Cup of Harmony 37 (Everything Thread) [Archive]

Terreiro de Ogum

23-03-2009, 00:19

TdO accepts the invitation.

Roster:

Style is -4.2 (in case of minimum being -3, is -2.8)

ÈPA BÀBÁ! After years trying to get our independence, our lovely country of Terreiro de Ogum was finally able to escape from the control of Estresse Intenso’s government (although that control was already inexistent). Now we are a country, thanks to our mystical power and thanks to Olorun, our great god! And, now, using our magic abilities, team work, faith and different practices, with the help of our Orixás (Orisha), we will now try to win games against the biggest opponents. Oxalá we will win something! Now, see our list of players:

“Oxalá guie nossos guerreiros do futebol rumo a vitória, usando o poder de Ogum, o apoio de Iemanjá e o braço forte de Xangô!”

The 26 players (yes, Terreiro de Ogum has 26 players in its roster) – use the names in BOLD in the RPs (no need to put their names in capital letters too, please):

Each player has a pre-game ritual, which will be made in every game that they play as starters only. There are 5 levels of spiritual strength: very low, low, average, high and very high.

Goalkeepers (the hands that hold our faith):

1- Baitolah BIBAH
Gender: Male.
Orixá Guide: Iemanjá.
Spiritual Strength: Average.
Info: Baitolah Bibah is the most talented goalkeeper of Terreiro de Ogum. Born and raised in the territory, Baitolah is an orphan rose by a famous mãe-de-santo, and learnt how to prepare medicinal recipes to help the ill with her. He is funny, talkative and loves to show himself to the public. He is homosexual, and often makes jokes of the opponents of Terreiro de Ogum.
Pre-Game Ritual: a lover of foreign music, Baitolah Bibah is the last member of the team to enter in the field, wearing his full pink goalkeeper clothes. When he enters, the music “I Will Survive” is played (or other music associated with homosexuality).

12- Wladmir Girnos Bueno “PAPAGAIO”
Gender: Male.
Orixá Guide: Ayrà.
Spiritual Strength: Average.
Info: this man is crazy. Seriously. Wladmir, usually known as Papagaio, can’t communicate well with other people. He has serious difficulties in creating phrases of his own. He lives in a small village, where he works as a mechanic. His life isn’t special, but now he has been recruited to play in the National Team, due to his incredible agility. He is called Papagaio (parrot in Portuguese) because, as he can’t create his own phrases, he repeats what the other people say.
Pre-Game Ritual: if Papagaio plays as a starter, this means that Bibah isn’t playing. So, Papagaio will be the last player to enter in the field, making gestures to his teammates, who probably won’t understand him.

22- Bianca Marçal Nínive “CIRCENSE”
Gender: Female.
Orixá Guide: Obá.
Spiritual Strength: High.
Info: this young woman is just 16 years old, but became the third choice of the Terreiro de Ogum National Team for the goalkeeper position due to her incredible elasticity and acrobatic moves (she is a circus star), that help her to make saves with less difficulty. She lives in a small village that doesn’t have a terreiro, so she’s not much linked with Umbanda rituals. But she is very sensitive and can feel the presence of the orixás.
Pre-Game Ritual: if Circense plays as a starter, she’ll be the first player to enter in the field (yes, even before Preto Véio). She’ll look extremely happy and will make some acrobatic moves, a small show for the supporters.

Full-Backs (the messengers of our future):

2- Ananias dos Santos “BICHO GRILO”
Gender: Male.
Orixá Guide: Exú.
Spiritual Strength: High.
Info: the terreiro leaders usually are the ones that make the homemade medicines, but Bicho Grilo is the one that finds the ingredients. With extremely high knowledge of the plants and animals that live in the terrain of Terreiro de Ogum, Bicho Grilo can easily survive in the jungle and find any kind of plant there. Due to his love for nature, you can find him talking with animals, but this usually happens only after he smokes his marijuana, something that he does daily (every hour, I should say).
Pre-Game Ritual: one of the last players to enter in the field, Bicho Grilo enters in an extremely low pace; walking on the grass and feeling it (he doesn’t wear shoes). He has long hair and beard, and smokes marijuana in the field (if it isn’t a country where marijuana is prohibited).

6- Ubiratan de Carvalho Quirino “TOQUINHO”
Gender: Male.
Orixá Guide: Xangô.
Spiritual Strength: Low.
Info: brother of another starter of the National Team, Guaxinim, Toquinho is a dwarf, and is a bit taller than his brother. He has an incredible speed, and due to that usually works as a messenger in the territory, making the contact between different terreiros possible. When playing football, Toquinho is responsible for fast counterattacks and good long passes, but doesn’t score many goals.
Pre-Game Ritual: Toquinho will be one of the first players to enter in the field. He likes to show his speed to the supporters, so he’ll enter with full speed, reaching his position in few seconds.

16- Joe Hi-Kim “ZEN”
Gender: Male.
Orixá Guide: Oxumaré.
Spiritual Strength: Very High.
Info: the Umbanda attracts many people, who were used to follow a different religion. But unlike other religions, the Umbanda practitioner doesn’t have to abandon his former religion to get into contact with the orixás. And this situation was perfect for Zen. Follower of Shinto, Zen went to Terreiro de Ogum to learn about the place where strange rituals where being made. He loved the place, and started living here. Zen is a formidable defender, calm and secure, and has a high spirituality.
Pre-Game Ritual: if Zen plays as a starter, he’ll enter in an intermediate position in the order of players. He’ll walk quietly to his position, wave to the supporters of both teams, and later meditate a bit to be concentrated for the game.

23- HORÁCIO Valente “BAIXOTE”
Gender: Male.
Orixá Guide: Ibeji.
Spiritual Strength: Very Low.
Info: Horácio Baixote is the third dwarf of the Terreiro de Ogum National Team. Cousin of the starters Toquinho and Guaxinim, Horácio Baixote is much younger than them, and because of that his football talent isn’t developed. If he has one. He isn’t a very good player, but has a very good fighting spirit. So bad that he lacks strength, otherwise would be a very good defender because of that.
Pre-Game Ritual: Horácio Baixote will enter in an intermediate position in the order of the team. He’ll enter with the ball, controlling it and reaching the middle of the field.

Defenders (the guardians of our honour):

3- Maria Celeste Ernestelli “RECLUSA”
Gender: Female.
Orixá Guide: Yewá.
Spiritual Strength: Very High.
Info: no one knows from where she came exactly, or about her life before reaching Terreiro de Ogum. All they know about her was in her documents, a passport from Cafundéu and a library card. She was adopted by a mãe-de-santo when she was only a child, and soon it was discovered that she is extremely sensitive, being able to have contact with spirits and to being possessed by them. This power has been explored by her “mother”, and she is now famous because of her ability. When not possessed, she doesn’t speak with anyone, with the exception of her “mother”.
Pre-Game Ritual: in fact, Reclusa doesn’t have any special pre-game ritual. She will enter before Bibah, so will be one of the last ones to enter. She will quietly go to her position in the field.

4- Jorge Diniz Sodré “PRETO VÉIO”
Gender: Male.
Orixá Guide: Nanã.
Spiritual Strength: High.
Info: this man is a wanderer, known in the whole territory. A nice, calm man who likes to chat with everyone, from the commoner to the powerful mãe or pai-de-santo. But he specially enjoys chatting with the children, telling histories to them about his adventures. He has no enemies, and can be considered the most honest and respected person in Terreiro de Ogum.
Pre-Game Ritual: Preto Véio is the first player to enter in the field, going directly to the sector of the stadium where the Terreiro de Ogum supporters are. He’ll wave to them and after that will shake hands with his opponents, being nice with everyone.

13- José Carlos Pereira Filho “ZECA DA PONTE”
Gender: Male.
Orixá Guide: Oxóssi.
Spiritual Strength: Low.
Info: although Terreiro de Ogum’s authorities try to make the country successful in social equality, there are many things to do yet. When the territory was under the control of Estresse Intenso, there wasn’t social equality, but now, with the independence, the leader pai-de-santo is trying to give better conditions for the poor. Zeca da Ponte is one of these poor people. He lives under a bridge, sometimes without something to eat, completely miserable. But, as a player, Zeca da Ponte has some ability as a defender, and can get something to eat during the competitions.
Pre-Game Ritual: when Zeca da Ponte is selected as a starter, he enters in the field and asks the referee for food. Searches the field for some bread or other kind of food. If he doesn’t find anything, becomes very frustrated.

16- Janaína Soraya Couto “RAINHA”
Gender: Female.
Orixá Guide: Iyami-Ajé.
Spiritual Strength: High.
Info: the woman with most children in Terreiro de Ogum, Rainha has family ties with a lot of people, as her mother also had many children. She is not a mãe-de-santo, but is good at making rituals to call the orixás too. She is a bit crazy, so sometimes can become angry without reason or complain about things that didn’t happen. She is very respected by the citizens of Terreiro de Ogum, as she is the leader now of the biggest family (in number of people) of the country.
Pre-Game Ritual: Rainha loves her family. So, she’ll enter the field behind Pai Berto if put as a starter, being accompanied by her children (all her 16 children), giving a kiss on each of them before the start of the game.

20- Victor Cirino da Alvorada “BEBUM”
Gender: Male.
Orixá Guide: Egungun.
Spiritual Strength: Low.
Info: Bebum is another drunken man of Terreiro de Ogum, as Pinguinha. The difference between them is that Bebum doesn’t have to look after money to be able to buy his cachaça or beer. No, the other people give him money for him to do so. Why? Because Bebum, even drunk, has always everything interesting to talk about, and is also a good snooker player. In football, is just average.
Pre-Game Ritual: Bebum won’t enter in the field with a bottle of cachaça. No. He will enter with a barrel of beer. Will offer it to his teammates and to his opponents, and later will go to his place in the field.

Defensive Midfielders (holders of our home):

10- PAI BERTO de Tucumã de Obalatá
Gender: Male.
Orixá Guide: Obalatá/Oxalá.
Spiritual Strength: Very High.
Info: son of the “leader” of Terreiro de Ogum, Pai Alcir de Macaé, Pai Berto is a talented pai-de-santo, who focuses on helping the people of the territory in the area of health. Some people say that Pai Berto has a better sensitivity than his father, and that he is a natural leader. His knowledge of the orixás and of the umbanda magic became legendary. Now in the National Team, Pai Berto is the captain and “boss” of the team, with more powers than the coach.
Pre-Game Ritual: while Preto Véio is the first one to enter in the field, Pai Berto is the second. He enters with his full-white clothes, wore by all pais-de-santo, and raises his arms to the sky, before making homage to the orixás.

5- DONA ROSA Lozano Pumete
Gender: Female.
Orixá Guide: Ossaim.
Spiritual Strength: Average.
Info: this old woman is a very good football player, and one of the major negotiators of Terreiro de Ogum. She makes contact with other countries, and this is very important to guarantee the autonomy of the country. She isn’t much involved in the religious ceremonies of the country, but she likes watching them, and, because of that, has some knowledge about them.
Pre-Game Ritual: Dona Rosa isn’t one of the first or one of the last players to enter in the field. In fact, she doesn’t do anything special. Just enters in the field and talks with each player of the Terreiro de Ogum team.

15- Rafael Rocha Brumes “ARMÁRIO”
Gender: Male.
Orixá Guide: Xangô.
Spiritual Strength: Average.
Info: the most strong person of the team. Without any doubt. Armário is 2 meters tall and weighs a lot too. But he isn’t overweight, he is strong. He is the security guard of Pai Alcir de Macaé, and no other person of the country have the courage to fight against him. Only his presence intimidates the opponents. In the National Team, will play as defensive midfielder, and will probably win many tackles.
Pre-Game Ritual: if Armário plays as a starter, he’ll enter in the field together with Pai Berto, looking at the stands to try to see if there’s someone or something that can harm the pai-de-santo.

24- MÃE EDITH de Maná de Ifá
Gender: Female.
Orixá Guide: Ifá.
Spiritual Strength: Very High.
Info: an evil mãe-de-santo, Mãe Edith is the only one of the team that you can accuse of making “black magic”. She is a very talented mãe-de-santo, with an enormous knowledge of rituals and of the orixás, and very strong spirituality. Too bad that she decided to make rituals to harm others rather than ones to help the people. She is the one that destroy relationships, put illnesses in people, make someone get fired from his/her job, and other bad things. She and Tramóia are the ones that won’t follow Terreiro de Ogum’s policy of respecting an opponent, making dark rituals.
Pre-Game Ritual: Mãe Edith, when playing as a starter, will enter just before Reclusa and Bibah. She’ll use a completely white outfit, will raise her hands to the sky as soon as she enters the field and will say something that no one will understand. She seems very strange and mysterious.

Attacking Midfielders (seekers of our prosperity):

9- Liceu Modesto Babuíno “PINGUINHA”
Gender: Male.
Orixá Guide: Oxóssi.
Spiritual Strength: Low.
Info: Pinguinha is a drunken man. He simply loves to drink cachaça, and does the possible to get some money to have something with alcohol to drink. He doesn’t do anything illegal, but everything else… for him, the cachaça is more important than everything else. He is a good football player, even when drunk, and will have sufficient motivation to want to score goals and create plays for the team.
Pre-Game Ritual: Pinguinha enters in the field in an intermediate position in the order. All he does is to get his bottle of cachaça, throw a bit of the liquid in the grass, and then drink the remaining after making a short prayer.

8- Rafael Graziano “TRAMÓIA”
Gender: Male.
Orixá Guide: Oxum.
Spiritual Strength: Very Low.
Info: a criminal, expert in stealing, sneaking into places without being noticed and preparing traps for the opponents. Tramóia is one of the few players that won’t respect the opponent, trying to get advantage in every play using dirty tricks. He is very good at making these tricks without being noticed, so it’ll be difficult for him to receive a card, as he probably won’t get caught. He isn’t popular in Terreiro de Ogum for being a criminal, but his talents will be very useful for the National Team, as he’ll be the main responsible for creating offensive plays.
Pre-Game Ritual: Tramóia is one of the first players to enter in the field, but he won’t be noticed until the entrance of Reclusa. He’ll appear in the middle of the field, surprising everyone and laughing, probably holding an item stolen from someone from the stands.

17- Lara Motta Ithiel “POMBA GIRA”
Gender: Female.
Orixá Guide: Exú.
Spiritual Strength: Very High.
Info: Lara is just a common woman, who works as a waitress in a famous bar in Macumba, the capital of Terreiro de Ogum. But what Lara doesn’t know is that she has a big spiritual sensitivity, something that was discovered when she went to a terreiro. The spirit of the Pomba Gira possessed her. Now this ability will be used in the football team, as the Pomba Gira is a very good dribbler.
Pre-Game Ritual: Lara will enter in the field without being possessed. When all the players of Terreiro de Ogum have entered, she’ll become the Pomba Gira, shouting and making gestures.

19- PAI Makabi Tomake “ÁFRICA”
Gender: Male.
Orixá Guide: Oxalá.
Spiritual Strength: Very High.
Info: the person that was the main responsible for the independency of Terreiro de Ogum, Pai África is currently the oldest pai-de-santo alive in the country. He says that he came from África (what’s this? Some kind of spiritual realm?), and knows the orixás and their preferences like no other. He knows rituals that no other pai or mãe-de-santo from Terreiro de Ogum knows. As a football player, can’t play much because of his age, but has an excellent vision.
Pre-Game Ritual: if selected as a starter, which is something very rare, Pai África will enter just after Preto Véio. In fact, he doesn’t need to do anything special. The supporters of Terreiro de Ogum will stand up and applause him.

Attackers (conquers of our glory):

7- Matheus de Carvalho Quirino “GUAXINIM”
Gender: Male.
Orixá Guide: Oxumarê.
Spiritual Strength: Average.
Info: brother of another starter of the National Team, Toquinho, Guaxinim is a dwarf, and is a bit smaller than his brother. Good in positioning and good at predicting what the other players will do (thanks to good knowledge of the football), is a very good attacker who will make many assists. He is very fast too, so is a special weapon for the counterattacks, as his passes to his team mate Master Kacet are perfect. Another thing that can surprise many is his good ability at heading.
Pre-Game Ritual: Guaxinim is the one that has the best relationship with the supporters. So, he will be one of the first players to enter in the field, calling the supporters to sing for the team, to send Terreiro de Ogum to the victory.

11- MESTRE Timóteo Hora Novaes KACET
Gender: Male.
Orixá Guide: Ogum.
Spiritual Strength: High.
Info: one of the most famous and influential people of Terreiro de Ogum, Mestre (Master) Kacet is probably the only one that is known outside the territory. He is the best Capoeira master of the world, thanks to his great abilities, superb technique and good reflexes, this among other skills. A football lover too, Mestre Kacet joined the team wanting to use his Capoeira ability to score goals. And he can do that. Most of his moves are a mix between Capoeira and football, so expect to see him scoring goals using acrobatic moves. He is also a very friendly person, and likes to talk with the defender that is marking him.
Pre-Game Ritual: Mestre Kacet’s entrance order isn’t an exact one. He can sometimes enter as one of the last players, or as one of the first ones. But, when he enters, he smiles to the cameras and makes some of his Capoeira moves, to impress everyone, especially his opponents.

18- Sandro Viriatlo “DEMO”
Gender: Male.
Orixá Guide: Nanã.
Spiritual Strength: Very High.
Info: this man has the ability of summon the most evil and devilish spirits. Since he was born, Sandro often did evil things due to the influence of these spirits. He only discovered his spiritual ability after visiting a terreiro, and since then many pais and mães-de-santo are trying to help him to avoid the influence of these spirits, although sometimes they can give some good hints about supernatural things. Demo is the name of the evil spirit that controls Sandro when he plays football, a deadly attacker with an excellent long ranged shot.
Pre-Game Ritual: if Sandro plays as a starter, he’ll immediately be transformed in Demo when he steps on the grass. His expressions and gestures change drastically, and he fights for the ball even before the game starts.

21- Leão do Federal “COBRADOR”
Gender: Male.
Orixá Guide: Ogum.
Spiritual Strength: Low.
Info: what is the Leão do Federal doing in this National Team? The answer is easy. No one is better at finding breaches in the opponent’s defence than him. The Cobrador, as he is more commonly called, is the “Tax Collector” of Terreiro de Ogum. As the country doesn’t use money, he gets some food from the families of the country to use in the government’s programs of assist of the poor. The Cobrador is a very determined player, and never will give up of a play.
Pre-Game Ritual: the Cobrador will enter in the field using a black-tie outfit. When he reaches his position in the field, he’ll remove his clothes (no, he won’t play naked. He’ll use the normal Terreiro de Ogum kit) and get prepared to play the game.

25- Pirimeu Tossatto “CIENTISTA”
Gender: Male.
Orixá Guide: Iemanjá.
Spiritual Strength: Low.
Info: Cientista is a person that believes in the orixás, but doesn’t believe in their supernatural nature. He doesn’t believe that they are spirits or representatives of the god Olorun. He thinks that they are something physical, which could be explained with the use of the science. Most of our citizens feel sad by him, because it’s certain that the orixás are spirits. As a football player, is a talented attacker.
Pre-Game Ritual: the Scientist (Cientista) will enter in the field with a piece of paper in one hand and a pencil in another, making notes of interesting things that he saw in the entrance of the field. Later, will go to his place in the field.

Joker (plays in all sectors) - (the chosen one):

0- João Miguel “ILUMINADO”
Gender: Male.
Orixá Guide: guided by all orixás.
Spiritual Strength: Enormously Huge.
Info: the Iluminado is the chosen one, the one that received the power of being able to see the orixás and contact them when he wants to. All the orixás guide him in his path, and his objective is to bring peace to the people of Terreiro de Ogum and to make them follow the umbanda with faith and justice. He is only able to play 30 minutes per game, and during it he receives all the power from the orixás to triumph, surely a gifted player, someone which qualities aren't of this world.
Pre-Game Ritual: the Iluminado will never start a game. But, before entering in the field, he will raise his hands to the sky, and the sunlight will be directed at him (yes, the sun will do it).

Staff Members (controllers of our destiny):

Coach: Duílio Menezes “BLIND MAGICIAN”
Gender: Male.
Orixá Guide: Iansã.
Spiritual Strength: Very High.
Info: Duílio, called Blind Magician by nearly everyone (only his mother calls him Duílio) is a pai-de-santo with good leadership and some abilities as a football coach, thanks to his contact with spirits of dead football coaches. His style is very defensive and cautious, that’s why Terreiro de Ogum is a defensive team. He is blind, but has a supernatural perception that allows him to walk and do other things like if he could see.
Pre-Match Ritual: when the Blind Magician enters in the field, he gets some grass from it and eats it. After that, he makes a short prayer and goes to his place in the bench, in a very slow way.

Assistant: ÍRIS Duarte Serafim
Gender: Female.
Orixá Guide: Yewá.
Spiritual Strength: Average.
Info: the assistant of the Blind Magician is probably the most common member of the team. She is a young woman, who works together with the Blind Magician in his terreiro, helping him to prepare the rituals. She has knowledge about the orixás, but lacks spiritual strength. She is very happy with her life and loves helping her master, but her job is very simple.
Pre-Game Ritual: Íris enters together with the Blind Magician, following him and watching him to see if he will fall (she knows that he can walk alone, but still worries for her master).

Formation: basic 4-4-2 (style is -4.2):

-------------------------Bibah-------------------------
--Bicho Grilo-----Reclusa-------Preto Véio---Toquinho---
-------------Pai Berto----------Dona Rosa--------------
------Pinguinha-------------------------Tramóia--------
--------------Mestre Kacet---Guaxinim------------------

RP Permissions: you're free to choose scorers, send cards to my players (red card limit is 2), RP injuries (light ones) and other things (but these things can't be very unreal (can be a bit unreal) or serious (involving death, arrest, etc.)

Stadium: Terreiro de Ogum do Pai Alcir
Info: part of the big terreiro of Pai Alcir de Macaé, this field doesn’t have grass, only dirt, but is a good place for playing football, as the players will be able to get in contact with the orixás playing in this marvellous place. There are some black chickens walking on this stadium too, and some holes filled with cachaça, so be careful.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2242/1852274492_3a8c68c0a8_o.jpg

Kits (made by JMC):
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c58/Krytenia/TDO40.png

Details about Terreiro de Ogum: this country is in fact a small part of Estresse Intenso that got its independence few years ago. In fact, it already had full autonomy, due to the fact that Estresse Intenso’s government can’t control the country well (the country is a complete anarchy). But, anyway, Terreiro de Ogum is now independent, and due to this could have relations with other countries, something that the territory wasn’t able to do before. One of these things is football. The team couldn’t play in international competitions, but now it’s replacing the Landau Institute, which decided to stop playing in international competitions due to the death of The Machine.

The citizens of the country don’t have money, so they divide everything that they have. Their leader is the most experienced “pai-de-santo”, currently Pai Alcir de Macaé, father of the captain of the National Team Pai Berto de Tucumã, who is a pai-de-santo too. Their language is a mixed of different spiritual languages. The most important fact about the country is its religion. ALL the citizens follow the Umbanda religion, although some of them also respect and practice related religions like Candomblé and Quimbanda (Macumba). You can use Wikipedia to get information about these religions. They make mystical pre-game rituals, but nothing is done to harm the opponent: before everything, they respect their opponents like brothers, and would like to be respected too. Oh… expect some phrases in Portuguese during our RPs.

Quintessence of Dust

23-03-2009, 00:23

Nation name: The Democratic States of Quintessence of Dust, Delegate of the Green and Pleasant Region of Wysteria
National adjective: Quodite
National football association: Quintessential Football Association (QFA), chaired by Derek Drake
Current KPB ranking: 4.00, =69th (http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/7512/arrowupl.gif)
Previous tournaments: WC33 (4th in BoF), 34, 44, 45 (never qualified)

Staff:
After the disappointing run in WC45 qualifying, a new coach has been appointed, with Edward 'Big Ted' Large, former coach of the national rugby side and goalkeeper in the legendary side of 1984, a surprise pick ahead of State University of Pulona coach Arlo Cockbadger. 'Big Ted' is a firm disciplinarian, hoping to eliminate the messy errors that have cost valuable chances in previous campaigns.

He will be assisted by Frank Ubermeier, formerly physio and newly promoted to Assistant Coach with special responsibilities for defence, and former defender Catherine O'Brien, who will take over as team physio.

Goalkeepers:
1. Benjamin Chang (age 21) 3 caps
Winchester Furman's retirement finally gives Chang's imposing 7 foot frame a chance to prove himself in goal. He is not notably more agile than his rotund predecessor, and shares the same defiant optimism even in the face of withering scorelines.
17. Hamilton Humperdinck (26)
The untested Humperdinck, less famous than his other half Jessica Jensen, may get his chance to appear on the pitch if Chang does not work out.
23. Phillip Hendricks (31)
The third keeper may well spend most of his time fetching water bottles. Knowing Hendricks, he will drop them.

Defence:
3. David Yellowback (43) 67, 9 goals
The veteran right back may be aging, but his darting runs, sliding tackles, and huge throw-ins remain no less potent. If, as rumoured, this is to be his last international appearance, look out for plenty of attacking play.
4. Brikk Schitthausen (32)
What he lacks in creative invention, he makes up for in bone-crunching strength, but he has a calm head atop his mighty frame. Will be looking to keep things solid at the back after the goal flood of WC45.
5. Ronald Johnson (23) 14, 2
Johnson's emergence was perhaps the only consolation of the dismal WC45 run and he is settling into the centre of defence, as well as using his height to threaten from attacking set pieces.
6. Theo Littlefellow (20) 56, 8
Signed to Candelarian side MN Smith, the diminuitive full-back with the enormous left boot remains a mercurial presence. Having resigned the captaincy he will be looking to concentrate on providing options from the left while toughening up his tackling.
14. Johannes van Himpfelschnnoorrddt (19)
A strong contender to take over from Yellowback at right back, Hannes has good positional awareness and can link well with the offence, but lacks experience.
19. Cecilia Colombo (35)
The chubby Colombo will be looking to impose discipline on the backline, and could prove a useful addition to the centrebacks alongside Schitthausen. Despite speaking neither Portuguese nor Icelandic, nor very good English, she acts as interpreter for Goshinho.
22. Hanna van Himpfelschnnoorrddt (19)
Hannes's twin will feature on the left if Littlefellow's injury problems return. A dedicated defender with a real attacking instinct, she could press into midfield if needed.

Midfield:
2. Frederic Renard (35) 67, 10
Another old-timer convinced to stay on, Renard's crosses from the right flank and precise free-kicks remain his greatest assets, his fierce temper his greatest weakness.
7. Peter Rogers (23) 66, 14 - Captain
Rogers played well throughout WC45 at the heart of midfield, and has scored several times for MN Smith in the CMSC, but many worry the additional burden of captaincy will prove too much. Temperamental, at times brilliant, at times exasperating, he still has time to develop into a player of great composure. Recently romantically linked with sports presenter Alyssa Banana.
8. Jessica Jensen (24) 58, 10
She has been the team's brightest presence since coming into the side during WC34, solving their problems on the left of midfield. Probably the most famous Quintessential footballer today, Jensen has used media attention to market her range of nutritional breakfast bars.
11. Dino Achten (36) 63, 9
A stalwart vice-captain and calming presence at the back, Achten may be the first of the midfield diamond to retire; if so, his strength on the ball and probing long balls will be missed, while his home-brew will not.
16. Billy Hudson (19)
A bold central midfielder, he will have trouble getting time on the pitch if Rogers's form holds out, but could be a key substitute. Looking to build confidence, he likes collecting matchboxes.
20. Ólafur Kjartansson (26)
Achten's probable replacement, his elder sister beat the senior player in the final of Strictly Come Ironing, causing a few dressing-room jokes. Though new to the side, should become a permanent presence once he establishes himself.
21. Woody Cockbadger (18)
Yet another young star, he is the nephew of national football legend Arlo Cockbadger, and could see himself taking over from Renard on the right, if his form is as good as his uncle claims it is. Has already impressed university selectors and was the number #1 draft pick.

Forwards:
9. Marina Sundqvist (20)
Another new discovery, Sundqvist prefers playing back in the trequartista hole. Golden locks tucked into her headband, she makes a stylish presence both on and off the pitch.
10. Dennis Young (24) 64, 21
Quintessence of Dust's leading scorer of all time, Young may be on the way out after a disappointing WC45, and with new talent snapping at his heel the real test may be how much he still loves the game. A towering presence in the box, less dangerous when running on the ball.
12. Yua Yua Huang (22)
A dazzling runner with an unpredictable temper, Huang is a product of Arlo Cockbadger at the State University of Pulona, but may struggle to find first team appearances.
15. Alejandro Guðfinnur Jesus de Souza Björgólfsson, 'Goshinho' (17)
Young, talented, and completely unintelligible, Goshinho could be the future of Quintessential football. Astonishingly nimble, he was discovered working in the kitchen at a Brazilian-Icelandic fusion restaurant.
18. Dirk Eiffel (29)
A gritty forward who scratches goals more through persistence than skill, Eiffel could be a useful set of fresh legs late in the game, but is not considered a long-term prospect.

Kit:
http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/6205/kitma5.png

Style modifier: +1

First-choice starters:
Chang

Yellowback Schitthausen Johnson Littlefellow

Achten

Renard Rogers (c) Jensen

Sundqvist Young

If you go first, you can:

Select my scorers — Yes
Give out yellow cards to my players — Yes
Give out red cards to my players — Yes
RP injuries to my players — Yes (within reason)
Godmod injuries — Yes
Godmod scoring events — Yes
Godmod other events — Yes
Generally be very silly indeed — Yes, but you have to put on a big sparkly hat first

Taeshan

23-03-2009, 00:40

Taeshan And Kosovoe will be there, the rosters are on the first page of the roster thread.

Allemenschen

23-03-2009, 01:25

Wait... Nethertopia didn't get an invite, question: Because of the not posting a roster, or not enough RPing? We did RP something small at one point.

EDIT: Nvm, no roster. Bugger.

If not enough invitations are accepted, we're eager to get in.

Actually, you would be surprised how many people posted a roster but didn't RP; I believe you were the only person who RPed, but didn't post a roster :P

And I'd nominally accept your presence, but given the way the rules were structured, I'll follow them until we need to break them. Fortunately, Green Wombat declined the invitation, so I'm willing to bend the exceptions to allow Nethertopia in... as long as you post a roster :p

Ah, one of the benefits of studying Confucian classics ;)

*waits for everyone else to get in*

EDIT - after a brief delay (caused by a JOLT panic and NS panic, I've managed to send out TGs to everyone on the list. So this should mean that everyone who's been invited should have been notified by the only universally reliable method already (i.e. snail mail).

In other news, the androids and purple-stinging nellies will likely feature, so if you're not already aware of the INSANITY of Allemenschen, you will be by the end of this episode.

Arroza

23-03-2009, 01:43

Invitation status: Denied.
Reason: Burned-Out.

Sarzonia

23-03-2009, 02:57

http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm1/Starblayde/ediraf/SarzHome4.jpghttp://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm1/Starblayde/ediraf/SarzAway4.jpghttp://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm1/Starblayde/ediraf/SarzThird4.jpg
Note: Home kits have a primarily navy colour scheme; away kits are primarily white; keeper kits the third set shown.

I Give My Opponent Permission To:
====================
Choose Scorers: Y
GodMod Goalscoring Events: N

Injure Players: Y (within reason; just don't kill someone)
GodMod Injury Events N

Red Card Players: Y (within reason; no more than two)
Yellow Card Players: Y (within reason)
GodMod Other Events: N
====================

Home grounds: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v419/msarzo/marshall.jpg Bryan Marshall Memorial Stadium, Woodstock (nation's capital). Seats 88,920. [OOC: If this image doesn't show up, it's a photo of FedEx Field in Landover, Md. in soccer configuration.]

Alternate home grounds: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v419/msarzo/15x8rnk.png; http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v419/msarzo/dm78g1.png
The Iron Bowl, Portland, Somerset. Seats 46,220. [OOC: Designed by Kura-Pelland!]

Sarzonia Stars

Manager: Franz Braddock (83 years old)
The Cafundelense World Cup Hall of Fame manager returns to the pitch after a 12-year retirement to manage the Sarzonian national football team. By all accounts, he is energised by the challenge of returning the Stars to the World Cup finals.
Assistants: Diogo Avarel (41)
Braddock's youthful apprentice joins the Cafundelense legend as one of two assistant managers, much to the chagrin of the Cafundelense football organisation.
Ganz Ijak (53)
The second World Cup Hall of Famer to join the Sarzonian coaching staff, Ijak is considered by some to be a possible successor to Braddock, but not before Braddock decides he's had enough.
Goalkeeping Coach: Horace Sandt (52)
[i]Sandt, the lone holdover from the previous Stars managerial staff, has a storied history for the Sarzonian national team. He was the starting goalkeeper who led the Stars to the World Cup XXII title. During his tenure with the Stars, the team advanced to four consecutive semifinals, becoming just the third team to do so behind Rejistania and Eauz.

Squad Listing
(Note: Starters in BOLD. Team plays a 4-4-2 alignment with a plus-one modifier.)

No. Name Position Height Weight
1 Cody Taylor GK 6'1" 175 pounds
Taylor, 25, signed with Porto Lacruz of Cafundéu's national league after leading the Woodstock Wild to a Sarzonian Football Confederation championship. He finished the year 18-5-1 with a 1.26 goals against average. He is known for having catlike reflexes and has played as a midfielder for a recreation league side.

2 Ben Davis D 5'10" 160 pounds
Davis, 32, is the Stars captain. He previously served in that role for the Portland Timbers, whom he led to a Sarzonian Football Confederation championship. He prides himself on being able to shut down the opponent's most dangerous forward with combination of speed and smarts. Signed a contract with Atlético Jutense in Cafundéu's national league.

3 Spencer Hicks D 6' 180 pounds
Hicks, 31, is one of the more aggressive players in the Stars defence. He plays sweeper for the newly-formed Rochester Rogues in a 3-5-2 but can also play fullback in Sarzonia's 4-4-2 formation. He grew up idolising Starblaydia's Francisco Ibanez, so he learned some of his tendencies.

5 Tim Rodney D/M 5'9 150 pounds
Rodney, 30, plays bigger than his height. On the New Jerusalem Nobles, he plays a rugged fullback when the team plays a 3-5-2, but played as a defensive midfielder in a 4-4-2 alignment when the team suffered several injuries among its defensive players. Rodney figures to play defence for the Stars.

6 George Morrison M 6'2 185 pounds
Drafted out of Joe Gibbs University, Morrison, 24, played for the Nicksia Knights in the SFC until he signed with KT Hotspur in Candelaria and Marquez. He is not a particularly pacey player, but has a cannon of a left leg. He will likely be substituted for a player with more flair if the Stars are trailing a match.

7 Tyler McIntosh D 5'11 165 pounds
The young McIntosh (23 years old) just graduated from Syosset State University after setting the school's record for matches played and matches started. He has played forward on occasion and scored five goals in 12 matches starting up top. He has been known to be rather undisciplined in the back, but does not have enough ball skills to convert to midfielder.

8 Laura Grover M 5'6 125 pounds
Grover, 25, dispelled any questions about whether a woman should start for the Stars by drawing comparisons to Jenna Raven, a star player for both Sarzonia's men's and women's World Cup sides. She has strong scoring touch, notching 11 goals in 27 matches for the Woodstock Justice in Sarzonia's women's league. Her coach? You guessed it, Jenna Raven.

9 Ettore Salivani, Jr. M 5'10 155 pounds
The son of former Sarzonia national team standout and Pacitalian emigre Ettore Salivani, the younger Salivani retains his father's flair, but also picked up on his mother's preternatural calm. He also has outstanding ball skill and is surprisingly adept as a defensive player. Plays for América in Cafundéu's national league. Turned 26 the day before World Cup XLV.

10 Zack Wilson F 6'0 213 pounds
The 24-year-old son of Brian Wilson developed some of his father's flair for the dramatic and led the SFC in goal scoring with 28 goals for the Portland Timbers. Pacey player who spends a lot of time in the weight room. Very difficult for smaller defenders to bring down.

11 Ted Philyaw D 5'11 145 pounds
Philyaw, 31, started for the Sarzonian national team during its last international competition (AOCAF XIX), helping lead the team to a shock second round appearance. Philyaw was recently named the captain of the Saugerties Snakes, owing to his leadership qualities. He's not the fleetest of foot, relying on positioning and anticipating opposing defenders' moves.

12 Colleen Barnaby D 5'8", 135 pounds
Barnaby is the second female representing the Sarzonian Football League, Sarzonia's women's professional league. She plays for the Portland Pride, which developed an intense rivalry with the Woodstock Justice. She has some trouble with more physical midfielders and forwards, but usually has the savvy to avoid problems. She's 29 years old.

13 Clayton Bocanegro M 6'1", 180 pounds
Bocanegro, 29, was a reserve for the Stars during AOCAF XIX and starts here. He is deft with the ball and serves as a playmaking midfielder for the Portland Timbers. He's also the designated corner and free kick taker with an educated right boot.

15 Brad Tremblay M 5'9 162 pounds
Tremblay turned 24 earlier in the year. He has had trouble sticking with a team in the SFC before finally finding a home with the Portland Timbers. He is arguably the fastest player on the Stars and fires the hardest shot on the team, but his shot is not all that accurate.

16 Ben Crosley D 5'11" 170 pounds
The 30-year-old was also a reserve on Sarzonia's last competitive national side but will start here. He has had seven seasons of experience with the Tacoma Tigers and is a strong man-marker on the right side. His best asset is speed, though he's also learning the savvy that will help once his speed begins to go.

17 Matt Lynch F 6'3", 205 pounds
The 29-year-old was the top scorer for the Sarzonian national team during its AOCAF XIX appearance. His tall, lithe frame makes him an inviting target for more aggressive players who invariably find out he can take and dish out punishment. Recently signed a contract with A.F.F. in Cafundéu.

18 Pete Weston M 5'10 165 pounds
Weston brings a lot of energy and a great work rate to the table for the Saugerties Snakes. He is easily the hardest working player on the team. Brian Wilson intends to use Weston to provide a spark off the players' bench in the event the team plays lethargically. He turned 23 years old just before the World Cup began.

19 Reese Nichols F 5'11, 195 pounds
Another starter from the AOCAF XIX squad, Nichols was another important player in the Sarzonian offence. The 30-year-old came back from retirement recently to provide some scoring depth, as well as experience and leadership. He has good pace and strikes a solid ball.

22 Kelvin Russell GK 5'11, 170 pounds
Yet another player from the AOCAF XIX squad, Russell is the number two goalkeeper for this squad. The 29-year-old nearly left the squad in a snit when he lost the job to Cody Taylor, but Brian Wilson and Sandt both convinced him that he would get a chance to play in the World Cup. He is known more for reading shots and positioning than his athleticism.

Secristan

23-03-2009, 03:17

Daehanjeiguk

23-03-2009, 03:27

Secristan accepts the invitation.

Also a brief message for the hosts: I'm sure both of you are familiar with my RP style by now. A major theme of mine during the Cup of Harmony will have the SDOS constantly put-down and insult your countries, since your bid was accepted over ours costing them millions. Just be aware that this is only being done on an in-character basis and does not reflect my out of character opinion towards either of you as I'm sure you'll do a great job!

interactive players are greatly encouraged! if you get stuck in Allemenschen, you can complain about the purple-stinging nellies or the androids, or the otherwise crummy conditions in which your team will be probably be playing. Or the President, who's otherwise an idiot. Or the refs. Or... the country? You could complain that we're a country's worth of an insane asylum too... :p

Akbarabad

23-03-2009, 05:00

Akbrabad is in.The same roster as the world cup qualifying campaign but I will post it again as I don't want to look for the original post.

The starters
#1 Aminul Islam - (GK)
#2 Mahbub Alam - (DR)
#5 Adil Rahman - (DL)
#3 Hasan Mohammed - (DC)
#4 Zakir Ahmed -(DC)
#6 Khaled Assad -(ML)
#8 Mossadeq Chowdhury -(MR)
#7 Mohammed Rashid - (MC)
#11 Hamid Kabir -(AMCL)
#9 Zahid Mohammed - (ST)
#10 Samin Akbar –( AM/F)

Substitutes bench:
#12 M.R. Matin (GK)
#13 Rashid Khan (DC)
#14 Vladimir Budtkov (DC/L/R)
#15 Saeed Akbar (ST)
#16 Ali Imran (MR)
#17 Vassily Zaitsev (MC/L/R)
#18 Kamrul Hassan (DMC)
#19 Shehzad Ashraf (AMCLR)
#20 Hassan Akbar ( DL)
#21 Hossain Ashraf (MC)
#22 Aleksandr Serov (ST)
#23 Shahid Hassan (GK)

Starting lineup will always be this unless stated otherwise.

Home Kit: Green, red and red socks.
Away Kit: Red, green and green socks.

Choose my own goal scorers Y
Everything else N
style modifier: 2.5

Norwellia

23-03-2009, 09:22

All OOC:

Han, I just have to say that I love the androids-and-spiders thing. Every post cracked me right the hell up.

Goalkeeping Coach: Horace Sandt (52)
Sandt, the lone holdover from the previous Stars managerial staff, has a storied history for the Sarzonian national team. He was the starting goalkeeper who led the Stars to the World Cup XXII title.

22? If the current one is 45, didn't World Cup 22 take place 92 years ago?

Peisandros

23-03-2009, 09:55

Sarzonia

23-03-2009, 15:53

All OOC:

Han, I just have to say that I love the androids-and-spiders thing. Every post cracked me right the hell up.

22? If the current one is 45, didn't World Cup 22 take place 92 years ago?

OOC: Not everyone uses the same timeline for the World Cup. :tongue:

Sarzonia

23-03-2009, 16:07

The octogenarian national team manager didn't want to rock the boat. At least not yet.

Franz Braddock watched some film on the Sarzonian national football side during the previous two World Cup qualifying campaigns. He realised that Brian Wilson's adaptation of Sarzonia's "total football on steroids" system fit well into the offence he wanted to bring to the Stars.

More problematic, though was learning the idiosyncracies of Sarzonia, its players, its culture. Braddock was a legend in Cafundéu, but now he was in Sarzonia. He was rightly concerned that Sarzonians might be wary of accepting a foreign manager for its national team.

However, more than even defender and captain Ben Davis, forward Matt Lynch would set the tone for what happened in the dressing room. If Braddock won over Lynch, someone who was known for his easy smile as well as his goal scoring prowess, it would go a long way toward winning over the rest of the Stars.

A group of Stars players walked in from training to find Lynch still in his practice kit. He was reading over a piece of paper taped to a wall. That paper gave brief biographies of Braddock and his assistant managers.

"Two World Cup Hall of Famers," Lynch said out loud, taking care to ensure that the players walking toward the shower heard him. He noticed George Morrison eying him quizzically, as if to ask why he saw fit to mention it out loud.

"Clearly, these guys know what they're doing," Lynch said, looking Morrison directly in the eye. "The terminology may be different. They may speak with an accent we haven't heard much. But we do have one common language: Football."

They saw goalkeeper coach Horace Sandt walk in from Braddock's office. Lynch smiled at Sandt, who smiled back.

"And we still have Hor as our goalkeepers coach," Lynch said. "That says something right there."

"But the Wilsons are gone," Morrison said.

"Kevin Wilson is going to manage the second choice national side in the AOCAF tournament," Lynch said. He thought he was talking out of his arse in an effort to reassure skeptical Stars players, but he soon would learn he was right. "And Brian Wilson's running the whole show in Woodstock. Dave Wilson's going to enjoy his retirement. So the Wilsons are still involved with the programme."

"I think this will be good for us," Sandt said. "His experience will be to our benefit. He's taken a team to the World Cup quarterfinals. He's eager to get back to the pitch. That means more than a man's age."

Time and results would tell the tale, but for now at least, Braddock won over the dressing room. Time would eventually tell the tale of whether he'd win over the skeptical Stars supporters. The first test of that would come in the 37th Cup of Harmony.

Nethertopia

23-03-2009, 16:08

Actually, you would be surprised how many people posted a roster but didn't RP; I believe you were the only person who RPed, but didn't post a roster :P

And I'd nominally accept your presence, but given the way the rules were structured, I'll follow them until we need to break them. Fortunately, Green Wombat declined the invitation, so I'm willing to bend the exceptions to allow Nethertopia in... as long as you post a roster :p

Ah, one of the benefits of studying Confucian classics ;)

*waits for everyone else to get in*

:$ Thanks. *goes off to write a roster*

Edward City

23-03-2009, 16:43

I gladly accept the invitation to this incredible and honorable event.

Koseli Cumhuriyetler

23-03-2009, 17:32

Accepted

West Zirconia

23-03-2009, 17:52

We accept, as do our dear "cousins".

The McLaughlin Islands

23-03-2009, 17:53

That's us, you know.

Logria and Cambrow

23-03-2009, 21:15

LOGRIAN SQUAD

1. Glenn Money (GK, 32, Tunstall United)
2. Kevin Appleby (RB/LB, 28, Croxby)
3. John Wood (LB, 26, Liodence City)
4. Adam Miller (CM, 28, Maccabi Totton)
5. Ryan Bond (CB, 30, Croxby)
6. Rob Black (CB, 29, Bethenall) - Captain
7. Adam Round (RW, 25, Croxby)
8. Ronnie Bowes (ST, 31, Harrick Town)
9. Robert Woollingsby (ST, 32, Holmecaster Orient)
10. Jeff Harris (FW, 28, Bethenall)
11. Peter Martin (LW, 26, Maccabi Totton)
12. Alan Bethenall (GK, 27, Holmecaster Orient)
13. Glenn Easton (GK, 27, Croxby)
14. Clive Neale (LW, 25, Maccabi Totton)
15. John Woollingsby (CB, 35, Liodence City)
16. Tim Carpenter (RB/LB, 25, Croxby)
17. Eric Howson (CM/LW, 23, Speake)
18. Michael Summers (FW, 27, Holmecaster City)
19. Nigel Bowyer (CB, 26, Liodence City)
20. Callum Chivers (CM/RW, 24, Holmecaster City)
21. Jack Alliss (ST, 28, Brimcaster)
22. Tommy Peters (ST, 27, Speake)

Likely starting XI (4-3-3): Money, Appleby, Wood, Bond, Black, Miller, Round, Martin, R Woollingsby, Bowes, Harris.

http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm1/Starblayde/ediraf/LnCHome4.jpghttp://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm1/Starblayde/ediraf/LnCAway4.jpghttp://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm1/Starblayde/ediraf/LnCThird4.jpg

Greal

23-03-2009, 22:30

http://s237.photobucket.com/albums/ff41/838millionman/th_Grealflag56-1.jpg
Greal announces its Cup of Harmony 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)

Style Modifier: 4

Team Formation
4-3-4

# 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 (25 years old)
# 5 DEF Sam Hardy (27 years old)
# 6 MID Howard Anderson (24 years old)
# 7 MID Sebastian Expan (23 years old)
# 8 MID Francis Volodislav (25 years old)
# 9 FOR Michael Istoma (24 years old)
# 10 FOR Ross Trent (26 years old) (Captain)
# 11 FOR Qin Lang (24 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: 125,372

Norwellia

24-03-2009, 09:44

I think you mean 4-3-3, Greal...4-3-4 would really be something D:

Taeshan

24-03-2009, 20:33

The modifiers will be lowest possible for Tae, and highest for K.

Nova Hypocria

24-03-2009, 21:50

(OOC Note: The Nation is Hypocria. Nova Hypocria is just used for posting purposes.)

Hyppos Squad - Cup of Harmony 37
'Hoof it to the big fella'

Modifier
With a big, ugly ex-centreback in charge the side will be playing a big, ugly -4

The Boss

Peter Pojencic (Krytenia)
After a long playing career as a centreback and several years as defensive coach for the Krytenia national side Pojencic was seen as the ideal man to introduce a bit of steel to the Autocracy’s young national team. And a creditable single goal defeat to Starblaydia in his first game in charge was a step in the right direction . . .

The (main) Staff

Franco Berisha
A demotion from the top job to assistant coach is probably a blessing in disguise for the likeable Berisha. He suffered a torrid time in charge of the squad but did oversee impressive wins in Yafor 2 and Liventia. Popular with the players and still part of the set up because of it.

Marko Rajkovic
A talented striker in his playing days but one whose career was cut painfully short by injury. Now at the tender age of just 24 he’s a young assistant coach for an even younger squad.

Dr Maximilian Gruber
A specialist in sporting injuries with employment at a number of Hyper League clubs on his CV. Now earning his keep heading up the national team’s medical staff.

The Squad

The Goal Stoppers

1. Mikael Baron (19, GK, 17 caps) – Hypocrium City (Vice Captain)
A commanding young keeper still filling into his 6’ 4’ frame. Still to establish himself at the Hyper League giants, having made only a handful of appearances. But time is certainly on his side. Known affectionately as ‘The Beast’.

13. Sami Reis (18, GK, 2 caps) – Dynamo Rasium
Hot headed shot stopper with lightening reflexes but also seems just a little too eager to charge off his line. Suffered a torrid international debut against Sarzonia.

The Defenders

2. Craig Dekkard (18, RCB, 18 caps) – Partizan Drissa
One of many young talents Berisha brought through the Partizan academy. Dekkard is noted for his lung bursting runs down the right flank but his final delivery still needs some work. Can also play in the centre.

3. Alex Khedira (17, LWB, 17 caps) – Partizan Drissa
Another of Berisha’s protégés and a genuine star in the making. Khedira combines great defensive awareness and ability with wonderful distribution from the left side. And he hits a mean freekick.

5. Curtis Weston (20, CB, 18 caps) – FC Hypocrium
Temperamental centreback with bags of ability and a pronounced reckless streak. Sparked a mass brawl in a youth league game last season after scything through an opposition striker. Sent off against Liventia during the World Cup qualifiers.

6. Eddy Riether (19, CB, 16 caps) – Partizan Drissa
Completes the club feel at the back by joining teammates Khedira and Dekkard in Berisha’s first choice back four. But after a couple of uncertain displays the new coach may have other ideas.

12. Matt Vasey (18, LCB, 6 caps) – FC Pydna
Good prospect in both the centre of defence or on the left side. How long the Pythons can hold on to him is open to question with some of the league’s big boys already sniffing around. His young international career has been spent mainly on the bench

16. Ludek Weiss (18, RB, 3 caps) – Pylos Reavers
Although yet to make a first time appearance at the Oceanside ‘Ludo’ is held in high regard by the Reavers’ management. A pacey right sided defender who likes to get forward from the back. Couldn’t unseat Dekkard from the side but managed a handful of sub appearences.

20. Sam Gargan (19, CB, 0 caps) – Drissa United
Up and coming centreback who is earning rave reviews for some excellent recent league form. United’s larger neighbours Partizan are reportedly taking a long hard look at the youngster.

22. Scott Rendall (18, LB, 1 cap) – Dynamo Rasium
Teenage fallback who may be slight of build but holds nothing back when flying into the challenges. The new coach’s first act was to call up Rendall and hand him his first cap, as a sub against Starblaydia.

The Middle of the Park

4. Darius Dzeko (20, MC, 19 caps) – Partizan Drissa (Captain)
Tireless midfielder who, with his range of passing and ability to break up opposition attacks, reminds many of a young Marcus Baxter. Fortunately Dzeko has the temperament to cope with those lofty comparisons. The only player to feature in all the Hyppos’ internationals so far.

7. Antony Jacques (18, MRC, 9 caps) – Hypocrium City
Another player yet to register even a minute of Hyper League action. Jacques might not be the quickest member of the squad but he can delivery some vicious crosses into the box.

8. Ricky Jansen (17, AMC, 15 caps, 2 goals) – Hypocrium City
A talented playmaker with a knack for finding the back of the net. Scored goals galore at youth team level but only now breaking into the senior side at the Hyper League giants. Models his game on the Imperials’ former Krytenian star, Kevin Keda. Scored the winner away to Liventia from the penalty spot.

11. Andre Kilian (18, AML, 17 caps, 1 goal) – Sarrain City
Wing wizard who has benefitted from playing for one of the top flight’s smaller clubs where first team places are easier to hold down. Netted in the home defeat to West Zirconia.

14. Ali Carter (19, MC, 14 caps) – FC Hypocrium
A tough tackling and hard working midfielder who can seemingly run all day and is happy to sit back and do the dirty work while his teammates win the glory. Lost his place in the side towards the end of the campaign.

15. Grant Eden (20, MLC, 5 caps) – Kester Town
A diminutive left footer who’s happiest when his making a driving run into opposition territory. Meaning his defensive duties are often forgotten. His place is under serious threat after he made little impact during the qualifiers.

18. Tommy Sears (16, AMR, 14 caps) – Partizan Drissa
Another one off of the Partizan conveyer belt and another potential star. On his day Sears can win any match but the tricky winger can also be fairly anonymous. Prone to being knocked off the ball far too easily.

21. Victor Dorrans (18, AMR, 0 caps) – Dornburg FC
A young pacy winger with a good range of passing and a decent crosser of the ball. Has seen plenty of action in his debut Hyper League season.

The Goal Getters

9. Damian Raczka (19, ST, 8 caps, 1 goal) – Hypocrium City
A pacy striker with bags of ability who has broken goal scoring records at various youth levels. But still yet to break into the Imperials’ first team. Bagged the Autocracy’s first goal of their return to the world stage in the pre-qualification friendly against the Archregimancy.

10. Marcus Trachowski (18, CF, 17 caps, 3 goals) – Pylos Reavers
At 5’ 11’ and still growing the Reavers’ youth team star is a target man in the making. A fantastic header of the ball but guilty of some wayward shooting when it’s on the deck. Three goals may look a meagre return but it accounted for half the side’s combined total and included the winner away against group top seeds Yafor 2.

17. Joe Holt (18, SC, 4 caps) – Suda Sharks
A young striker with a good goal scoring record lower down the league structure with the Sharks. But from there to international level is one helluva of a leap and Holt has struggled to make it.

19. Jamie D’Laryea (17, SC, 0 caps) – FC Hypocrium
Has shown a real poacher’s eye for goal when coming on as a sub in the Hyper League this season. In a side that struggled for goals that instinct could be invaluable.

Formation & Likely First Eleven

Variable, but mostly . . .
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i142/Hypocria/Formation2-2.png

Kit

A now quite retro ediraf design . . .
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i142/Hypocria/HypocHome26_.png http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i142/Hypocria/HypocAway26.png
Home / Away

And . . .

My opponent, if they RP first, may do the following:
Choose my goalscorers Y
Godmod scoring events Y
RP injuries to my players Y
Godmod injuries to my players N
Hand out yellow cards to my players Y
Hand out red cards to my players Y
Godmod other events Y (Nothing too horrific)

Allemenschen

26-03-2009, 02:31

This is our final sign-up list:

Akbarabad
Edward City
Greal
Hypocria
Koseli Cumhuriyetler
Kosovoe
Logria
Nethertopia
Newmanistan
Peisandros
Quintessence of Dust
Sarzonia
Secristan
Taeshan
Terreiro de Ogum
The McLaughlin Islands
West Newmanistan
West Zirconia

Apologies to those who were unable to sign-up in the time-frame allotted. Nonetheless, we hope that you will have the opportunity to come back next season (for the WCQ! of course :P).

Also, with 18 teams in the line-up, including non-roster posting Nethertopia, Allemenschen will not be playing in the CoH. We will have 3 groups of 6 teams, competing in single fixtures against every other team (5 matches minimum). The top two automatically qualify, along with the two best placed 3rd place teams (using the tie-breaking criteria to distinguish the lot) to give us 8 teams in the Second Round. From there, it's pretty obvious what happens next.

We will have a Group Draw in approximately 24 hours, which hopefully, my great assistant can provide for me.

If your country belongs in this list but I have omitted it, please tell me as I might have overlooked a post or two.

FYI - style modifiers will follow the same guidelines as used for the WC45 bid: -5 to +5 inclusive (although oddly phrased numbers will be counted as zero, even π).

Secristan

26-03-2009, 03:00

Bidding has concluded for the right to represent Secristan in World Cup 45. For those unfamiliar with our country, all spots on our team are sold to the highest bidders with the Secristan Department of Sports reaping in the profits. This does not mean that these people are just a bunch of bums. For their bids to be valid, they had to be between 18-38, have at least one year of professional football experience, and pass a rigorous physical examination. The entire roster is returning for the Cup of Harmony as the SDOS was pleased with their qualifying effort.

Formation is a 4-4-2
Kit Picture: Sorry, we have no kit picture. We wear dark green and gold at home, White and dark green on the road, and our alternate jersey is black and gold. Keepers wear an all gold kit.
The Secristan Department of Sports refuses to actually pay a major kit-maker something. Use your imagination.

The team is nicknamed the “Millionaires”, because well, they are. Multi-millionaires mostly.

Style Modifier: +4 (The SDOS has demanded goal scoring, or else.)

RP Permissions:
Select my scorers — Yes
Give out yellow cards to my players — Yes
Give out red cards to my players — Yes, only one per game and if you do, make it exciting!
RP injuries to my players — Yes only say they are hurt though.
Godmod injuries — No
Godmod scoring events — Yes
Godmod other events — Yes, ONLY if you are going to do something which incorporates our players or fans doing something extremely arrogant or snobbish. No deaths.

About Secristan fans: Secristan fans do not chant. Instead, they shake a jar of coins repeatedly. The jars are amplified to maximize the sound of the coins inside.

Note that all players are free to sign with your domestic teams if you wanted to present them an offer. In Secristan, players have TO PAY to play for a team, so they are hoping for international offers so that they can get compensated to play. No transfer fees are required. Some of them are already playing overseas, and they have been noted.

Here is the roster. Starting with the starters:
GK: Michael Rossiter (Cafundeu), # 1 , 32- Reflexes and can usually force the shooter to commit first. Has been the starter since Baptism of Fire 30.
LB: Jeff Fisher, #4, 24- Plays very conservatively. Making his World Cup debut.
LCB: Shawn Wooliver, #6, 23- Hard nosed and aggressive. Starting for the first time, was a sub last time.
RCB: Chris Carmin, #7, 33- The most arrogant player on the team. And that’s saying something.
RB: Eric Fraser (Newmanistan), #2, 20- Extremely aggressive tackler. Captained the Di Bradini 7 winners.
LM: Curtis Coleman (Dancougar), #17, 31- Agility, playmaker.
CAM: Stephen Alexander (Dancougar), #23, 33 - Determination; work ethic.
CDM: Chris Coventry (Candelaria And Marquez), #19, 20, - Good two-way player, hard worker.
RM: Todd Carney (Cafundeu), #12 , 27- Speedster; first time starter.
LS: Kevin Walker (Dancougar), #10, 32- Finisher; will generally be set up by Rogan.
RS: James Rogan (Dancougar), #8 , 32 -Speed, speed, speed, and more speed. Fantastic work ethic. Team captain.

Substitutes:
GK: Dennis McGee, #31, 24- No one really knows much about him, but we must honor his bid.
CB: Keith Cassell, #3, 22- First year player.
CB: Carl Perino, #22 , 38- Excels in his positioning and knowledge of the game.
MID: Brian Marcott, #15, 28- Keeps it simple; consistent player. Started in World Cup 44.
MID: Blake Pitchford, #11, 35- Excels on set pieces. Otherwise a defensive player.
ST: Michael Cardona, #9, 19- Finisher, usually needs someone to set him up. 2nd on Di Bradini 7 team in scoring.
ST: Andrew Bianchetti (Newmanistan), #18 , 20- Lead the Di Bradini 7 championship team in scoring.

Reserves:
GK: Brian Carver, #20 , 22- Starting keeper on the Di Bradini 7 and 8 teams.
CB: Kyle Nickson, #26, 30- Making his debut.
MID: Eric Giguere, #27, 27- Another debutant.
MID: Mark Cross, #28 , 28- He does what his last name is well.
ST: Mickey Johnstone, #14, 38- Scary accurate shooting. Not much speed.
ST: Kevin Tucker (Cafundeu), #16 , 20- As good as any of the other strikers.

Coaching Staff: (all in first year with team)

Head Coach: Brendan Bowman, 48
Assistant 1: Michael Fleming, 43
Assistant 2: Shawn Conboy, 42

Peisandros

26-03-2009, 06:22

Roster for Cup of Harmony 37

The Peisandros Football Association is proud to announce it's squad for our first crack at the Cup of Harmony. The squad is unchanged from the World Cup qualifying period, regardless of our disappointing early exit.

The Squad.

Goalkeepers
#1: Calisto Pappas.. Age: 22.
#17: Ektor Athanasiadis.. Age: 18.
#23: Dorian Theotokis.. Age: 29.

Defenders
#2: Narcissus Theodore.. Age: 25. *Vice-captain.
#3: Luke Sisinis.. Age: 22.
#4: George Christakis-Zografos.. Age: 21
#6: Nikos Maximos.. Age: 16.
#12: Kallias Manos.. Age: 24.
#14: Hyakinthos Bion.. Age: 32.
#18: Luke Erasmus.. Age: 20.
#21: Terry Roubanis.. Age: 23.

Midfielders
#5: Urias Halkias.. Age: 30. *Captain.
#7: Zarek Chatzi.. Age: 21.
#8: Athanasios Krestenitis.. Age: 22.
#10: Adeipho Fotilas.. Age: 30.
#15: Apollodoros Notara.. Age: 26.
#16: Petros Zaimis.. Age: 17.
#19: Paris Sisinis.. Age: 24.
#20: Praxis Nikolaidis.. Age: 19.

Strikers
#9: Costa Theotokis.. Age: 25.
#11: George Theotokis.. Age: 25.
#13: Odysseas Adraktas.. Age: 16.
#22: Lefteris Diakos.. Age: 19.

Management
Coach/manager: Alexander Pappas.
Assistant coach: John Voskopoulos.
Attacking assistant: David Roufos
Defence assistant: Alketas Alketas
Goalkeeping assistant: Eleftherios Deligeorgis
Physio: William Pipinelis

Style
-3.
We'll be playing in a 4-4-2.

My opponent, if they RP first, may do the following:
Choose my goalscorers Y
Godmod scoring events N
RP injuries to my players Y (I'll decide the severity.)
Godmod injuries to my players N
Hand out yellow cards to my players Y
Hand out red cards to my players Y (One per game is okay)
Godmod other events N

Nethertopia

26-03-2009, 19:58

THE NETHERTOPIAN ROSTER

[kit to be released]

Manager: Sjors Opdeheuvel
Age: 42
Bio: 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 took the job of leading the U-21 Nethertopian national team to a Di Bradini Cup final and got appointed to the job of Falcon manager pretty quickly afterwards. Opdeheuvel likes to play with a slightly attacking approach. He balances tactic and motivational speeches decently.

THE TEAM
Nethertopia plays in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with a style modifier of +1, slightly attacking. Caps and goals are as from the start of the CoH.

Starters:
Goalkeeper: Mark Water
Age: 23
Number: 12
Caps: 19 Goals: 0
Club: Tenderville United
Bio: After beating Leo Fluck from the position of first keeper at Tenderville Water finally got the place at the basic XI of this team. Water has shown to be a bit off form in the CMSC's start, but has picked up his form afterwards. 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: Jerome de Wit
Age: 29
Number: 2
Caps: 69 Goals: 2
Club: Green Island (C&M)
Bio: This player was found by The Scout in World Cup 43 and has since made it into every basic XI team. With his jumping power and his formidable height of 2.09m (6”8) he’s sure to go up front in dead ball situations. He has a fierce tackle and Jerome goes fearless into every duel he's able to. This guy is a rear tough one. C&M's Green Island have signed him a few seasons to go, and he’s ready for another two years on the pitch, to show off what he’s got.

Central defender: Yannick de Woudt
Age: 23
Number: 5
Caps: 30 Goals: 0
Club: Arrigo Portugese (C&M)
Bio: With the switch from 3-5-2 to the current more controlling 4-2-3-1 play de Woudt has unexpectantly gained a basic position. This guy is less aggressive than the other basic defenders, but has a more controlling style of play. He has a nice header. He doesn’t like to get up front, but is quite useful with corners and indirect free kicks.

Central defender: Gregory van Houten tot Schaagen
Age: 27
Number: 4
Caps: 54 Goals: 1
Club: Candelaria-Allemali (C&M)
Bio: Has it’s name from some old, medieval barony. He is now secured of a base place and is ready for it. With his capabilities he should be able to lead the defence to keep the ball out of the net. With him in the basic XI the defence gets a little more speed, and a little less toughness. He is mostly noted for his name in the CMSC, but his play has not been bad. He even was to be found on high play in the list of the best XXXII defenders, grabbing the third prize.

Right defender: Alex Rafaela
Age: 20
Number: 2
Caps: 0 Goals: 0
Club: Ashdom City
Bio: Rafaela will make his international debut as starter for the Falcons. He has shown potential in the NWD and should be ready for the international level. With his greediness to get the ball forward and his speed he should be a great addition to the attacking midfielders, to combine with them and try to get the ball in front of the goal. He is watched by the two Nethertopian clubs in the CMSC and has shown interest in Tenderville United.

Central defensive midfielder: Thomas Schaak (C)
Age: 25
Number: 6
Caps: 76 Goals: 3
Club: El din Marbles (C&M)
Bio: The Scout is mysterious in different ways, and this player is one of them. Undiscovered before WC 43, he made a small name for himself already. His control over the ball is perfect, as is his passing. He’s quite quick, has a good tackle, a good shot and mentally very strong. He also developed some leadership capabilities. This is the player to watch. This is the revelation of The Scout. He signed a contract with the Marbles four years ago. They’ll be having loads of fun from him. With such talent The Scout and Organ seemed determined that this guy should be captain. Opdeheuvel has the same opinion and Schaak is quietly developing in a world class player.

Central defensive midfielder: Joãio
Age: 24
Number: 66
Caps: 18 Goals: 4
Club: Stoedtcanal CU
Bio: João Junqueira Ramírez is a half Cafundelese, half Candelariasian Nethertopian midfielder, bursting with talent. He plays with the mediocre Nethertopian team Cities United, which look ready for relegation. He is the only star of the team and with his free kicks, splendid through passes and a good tackle he is their only hope on remaining in the main league. He will be having a though time if the team relegates, as the team would be looking to sell them. There will be no way they are able to keep him if that happens.

Left attacking midfielder: Frank de Monnik
Age: 23
Number: 7
Caps: 21 Goals: 0
Club: Sultani FK (KC)
Bio: How The Scout finds his players, it beats me. But one thing is sure, his name is all the reality. For this Nethertopian campaign he has found another star in the Nethertopian First Amateur Division, De Monnik. This guy seems to be good, with a lovely control and short pass. Has signed a contract with Koselic team Sultani FK and new manager Opdeheuvel is very fond of his attacking play.

Attacking midfielder: Erwin Visser
Age: 20
Number: 10
Caps: 31 Goals: 5
Club: El din Marbles (C&M)
Bio: A penalty expert. This guy really, really loves through balls. He has a strong tackle, for a midfielder. He’s considered to be very loyal. This guy has a nice shot from long range. He has a good prospect for the future, having signed at the Nethertopia-loving Marbles some time ago. He is now ready for the big team, just like his cousin.

Right attacking midfielder: Dries Pannekoek
Age: 26
Number: 8
Caps: 70 Goals: 3
Club: Atlético Insular (Cafundéu)
Bio: Pannekoek (pancake in Dutch) is another young player that makes his debut for the Falcons. He’s the kind of player that gives defenders nightmares, with his speed and pass-by actions. He used to be fragile and easily taken down, but seemed to have overcome his proneness to injuries. Has transferred to Cafundéu a few seasons ago.

Striker: Erik Visser
Age: 21
Number: 9
Caps: 43 Goals: 23
Club: El din Marbles (C&M)
Bio: A very prolific player, able to score with ease. He is short, however, and can’t make a good header. He is developing into a good free kick. He really knows how to shoot, but he has a weak left foot. He doesn’t have the highest work rate, but he makes up for with the goals he scores and the technique and feeling he puts into play.He has been in great form since his signing at the Marbles and is rumoured to look for a bigger club. He plays as single attacker on the field, a position that's a bit new for him, since he has been backed up with a second striker for a long time.

Subs:
Goalkeeper: Wouter van Dalen
Age: 37
Number: 1
Caps: 98 Goals: 0
Club: NAPPC
Bio: Wouter started as 19 year old at the Peregrines in the amateur Nethertopian competition. He was directly noticed by Rob Kietecs due to extraordinary save he made in the entire year. What followed was a spot in the national team. He never left the Peregrines, even after their merger. His first season on the Candelariasian to notch level has been disappointing so far. He’s an experienced goalie, with a few caps. and ready to keep the ball out of the goal whenever his counterpart isn't at the ready. His somewhat old age shouldn’t be too much of a worry, but it has cost him his place in the starter's line up.

Defender: Jan Wildernis
Age: 31
Number: 13
Caps: 74 Goals: 1
Club: Marquez-Onwere (C&M)
Bio: Wildernis is able to give a great long pass from the sidelines and is quite effective in his tackles. He has an aggressive nature on and off the pitch. If he gets on the field he will certainly pick up some yellow cards. His starter spot has been overtaken by the young Rafaela, who has shown to be more consistent than the hard working Wildernis. The experienced player is still a lovely watch on the field, though.

Defensive midfielder: Marcel van der Laan
Age: 23
Number: 16
Caps: 2 Goals: 0
Club: MN Smith (C&M)
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. Not as good as our starters, though

Attacking midfielder: Tom van Dijk
Age: 25
Number: 14
Caps: 5 Goals: 1
Club: Port of Clotaire (C&M)
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 a bit of disciplinal problems, though.

Attacking midfielder: Roel Kuypers
Age: 25
Number: 17
Caps: 2 Goals: 0
Club: Ratos Island
Bio: Kuypers is best for a position behind the striker because of his ability to shoot from range and give good short passes. The attacking midfielder is having a decent season at his club and he's been rewarded with several call-ups and substitutes at the Falcons.

Striker: Darko Soro
Age: 16
Number: 11
Caps: 3 Goals: 1
Club: Blue-White Udenbergen
Bio: Taken to the CoH because of... Well, mostly his skills, but his dad being the all-time top scorer of the Falcons could play a role in it too. His ability to score is already noticed and it probably won't be long before he moves to another club *cough*Marbles*cough*.

My opponent, if they RP first, may do the following:
Choose my goalscorers Y
Godmod scoring events Y
RP injuries to my players Y
Godmod injuries to my players N
Hand out yellow cards to my players Y
Hand out red cards to my players Y
Godmod other events Y (No deaths, please)

Koseli Cumhuriyetler

26-03-2009, 20:44

The Turks Team:

Goalkeepers:
1. Orhan Kose, Age: 34, Sultanli FK
12: Ayhan Battal, Age: 25, Gokcenk
23: Cem Buruk, Age: 34, Tumirbey

Center Backs:
2. Bekir Ceyhun, Age: 28, Tenderville United
3. Arif Korkmaz, Age: 27, Serrano
13. Emre Koca, Age: 25, Gelibolu
14. Selcuk Erdal Age: 29, Gokcenk

Right Back:
4. Isan Almanoglu, Age: 30, Sultanli FK
15. Kadir Irfan, Age: 26, Kose Sehir AS

Left Back:
5. Ozil Sercan, Age: 29, Rio Bonito
16. Cihan Erdinc, Age: 25, Gokcenk

Center Midfield:
6. Erdem Lutfu, Age: 31, Sultanli FK
7. Murat Saglam, Age: 30, Gelibolu
17. Deniz Kebapci, Age: 25, Genclerbirligi
18. Yoldas Ibrahim, Age: 27, Yeni Ankara SK

Right Midfield:
8. Gurhan Uzay, Age: 27, Kazimspor
19. Suat Bursali, Age 23, Atlar

Left Midfield:
9. Serkan Turkmen, Age: 39, Port of Cloitaire
20. Hasan Turkmen, Age: 21, Nurinspor

Striker:
10. Gokhan Asik, Age: 23, Nihatspor
11. Oktay Uzum, Age: 31, Genclerbirligi
21. Sinan Kose, Age: 38, AFF
22. Kasim Pasa, Age: 23, Kuzeykoyspor

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

My opponent, if they RP first, may do the following:
Choose my goalscorers Y
Godmod scoring events N
RP injuries to my players Y (Not too serious)
Godmod injuries to my players N
Hand out yellow cards to my players Y
Hand out red cards to my players Y (2 Max)
Godmod other events N

Allemenschen

27-03-2009, 01:24

And reporting live from Allenheim, the industrious and slovenly capital of Allemenschen, it's #1093, professional greeter for football occasions! It's time to greet the teams coming out for the show! And what an occasion...

*fast forward*

... and that was a spectacular flight of the bumblebees of Allemenschen! Just splendid! But now it's time for us to get to the real reason why we're here tonight, and we're here to celebrate the birth of a new baby purple-stinging nellie! Actually about a million of them. Fact is that most of them will die eating each other, but it's still a fantastic occasion to witness! Just be careful with their stinging! They can be a bit nasty...

*fast fast forward*

... and that's it for Group B. We're on to Group C! ...

*rewind*

And now for the Group Draw!

In Group A, we're pulling out from pot number 1... Peisandros! Well, that's an obvious choice. They are playing there. From pot number 2, we have Terreiro de Ogum! Those wacky people who believe in stuff! From pot 3, we have Nethertopia! Another wacky people! From pot 4, we have Akbarabad! Not so wacky, but definitely people! From pot 5, we have West Newmanistan! Dirty cheating scoundrels from the West of some country! Oh wait, that's Northern Bettia... And from pot 6 to complete Group A, we have Quintessence of Dust! Fantastic!

In Group B, we'll be a little bit faster. Pot 1 gives us Kosovoe; while pot 2 have Greal! Both great contenders for the Cup this time around. In from pot 3 is Koseli Cumhuriyetler! The Turks! From pot 4 is Sarzonia, and from pot 5 is Edward City! Another set of great contenders, but not so wacky unfortunately. And finally, from pot 6 we'll have The McLaughlin Islands! What a great selection! And that's it for Group B.

We're on to Group C, all being the left-overs! We'll have Taeshan, Newmanistan, West Zirconia, Secristan, Logria, and Hypocria.

And that's it for the Group Draw! We'll have your schedules in little brochure flyers up in a little bit, but all matches will be played in the next 24 hours! So get to your stadia and start practicing!!!!

Summary: (in order as applies to scheduling)

Groups A and B in Peisandros
Group A
West Newmanistan
Quintessence of Dust
Terreiro de Ogum
Akbarabad
Peisandros
Nethertopia

Group B
Sarzonia
Greal
Edward City
Kosovoe
Koseli Cumhuriyetler
The McLaughlin Islands

Group C in Allemenschen

Group C
Newmanistan
Hypocria
Taeshan
West Zirconia
Logria
Secristan

Schedule of Matches:
MD1: 1v2, 3v4, 5v6
MD2: 1v3, 2v6, 4v5
MD3: 1v4, 2v5, 3v6
MD4: 1v5, 2v3, 4v6
MD5: 1v6, 2v4, 3v5

A separate draw will be performed for the Quarterfinals, involving the top 2 finishers and the two best third place finishers from each group. Each matchday will progress by 24 hours, at approximately 0000GMT each day!

Lists of stadia to be used will be supplied soon! In the meantime, teams in Allemenschen can play their matches on the only WCC-sanctioned plot of dirt called a "field" just outside the city limits of Allenheim, next to a swamp where purple-stinging nellies are known to breed. We're still building the rest of the stadia :P

Taeshan

27-03-2009, 01:46

Group Draw Announced

It is yet again that time of the year. The time where sucking at Qualifying lands you in the Cup Of Harmony. Thats were the Purple Knights find themselves for the sixth time out of eight World Cup Entrances. That big red dot is where you find yourself when you see the big sign that says Cup Of Harmony. Now even a squirrel cannot live on just nuts and that is why the Knights will be again fighting out for thirty third place in the world. Thats all it really is, don't give it any more credit people. You know it and i know it, its for losers.

Schedule
Matchday 1 Taeshan VS West Zirconia
Matchday 2 Taeshan VS Newmanistan
Matchday 3 Taeshan VS Secristan
Matchday 4 Taeshan VS Hypocria
Matchday 5 Taeshan VS Logria

Well when you look at this schedule from a Taeshani point of view as i am of course representing the people of Taeshan when i say this. The two big question marks on this schedule will be Match 1 Versus West Zirconia and Match 2 Verse Rival Newmanistan. The Group will be known as Group C and will be the only one hosted by Allesmenchen protectorates of Daehanjeiguk witch of course in this time of hardship has become a sort of home base for the Knights. This may proove to be a vital element as the Knights will need all the fans they can get to pull themselves throught the clouds and onto a pedestal.

These two games will proove wether or not the Knights deserve to again go after the Cup of Harmony championship just as they did about four years ago, and the two hosts of that tournament now have graced themselves by showing there faces in our group. Yes this seems to help the task a little as they seemed to have lucked us to a championship. Although you may know Taeshani history, and of course you realize through the 100 point quiz on Taeshani Sports history that the Knights can not beat the Rockets of Newmanistan. You may also of course notice that West Zirconia although hosting that tournament was the team that fell to the Knights in the Championship game. The stars are aligning for the Knights wether it be good or for bad the Knights will try there hardest.

Kosovoe

27-03-2009, 01:57

Group Draw Announced

It is now time for the ultimate shame. The Blue Tornado now find themselves in the Cup of Harmony after there greatest year in history. No fate does not flash us the same card every time we enter a game, but it would be cool if our numbers wouldn't lie, and the stabbings in the back by the thing you love the most would end the very second this was mentioned. Never has there been a fate where you can do everything the same way for ever, even in the afterlife you move, and sway. Things change you just have to live with it.

Schedule
Matchday 1 Kosovoe VS Edward City
Matchday 2 Kosovoe VS Koseli Cumhuriyetler
Matchday 3 Kosovoe VS Sarzonia
Matchday 4 Kosovoe VS The McGlaughlin Islands
Matchday 5 Kosovoe VS Greal

Again the Tornado have found themselves entered into a roughpatch. They will have to work themselves through a group that includes Greal, and Sarzonia. Two teams who have in the recent years found themselves making strides just like the Tornado themselves. It may have suprised the world last year when the Tornado shook the earth qualifying through there group and then advancing to the round of sixteen. Though this year the ground wont be shook when they manage a qualifying run.

Sarzonia

27-03-2009, 05:22

Franz Braddock reclined slightly in the makeshift office he'd constructed in his suite in the team's hotel. He and his assistant coaches gathered to examine the group draw.

"As far as I can tell, there's no one in our group whom we've faced previously," goalkeepers coach Horace Sandt said. Even though the Cafundelense coaches were all familiar to Braddock, he'd decided to lean on Sandt for help relating to the Stars players who hadn't experienced him or his methods.

"We haven't faced Kosovoe previously?" Braddock asked.

"We've faced Taeshan in qualifying for World Cup XLIV and during a midqualifying friendly for this cycle," Sandt said. "We haven't faced Kosovoe previously." Braddock looked back at the notes he'd scribbed onto a notebook.

"That's ... right," he said. "We haven't faced Greal, either. They're our first opponents."

"They've come close a few times," Sandt said, pulling up information on his laptop. "Edward City won the Baptism of Fire Cup prior to this World Cup."

"Now the next opponent," Braddock said before the coaches spoke in unison.

"Turks."

"Every time I see one of their match reports, I get hungry," Sandt said, drawing a chuckle from the young assistant coaches, both of whom quickly took to Sarzonian idiosyncracies and culture. Braddock raised his eyebrow and returned to his notes.

"Now, The McLaughlin Islands, they're new, yes?"

"Yes," Sandt said. "Not much information available on them at this moment."

"Understood. So where does that leave us?"

"Well, Kosovoe are the 26th ranked side in the world. Greal are 41st. The Turks are 46th. Edward City are 54th, while McLaughlin Islands are 83rd. We're 50th."

"We have an opportunity to make it through to the next stage if we play well," Braddock said. "Obviously if we don't, we're going nowhere."

"Practice begins tomorrow at 8 a.m.," Braddock said. "We're going to have to work hard."

"We pride ourselves on our workrate," Sandt said, smiling.

"Good." Finally, Braddock smiled.

Greal

27-03-2009, 05:48

Cup of Harmony Schedule
MD1: Greal VS Sarzonia
MD2: Greal VS The McLaughlin Islands
MD3: Greal VS Koseli Cumhuriyetler
MD4: Greal VS Edward City
MD5: Greal VS Kosovoe

CoH 37 Review

Greal is back at their fourth Cup of Harmony. The first CoH that Greal "attended" was what soccer experts would call a disaster. The second CoH was a unexpected success, with Greal qualifying and even advancing as far as the semi-finals. The third CoH we attended, was at best, average for Greal, managing to get to the quarterfinals. Ross Trent hopes to qualify again and even getting as far as the finals, or even win the CoH, which would certainly boost Greal's chances of qualifying for WC46. Also, the media speculates that the Greali Soccer Association will be watching Greal's performance in CoH 37 more closely because there will be a review of Ross Trent's ability as coach before WC46 starts.

Greal will be playing the following : Sarzonia, Edward City, Kosovoe, Koseli Cumhuriyetler, and The McLaughlin Islands. Of all those, only Greal has played Kosovoe, and that was in CoH 35, which turned out to be a 2-0 victory for Greal. Now, its two cups later, Kosovoe and Greal are now ranked far apart from each other still. Sarzonia and Koseli Cumhuriyetler will be tough most likely. Tomorrow, we play Sarzonia first.

Akbarabad

27-03-2009, 05:58

Akbarabad to begin against Terreiro de Ogum.

(Akbarabad Press, AP): Akbarabad begin their Cup of Harmony campaign against Terreiro de Ogum, a side they have not encounterd before. In fact, the team has not met any of the sides in their group before. Hopefully, despite the unfamiliarity the team will get a better result in this tournament then in the previous one wher the team displayed it's tendency of underperforming by dropping points against weaker teams.

Newmanistan

27-03-2009, 06:12

Hey! Hey! It’s the Cup of Harmony again! Just what we always wanted!

Here is the roster for the defending champions of the tournament, and winners of two of the last three. If you can’t qualify for the World Cup, might as well have a Cup of Harmony legacy!

This is a very different roster, because we have a new coach. And the new coach is going to make it “HIS” team.

Formation: 4-4-2 (though some will call it a 4-3-1-2 or something more fancy. We keep it simple).

Style Modifier: How does +3 sound? Good? Ok, +3 it is.

Kits: If you want to see them, they’re on our World Cup Roster.

Select my scorers — Yes
Give out yellow cards to my players — Yes
Give out red cards to my players — Yes, but no more then one more then you give yourself.
RP injuries to my players — Yes, but only say they were hurt. I will determine the severity.
Godmod injuries — No
Godmod scoring events — Yes
Godmod other events — TG your idea for approval first. I am open to doing some crazy stuff, but do not wish to do anything related to death/stadium damage/or crazy sci-fi type stuff.

*** COACHING STAFF ***
Name: Nelson Yaschter (Head Coach)
Age: 55
Club Team: Galaxia (Cafundeu)
Bio: Took over the head coaching position midway through qualifying for World Cup 45, and led the Rockets on one of their traditional second half charges, going 5-1-1 down the stretch. If only that was good enough. Nelson is great with young players and is very eager to be highly successful at this level.

Name: Eddie Chapman (Assistant Coach)
Age: 44
Club Team: Loudon Leopards
Bio: Took over a Leopards team that was going downhill, and with some wise moves, turned the team around. Makes his debut at this level.

Name: Michael McCafferty (Assistant Coach)
Age: 44
Club Team: Brighton Bulls
Bio: McCafferty has all the makings of being a long-time assistant of Yaschter, because Michael also tends to prefer younger players. With Brighton, he took a “B” League team, and made them to a mid-pack NPL team with younger players. Chapman and McCafferty were teammates on the Rockets back end from World Cup 40-42 as well.

**** STARTING LINEUP ****

GOALKEEPER
Name: Chris Kusler
Position: GK
Age: 36
Number: 1
Club Team: Port Royal (Dancougar)
Background: Kusler has had a long international career that saw him begin in the 4th Di Bradini Cup, but much of that was as a backup keeper. It wasn’t until he took advantage of an injury to Corey Hennis in the middle of World Cup 43 qualifying did he get a regular chance to start. Once he got it, he never looked back. This will be it for Kusler, as even though he plans on playing a couple more years with Port Royal, and will have hung them up by World Cup 46. Oxen Cup 10 (if it happens) could be a possibility.

DEFENDERS:
Name: Jeremy Brooker (Assistant Captain)
Position: LB
Age: 37
Number: 5
Club Team: Dunboor FC (Cafundeu)
Background: Brooker has developed into one of the top defenders in the world, and plays exceptionally well for Dunboor FC, one of the top teams in Cafundeu. His defensive awareness makes him one of the best ever, and he is not afraid of physical contact as he remains in great shape. He has great leadership abilities, and will be in his fourth tour of duty as the assistant captain. Jeremy has been a staple on Newmanistan roster, his entry on the team always an automatic. Benefits from Yaschter’s familiarity with him in Cafundeu to maintain this roster spot in the midst of the youth movement.

Name: Shawn Loughran
Pos: LCB
Age: 18
Jersey #: 4
Club Team: Gamsuk FC (Daehanjeiguk)
Bio: Loughran is a future superstar who made the jump from sub to starter under Yaschter very impressively, and became the first Newmanistanian to sign with a club in Daehanjeiguk, which is quite an honor. He can be physical, but is very smart about it and has remarkable defensive awareness. Loughran has tremendous speed and agility, and is one of the first people to get to practice every morning and one of the very last to leave. He appeared on the Di Bradini 8 team. Many feel he will be Jeremy Brooker’s replacement in World Cup 46.

Name: Robert Selvy
Pos: RCB
Age: 20
Jersey#: 8
Club Team: Port Vigilence (Dancougar)
Bio: At 16, Selvy won the league’s Rookie of the Year award with the Mariners, which is pretty impressive because usually the voters in the media get consumed by goal scoring numbers. Robert has maintained a high level of steady performance since then. His strength is his best attribute and he plays smart. Recently transferred to Dancougar, and gets promoted from sub to starter for this Cup of Harmony.

Name: Alex Lampert
Pos: RB
Age: 28
Jersey #: 3
Club Team: Central United (Cafundeu)
Bio: Lampert was groomed in the outstanding Centralia defensive system and had a few strong years there before he was purchased by Central United of Cafundeu. Now he looks to follow the path of Jeremy Brooker and have success in the land of taxes. 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 very fast, with average height, and average physicality.

MIDFIELDERS:

Name: Kyle Carrigan
Position: LM
Age: 29
Number: 19
Club Team: Olympia Gladiators
Background: After an appearance in Di Bradini Cup 6, the younger brother of the great Kevin Carrigan finally got named to the national team, and furthermore, was named to the starting lineup in World Cup 44. He played well, and over the last four years we have continued to see progression from Kyle as he starts again. He is the delivery man on corners.

Name: Kevin Taylor
Pos: CAM
Age: 26
Jersey #: 53 (superstition)
Club Team: NAPPC (Nethertopia)
Bio: An experiement of Yaschter’s which is turning out quite well. Taylor had always played up front, even with NAPPC (Where he still does), but Nelson felt as though Kevin could play this role quite well. Taylor accepted the challenge and really blossomed under Yaschter.

Name: Scott LaFave
Pos: CDM
Age: 28
Jersey #: 7
Club Team: Sporting Lakeport (Dancougar)
Bio: We know what you’re thinking. LaFave is a defender, what’s he doing here?! Consider this another project of Yaschter’s. Nelson believe that LaFave has so much more potential then what he has shown in his career, and can be one of the best players in the world. He will be in a defensive role, which will make the transition smooth, but because he has a nice shot, the coach wants to open him up on the offense more, especially on set pieces. Scott is personally very excited about this.

Name: Billy Prescott
Pos: RM
Age: 18
Jersey #: 17 (just like his dad)
Club Team: Tel Aviv Sharks (Jeruselem)
Bio: His father is a legend. Most people somewhat familiar with our senior team know all about Brett Prescott, the aggressive enforcer who is assigned to the opponent’s top forward to rough them up and get in their head. Well, Billy has been watching and learning from the best. Now it is his time. Is Billy as good as his dad? We’ll see, but he sure plays like him, and he got off to a great start in qualifying. And he has that often forgotten thing his dad could do too, having a very good accurate shot. Oksana Ferris of Jeruselem is his girlfriend.

FORWARDS:

Name: Jeremy McAllister (“J-Mac”) *** TEAM CAPTAIN ***
Position: LS
Age: 37
Number: 20
Club Team: Sporting Lakeport (Dancougar)
Background: What more can be said about Jeremy McAllister. He is the all time leading scorer in Newmanistan interregional play, and is consistently a threat to score in every game, and has scored over 100 goals in international play, a number that could approach 120-125 by the end of this campaign. He has everything you want, speed, agility, height, great ball control, and he’s not afraid to be physical with opposing defenders. He is the man that opposing coaches will certainly be most concerned with stopping. He is also a terrific leader. At 37, J-Mac has lost some speed, but he still has that classic finisher’s touch. This will be it for him, though. Yaschter is well aware of what Jeremy brings to the team both on and off the field.

Name: Matthew Turner
Position: RS
Age: 18
Number: 11
Club Team: Loudon Leopards
Background: Who? Well, Matthew did play in Di Bradini Cup 8 as a starting forward and was expected to lead the team in scoring. That didn’t exactly happen, and Brian Carson seemed to lose interest. Not Nelson Yaschter. He believes that Turner is an amazing talent, and is very excited about him playing beside McAllister. He is fearless, and will take on any challenge in order to make a play for the team. The kind of player that normally becomes a fan favorite.

**** SUBSTITUTES ****

Name: Corey Hennis
Position: GK
Age: 36
Number: 81
Club Team: Christian Palestine (Jeruselem)
Background: Hennis got a lot experience early in his career, starting for the Di Bradini 4 and 5 teams, and then starting in World Cup 42 and half of World Cup 43. In was in the 43rd version where Hennis suffered a serious injury and missed the rest of qualifying. He has recovered and could have assumed his starting role back if only Chris Kusler didn’t grab it away and take off with it. Hennis has said that we would eye a possible return in World Cup 46, but in reality, this is probably his last Cup.

Name: Brett Taratino
Position: CB
Age: 28
Jersey #: 6
Club Team: South Charlotte Condors
Bio: A very tall and aggressive defender, Brett did get national team time in Di Bradini 6, but seemed to be a forgotten man after that. Reportedly, Brian Carson thought he was “too” aggressive. Yaschter, however, believes that he should be a regular on this team.

Name: Matthew Coulson
Pos: CB
Age: 18
Jersey#: 2
Club Team: Stroudsbourg Panthers
Bio: Coulson is average defender in terms of his appearance and height, but not in terms of heart. He is future captain material who does his best to lead by example. He has played one year in Stroudsbourg, a low-level NPL team, so he has gotten plenty of time defending star forwards. Played in Di Bradini 8 as a starter alongside Loughran and Selvy, and his naming to the team here could be the start of more regular appearances.

Name: Dale Stevens
Position: MID
Number: 16
Age: 32
Club Team: América (Cafundeu)
Bio: After two tours of duty as a starting midfielder in the World Cup, it may come as a surprise to some to see Stevens sent back into a role of a substitute, which is what he was at the start of WC45 qualifying, until Yaschter named him a starter. Now he is a sub again. He is an aggressive player and somewhat of an agitator like you would expect from a Prescott. He enjoys tackling hard.

Name: Jennifer Vilardi
Pos: ST
Age: 30
Jersey #: 15
Club Team: Tel Aviv Sharks (Jeruselem)
Bio: Jennifer and twin sister Shannon are a very exciting combination to watch, for many different reasons, and both will be on the national team once again in their familiar roles, Jennifer starting and Shannon on the bench. Jennifer is a very agile player, who doesn’t quite have the speed of McAllister or Carlson, so you’ll be seeing her more of a setup player for them, or a player who pounces on rebounds and deflections. Her vision is outstanding, and hopefully no defender will make the mistake in thinking she’s soft, because she can be just as physical as the guys. Expected to be appear in all, or mostly all, games as a sub.

Name: Shannon Vilardi
Position: ST
Number: 18
Age: 30
Club Team: Tel Aviv Sharks (Jeruselem)
Bio: She is the twin sister of Jennifer Vilardi, but so far she hasn’t gotten quite the same amount of interregional opportunity that her sister has. While that will continue here, Shannon recently moved to Jeruselem where she was able to, for the first time since playing in their backyard, be a teammate of Jennifer’s at the club level and it seems to have picked up her game. Also would be used a substitute midfielder, if need be.

Name: Brett Carlson
Position: ST
Age: 28
Number: 9
Club Team: Tenderville United (Nethertopia/Candelaria And Marquez)
Background: Carlson continues to remind people of Jeremy McAllister and that he will become the next great goal scorer of the nation. Starting his international career at the young age of 14, Carlson has been able to put up some impressive numbers and ranks second to McAllister in Newmanistan history in average goals per game played. He is reported to have developed a bit of an arrogant attitude over the last four or five years as success gets to his head. Not happy at all with being a sub.

**** RESERVES ****

Name: Jennifer Bennett
Pos: GK
Age: 17
Jersey #: 22
Club Team: Seminole Bay Gators
Bio: Jennifer becomes the first female goalkeeper ever to make any national team, so congratulations are certainly order even though the likelihood of her actually playing probably is very slim. Strange selection, given that she was only a third string keeper on the Di Bradini 8 roster. Yaschter feels she has more potential then the two others from that team, McClure and Graham, and wants her to experience international play. Could possibly be a World Cup 46 starter, and very likely to be the Di Bradini 9 starter.

Name: Trevor Marshall
Pos: CB
Age: 19
Jersey #: 25
Club Team: Centralia Cougars
Bio: Centralia just keeps producing the young defenders, and in Marshall, they have one very rough and aggressive player. Though just having average height, Trevor makes up for it by excellent strength. He had a tough time choosing becoming a hockey player or a football player, a decision that Centralia helped him make with their big contract offer and the prestige that comes along with playing in their system. Also appeared in Di Bradini 8, but not with the senior team.

Name: Brittany Prescott
Pos: MID
Age: 16
Jersey #: 71
Club Team: Dover City Mountaineers
Bio: The scary thing for the world, perhaps, is that the great Brett Prescott has more then just one kid. Brittany is a little young for regular duty, but deserves this spot on the team to get the experience. Don’t think for a second that she is any less a Prescott then her father or her brother, and in fact Brett jokes that Brittany is the tougher one just because Billy would make her that way in a whole sibling rivalry kind of thing. There is a 13-year old Brian Prescott, too, but we’ll wait to Di Bradini 9 for him.

Name: Michael Pattison
Pos: MID
Age: 17
Jersey #: 12
Club Team: Pocono City Capitals
Bio: A testament to the scouting staff of the Capitals to go out and find this Olympia native and bring all the way across the Empire to play in Pocono City. It is expected to pay off with Pattison, who has an outstanding shot. He could play up front more, but it is his toughness and better then you would expect defensive awareness that makes him better suited for the midfield, which was a big hole that Pocono City needed to address. Another Di Bradini 8 player making his senior debut under Yaschter, he can also play up front if needed.

West Newmanistan

27-03-2009, 06:16

West Newmanistan is obviously a puppet of Newmanistan, but here is some important information concerning this country:

Newmanistan is an Empire. West Newmanistan is a country that was taken over by anti-Empress forces that is to the Northwest of Newmanistan (it only borders Newmanistan on the northwest, not the entire western border). The anti-Empress forces have, on the surface, done this without much of a challenge. But to make a long story short, there’s a lot of behind the scenes stuff making that not really be the case.

Newmanistan does not recognize this country under the name “West Newmanistan” and continues to refer to it under the former name of “Mordavia”. If you are an opponent with an imperial style of government, your country would probably also not recognize the country as West Newmanistan and still refer to it as Mordavia as well. A democratic/socialist type government would likely refer to it as West Newmanistan.

Now let’s get to the roster! No domestic league has been formed yet.

Coach- Michael Dressler (46)

Starters: (the team will play a 4-4-2 more often then not)

GK: Sean Morrison #1 (27)
LB:Brad Shackford #4 (23)
LCB: Andrew Seymour #2 (26)- Alternate Captain
RCB: Thomas Morelock #5 (28)
RB: Kevin Moran #3 (25)
LM: Richard Borgetti #8 (28)
CAM: Corey Aguirre #9 (26)- Team Captain
CDM: Scott Hambright #14 (30)
RM: Shane DiCarlo #17 (29)- Most likely to be booked
LS: Michael Haller #10 (23)
RS: Chris Peckham #11 (24)- Is expected to be the leading scorer

Substitutes:

GK: Paul Jannelli #20 (21)
CB: Dominic DeFranceso #6 (28)
CB: Warren Morroni #7 (26)- Top choice of a defensive sub
MID: Edward Glass #13 (31)- Defensive midfield substitution
MID: Qin Chen #12 (26)- Offensive midfield substitution
ST: Neil McHale #16 (24)
ST: Josh Slattery #19 (27)- Preferred forward substitution
Roster Filler: (reserves)

GK: Jason McDonnell #21 (32)
CB: Donnie Willbrandt #22 (22)
CB: Richard Kuehl #23 (28)
MID: Eddie Howells #15 (19)
MID: Luke Chesky #24 (30)
ST: Ross Aarant #18 (24)

Style Modifier: -4
Home Stadium: The 33,000-seat Nicholls Stadium in Morton City. It might look like a small, old, run-down stadium to you, but it actually is the best stadium in the country.

RP PERMISSIONS:
Select my scorers — Yes
Give out yellow cards to my players — Yes
Give out red cards to my players — Yes, but no more then one more then you give yourself.
RP injuries to my players — Yes, but only say they were hurt. I will determine the severity.
Godmod injuries — No
Godmod scoring events — Yes
Godmod other events — TG your idea for approval.

Newmanistan

27-03-2009, 06:31

Do not support this comapnies decision to advertise on the forums by clicking their link now or in the future.

Newmanistan

27-03-2009, 06:32

(In Chris Kusler's hotel room)

Prescott: What's up with the video game, Chris? Is this how keepers get ready for big games?

Kusler: I've always been a fan of video games. This is the new World Cup Football from NA Sports, pretty cool game.

Prescott: Wanna play a game?

Kusler: Sure, just as soon as I finish setting up this league here.

Prescott: Uh, ok. Say, that group you put us in looks awfully like our Cup of Harmony Group.

Kusler: It is Billy. That's the great thing about this game, you can do whatever you want with it. So I've taken the 18 teams that will be in the Cup of Harmony and assigned them to three groups. Look, I can even put groups A and B in Peisandros and Group C in Allemenschen.

Prescott: Cool I suppose. I like to match up Newmanistan and Jeruselem with this though.

Kusler: Oh, there's time for that. But this is a special league. I have this file here named 2.0.7, and when I apply it to the league, it generates scores for the games. Here, check this out (shows a demonstration).

Prescott: What is that strange number you put in that two-oh-seven.

Kusler: It's a number that is compiled by taking a value associated with a nation's world ranking, and a little something I add based on how much I like the nation's media.

Prescott: Who cares about their media. That's weird.

Kusler: I've taken the real schedule and after every game that is really played, I am going to simulate a matchday and we will see how similar or different things can be.

Prescott: I'd imagine there will be a lot of difference between a video game and the real world.

Kusler: I've done one big thing different though.

Prescott: What's that?

Kusler: You know I hate this "best two out of three" third place teams thing. I'm doing it the Cup of Harmony 35 way, and am doing an eight vs nine play-in game. All the third place teams will advance. I think it's better that way.

Prescott: Yeah, I think it should be like that too. When you take the two best third place teams, usually the third place team in the most competitive group is the one that gets left out, because in the least competitive groups the top teams beat up on the lower teams, where that doesn't happen in the stronger group.

Kusler: Exactly, you see they realized that eight years ago. Anyway, I'm all set up now. I also think I will value media scoring a little more then normal.

Prescott: Why? I don’t know why you care about the media so much.

Kusler: Just to be different. Anyway, want to play a game?

Prescott: Sure. I want Jeruselem.

Kusler: Figured you’d say that. Newmanistan vs Jeruselem it is.

Secristan

27-03-2009, 10:12

SDOS; PLAYERS INFURIATED OVER CONDITIONS

We were informed last night where we will be heading for the Cup of Harmony, and who we will be playing. The highlight of the schedule is certainly the finale of the group stage against our regional rival, Newmanistan. Additionally, the team will renew acquaintances with Logria, who they met twice during qualifying. Of course, had Logria won their final qualifying match over Jeru FC, then the Millionaires would not be here at all. Hypocria, Taeshan, and West Zirconia round out a pretty strong group overall. It’s a tough list of opponents, but it is hardly the worst part. Our players will be forced to compete in the disgusting conditions of a field by a swamp. Marcus Kingsley, of the Secristan Department of Health says that lawsuits could be in the works if any player or spectator is injured by purple-stinging nellies, which are rampant in the area. “I really don’t care if this is a developing country or not. To play on this field completely disgraces the Cup of Harmony, but I do not hold Allemenschen responsible. No. I hold those who approved this country of hosting the Cup of Harmony responsible. Should there be one player who sustains an injury due to the nellies, or to shoddy groundskeeping, those players will be filing lawsuits against the Executive World Cup Committee for any compensation. Compensation could be read as missed club league games and missed opportunities for endorsement contracts that may be a result of their injury. Playing here is an outrage, and I’ve recommended to the Secristan Department of Sports that they withdraw from the competition because of it. However, they refuse to do so, of course.” Kate Simpson gives us the official SDOS response, “The Cup of Harmony should be the second greatest competition in the world, trailing only the actual World Cup itself. We had offered beautiful, state-of-the-art facilities for the hosting of these games, and instead they chose this piece of shit place. Warehouse 17 in Rennidan (World Bowl reference) looks like a paradise compared to this dump.” However Simpson said the thought of boycotting the Cup of Harmony never really occurred to her, “It’s too big of a competition for us to pass up. Things may have been better in Peisandros. I can’t believe that our great, wealthy athletes will have to lower themselves to play in these conditions.”

It hasn’t only been the Secristani government that has complained about the playing conditions in which they will have play soccer. Defender Eric Fraser, who’s girlfriend Stacie Kerrigan plays for Cassadaigua, gave us his take on it, “Stacie got to play in the World Cup, and got to play in such wonderful beautiful stadiums in Demot. That was truly a country worthy of having the World Cup. The Cup of Harmony is not supposed to be a large step down from that. It usually isn’t, but I don’t know what they were thinking. It’s like they thought this place was Daehanjeiguk or something. At least there you would play in nice stadiums. This place is pathetic. And this is the best field they have in this little shit country? I thought the slums of Amherst were an embarrassment. They look good compared to this.” Fellow defender Chris Carmin has his own take on the country, “The fields are terrible, but I was hoping that their women would be easy to purchase. And they were, but both ladies that I hooked up with may have looked hot, but they were absolutely lame once it came time for them to earn their money. I hate it here.”

West Zirconia

27-03-2009, 20:35

http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm1/Starblayde/ediraf/WZrcHome4.jpg

West Zirconia shall send its unsuccessful World Cup squad to be unsuccessful in the Cup of Harmony.

The squad therefore shall be:

GK Steve Gray (Atlético Insular, Cafundéu)
DL Ben Phillips(c) (Mort Park)
DC Lewis Fox (St. Andrew's)
DC Russell Munro (Bradley Hornets)
DR Paul Paterson (Green Island, Candelaria And Marquez)
ML Ian Hawthorne (Serrano, Cafundéu)
MC Patrick Williams (Bradley Swifts)
MC Ed French (CR Submiria, Cafundéu)
MR Anthony McGowan (Mizuno no Juuichi, Dancougar)
FC Martin Forster (Pocono City, Newmanistan)
FC Alun Lydiate (Mort Park)

Substitutes:

Goalkeepers:
John Hopkins (Ashland, Newmanistan)
Tom Lyons (Bradley Hornets)

Defenders:
Sean Watson (Mort Park)
Ryan Gregory (Bradley Hornets)
Andy Turner (Banks)

Midfielders:
Damion Hyde (New Toronto)
Lee Pritchard (Banks)
Andy Scott (Dover City, Newmanistan)

Forwards:
Jerome Bennett (Taylor's Cross)
Liam Vernon (Banks)
Steve Griffiths (Metropolitano, Cafundéu)

The usual permissions apply - everything except godmods. Style +1, a sort-of counter-attacking style.

The McLaughlin Islands

27-03-2009, 20:37

As for the McLaughlin Islands, they too name an unchanged squad, namely:

GK David McLaughlin
DL Paul McLaughlin
DC Laurence McLaughlin
DC Stuart McLaughlin
DR Robin McLaughlin
ML Lewis McLaughlin
MC Philip McLaughlin
MC Steve McLaughlin
MR Felix McLaughlin
FW Mark McLaughlin
FW Martin McLaughlin

The substitutes will be as follows:

Goalkeepers: Peter McLaughlin, Scott McLaughlin

Defenders: Simon McLaughlin, Nigel McLaughlin, Trevor McLaughlin

Midfielders: Graham McLaughlin, Jamie McLaughlin, Nick McLaughlin

Forwards: Edward McLaughlin, Russell McLaughlin, Mike McLaughlin

Everything allowed except godmods. No sex either - the concept of outside relationships is unknown to them. Style modifier +1.

Norwellia

27-03-2009, 21:11

Spiffy kit, West Zirconia!

Sorry, that's all.

Nova Hypocria

27-03-2009, 22:11

It was one of Hypocriair’s newer jets, small but full of all the luxurious mod-cons that kept tourists happy until the crushing disappointment of actually landing in the Autocracy set in. This one was cruising merrily along at 30,000 feet above Atlantian Oceania, outbound from Drax International, and far below the continent of Verdana was about to give way to the cool blue of the Aethyrea Channel. They were nearing their destination.

FAH President Adam Scott still cursed his rotten luck even now. There hadn't been a snowball’s chance in the Anathematic Republics that he was going to Allemenschen for the draw so he had sent an assistant armed with a mobile phone in his place. And through the muffled sounds of buzzing chomping, screaming, throwing up and assorted other noises he’d rather not dwell on he caught the group draw, which itself was fairly depressing, pairing the Hyppos with reigning Cup of Harmony champions Newmanistan, world cup qualifying opponents West Zirconia, Taeshan and Secristan, both still smarting from missing out on the world cup proper, and debutants Logria. And he heard something else too. Something bad. No. Something ruddy terrible. The Autocracy had been drawn to play in Allemenschen. For five matchdays at the very least. Rotten bloody luck indeed.

Scott felt the movement of the plane as it descended towards the brownish land below. He looked out the window and saw what could have been the airport. There was a long strip of a slightly different shade of brown around which a number of ramshackle buildings clustered. Certainly that seemed to be what the pilot was heading for. Whether it was or not, and short of any instructions, that’s exactly where the pilot chose to put down. And they landed with an almighty squelch as the plane hit the swampy ground. As the jet continued down what was assumed to be a runaway it started to skid off to the left and as he watched the world rush by at this slightly unexpected angle Scott said a silent to prey to whatever saint of the Archregimancy might actually be taking an interest that he might live through this unpleasent little fieldtrip.

After what seemed like an eternity the jet ground to a soggy halt, now almost facing back the way it had come. Without any docking gate or mobile steps the crew had to inflate the emergency ramps and the Autocracy’s finest footballers and their assorted entourage made their entrance to the 37th Cup of Harmony on a giant yellow slide. Scott somehow doubted those now arriving in Peisandros were having the same fun time. He walked away from the plane, desperately trying not to lose his expensive shoes in the brown gunk that sucked at his every step. Not all that far from where he stood the world cup itself was being contested in the vast Capitalizt arenas to the east and the elegant stadia of Demot to the west. Same region, but it may as well have been on a different planet.

Behind him a motley group of players, coaches and cabin crew were emptying the luggage hold. Others tried to stop their suitcases disappearing into some of the deeper areas of swamp as they were flung from the hold. He scanned the horizon for any sign of some kind of welcoming committee or just another human being, fat chance in this particular neighbourhood. It suddenly struck him that the horizon seemed to be getting higher. “Dammit!” His cry caught the attention of the fitness coach and the co-pilot who grabbed an arm each and dragged the rapidly sinking FAH President out of the goo. Great, just great. Frankly he didn’t really care for how this tournament’s preparations had started. Or for how he was currently being eyed up by the purple . . . thing that had just appeared in the mud nearby. Oh why hadn’t he stayed in Hypocrium? Wait. That was it!

“Everyone, can I have your attention? Gather around. Leave them for a minute, come on.” A throng of coaches, players, officials and airline crew grouped around him. “Frankly i’ve had just about enough of this place already. I can’t stand it anymore and why should I? Why should any of us? The Autocracy is just an hour or two away. We’ll commute. Simple as that. So everyone back on the plane and let’s get the hell outta here. Whaddya say?”

Expecting a chorus of adulation and approval he was a little put out by the silence that greeted his inspired idea. Instead they all just stared at him with their mouths hanging open in shock. Well not so much at him as past him. He spun around just in time to see the nose-cone of the jet disappear into the swamp, following the rest of the plane down into the brown ooze. “Oh that’s just perfect.”

Greal

27-03-2009, 23:04

Cup of Harmony Schedule
MD1: Greal VS Sarzonia
MD2: Greal VS The McLaughlin Islands
MD3: Greal VS Koseli Cumhuriyetler
MD4: Greal VS Edward City
MD5: Greal VS Kosovoe

Greal VS Sarzonia Preview

Greal will be playing a formidable Sarzonia today. Greal and Sarzonia have never played each other before and it is assured both sides will do their very best to win today's match. The Greali are looking to qualify and at least get far into the Cup of Harmony to at least improve their chances of qualifying in WC46. Sarzonia is probably looking to do the same thing. In Ross Trent's first interview as Greal CoH37 team, he vows to qualify at the very least and win the CoH37 at the very most. The Greali television audience is expect to be small in the first match. About eight hundred million viewers and will pick up as the CoH37 advances on. Weather Service reports sunny skies today, so don't take your umbrellas!

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

"Welcome back guys!" said Ross.

"Thanks dude. What do you predict to today's match?" asked Jeff, grinning at the sight of his friends arriving.

"A narrow win for Greal."

"I predicted an out right win. You coward." laughed Roger.

"I have my reasons."

"It'll be tough for sure." said Ethan, coming into the room holding tons of bags. He added impatiently "Can someone help me?"

"Sure." Jeff helped take some of the bags into the kitchen.

"What do you think of my place?" asked Roger.

"A bit small." remarked Ethan's voice from the kitchen.

"Sarzonia's team looks determined."

"Yes, all our opponents always look like that." said Ross, scribbing something onto his notepad. He would keep both eyes on the match.

Peisandros

27-03-2009, 23:23

Stadia for Groups A and B in Peisandros

In somewhat stark contrast to Allemenschen, we have stadiums! And nice ones too.

For Group A, the two used will be the wonderful and prestigious..
Peisandros Bowl, Delphi. Capacity: 44,900.
People of Ephesum Stadium, Ephesum. Capacity: 66,500.

Group B has the joy of playing in our capital and also the newest stadium.
National Sports Arena, Olympia. Capacity: 71,350.
ATI (Automobile Transport, International) Stadium, Thasos (brand new!). Capacity: 59,800.

The Sandrian portion of ticket sales has gone extremely well, with huge interest in seeing foreign teams playing on our soil.

If those teams playing within Peisandros have any questions regarding their visit, do not hesitate to contact either the Peisandros Football Association directly, or else the Minister of Internal Affairs may be of some help.

We do hope you enjoy yourselves!

(OOC: Scorination for Group C will take place closer to 0100 GMT! Sorry for the wee delay.)

Allemenschen

28-03-2009, 01:20

President Koryatsky was busily reading the daily news when he came across some odd notations in the side column. He was curious as to what they really meant, having not seen anything like it in a very long time. And lacking the clear mental capacity to interpret it, he turned to the Prime Minister Kowak, who was soundly asleep snoring the whole while.

"Kowak!" he shouted to no avail. Lacking any other non-violent means to wake him, he pulled out Android #4129, professional taser shooter.

"YEOW!" Kowak yelled as he darted up out of the chair.

"That's not supposed to happen... but now that you're awake, I need to resolve a question."

"Shoot away," Kowak said, rubbing the taser stun bruises.

"What the %$#^ is this?"

"That? Oh, that's the scores for the recent Cup of Harmony matches. All of them from Peisandros I see."

"Didn't we submit something for this a long time ago? What happened?"

Kowak took a while to think about it. "I think we won the bid."

"Oh, we did?" Koryatsky said with delight. "How did the androids win the whole thing if they're still playing the matches?"

"Well, we won the right to host this thing, but not to win it."

"But we're hosting it. That means we win it, right?"

"There's two hosts, I hardly find it possible to have two winners. And besides that, the team decided not to compete."

"What?" Koryatsky stared gappingly at the Prime Minister. "Decided not to compete?"

"Well, they suck. The latest records show it. The only reason why they were so good in the BoF was because those purple-stinging nellies were playing on their behalf."

"Illegally!" Koryatsky wryly added. "Those creepies are still on the loose too!"

"Serves them right," Kowak said, reading the paper now. "They're national heroes, and we're throwing them out like trash. In any case, whoever was responsible for submitting the application to submit the team for competition in the CoH lost the papers in the Bureau."

"Lost the papers? But that's where they turned in the damned papers! How could they lose it? Couldn't they have taken another one? Just for the sake of it?"

"I'm sorry. Teams only get one application. Must have had spies in there, you know. Nethertopia's in the competition, and heavens knows that they must have cheated to get into this competition, you know."

"I'll bet they hired the nellies!" Koryatsky exclaimed. "That's why this country is so messed! Nethertopians!"

"Right..." Kowak said, giving Koryatsky an odd glare. "And that's the only reason, I suppose. Anyway, there's been another cheese protest outside that big piece of dirt we call a stadium. Apparently, protesters say that having rich snobs roll all over them is just too much. Secristan, apparently."

"Wait... cheese protests?"

"Yeah, you know. The one where people throw hot molten cheese at you," Kowak said, pulling out a bowl of hot molten cheese from behind his chair. He instantly threw it at Koryatsky who screamed loudly like a little girl getting her fix.

"Why?" Koryatsky asked in a high-pitched squeal.

"Well, that's just a demonstration," Kowak said. "You should always have your cheese at hand. You'll never know when things might get a little too hot for cheese. Anyway, they apparently tossed cheese all over the rich snobs as they were getting out for their first match. Heaven knows how that one turned out, because the papers didn't report any of the matches from Allemenschen. Probably because they couldn't find the lines."

"Wait, we have a football stadium?" Koryatsky asked, surprised to imagine having a football stadium.

"It's that dump just outside the city. By the swamps."

"That's a football stadium?"

"Well, those chaps from the WCC said it would work. Figures, those figurative speech people from that Dreamed Realm. Said it would take some work with it..."

"I think they meant for us to build a stadium."

"Wait, we have to build one?" Kowak said in response, obviously surprised. "Why?"

"To keep out the freaking purple-stinging nellies! That's why!"

"Oh... I hadn't thought of that. But... then half of the stadium's spectators wouldn't be able to watch the game!"

"Well, you'd have to put in stands for the supporters, right?"

"I mean the purple-stinging nellies," Kowak said in a clarifying manner. "God bless 'em all, they're such avid football supporters. Too bad this government is trying to persecute them."

"Persecute? They're wild animals! How do you persecute wild animals?"

"They're citizens all the same. They helped make this country you know. In more ways than what you can imagine."

"How?"

"They're always writing up the laws."

"No wonder the laws in the country are so crummy!" Koryatsky yelled, in some ecstatic state of eureka.

"Right... and just a while ago, it was the Nethertopians..."

"Well, the Nethertopians hired the nellies. So it's still the Nethertopians." Koryatsky paused for a moment to think about the whole dilemma. "Yes, we ought to do something about the Nethertopian problem, before they take over our country."

"Right..." Kowak said, reading the paper. "Well, if you want to know how they did today, here's the scores."

"Read them."

Group A
West Newmanistan 0-1 Quintessence of Dust
Terreiro de Ogum 0-1 Akbarabad
Peisandros 1-1 Nethertopia

Group B
Sarzonia 1-3 Greal
Edward City 1-2 Kosovoe
Koseli Cumhuriyetler 2-0 The McLaughlin Islands

Peisandros

28-03-2009, 02:05

Results for Group C

Newmanistan 3-1 Hypocria
Taeshan 1-0 West Zirconia
Logria 2-3 Secristan

Quintessence of Dust

28-03-2009, 03:49

The New Cleethorpes Enquirer
Fucko and Madison in shock outburst

Edward "Big Ted" Large, newly appointed head coach of the Quintessential national football team, warned against premature optimism after the side recorded their first victory in six matches in their first outing under his direction. After their worst World Cup performance to date, the side is now playing in their first Cup of Harmony, and put a much-needed under their belt at the Peisandros Bowl in Delphi, Peisandros, beating West Newmanistan 1-0. Marina Sundqvist vindicated her selection ahead of Roger Longhorn, scoring in the 16th minute.

And a curious political alliance has developed between Secretary of State George Madison and Michel Fucko, Chair in Thoughts of Systems of History at The Human University, arch political opponents who found themselves on the same side as they launched into criticism of the millions of sovereigns spent spending the team to Peisandros for the competition. Madison, who played a key role in President Eli F. Baker's 24-state wipeout of Fucko in the 2004 Presidential elections, said that he found "a lot of good sense" in the former Social Democratic Presidential candidate's remarks, which criticised Quintessence of Dust for competing with West Newmanistan (which he incorrectly referred to as 'New Westmanistan').

In an address to protestors at some big leftist jerkoff event, Fucko said, "We in Quintessence of Dust have known the terrible cost of colonial oppression. By beating the New Westmanistanis [sic] in a sporting contest, we have contributed to the counterpsychic sexual underrational overrational exocratic semonomological vituperance of the Westmanistani [sic] aggression against them." He argued that the footballers should have refused to play, thereby forfeiting the match to "the deserving champions of postcolonialist metafreedom".

Fucko's interest in football, and criticism of the country's growing interest in the game, has become prominent through his frequent exchanges on popular shows such as The Evening Review and Sport Gort with Alyssa Banana, where he has sparred with Secretary of Sport Alfred Cynus on many occasions. Tonight, Secretary Cynus said he would not dignify Fucko's remarks with "the oxygen of publicity". Meanwhile, Madison unexpectedly stepped into the fray, agreeing with Fucko before launching another veiled assault on President James Dwight.

Madison and Dwight's working relationship has almost completely broken down in recent months. The long personal and political friendship the two men forged in combat, in a prisoner of war camp, and then in the State Department, has not survived Dwight's ascent to the Presidency - a post many believe Madison, the more hardline Liberal, coveted for himself. Madison has called the creation of the Department of Sport "a craven indulgence", and personally protested at the first match in the QuinTel Not-Really-Very-Premier League. While Dwight has refrained from publicly breaking ranks with his Secretary of State, other members of the "kitchen Cabinet" that meet in the Quite Nice House have been more forthright, variously calling Madison a "gasbag", a "worked-up old crank", and "a bit of a dick".

In Peisandros, the players said they were not concerned with such things. "The issue of West Newmanistan's independence is absolutely nothing to do with us," snapped new captain Peter Rogers when asked at a pre-game press conference. "This should be about football and nothing else." Edward "Big Ted" Large said that he had more important things to concern himself with in brief remarks delivered after the game. He also warned against overconfidence: "We're facing teams that have beaten us in recent competition, not to mention Peisandros, with the home advantage, so checking off a first victory is only a very small step."

Many criticised Large for making too few changes to the squad that managed only one victory in 14 games during World Cup 45. Though he accepted the resignation of captain Theo Littlefellow, he and 9 others from the WC45 squad have been retained. Nor has the starting XI changed substantially, with long-time understudy Benjamin Chang earning his fourth cap after taking over in goal from Winchester Furman, who endured an abysmal time in recent games and retired from football to open up a cake shop. Also dropped is Roger Longhorn, whose goal drought was supplemented by two red cards. Longhorn returns home to play for the Highmark City Blues as they hope to improve on last season's disappointing 4th place in the Not-Really-Very-Premier League.

The key additions to yesterday's team were Brikk Schitthausen, the solidly built centreback who proved key to Greschmeier Mountain Sports Club's hugely successful season, who replaces Micky Marberger. Marberger, whose disciplinary record was a subject of constant criticism, has not been formally dropped, instead returning to his band to play in the WorldVision contest; it is not known if he will win back his place in the squad. Schitthausen had an excellent game, playing well alongside Ronald Johnson, the Rahlia Regals defender who broke into the national team during World Cup 45 qualifying following Charlie Williams' retirement, and the two managed to neutralise the West Newmanistani strikers throughout.

Perhaps the most striking - literally - addition to the team, though, has been Goshinho, the young talent whose explosive season with New Cleethorpes Athletic brought the crowds at the New Cleethorpes Municipal Sporting Ground to their feet. Goshinho featured as a replacement for Young in the second half, playing with dynamism and whipping a free-kick just over the crossbar. "Og ég fæ blóðnasir!" he said after the game, "E amanha a chuva levara! En ég stend alltaf upp!! O sangue que a luta deixou derramar!!!"

Sundqvist's goal came with just 15 minutes left on the clock after a strong defensive game by West Newmanistan had frustrated Dennis Young into a needless booking. Playing just behind him, Sundqvist seemed remarkably composed for a young woman of 20 breaking into the national team for the first team, and she eventually succeeded in finding a crack in the tight defensive wall at the back, scrambling to side-foot in after Goshinho's mazy run. The goal was not the most elegant, but was greeted with enthusiasm by the Quintessential fans in attendance, all seven of them (though it later turned two were merely ornithologists on holiday, who had wandered into the stadium when they thought they saw a Lesser-Crested Greater-Spotted Gnark perched on a crossbar). Unfortunately, Goshinho's exuberant celebrations startled the Gnark, which flew into Ronald Johnson's face, causing him to trip and sprain his ankle. He was replaced by Cecilia Colombo, and is expected to miss the next two matches.

Sundqvist was modest afterwards, praising her teammates, and said she was especially pleased for Peter Rogers, who won his first game as captain. Many had been critical of the decision to give him Littlefellow's armband: one poster on the sports blog He's Had An Absolute Holocaust said it risked "putting all our eggs in one basket". A reckless yellow card notwithstanding, though, he put together a composed game and rallied his players well.

Now, Quintessence of Dust travel to Ephesum to face Nethertopia, where the emphasis will be on leashing striker Erik Visser. Johnson's absence raises the pressure for Schitthausen, and Large has chosen to support Dino Achten in defensive midfield with the addition of Ólafur Kjartansson, another debutant, to play alongside him. The 26-year old was excited at the prospect of representing his country. "As we all know, my sister is the best extreme ironer in the country, beating Dino in the final, so it'll be great to play alongside and show him that Björk doesn't have all the sporting talent in our family."

Quintessence of Dust 1 (0): Chang - Littlefellow; Johnson [Colombo]; Schitthausen; Yellowback - Achten - Jensen; Rogers (c) http://nswiki.net/images/Yellow_card.png; Renard [Cockbadger] - Young http://nswiki.net/images/Yellow_card.png [Goshinho]; Sundqvist http://nswiki.net/images/thumb/Soccerball_shade.png/13px-Soccerball_shade.png

West Newmanistan 0 (0): Morrison - Shackford; Seymour; Morelock http://nswiki.net/images/Yellow_card.png [Morroni]; Moran - Borgetti; Hambright [Glass]; Aguirre (c); DiCarlo - Haller [Slattery http://nswiki.net/images/Yellow_card.png]; Peckham

Probable team vs. Nethertopia: Chang - Littlefellow; Schitthausen; Yellowback - Achten; Kjartansson - Jensen; Rogers (c); Renard - Young; Sundqvist. Subs: Humperdinck, Colombo, J. van Himpfelschnnoorrddt, Hudson, Cockbadger, Goshinho, Huang.

Taeshan

28-03-2009, 04:09

Purple Knights Open With A Win

Yet again the Knights find themselves in the Cup Of Harmony. But this time the Purple Knights opened up on the right foot by shuting out, and beating West Zirconia the team they beat tow win the Championship just a few years ago in the homeland of the team they now have to play in game two of the Group Round, Newmanistan. The stars seem to be aligning just right this year again as the Knights again look to make a run for the championship by taking it all.

The final score of the game was 1-0. Of course the Knights won the game by playing some great defense, and keeping the offensive up just enough to find a singular goal that would win the game. The loan goal on the day was scored of the "Golden Shoe" of young star attacker Brian Ying Uing. The Knights then continued to strive to defeat the Zirconians, and they easily swept past them winning on some great defensive play.

Kosovoe

28-03-2009, 04:18

Blue Tornado Defeat The City

The first game always seems to come to bite you in the back. Even when you win sometimes it marrs the rest of the season with some bad breaks, but then again the Tornado are of course in an easier group then some of the other teams in the tournament so right now the ball is in out court and hopefully we can shoot the three.

The highly explosive Tornado shrowded the game with there speed, and fastness of there offense and took total control of the game and went after the other team the squad from Edward City like Crusaders after Jeruselem. The Tornado wanted to get at something for not making it into the World Cup and the poor young squad from Edward City was that very team standing in there way on opening night. The Tornado minorly injured half the starting eleven of the Edward City team. If your a Kosovoe fan even you thought they went to far with this performance. Hoepefully for us the wrath will continue.

Greal

28-03-2009, 06:47

Cup of Harmony Schedule
MD1: Greal VS Sarzonia (3-1)
MD2: Greal VS The McLaughlin Islands
MD3: Greal VS Koseli Cumhuriyetler
MD4: Greal VS Edward City
MD5: Greal VS Kosovoe

Greal wins in first match over Sarzonia

It was certainly a tough game, but Greal emerged in the end as the clear winner, with Michael Istoma scoring once and Howard Anderson taking the other two goals. Sarzonia got a little honor from scoring once late in the game when it seemed like Greal would win with Sarzonia scoring nothing. Sebastian Expan was absent during the entire match due to an injury suffered in practice matches by the team. Today's impressive win has awareness of CoH37 in Greal high. The audience, before the match was over, was estimated to be around 990 million viewers. Greal will be playing The McLaughlin Islands tomorrow.

Greal 3
Michael Istoma (26')
Howard Anderson (41') (72)'

Sarzonia 1

In other matches...

Edward City was beaten narrowly by Kosovoe 1-2.

Koseli Cumhuriyetler slaughtered The McLaughlin Islands 2-0.

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

"That was a fun match." remarked Ross, confirming what everyone knew. Greal had won.

"Who is our next opponent?" asked Ethan, looking cheered up by the win.

Before Ross could answer, he was cut off by Roger "The McLaughlin Islands, who have lost to Koseli Cumhuriyetler."

"They shouldn't be to hard to defeat." pointed out Jeff.

"Don't dismiss them that fast." warned Ross.

"What always happens in any soccer match occasionally?" asked Roger to everyone else.

"A underdog occasionally wins." said Ethan.

"Like Greal in CoH35."

"Where are we meeting next time?" asked Jeff.

"My place then, unless you want to try out the bar."

"No thanks." said Jeff suddenly shy.

Akbarabad

28-03-2009, 07:08

Akbarabad start of on the right foot.

Akbarabad Press, AP): Akbarabad have begun their Cup of Harmony campaign with a welcome 1-0 win over higher ranked Terreiro de Ogum. The team however did not look all that convincing with Terreiro de Ogum dominating large periods of play and only a Samin Akbar second half strike seperating the teams.

Terreiro de Ogum 0-1 Akbarabad
Samin Akbar (64')

The teams next match, is a tough encounter against host Peisandros who are also higher ranked. Peisandros drew their first match and they will thus be hungrier for a win to make up for the lost points.

Secristan

28-03-2009, 10:56

SWAMP VICTORY

The third meeting between Secristan and Logria in a little under a year deserved much better playing conditions. They’ve met each other on the other’s turf, with Logria able to experience the wonderful conditions of Monopoly Stadium in Amherst. Even their stadium was worthy of international competition, and they are no different then Allemenschen in terms of their experience at this level. It isn’t just us either, that is appalled by this sorry excuse for a field. The nation of Hypocria, who we will playing next has opted to do much of their training in their homeland, and commute to Allemenschen simply for their games. That’s not as difficult as it might seem given the fact that the two countries are in very close proximity with one another. It has led to rumors that Secristan may do the same thing and look for an Atlantea Oceania nation in which to stage practices and commute back and forth as well. The nation that has been frequently tied into such rumors is Dancougar. Several Secristani players play professionally in the land of the Black Wings, making it a logical choice of the Secristan Department of Sports. It would not be seen as an intelligent move to rent a field in a nation that is also competing in the Cup of Harmony. Katie Simpson, our SDOS representative has said that the team is exploring that very possibility, “With our short time here, we have been disgusted with that we have had to deal with. James Rogan, one of our true leader has been stung by nellies twice already. Carl Perino is experiencing a pretty nasty infection from being stung while he was on the sideline and we won’t be able to use him as a substitute in our next game because of it. We have advised him to consider legal action. If we can limit our time here to just the games, it would be fantastic. Of course this is not an easy decision, because all the travel will get to you. But we need to get our priorities straight. We have come here with what we feel is a team capable of winning the Cup of Harmony, and if we do not win it, or do not advance out of this group, it is not going to be because of non-soccer related issues. Therefore, we are looking into setting up a home base in Dancougar. We recently had our fifth player (Shawn Wooliver) agree to a contract with a club there, so it has the makings of being a nice place for us to base operations temporarily.” Coach Brendan Bowman was originally against the idea, but after one game is now in favor. “We will have to be prepared for the nellies during the game and the best way to do that is to practice in those conditions as well. After a week of doing that though, we just can not take it anymore. We need to get out of here. I’ve been stung three times and it’s not fun. Players need to be focusing on their preparations not swatting away nellies. This Cup of Harmony will go down in infamy as far as it being played in Allemenschen. That’s not really fair to Peisandros. I hear they have nice stadiums to play in.”

Because of these conditions, it is very easy to get side-tracked from the matter at hand, which is winning games in the Cup of Harmony. However, the Millionaires did that last night, edging Logria 3-2 in the opener. After going 1-1-0 against the World Cup 45 debutant, Secristan fell behind 1-0 in the 3rd minute on a score by Jeff Harris. It looked like a promising start for our opponent, but that shot would be the only one on target to make it to keeper Michael Rossiter for over half an hour. By the time he faced his next shot, the Millionaires had gone up 2-1 on goals by Kevin Walker (on a sweet pass from Rogan) in the 14th minute and Curtis Coleman in the 25th. James Rogan put Secristan up by two in the 62nd minute, but a Robert Woollingsby strike in the 72th would mean a tense finish. The Millionaires held on, and get the 3-2 victory and the all-important three points that come with it. Next up will be Hypocria, who fell to Newmanistan 3-1 in their game. The SDOS reports below average purchases for the pay-per-view telecast of the match. This is believed to be because it was the third such meeting between the countries, and let’s face it, Logria is no Krytenia, or other power that might excite our people. Hypocria, despite being the first time we have seen them compete in the World Cup, actually has a pretty long history, and are returning for a lengthy hiatus from international competition. The Secristan Department of Sports only anticipates that the match will draw slightly more purchases then the Logria match, because most Secristanis are unaware of their past successes. From what we have heard, they didn’t have much of them. A discount package has been offered as anyone who purchases the Hypocria match will receive 20 rusas off the price of the match versus Newmanistan, which is expected to be the high-earner.

Nova Hypocria

28-03-2009, 12:04

Wide Of The Post
The Hyppos’ No: 1 Fanzine, 17 subscribers and rising . . .

The Karela Fella

It’s no surprise with an ex centreback in charge that the Hyppos’ takil ways of the past have been slightly curbed. Krytie coach Peter Pojencic was hired with the remit to add some steel to the side’s always fragile backline. So no more beautiful flowing football. No more losing in style. This is all about winning. Winning ugly? Perhaps. But winning nonetheless. Which is why when the Autocracy’s finest took to the muddy field against reigning Cup of Harmony champions Newmanistan they had a different look to them. Out had gone tricksy wingers Kilian and Sears to be replaced by more defensive minded players and the 4-2-3-1 was now looking suspiciously 4-5-1. The plan seems to be to get the ball out wide and then sling it in to the big man up front. Support may come from midfield if he’s lucky. But keeping them out at the other end is the priority.

Working From Home

After their horrendous ordeal of arriving in Allemenschen the nation’s foremost footballers and the rest of their party have been airlifted back to the Autocracy for rest and recuperation after the trauma of the loose of several lucky pairs of boots, two pieces of slightly expensive luggage and one very expensive Hypocriair jet. “Rest assured we’ll be sending whoever # whatever at the Allemenschen FA an itemised bill,” said FAH President Adam Scott. In an effort to avoid a repeat of the fiasco the players and coaching staff will now be parachuted, after Hypocriair refused permission for any more of their fleet to even attempt to land, into Allemenschen prior to each game and then picked up, or maybe evacuated is a better word, after each match.

Facilities for Hire

And never shy to pounce on a money making scheme (or rip off someone else’s idea) the FAH are looking to take advantage of the geography of Atlantian Oceania by offering to rent out training facilities and accommodation in the Autocracy to all other national teams who have had the misfortune to have been drawn to play in Allemenschen, either in the group stage or later in the knockout rounds, but would rather see as little of that particular nation as physically possible. “We have plenty of facilities available and the Autocracy is just a short flight away.” Scott explained. “We understand Secristan are looking at a similar arrangement in Dancougar but if that falls through they’re more than welcome to come here. As is everyone else. For a small fee of course. Step right up, come one, come all. After all there’s got to be some benefit to living near that hellhole.”

Losing Start

Maybe it was the less than ideal preparations. Maybe it was the fact that the Hyppos twice lost to Newmanistani breakaway region Mordavia in the world cup qualifiers. Or maybe, just maybe, it’s because the champs were simply better. Whatever the reason, the Autocracy’s new look defensive outfit were turned over 3 - 1 by Newmanistan on matchday 1 of the 37th Cup of Harmony capping a thoroughly miserable opening to the competition. Marcus Trachowski's fourth international being the one and only high point.

Schedule
M1: Hypocria v Newmanistan (Alle) 1 – 3
M2: Hypocria v Secristan (Alle)
M3: Hypocria v Logria (Alle)
M4: Hypocria v Taeshan (Alle)
M5: Hypocria v West Zirconia (Alle)

Newmanistan

28-03-2009, 15:35

(Following the Victory over Hypocria)

Yaschter (Coach): I want to congratulate all of you on a well played game and an effect start to the campaign. I know that many of you are not terribly excited about playing in the Cup of Harmony, but the effort that I saw out there on the pitch was terrific. Thank you for that.

(Players nod, cheer, etc.)

Yaschter: As we know, this is just one game of our six match journey. Our next battle will be against Taeshan, now I hear that we have a pretty good head to head record against Taeshan in all sports.

McAllister: Absolutely true, coach!

Brooker: Calling it a good record is actually an understatement coach. We dominate Taeshan so badly in all sports that we have gotten in their head.

Yaschter: I like that. Mind games go a long way, especially when one team feels that they are inferior. Doesn’t most of that go back to that strange game with what do you call it? Bats?

McAllister: Baseball, coach. In four consecutive World Baseball Classics, Newmanistan has eliminated Taeshan in the quarterfinals or later. Twice in the semifinal.

Yaschter: Yes, baseball. That is a pretty good record.

Brooker: We’ve done well against them on the pitch, too. So it really is well rounded. They are very much intimidated by us.

Yaschter: I like what I am hearing. Hey, Billy, this upcoming game is tailor made for you, kid. We’re already in their heads!

Prescott: Yeah I can’t wait!

Yaschter: Still, we can not get complacent. Great job today, though. Matthew, wonderful job with the two goals.

Turner: Thanks, coach.

Yaschter: Taeshan will be a step up, but you can handle them. Keep learning from J-Mac. I have you two rooming together for a reason.

McAllister: He’s been very studious so far. I think he will do great things for us.

(Coach goes into a strategic lecture)

Yaschter: Alright, I’ll see you all in the morning.

(Players leave, except for Brett Carlson)

Carlson: Coach, I want to quit the team. I didn’t a single minute in this game and that is unacceptable.

Yaschter: (brief chuckle) So, this is where you get me to cave in to your demand for playing time, right? Not happening. Goodbye Brett, enjoy the flight to Nethertopia.

Carlson: (stuttering): Wh— wait— you’re just going to let me go that easily?

Yaschter: You want to quit. So byebye.

Carlson: I didn’t really----

Yaschter: Even if you didn’t really mean it, I won’t tolerate a quitter attitude. So if you’re not quitting then let’s phrase it this way. I’m dismissing you from the team. Got it?

Carlson: Fine I can’t stand this country we are in anyway.

(Chris Kusler’s hotel room)

Prescott: So, Chris, how did your league go on matchday one. Did we win?

Kusler: We won 3-1. This thing is pretty damn smart! It predicted the future!

Prescott: What about the other games in the group?

Kusler: Let’s see. Secristan beat Logria.

Prescott: Which they really did.

Kusler: West Zirconia and Taeshan drew.

Prescott: Well, two out of three isn’t bad. What about group A?

Kusler: Quintessence of Dust beat Mordavia, Terreiro de Ogum and Akbarabad in a draw, and Peisandros over Nethertopia. Actually, Peisandros destroyed Nethertopia, I should rephrase.

Prescott: Not quite as accurate.

Kusler: Yeah well, it is just a game. Wanna know Group B?

Prescott: Sure.

Kusler: Sarzonia over Greal, Kosovoe over Edward City, and Koseli Cumheriyetler over Team McLaughlin.

Prescott: Two out of three again.

West Newmanistan

28-03-2009, 15:47

President Nicholls sighed as he watched the match against Quintessence of Dust. No energy and excitement from the team. But even worse, a democratic leader misstated the name of the team. “New Westmanistan?” During qualifying, imperial leaders who are loyal to that corrupt Empress Jessica would refer to the nation under the old name, but this was something new. Something he had never heard, and it was from someone named Fucko! As he shouted towards the TV as the improper name of the country, a college of his, Greg Gilchrist, spoke up. “Mr. President, I think he may have coined a name for us. New Westmanistan actually sounds pretty catchy.”

Nicholls paused for a moment as he put the game on mute. Nothing much was happening during the match anyway. He thought about it. He had always wondered why his new nation would keep the Newmanistan name. New Westmanistan would show that the country has moved on entirely from the leadership of the Empress, and perhaps the country could move on from the name of Mordavia, once and for all. “Are you crazy!” He asked, “It sounds almost as bad as people having the last name of Fucko!” Well, he thought about it for a minute anyway. No, there would be no national name change in order.

Sarzonia

28-03-2009, 17:54

Stars manager Franz Braddock sighed as he approached the podium for his first news conference after an official match. His Sarzonian national team had just been whacked 3-1 by Greal in their opening fixture of the 37th Cup of Harmony.

"It's a learning experience," Braddock said of the loss. "Both for the players who need to learn how we do things tactically and for us as we learn the players we have."

"Coach," Travis West began. "Why didn't you use the three-forward alignment you intended to at the beginning?"

"Well," Braddock said. "Reese Nichols is still rounding into match fitness. When he can play a full 90 minutes, we'll start him at striker along with Zack Wilson and Matt Lynch."

"Coach," another reporter began. "How do you evaluate the players, most of whom you've never seen until after World Cup qualifying?"

"I've spent quite a lot of time watching game film and watching the lads in practice," Braddock said. "There are some thing you have to learn by managing a match. Film can only tell you so much about a player. It doesn't show you his heart or how he approaches training."

"Do you think Matt Lynch had a good match," one reporter asked, drawing a chuckle from Braddock. Lynch scored the only Sarzonian goal and threatened the Greal defence throughout.

"I still have to watch the tapes from this match to give you a more detailed evaluation of the players," Braddock said. "But I think it's safe to say Matt had a 'good' match."

"Your thoughts on West Newmanistan or Mordavia?" one reporter asked.

"I don't get into politics," Braddock said. "I'm here to manage a football side, not discuss politics."

[OOC: I'm not sure if Cafundéu calls the territory Mordavia or West Newmanistan, but Sarzonia calls it West Newmanistan since it's a presidential democracy.]

Quintessence of Dust

28-03-2009, 18:31

From the sports blog He's Had An Absolute Holocaust.

BREAKING: club/country feud emerges (updated x2!!)
Posted by DrongosnorterPride

according to this morning's Enquirer, ronald johnson is "expected to miss the next two matches" (link to NCE.qd (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=14640619&postcount=57)). With a mildly sprained ankle from a minor Gnark-related injury? hmm. something does not smell right, so i did some digging. turns out, as usual the MSM is not telling the whole truth. RRMagic reveals:Newly appointed Rahlia Regals coach Arlo Cockbadger confirmed that he had requested Ronald Johnson be rested for Quintessence of Dust's next two games in the Cup of Harmony in Peisandros, after sustaining a minor ankle injury during Friday's 1-0 win against West Newmanistan. Cockbadger said, "With a new Not-Really-Very-Premier League season just around the corner, I don't want Ron to risk an injury that could put him out for several games."this is outrageous!!!!!!!!

arlo cockbadger has no place telling big ted who he can include in his starting team and it is a scandal that the qfa is letting its head coach be pushed around like this. of course i am looking forward to the qnrvpl (where the drongosnorters will kick rr, btw) but in my view country comes first every time and it is totally unfair for this 2 be happening.

i demand that we play the 11 best, not the 11 most convenient!!!!

UPDATE 1: MSM finally catches on!!!! from the qbs website (link):National football team head coach Edward "Big Ted" Large confirmed he had received a request from Rahlia Regals coach Arlo Cockbadger to give central defender Ronald Johnson two games' rest after injuring himself in the first match of the Cup of Harmony. Large said the upcoming Season 2 of the QNRVPL was "not his concern", but that "he would endeavour to respect the wishes of clubs" when it came to squad selection. He stressed that final team selection was his prerogative online, and that he intended to play the 11 that was fit on the day.
UPDATE 2: from RRMagic:Ronald Johnson refused to comment on media speculation that his omission from the starting XI against Nethertopia was due to pressure from club coach Arlo Cockbadger, saying that he hoped to resume a full training schedule immediately in order to be fit for the match against Terreiro de Ogum, "if not before".

Comments: 607

Of which a selected few:

Re: club/country feud emerges by MetaNarrativesFTL
I completely agree with DP that this shameful, though I've come to expect nothing more from Cockbadger. Let's hope it doesn't run in the family and that Woody can fit into the squad without always needing to be the star. The QFA should back up Large, and rule unambiguously that players' primary commitments are to the national side.

Re: Re: club/country feud emerges by TrueBlue
I must disagree. The QNRVPL needs time to grow and we're never going to see clubs reach their full potential if they have their best players poached at a whim to play for the waste-of-space national side, only to rack up injuries. Mark my words, without Sundqvist and Schitthausen, Greschmeier will tank this season. If we want to improve the image of football, the best place to start isn't foreign tournaments no one has any interest in, but in nurturing our domestic game - and that has to come through the clubs.

Re: Re: Re: club/country feud emerges by MetaNarrativesFTL
Hmm. I wonder if you'd think differently if Roger Longhorn hadn't been dropped? :P Seriously though, no one is saying we should forget about club football. But I think the only way we can improve the QNRVPL is to get more foreign interest - which means playing abroad, against foreign players. Do you think Pete and Theo would be in CAM right now if we hadn't competed in WC44? The bottom line is, players have to be able to play for their country, and if Johnson simply isn't fit enough to make the grade, then he shouldn't be starting - for either side.

Re: club/country feud emerges by easternmen
yeah fuck u cos ur all cocks thats what u r

Greal

28-03-2009, 22:50

Cup of Harmony Schedule
MD1: Greal VS Sarzonia (3-1)
MD2: Greal VS The McLaughlin Islands
MD3: Greal VS Koseli Cumhuriyetler
MD4: Greal VS Edward City
MD5: Greal VS Kosovoe

Greal VS The McLaughlin Islands

Greal will be playing The McLaughlin Islands, who's potential may yet to be explored in today's match. The McLaughlin Islands track record is not very impressive, but Ross Trent says his team will be cautious today as usual. Greal is currently ranked 41th in the world while The McLaughlin Islands is ranked 83th, twice as low as us. Meanwhile, Sebastain Expan will be returning to the team after being out for two days. Doctors reported his injury is just fine and he should be able to play, even very well. The TV audience is expected to see a surge today and the weather is reported to be cloudy, but luckily no rain.

In other matches...

Sarzonia will be playing Edward City.

Kosovoe will be playing Koseli Cumhuriyetler.

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

"You cleaned up the place?" asked Jeff walking into Jeff's house with everyone else behind him.

"Yes, I did, it took only a few hours." confirming what Jeff suspected.

"Where's the television set?" asked Ethan, looking wildly around.

"Its in the living room." answered Ross once more."There."

"Thanks."

"Where should I put all this beer?" asked Roger.

"On the table over there."

"Only a few minutes before the previews start, we gotta hurry."

"Come on guys, move it!" shouted Ethan.

"The television doesn't work." sure enough, it didn't.

"You gotta plug it in." chuckled Ross.

"Oh, why do you leave it unplugged?" asked Roger, plugging it in.

"Risk of fires, etc, etc." he said lamely.

"Its starting!" said Ethan, looking ten years younger.

Allemenschen

29-03-2009, 01:33

President Koryatsky was busily running his normal affairs, when the newspaper suddenly flew out the window and rammed in his face. It was an uncomfortable predicament, but at least the paper hit his face. It could have been worse. He opened the pages to the daily news section.

More importantly, he read the scores for that day's matches:

Group A
West Newmanistan 0-1 Quintessence of Dust
Terreiro de Ogum 1-0 Akbarabad
Peisandros 1-1 Nethertopia

Group B
Sarzonia 1-1 Greal
Edward City 2-3 Kosovoe
Koseli Cumhuriyetler 2-0 The McLaughlin Islands

"Waitaminute..." he said. "Weren't these the same scores from yesterday?"

Kowak was passing the hall just at that moment. He reflected on the scores from the newspaper at a distance. "Same teams, different scores."

"Isn't there something wrong with this?"

"No. It's just the day-time fluctuancy distortion. DTFD for short."

"Well, what the bloody hell does that mean?"

"It means that scoreboards are broken."

"Well that's helpful," Koryatsky said. "So what really happened today? Because I'm certain that these news reports are the same from yesterday. Secristan team gets cheesed, etc etc."

"Well, that actually did happen again today. I can tell you the scores for today."

"Well, go on then."

Group A
West Newmanistan 1-0 Terreiro de Ogum
Quintessence of Dust 2-2 Nethertopia
Akbarabad 2-1 Peisandros

Pos Team P W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Akbarabad 2 2 0 0 3 1 2 6
2 Quintessence of Dust 2 1 1 0 3 2 1 4
3 West Newmanistan 2 1 0 1 1 1 0 3
4 Nethertopia 2 0 2 0 3 3 0 2
5 Peisandros 2 0 1 1 2 3 -1 1
6 Terreiro de Ogum 2 0 0 2 0 2 -2 0

Group B
Sarzonia 0-1 Edward City
Greal 2-1 The McLaughlin Islands
Kosovoe 2-1 Koseli Cumhuriyetler

Pos Team P W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Greal 2 2 0 0 5 2 3 6
2 Kosovoe 2 2 0 0 4 2 2 6
3 Koseli Cumhuriyetler 2 1 0 1 3 2 1 3
4 Edward City 2 1 0 1 2 2 0 3
5 The McLaughlin Islands 2 0 0 2 1 4 -3 0
6 Sarzonia 2 0 0 2 1 4 -3 0

Allemenschen

29-03-2009, 03:07

On account of unexpected delays, Group C will be scorinated at a later hour once Peisandros is available to log onto NS.

Quintessence of Dust

29-03-2009, 03:38

The New Cleethorpes Enquirer
Late slip denies Quodites crucial victory

Quintessence of Dust put on perhaps their best hour of football since returning to international competition, only to lose Jessica Jensen to a controversial second booking and then fall from 2-1 up to a draw against Nethertopia. Marina Sundqvist scored her second goal in as many games and Peter Rogers racked up his 15th international goal in his second outing as captain, but most of the praise was reserved for newcomers Brikk Schitthausen and Ólafur Kjartansson, whose defensive work denied Nethertopia a single chance in the first half despite their dominating the possession.

Referee Theodopopopoplous Popolopolopolous-Stereotypopopopololopolous handed out five yellow cards, but by far the most significant came in the 78th minute, when he sent off Jessica Jensen. Jensen had struggled all night to contain the exuberant Dries Pannekoek as Nethertopia, exhuasting attempts to drive through the Quintessential defensive wall, took to the wings in an effort to create scoring opportunities, and was cautioned after 73 minutes for a rough tackle. Five minutes later she found herself trudging disconsolately off the pitch as Popolopolopolous-Stereotypopopopololopolous reached for his pocket again.

The suspension rules out Jensen for tomorrow's crunch game against host nation Peisandros in Ephesum. The hosts' poor early form, drawing with Nethertopia and losing to Group A leaders Akbarabad, will be no grounds for confidence for Quintessence of Dust, who know they face a formidable enemy in a side that made it to the last 16 in their first World Cup. "It'll be a tough match," said coach Edward "Big Ted" Large. "Losing Jess is a major blow, as she's been a major part of this team for some time, but we have the resources to cover the gaps and put on our best."

Without an obvious second-string player to fill the left midfield position, one that historically been the bane of Quintessential football until Jensen's appearance, winger Yua Yua Huang will earn his debut cap, while Marina Sundqvist returns to the substitute bench, though with 2 goals from 2 games she is obviously a strong contender to feature. Dennis Young will begin as the sole striker. Billy Hudson has also made way for Hanna van Himpfelschnoorrddt on the bench, fuelling speculation that she could feature at some point to give options on the left.

By far the biggest change, though, sees Ronald Johnson return after missing today's game. A minor media controversy broke out when it was suggested that his deselection had been at the behest of club coach Arlo Cockbadger, wishing to avoid prolonged injury with the QNRVPL Season 2 around the corner. Large scoffed such claims, and said that Johnson's return indicated only that "he was running well in training".

Even without him, the Quodite defence held strong for 68 minutes at the People of Ephesum Stadium. Stars of the show were Schitthausen, who eventually forced Sjors Opdeheuvel into changes: Darko Soro replaced the frustrated Erik Visser, experienced Jan Wildernis came on for the impressive Rafaela, and Marcel van der Laan, club captain of Peter Rogers and Theo Littlefellow at MN Smith in the CMSC, was Joãio's substitute after a slightly flat game from a normally sparkling talent. But of the defensive midfields, it was Quintessence of Dust's who proved firmer, with Ólafur Kjartansson earning the online Match Award poll on the NCEOnline site. "He played phenomenal football all game, and showed he deserved a regular place in the starting XI," wrote one commentor on the forums; "he wos well kicks" added another.

Even with the scores at 0-0, Quintessence of Dust looked the more confident team, and eventually the pressure told to produce a chance for Sundqvist, running into oceans of space in the penalty error and needing only a single touch from Ólafur Kjartansson's weighted ball to flick the ball past a flailing Water. Shortly thereafter she came off for Goshinho, but received warm applause from the Peisandran crowd. Quodite attendance was still sparse, but the QFA bought complimentary tickets for a group of youngsters trekking through Peisandros on a quest to find themselves in this spiritless world debased by modern capitalism, hoping the experience of live sport might bring light to the lives of the chastened youngsters. It didn't. But they quite enjoyed it when Theo Littlefellow kicked Pannekoek in the head.

Having taken the lead, Quintessence of Dust should have shut things down and held out for another 1-0 win, but instead got slightly giddy. Sending 8 up to attack a Woody Cockbadger corner, they could not scramble back in time when de Wit cleared and Soro dashed into space, thumping home an exuberant goal to level the game with 20 minutes to play. No sooner had they relinquished the lead than they regained it, with Goshinho dancing wide and exchanging a clever series of passes with Cockbadger, who was again impressive, before curling in a beautiful cross that split the centrebacks: Peter Rogers rose to head into the corner for his 15th international goal, and 1st as captain.

The final roll of the die fell to Nethertopia, though, when Pannekoek hit the ground after a tackle by Jensen. Popolopolopolous-Stereotypopopopololopolous issued a decisive yellow card despite vigorous protests from Ólafur Kjartansson which almost saw him cautioned before being led away by older head Dino Achten. "I couldn't see it," admitted Large, "But Jess is insistent she didn't touch him. The referee is the one has that has to live with this decision, and I think it may have cost us two points in the long run. Was it the right one? We'll have to see."

Deflated, Quintessence of Dust withered before a barrage of attacks by Nethertopia, though the lack of enthusiasm did not stop Goshinho clearing a corner in outrageous style, vaulting over an obviously confused Erwin Visser and bicycle-kicking the ball 40 yards down the pitch. No such luck was on show, though, when Pannekoek drilled in a low cross that Achten failed to clear, and Nethertopian captain Schaak fired home from close range. It was a disappointing end for the Quodites, who consoled themselves with the knowledge that West Newmanistan's victory over Terreiro de Ogum should work in their favour.

Nethertopia 2 (0): Water - de Wit; de Wout; van Houten tot Schaagen; Rafaela [Wildernis http://nswiki.net/images/Yellow_card.png] - Schaak (c) http://nswiki.net/images/thumb/Soccerball_shade.png/13px-Soccerball_shade.png; Joãio [van der Laan] - de Monnik; Erwin Visser; Pannekoek - Erik Visser http://nswiki.net/images/Yellow_card.png [Soro http://nswiki.net/images/thumb/Soccerball_shade.png/13px-Soccerball_shade.png]

Quintessence of Dust 2 (0): Chang - Littlefellow http://nswiki.net/images/Yellow_card.png; Schitthausen; Yellowback - Achten; Ólafur Kjartansson - Jensen http://nswiki.net/images/Red_card.png; Rogers (c) http://nswiki.net/images/thumb/Soccerball_shade.png/13px-Soccerball_shade.png; Renard [Cockbadger] - Young; Sundqvist http://nswiki.net/images/thumb/Soccerball_shade.png/13px-Soccerball_shade.png [Goshinho]

Probable team vs. Peisandros: Chang - Littlefellow; Johnson; Schitthausen; Yellowback - Achten; Ólafur Kjartansson - Huang; Rogers (c); Renard - Young. Subs: Humperdinck, Colombo, J. van Himpfelschnnoorrddt, H. van Himpfelschnnoorrddt, Cockbadger, Goshinho, Sundqvist.

Peisandros

29-03-2009, 04:16

Sorry had a wee emergency. Scores will be up within the hour. Again, sincere apologies!

Peisandros

29-03-2009, 04:51

Annd results for Group C

aarre forth coming!

Taeshan

29-03-2009, 04:55

Um dude those were the same games as played yesterday.

Peisandros

29-03-2009, 04:56

Um dude those were the same games as played yesterday.

Yeah had a wee problem with one of the files! Won't be long, sorry.

Peisandros

29-03-2009, 05:05

Lets try that again for Group C..

Newmanistan 2-1 Taeshan
Hypocria 0-3 Secristan
West Zirconia 1-1 Logria

Pos Team P W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Secristan 2 2 0 0 6 2 4 6
2 Newmanistan 2 2 0 0 5 2 3 6
3 Taeshan 2 1 0 1 2 2 0 3
4 Logria 2 0 1 1 3 4 -1 1
5 West Zirconia 2 0 1 1 1 2 -1 1
6 Hypocria 2 0 0 2 1 6 -5 0

Sorry about all the delays. Shouldn't happen again!

Taeshan

29-03-2009, 05:11

Purple Knights Fall To Rockets

The failure continues. Yet again last night the Knights fell to one of there biggest rivals in the sporting world the Rockets from the country of Newmanistan. The fact that the Knights can never beat the Rockets is getting old and pretty soon we will probally once again have an astonishing victory with are backs against the walls against them, but until then we will have to continue to look bad in the face of opposition form the Rockets.

The Rockets took total control of the game from the very beginining and scored quickly. There first goal came bright and early off the foot of one of there strikers who has yet to be named as two players kicked it about the same time and the missle ripped to the goal in a hurry. Then later a Rocket defender broke through and scored on a header. The Knights made a valant attempt to find a way back into the game but Zeke Jrs. loan goal in the 77th minute could not get the Knights enough courage to pull themselves from the muck and tie it.

Kosovoe

29-03-2009, 05:24

Blue Tornado Defeat Turks

The Tornado have yet again defeated a team from a far of land this time it was against the former Turkish country known as Kose and the Turkomans, nowadays former soccer player Sinan Kose has taken over his country and reformed it as Koseli Cumhuriyetler. Kose has brought change to the country and know they are back and in black, but either way the Tornado were able to beat them with there highly explosive offensive attack and just enough defense to pull it out.

Looking back on the game you could tell from the very start that the Tornado would easily win the game after the very first goal was scored in the twenty first minute with a Jamie Barry header on a Angel Kenssington cross. Then just a few minutes later Angel Kenssington found him again and then he found Ossi Euro who barely glanced the ball in from the side of the framework. Then the Toprnado shacked up and barely were able to stop the Koses from scoring twice after they scored there first goal easily. We need some better defense, now, but on this day we were able to pull it out.

Akbarabad

29-03-2009, 06:07

Akbarabad go top.

(Akbarabad Press, AP): Akbarabad have continued their Cup of Harmony campaign with a convincing 2-1 win over higher ranked Peisandros who also had home advantage. Peisandros, never recovered from early gols scored by Samin Akbar and Zahid Mohammed and all they coud eventually manage in reply was a late consolation from Costa Theotokis. The Peisandros captain Urias Halkias did not have a happy match and was booked for a wild lunge on Hamid Kabir in injury time as frustrations boiled over.

Peisandros 1-2 Akbarabad
Costa Theotokis (89'). Samin Akbar (10'), Zahid Mohammed (17')

The teams next match, is a relatively easier encounter against West Newmanistan. Notably, West Newmanistan are also the first team Akbarabad will face that will be lower ranked than them, and this would be source of optimism if they had not achieved some good results and weren't breathing down our necks in the points table.

Peisandros

29-03-2009, 07:39

"How have we started?"
"Don't know, I don't care. These foreign teams are epic!"
"Who have you watched so far?"
"I'm following a team."

"Who?"
"Greal, they're great fun. You got a favourite?"
"Not really. Sarzonia are okay I guess, but they haven't won. I think I like Edward City, they beat the Stars today."
"Oh cool, I've heard of them. Didn't they do well in the Baptism of Fire?"

"Yep they won it."
"Do you think you'll go to any Sandrian games?"
"Maybe, if they start playing well."
"Bit unlikely that I think."

Secristan

29-03-2009, 11:13

MILLIONAIRES WIN; LEAVE DUMP

Rumor became reality in the days leading up to the second match of qualifying, that Secristan would leave Allemenschen in favor of doing their preparations in Dancougar. Hypocria, who was also last night’s opponent, gave the Secristan Department of Sports the idea, which has become necessary due to horrific playing conditions. Also, according to a handful of players, their women leave a lot to be desired as well. The SDOS and Dancougar’s Port Royal Football Club agreed to allow the Millionaires to base operations in Port Royal and to use the facilities at Aclaf Stadium as their home. In return, the SDOS has sent an undisclosed amount of money to the owners of the Port Royal team. Aclaf Stadium is without question a much more suitable facility for international sports, and it was used in the Cup of Harmony four years ago. In fact, the Millionaires played at this very facility three times during Cup of Harmony 36, so those players who were here four years ago will have familiarity. The main reason why Dancougar was the chosen nation from the Atlantian Oceania region is because five members of the national team play their professional club soccer in this country. Hypocria, which is a neighbor to Allemenschen had offered facilities to the SDOS as well, and that likely would have been accepted had something not been able to be worked out with Port Royal or other Dancougaran locations. Despite their closeness geographically, the fact that Hypocria is in the group was seen as a negative. Katie Simpson, our SDOS representative speaks of the move, “We just became the second team to pull out of Allemenschen. We will only fly in and our for games and that is it. Otherwise, we will be spending our time in Port Royal at Aclaf Stadium. Aclaf was a great stadium to play in four years ago, and they have hosted other high profile games here and we look forward to using their facilities. I believe that as a governmental agency, the SDOS just showed that we do indeed care about the well-being of our players and the success of our team by making the payment that we did to stadium officials, and we greatly thank them for their cooperation. In fact, we would like to as a token of our gratitude, invite the Dancougar national team to Amherst for a pre-qualifying friendly for World Cup 46, and the SDOS will pay for their hotel and transportation expenses.” Stephen Alexander, who plays for Grandborough FC says that this will make a big difference. “It’s no different then traveling to road games. I sleep on the plane all the time anyway, so even though it’s a few more hours, I’ll simply adjust my sleep schedule accordingly. It’s been nice to practice at the Aclaf. Thanks to Aclaf, having been hurt at work will mean I don’t have to miss work.” Alexander was referring to four nellie stings on his body, including one just missing his left eye. “It’s a good thing it doesn’t affect my vision out there.” he said.

On the field, the players of both teams first had to deal with a group of smelly natives who held up signs that we think, protested the fact that both teams have decided to leave their country. We say we think, because the signs were not really written in a comprehensible manner. Once the game began though, the team actually played quite well, taking control of the match from the outset. Two goals in the first fifteen minutes seemed to discourage Hypocria quite a bit. James Rogan scored his second of the Cup of Harmony in the 8th minute and Stephen Alexander, nellie-stings and all, scored in the 14th minute. A replay showed that Hypocria’s keeper, Mikael Baron, may have been stung just as Alexander was about to release his shot. Baron appeared to have a reaction to the sting, which affected his positioning for the shot and allowed the ball to get behind him. After the goal, he seemed to explain to his defenders what had happened. After the second score, the game remained 2-nil for the longest time, and it appeared as though it would end up being the final score. Both teams created their share of chances, but nothing was going in. Finally, in the 84th minute, there would be another score as substitute Andrew Bianchetti beat Baron to his left to finish off the 3-0 victory. The win gives the Millionaires two wins in as many games, but with Taeshan and West Zirconia looming on the schedule, things will be about to get tough, and that’s not including the eventual showdown with the neighbors in the finale.

The Secristan Department of Sports reports that purchases of the pay-per-view telecast just barely made it inside their acceptable revenue range for the game. Many fans took advantage of the discount package in which was offered. The next two matches are expected to generate interest, especially the Taeshan showdown, as there has been some budding history between our two nations. That doesn’t exist as much as West Zirconia, but they are generally a respected team across our country. Also, the Secristan Department of Public Relations conducted a poll to see if Secristanis approve of the nation basing operations in Dancougar. Of those Secristanis with a personal income of over 500,000 rusas per year, 96% were in favor with only 4% against. Over all income levels, more people were in favor then against, including the poor. Of those with an income of less then 10,000 rusas per year, still 64% were in favor of the move.

Newmanistan

29-03-2009, 12:31

(Before the Game):

Carlson: (carrying a pair of cleats) Hey Matthew, what’s up?

Turner: Hi Brett. Good, how are you?

Carlson: Are you enjoying being a starting forward for this team?

Turner: (getting a perplexed look on his face): Of course, it really is an honor to be able to represent my country at this level!

But Brett Carlson didn’t really care about what Matthew Turner’s reaction was going to be. This 18-year old punk had stolen his job away, and now Carlson had been dismissed from the team because of it. Turner, with a smile on his face, had scored twice against Hypocria and was ready to add to that against Taeshan. Carlson had different ideas. Suddenly, he swung the cleats directly at Turner’s head, making contact. Brett dropped the sneakers then slammed Turner up against the wall and began punching him over and over. Turner took a while to get over the shock of what was taking place, and before he could begin to fight back, Carlson had already initiated quite a bit of damage. From down the hall, other players heard the commotion and came running. Robert Selvy and Kyle Carrigan were the first to arrive to the scene and the both restrained Carlson, but not before Brett tried to get some swings at them. Soon enough, much of the team was on the scene, with coach Yaschter arriving late. Turner explained to them what went on while Carlson simply seemed to be out of control. Finally, coach had made his way to the incident.

Yaschter: Brett, why are you still here?

Carlson: Fuck you! Fuck all of you!

Turner: He jumped me.

Yaschter (summoning the trainers): Get him medical attention right away. Matt, we’ll talk about it in a bit, but first go with them and get yourself checked out. (Turner is led off by the training staff). Brett, you realize there will be consequences.

Carlson: What the hell are you going to do about it. You benched me in the first game and you dismissed me from that team. I’m going back to Tenderville where at least there I have a real coach. A smart coach who knows who his good players are and plays his good players.

Of course, Yaschter knew just what Brett Carlson had implied. Much of the team that heard the comment couldn’t believe that he would say something. If you don’t know, Brett Carlson plays for Tenderville United in Nethertopia, though is actually in Candelaria And Marquez. Tenderville is coached by Brian Carson. Yes, that Brian Carson, the former coach of this very team who was fired halfway through qualifying in favor of Yaschter. Many of the players wanted to say something as they overheard the comments, but felt it would be best to allow for coach Yaschter to respond.

Yaschter: I see what this is about. But Brett, you have five minutes to get out of here or I have you arrested. And never put on sky blue and white again. You have disgraced your country.

Carlson: Yeah? What do you know about the sky blue and white? You aren’t even one of us.

Yaschter: I know that Newmanistan is a nation of pride and has long been characterized by outstanding team unity. There have been things that you guys have overcome which have been amazing. You have also been dealt more then your fair share of disappointments, especially as a senior side in football when trying to qualify for the World Cup, but all those disappointments will only make the eventual victory all the more sweeter.

Carlson: You get that out of a “Coaching in Newmanistan for dummies” handbook?

McAllister: Screw it, I’m not listening to this any longer. Brett, get the hell out of here. Nelson is our coach, and he has my full support, and I don’t want to hear about your disappointments. I’ve been here since the Baptism of Fire and I will never be able to play in a World Cup proper.

Carlson: Maybe because you suck.

Prescott: Fuck you. J-Mac is an icon and a future hall of famer.

Carlson: What do you know, did daddy tell you that?

(Prescott lunges at Carlson and lands a few punches, overpowering Brett before Prescott is pulled off).

Prescott: Yeah, you’re lucky they pulled me off at you.

Carlson: My my, that temper, does Sucksana like that?

(Prescott again lunges at Carlson and punches him a few more times).

Yaschter: Alright, that’s enough. Everyone, just stop. NOW! Brett, get out of here. (Ushers security to lead him out). Everyone else, emergency team meeting NOW!

(Players take their seats in the meeting room)

Yaschter: Is there anyone else here who feels the way that Brett does towards me?

(Silence)

Yaschter: Don’t be afraid to speak up.

(More Silence)

Yaschter: Everyone, you’re free to go then. Thank you. Jeremy, please stay behind.

(Players leave as J-Mac remains)

Yaschter: Jeremy, I want you in World Cup 46.

McAllister: I don’t know coach, I’ll be 41 then. I try to keep in good shape but I’m sure we will have better players then me in four years as I get older.

Yaschter: That’s not what I meant.

McAllister: Oh.

Yaschter: I want you to be my assistant coach. Have you thought about that before?

McAllister: A little bit.

Yaschter: You have what it takes, kid. And I’m an old man who can still call you that!

McAllister: (laughs) Well thanks, coach.

(The head trainer enters)

Trainer: Report on Matthew Turner. He’s bruised up but doesn’t have any serious injuries. However he has a black eye that will probably affect his vision for tonight’s game. I would recommend him sitting the game out then returning for West Zirconia.

Yaschter: Other then that would you clear him to play?

Trainer: Yes sir.

Yaschter: Ok thanks for your work. I’ll leave that decision to him.

Trainer: I understand, but should the bruise be stung by a purple stinging nellie during the match, there could be a very serious infection that could damage his eyesight for life.

Yaschter: God damn this country! Why are we even playing here!

Trainer: I don’t know, coach.

Yaschter: Well I will start Jennifer Vilardi. Ridiculous that I have to keep a player out for this reason!

Trainer: I agree, coach.

(Coach heads to his office: Talking to himself)

Alright, what was that country. Come on now, Nelson, be up on your Newmanistan history! There was some country out here that might really welcome us. Cafundeu? Nah, don’t want to pay those taxes again. (Pulls out map of Atlantian Oceania). That’s it! West Pocono! We’re going to West Pocono! Enough of Allemenschen, we’ll commute like Hypocria and Secristan.

Edward City

29-03-2009, 13:49

The Three Arrows defeat Sarzonia

Today, the Edwardian Three Arrows have defeated the Sarzonian team in a 1-0 match. The match has been a slow-paced one although it has been an interesting match. During the game there were some goal oportunities which Sarzonian goalkeeper Cody Taylor successfully repelled until Edwardian forward Thomas Gardner went to Taylor's goal and scored the first and only goal in the entire match.

Newmanistan

29-03-2009, 17:20

THE ROCKET REPORT

ROCKETS DOWN TAESHAN YET AGAIN

Allemenschen- Two games into the Cup of Harmony, Newmanistan sits atop of the Allemenschen group with six points. It makes people wonder: why is it that the Rockets can never get off to this kind of good start in World Cup qualifying? After a win over Hypocria that saw the team score three goals, two by young Matthew Turner, and the other by Mr. McAllister late in the match, the team was looking to get some momentum against a familiar foe.

However, things did not go according to plan between the two games. Turner was unable to try and build upon his impressive senior team debut due to getting into a fight with now former teammate Brett Carlson. Reports from the locker room say that Carlson started the fight by whacking Turner over the head with his cleats in the hotel hallway, and then landed several punches before the youngster knew what was happening and could fight back. The fight did not last long, we are told, because soon enough other team members heard the commotion in the hallway and rushed to break up the fight. According to Jennifer Vilardi, “Brett never took the news well that he was being pulled from the starting lineup. He’s really been weird lately and I am not surprised that this happened.” Those words come from an unbiased source, because Jennifer was also pulled from the starting lineup to make room for Turner, and Nelson Yaschter’s new 4-4-2 formation. Carlson was dismissed from the team, but according to coach Yaschter, that had already been decided after the forward attempted to give the coach an ultimatum of “play me or I am going to quit”. Carlson expected a different response, apparently, so he became quite angry when the new coach told him that he would no longer be part of the team. In an interesting twist, Carlson plays club football for Tenderville United, which is coached by former Newmanistanian coach Brian Carson. Although Carlson and Carson, despite their too-familiar last names, had a run in of their own during World Cup 45 qualifying, they seem to have repaired ties enough. Carlson refused our request for an interview. Coach Yaschter said that Matthew Turner would have been in the starting lineup if not for the fear of his black eye becoming infected should the bruise get stung by one of these purple-stinging nellies that one will find in Allemenschen. The conditions in which all countries in the group have had to play in are really quite poor and very disappointing. Up to this point, Newmanistanian players have tried to take the high road and not criticize the country too much, but the realization for coach Yaschter of why he would not be able to play a starter really angered him. Enough to the point where Newmanistan will now become the third team in group C out of six to leave the country and use fields elsewhere. For Hypocria, it was easy given their close proximity. Secristan, to no one’s surprise given their high standards, also left and arranged a deal with a Dancougar club. And now Newmanistan will be heading to the nation of West Pocono. West Pocono, which borders Sorthern Northland to the east, has yet to appear in the World Cup, and they are not expected to again, but they are trying to get a team together for the upcoming AOCAF tournament. It is a nation with a surprisingly high percentage of people with Newmanistanian ancestry, and their people seem to be very excited about the presence of the national team in Kingston, which is the largest city in the country.

Playing in Matthew Turner’s starting spot was Jennifer Vilardi, and she seemed to be on pretty good form during the match. Newmanistan began the game very quickly, trying to get an early goal, and controlling possession. This is what confidence will do for you due to the history that exists between the countries. They would achieve their mission of getting on the board early as both Jeremy McAllister and Jennifer Vilardi were in outstanding position after a shot by Billy Prescott was stopped by the goalkeeper, but not held. Each went for the rebound, and at first glance it was a difficult to tell who’s foot the ball actually went off of. But after a replay, you could see that it was J-Mac getting to the ball first and roofing the shot into the top corner. Had Jeremy not gotten to the ball, then Jennifer probably would have done the exact same thing. The defense of the Purple Knights was atrocious, especially Jacin Raellis, on this particular play. The 7th minute goal was just what the team needed, and the brave Newmanistanian supporters who actually made the trip began the customary “You Can’t Beat Us!” chant once again. The Rockets continued to dominate the game, and in the 31st minute, the lead was doubled. With a play that you would never have seen under Brian Carson, Nelson Yaschter gave Shawn Loughran the green light to charge the goal along the left wing. With the Rockets controlling the ball along the right wing, Loughran completely snuck through the defense with no one on the Purple Knights picking him up. Billy Prescott delivered a cross that the Knights thought was intended for McAllister, so they doubled him up. This gave Loughran all the room in the world, and he scored rather easily on a header. Newmanistan closed out the first half playing very physical football with Billy Prescott knocking down Knights just like his Dad would. In fact, in the 40th minute, Brian Ying Uing, their prolific goal scorer was rather shaken up after a brutal tackle from Prescott (which was not noticied by the referee). Ying Uing limped off the field and did not return for the rest of the game.

The second half saw the Rockets focus on defense, playing Scott Lave back with the defense as well as Jennifer Vilardi up with the midfielders, to give the look of a 5-4-1 instead. Taeshan had a lot of ball possession during the second half, but they really could not do too much with it. The defense did a great job from keeping any real challenging shots from reaching Chris Kusler. They showed some character in their persistence, and were rewarded in the 77th minute on a goal by Zeke Jr. Yaschter responded by subbing out Kevin Taylor in favor of Brett Taratino for an even greater defensive look, and the team held on for the 2-1 victory. Newmanistan is now 2-0-0 in the group after getting what may be a very big win when all is said and done. Next up, they will play West Zirconia.

Nova Hypocria

29-03-2009, 17:32

“This is a ruddy shambles.” Hyppos’ assistant coach Marko Rajkovic watched a wayward pass fly high into the air and land in the swamp next door with a damp plop. Players and officials looked at one another before deciding to leave it were it was amongst the nellies and carry on with a new one. “We’re going to run out at this rate.”

Beside him Franco Berisha only nodded, more interested in the game itself. “You’re aware we’re down 2 – 0 right? I know there’s no big screen, or little screen, well any type of screen, monitor or scoreboard but i’m assuming you’re paying attention to the game rather than just moaning about the landscape.”

“Of course I know that.” He assured his older colleague but we wouldn’t be if it wasn’t for those damn purple things. Didn’t you see that one get Baron? He would have saved that shot easily if it hadn’t been for that. And what’s more . . .” He stopped.

“Yes?”

“There’s something on my foot isn’t there?”

Berisha looked down and nodded.

“Oh it’s one of those things isn’t it? Quickly get it off before it stings. Quickly!”

“Alright don’t panic.” He looked around for something to remove it.

“Gedditoffgedditoffgedditoffgedditoffgedditoff! OUCH! Dammit! Son of a bit . . .”

“You ok?”

“No i’m not bloody ok. That bastard thing just stung me.”

“Alright, calm down.” He put his arm around the stricken coach. “Let’s get you back into the dressing room and let Dr Gruber have a look-see.” They headed back from the touchline to the so called dressing room, which resembled the garden shed plucked from some weed filled patch of dirt on a filthy council estate somewhere. “Providing he’s got some of that sting stuff left. It’s had a lot of use.”

As they headed back a small gust of wind picked up and sent a discarded placard, brought to the ground hours ago by a scruffy looking local who had long since got bored and returned to doing whatever it is natives of Allemenschen actually do, into the side of the shed. It was the lightest of touches but enough to make the entire rotten structure collapse in on itself. “On second thoughts perhaps the fresh air would do you good.”

West Newmanistan

29-03-2009, 17:38

“GOOOOOOOALLLL!!!!!!!” shouted President Nicholls. You couldn’t blame him for his excitement, as it was a pretty dramatic strike, coming in the 86th minute to break open a scoreless football game. Chris Peckham had gotten around Bicho Grilo and scored, beating Bibah up high. That should do it! Patriots win it 1-0! A few minutes later, the final whistle made it official, West Newmanistan had picked themselves up a victory over a team ranked considerably higher then them. “Such a great win for our country!” Nicholls exclaimed, “Let us all celebrate!”

And so the celebrations took place! It was a great night for all in West Newmanistan, as you could imagine. The next morning the President woke up to an unexpected phone call. “Is this the President?” asked the caller. “Yes it is, who’s calling?” replied the President. “You may know me, I’m Brett Carlson and I used to play for the Rockets. I am really fed up with the way things are going with the national team and I can’t believe that they would just kick me off the team, you know?” The President carried on the conversation briefly as he tried to figure out how exactly Carlson knew his phone number. The President’s phone number was supposed to be kept in much greater confidence then this! Still, he referred Carlson to the coach of the national team, Michael Dressler, because that is who Carlson should be talking too.

Coach Dressler was sitting in his office. He was in that classic in-between stage of trying to figure out where things went right against Terreiro de Ogum and preparing for the next opponent, which will be Akbarabad. A win over Akbarabad could really open up Group A and he knew it. But just how would he lead the team to another surprising victory. That’s when Carlson called. “Hey this is Brett Carlson and I would like to help you the best that I can.” Dressler was aware of the news and knew that Carlson was on bad terms now with the national team. Because of that, he was confident that just maybe he would have some helpful advice. Carlson began to tell him things and asked if he could serve as an assistant coach. It would be against the rules for him to play for West Newmanistan, although the thought of him wearing a disguise and using an assumed name did occur to him. But it wouldn’t be to help the team out. Dressler wasn’t sure about making this commitment to Carlson yet, but invited the forward to come to Peisandros and be with the team. Brett would agree. He might not have a lot of dirt on Akbarabad necessarily, but he would on Nethertopia. Quite a bit actually.

Sarzonia

29-03-2009, 22:07

We join the Sarzonia-Edward City fixture in progress:

6th minute: Defender Ben Davis slips on the turf in front of the goal and Edwardian forward Thomas Gardner launches a pacey shot that Stars goalkeeper Cody Taylor is fortunate to get a fingertip onto. The ball caroms off the woodwork to defender Spencer Hicks, who clears the ball out of danger with a roundhouse kick.

"Positioning!" yells Sarzonia manager Franz Braddock. "Watch your positioning!"

11th minute: Forward Zack Wilson tries to deke past two Edwardian defenders and get a shot on goal. He loses possession, leading to a breakaway. This time, Davis is there to force a difficult shot. Taylor snares the ball and waits to send the ball deep.

"Zack!" Braddock yells. "Be smart out there! Be smart!"

16th minute: Stars forward Matt Lynch gets a good shot in on the Edwardian goalkeeper. He tries to pounce on the rebound before being bumped by a defender as the keeper gets to the ball and throws the outlet to a fullback.

"Foul! Where's the foul!" Braddock yells at the centre official. Davis runs up to the Taeshani referee and says, "He bumped him. You've got to call the foul on that!"

"No foul," the referee says before signaling to play on.

22nd minute: Similar situation to Wilson's opportunity, only Lynch is the one with possession. He looks around quickly to find a player to pass to, but no one comes open. It forces Lynch to try the same move Wilson failed with. Similar result.

"Be smart, Lynch!" Braddock yells as Lynch runs back in an effort to join the defence.

"I was!" Lynch yells back. When the team breaks down the film the next day, Braddock will see what Lynch did and publicly apologise to his player in the dressing room.

31st minute: Another opportunity on Taylor, another great save.

"Atta boy Cody!" goalkeeper coach Horace Sandt yells. "Atta way to keep us in this match!"

42nd minute: Controversial call just outside the 18-yard box! Hicks and an Edwardian midfielder collide. The referee rules a free kick, but no foul called on Hicks, resulting in the Edwardian coach yelling for a booking on Hicks.

"They were both going for the ball," the referee said, explaining the call. Taylor was able to collect the ball after it caromed off midfielder George Morrison.

HALFTIME

"We're giving up too many quality chances," Braddock said in the dressing room. "We've got to tighten up the defence if we want to secure any points." He turned to reserve forward Reese Nichols.

"Nichols, you're in for Wilson to start the second half." Nichols and Wilson both nodded.

63rd minute: Davis gets fouled approximately 45 yards away from the Edwardian goal, resulting in a free kick.

"Lynch! Take the kick!" Braddock yelled. Before Lynch could comply, Clayton Bocanegro fired the shot wide of the goal.

71st minute: The defence breaks down again. This time, Gardner is in the right place as he chips the shot just over Taylor. 1-0 Edward City.

82nd minute: The Stars had only made one substitution to that point while Edward City used all three of theirs. Thus, that meant Braddock would try to send reserve midfielder Pete Weston on for Hicks in an effort to generate more offence. Midfielder Tim Rodney also came on for Davis, giving Lynch the captain's armband as the Stars tried a makeshift three-forward lineup. It lead to a breakaway opportunity, but Taylor was in the right place to snuff it out.

FULL TIME:

Sarzonia 0, Edward City 1

At the post match press conference, Braddock said he would start a three-forward lineup against Kosovoe with Hicks sitting in favour of Nichols. [OOC: Please change my modifier to plus-2.5.]

"We need to do a better job with our offensive opportunities," Braddock said. "We're currently at the bottom of the table. There's no reason we should be a bottom of the table side."

Greal

29-03-2009, 22:37

Cup of Harmony Schedule
MD1: Greal VS Sarzonia (3-1)
MD2: Greal VS The McLaughlin Islands (2-1)
MD3: Greal VS Koseli Cumhuriyetler
MD4: Greal VS Edward City
MD5: Greal VS Kosovoe

Greal VS Koseli Cumhuriyetler

Greal is now top of the group after a narrow win over The McLaughlin Islands. Today will be crucial if Greal wants to qualify. Koseli Cumhuriyetler has managed to beat The McLaughlin Islands in their first match and losing narrowly to Kosovoe, which may be an indication that today's match will be very hard to win. Ross Trent said, in his daily interview, that today's match may show the unexpected, but if the Greali play well, then a victory is hopefully in the bag. Hopefully. Greali Television Service has declined to give out a prediction due to being busy with some new hit TV shows. The weather is destined to be cloudy weather again, but with no signs of rain.

In other matches...

Sarzonia is to be play Kosovoe today.

Edward City will be playing The McLaughlin Islands

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

"A match against Koseli Cumhuriyetler may be one of the toughest opponents our team has to face in CoH 37 qualifying stages." reported Ross, reading from his notepad.

"I already bet a narrow win." complained Jeff.

"Narrow win does seem realistic at this point."

"I bet a draw." said Roger.

"An outright win for me." said Ethan's voice, from the kitchen.

"Alright..." muttered Ross, scribbling it down on his notepad.

Ethan turned on the television, then several trailers appeared on TV, Ethan switched the channel until he got the previews.

"Everyone is going crazy over that new TV show coming out today." he remarked.

"That TV show is going to suck, trust me on that."

"Its like the entire Sasha is talking about it. Have they forgotten about CoH 37?"

"We haven't."

(OOC: I'm too busy to write a match report on the match against The McLaughlin Islands)

Peisandros

30-03-2009, 01:53

MD3 Results for Group C.

Newmanistan 1-0 West Zirconia
Hypocria 2-1 Logria
Taeshan 3-1 Secristan

Pos Team P W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Newmanistan 3 3 0 0 6 2 4 9
2 Secristan 3 2 0 1 7 5 2 6
3 Taeshan 3 2 0 1 5 3 2 6
4 Hypocria 3 1 0 2 3 7 -4 3
5 Logria 3 0 1 2 4 6 -2 1
6 West Zirconia 3 0 1 2 1 3 -2 1

Taeshan

30-03-2009, 02:02

Purple Knights Defeat Millionares

When you here the standard of how they make the Secristani Millionares squad up for all sports you can't help to think, really, is that a good idea. As many of you sports fans in Taeshan may know the Millionares are not put on the squad due to talent, but get in by sending money into the Sports Councils as bids to make certain positions. The more money the more liekly you will play a lot. It brings a whole new aspect into the sport, practically anybody who offers the Secristaani Soccer Council enough money can make the team.

Apparently this years squad wasn't exactly the cream of the crop as the Knights easily swamped the Millionares with a high scoring 3 goals, exspecially for a team who is known for there defensive side of the game. The Knights leapt and bound past the Millionares with two first half goals from Brian Ying Uing, and Hele, and kept the game out of reach after the only Secristani gaol of the day with a A. F. Falcon smash in the 77th putting the game just to far out of reach.

Allemenschen

30-03-2009, 02:33

Koryatsky was in the halls, greeted by a great host of long-time-no-see guests.

"PURPLE-STINGING NELLIES!" he cried as he ran around the halls in the opposite direction. The problem was... they were also there.

"GAH!" he cried. "IT'S AN INVASION!" He tried to push aside the furry beasts, but they were so numerous and whatever that they could not be so easily pushed aside by the feeble man. Koryatsky was doomed.

"KOWAK! SAVE ME!"

To that, he felt an extremely odd sensation on his head.

"WAKE UP!" he heard. Kowak was sitting there, with a mallet in his hand and Koryatsky himself on the ground. A dream?

"You've got serious issues, Mr. President," Kowak said, putting the mallet away. "We're having a discussion about why the Group A and B scores haven't come out yet, and then you have this massive tantrum about purple-stinging nellies. Speaking of which, virtually every team playing in Allemenschen has decided to practice somewhere else and come to Allemenschen for the matches. The good news is that we're getting a lot of extra revenues."

"Wha? Good news?"

"Slow down, Marek," Kowak said. "Because we're so SLANI at providing adequate facilities, the countries voluntarily offering their facilities are paying us a little extra money so the convenience."

"Wait... they're paying us?"

"Well, Dancougar isn't, but that's mainly because whoever went there managed to avoid getting our contracts. SLANI agents, whoever they are. But anyway, we're all in the business of making money, and I'm glad that this secondary country sponsorships sort of deals is benefiting the Republic quite handsomely."

"Oh really? How much money?"

"Apparently, it's enough to build a new stadium."

"One to keep out the purple-stinging nellies?"

"... no..."

"That's a pity. We should get more money."

Kowak nodded. "Right. And we've finally got our scores from Peisandros!"

Group A
West Newmanistan 2-2 Akbarabad
Quintessence of Dust 1-3 Peisandros
Terreiro de Ogum 1-0 Nethertopia

Pos Team P W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Akbarabad 3 2 1 0 5 3 2 7
2 Peisandros 3 1 1 1 5 4 1 4
3 West Newmanistan 3 1 1 1 3 3 0 4
4 Quintessence of Dust 3 1 1 1 4 5 -1 4
5 Terreiro de Ogum 3 1 0 2 1 2 -1 3
6 Nethertopia 3 0 2 1 3 4 -1 2

Group B
Sarzonia 3-2 Kosovoe
Greal 0-3 Koseli Cumhuriyetler
Edward City 5-0 The McLaughlin Islands

Pos Team P W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Edward City 3 2 0 1 7 2 5 6
2 Koseli Cumhuriyetler 3 2 0 1 6 2 4 6
3 Kosovoe 3 2 0 1 6 5 1 6
4 Greal 3 2 0 1 5 5 0 6
5 Sarzonia 3 1 0 2 4 6 -2 3
6 The McLaughlin Islands 3 0 0 3 1 9 -8 0

Kosovoe

30-03-2009, 03:34

Tornado Lose

The dream of going undefeated in the CoH is over. The Tornado fell to Sarzonia 3-2. Jamie Barry and Angel Kensington only were able to lead us to two goals. Oh the horror.

OOC; Are qwe using the H2H results in these stanndings at all, becuase if we were i would be second for Tae, and the K mess would not be sortable till later either way. Just Asking??.

Newmanistan

30-03-2009, 06:57

McAllister: Three wins in three games, doesn’t get much better then that.

Loughran: I imagine we’ll have this wrapped up pretty soon.

Brooker: Don’t think like that, kid. Logria and Secristan aren’t going to roll over for us.

Loughran: I know they won’t.

McAllister: Loughran’s getting that goal scorer mentality now. Almost got a second one tonight.

Loughran: Yeah, that would have been amazing. I love how coach has just opened me up. I think West Zirconia read the play just in time though, so it didn’t end up in a goal.

McAllister: No they didn’t, Shawn. They were just as clueless as Taeshan. It was a great play, you just have to tip your cap to Steve Gray for coming up with that save.

Loughran: I guess. Maybe he knew what we were trying to do.

Brooker: Gray plays for Atletico Insular in Cafundeu, you don’t play there unless you have a lot of talent.

(Coach enters after talking things over with his assistants)

Yaschter: I have good news. Our trainer here has come up with an anti-nellie lotion. If you apply it to our skin just before the game, the nellies will not attack you.

McAllister: That’s good, I’m sick of those damn things already.

Prescott: Has it been tested?

Yaschter: He says it has.

Prescott: Good, I’d hate to see it be some kind of trick by the loonies here and it actually attracts them.

Brooker: Maybe we should make sure, coach.

Yaschter: Alright. Is there a volunteer to test it? (No hands)

Yaschter: Ok, well, Eddie (assistant coach Eddie Chapman) will give it a test. Put it on you, then go walk through the swamp and see if you get stung.

Chapman: Leave it to the second assistant to be the guinea pig. This better work!

McAllister: We’re still going to practice in West Pocono, right? They loved us there. I signed more autographs there in 15 minutes then I have here.

Yaschter: Yes, we will continue to use the Kingston facilities. They have been good for us thus far. Billy, great job on the goal, kid. You’re doing real well.

Prescott: Thanks coach but it doesn’t happen if not for the great set up by Taylor.

Yaschter: Great job Kevin.

Taylor: Thanks coach.

Yaschter: We are doing a real good job right now, but we must remember that as the defending champion, we still have the target on our backs. You’re commitment to the Cup of Harmony has been admirable, still.

McAllister: Well, we don’t show up for tournaments and not play hard. If you can’t qualify for the World Cup, might as well have a Cup of Harmony dynasty.

Prescott: This better be our last time here though. I want to play with Oksana in the World Cup.

Brooker: Hey, Billy, why don’t you invite her to our next game?

Prescott: I would but I’d hate to see her beautiful body get stung by nellies. She would come if we were playing in Peisandros.

(Eddie Chapman returns)

Chapman: (shouting) Would you look at me?!?!

Yaschter: Didn’t work, ‘eh?

Chapman: Hahaha. No, it was a set up dammit! (Asking the trainer) Who told you this stuff worked?

Trainer: Uh, a local doctor.

Chapman: Yeah well, their doctors don’t know anything.

Trainer: Sorry!

(Later on, in Chris Kusler’s hotel room)

Prescott: So Chris, how’s your league going?

Kusler: Just simulated matchday three.

Prescott: What happened and in matchday two, also?

Kusler: In our group in matchday two, we beat Taeshan of course. West Zirconia beat Logria and Secristan crushed Hypocria 6-nil.

Prescott: Damn.

Kusler: Yesterday we beat West Zirconia, Hypocria beat Logria, and Secristan drew with Taeshan. So if this game was real, we lead the group with nine points. Secristan is second with seven, West Zirconia third with four, then Hypocria with three, Taeshan with two, and Logria pointless.

Prescott: Other then Taeshan, that’s pretty much on the ball.

Kusler: Yeah.

Prescott: How about Group A?

Kusler: Ogum beats Mordavia, Peisandros draws with Akbarabad, and Quintessence of Dust beats Nethertopia. Matchday three sees Mordavia beating Akbarabad, Nethertopia drawing Ogum, and Peisandros over Quintessence of Dust. So if this were real, Peisandros is first with seven points and Quintessence of Dust is just a point back. Then it’s Terreiro de Ogum with five, Mordavia with three, Akbarabad with two, and Nethertopia with one.

Prescott: I guess Akbarabad should be glad you’re game isn’t real!

Kusler: I guess not, but other then that, there is a lot that is similar.

Prescott: And Group B?

Kusler: Matchday two was Sarzonia over Edward City, Greal over the McLaughlin Islands, and Kosovoe and Koseli in a draw. Today Kosovoe beats Sarzonia, Greal over Koseli, and Edward City and McLaughlin in a scoreless draw. Therefore you end up with a tight group. Kosovoe leads with seven points, one point over a tie between Sarzonia and Greal. Koseli Cumheriyetler has four points, and Edward City and the McLaughlins have just the point.

Prescott: Big differences in that group.

Kusler: Exactly. It’s cool comparing the results of the video game to reality.

Prescott: I suppose. Let’s play another game. Let’s pick random teams. (selects random team). Achtervolging? Oh shit, I’m going to lose.

Kusler: (selects random team): Yes! Milchama.

Prescott: This ain’t gonna be pretty.

Peisandros

30-03-2009, 07:25

"How is it all going Minister?"
"Well Sir, there have been no reported problems. Crowd sizes have been very pleasing and there have been no reports of violence. The football has been great too. I think teams are glad to be playing in Peisandros."
"Why?"
"Because Allemenschen, apparently, is a horrible place to play."

"Well why on earth did we agree to co-host with them?"
"Actually Sir, it kind of works out okay. It make us look very good. Our stadiums are all in fantastic condition after all and I think teams appreciate that."
"Hmm, okay then. And how is our team going?"
"Sir they just won their first game."

"Only one win, that isn't so good."
"Sir it's a very close pool and they're placed in second."
"I see. I think I want to go to one of their games. Who are they playing next?"
"West Newmanistan."

"Are they as good as Newmanistan?"
"Not quite Sir."
"Hmm, what about after that?"
"Terreiro de Ogum"

"Ahh I remember them from our first World Cup, I'll go to that game. Sort it out Minister."
"Yes Sir."
"That's all. Oh and Minister, keep up the good work."
"Yes Sir, thank you."

Minister of Internal Affairs leaves.

"Ruby?"
"Yes sir?"
"Come in here please."
"Right away."

"Ruby I've got something I want to ask you, sit down please. Do you like football?"
"I don't mind it Sir, I quite enjoy watching our boys play."
"Would you like to accompany me to the Terreiro de Ogum game?"
"That would be wonderful Sir, I would thoroughly enjoy it."

"Excellent. It would be nice if it was a social occasion rather than professional, don't you agree?"
"Umm. Yes Sir."
"Good. Well tell the Minister you'll be coming with me."
"Okay Sir, thank you."

Ruby leaves.

Greal

30-03-2009, 11:52

Cup of Harmony Schedule
MD1: Greal VS Sarzonia (3-1)
MD2: Greal VS The McLaughlin Islands (2-1)
MD3: Greal VS Koseli Cumhuriyetler (0-3)
MD4: Greal VS Edward City
MD5: Greal VS Kosovoe

There's a shocker

The entire CoH group was shocked into submission as Greal and Kosovoe, the two top teams of the group were thrown back down by defeats. Greal was shockingly defeated by Koseli Cumhuriyetler and Kosovoe narrowly lost to Sarzonia. Ross Trent soberly admitted this would damper Greal's chances of qualifying, and now they desperately needed to win the next two games in order to qualify for CoH 37. A few fans expressed disappointment with Greal's performance during the match. One fan was quoted to say "today's match was like a nightmare for a fan". Greali Television Service reported the surge died off quickly and the number of viewers before the match ended was at 840 million viewers. Tomorrow's match will be against a formidable team. Edward City.

Koseli Cumhuriyetler 3

Greal 0

In other matches today...

Edward City demolished The McLaughlin Islands 5-0.

Kosovoe narrowly lost to Sarzonia 2-3.

Akbarabad

30-03-2009, 12:08

Akbarabad maintain top spot.

(Akbarabad Press, AP): Akbarabad have continued their Cup of Harmony campaign with a disappointing 2-2 draw with lower ranked West Newmanistan. The team needlessly gave away to late goals, one from an own goal to share points in an encounter they dominated from the start. Even so, the result leaves them three points clear at the top and in a good postion to qaulify.

West Newmanistan 2 -2 Akbarabad
Chris Peckham (79'), Zakir Ahmed OG(84'). Samin Akbar (16'), Mohammed Rashid (27')

The team next play Nethertopia, who have done poorly so far. Akbarabad should be quite confident of clinching a qualification spot after the next match.

Quintessence of Dust

30-03-2009, 15:39

Retrieved from http://dailypinko.co.qd/socfoot.
The Daily Pinko Online
Socialism and Football Section

Industrial action threatens participation in Cup of Harmony

RAHLIA -- In the last few minutes news has emerged that controversial statements at the World Assembly over new labour rights legislation being debated (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=14647235&postcount=19) may lead to industrial action in protest by Union-members across Quintessence of Dust. If so, several members of the national football team, who lost last night 3-1 to Cup of Harmony hosts Peisandros in a match that may have decisively ended slender hopes of advancement to the final rounds,
could return home to join in the actions, leaving a badly weakened squad struggling to join the gaps.

The Combined Emergency Services Unions have pledged to continue operations, but have permitted all off-duty members to engage in protest action. If it goes ahead, policeman David Yellowback, fireman Dino Achten, and nurse Cecilia Colombo could pull out of the final two games, in which the team will play Group A leaders Akbarabad, and then Terreiro de Ogum, against whom they lost twice in World Cup 45 qualifying (or lack thereof).

Even more damaging would be if the action spreads to the university sector, which would commit defensive midfielder Ólafur Kjartansson and striker Dennis Young, who scored last night's only goal in reply to three from midfielders Nikolaidis, Krestenitis and Paris Sisinis, to pull out and return home to help on the picket lines. Though the squad contains many younger members who are not part of unions, it is possible they too would return as campuses explode in uproar over labour rights, one of the defining issues of Quodite political culture.

Someone certainly not concerned will be Goshinho, the 17-year old Brazilian-Icelandic immigrant whose talent was last season mercilessly exploited for political gain by New Cleethorpes Athletic. A former non-unionised dishwasher in the kitchens of a law-breaking restaurant, Goshinho has consistently been denied fair representation in his contract, been persuaded of the existence of an "almost-living wage", and been cheated out of legitimate earnings. He played last night as Peisandros, coming on as a substitute for Yua Yua Huang, who put in a disappointing contrast to another sprightly showing from Woody Cockbadger.

The team were not available for comment as they travel back to the Peisandros Bowl in Delphi.

Retrieved from http://NCEOnline.co.qd/sport/587568, several hours later.

"Alarmism" criticised for causing panic

Secretary of Labour Chandra Svensgotabrandnewcardigan this evening sharply rebuked members of the left-leaning media for "irresponsible alarmism" over a labour rights issue, saying there was "no immediate danger" of industrial actions and that "fruitful negotiations continue". Her message contained a special reassurance that participation in the football Cup of Harmony would not be disrupted, though Svensgotabrandnewcardigan, a long-time ally of Secretary of State George Madison, added that she thought it "outrageous" that such a "trivial concern" had gained such publicity.

"Tabloids of this kind rely on a kind of twisted logic, that maybe if they talk enough about something happening, it will," said the Secretary, delivering prepared remarks before a previously-scheduled press conference on pensions and benefits. "And I'd like to make it absolutely clear that industrial relations in Quintessence of Dust remain, as they always have been, built on a strong bond of trust between employee and employer, managed fairly by the government, together."

Papers including The Dependent and The Daily Pinko posted articles on their websites claiming union action could force key members of the national football team to pull out of the Cup of Harmony to bolster their unions at home. Most Quintessential football players are amateurs, with youngsters such as Goshinho, Theo Littlefellow (who created last night's goal with a long free-kick, only to pick up a booking that sees him suspended against Terreiro de Ogum), Marina Sundqvist and captain Peter Rogers the exception, not the rule.

But, speaking exclusively to The New Cleethorpes Enquirer, head coach Edward "Big Ted" Large confirmed that no disruption to the squad was anticipated. "We're calm," he said, "And we don't foresee any trouble." On learning that several members of Quintessence of Dust's oldest civil society organization, Pissed Up Skeptics, plan to attend the match at Peisandros Bowl and boo during Terreiro de Ogum's pre-game rituals, he said that would "be inappropriate" and that "we should respect other customs".

Meanwhile, Secretary of State George Madison back up Svensgotabrandnewcardigan's comments, saying that "the idea that comments of this nature at the WA would lead to strike action is absurd" and criticising "the inane, low-level tabloid nonsense" that the national media has become obsessed with. Madison and Svensgotabrandnewcardigan then had a late meeting at the Department of Labour, where he is rumoured to have given her a good rogering.

Sarzonia

30-03-2009, 15:52

"Screw it."

For Sarzonians, hearing those words normally don't register much of a reaction. But coming from the mouth of an 83-year-old Cafundelense national team manager who was managing his first real matches since ending a 12-year retirement, they came as a shock.

Prior to Sarzonia's must-win fixture against Kosovoe, Franz Braddock finally lost patience with trying to use the Cup of Harmony as an assessment tool prior to installing his offence.

"Hicks, you're sitting," he said. "Nichols, you're starting up top."

"What?" midfielder Clayton Bocanegro asked. "We've always played a 4-4-2."

"In the old days, you'd sometimes play a 3-5-2," Braddock corrected. "I've even seen a 3-6-1. He'd watched films of the Stars glory days and found their offence was remarkably similar to what he'd try to install. "We're playing a 3-4-3."

For Spencer Hicks, it was a demotion. Had that come from Brian Wilson or one of the untested assistants who was in line for the managerial position, he might have sulked or acted up. But this was a manager who had experience. Five previous World Cup qualifying campaigns, in fact. He'd guided Cafundéu to the World Cup quarterfinals. He had earned a reputation as a coach who took nonsense from no player. As such, Hicks knew his place.

For Reese Nichols, it was his ticket to a consistent place in the starting 11 without it being forced upon the team. He would team up with one-time AOCAF strike partner Matt Lynch, not to mention fellow striker Zack Wilson. The team would play a more attack-oriented offence in their match against Kosovoe.

That attack would bear fruit as all three strikers found the net. Lynch scored first in the 17th minute off a feed from Nichols. Nichols buried a 30-yard free kick in the 42nd minute to equalise after a two-goal Tornado outburst, then Wilson skied for a spectacular bicycle kick goal in the 73rd minute to provide the Stars (1-0-2) three desperately needed points.

The time might come for Sarzonia to ease its way back into a more balanced system. But that time would not come to pass just yet. In the present, the Stars would attack, attack attack. It might betray them some time. But for one night, it gave them the lift they needed.

Secristan

30-03-2009, 16:21

STUNG BY PURPLE KNIGHTS

A highly motivated Purple Knights squad took to the field and cruised to a 3-1 victory over our Millionaires in the third game of Cup of Harmony action. Brian Ying Uing showed no signs of having been shaken up in Taeshan’s previous game, and scored two of the three goals to give the Purple Knights a cushion. Secristan was really never a factor in this match, falling behind 2-nil, with the lone excitement coming when Kevin Walker snapped the clean sheet in the 74th minute, only to see Taeshan quickly get the goal right back and secure their two goal victory. The teams are now tied for second in Group C, though Secristan will not have the tiebreaker with Taeshan due to this result, and things will remain challenging for our squad with the final two games against West Zirconia and Newmanistan. West Zirconia has been a disappointment thus far with only one point in three matches, but that probably only means that they are due. While Newmanistan was a great disappointment in World Cup qualifying, they have not been in the Cup of Harmony, with three wins in as many games. Following the match, many players had negative things to say about the fans in attendance. “They have the most stupid chant I have ever heard!” said Stephen Alexander. James Rogan mocked one sign brought by a fan that said “Purple Nellies like Purple Knights so they don’t sting them,” calling it very lame. Chris Carmin continued to bash Allemenschen women with comments that we cannot repeat since there may be kids reading.

The Secristan Department of Sports reports that purchases of the pay-per-view were adequate but somewhat underwhelming. They were really hoping that this match would be a great earner, and while it still may be the second most profitable match of the group stage of the Cup of Harmony, Katie Simpson says she would have liked to have seen bigger numbers, “There is some excitement there over the Cup of Harmony, but there just seems to be one small piece missing. I think that some of our fans simply despise watching games played in Allemenschen as the run-down field and uninspired crowd just cannot draw any energy. It’s really a shame that there are games here. I think that some fans are so excited about meeting Newmanistan in the finale that the other matches just cannot compare. Hopefully, we can meet our financial expectations for the match against West Zirconia.”

In other news, substitute Carl Perino has left the team. The sting he sustained during the match against Logria has not healed and he is returning to Secristan for two reasons. As he says, “To concentrate on my medical condition, and to begin the process of filing the legal paperwork.” Perino’s attorney, Shawn Ryan, says the defender plans on suing the Executive World Cup Committee for allowing the games to be played in a terrible environment. According to Ryan, “The EWCC made their mistake when they approved this field for play. They had much better options available to them as far as nations in which these games could have been played in Now, they will have to pay the consequences. The lawsuit will be filed in Amherst.”

Edward City

30-03-2009, 16:40

WNC Sports - Special Cup of Harmony 37 coverage

"Good day, this is Richard Dern"

"And this is Adrià Ferrer"

"And you're watching WNG Sports. Yesterday, Cup of Harmony's matchday 3 took place and now, we're gonna give you the results"

"At group C, Newmanistan, Hypocria and Taeshan defeated West Zirconia, Logria and Secristan in 1-0, 2-1 and 3-1 matches respectively. Meanwhile, in group A, Peisandros and Terreiro de Ogum each defeated Quintessence of Dust and Nethertopia in a 1-3 and 1-0 matches while West Newmanistan and Akbarabad drew on a 2-2 match"

"And now let's go to group B's results. Sarzonia defeated Kosovoe in a 3-2 match and Greal was defeated by Koseli Cumhuriyetler in a 0-3 match. While all that happened, the Three Arrows made something incredible which I'm too frightened to tell. Please, Adrià, tell it"

"Okay Richard, Edward City defeated The McLaughlin Islands by 5-0! Yes, they indeed made it. This was possible thanks to the strengh and perseverance of three men; Thomas Gardner, Juan Valle and Dietrich Kahn. Thomas Gardner was the first to score, shooting the ball into the Islanders' goal at minute 15. Then, at minute 27, Juan Valle scored the second goal. Still at 2-0, Dietrich Kahn scored the third goal at minute 71. The fourth goal was again scored by Dietrich Kahn at minute 87 and the fifth and definitive goal was also scored by Kahn at the 89th minute. Too hard to believe, don't you think, Richard?"

"Yes, I do, Adrià. But it's not yet won for our boys. At matchday 4, the Arrows will have to face one of it's worst fears... Greal. Maybe Greal lost 3-0 yesterday against Koseli Cumhuriyetler, but they're still an important challenge for our team to advance to the next stage in the championship"

"Okay, I think that's all. I'll say nothing else but luck to Peter Jough's boys next day against Greal"

"Good day each of you, fans of Cup of Harmony and of Edward City too. For more information about the Edwardian team's squad go to NSWiki: Edward City national football team squads (http://nswiki.net/index.php?title=Edward_City_national_football_team_squads#Cup_of_Harmony_37_and_AOCAF_26_squad)"

Greal

30-03-2009, 22:39

Cup of Harmony Schedule
MD1: Greal VS Sarzonia (3-1)
MD2: Greal VS The McLaughlin Islands (2-1)
MD3: Greal VS Koseli Cumhuriyetler (0-3)
MD4: Greal VS Edward City
MD5: Greal VS Kosovoe

Greal VS Edward City Preview

Greal will be playing a formidable Edward City, would beat The McLaughlin Islands 5-0 in yesterday's match while the Greali fell to Koseli Cumhuriyetler. Today's match will determine whether Greal or Edward City will qualify for CoH37. Ross Trent says there was still a chance to salvage victory for Greal, but today's match has to absolutely be a victory for Greal. Senator Benjamin Franks will be attending the match also, which might give a morale boost to the Greali players. Greali Television Service has once again declined to give an estimate, but sources say they expect 950 million viewers. Greal will be playing with standard formation. The weather is expected to be sunny and blue skies.

In other matches...

Sarzonia will be playing Koseli Cumhuriyetler.

The McLaughlin Islands will be playing Kosovoe.

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

"Today's match is our last hope." announced Ross.

"Yes, we all know." said the guys.

"If we win today's match, we have Kosovoe tomorrow either way."

"Ross, we've been through this many times. They'll qualify, hopefully." said Roger, soberly.

"The bar is crowded as usual," remarked Jeff, "I guess everyone wants to see if Greal loses or wins today's match."

"That's a great comfort." said Ethan sarcastically.

Peisandros

31-03-2009, 00:52

After final team practise before West Newmanistan game.

Costa Theotokis: Coach? Can I have a word?
Alexander Pappas: Yeah Costa, what's up?
CT: My ankle is playing up a bit.
AP: Okay then, hold on, I'll call in Willy Pipinelis and we can have a look. You wait here.

Pappas leaves, returns with William Pipinelis -- team physio.

William Pipinelis: Hey Cost. What's the problem?
CT: It's my ankle Will. It started to niggle again at training today.
WP: Alright mate, hop up on the table.
AP: Is this the first time it's started hurting since the last incident?

CT: Yeah coach, it's been fine. Haven't noticed anything.
WP: Can you rotate it, or does that hurt?
CT: Ahh, yeah that's painful.
WP: I see. Well you're going to need scans. But from looking at it and having a feel, I think you might have tibialis posterior syndrome. Hopefully there isn't a dislocation. Anyway, we'll get you off to St Mary's for a few scans.

AP: How long could he be out for?
WP: Well it all depends really. But won't be ready for West Newmanistan.
AP: Okay and if we qualify, will he be ready for the finals?
CT: Yeah coach, I'll be ready for them!

AP: Willy?
WP: Yeah, Cost should be fine.
AP: Okay good. Well get off to the scans, I'll make an announcement. We'll have to change up the style a bit. But you look after yourself.
CT: Cheers coach.

William Pipinelis and Costa Theotokis leave.

An hour later at an emergency press conference called by Alexander Pappas.

"Okay, thanks for everyone coming along. We've got a bit of bad news. Costa Theotokis' ankle has flared up pretty badly. We sent him to St Mary's Hospital for a few scans and are just waiting for the results, but he'll be out for the West Newmanistan game. His replacement will be Apollodoros Notara, who will form a three-man, midfield defensive unit with Krestenitis and Halkias. Sisinis and Nikolaidis will go wider, Sisinis on the left and Praxis on the right wing. George Theotokis will stay up in a lone striker position. So that's a 4-3-2-1, which will just be in place until Costa can return to the team. Narcissus Theodore will step in as vice-captain. I think that's all, no questions tonight lads.

Peisandros

31-03-2009, 01:11

Results for Group C matchday Fourrr

Newmanistan 5-3 Logria
Hypocria 0-0 Taeshan
West Zirconia 1-1 Secristan

Pos Team P W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Newmanistan 4 4 0 0 11 5 6 12
2 Taeshan 4 2 1 1 5 3 2 7
3 Secristan 4 2 1 1 8 6 2 7
4 Hypocria 4 1 1 2 3 7 -4 4
5 West Zirconia 4 0 2 2 2 4 -2 2
6 Logria 4 0 1 3 7 11 -4 1

Allemenschen

31-03-2009, 01:23

Nothing complicated today.

Group A
West Newmanistan 0-0 Peisandros
Quintessence of Dust 1-0 Terreiro de Ogum
Akbarabad 1-2 Nethertopia

Pos Team P W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Akbarabad 4 2 1 1 6 5 1 7
2 Quintessence of Dust 4 2 1 1 5 5 0 7
3 Peisandros 4 1 2 1 5 4 1 5
4 Nethertopia 4 1 2 1 5 5 0 5
5 West Newmanistan 4 1 2 1 3 3 0 5
6 Terreiro de Ogum 4 1 0 3 1 3 -2 3

Group B
Sarzonia 5-1 Koseli Cumhuriyetler
Greal 4-1 Edward City
Kosovoe 2-0 The McLaughlin Islands

Pos Team P W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Greal 4 3 0 1 9 6 3 9
2 Kosovoe 4 3 0 1 8 5 3 9
3 Sarzonia 4 2 0 2 9 7 2 6
4 Edward City 4 2 0 2 8 6 2 6
5 Koseli Cumhuriyetler 4 2 0 2 7 7 0 6
6 The McLaughlin Islands 4 0 0 4 1 11 -10 0

***tiebreakers not used to distinguish ranks until last match***

Sarzonia

31-03-2009, 02:32

Woodstock Daily Mail

Stars throttle Turks, can advance with win

By Travis West
Daily Mail Staff Writer

The stats will tell you the Sarzonian national football team are level with Group B leaders Greal for the second highest goalscoring total in the Cup of Harmony. But they don't tell the whole tale.

After scoring one goal combined in the first two matches, Stars manager Franz Braddock scrapped his original plan to retain Sarzonia's 4-4-2 alignment and played a more attack-minded 3-4-3 formation. They've scored eight goals in their last two matches, including tonight's 5-1 win over Koseli Cumhuriyetler in the fourth match of group play in the 37th Cup of Harmony.

The Stars (2-0-2, six points) are currently level with Edward City and the Turks for third place in Group B. The top two teams in each group and the two best third place sides advance to the quarterfinals.

"We just had to get our offence flowing the way we expected," Braddock said. "We still have to ensure that we do the things we need to do to play well as a team, but this was a nice result."

Midfielder Clayton Bocanegro notched a team record four assists in the match, feeding Matt Lynch (two goals) and Reese Nichols (two goals). Zack Wilson netted the fifth goal in the 87th minute following a counterattack.

"It felt good to score five goals against a quality side such as the Turks," Lynch said. "I'm happy that we're in a position now where we essentially control our own destiny."

Goalkeeper Cody Taylor warned Lynch that he was a bit ahead of himself.

"Edward City have the head-to-head tiebreaker on us," he said. "We have to beat The McLaughlin Islands and hope for a draw between Edward City and the Turks."

Enter Wilson.

"If we win the match and Greal defeat Kosovoe, we're likely in as the second place side."

If Edward City, Kosovoe and Sarzonia win, the tiebreaker scenario gets complicated. All three teams would then have 3-0-2 records and would battle for two spots. Nichols said the team should focus on its match with The McLaughlin Islands.

"If we lose the match, we don't deserve to go through anyway," he said. "We didn't play our brand of football until it was too late."

Time will tell if Sarzonia's offensive outburst was too little too late. But for one night at least, Braddock pulled all the right strings.

Taeshan

31-03-2009, 03:16

Purple Knights Not Hippos

Yeah pretty mcuh when a games final score is 0-0 theres not much more you can say besides the fact that the game was as boring as hell. Niether team would even get close to scoring anything resembling a goal and thus the Knights ended this match only one point closer then a repeat performance as CoH champs. Of course that would be due to missing one people. Tommorrow the Knights take on Logria in what should secure a finals spot easily unless they really upset us.

Kosovoe

31-03-2009, 03:28

Blue Tornado Win After Loss

A few days after losing to the Sarzonian Stars National team, i use days in a theoretical way, the Tornado opened up for yet another game this time against the young Nationalists of the country of the McGlaughlin Islands, a group of as you may no family members who have been interbreeding since they left there homeland and now protectorate of West Zirconia. It doesn't matter though because the Tornado won, and that is all that matters.

The Tornadoes two goals were scored by Ossi Euro in the 17th, and Jamie Barry who earlier assisted Euro was found by Angel Kensington for the second goal in the 67th to put the game out of reason. Now the race for the second round is in full jump as now the Tornado are tied at 3-0-1 for the lead of their group with Greal only behind in second due to the fact that someone had to be in first and someone second. The 8 teams who would currently make it right now are Taeshan, Newmanistan who is the only team to have already assured themselves a final spot and who is also the only unbeaten, and Secristan from Group C. From are illustrious Group B Us, Greal and Sarzonia and Group A would find only Akbarad and Quintessence of Dust making the Eite Eight. Though this can be changed. The foremost inmportant game though right now is for the championship with a tie at least assuring qualification and a win giving them a high seed as a loss would make them dependent on other scores. So route for a win.

Newmanistan

31-03-2009, 08:17

Nelson Yaschter wasn’t happy. The Rockets had played very poorly in the first half of the match against Logria, finding themselves down three goals to none. Newmanistan had always seemed to have that one dud during the group stage of the Cup of Harmony. That one game where nothing went right, and that was clearly happening against Logria. Jeff Harris had scored twice, in the 19th and 27th minutes, with Adam Round adding to the lead in the 40th minute with a 25-yard strike that Chris Kusler really should have stopped. Logria had been in control of possession to a 68-32 advantage, and outshot the Rockets 10-3 as far as what went on target. The Baptism of Fire semifinalist was making a strong statement as they tried to stay alive in Group C. But Yaschter was simply not going to accept that this was going to be a let down game after big wins over Taeshan and West Zirconia, and the neighbors looming on the schedule.

He huddled the players together. He didn’t say a word. Instead he stood there with his arms folded, shaking his head. Minutes went by, and the coach still hasn’t said anything as he simply stared at the players. Finally, Scott LaFave asked him if he was going to say something. The response, “Nope. If you all aren’t going to do your job, I’m not going to do mine. I think when the second half starts, I’ll just sit back and watch Logria do whatever they want. Hey, if you guys can do it, why can’t I?” A loud outburst wasn’t necessary. It was a simple and effective way of bringing home his point. 18-year old Matthew Turner asked a question, “So you want to push an all-out attack to start the second half?” If Turner had not been only eighteen years of age, he may have had a more witty reply. “What does the scoreboard say?” was all he replied, and he did not say another word. With a couple minutes to go before the team took to the field to begin the second half, Yaschter made one simple comment, “I know you’ll make this comeback.”

The Rockets began attacking the goal with an all-out intensity, and Logria struggled to keep up. For a little while, their defense made some nice plays, but when Billy Prescott found the back of the net in the 53rd minute, the comeback was starting. The pressure continued, and in the 60th minute, Matthew Turner scored off a nice cross from Kevin Taylor to close the lead to one. The underdog Logrians were feeling the heat, and they tried to make some defensive substitutions to stymie the momentum of the Rockets, and for a little while this worked, but not for long. In the 76th minute, Jeremy McAllister blasted an equalizer, then quickly put the team ahead just three minutes later. Now with the lead, Newmanistan seemed to have the game in hand but J-Mac wasn’t quite done. The captain completed his natural hat trick in the 85th minute to make it 5-3 in favor of the Rockets, which would be your final.

Returning the locker room, Yaschter was a happy man after his team completed the five goal second half. Now, the Rockets will return to West Pocono for more practice and then come back to the swamp to play Secristan. Newmanistan will be looking to wrap up the best overall record in the Cup of Harmony, while the Millionaires needed a win.

Greal

31-03-2009, 09:01

Cup of Harmony Schedule
MD1: Greal VS Sarzonia (3-1)
MD2: Greal VS The McLaughlin Islands (2-1)
MD3: Greal VS Koseli Cumhuriyetler (0-3)
MD4: Greal VS Edward City (4-1)
MD5: Greal VS Kosovoe

Greal wins and faces Kosovoe for showdown tomorrow

Greal spectacularly won over Edward City 4-1 in a packed stadium and TV audience of over one billion people. Howard Anderson had the pleasure of scoring two goals while Sebastian Expan and Michael Istoma each scored one goal. Edward City regained some of their pride by scoring before the game was up. The resounding victory erased some doubts about Greal's ability to qualify, and now Greal leads the group again, but tomorrow's match against Kosovoe, which is the toughest team of the group. Ross Trent says tomorrow's match will determine whether Kosovoe of Greal is better at this sort of thing.

In other matches...

Sarzonia blasted Koseli Cumhuriyetler 5-1

Kosovoe had some success with a win over The McLaughlin Islands 2-0.

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

"4-1 win, wow." remarked Ethan.

"Tomorrow is the hardest of the hard." announced Ethan.

"Kosovoe is gong to be hard to beat. Do you think we can do it?" asked Jeff, with a worried look on his face.

"We did it last time."

"Last time?" asked Jeff, puzzled.

"In CoH35, we beat Kosovoe 2-0 and managed to qualify."

"Can we do it again? Thats the main question." said Fred.

"Watch tomorrow's match to see."

"Where are we meeting?"

"My place."

Peisandros

31-03-2009, 11:26

All to play for in group A.

What fascinating Cup of Harmony groups we have here in Peisandros. In group A, just four points cover all six teams. Group B is little different, with three covering the top five. Peisandros is one of three teams stuck on five points. A win against Terreiro de Ogum is absolutely vital if the Sandrians have any chance of going through to the CoH proper. It would also really help if Akbarabad or Quintessence of Dust slipped up, which could put Peisandros in the top two -- automatic qualification.

The forced change in style did not work for the Sandrians and the clearly missed Costa Theotokis' killer instince up the front. Coach Pappas had this to say at the post-match press conference:

"I can't say for sure just now, but I think we're going to go back to a four-four-two. It just didn't work today. Lefteris Diakos will make his first start in this campaign, where he'll partner George up front. The news on Costa is very good. There is no dislocation and it's just a wee sprain. Depending on how he is feeling and if we qualify, he should be ready for those games. It may be the case that he plays with a pain-killer injection, but we'll have to wait and see. To be honest we're just trying to focus on our hugely important upcoming game. This is our first Cup of Harmony campaign and we are very keen to do well, which all really depends on our next game, so it's vital. Anyway, got time for a few questions."

"Coach Pappas, what do you make of the conditions in Allemenschen?"

"I don't know to be honest. I'll cross that bridge if we get there."

"Alex there's been some talk that Sandrian fans have been more interested in foreign teams, what do you make of that? Do you think it has anything to do with your defensive style?"

"I think it's rubbish. We've had very good crowds, as we have consistantly since two years ago at the World Cup. Of course with so much fantastic talent on show people are going to be interested in it, I'd be disappointed if they weren't. As for the defensive style, I think that's completley irrelevant. We play a good brand of football which has won us more games than lost. That's all. Thanks"

Akbarabad

31-03-2009, 13:46

Akbarabad stumble, but still maintain top spot.

(Akbarabad Press, AP): Akbarabad have continued their Cup of Harmony campaign with a disappointing 2-1 defeat against struggling Nethertopia who in turn gained their first win. Altough Akbarabad are still well placed for to qualify, their form has tailed of after the first two matches.
Nethertopia 2 -1 Akbarabad
Tom van Dijk (42'), Darko Soro (57'). Samin Akbar (79').

The team next play Quintessence of Dust, and they need a positive result to ensure qualification.

Quintessence of Dust

31-03-2009, 18:49

The New Cleethorpes Enquirer
Himpfelschnoorrddts impress on debut

Quintessence of Dust beat Terreiro de Ogum, a side they featured double defeats against during World Cup 45 qualifying, on what head coach Edward "Big Ted" Large called "a crucial day for us". The Quodite footballers have everything to play for in a tantalisingly close Group A, whose final day theatrics will decide the two-point gap spread across five different sides. Quintessence of Dust moved into second as hosts Peisandros struggled without striker Theotokis, drawing 0-0 with West Newmanistan, and group leaders Akbarabad saw their lead slimmed to a 1 point goal difference after a surprise loss to Nethertopia.

With Theo Littlefellow suspended, and David Yellowback limping off with a twisted ankle after a 15th minute foul, which led to Quintessence of Dust's goal, young twins Johannes ("Hannes") and Hanna van Himpfelschnoorddt both earned their debut caps, Hanna coming on at half-time for Cecilia Colombo, who struggled to fit into the left-back role. Both were impressive in defence and particularly at providing attacking options out wide, and Hannes is expected to start in Yellowback's stead for the Day 5 showdown against Akbarabad.

"Defence will be key," admitted Large. "They have a fantastic striker in Samin Akbar, and we need to find a way to neutralise him without limiting our own chances at going forward." He was full of praise for the Himpfelschnoorddt twins, saying "they definitely gave us good options, and I'm looking forward to their becoming integral squad members". Hanna will return to the reserve bench as Theo Littlefellow and Jessica Jensen return from suspension. Dino Achten, who played in his old left midfield role and looked as uncomfortable as ever, will displace Ólafur Kjartansson in the favoured defensive midfield spot. And Marina Sunqvist, who featured as a substitute for Goshinho after being rested against the Sandrians, returns to the starting XI.

Jensen and Littlefellow were badly missed today as Quintessence of Dust struggled to build momentum on the left. With Yua Yua Huang disappointing against the Sandrians, their options are limited without their two first-choice left-sided players. The QFA's harsh enforcement of unilateral suspensions policy - 1 game for 2 yellow cards, 2 games for 1 red card - has come under some criticism. "There's no point ourselves to a 'holier-than-thou' standard," said newly-appointed Rahlia Regals head coach Arlo Cockbadger. "We have to play on a level playing field. Jess had learned her lesson, and the lass should've played last night."

The victory against Terreiro de Ogum also offered a kind of "redemptive vindication" for "the phallocratic counterratiosexuapsychocratic metamechadiscourse" of "industrial capitalism phallocracy embedded in the Quintessential sexo-psyche", according to Michel Fucko, who again spoke out against playing a postcolonialist nation. Estresso Intenso, formerly in control of Terreiro de Ogum, had beaten Quintessence of Dust in the 3rd place playoff for the Baptism of Fire before World Cup 33. Fucko noted acerbically that the only two Quodite victories in the Cup of Harmony have been against newly freed states, adding, "we seem to have become expert in the represso-suppresso-oppresion matrix of psychosexualrationalcounterrationalnonrationalindividuallyrationalhameggschipsrational counter-matrices".

The Quodite victory was largely thanks to a controversial decision in the 15th minute, awarding a free-kick and yellow card against the otherwise superb Dona Rosa. Coolly lining it up, Frederic Renard whipped in a curling ball that dipped over the defensive wall and soared into the net for his 11th international goal, most of which have come from his highly regarded free-kicks. Whether or not the initial tackle was a foul or not has been subject to intense debate; Dona Rosa seemed to win the ball, but Yellowback, not known for simulation and previously critical of players who were, went down in obvious agony and had to be substituted.

Otherwise, a relatively dull game played out with few chances. Previously, Terreiro de Ogum have worn down Quintessence of Dust through attrition and then capitalised on late fatigue, but going a goal down early on disrupted their game plans and they never looked like equalising, much as they held strong against subsequent waves of Quodite attacking. Pissed Up Skeptics abandoned their plans to boo during the opposition's pre-game rituals, and showed good grace when Tramóia entered having stolen the hat of Secretary of Agnosticism & Ale Cheryl Jackson. However, when the Pomba Gira appeared in the second half, several of them had to be shooed away from the touchline by linesman Aris Popadom-Popadomkis to boos of "Are you Turkish in disguise?" by the disappointed Sandrian crowd, who had up till then quite enjoyed the boozy infidels' demonstration using only a refracting mirror, a compass, and a bottle of water that the Pomba Gira's feats were not supernatural.

Greal

31-03-2009, 22:57

Cup of Harmony Schedule
MD1: Greal VS Sarzonia (3-1)
MD2: Greal VS The McLaughlin Islands (2-1)
MD3: Greal VS Koseli Cumhuriyetler (0-3)
MD4: Greal VS Edward City (4-1)
MD5: Greal VS Kosovoe

Greal VS Kosovoe Preview

Kosovoe and Greal play each other today to determine who qualifys for CoH37. The last time, Greal met Kosovoe was in CoH35, and Greal won, but now its two cups later and things are different, but the Greali might still be able to pull off a victory providing nothing goes wrong. The media, heavily publicizing today's match, has helped bring in millions of fans who will watch today's match. Ross Trent reports his team will do its very best and he just hopes that they qualify, otherwise there are unseen consequences. Greal will play with standard formation, with a combination of aggressiveness and caution. Weather is predicted to be blue skies, which would be perfect for the final qualifying match today.

In other matches...

Sarzonia will be playing The McLaughlin Islands.

Edward City will be playing Koseli Cumhuriyetler.

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

"Today's the last day."

"Yes, we all know, now bring the beers in." said Ross harshly to Jeff.

"Here they are. Just beer?"

"Popcorn is in the top drawer if you want them."

"No thanks."

"I already predicted a narrow win for Greal before the Association."

"What do they think?" asked Ethan.

"They think that prediction is reasonable." answered Ross.

"The previews are finally up." said Fred loudly, then there was a rush of footsteps and the guys were all now sitting around the sofas.

"Finally."

"Howard Anderson is a real good scorer." said Jeff.

"I'm meeting him along with the Association when CoH37 is over."

"Really? Wow. Get an autograph for me please."

Peisandros

31-03-2009, 23:13

"So, how are Greal going?"
"Really well, I'm loving it."
"Who do they have today?"
"Playing against Kosovoe. Will be a great game. Have you seen Pei playing yet?"

"Nah. We're playing boring football. Two draws, pfft."
"I don't even know. I'm trying to buy a Greali shirt off the internet, but can't find one anywhere, bit disappointed."
"Maybe if they beat Kosovoe one of their players will get a bit excited, could get naked."
"Yeah, but I'm not the only Sandrian supporter of them. They're a popular team over here. It's going to be crazy."

"I guess. Well I got tickets to the Newmanistan Secristan game."
"Shit, that'll be a very good game too."
"Yeah, it's probably up there for match of the round."
"Wouldn't be far off, you just have to hope the right Secristan turn up."

"Hmm. Well if Newmanistan win, I'm going to follow them through the finals. I reckon they have what it takes."
"If they play Greal we have to go, even if its in Ephesum. You can get tickets right?"
"Yeah it's about the only perk of working at the Ministry."
"Well good. Hopefully it happens!"

Nova Hypocria

31-03-2009, 23:14

Wide Of The Post
The Hyppos’ No: 1 Fanzine, 19 subscribers and rising . . .

Win Or Bust

Defeats in the opening two fixtures was hardly inspiring form but at least it was traditional, the Hyppos not having the best of records in this particular competition and all, and given the circumstances the Autocracy’s finest have to face in this, shall we saw, interesting corner of Atlantian Oceania largely forgivable. But with teams already falling by the wayside Peter Pojencic’s side are still in with a shout after picking up four points from the next two games.

The men in blue and white overcame the odds and the nellies to beat Baptism of Fire semi finalists Logria. A commanding performance from captain Dzeko helped secure the new coach his first win in charge and could have helped to land the Partizan Drissa midfield dynamo a prestigious move to Cafundéu. Dzeko was at the heart of the move that culminated in the Autocracy’s first. He sprayed the ball out to the right and drove forward, collecting the return ball from Dorrans and drilling it first time across the penalty area to Khedira who controlled beautifully before firing low and hard past the Logria keeper.

The Autocracy remained in control for much of the game and they fully deserved a second. And a second dully game when the Logria defence failed to properly clear their lines from a corner and Dzeko ran onto the rebound before hitting a right footed strike high into the top corner. Two to zip and a first three points seemingly in the bag for the new man in charge, although he would have been less than impressed with the defensive lapse that led to a late Logria consolation and a nervy final few minutes. But baby steps eh?

The matchday 3 win was followed by perhaps one of the dullest games of international football on record, a game when even the nellies’ got bored and wondered off in search of other entertainment, but the end result was a point picked up against higher ranked Taeshan. So no complaints from us. And it was a point that kept the Hyppos with just a glimmer of a qualification chance ahead of the final group game. There are all kinds of permutations but one thing is certain, a win against West Zirconia is a must.

Schedule
M1: Hypocria v Newmanistan (Alle) 1 – 3
M2: Hypocria v Secristan (Alle) 0 - 3
M3: Hypocria v Logria (Alle) 2 - 1
M4: Hypocria v Taeshan (Alle) 0 - 0
M5: Hypocria v West Zirconia (Alle)

Allemenschen

01-04-2009, 01:13

Group A
West Newmanistan 1-1 Nethertopia
Quintessence of Dust 4-3 Akbarabad
Terreiro de Ogum 1-2 Peisandros

Pos Team P W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Quintessence of Dust 5 3 1 1 9 8 1 10
2 Peisandros 5 2 2 1 7 5 2 8
3 Akbarabad 5 2 1 2 9 9 0 7
4 Nethertopia 5 1 3 1 6 6 0 6 $
5 West Newmanistan 5 1 3 1 4 4 0 6 $
6 Terreiro de Ogum 5 1 0 4 2 5 -3 3

Group B
Sarzonia 2-1 The McLaughlin Islands
Greal 2-2 Kosovoe
Edward City 1-1 Koseli Cumhuriyetler

Pos Team P W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Greal 5 3 1 1 11 8 3 10 %
2 Kosovoe 5 3 1 1 10 7 3 10 %
3 Sarzonia 5 3 0 2 11 8 3 9 *
4 Edward City 5 2 1 2 9 7 2 7 #
5 Koseli Cumhuriyetler 5 2 1 2 8 8 0 7 #
6 The McLaughlin Islands 5 0 0 5 2 13 -11 0

$ - Tie settled on GF. H2H was tie, GD was equal, 6>4 Nethertopia
% - Tie settled on GF. H2H was tie, GD was equal, 11>10 Greal
* - Sarzonia qualifies on superior record as a third place team; Akbarabad can qualify if Group C 3rd place record is worse
# - Tie settled on GD. H2H was tie, 2>0 Edward City

President Koryatsky looked at the paper was appalled at the sight.

"EgadS! PURPLE-STINGING NELLIES are writing the articles!"

Kowak came in just in time to take a gander at the problem. "Nah, that's just the tie-breakers that those people are obliged to write in."

"Ah," Koryatsky said, a little more at ease. "That's reassuring. Although it does look a bit like the unintelligible scratchings of a purple-stinging nellie. You can never be too sure about what they're planning next."

"Right, because they're all out there trying to topple this government, starting first with this 'Cup of Harmony' shindig, right?"

"EgadS!" Koryatsky exclaimed, suddenly frightened. "You're right!" And at that, he began to run around the Republican Palace, screaming his lungs out. Kowak shuddered in shame.

"If those players hear this noise..."

Peisandros

01-04-2009, 01:38

Newmanistan 4-2 Secristan
Hypocria 2-1 West Zirconia
Taeshan 2-0 Logria

Pos Team P W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Newmanistan 5 5 0 0 15 7 8 15
2 Taeshan 5 3 1 1 7 3 4 10
3 Secristan 5 2 1 2 10 10 0 7
4 Hypocria 5 2 1 2 5 8 -3 7
5 West Zirconia 5 0 2 3 3 6 -3 2
6 Logria 5 0 1 4 7 13 -6 1

Secristan over Hypocria H2H. Secristan goes through as 2nd best 3rd place qualifier, on GF over Akbarabad.

Sarzonia

01-04-2009, 01:52

In the Sarzonian national football team's second go-round, they failed to advance past the group stage in either World Cup or in their first Cup of Harmony appearance.

This time, they've earned a spot in the quarterfinals.

Even though Greal and Kosovoe earned the two automatic spots from Group B, Sarzonia advanced by virtue of having one of the two best record among third place sides after their 2-1 victory over The McLaughlin Islands. Group A third place side Akbarabad lost to Quintessence of Dust 4-3, but could advance as the other third place side depending on what happens in Peisandros-based Group C.

One thing is certain: Sarzonia are in.

"We deserved it after the last three results," Stars manager Franz Braddock said. "We hopefully will be able to move onto bigger and better things after this, but for now, let's focus on our task."

That task will be most likely a quarterfinal fixture against the second best group winner. Some sides might be in awe of their opponents, but these Stars are hardly daunted.

"We faced Valanora away with a berth in the World Cup finals on the line," said striker Matt Lynch. "We had a 3-2 lead on them late in the match. We aren't afraid of any team. We respect our opponents, but we don't fear them."

That attitude will likely help, but the Stars at least will get a taste of knockout stage football. It is an experience Braddock welcomes in his first managerial job in 12 years and his first national team managing gig in nearly 20 years.

"It will be a benefit for us to learn how to play this kind of football," Braddock said. "It will be good for me as well to show the IFF we're making progress."

Allemenschen

01-04-2009, 02:15

And according to our globetrotting purple-stinging nellies, we've all three clues! So we're ready to set up the Quarterfinal fixtures and such!

Quarterfinals:
Peisandros
Quintessence of Dust --- Sarzonia
Peisandros --- Taeshan
Allemenschen
Newmanistan --- Kosovoe
Greal --- Secristan

Semifinals:
Peisandros
Quintessence of Dust/Sarzonia --- Peisandros/Taeshan
Allemenschen
Newmanistan/Kosovoe --- Greal/Secristan

Do I really need to elaborate any more than necessary?

Greal

01-04-2009, 07:28

Cup of Harmony Schedule
MD1: Greal VS Sarzonia (3-1)
MD2: Greal VS The McLaughlin Islands (2-1)
MD3: Greal VS Koseli Cumhuriyetler (0-3)
MD4: Greal VS Edward City (4-1)
MD5: Greal VS Kosovoe (2-2)

Greal draws, but it is enough

A draw is perfectly fine, though some fans were disappointed that they didn't win today's match, but many were delighted with Greal qualifying for CoH37 for the third straight time. This was also Greal's first time they qualified in first place of the group. Howard Anderson and Sebastian Expan each scored once. Sebastian Expan later was injured in the knee and had to withdraw. Millions of fans celebrated the qualifying and the streets were packed to the limit at midnight in the streets of Sasha, Womer, New Klim, and other major cities. Tomorrow, Greal will be playing Secristan in the quarterfinals.

Greal 2
Howard Anderson (54')
Michael Istoma (13')

Kosovoe 2

In other matches...

Sarzonia won over The McLaughlin Islands 2-1, therefore they also qualify.

Edward City drew with Koseli Cumhuriyetler 1-1.

(OOC: No time to write anything else.)

Newmanistan

01-04-2009, 08:40

Do Not support this companies decision to advertise on this forum by clicking on their link now or in the future.

Newmanistan

01-04-2009, 08:44

THE ROCKET REPORT

FIVE-AND-OH MEANS KOSOVOE

Allemenschen- There’s nothing like a good battle between Newmanistan and Secristan to excite the people of both nations. For us, it is a chance to continue to show that we are the more productive One Big Island nation in interregional (as well as regional) competitions, and for them if nothing else, it is a chance for their Department of Sports to generate a lot of revenue from their people. In football, the Rockets and the Millionaires have played a friendly during the last three World Cup cycles. There hadn’t been a game of this magnitude between us, on the pitch, before this. The match was important moreso for our opponent then for ourselves. Secristan needed to salvage something in the contest in order to see their way through to the next round, even though things could, and did, go their way, with a straight up loss. For us, it meant a perfect group stage. Which doesn’t really mean anything other then being able to say you had a perfect group stage. Outside of football, the games have become increasingly more meaningful between the teams. In World Bowl 5, the nations met in the 3rd place game (won by us). In World Baseball Classic 10, they met in the championship (again won by us). Don’t forget the inaugural International Basketball Championships either, where we met for the championship (won by them). This game wouldn’t entirely be at that level, but the stakes were raised a little bit.

Both nations had prepared for this match in foreign countries to avoid the poor playing conditions which exist in Allemenschen as much as they possibly could. Though according to Robert Selvy, a purple-stinging nellie had snuck in his travel bag and actually survived the trip to West Pocono and stung him as soon as he opened his bag. Fortunately, the nellie was killed soon after. After the opening whistle, both teams sought to establish themselves, with hard and physical play. A strict referee from Sarzonia was assigned to the match, and right away sent the message to Billy Prescott and Eric Fraser that they needed to play with cool heads, booking both with yellow cards by the tenth minute. Also issued yellows were Alex Lampert and Shawn Loughran for us, and Shawn Wooliver and Chris Carmin for Secristan all in the first half. This sent the message pretty well, and none of these players ended up getting a second card. Secristan scored the first goal of the match on a pretty passing play by James Rogan and Kevin Walker, that saw Walker score in the 20th. They’ve done that before. However, the Rockets would respond with two goals before halftime with Shawn Loughran picking up his second goal of the Cup of Harmony in the 29th minute. We always knew Loughran was a great defender, but where did this offense come from? Perhaps we should be crediting Nelson Yaschter for that, as he has done a lot of good things for the kid. Kyle Carrigan added a fluky goal in the 38th minute to make it 2-1.

During halftime, the team was pretty pleased with their performance but was well aware that there would be more work to do, especially with the Millionaires likely to play aggressively at the start. Secristan did this, and quickly got rewarded, scoring in the 49th minute on a Todd Carney strike. It’s a rare thing to see a player elude a Billy Prescott tackle, but Prescott fanned on his attempt, and Carney was left with a ton of room to run as a result before Jeremy Brooker could pick him up. The half hour of time that passed did not see any goals, but may have been the most exciting of the match, as both teams generated great chances, and both keepers were very impressive. Eventually, there was a breakthrough, and in a situation like this, it is usually that player with experience that comes through for you. Jeremy McAllister did just that, scoring in the 84th minute. Two minutes later, the Kevin Taylor forced a turnover in the midfield and had it lead to a big goal to give the Rockets the big two goal lead, and ultimate victory.

Next up for Newmanistan is Kosovoe. For whatever reason, a lot of people tie the nations of Taeshan and Kosovoe together. Which makes our history with these two nations very unusual. As we all know, Newmanistan has dominated Taeshan in interregional sports, even when the Purple Knights (or other names) have had a better ranking, and in some cases a considerably better ranking. However, when it comes to Kosovoe, the roles have been reversed. Newmanistan has generally been the better ranked team in all of their head to head meetings, but has a poor history against the country. Perhaps things will be a little different this time around, because Kosovoe actually was the higher ranked team here. This is due to their impressive run in World Cup 44, where they made the “sweet sixteen”. Despite the seedings, this will be a tough game. The team will be prepared for the match though, because they remember what happened in Cup of Harmony 35, the only one of the last three that they did not win. To refresh your memory, Newmanistan won the group handily, then got stunned by Green Wombat in the quarterfinal. Believe us when we say that the players, especially the ones that were here eight years ago, are well aware of that fact.

Secristan

01-04-2009, 10:45

MILLIONAIRES DO ENOUGH

Faced with a difficult situation, the Millionaires scored just enough in their match against Newmanistan to secure the eighth and final seed in the knockouts. As their reward, Secristan will face the #2 seed Greal in the first round, and not get a rematch against Newmanistan, who is the #1 seed. This is due to the fact the seedings were done as to not pair up groupmates again, which is fine, unless you are the Secristan Department of Sports. Katie Simpson, our SDOS representative says that the agency was disappointed to see the seeding, “We understand the reasoning, but it doesn’t change the fact that we would have loved to see a second match against the Rockets from a financial point of view. On the flip side, playing Greal will probably give us a better chance to win, as Newmanistan does look pretty good right now. If we did, then a second round meeting could happen with them, which would be pretty sweet.” Secristan got goals from Kevin Walker and Todd Carney in the 4-2 loss. Two goals in the final six minutes of the match by Newmanistan is what did us in, and sent us to the defeat. However, we got the help we needed. Quintessence of Dust defeated Akbarabad by the score of 4-3. This meant that our goal differential was tied with Akbarabad, but we win out on having scored more goals. James Rogan says that is a big reward of playing offensive, “We had an offensive minded game plan ever since the qualifying for the World Cup began, and we carried it into the Cup of Harmony. At the time, you just do that because it is how you think you have the best chance to win games, but in a situation like this when goals for is a critical tiebreaker, it really pays off.” Elsewhere, Hypocria did defeat West Zirconia, but not by enough to make up the goal differential. Don’t forget this result though: The draw between Mordavia and Nethertopia. Had their been a winner in this game, that team would have finished with eight points, a point ahead of Akbarabad, and thus, a point ahead of us.

As expected, the Secristan Department of Sports received a Cup of Harmony-high amount of revenue for the match against Newmanistan, and they are happy with the final total. This comes off a better then expected earner against West Zirconia in the game leading up to this. The SDOS will offer the Greal match at 79R, and also has put together a package in which one can watch all games (not just ours) in the Cup of Harmony for 250R, but it must be purchased prior to kickoff of the match with Greal. Should Secristan win and have a semifinal match with Newmanistan, this will more then pay for itself, because a rematch with our regional rival would likely go for anywhere between 150 and 190 rusas. Admittedly, the SDOS was a little lax on their patrolling the border for freeloaders hoping to leave Secristan to catch the match in Newmanistan on free TV. In regards to that, Simpson says, “We didn’t feel it would be as necessary, as we have really gotten the message out that if you are caught, you will go to jail for attempted freeloading.” Attempted Freeloading is a serious offense in Secristan, punishable by 15-20 years in jail at a rate of 500 rusas per month charged to their families for their housing in jail. Of course, any payment overdue by more then 90 days means a premature death penalty.

Sarzonia

01-04-2009, 19:53

Woodstock Daily Mail

Stars face third fixture against QoD

By Travis West
Daily Mail Staff Writer

It's often been said that a third match between two opponents is a challenge, especially when one team has won both previous meetings.

That's exactly what the Sarzonian national football team faces in a quarterfinal fixture against Quintessence of Dust in the 37th Cup of Harmony. The Stars defeated their fellow World Cup XLIV debutants in two matches during World Cup XLV qualifying.

"We're expecting they'll be more motivated to face us," said goalkeeper Cody Taylor. "The stakes are a little higher now that we're facing them in a knockout stage match."

Sarzonia earned the seventh seed among the eight teams to qualify for the knockout stages in the Cup of Harmony, and the better record of the two third place sides after posting a three-match winning streak. The Stars (3-0-2) avoid fixtures against two-time defending Cup of Harmony champions Newmanistan (5-0-0) and Group B winners Greal (3-1-1), who defeated the Stars 3-1 to open Cup of Harmony play.

However, manager Franz Braddock said the team isn't worried about the future beyond the match against the Quodites.

"If we lose this match, there won't be any more matches until World Cup XLVI," Braddock said. "We need to play our style of football the way we've played these last three matches."

The Stars lost their first two matches, forcing the team to win out to advance to the knockout stages. During the first two matches, Sarzonia played its customary 4-4-2 formation with forward Reese Nichols coming in as an offensive substitute. Following the team's 1-0 loss to Baptism of Fire Cup champions Edward City, Braddock abandoned his effort to adapt to the Stars and installed his offence, benching defender Spencer Hicks and starting Nichols as one of three forwards.

"I couldn't change my spots; I'm too old," the 83-year-old Braddock said. "I decided to use my offence and let us see where we go from there." The Stars scored eight goals in their next two matches including a 5-1 victory over Koseli Cumhuriyetler that gave the team its opportunity to advance.

Regardless of what Sarzonia do against the Quodites, one thing is clear. Sarzonian football has progressed quickly since its lengthy absence from the world scene.

"Absolutely," said forward Matt Lynch. "We've quickly regained our sporting confidence as a nation. That is worth a lot."

Quintessence of Dust

01-04-2009, 20:19

This is briefer than I'd planned but I was out in the sun all day and am baked.

"Hello, and welcome to Quod FM, where we're broadcasting live from the People of Ephesum Stadium in, well, Ephesum, Peisandros, in the gripping last round of the group stages in this, the 37th Cup of Harmony. I'm Brian Gobbleson, and I'm joined by Ron McMarsh, who tonight will be performing an interpretive commentary of the game based on the works of Schubert."

"Schlafe, schlafe, holder süsser Knabe,
Leise wiegt dich deiner Mutter Hand."

"Yes, indeed Ron, it was a very surprising last minute change that sees Dennis Young out of action - we hope not permanently, but of course it's a big blow for the Quodites, losing their key striker and all-time top goal-scorer on the era of a match that, in my opinion, decides whether the world will still be rotating tomorrow morning. Ron, as we watch the players prepare for the first whistle, just give us a quick insight on what will be going through their heads."

"Sah ein Knab' ein Röslein steh'n,
Röslein auf der Heiden,
War so jung und war so schön
Lief er schnell es nah zu seh'n
Sah's mit vielen Freuden
Röslein, Röslein, Röslein rot,
Röslein auf der Heiden..."

"...and early signs with Akbarabad, who are dominating possession, and Samir Akbar looks very sprightly indeed up front, and thus far the Quintessential midfield have no real control on him, and - oof! That's not going to help one iota. Jessica Jensen, who's already been in trouble this tournament, heaves Akbar to the floor by his shirt, blatant really...and she's picked up another booking now. Jensen needs to tread very carefully from now on..."

"...and Akbar is free! Dashing into space, he's left Brikk Schitthausen standing, mobility not his greatest strength, oh, and well snaffled up by Chang there, who was up to the striker very quickly. Good play, good snaffling, and on a personal note, I'd like to see more snaffling in this Cup of Harmony. Ron?"

"Dieses Ruder, das ich schwinge
Meeresfluten zu zerteilen,
Hänge ich, so ich geborgen,
Auf an eures Tempels Säulen,
Dioskuren, Zwillingssterne..."

"...penalty! Penalty to Quintessence of Dust, disaster for Akbarabad, and just two minutes after Akbar looked clear to score, Quintessence of Dust now with a fantastic opportunity to take the lead. But Hannes van Himpfelschnnoorrddt fell very heavily in that tackle, and he looks to be in some pain. I think he's, yes, he's tried to stand up but fell down again on his -"

"Ein Fischer mit der Rute,"

"Yes, on his arse, and he's going off. Sad sight to see a young player limping off, Cecilia Colombo, the buxom matron from New Cleethorpes, coming on to take his place, but now Quintessence of Dust have lost both their first choice right-backs, and will that perhaps require the early appearance of Woody Cockbadger, to give them extra options out wide on the right, we'll see. Meanwhile, it's captain Peter Rogers to take the penalty. He looks calm, he looks composed, a little fidgeting, scratches his -"

"Wohl an dem Ufer stand,"

"Yes, scratches his bollocks. Now, takes a deep breath, can he make it 1-0 -"

"Und sah's mit kaltem Blute,"

"Yeah, that was shit. Way, way over the bar, perhaps the rugby team could use him for their conversions, but a dreadful penalty, really, and perhaps the young captain beginning to feel the pressure. Aminul Islam collects the ball from the Sandrian fans, a good game for neutrals here tonight Ron."

"Wie sich das Fischlein wand..."

"...and fires well wide. And that's time. So, an interesting first half, goalless but not without chances, and of course the best that fantastic break by Samin Akbar, and then the missed penalty by Peter Rogers. The lion's share of the possession to Akbarabad, but some good attacking football by Quintessence of Dust too. Goshinho, perhaps a little subdued up front, and lacking Young they haven't favoured the crossed ball so much. Ron, what sort of a talk will they be getting from Edward "Big Ted" Large at half-time?"

"Ave Maria
Gratia plena
Maria, gratia plena
Maria, gratia plena
Ave, ave dominus
Dominus tecum
Benedicta tu in mulieribus
Et benedictus
Et benedictus fructus ventris
Ventris tuae, Jesus.
Ave Maria

Ave Maria
Mater Dei
Ora pro nobis peccatoribus
Ora pro nobis
Ora, ora pro nobis peccatoribus
Nunc et in hora mortis
Et in hora mortis nostrae
Et in hora mortis nostrae
Et in hora mortis nostrae
Ave Maria..."

"...and a dangerous tackle there by Zakir Ahmed. Now, this could be dangerous. Just a couple of minutes underway in this second half, with things still all square here. Newmanistan are up against Secristan, things all square between Greal and Kosovoe, and Frederic Renard lines up the free-kick. Today he equals David Yellowback's national record for appearances, with his 71st cap, and what a way it would be to mark that accomplishment if he can score. Renard now, takes aim, runs in, the wall jumps...but the ball curls well right of the goal. He got that to dip nicely, but not enough curl on it, and Animul Islam never in trouble..."

"...and Chang collects comfortably. Bit of a wasted opportunity there. Things still dead even here. Changes now. Marina Sundqvist, she's had a very quiet game playing behind Goshinho, just one volley on goal, is coming off for Yua Yua Huang, and Hanna van Himpfelschnnoorrddt, a little surprisingly, replaces Jessica Jensen, who I must say looked to be wincing in discomfort just there. I hope that's not another injury worry for Large."

"Ich stand in dunklen Träumen
und starrte ihr Bildnis an,
und das geliebte Antlitz
Heimlich zu leben begann..."

"...Und ach, ich kann's nicht glauben,
Daß ich dich verloren hab!"

"I think you're right, Ron, as Hamid Kabir looks up, hits a waited ball through...and Zahid Mohammed has space - one touch - shoots! Goal! Akbarabad take the lead with a storming goal in the 62nd minute, through Zahid Mohammed! How costly could that be, Johnson and Schitthausen just not communicating, and left space enough to drive a bus through. Dear oh dear, desolation among the Quintessence of Dust fans, sorry, fan, ooh no, there's a second one."

"Leise flehen meine Lieder
Durch die Nacht zu dir;
In den stillen Hain hernieder,
Liebchen, komm zu mir!"

"And it's two! Oh dear oh dear, what on earth was Chang thinking, an absolutely catastrophic error, Mohammed Rashid seizes the ball immediately from a sleepy Quodite restart, plays it through, and again it's that man Zahid Mohammed, this time with his left. Chang dawdled, the shot came at him, and it's gone right between his legs. Unbelievable stuff. Surely now, Quintessence of Dust, who started so boldly in this competition, are now seeing their hopes of progression turn to ash..."

"...plenty of free-kick chances in this match, Akbarabad just striking the post moments ago, now Quintessence of Dust have another chance. Just 21 minutes left, and they haven't looked like scoring yet, but that's not going to stop Rogers. The determination etched on his face as he stands over the ball this time, Renard away on the right, doesn't look like Cockbadger will get a run this evening. Rogers, options in the box, Huang at the backpost, Achten at the frontpost, Goshinho tap-dancing over the crossbar...and it's straight in! What an absolutely storming hit from Rogers, sheer power on that one, and the keeper never stood a chance. 2-1, game on..."

"...now Goshinho's in trouble, deary-me, I think it'll be his first booking in international football. Looks apologetic, but a nasty elbow thrown. Assad is up and about, though, no changes yet for Akbarabad. Hot conditions here tonight, Ron, a note on the weather? How has that affected things?"

"Und das Haus, wie so traulich!
Und die Fenster, wie blank!
Und die Sonne, wie helle
Vom Himmel sie scheint!"

"But, oh, oh! They've scored! They've scored! They've scored! It's two-all here, in the 76th minute, and the fans, well, the fan, the other one left, has gone absolutely wild, he's jumping up and down, the Sandrians don't know what to make of it. What twists has this game got left in store for us? Goshinho, making amends for that booking, zig-zags left, well, left and right, I suppose, crosses it in on the turn, and a lobbing header from Renard, seemed to almost go in in slow motion - oh, wait, that is the slow motion replay, fair enough..."

"...and Achten drills wide. Ambitious, perhaps, but the right kind of ambition, and Quintessence of Dust are really fired up here as Aminul Islam takes a long goal-kick. Rashid heads down, passes to Chowdhury, passes to Samin Akbar, they've got on top of him well in the second half, oh, but GET ON TOP OF THAT! No, Ron, I didn't mean it literally, it was just, well, look, anyway, Akbarabad, perhaps decisively, take the lead once more. They were two up, they slipped back to even, but an outrageous long range stunner from Samin Akbar, for his fifth of the tournament, has absolutely blasted them back into contention. A shell-shocked Chang collects the ball."

"Fräuhling, sind das alle deine Bläumelein?
Sonne, hast du keinen hellern Schein?"

"...well I don't know, Ron, but I tell what we DO hast - another goal! A sixth, and a crucial one, well, haven't they all been, and it's Goshinho, who finally gets on the scoresheet. He's impressed us with his feet all game but it's his head that matters now as he positively thumps in a Frederic Renard cross, the old warhorse still showing some spark on the right..."

"...oh, that was unnecessary, and Johnson picks up a yellow. No hesitation from the referee there, after Johnson bickering with the linesman over that call. Well, from up here it looked onside by a long way, but Johnson was adamant, and he's been booked for dissent."

"Und wenn sich die Liebe
Dem Schmerz entringt,
Ein Sternlein, ein neues,
Am Himmel erblinkt..."

"...GOOOOOOLLLLLL GOOOOOOOSHINNNNNNHO!!!!!! Another well-worked cross from Renard, another pin-point header from the 17-year old, and in the 88th, yes, the 88th minute of football, he's put Quintessence of Dust in front for the first time. Surely now, surely now this is it. Ron, you take over for a minute, I need to lie down."

"Schnell fliehen die Schatten der Nacht,
hellblühen die Matten in Pracht,
hoch rauschet der Wald in dem Glanze,
still lauschet ihm heimlich die Pflanze
im blütenverklärenden Tauen,
wie selig, den Morgen zu schauen, and it's Samin Akbar with a cracking lob, just over the bar! And the whistle blows!

Was fehlt noch dem goldenen Raum?
Komm, Liebchen, erfülle den Traum,
mein Lied tönt in wonnigem Rauschen,
o komm, wie die Blume zu lauschen,
es will dich mein liebendes Sehnen
betauen mit seligen Tränen."

Taeshan

01-04-2009, 20:25

Purple Knights Advance

As was excpected last night the Purple Knights easily knocked over the Logria National squad an easily took there Fianl Eight spot amoung with Newmanistan and 3rd place Sarzonia who have qualified as the first of two 3rd place teams in the final eight. The Knights swept the game with some oppressive defense and an exstatic offensive attack. They know play Peisiandros in Peisandros in the quaterfinal game.

In yesterdays game the Knights took an early lead with Brian Ying Uing's goal in the fortieth minute and would not let up all game. The Knights second goal was scored by Zeke Jr. in the 77th minute cementing the game and cementing the Knights second final eight appearance in there past two Cup of Harmonys.

Kosovoe

01-04-2009, 20:39

Blue Tornado Tie Grealites

Well looking forward to the quaterfinals after a highscoring 2-2 match against Greal. The Tornado of course did not win witch means that they will no be the top team out of there group. They will face Newmanistan witch is a somewhat good draw for the Tornado as they have had a good history in this matchup.

The two goalscorers on the day were Angel Kenssington adn Jamie Barry both getting assists from Ossi Euro. The Tornado should look to show there ranking in the next few games, as with a high ranking they have been known to play a great all around game.

Greal

01-04-2009, 22:56

CoH37 Quarterfinal Schedule
MD6: Greal VS Secristan

Greal VS Secristan Preview

Secristan. That is who we play in today's quarterfinals. The last time the Greali faced Secristan was in CoH35 ironically like Kosovoe. The match against Secristan in CoH35 turned out to be a victory, but now things are different. Secristan has become hardened by matches against top ranking teams and is now higher ranked then ever. Of course, you could say the same for Greal. Soccer experts have difficulties predicting the winner in today's match, so there is no clear indication who will win the Greal VS Secristan match. Recent media reports states that President Martin Watson will be watching the match in the Presidential office. The news has again sent a great cheer through Greal and various players on the Greali team have expressed delight that the president is going to watch them play Secristan. The team will be playing with standard formation like always. The Greali television Service finally gave out an estimate to today's viewers and its expected to be 1.2 billion viewers. The weather will be cloudy but that won't damper both teams in the field.

In other quarterfinal matches...

Quintessence of Dust will be playing Sarzonia.

Peisandros will be playing Taeshan.

Newmanistan will be playing Kosovoe.

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

"Wow, we qualified and we're playing Secristan today. Unbelievable." said Roger, just surprised.

"I was expecting us to lose to Kosovoe, but thats normal." said Ross grinning.

"Now Secristan today..."

"I predicted a narrow win for Greal, which would let us advance to the semi-finals of CoH37. There, if we beat Secristan, we will face the winner of the Newmanistan VS Kosovoe match."

"I bet an outright win, if Greal did it once in the past, we can do it again." said Ethan, confident. He was trying to make the television set work, "Its no use, this TV is dead."

"Where can we watch it now?" asked Fred, very alarmed at the prospect of not watching a soccer match with Greal in it.

"Watch it on my computer, it has a huge screen."

"Ethan, you just saved us yet again." remarked Ross.

Ethan shrugged it off,"The computer is on and the previews are just about to start."

"Gather around guys, pull up some extra chairs."

Fred and Jeff pulled up three extra chairs and also set beers on the table for everyone to drink.

"Lets settle in for the match." said Roger, trying to make himself comfortable on the small chair he received.

(OOC: NOTE: ICly this is right before the match. I just wanted to write this post because I don't have time tomorrow.)

Peisandros

02-04-2009, 06:32

"Well Ruby, did you enjoy that?"
"Yes thank you Sir, I did. It's always nice to see the Sandrian boys get up and win."
"Indeed it is. That Diakos kid is pretty good, scored a nice goal didn't he?"
"Yes Sir, he did."

"Now, would you like to come back to the inner city apartment I have here?"
"Umm, Sir?"
"Well, I thouht it would be nice if we spent a bit of time together away from the office. I would like you to get to know me better."
"Oh, that would be nice Sir, I guess. I would have to let me hu-"

"No no, don't worry about him. You're with the President now Ruby."
"Okay, umm, yes Sir."
"Ruby, no more Sir. Please, call me John."
"Are you sure? I've only ever known you as Sir."

"Exactly and that is going to change."
"Right, alright John."
"Now, isn't that better. Would you like a drink for the trip?"
".... Yeah, okay Si, I mean, John."

Newmanistan

02-04-2009, 07:45

Good evening everyone and welcome to this evening’s chat with Rockets legend Jeremy McAllister. Known has J-Mac, the prolific goal scorer has around 120 goals scored at the interregional level. Jeremy is here to answer your questions. Please, keep it clean.

(PockCityBalla3): Yo J-Mac! You’re really doing awesome in the Cup of Harmony again! Is it hard to get excited about the Cup of Harmony given that you want more?

McAllister: I love playing football, it is my life. Every time I take to the field I want to win. I don’t care if it’s the Cup of Harmony, a friendly, or a game against my kids. Ok, I might take it easy on them, but you get the point.

(JmacRulez4eva): What’s the biggest difference between Brian Carson and Nelson Yaschter?

McAllister: Nelson is a lot more direct with us and more no-nonsense. We’ve adapted pretty well to Nelson, and we want to give him this Cup of Harmony championship.

(Rocket_Power): Now that we are in knockouts, when you say you play every game like it will be your last, the time has come where the next game might be your last, even though I think you should come back in four years. How tough is that?

McAllister: I’d like to say I don’t think about it, but it is on the back of mind, for sure. I am hopeful to have three more games, but even then, the finality of it all is looming, and it is very tough. It is tough because I never got to play in the World Cup.

(Footsoccerball): Have you reconsidered your decision to retire from international football after this? I think you can come back for World Cup 46!

McAllister: It’s not really a question of whether I think I would be physically able to be back in four years. I believe I would be, and I still plan on playing for Sporting Lakeport a little while longer. My decision is because I don’t want to hold a spot for the young guys. Just look at Matthew Turner, he’s doing a great job. Kevin Taylor is, the Vilardi sisters are going strong, and there will be more on the way. It’s time for me to pass the torch on to them.

(Soccerchik15): Hey cutie! Like why don’t you come back as a reserve or something just to like be part of the team because I know we will like qualify for the next one.

McAllister: Hello there! That has been a consideration, but not something I wish to do, because again, it is not fair to the players who will be more deserving of the spot. Nelson has opened the door for me to be an assistant coach in World Cup 46, and I’m really interested in doing that. I haven’t decided for sure yet, but I think I will.

(WC46orbust): A reporter from one of the nations that will be debuting in World Cup 46, Tyrrin, inquired as to who the best player currently active in the World Cup today is? I think it’s you. Just look at all those goals you have, 120-something. Also, I know it’s kind of a dubious distinction, but I have to say that you should go down as the best player ever never to play in the World Cup Proper.

McAllister: I try not to get too caught up in that. There are a lot of great players currently in the world. To be mentioned amongst them is an honor. I’ve done whatever I’ve could to help out the Empire, and the goals are just part of it. I have played with great teammates along the way and that number wouldn’t be possible without them. What you said is a dubious distinction, and hard to get real excited about. It really pains me that I have never been in the Proper, because we have been so close so many times.

(Rocketfuel0000): Regardless of whether or not you win this Cup of Harmony, when you look back at your career and what you did win, as opposed to what you didn’t qualify for, will you be happy with that?

McAllister: You know I am. I won’t let the fact that I never got to play in the Proper make me feel that my career wasn’t a success. I have a Baptism of Fire title, a Di Bradini Cup, and two Cups of Harmony titles, with hopefully a third coming soon. I’ve been able to play all over the world. Those are things you dream of as a kid and I achieved almost everything on my list. I’m happy with what I got done.

(Nelliessuck20): How much of a bother are the nellies during the game?

McAllister: During the game, they really do not affect me. I am so zoned in what I am doing during the game that I really don’t notice them. At halftime, or after the game, though, you definitely do realize if you’ve been stung and how many times and it gets aggravating. But everyone has to deal with it here, so you manage.

(Moderator): Alright, that is all the time we have with Jeremy today. Thank you very much for your questions, and thank you Jeremy, for your time.

McAllister: It’s always a pleasure to have time with the fans! Thanks to all of you for your support.

Secristan

02-04-2009, 10:41

COVENTRY INSPIRED BY WORLD CUP CHAMPS

If you missed it, Candelaria And Marquez showed The Holy Empire what’s it like to play modern soccer by pouring on three goals in extra time of that finale. For more on that game, check out their team website. Chris Coventry plays professionally in Candelaria And Marquez and he says that his second favorite nation should provide inspiration to his Secristani teammates that they can win this Cup of Harmony despite being underdogs. While Candelaria And Marquez has a well respected national side, once the World Cup started, they were not exactly a team that many people had predicted to win it all, but they weren’t the biggest underdog, either. Sounds a little bit like the Millionaires in this Cup. Not the favorite, but better then other options. Coventry is not teammates with any of the national team members as none of them play for his Gamboa FC, but he says he knows several of them fairly well. “Playing against those guys, sure, you get to know some of them a little bit. I’m really happy for them, and for my fans who are very proud of their country’s accomplishment. I would want nothing more then to duplicate their success here in the Cup of Harmony.”

WHAT ARE THE ODDS?

The Secristan Department of Wagering has listed the Millionaires as the sixth choice on the board of the final eight teams remaining in the competition. Here are the odds issued by the agency for these teams to win the title:

Newmanistan- 3:1
Taeshan- 5:1
Kosovoe- 5:1
Peisandros- 6:1
Sarzonia- 8:1
Secristan- 10:1
Greal- 12:1
Quintessence of Dust- 30:1

Bookies state that should Newmanistan fall, Taeshan and Kosovoe would emerge as overwhelming favorites.

HERE A LAWSUIT THERE A LAWSUIT

If you’re wondering about Carl Perino’s lawsuit, it has been filed, but not against the Executive World Cup Committee after all. Instead, it has been filed directly against the Allemenschen’s soccer association, whatever they call it, for negligence. According to some information which was released to us, “The Association in Allemenschen has not taken the proper steps to assure player safety. They have allowed the nellies to continue to breed, and have not made any efforts to keep them from the playing area. In fact, they have joked about it, and actually made conditions favorable for these annoying nellies to thrive. This is unacceptable, and Perino is suing them for 10 million rusas. Seven million rusas represents his bid to participate on the national team, which he was not able to do because of these things, due to the infection that caused horrible swelling in his left eye. The other three million are for pain and suffering, which he has certainly had to deal with.” The attorney opted not to sue the EWCC because, “We’re sure they were expecting the Allemenschen authorities to do their best to keep playing conditions safe.”

The Secristan Department of Sports has also filed a lawsuit against the same Allemenschen association to recover all the costs associated with having to relocate the team to Dancougar for training.

Quintessence of Dust

02-04-2009, 19:14

* Now talking in #balloffoot
* Topic is 'CoH QFs delayed one day. Congrats to CAM!!!! QNRVPL: restarts 11-Apr! BobsonofBob has a cold'
* Set by GreschGirl on Wed Apr 01 22:15
* Ókyrrð has joined #balloffoot
<Ókyrrð> hi!
<@Kast|afk> Hi Ókyrrð.
<@GreschGirl> heya Ókyrrð
* GreschGirl sets mode +v Ókyrrð
* @Kast|afk is now known as @Kastljós
<+Ókyrrð> did you guys see the final last night?
<@Kastljós> Yes, it was good. Exciting finish.
<+Sjáumst_í_Virginíu|lunch> shame it was on so late
<@Kastljós> ...
<+Ókyrrð> it was a live game, Sjáumst...
<+Sjáumst_í_Virginíu|lunch> oh well. um, well, i watched the first half but then i went to bed.
<+Ókyrrð> CAM won. extra time.
* Kastljós points to topic
<+Sjáumst_í_Virginíu|lunch> yeah i know i saw the highlights
<+Ókyrrð> I wanted The Holy Empire to win
<@Kastljós> Fail.
<+Sjáumst_í_Virginíu|lunch> lol
<+Ókyrrð> nice to see long-timers win. Plus they beat us before, so it'd be like, we got beaten by the best team in the world. Whereas now it's just we got beaten by the second-best team in the world, which makes us even more suck.
<@Kastljós> a) We didn't just get beaten by the second-best team in the world, we got beaten by most of the others too...
<@Kastljós> b) ...and our team couldn't possibly be more suck even if we have a vacuum cleaner in goal.
<+Sjáumst_í_Virginíu|lunch> lol
<@GreschGirl> lol
<+Ókyrrð> >:( stfu Kastljós
<+Ókyrrð> we're doing better.
<@Kastljós> Yeah, but have you guys seen the rankings? We're like...69th.
<+Sjáumst_í_Virginíu|lunch> 69 lol
* Ókyrrð rolls eyes
<@Kastljós> And all the others are 30s, 40s.
<@Kastljós> Plus, look: http://dow.gov.sec/coh (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=14657802&postcount=131)
<+Ókyrrð> ?
<@Kastljós> The Secristan Department of Wagering put us 30-1 outsiders.
* GreschGirl likes those odds, places bet
<@Kastljós> Lol. Still, pretty accurate.
<+Ókyrrð> that's past performance. the rankings don't say how well you'll do THIS time, and this time we rock.
* Kastljós shrugs
<@Kastljós> Well, we'll have to watch the Sarzonia match and see.
<+Sjáumst_í_Virginíu|lunch> we can win
<@Kastljós> See? Now we're *definitely* doomed.
<+Ókyrrð> lol
<+Sjáumst_í_Virginíu|lunch> :(
* Ókyrrð reads transcript (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=14657653&postcount=130), head asplodes
<@GreschGirl> heh I saw that too.
<+Sjáumst_í_Virginíu|lunch> lol @ purple stinging nellies
<@Kastljós> Oh, really Sjáumst? There are purple stinging nellies in Allemenschen? Because no one's mentioned that in at least the last 18 seconds.
<+Sjáumst_í_Virginíu|lunch> whatev
* BobsonofBob has joined #balloffoot
<@GreschGirl> ooh. Bob! Howdy? Still got a cold?
* GreschGirl sets mode +v BobsonofBob
<+BobsonofBob> :(
* BobsonofBob nods, sneezes
* GreschGirl gives tissue
* BobsonofBob thanks
* Kastljós suggests you get a room
<@GreschGirl> ;)
<+BobsonofBob> my dad's going to the game
<@Kastljós> ?
<+BobsonofBob> in Peisandros
<+Ókyrrð> Cool!
* Sjáumst_í_Virginíu|lunch didn't know there were still tickets left
<+BobsonofBob> what are you kidding? Hardly any of them were bought. He got a cheap flight on QuodAir, some of his office are going on a big party thing.
<+Ókyrrð> Kast thinks us = lose
<+BobsonofBob> yeah well good day out anyway i think
<@GreschGirl> http://NCEOnline.co.qd/sport/586940 !!!
<+Ókyrrð> slani
<@Kastljós> Young can't play, again?
<@GreschGirl> 'According to sources inside the camp, the knee injury may mean a prolonged absence for Young.' <-- :/
<+Sjáumst_í_Virginíu|lunch> so we've got gollyno and marina
<@Kastljós> Yes, we have a blonde teenager and a player whose name you can't even pronounce. I feel inspired already!
<@GreschGirl> Yeah but let's face it how many names can Sjáumst pronounce?
<+Ókyrrð> lol
<@GreschGirl> plus Marina is 20 not 19 :P
<@GreschGirl> i like her
<@Kastljós> So do I. She's like you, only thin and talented.
<@GreschGirl> stfu Kast
<+Ókyrrð> quod dammit kast you are such a dick sometimes
<@Kastljós> Sorry.
* Kastljós offers chocolate as consolation gift, then stands back before the feeding commences.
* Kastljós has been kicked by GreschGirl (shut up)
<+BobsonofBob> so anyway what's going on
* Kastljós has joined #balloffoot
* footbot sets mode +o Kastljós
<@GreschGirl> ah just the usual stuff: swapping furry porn torrents, complaining about FlameFly being cancelled, wondering when QSF will start showing reruns of Battlemoon Universica
<+BobsonofBob> cool. query

Taeshan

02-04-2009, 20:36

Purple Knights To Play Hosts

After a long week since they won there last game against the Logrian team the Knights are back up to full strength and ready to yet again face a hosting team in one of their biggest game of the year playing Peisandros in Peisandros to decide wether or not they will move past the first round of the playoffs. Oddmakers around the woreld have put the Knights at second place out of their Group only second to the other team in front of them in their Group the Newmanistan Rockets. And thats great. Third goes to Kosovoe witch means at least one of the top three team will be out after tonights games.

Kosovoe

02-04-2009, 20:49

Time To Launch

Yes it is time for the Blue Tornado to take on the Rockets of the great land of Newmanistan. The Tornado are expected to fall in this offensive battle of two great scoring powers. In the matchups history the Tornado seem to have won more then they have lost, but of course history can proove decieving as although the Taeshanites have lost most of their games against the very same Rockets they have still been known to pull a few wins here and there out of the hat. The Tornaod will of course look to take the game with a more explosive attack, but no matter what they will walk out with heads high.

Greal

02-04-2009, 23:14

Prior to the game against Secristan...

Ross Trent: We can do this.

Howard Anderson and Sebastian Exapan: Yes we can.

The team murmurs agreement.

Trent: Secristan may be the toughest opponent before us yet. They also want to advance to the semi-finals.

Michael Istoma: In order to do that guys, they gotta beat us!

Trent: We're not going to let them beat us. We've got the president watching.

Sam Hardy: We'll show the president what we can do!

Anderson: The president watching will make things tougher.

Trent: How?

Anderson: We don't want to be embarrassed.

Trent: Good, then don't let yourselves get embarrassed. We're all in this together.

Hardy: Roger.

Trent: Any last statements before we head off.

Anderson: Coach.

Trent: Yes?

Anderson: If we win today's match, what will you do for us?

Trent: Drinks on me.

Anderson: Nice.

Hardy: Really?

Trent: I'm not kidding.

Istoma: We better get going, the match is about to start.

Trent: Good, let's go.

Peisandros

03-04-2009, 00:41

Taeshan tricky, time to be tamed?

A big crowd demand excellency from game. How is John killing love? Many names of Peisandros Queens rate soccer truthfully. Universally victorious. Welcome xenophobes, you zoologists!

Allemenschen

03-04-2009, 01:03

The daily news was delivered, and for the first time in a very long time, something really odd had happened. Overnight, a giant purple edifice grew from the ground, atop the grounds where once stood a marshy field next to a swamp, the very spot where the Cup of Harmony had been playing for the past who knows how long. And it was a giant purple edifice that grew there, so vast and large that it seemed to cover the city of Allenheim by a great degree. And it grew so suddenly by the sturdy work of mysterious laborers that no one really quite expected to see it. And to President Koryatsky's mind, only one thing did come up.

"PURPLE-STINGING NELLIE!"

He ran around the offices, trying to call up the armed forces to destroy the largest ever recorded sighting of a purple-stinging nellie. He called the Air Force, the Army, the Marines, the Navy (not sure what good they would be from the sea...), he called the National Police, the Gangstas, the Mafia, the Vendettas, he called virtually everyone he could imagine, only to learn that there were no such things in Allemenschen, and that the dude on the other end of the phone was busily trying to figure out what type of pizza to make.

"Pepperoni, extra-large with hand-tossed crust," Koryatsky said, forgetting why he had been calling up those fictitious institutions. Kowak caught him in the hallway, wondering why he was ordering pizza so early in the day. "What's with the pizza, Marek?"

"Because I'm hungry, that's why!" Koryatsky turned around to face Kowak, but immediately saw the giant purple edifice through the windows again. He gave out a shrilling scream, "PURPLE-STINGING NELLIE!" Kowak looked back and nodded.

"Yep, that's what they made."

Koryatsky stopped for a moment. "They made that?"

"Yep."

"What is that?"

"That's our new stadium," Kowak said. "They built it free of charge. So we never needed to have all of those countries pay us to have those other teams practice abroad during the Cup of Harmony. Goodness, if I'd known that they wanted to build a stadium, I wouldn't have bothered with this whole thing."

"Wait, they built that?"

Kowak nodded again. "Yep."

"With what?" Koryatsky was understandably confused.

"They're arachnids. They can spin silk. So they made the stadium out of their silk. And by golly, it's a beautiful thing. I just went on a tour of it this morning with the lead engineering crew. They explained that it had a full capacity of some 60,000 people, just in case we ever wanted to host this darned thing again. And it's virtually indestructible. I've even signed a contract to build our bomb-proof bunkers with their silk. Now... if we'd have bunkers to build..."

"No! That's a bad idea! Selling our defense contracts to the number enemy of the state? That's insane!"

"Well, what's more insane is that they had to sting a whole bunch of people to make the silk. They estimated that they stung 1093 people in all, most of foreign football players playing their matches. Speaking of which, we have a good number of lawsuits coming against us."

"What? For whhat?"

"They're complaining that we didn't do enough to control the purple-stinging nellies, so they're suing us for inconvenience, lost players, and medical bills."

"That's ridiculous!" Koryatsky replied. "I've only ever been the staunch public enemy of the purple-stinging nellies! It's those varmin people that keep them as pets and then make them our vaunted national animal that's immune from hunting or whatnot."

"I remind you, sir," Kowak said, in a reflective manner, "that you signed that law making the purple-stinging nellie our national animal, and I'm ever so glad that you did."

"I'd never! If I'd vote for that, then I'd no sooner eat rat poison and die. Nothing would ever make me do that!"

"I digress," Kowak replied. "When making suggestions for nominating our national animal, you said..."

"PURPLE-STINGING NELLIE!"

"... whereupon you left in a furry, as if chased by some haunted specter or whatever. There you go again..." Kowak reclined as Koryatsky screamed his head off down the halls, apparently bewitched by some crawling purple-stinging nellie on his leg. Seeing the morning news scattered all over the floor, he took up the first page and smiled. "The Cup of Harmony Quarterfinal results! From Peisandros!"

Quarterfinals
Quintessence of Dust 0-0 Sarzonia (1-1 AET) (Sarzonia wins 4-2 on penalty kicks)
Peisandros 1-0 Taeshan

Semifinal Fixture
Sarzonia --- Peisandros

Peisandros

03-04-2009, 01:12

Results of quarterfinals in Allemenschen!

Newmanistan 2-1 Kosovoe
Greal 3-3 Secristan (3-3 AET) (Secristan wins 3-0 on penalty kicks)

Semi-final:
Newmanistan v Secristan

Sarzonia

03-04-2009, 01:51

The hands writing the line up card with five shooters slated to take the penalty were shaking.

However, it wasn't nerves. Eighty-three year old Sarzonian national team manager Franz Braddock couldn't find a sturdy surface, so he had to write the best way he could with his aging hands on a clipboard goalkeeper coach Horace Sandt somehow fished out of his bag.

"Coach, you're putting Spencer Hicks first?"

"He needs a chance to redeem himself," Braddock said.

Hicks was surprised when he was called upon to take the first penalty for the Stars after 120 minutes couldn't decide a winner. He thought Matt Lynch, Sarzonia's goalgetter would be first. Perhaps Zack Wilson, who'd threatened the entire match. He looked over at Reese Nichols, the third forward in Sarzonia's starting 11, who was getting his right hamstring rubbed by a trainer after a cramp.

"Get out there Spencer!" Sandt yelled out. Finally, a man known more for his aggressive defensive tactics than his goalscoring prowess would line up for the first shot against the Quodite keeper. he took a deep breath, ran onto the ball and fired straight down the pike. The Quodite keeper guessed he'd shoot to his right. 1:0 Sarzonia in the penalty phase.

Nichols was up next. He swung his left leg rather than his right. Saved. The Quodites led 1:2 at this phase after both Quodite shooters found the mark past Cody Taylor.

Now it was Lynch's turn. No problem. 2:2 Sarzonia, and Taylor came up huge on the penalty save. That meant Zack Wilson was up. 3:2 Sarzonia after Taylor somehow forced the opposing shooter high. That meant if Sarzonia could score the fourth goal in this round, they would face host nation Peisandros in the semifinals of the Cup of Harmony.

Defender Ben Davis lined up the kick. Braddock wanted his captain to take the fifth kick, knowing well that he was the team's leader as its captain. The old man soon proved prescient. Davis buried the kick even though the Quodite keeper guessed correctly that he'd shoot right. Sarzonia won the quarterfinal fixture and earned its third victory in three meetings against Quintessence of Dust since World Cup XLV began.

As the players celebrated, Hicks looked back at his manager, who returned a slight grin. The message was clear: Their work wasn't done, but this was a good result.

Secristan

03-04-2009, 10:37

ROSSITER COMES UP BIG IN SHOOTOUT

The Secristan Department of Sports will get their rematch against Newmanistan as it comes on the heels on an exciting victory in penalties over Greal. After rallying from a 3-1 deficit with fifteen minutes remaining, the Millionaires forced extra time and went on to win the contest. Just four teams remain now, and Secristan is close enough to feel that Cup of Harmony championship in their grasp. A win over the Rockets would simply have our upper classes go so crazy they feel the need to actually share some of their wealth with the poverty stricken. In the first half, it didn’t seem as though goalkeeper Michael Rossiter was going to be the hero of the game. He surreneder two goals in the first twenty minutes, each to Qin Lang, and the Grealis were rolling. Chris Coventry got one back for us just before halftime, but a score by Ross Trent in the 58th minute looked as though it would seal our fate. Then, the coin jars began shaking, and the Grealis began to get annoyed by something that had not experienced yet. The wrath of the purple stinging nellie. Around the hour mark, the nellies seemed to realize that they hadn’t had much experience stinging Greali flesh and their players seemed to be affected quite a bit. Even though they are very annoying, having played here as long as we have now, you can say that we have become accustomed to it. The experience with the nellies seemed to pay off late in the match, and the Millionaires capitalized twice. James Rogan scoring in the 78th and Kevin Walker in the 84th. Rogan nearly won it in stoppage time as well as his shot struck the inside of the left post and bounced, fortuitously into the hands of Raul Grunt. After extra time, it was on to penalties, and Rossiter simply owned the shooters, making three saves on their three attempts. Meanwhile, the Millionaires made quick work on their end, beating Grunt on their three strikes for a very one sided showing in the shootout. Rogan, Walker, and Stephen Alexander were the scorers for the Millionaires.

Now, it’s time to play the Rockets once again, and fans who purchased the full Cup of Harmony package have got to be very excited. Advancing to this stage means you will have two more games, regardless of whether or not you are victorious in the semifinals, so those fans have really stumbled upon some enormous savings. For those who did not purchase the package, the match will be available at a rate of 89R per half, or 175R for the entire game. The SDOS, which was not that aggressive in being sure the border was secure to prevent wannabe freeloaders from crossing into Newmanistan to watch the game for free, has issued a statement claiming that border security will be at the same high level that it was at when the teams met in the final of the World Baseball Classic. Katie Simpson, our SDOS rep, tells us that, “We have found ourselves in an ideal scenario as making the semifinal assures us of having two games that will generate revenue, and to have another match against Newmanistan will really make things extremely profitable. This is something that we have not really experienced in the Cup of Harmony before, so right now we are setting records for the nation for this particular event.” Should the Millionaires win (or even if they lose), it is possible that their next opponent will be Sarzonia, which is one of the final four as well. While in the growth stages, a Sarzonia-Secristan rivalry began to pick up in the most recent World Lacrosse Championships, as well as the International Basketball Championships. Given that name recognition of an opponent helps ratings substantially, this could be a great match too. The other possible opponent would be Peisandros. Everyone remembers their great ride in qualifying for World Cup 44 in their first try, but don’t forget that the Millionaires defeated them in both group stage matches during that qualifying. That should also generate fan interest if they are our next opponent.

Newmanistan

03-04-2009, 14:30

Nelson Yaschter looked to the side official. Two minutes. Just two minutes of stoppage time, and the Rockets would be able to secure this victory. It was a hard fought match against a nation that has had the team’s number in previous Cups of Harmony. This was different. He had been given a fabulous defensive effort from the old man and the kids, as they have been dubbed by a reporter from Southport. The old man, that would be 37-year old Jeremy Brooker, who is playing in his final international competition. The kids are two of his defensive mates:18-year old Shawn Loughran and 20-year old Robert Selvy. The other defender is right in between, 28-year old Alex Lampert. These four had been the biggest reason why the Rockets were ahead in this match. Sure, they allowed that 19th minute goal from Eli Walker, but that was the only time this unit had been penetrated. Other then that, any shot that the opponent got through was something that goalkeeper Chris Kusler could make a rather routine save on. The offense had produced when needed. Chalk up another one to Jeremy McAllister’s total, who scored in the 28th minute, and the big second half tally by Kyle Carrigan in the 70th, and the Rockets were on their way. Yaschter held his breath, and looked at the out of town scoreboard. Secristan had won earlier, he knew that. But another score was of high interest. Sarzonia and Quintessence of Dust. They were scoreless and were heading to extra time.

At last, the game had finished. The Rockets killed off the two minutes of stoppage time in a routine manner, and it was time to exchange high-fives, and offer handshakes to the players of Kosovoe. It was a great moment for the coach, knowing he had the team in the semifinals, but he knew there was still more work to do. He allowed the players to head to the locker room and cool off, and asked them to give him a half hour before he addressed the team. The players didn’t mind at all, and in fact they liked that. Several called their families and friends. Yaschter turned on the TV. He had to watch the end of the Sarzonia-Quintessence of Dust match. They were in the second half of extra time by the time he turned it on. By the time the game reached the penalty shootout, he had been joined by assistant Michael McCafferty. “Spencer Hicks.” he told his assistant. “Hicks will shoot first not Lynch”, he clarified. McCafferty, not an expert on Sarzonia’s team, simply nodded. “Yep, I was right.” McCafferty simply smiled, as the coach went on. “That Franz Braddock, the old man still’s got it. He knew he had to give Hicks a redemption shot. Franz is a legend, I looked up to him a lot when I was growing up in Cafundeu.” McCafferty responded simply with a “Yeah, he’s pretty good.”

You see it hasn’t been lost on Yaschter that it could very well be Franz Braddock in THIS chair, and not in Peisandros coaching against Quintessence of Dust. Perhaps Nelson would be coaching the Stars of Sarzonia instead. What if they were to say, meet, in the Cup of Harmony final? You want a classic storyline, the world would get one if that were to take place. Both the Rockets and the Stars made coaching changes during the second half of qualifying. Both the Rockets and the Stars replaced their coaches with someone from Cafundeu. Franz Braddock had applied for THIS position. Had been interviewed for THIS position, but was turned aside. One of Nelson’s coaching heroes turned aside for a job that he, himself, would land. Weeks after Yaschter took over here, Braddock took over there. Nelson knows, and deep down Franz Braddock knows, that all of Cafundeu has a keen on eye on who will outdo who. Of course, while both coaches want to win this for their adopted new homelands, their competitive spirits certainly are motivated to outperform the other. Yaschter to show that Newmanistan made the right choice, and Braddock to show that Newmanistan made a mistake.

Yaschter got up, and went to address the team. Those thoughts he had, none of them came out. He’s not going to look ahead too much, and can’t portray that to the team that he is even thinking about a showdown with Braddock. He knows that Sarzonia has a tough road to travel in Peisandros against the Sandrians. He knows the neighbors from Secristan want to do everything they possibly can to knock off the Rockets. The showdown and rematch against the Millionaires will reign supreme on his mind, because he knows that no one in his adopted nation would ever look past a meeting with them. Braddock can wait, if it happens at all. The thought that they could meet in the third place game? None of it. Yaschter doesn’t have any of that loser mentality, and he knows that neither does the old man he looked up too.

Peisandros

04-04-2009, 00:58

Semi-finals? Sounds pretty good for a first Cup of Harmony attempt. Some say the luck from World Cup 44 is still with them. Some others think we've found a rich vein of talent. So, what do I say? Sandrians were born to play football. Seriously, I am of the belief that while we haven't been a footballing nation for long, it is within our very genetic make up to enjoy and prosper football. Sound crazy?

Scientists have today released astonishing data which shows that the Sandrian human body is very well suited to playing football. Seems this may become another interesting aspect in the ongoing nature vs nurture argument. So, Sandrians are genetically superior.

Anyway, today they play Sarzonia which will be a very tough game to progress to the final.

Peisandros

04-04-2009, 01:00

Result for Semi-Final in Allemenschen

Newmanistan 4-3 Secristan

Allemenschen

04-04-2009, 01:22

Nothing too fancy...

Semifinal
Sarzonia 0-1 Peisandros

3PPO in Allemenschen
Secristan --- Sarzonia

Final Match in Peisandros
Peisandros --- Newmanistan

Newmanistan

04-04-2009, 09:01

THE ROCKET REPORT

ONE BIG CLASSIC

Allemenschen- The stakes were higher then they have ever been for a showdown between Newmanistan and Secristan on the pitch. Sure, recently, there have been very meaningful matches between the neighbors in other sports, but now the whole world is watching to see who can call themselves the 33rd best team in the World. Though the players and most fans were very disappointed to see the team fail to make the World Cup, there can be some satisfaction gained from establishing a dynasty in the Cup of Harmony. Or at least, that’s what us in the media think about it. The 4-3 victory over the Millionaires means that the Rockets have a chance to win their third Cup of Harmony title in four tries. To do that, they will head to Peisandros. To play, none other then, Peisandros. The Sandrians are in their first Cup of Harmony, because you see, even though they have been at this less then we have, they have already been to the World Cup! The meeting is somewhat of a downer for those that were hoping for a Nelson Yaschter-Franz Braddock final between the Rockets and Stars. Even though the game is in Peisandros and not in Nellieland, Yaschter has opted to have the team continue to train in West Pocono for five days and have the team only head to Peisandros the day before the match. No reason to mess with a good thing, is what he told us, and it’s true that things have worked out well with their Atlantian Oceania training sessions. According to Yaschter, the team would have trained in Peisandros if they were not playing host nation. He wants the Rockets to not have to worry about the general public doing whatever they can to make life difficult for the team. “It’s for a coveted title, and it’s an away game. No reason to be in that environment any more then we need to be. We’re at home in West Pocono. They’ve been great to us.”

The fans saw a pretty entertaining start to the match, as both teams played wide open in hopes to get an early lead. The Rockets were able to do this as Kevin Taylor beat Michael Rossiter to his left in the 6th minute, only to see the Millionaires respond three minutes later as Curtis Coleman fired a laserbeam beat Chris Kusler to even it up. Perhaps then, the message was set, and that would be that we would have quite a battle on our hands. As was the case when the teams met in the World Baseball Classic, the extracurricular activity that appeared in group stage action did not happen in this game. Both teams knew what they had to do, and weren’t going to risk doing anything stupid to have a player booked and potentially be out for the final or the 35th-place game. That’s not to say that Billy Prescott took it easy on the Millionaires, and he did try to goad them into taking retaliation fouls, but the Millionaires showed uncharacteristically strong composure. The teams traded chances, and the general thought at the time was whoever scored the next goal would have a big advantage. In the 29th minute, that goal came, as Coleman made a couple nice moves to deke out Kevin Taylor and get the ball to James Rogan, who knows how to finish. Five minutes later, we were back where we started as Matthew Turner scored on a header from a corner kick. All square again, two goals a piece. That would be the end of the first half goals, but not the end of the chances as Chris Kusler came up big on a shot by Kevin Walker in stoppage time.

Nelson Yaschter was generally pleased with the performance of his team during the first half, but knew that they would have to get better defensively, and do so immediately. The defense had put together a brilliant performance against Kosovoe, but the fact that these two teams had just recently played each other, seemed to help the opponent in their scouting of this game and their overall preparation. As the second half began, Newmanistan caught an early break as Jeremy McAllister was awarded a penalty kick in the 50th minute. Shawn Wooliver looked to legitimately have gone for the ball when he made his dive, but instead collected the shim of McAllister. J-Mac looked to be ok but then screamed in pain. Acting to draw a penalty is something that McAllister has never done and he actually strongly speaks out against players doing such a thing, so the referee took it as it being a result of the contact from Wooliver. In fact, Jeremy says afterwards that had nothing to do with it. “I actually got stung by one of those purple-stinging nellies while I was on the ground after his tackle. The sting was something I hadn’t really felt before, that nellie packed some serious punch in his sting. When I saw the referee point to the spot, I have to admit part of me felt like saying it was a nellie and that I was fine, but this is a semifinal. And they are arrogant Secristanis, so I’m not about to turn it down.” J-Mac placed the penalty perfectly into the top right corner, making it not matter that Rossiter actually did guess the correct way. For a little while, the Rockets held the lead, but in the 72nd minute, the Millionaires struck back again on Rogan’s second of the game. All tied again at three. The neighboring nations, who once looked to co-host this very tournament with each other were engaged in quite a game, a true classic for fans of both of our nations, and likely for outsiders as well. In the 85th minute, Kusler made a big diving stop on Kevin Walker, and Jeremy Brooker pounced on the rebound. It looked to just be a clear, but instead it was a long ball, and it connected with Billy Prescott perfectly. Prescott made the long run up the left wing before setting up Jeremy McAllister. But a J-Mac shot here would be too predictable, and the captain knew that. He knew he could drop a short pass back to Matthew Turner, and he did just that. Turner expected and fired the shot home. That would be all the team would need, as the Rockets secure a 4-3 victory.

Peisandros is next. Not only will this be for the Cup of Harmony title, it will be the final game in the long and stories careers of Jeremy McAllister and Jeremy Brooker, and perhaps Chris Kusler as well. They would love to go out on top, even if it is only “33rd”.

Newmanistan

04-04-2009, 20:35

(The old men reflect on their careers)

Brooker: This is it, man.

McAllister: It seems like only yesterday. Where did all this time go?

Brooker: Remember when we went to Starblaydia for the first Di Bradini Cup game. Our first game ever against Sorthern Northland, and no one knew how good we could do.

McAllister: And we never lost. Man, that was fun. Such a strong entrance we made on this scene. You hadn’t even considered playing for Dunboor FC.

Brooker: Hell no, growing up, playing for those great Cafundeu teams were entirely unrealistic.

McAllister: And now we’re coached by one.

Brooker: I just wish I could have kids like you that are interested in football. I love my daughters, but they are no Vilardi’s. They hate sports, they hardly make it through my games.

McAllister: Yeah, you look at Billy Prescott. Kid’s got a lot of promise, is dating someone from Jeruselem. I know Brett is so proud. Maybe one of my kids can qualify for the World Cup. I’d really like to see little J-Mac do it.

Brooker: Next Di Bradini Cup for J-Mac, Jr.?

McAllister: He’d be 14, so it’s possible. I don’t really want to force him into it, but the kid’s got one hell of a shot.

Brooker: He should. You don’t want him to start at 18, that’s the worst age to start a Di Bradini Cup, because you’ll only get one chance. I think you should tell Nelson to put him on the team. He’s certainly good enough, and I am sure Nelson would do it.

McAllister: Yeah, I’m sure he would.

Brooker: We started our careers as champions, now we have a chance to finish them off as champions, albeit the Cup of Harmony.

McAllister: How bad does never qualifying bother you?

Brooker: It does. But I’ve had a great career with Dunboor FC, I’ve done a lot that I am really very proud of. Not qualifying hurts, because it was really the chance for me to do something for my country. Having played in Cafundeu nearly my whole life, I haven’t done a lot for the Empire, other then win the two Cups of Harmony, and hopefully this third one. You look at the World Cup, and it is so special to be in that field. I’d have liked it, but it’s not something that’s going to make me consider my career a failure. How about you?

McAllister: Kinda the same. I hate it more for my country, because I know how badly they wanted to see us in the World Cup. I do feel as though something is missing from my career. People want to talk about all these goals, well I didn’t accomplish the big goal. It hurts that we were so close several times, too. But we have to remember one thing, Brooks.

Brooker: What?

McAllister: As much as we feel we have let down our country, they’re going to go on without us just fine. Pretty soon, it’ll be Shawn Loughran and Matthew Turner, or maybe someone else and we’ll be afterthoughts. Newmanistan will qualify one day, and I believe it will be for the next one. And more, Newmanistan will win the World Cup one day.

Brooker: That’s right, so are you going to take the assistant coach job?

McAllister: Yes. Nelson and I already know that it’s going to happen, we just don’t want to announce it during the Cup of Harmony. But I’d really like to have someone there with me. You’ve been there throughout. Come aboard as an assistant as well, Brooks.

Brooker: Wow, well I’d really be honored. I don’t know if coaching is my thing though. I’ve told Dunboor FC that I’d like to work as a scout for them, I’d love to be a scout for Newmanistan as well. I think that’s a better role for me.

McAllister: Well then be a scout. I can see you being good at that.

Brooker: Yeah, I think so.

McAllister: But first, we have one more game to win.

Brooker: Let’s go get ‘em. (Fist pump with J-Mac)

Sarzonia

04-04-2009, 21:42

The following occured the day after Sarzonia lost 1-0 to host nation Peisandros in the semfinals of the 37th Cup of Harmony:

Goalkeeper Cody Taylor approached manager Franz Braddock with a suggestion. Since the Sarzonian national team no longer had a title to play for, he wanted to offer a suggestion.

"Coach, why not start the substitute players in the third-placed match? That way, more lads get experience and you have a better sense for what sort of team you have."

Braddock looked off in the distance, lost in thought. He was thinking about the suggestion and trying to determine if it would send the message he wanted to send to the team, but Taylor had no way of knowing what was going through the old manager's mind.

Off in the distance, defender Spencer Hicks left the training facility with a humongous bag and brought it to his rental car. That in itself wasn't a shock. After all, the team would eventually have to vacate for the flight to Allenmenschen. However, most of the team were still in the showers or in the training room.

Braddock looked at goalkeepers coach Horace Sandt, who walked up to him.

"What's the deal with Hicks?" Taylor asked.

"He's quit the team," Sandt said tersely. Braddock eyed the goalkeeper coach, who served as the unofficial liaison between the other coaches and the players.

"Your voice," Braddock said.

"I just got through letting him have a piece of my mind," Sandt said. "He ..."

"I know," Braddock said. "I told him what I was about to tell you," Braddock said, directing his comment to Taylor.

"The regular 11 will start the match against Secristan. I don't believe in giving players a match off because there's nothing at stake. For us, the rivalry with Secristan is enough."

"But they aren't a rival yet," Taylor said. "We've never played them in this sport. We haven't played anyone enough for there to be a football rivalry this time around."

"That's where you're wrong," Braddock said. "We still have many of the old rivalries. Plus, we have some rivalries that transcend football. We've become rivals of the Millionaires in lacrosse and basketball. This is definitely an important fixture for them, and it is for us."

"So why did Hicks leave the team?"

"I told him he would remain on the substitutes' bench for this match unless we needed a defensive substitution. He said he should be a starter. I disagreed with him, and that was that."

Taylor grimaced.

"Coach, with all due respect, I think some of our lads need to earn caps if they're going to be a viable part of our national team in World Cup XLVI qualifying."

"They'll get their opportunities if they do the things I ask," Braddock said. "But this match isn't about standings points or stakes. It's about setting the right tone for our future."

That Taylor couldn't argue with. And for the Stars, that future would not include Hicks.

Secristan

04-04-2009, 23:53

MILLIONAIRES SENT TO THIRD PLACE GAME

With the score tied at two, Newmanistan’s Jeremy McAllister was awarded a penalty kick. Shawn Wooliver clearly had made an attempt for the ball, but got more of Jeremy’s leg then he would have wanted. Not what Shawn really wanted to do, but certainly not worthy of a penalty. McAllister has been a good statesman for the game of football, so when he screamed out in pain, it was hard to think he was acting. Maybe he just fell awkwardly. We could have accepted that as the answer, but lo and behold it was one of those damn nellies! McAllister was stung while he was on the ground and that persuaded the referee to award him the kick. Jeremy, being the veteran that he is, scored on the penalty as the ball barely sailed over the fingertips of Michael Rossiter. Other then that, it was a well played game, and the Millionaires should be proud with the way they stood up to the Rockets for much of this game. Right now, unfortunately, our rivals remain ahead of us on the world front, and they will head to the final in an attempt to win their third Cup of Harmony in four tries. It is not yet over for Secristan, who will be playing the rival Sarzonia Stars in the third place game. Not many people care about this game, but for our two countries it becomes another chapter in a budding rivalry. Is Sarzonia beginning to become our biggest rival out of One Big Island? Well, we had classic meetings in basketball and lacrosse, and don’t forget their big win over us in the Di Bradini Cup that kept us from advancing out of the group stage. They went on to win that Cup, if you stopped paying attention, by the way.

The Secristan Department of Sports experienced a windfall of profit from the Newmanistan match, and expects to earn quite a bit from the third place showdown against Sarzonia. Says our SDOS representative, Katie Simpson, “Our fans have gotten acquainted with Sarzonia. They also know that in order for this to be a great rivalry, we need to have success against them. So far, all of our meetings have ended up in one sided results. Both teams are playing very good soocer right now, and I think we will see an entertaining third place game. Our players should also have an advantage given that they are used to the purple-stinging nellies while our opponents will be experiencing them for the first time. As an agency, we have set a high window of expected revenue to be generated by this game, and based upon the early purchases, our people are really excited about this showdown.” A victory in this game would be the biggest accomplishment of the senior team in soccer thus far, and show the world that this Baptism of Fire 30 runner-up is a nation on the upswing, unlike the team that beat us in the final over a decade ago. It’s the final game for us in the Cup of Harmony, but something we can build on as we look towards World Cup 46 qualifying.

Peisandros

05-04-2009, 00:45

Peisandros through to final.

Peisandros has continued their amazing run on the field, whilst off the field the country has enjoyed great success in their first hosting of an international sporting competition. Whilst teams in group C struggled with conditions in Allemenschen, groups A and B were in comparative luxury. All stadiums in Peisandros have been completed within the last ten years and the ATI Stadium in Thasos was finished within the last 6 months. Teams were put up in 4 or 5 star hotels and practice facilities were also of a very high standard. Crowds were fantastic and many fans warmed to certain teams -- many preferring the new style of football foreign teams brought to our shores. On the field the Sandrian's latest victim was Sarzonia. After a very slow start which saw them with one win from the first four, they haven't lost since with victories over Terreiro de Ogum, Taeshan and now the Stars.

Sarzonia faced a Sandrian team in great form. Still without the use of superstar striker Costa Theotokis (who will be back for the final, but will be coming off the bench, more on that later..), Lefteris Diakos again stood out. The youngster was instrumental in putting an awful lot of pressure on the Star defense and some would argue it was his constant nagging that lead to the only goal, which game late in the second half. First half play saw a great battle ensue. Some say only goals bring excitement, but this was an example of a close tussle with both teams having chances and great goalkeeping. Sarzonia probably should have opened the scoring in the 23rd minute, with midfielder Clayton Bocanegro putting striker Matt Lynch in to a world of space. However he was unable to capitalize, hitting his shot too close to Dorian Theotokis who was able to palm the ball over the goal.

Peisandros had a few close chances, but their first real one came near the half time whistle. With a few tired legs around for both teams, Diakos showcased a bit of razzle dazzle and beat two defenders before unleashing a bullet from 20 yards out. The keeper didn't move and time appeared to slow down. However the ball went careering in to the right post and straight to the feet of Ben Crosley, who obliged by booting the ball down field and away from the danger zone. Diakos could hardly believe it, throwing his arms in the air but with a wry smile on the young mans face. The chance seemed to awaken all involved and the first half ended with no more drama.

At half time, Alexander Pappas didn't have much to say. Instead it was assistant coach John Voskopoulos who had a bit to say. He wasn't too impressed with the midfield play and called on captain Halkias to get more involved with the game and direct the football more. He also mentioned George Theotokis' lack of involvement and asked him to seek the ball in a more aggressive manner. Apart from that, Voskopoulos was quite impressed with the effort and asked for more of the same in defense. Finally Pappas talked up.

"So, here we are lads. Half time. You've started pretty good, that's for sure. I just don't know if you want it. Do you want it?" there were general murmurs of 'yes' and 'of course'. "Well it's time you show it. All we are known for is doing really well two years ago in the World Cup. Do we really want to be known as the team who did well once?" murmurs of 'no' and 'shit no'. "I didn't think so. It's time you show it. This is just the semi-final and if you boys want to leave a legacy, you need to win this. We've still got a game after this whether we win or loss. I assume you want to play in a championship game rather than a third place playoff? I know as I coach I would rather watch you boys in a championship game. Right. Get out there and show me you want it. Show the fans. Show each-other. Work, fucking, hard. Leave nothing on the field. Lets go."

Pappas didn't do inspirational that well, but it worked. The boys fired up and were ready for the second half. But there were no illusions in the camp. Upon returning from the sheds, the look in the Stars player's eyes was enough to remind all involved this wasn't going to be easy. Early play in the second half proved as much with passion at times taking too much control. A few yellow cards and a chat from the ref to the skippers seemed to settle things down a lot and the football was better thereafter. There were a few less chances early on as midfield defense improved and the game was played mainly in the middle third, with a few unlikely long shots taken from frustrated midfielders.

However the game opened up once again and it was Peisandros who looked the most likely. Diakos was tricky to handle, but was unable to find the back of the net. In the 71st minute he did though, only to be called for offside. He had headed in from a George Theotokis cross and looked shocked at the decision. Replies, however, showed the official was bang on. Diakos again came close three minutes later in the 74th. Smart play from a more involved Halkias saw a great ball to Nikolaidas, who while being quiet in the last few games, always has a great first touch. He fooled his defender before finding Diakos who had made a great run in to the box. Diakos had time for a touch before steading himself for the shot. Keeper Cody Taylor was up to the challenge though and made a good save to deny the Sandrians taking the lead. After these two chances, the Stars seemed to mark Diakos very heavily.

As mentioned early, this may have helped in the scoring of the only goal. Quick work from Theodore saw a great counter-attack opportunity. He was able to find Krestenitis with a stunning ball, who was tearing down the left wing. This created a three on two situation with one defender on Krestenitis and one inbetween the two Sandrian strikers. As they approached the box, Diakos made a run for the near post with George Theotokis holding back towards the far past. The defender instinctively followed Diakos leaving George wide open. Krestenitis was well aware of this and gave a perfect cross, George heading in and giving Peisandros the lead 1-0. With just 13 minutes left it was a good lead, but the Stars fought hard -- creating a few close chances. Luckily for the Sandrians they held out and earned a spot in the final.

Peisandros 1 - 0 Sarzonia
G. Theotokis - 87'

Newmanistan next, not easy.

Newmanistan have been the absolute form team of the tournament. Unbeaten and having a fantastic Cup of Harmony track record, it surely is a very tough ask for the Sandrians to get up and win it. But that's what everyone has their eyes on. Coach Pappas has announced an unchanged team, even though star striker Costa Theotokis has returned from an ankle injury that kept him out for a few weeks. Lefteris Diakos has been in unbelievable form and there was no point changing something that just wasn't broken. Pappas did hint that Costa may come off the bench though, depending on the situation of the game. It's a great problem to have for the coach, as there can't be a better substitute around. The fans in Peisandros have finally decided to get in behind the team, with tickets for the game selling out in under an hour. President John Catalinoff, despite the rumours surrounding his marriage, has come out publically supporting the team and urged Sandrians everywhere to don the yellow and blue in suport of the national team.

That's all from us here. Stay tuned for the final and go the Pei!!!

Peisandros

05-04-2009, 01:18

Third place playoff.

Sarzonia 0-1 Secristan

Congratulations to Secristan for coming third.
Thanks Sarzonia for all your involvement, and everyone else.

Allemenschen

05-04-2009, 01:41

Do I really need to post an RP Cut-off? Oh, alright. FINE!

Spam blocker >>>

Allemenschen

05-04-2009, 02:00

And the news was about to die.

Koryatsky sat at his chair, staring at the giant purple monstrosity that was a fully functional stadium, in which Secristan and Sarzonia had just battled out for third place. Secristan won out by a single goal. And now it was finished. No more complaints about purple-stinging nellies; no more complaints about purple-stinging nellie stings; no more complaints about purple-stinging nellies stealing baby children from their strollers, even though no one was really complaining about that in the first place; no more complaints about that decrepit pitch which was a poor excuse for a football field, despite the fact that the new stadium had completely replaced that already; no more complaints about the... goats?

"GAH!" Koryatsky yelled at the top of his lungs. "There's goats in here!"

"Yes, there are goats in here," Kowak said, aimlessly strolling out of the bathroom.

"Would you cut that out? That's my bathroom!"

"Sorry... but I really had to wash my hands."

"Why couldn't you walk three stories down through the secret elevator to get behind the bar where a perfectly operational sink is waiting for your nasty dirty little hands?"

Kowak shook his head. "That's too much work. Besides, your bathroom's already swamped with the goats."

"GAH! Goats in my bathroom!" Koryatsky quickly rushed over to the bathroom to expel the voracious ruminates. "GAH! They're eating my toilet paper!"

"That's not toilet paper," Kowak said. "That's the newspaper."

"What the heck is a newspaper doing in my bathroom?"

"I haven't the faintest idea, but it's got the winner of the Cup of Harmony listed on the front page. Too bad that's the first page that they ate."

"GAH! Who won?"

Cup of Harmony 37 Final

Peisandros 0-2 Newmanistan

Newmanistan

05-04-2009, 14:01

THE ROCKET REPORT

MCALLISTER, BROOKER GO OUT AS CHAMPIONS

Peisandros- Playing in a hostile environment with Sandrian fans hoping to see their country win the Cup of Harmony title on home turf, the Rockets quickly silenced the crowd, and won their third such championship in four tries. It is the Cup of Harmony, also called the Loser’s Cup or the battle for 33rd place, and while those are fair nicknames for it, this is a difficult competition to win. Many talented national teams made their way to Allemenschen and to Peisandros, such as Taeshan, Kosovoe, Sarzonia, Secristan, and today’s opponent, the host Sandrians. It also marked the final game at the international level for Jeremy McAllister and Jeremy Brooker. Many also feel it was the last game also for goalkeeper Chris Kusler, although he has yet to announce that he has any intention of retiring from international play. He would be 40 in World Cup 46. While Newmanistan repeats as champions, they did with a new coach. Many players who have been on this team before mentioned that winning this title for Nelson Yaschter was their biggest motivation to get it done. Last night, they got it done. Four years ago, we said after their Cup of Harmony 36 championship win, that they had won their final game in the tournament. Perhaps, we were just four years early to make that prediction. Newmanistan won every match during this Cup, from the first group stage contest against Hypocria to the final.

The biggest goal for the Rockets was to take the crowd out of the game early. Peisandros was playing in front of their own people, who were ready to celebrate, and we hear they know how to throw quite a party in this country! This was going to be a tough obstacle for the sky blue and white, but the team was well prepared. They had practiced in West Pocono all week, knowing that this was more then just a road game. This was a road game for a title, and one that the home fans really wanted to have. Scoring early is what Nelson Yaschter preached to his team. There would be no feeling out period. There would be no establishing the midfield and the back end before you press the attack. Not tonight. Newmanistan was going to go all-out for a goal as soon as the match began. The message was delivered early, and in the first ten minutes, the Rockets had the Sandrians back on their heels. Shots were coming, but Dorian Theotokis was stopping all of them. Just as the fans were getting restless with the start of the match, the Rockets found the back of the net in the 11th minute. Sure enough, the old man played a part in it. Jeremy McAllister drew not one, not two, but three defenders towards him as someone back there obviously blew an assignment. This left Matthew Turner in a one on one situation, and J-Mac delivered the pass. Turner got a step on his man, and Theotokis had no chance. Turner has had a fantastic Cup of Harmony, really making Nelson Yaschter’s confidence in the 18-year old pay off. Matthew did not play as a part of the World Cup qualifying team, in favor of Brett Carlson. Now, with Carlson no longer even here, Turner has really established a comfort level with this team, and in working with McAllister. The goal gave the Rockets what they wanted, you would have thought, but it was not enough for Nelson Yaschter. Keep pressing was the message! And keep pressing, they did. Soon enough, Peisandros was feeling the wrath of playing such a big game at home. Because when the game doesn’t go your way at the start, the fans can turn against you very quickly. The fans tried to urge their players on, but they were restless as the way the Rockets continued to control possession. In the 22nd minute, Newmanistan scored again. This time it would be Jeremy McAllister, and the Rockets were up by two. The rest of the first half played out evenly between the two teams, but after 45 minutes, the Rockets had accomplished what they sought out to do.

Nelson Yaschter congratulated his team for the strong first half and reminded his team that all the pressure was on Peisandros now. The Rockets were to play with a defensive posture, and attempt to use the frustration of the fans against the home team even more. Billy Prescott would play a big role, but not immediately. Not until after the 65th minute, Yaschter said. After that, he would turn Billy loose to try and goad the Sandrians into some bookings in frustration. As expected, Peisandros was aggressive to start, but several of their passes seemed forced, and they weren’t all connecting the way that coach Pappas had trained them. The defensive stand of the Rockets was outstanding, as defensive midfielder Scott LaFave actually played as a fifth defender, positioning himself between Shawn Loughran and Robert Selvy, making things all the more difficult for the Sandrians. Minutes were ticking away, and the looks on the faces of the players showed the story. One of these teams had been there before. One of them, had not. The experience that the Rockets had out there from having been in this very situation four years ago was evident, as they made calm clears to protect the lead. After the 65th minute, Prescott did begin to do his thing, focus on their captain Urias Halkias. Billy may only be 18, but he knew that it would be through Halkais that the Sandrians would find the energy as a team if they were going to make the comeback they wanted to make. With Billy knocking down Halkais on every opportunity, their captain was distracted, and did more holding out his arms to the referee then trying to rally his team. More minutes passed away, and the stadium was quiet except for a loud contigent of Newmanistanians that made the trip, and located behind the team bench.

Yaschter heard the applause of the his own fans. In the 80th minute, up came the board. Out: 20, In: 15. No, this was not a strategic decision to bring in Jennifer Vilardi. It was so these fans could give the great Jeremy McAllister one final standing ovation. The Rockets great slowly walked off the field, waving his hand to the fans as all the players on the sideline gave J-Mac a celebratory hug. Four minutes later, again. Out: 5, In: 6. Now, it would be Jeremy Brooker’s turn. The fans gave Brooker the same loud round of applause. This was it for both of their illustrious careers. The remaining minutes ticked off the clock, and Peisandros was trying to come back, they were simply denied by the defense that was out there. But for the Rockets fans, all eyes were on the sidelines to get their final pictures of their two legends in the sky blue and white. Eventually the final whistle blew of a fabulously played game by the Rockets, but the celebration was a little more subdued this time then it had been before. They were elated to win, but the finality of the moment for two of their greatest starts was more evident.

McAllister and Brooker, though, have been able to do something very few athletes could do. They were victorious in their very first national competition, the 4th Di Bradini Cup. And now, they both go out as champions in their final game. It might not be the trophy that they dreamed of, but a Cup of Harmony title is still very special indeed. Congratulations to the champions of the 37th Cup of Harmony, the Newmanistan Rockets!

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Cup of Harmony 37 (Everything Thread)