The technician didn't say anything. Simeone stared at the display, his eyes narrowing.

"The buggers... I need to get a message out, they must enter the Eighth one, otherwise footballing talent will grind to a halt!"

DBC7, Third-Place Play-off

Cafundéu 1-3 Candelaria And Marquez*


*Guess.

“Alright… Gather round, everyone, gather round…”

This took some time to achieve, since – though the Millerman Sheppard Stadium may be a horrible little box utterly devoid of any real atmosphere regardless of the importance of the game and nature of the support in the stands – it does have absolutely vast changing rooms. Within a couple of minutes however, several fringe member of the C&M squad had trudged back from the home dressing room’s untamed border regions, some bearing the scars of running battles against rogue shower nozzles still unwilling to recognise British dominion over their lands never mind the establishment of the Second Republic, and had taken their places among the twenty-three players gathered around the feet of Matt Sampson.

The manager seemed pensive, thoughtful, ready to make the speech of his life.

“Lads… I don’t need to give you any guff about going out there and playing the game of your life. You don’t need that. You’re all professionals, you all know what the stakes are. We’ve gone through the tactics and formations more times than I care to remember. So let me just say this… If you lot somehow contrive to lose against bloody Nethertopia, we’re never going to hear the fuckin’ end of it. My career’s going t’be down the proverbial before you can say knife, an’ it’s going t’be a national embarrassment. On a par with the swans, people! And the whole not-using-previous-rankings debbie arckle.

“I just want you to remember this, lads. Them Nethertopian kids? There’s a good chance that some of ‘em are going t’take your jobs next term, y’hear me? So don’t give your club managers any reason to doubt your talents, arright? You’re better than them, you’re at home, we’ve already done the tricky stuff in somehow ousting the Rockets, right? Fer God’s sake, don’t go an’ balls it up now. Arright?”

He glanced around the room. “Anyone else got any last few words o’wisdom?”

“I just want to say,” Francesco Avola offered quietly, “That I really think that, even though Starblaydia aren’t here, I honestly think that, y’know, Di Bradini himself is looking down on us right now, and, y’know, is smiling at the spirit being shown in his honour, and that if we play this in the right way, and remain respectful to our opponents whilst understanding that if we trust in our abilities, we really can go all the way, then we should, um. Er?”

“Okay, you’ve been in Newmanistan way too long, lad. Anyone else?”

“Let’s go an’ fuckin’ murder ‘em!”

“Yeah… Alright, I think we can all appreciate that sentiment, Nic.” Sampson stood up smartly. “Listen here, lads, arright? We’re Candelariasian. I’m not entirely sure what that means, in the greater scheme of things, but there’s definitely one thing it doesn’t mean… Anyone?”

“We’re not Nethertopia?”

“Got it in one, Luke. We’re all Rushmories now, I get that, but that doesn’t mea–”

“Actually, gaffer, my mum’s from Mignon, I –”

Sampson sighed. “Arright, Danny, whatever. Just… Go out there and give it your best.”

Avola and Marco Antonio Ortiz nodded sagely. “Sí, let’s try an’ not lose six-three, eh?”

The others glanced at them suspiciously.

“That’s… A very precise score, guys…”

Eric O’Brien frowned. “You haven’t been talking to your Loudon Leopards team-mates from two years in the future again, have you?”

The pair glanced at their feet. “No…”

“Have you…?”

“No! ‘Cos, if we had, we’d know that we lost, an’ then won the third-place play-off with another brace from Danny Adams and a Will Sussex, wouldn’t we?!” Avola exclaimed. He paused for a moment. “Oh. Arse.”

“Just… Go out there an’ give it your all,” Sampson sighed. He watched his charges trail out towards the pitch. “Six-three,” he muttered out of the earshot of all but the stragglers, “bloody hell…”

“Never mind, gaffer,” Josh Belmore said brightly, “You still got us to the semi-finals, right? That’s got t’be more than enough to earn you a job in the Yaforite second division, or something, right?”

“Yeah!” Sampson replied, cheering up suddenly. “Or maybe at a top-flight youth academy?”

“Whatever floats yer boat, sir. Can I start against Cafundéu, by the way? Frank and Marco said I did,” he added, somewhat less than truthfully.

“Eh?” Sampson waved an airy hand, distracted by thoughts of his immediate future. “Yeah… Whatever you like…”

“And maybe half an hour as a sub today…?”

“Don’t push it, Josh. We don’t want to cause a causality loop that could result in the collapse of the universe as we know it.”

“No, I guess not. Wouldn’t really help the World Cup bid either.”

“Aye.”

Eric Fraser was getting all ready for the big game as were all of his other teammates. With some time to kill before the training session, he thought he would use the time to check his e-mail. There were the messages from the usual people he talked with but one stood out from a “Stacie K” with a bunch of O’s on both sides with a subject line of “the game”. It would have been obvious to him that it was from Stacie Kerrigan but how would she have known his e-mail address? He opened the mail:

Eric,

Kick Nethertopia’s ass! I’ll be rooting for you. So will a lot of my teammates! You will beat them this time I just know it. Oh and that Water guy, I have a secret for you. He over commits to shot fakes a lot because he likes to rely on his reflexes if you guys get him to move first and go one way then you go the other you will get goals. Tell you’re forwards that. And write back!! Love, Stacie

Love? Wow! The thing is he had the same kind of feeling for her too but didn’t think he should push it. Then he remembered he told Stacie his e-mail address after their game, he simply didn’t think she would remember it. She did so she had to have feelings for him and then she signs it as love, Stacie. He would definitely pass along the message since Mark Water shut them out when they met in the group stage, and Stacie would know since she is a goal scorer. He was also quite surprised to hear that her teammates were rooting for them. Shouldn’t they love Nethertopia because that is where their beloved captain of the senior team plays? It started to hit him, that this was to be the anti-senior team. They were rebelling against who should be their heroes the same way that his teammates were rebelling against their parents who funded their way to be on the team. It was really pretty cool, he thought. Teenagers rebelling, who would have thought? But this love business? Being fourteen, he’d never been in a serious relationship and the girls he liked were liked because of how hot they were. That’s all he really cared about. Stacie was hot but more. He felt so bad for her when she hit the post in the 82nd minute and failed to tie the game only to hear her own fans calling her a disgrace from the stands. The kiss meant something just not this much, or so he thought.

Eric couldn’t read his other e-mails. He stood into space just thinking about everything until the coach called to remind him that the bus was leaving for the Solidarity Stadium in ten minutes. The Di Bradini Cup is at stake. He wants it bad. Nethertopia’s closeness to Candelaria And Marquez will make the Secristanis hated. Little do the those fans know that this Secristan team has thrived when they’ve felt hated so it may just be them that has the advantage. He wants the Cup. Not for his country. But for himself and for his team. Not just that, he also doesn’t want to let Stacie down. He couldn’t care less what his parents thought.

“Fake him out, don’t be intimidated by his age or experience.” Eric Fraser told his 14-year old star forward Andrew Bianchetti.

“Don’t worry man.” Bianchetti replied as he ran to take a practice shot on backup keeper Lucas Newmark. “Just like that, the Water guy isn’t gonna have a chance.”

“You know we’ve been the underdog this whole thing. It’s pretty damn amazing. Look at those Nethertopians, look at how freaking serious they have to take this shit. All they care about is trying to get the big Candelaria And Marquez team to notice them.”

“Absolutely right, Eric. Is it fun for them, or is it a duty. They seem to have so many expectations on them.”

“No one still respects us man, who is talking about us now? It’s all Nethertopia. Candelaria And Marquez or what happened to those superpowers.”

“Yep.”

“We were a bunch of uneducated jerks who were offspring of wealthy adults when we entered this, Drew. People just thought how the hell are these young kids going to compete against the world. We were nobodies. How could we be any good, we had no experience. These Nethertopians play for club teams. We don’t have shit coming in.”

“You got noticed by Springfield. Maybe one of these Candelaria And Marquez teams will give us a contract.”

“Don’t count on it. This is a coronation for Nethertopia as far as they are concerned. We’re just supposed to be the opponent that obliges and play dead.”

“Not gonna happen! Time to spoil the party.”

“Been making a habit of that. You can cancel the coronation of Nethertopia because Secristan is in the house, we have nothing to prove, no pressure on us. Unlike them.”

“No pressure.”

“NO PRESSURE!”

“Kick some ass!!

“KICK THEIR VULTURE ASS!”

“Alright game’s starting soon. Let’s do it!”

“Yeah baby!”

"We're in the house and we've come to crash the Rushmore party!!!"

"Hell yeah!"

And now… your final RP cut-off…

A first-time champion of the Almost Certainly Di Bradini Cup 7 is guaranteed. But will Nethertopia take the title in their neighbours’ backyard, much to said neighbours’ annoyance, or will the unhealthily wealthy wee ones of Secristan secure the cup for One Big Island once more – and a nice dollop of regional bragging rights into the bargain?

Just a tick, then…

The Seventh Di Bradini Cup Final


Nethertopia 2-3 Secristan


Many congratulations then to Secristan, a debutant winner with one of this competition’s youngest and most unlikely sides… A precedent for future DBCs, no doubt, wherever they shall be, and final proof that love and money really can work together in perfect sporting equilibrium.

Or something.

Congratulations, Secristan in bringing the Di Bradini Cup back to One Big Island (though on the wrong side of the river)!!

IMPROBABLE RUN ENDS IN VICTORY

No one expected much from this team. They were the 20th team out of 20 to sign up for the Di Bradini Cup and the name of the nation was easily bypassed on the original lists by international media outlets because there were so many more prestigious nations in the Cup, either at this level or at the senior level. For some it is both. Even the domestic media blew off their chances. The Secristan Department of Sports showed the games on free TV. They weren’t even worth putting on pay-per-view because no one at home would care about them. How could they expect to world to give them any notice if the home fans couldn’t even be bothered. Seeing their children as their retirement plans, parents placed bids for their kids to try and get them noticed and to fulfill their own sporting dreams. This led to Secristan fielding a very young roster, one in which the oldest player on the team would be 17. Who knows how they would do. Who really cared. It just so happened that there were twenty three people that cared immensely about how they would do. They were the ones wearing the Secristani green and they had something to prove. To who and to what exactly they didn’t know but it sure would beat going to school.

As a nation, Secristan has won only one major international competition, that being the International Basketball Championships, and the 7th Di Bradini Cup was about to start the same way, with a bye on the first matchday. It has become so common whenever Secristan enters a tournament that has bye days that the Millionaires have it on matchday one, it has become a joke across the country. After the bye they defeated Daehanjeiguk and Jeruselem. This led to a high level of confidence before the team got spanked by Nethertopia, 3-0 in a match that was looked at as our reality check, but they bounced back well against Kura-Pelland and tried to get some confidence back before the team would have their defining moment. It came against Cassadaigua in the quarterfinal, and it wasn’t the fact they defeated them that made it such a big game. It was the way that they defeated them. It was after this game that the team was no longer a collection of kids brought together by their parents money fulfilling the dreams of their parents. It was now them against the world. After an impressive comeback against Cafundeu, there was only one team left to beat. It would just so happen that it would be the one team that earlier beat them, the Vultures of Nethertopia.

“Water bites on fake shots.” Andrew Bianchetti kept telling himself. “Get him to make the first move going one way.” young Michael Cardona said over in his head. It took eight minutes before Secristan had their first good chance as Bianchetti passed the ball to Cardona after evading a defender. “Get him to make the first move.” he told himself again. He got him position and faked towards shooting inside the left post. Water leaned in that direction, just like he was supposed to. Cardona then went for the top right corner and Water was off balance because of his lean in order to react in time. A goal! Just like they thought would happen. Even though Nethertopia tied the match just before halftime, the young Millionaires were feeling good about their situation. Water still had made some good saves and the Vulture defense was coming up with big stops, the Millionaires were winning because the intimidation factor was gone. Early in the second half, Bianchetti put Secristan back on top again with a shot fake only to see Nethertopia respond five minutes later.

As time in the second half wound down you could see the Nethertopian side feeling a pressure that the Secristanis simply did not. In minute 76, with the score still tied up, Mark Maas of the Vultures responded to the pressure by a rough takedown of Michael Cardona in the penalty area. The referee was right on top of it and awarded the penalty kick. “He sucks on penalty kicks, Mikey. Just like we said but this time to a real big shot fake and he will definitely guess the wrong way.” his teammate Bianchetti told him. “Crowd hates the call, now time to make them hate the result.” Cardona responded. Eric Fraser stood behind the shooter only able to wonder if Stacie was watching this big play. Cardona could see the fear in Water’s eyes. He knew that his team was in Water’s head now. He knew that Water wouldn’t be a real confident keeper right now and he knew that all the pressure on this moment was on Water. How could a 20-year old keeper choke in this moment to a 13-year old forward. Cardona nodded with a ton of confidence and charged the ball. Water dove the wrong way just as he was supposed to and Michael fired the ball into the net. Secristan was back in front, but needed to play great defense to hold off the vultures.

The referee when time, blew the whistle. Secristan had completed the improbable run and celebrated like crazy. Then when it came to shake hands with the Vultures, they saw something very familiar. It didn’t matter that they were much older, and not a bunch of girls. They were dejected at the feeling of having been defeated. It was a little different obviously, but they tried to show the same kind of compassion towards the Nethertopians. They had gone on a strong run as well and should be applauded for it.

Secristan has won the Di Bradini Cup. Not for the Secristan Department of Sports, nor for their parents. They did it for themselves and for their friends, wherever they may be on this glorious day.