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Round of 16 Results

Häřtferdsierndeambeu Fűtbočil Fedȩreisn - Matchday 5 Review
VS.
Zoran 0-0 Hertfordshire & Jammbo (HT: ZOR 0-0 HAJ)
 
Pre-Match Review
Welcome one and all to this review. It is of the final group stage match against Zoran which despite ending in the most drab draw you could think of, still ensured that we went through in 4th place in Group C. That damn shock defeat to Irador ruined our prospects for challenging the top. You might be wondering why we have no notes on goals, injuries or even any yellow card or red cards. The first one is blatantly obvious, it's right up on the scoreline. As for the others, this was without a doubt the most drab match in Group C, possibly in the entire tournament so far. So much for the Paradigm Compass being an exciting team. We aren't totally sure what happened, some say that the Zoranian refugees and the Hertfordian mafia cancelled each other out, much like how our team and theirs cancelled each other on the pitch. Due to the terrible boredom that resulted from this game this will likely be the shortest edition yet. We'll still try though, because we're professionals. Certainly more professional than some nations we know.

The match was as dull as it gets. We're thankful then that a bandaged PM Clarkov Furutani turned up with the mafia to sort of spice things up. Also, who said we couldn't use the same picture twice.
 
First Half Review
Do not kid yourselves, this review is going to be more of a recap. Lack of detail because we can only write so much about this. Some fans have attested to seeing a crowd of Zoranian refugees attempting to storm the pitch and hold up our players but claim they were dealt with just fine. Then apparently the mafia turned up, followed shortly by Prime Minister Clarkov Jammbonevych Furutani. The operation to heal his stab wound from around 2 matches prior had worked much faster than expected and he had turned up wearing that same garb he was wearing pre-tournament. The nostalgia effect, may haps. Either way, fans then claimed to have seen the mafia force the refugees off the pitch completely, all while the match was being played at the same time. Talk about supposed early drama. But that didn't happen throughout all the time spent playing. We cannot really say much at all therefore about the first half other than that. We effectively cancelled each other out. Their team has a far worse attack, but a far better defence so really the game played out more like a Zoranian match than a Hertfordian match in the end.
 
Second Half Review
More of the same really. The only thing that got fans even remotely interested in this half was noticing the awful kits that the Paradigm Compass were wearing. But even that couldn't keep them awake forever and soon many fans had left the stadium. Like in the first half, very little of note occurred and in the end neither team really deserved to get anything other than a draw. And that was it. Full time, a scoreless draw.
 
Post-Match Review
What did we tell you, huh? Lacklustre effort to go with a lacklustre match. It's only fitting. With that, the group stages are over, Irador having recovered from a bad start to win the group entirely, bringing forth a coup on Arifiyyah who finished 2nd. They both finished with 10 points, +4 GD and 8 goals scored, but Irador topped the group by a hair due to virtue of defeating Arifiyyah 2-1. Zoran finished 3rd with 7 points and a 0 GD. Us on the other hand came 4th with 7 points and due to that disaster of a match against Irador also ended with a lowly -2 GD. Reçueçn was unable to capitalise, being held to a draw by Italia who got their first point of the tournament too little too late. Reçueçn came 5th with 6 points and Italia finished last with just 1 point.
 
Next Time...
Next time, eh? A round of 16 match with Larxia, who won Group B and have come off the back of a 5-0 demolition of Fhaengshia who were eliminated due to that and other results.
VS.
Now it is time to depart, cheers for reading. We are off to the tower now to have our heads cut off (not really). Goodbye.
                 

[coming soon]
The Santo-Dominian Fables are a big collection of legendary stories and folklore that were first told during different times, eras and periods of Santo-Dominian history. Throughout the times, these stories have survived, some because of popularity, some because of extensive records, and all because of how good they are. Now, Visit Santos-Dominius has partnered with the Santo-Dominian Institute for Arts, Humanities and Culture to release these stories in the form of this collection. Be ready to enjoy Santo-Dominian fiction and folklore at its finest and most presentable.

Match Day 5 Results




8 teams eliminated, 16 teams progress to the knock-out rounds!

"Hello, everyone! From Steskia, United Adaikes, we at Santo-Dominian Cable-Satellite Network Channel 3 bring you live coverage of the 1st World Cup of Football! Our coverage of WCF1 is brought to you by our generous sponsor, +238flowers, because every occasion needs some flowers. I, Approctoflecticus Blubberman, will be your host for the entire duration of WCF1. And we've just received news that the Match Day 4 has concluded and the results have been released to everyone! Let's look at the results and analyse the general situation of the competition. Let's start with Group A and look at this graphic."

"In Group A, we've got some typical matches. In the first match, Teralyon manages to beat the team from Fuentana in a 1-0 victory for them. In the second match, our host country United Adaikes beats the Provisional Auran Team in a 2-1 match that shows just how strong they are. In the third match, Fujai is unable to win against Nagaraningrad and loses in a 0-1 match. Now, let's move on to Group B and look at the next graphic."

"And in Group B, we've got one match that ends in a draw and two that end decisively! In the first match, Fhaengshia and Libterraria are both unable to score more points than each other, and therefore the match results in a 1-1 tie. In the second match, Giovanniland manages to beat strong competitor Dalimbar in a 2-0 victory that shows that nothing is impossible. In the third match, Pallandole is beat in a 1-2 match by Larxia, a major force in Group B. Let's move on Group C now."

"In Group C, we've got no underwhelming ties, and all three matches conclude decisively. In the first match, Irador handily beats the team from Hertfordshire & Jammbo in a shockingly strong 5-1 victory! In the second match, Zoran, one of the better teams from Group C, is beat in a 0-2 match by the underdog players from Reçueçn. In the third match, Italia loses in a 0-3 match to Arifiyyah, one of the leading teams in Group C. Finally, let's move on to Group D and look at the next graphic."

"And in Group D, we've got some pretty decisive matches! In the first match, Badgeria inflicts a crushing defeat on the team from Alchera in a 6-0 match, one of the most lopsided matches we've seen in WCF1! In the second match, our home country Santos-Dominius loses to the strong players from Tara & Cambray in a 0-2 match. Finally, in the third match, Nieubasria manages to pull ahead and win against Dilber in a 4-3 match. Now, let's go over the rankings and review the situation."
"Looking at the rankings, we can see that United Adaikes is the clear leader in Group A, followed closely by their fellow Polaris team from Fujai. Teralyon and Nagaraningrad, however, are also going strong and can possibly race to catch up. Unfortunately, Fuentana and especially the Provisional Auran Team are under threat of elimination and will have to try their very best to reverse their increasingly poor fortunes."
"In Group B, Larxia is leading the pack, followed closely by Fhaengshia and Libterraria. Giovanniland is also doing alright, placing beyond the three teams. Dalimbar, however, has been rocked by poor performance after initial victories and strength, and is now in the bottom two of the bunch together with Pallandole. In Group C, Arifiyyah is the leader with 10 points overall, while Irador is the strongest challenger with 7 points. Zoran, as well as Hertfordshire & Jammbo, are in the middle of the group, with both having 6 points. Reçueçn is behind them with 5 points, but Italia, with 0 points, is almost certainly doomed."
"Finally, in Group D, Tara & Cambray and Badgeria are the two strongest competitors, while Nieubasria and our home country Santos-Dominius are in the middle of the pack. Dilber, rocked by a doping scandal, and Alchera, with only ties and defeats, are almost certainly going to be eliminated, and will have to make a exceptional comeback if they want to have a chance of staying in the competition."
"And that is it for Match Day 4! Congratulations to the leading teams and players, and a 'Good Job' to the teams who are able to hold their own and fend off the threat of elimination. I also give a lot of encouragement to the teams and countries who are performing poorly right now, for I believe that all of the teams believe in the spirit of sportsmanship and fighting till the very end. I'm Approctoflecticus Blubberman, and this was Match Day 4 of the 1st World Cup of Football. Stay tuned to SDCSN Channel 3 for coverage of the WCF, and see you tomorrow!"

"Hello, everyone! From Steskia, United Adaikes, we at Santo-Dominian Cable-Satellite Network Channel 3 bring you live coverage of the 1st World Cup of Football! Our coverage of WCF1 is brought to you by our generous sponsor, +238flowers, because every occasion needs some flowers. I, Approctoflecticus Blubberman, will be your host for the entire duration of WCF1. And we've just received news that the Match Day 4 has concluded and the results have been released to everyone! Let's look at the results and analyse the general situation of the competition. Let's start with Group A and look at this graphic."

"In Group A, we've got some typical matches. In the first match, Teralyon manages to beat the team from Fuentana in a 1-0 victory for them. In the second match, our host country United Adaikes beats the Provisional Auran Team in a 2-1 match that shows just how strong they are. In the third match, Fujai is unable to win against Nagaraningrad and loses in a 0-1 match. Now, let's move on to Group B and look at the next graphic."

"And in Group B, we've got one match that ends in a draw and two that end decisively! In the first match, Fhaengshia and Libterraria are both unable to score more points than each other, and therefore the match results in a 1-1 tie. In the second match, Giovanniland manages to beat strong competitor Dalimbar in a 2-0 victory that shows that nothing is impossible. In the third match, Pallandole is beat in a 1-2 match by Larxia, a major force in Group B. Let's move on Group C now."

"In Group C, we've got no underwhelming ties, and all three matches conclude decisively. In the first match, Irador handily beats the team from Hertfordshire & Jammbo in a shockingly strong 5-1 victory! In the second match, Zoran, one of the better teams from Group C, is beat in a 0-2 match by the underdog players from Reçueçn. In the third match, Italia loses in a 0-3 match to Arifiyyah, one of the leading teams in Group C. Finally, let's move on to Group D and look at the next graphic."

"And in Group D, we've got some pretty decisive matches! In the first match, Badgeria inflicts a crushing defeat on the team from Alchera in a 6-0 match, one of the most lopsided matches we've seen in WCF1! In the second match, our home country Santos-Dominius loses to the strong players from Tara & Cambray in a 0-2 match. Finally, in the third match, Nieubasria manages to pull ahead and win against Dilber in a 4-3 match. Now, let's go over the rankings and review the situation."
"Looking at the rankings, we can see that United Adaikes is the clear leader in Group A, followed closely by their fellow Polaris team from Fujai. Teralyon and Nagaraningrad, however, are also going strong and can possibly race to catch up. Unfortunately, Fuentana and especially the Provisional Auran Team are under threat of elimination and will have to try their very best to reverse their increasingly poor fortunes."
"In Group B, Larxia is leading the pack, followed closely by Fhaengshia and Libterraria. Giovanniland is also doing alright, placing beyond the three teams. Dalimbar, however, has been rocked by poor performance after initial victories and strength, and is now in the bottom two of the bunch together with Pallandole. In Group C, Arifiyyah is the leader with 10 points overall, while Irador is the strongest challenger with 7 points. Zoran, as well as Hertfordshire & Jammbo, are in the middle of the group, with both having 6 points. Reçueçn is behind them with 5 points, but Italia, with 0 points, is almost certainly doomed."
"Finally, in Group D, Tara & Cambray and Badgeria are the two strongest competitors, while Nieubasria and our home country Santos-Dominius are in the middle of the pack. Dilber, rocked by a doping scandal, and Alchera, with only ties and defeats, are almost certainly going to be eliminated, and will have to make a exceptional comeback if they want to have a chance of staying in the competition."
"And that is it for Match Day 4! Congratulations to the leading teams and players, and a 'Good Job' to the teams who are able to hold their own and fend off the threat of elimination. I also give a lot of encouragement to the teams and countries who are performing poorly right now, for I believe that all of the teams believe in the spirit of sportsmanship and fighting till the very end. I'm Approctoflecticus Blubberman, and this was Match Day 4 of the 1st World Cup of Football. Stay tuned to SDCSN Channel 3 for coverage of the WCF, and see you tomorrow!"

"Hello, everyone! From Steskia, United Adaikes, we at Santo-Dominian Cable-Satellite Network Channel 3 bring you live coverage of the 1st World Cup of Football! Our coverage of WCF1 is brought to you by our generous sponsor, +238flowers, because every occasion needs some flowers. I, Approctoflecticus Blubberman, will be your host for the entire duration of WCF1. And we've just received news that the Match Day 4 has concluded and the results have been released to everyone! Let's look at the results and analyse the general situation of the competition. Let's start with Group A and look at this graphic."

"In Group A, we've got some typical matches. In the first match, Teralyon manages to beat the team from Fuentana in a 1-0 victory for them. In the second match, our host country United Adaikes beats the Provisional Auran Team in a 2-1 match that shows just how strong they are. In the third match, Fujai is unable to win against Nagaraningrad and loses in a 0-1 match. Now, let's move on to Group B and look at the next graphic."

"And in Group B, we've got one match that ends in a draw and two that end decisively! In the first match, Fhaengshia and Libterraria are both unable to score more points than each other, and therefore the match results in a 1-1 tie. In the second match, Giovanniland manages to beat strong competitor Dalimbar in a 2-0 victory that shows that nothing is impossible. In the third match, Pallandole is beat in a 1-2 match by Larxia, a major force in Group B. Let's move on Group C now."

"In Group C, we've got no underwhelming ties, and all three matches conclude decisively. In the first match, Irador handily beats the team from Hertfordshire & Jammbo in a shockingly strong 5-1 victory! In the second match, Zoran, one of the better teams from Group C, is beat in a 0-2 match by the underdog players from Reçueçn. In the third match, Italia loses in a 0-3 match to Arifiyyah, one of the leading teams in Group C. Finally, let's move on to Group D and look at the next graphic."

"And in Group D, we've got some pretty decisive matches! In the first match, Badgeria inflicts a crushing defeat on the team from Alchera in a 6-0 match, one of the most lopsided matches we've seen in WCF1! In the second match, our home country Santos-Dominius loses to the strong players from Tara & Cambray in a 0-2 match. Finally, in the third match, Nieubasria manages to pull ahead and win against Dilber in a 4-3 match. Now, let's go over the rankings and review the situation."
"Looking at the rankings, we can see that United Adaikes is the clear leader in Group A, followed closely by their fellow Polaris team from Fujai. Teralyon and Nagaraningrad, however, are also going strong and can possibly race to catch up. Unfortunately, Fuentana and especially the Provisional Auran Team are under threat of elimination and will have to try their very best to reverse their increasingly poor fortunes."
"In Group B, Larxia is leading the pack, followed closely by Fhaengshia and Libterraria. Giovanniland is also doing alright, placing beyond the three teams. Dalimbar, however, has been rocked by poor performance after initial victories and strength, and is now in the bottom two of the bunch together with Pallandole. In Group C, Arifiyyah is the leader with 10 points overall, while Irador is the strongest challenger with 7 points. Zoran, as well as Hertfordshire & Jammbo, are in the middle of the group, with both having 6 points. Reçueçn is behind them with 5 points, but Italia, with 0 points, is almost certainly doomed."
"Finally, in Group D, Tara & Cambray and Badgeria are the two strongest competitors, while Nieubasria and our home country Santos-Dominius are in the middle of the pack. Dilber, rocked by a doping scandal, and Alchera, with only ties and defeats, are almost certainly going to be eliminated, and will have to make a exceptional comeback if they want to have a chance of staying in the competition."
"And that is it for Match Day 4! Congratulations to the leading teams and players, and a 'Good Job' to the teams who are able to hold their own and fend off the threat of elimination. I also give a lot of encouragement to the teams and countries who are performing poorly right now, for I believe that all of the teams believe in the spirit of sportsmanship and fighting till the very end. I'm Approctoflecticus Blubberman, and this was Match Day 4 of the 1st World Cup of Football. Stay tuned to SDCSN Channel 3 for coverage of the WCF, and see you tomorrow!"

"Hello, everyone! From Steskia, United Adaikes, we at Santo-Dominian Cable-Satellite Network Channel 3 bring you live coverage of the 1st World Cup of Football! Our coverage of WCF1 is brought to you by our generous sponsor, +238flowers, because every occasion needs some flowers. I, Approctoflecticus Blubberman, will be your host for the entire duration of WCF1. And we've just received news that the Match Day 4 has concluded and the results have been released to everyone! Let's look at the results and analyse the general situation of the competition. Let's start with Group A and look at this graphic."

"In Group A, we've got some typical matches. In the first match, Teralyon manages to beat the team from Fuentana in a 1-0 victory for them. In the second match, our host country United Adaikes beats the Provisional Auran Team in a 2-1 match that shows just how strong they are. In the third match, Fujai is unable to win against Nagaraningrad and loses in a 0-1 match. Now, let's move on to Group B and look at the next graphic."

"And in Group B, we've got one match that ends in a draw and two that end decisively! In the first match, Fhaengshia and Libterraria are both unable to score more points than each other, and therefore the match results in a 1-1 tie. In the second match, Giovanniland manages to beat strong competitor Dalimbar in a 2-0 victory that shows that nothing is impossible. In the third match, Pallandole is beat in a 1-2 match by Larxia, a major force in Group B. Let's move on Group C now."

"In Group C, we've got no underwhelming ties, and all three matches conclude decisively. In the first match, Irador handily beats the team from Hertfordshire & Jammbo in a shockingly strong 5-1 victory! In the second match, Zoran, one of the better teams from Group C, is beat in a 0-2 match by the underdog players from Reçueçn. In the third match, Italia loses in a 0-3 match to Arifiyyah, one of the leading teams in Group C. Finally, let's move on to Group D and look at the next graphic."

"And in Group D, we've got some pretty decisive matches! In the first match, Badgeria inflicts a crushing defeat on the team from Alchera in a 6-0 match, one of the most lopsided matches we've seen in WCF1! In the second match, our home country Santos-Dominius loses to the strong players from Tara & Cambray in a 0-2 match. Finally, in the third match, Nieubasria manages to pull ahead and win against Dilber in a 4-3 match. Now, let's go over the rankings and review the situation."
"Looking at the rankings, we can see that United Adaikes is the clear leader in Group A, followed closely by their fellow Polaris team from Fujai. Teralyon and Nagaraningrad, however, are also going strong and can possibly race to catch up. Unfortunately, Fuentana and especially the Provisional Auran Team are under threat of elimination and will have to try their very best to reverse their increasingly poor fortunes."
"In Group B, Larxia is leading the pack, followed closely by Fhaengshia and Libterraria. Giovanniland is also doing alright, placing beyond the three teams. Dalimbar, however, has been rocked by poor performance after initial victories and strength, and is now in the bottom two of the bunch together with Pallandole. In Group C, Arifiyyah is the leader with 10 points overall, while Irador is the strongest challenger with 7 points. Zoran, as well as Hertfordshire & Jammbo, are in the middle of the group, with both having 6 points. Reçueçn is behind them with 5 points, but Italia, with 0 points, is almost certainly doomed."
"Finally, in Group D, Tara & Cambray and Badgeria are the two strongest competitors, while Nieubasria and our home country Santos-Dominius are in the middle of the pack. Dilber, rocked by a doping scandal, and Alchera, with only ties and defeats, are almost certainly going to be eliminated, and will have to make a exceptional comeback if they want to have a chance of staying in the competition."
"And that is it for Match Day 4! Congratulations to the leading teams and players, and a 'Good Job' to the teams who are able to hold their own and fend off the threat of elimination. I also give a lot of encouragement to the teams and countries who are performing poorly right now, for I believe that all of the teams believe in the spirit of sportsmanship and fighting till the very end. I'm Approctoflecticus Blubberman, and this was Match Day 4 of the 1st World Cup of Football. Stay tuned to SDCSN Channel 3 for coverage of the WCF, and see you tomorrow!"

"Good morning Giovanniland! I am Vanessa Desniana, your host for the 1st World Cup of Football. Today I bring you exciting news about the tournament directly from Steskia, United Adaikes. Giovanniland has finally won a match, and not just against any team—but rather against Dalimbar, which we've already met in previous sport events such as the 1st Rugby World Cup's third place match and the 2nd Rugby World Cup's Group B."
"In the first half, Giovannilandian striker Klementina de Abreo-Florino opened the score just 7 minutes after the begin. Giustiniano Nottua-Glabrio scored another goal near the end of the first half, at 40 minutes to be exact. Both goals came from counterattacks after failed Dalimbari attempts to score, in which the Giovannilandian defense snatched the ball and then passed it forwards to the fierce strikers." As usual, Vanessa showed images of both goals and some other interesting attempts and defenses for each side.
"The second half of the match, however, was less eventful. Neither side scored any more goals: Dalimbar was desperate to score in order to try drawing the game but had failed attempts resulting in Giovannilandian counterattacks, but the strikers from the Esquadra Nationale failed to capitalize on those chances. In the end, Giovanniland had finally won its first match of the 1st World Cup of Football and now holds the fourth position within Group B, although it must win the last match against Libterraria in order to secure its qualifying chances."
Just after the screen switched from Vanessa in United Adaikes to Karlo Nakamura-Edrense at the Giovannia Sports Studio, viewers were presented with a nice analysis of the possible outcomes of Matchday 5 games and the qualifying teams. Note: asterisks mean that two or more teams could switch depending on other criteria because they have the same points, but they do not decide whether either of these teams qualifies or not. However, double asterisks show scenarios where Giovanniland and Pallandole/Dalimbar would both have 5 points each and be placed on 4th/5th, with the final decision on which team qualifies depending on how bad Giovanniland loses.  
Giovanniland vs. Libterraria Dalimbar vs. Pallandole  Larxia vs. Fhaengshia  Nations Advancing (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th) Giovannilandian win Dalimbari win Larxian win  Larxia, Giovanniland, Dalimbar, Fhaengshia  Draw Larxia/Giovanniland*, Fhaengshia, Dalimbar Fhaengshian win Fhaengshia, Giovanniland, Larxia, Dalimbar Draw or Pallandolean win Larxian win  Larxia, Giovanniland, Fhaengshia, Libterraria  Draw Larxia/Giovanniland*, Fhaengshia, Libterraria Fhaengshian win Fhaengshia, Giovanniland, Larxia, Libterraria Draw Dalimbari win Larxian win Larxia, Libterraria, Dalimbar, Fhaengshia/Giovanniland** Draw Larxia, Fhaengshia, Libterraria, Dalimbar Fhaengshian win Fhaengshia, Larxia, Libterraria, Dalimbar Draw or Pallandolean win Larxian win Larxia, Libterraria, Fhaengshia/Giovanniland* Draw Larxia, Fhaengshia, Libterraria, Giovanniland Fhaengshian win Fhaengshia, Libterraria/Larxia*, Giovanniland Libterrarian win Dalimbari win Larxian win Larxia, Libterraria, Dalimbar, Fhaengshia Draw Libterraria, Larxia, Fhaengshia/Dalimbar* Fhaengshian win Fhaengshia/Libterraria*, Larxia/Dalimbar* Draw Larxian win Larxia, Libterraria, Fhaengshia, Giovanniland/Dalimbar** Draw Libterraria, Larxia, Fhaengshia, Giovanniland/Dalimbar** Fhaengshian win Fhaengshia/Libterraria*, Larxia, Giovanniland/Dalimbar** Pallandolean win Larxian win Larxia, Libterraria, Fhaengshia, Giovanniland/Pallandole** Draw Libterraria, Larxia, Fhaengshia, Giovanniland/Pallandole** Fhaengshian win Fhaengshia/Libterraria*, Larxia, Giovanniland/Pallandole** Karlo then explained: "As you can see, Giovanniland guarantees its place on the knockout rounds simply by winning its last match against Libterraria, without interference from other games' results. If said match results in a draw, Giovanniland can still advance but it depends on the Dalimbari not winning against Pallandole, which is a less optimal scenario since it would depend on other matches. Finally, if Libterraria wins, Giovanniland could still qualify if Dalimbar does not win and Giovanniland does not lose by too many goals, although this scenario depends on too much things going right and thus we'd best avoid it," says Karlo before the football report ends.

"Hello, everyone! From Steskia, United Adaikes, we at Santo-Dominian Cable-Satellite Network Channel 3 bring you live coverage of the 1st World Cup of Football! Our coverage of WCF1 is brought to you by our generous sponsor, +238flowers, because every occasion needs some flowers. I, Approctoflecticus Blubberman, will be your host for the entire duration of WCF1. And we've just received news that the Match Day 4 has concluded and the results have been released to everyone! Let's look at the results and analyse the general situation of the competition. Let's start with Group A and look at this graphic."

"In Group A, we've got some typical matches. In the first match, Teralyon manages to beat the team from Fuentana in a 1-0 victory for them. In the second match, our host country United Adaikes beats the Provisional Auran Team in a 2-1 match that shows just how strong they are. In the third match, Fujai is unable to win against Nagaraningrad and loses in a 0-1 match. Now, let's move on to Group B and look at the next graphic."

"And in Group B, we've got one match that ends in a draw and two that end decisively! In the first match, Fhaengshia and Libterraria are both unable to score more points than each other, and therefore the match results in a 1-1 tie. In the second match, Giovanniland manages to beat strong competitor Dalimbar in a 2-0 victory that shows that nothing is impossible. In the third match, Pallandole is beat in a 1-2 match by Larxia, a major force in Group B. Let's move on Group C now."

"In Group C, we've got no underwhelming ties, and all three matches conclude decisively. In the first match, Irador handily beats the team from Hertfordshire & Jammbo in a shockingly strong 5-1 victory! In the second match, Zoran, one of the better teams from Group C, is beat in a 0-2 match by the underdog players from Reçueçn. In the third match, Italia loses in a 0-3 match to Arifiyyah, one of the leading teams in Group C. Finally, let's move on to Group D and look at the next graphic."

"And in Group D, we've got some pretty decisive matches! In the first match, Badgeria inflicts a crushing defeat on the team from Alchera in a 6-0 match, one of the most lopsided matches we've seen in WCF1! In the second match, our home country Santos-Dominius loses to the strong players from Tara & Cambray in a 0-2 match. Finally, in the third match, Nieubasria manages to pull ahead and win against Dilber in a 4-3 match. Now, let's go over the rankings and review the situation."
"Looking at the rankings, we can see that United Adaikes is the clear leader in Group A, followed closely by their fellow Polaris team from Fujai. Teralyon and Nagaraningrad, however, are also going strong and can possibly race to catch up. Unfortunately, Fuentana and especially the Provisional Auran Team are under threat of elimination and will have to try their very best to reverse their increasingly poor fortunes."
"In Group B, Larxia is leading the pack, followed closely by Fhaengshia and Libterraria. Giovanniland is also doing alright, placing beyond the three teams. Dalimbar, however, has been rocked by poor performance after initial victories and strength, and is now in the bottom two of the bunch together with Pallandole. In Group C, Arifiyyah is the leader with 10 points overall, while Irador is the strongest challenger with 7 points. Zoran, as well as Hertfordshire & Jammbo, are in the middle of the group, with both having 6 points. Reçueçn is behind them with 5 points, but Italia, with 0 points, is almost certainly doomed."
"Finally, in Group D, Tara & Cambray and Badgeria are the two strongest competitors, while Nieubasria and our home country Santos-Dominius are in the middle of the pack. Dilber, rocked by a doping scandal, and Alchera, with only ties and defeats, are almost certainly going to be eliminated, and will have to make a exceptional comeback if they want to have a chance of staying in the competition."
"And that is it for Match Day 4! Congratulations to the leading teams and players, and a 'Good Job' to the teams who are able to hold their own and fend off the threat of elimination. I also give a lot of encouragement to the teams and countries who are performing poorly right now, for I believe that all of the teams believe in the spirit of sportsmanship and fighting till the very end. I'm Approctoflecticus Blubberman, and this was Match Day 4 of the 1st World Cup of Football. Stay tuned to SDCSN Channel 3 for coverage of the WCF, and see you tomorrow!"

Hvar Vi Ikkje Er // Where We Aren't // 1
Mess Hall, KV Sjøfell, Zoradia Harbor
"GO FOR THE SHOT!!! THERE'S NO MORE TIME!!!" Elin screamed, listening to the announcer as Tosin Dawar rush toward the Nagaraningrad goal on the mess radio.
They didn't go for it.
"NOOoo WHY WHY!??!" they yelled again, surrounded by half a dozen similarly yelling Fujar.
Dawar passed to Hellem, and by the time they had gotten close enough for another pass, time was up. Elin slumped down into their chair as the referee called full time at 92 minutes, the others doing the same or beginning to wander the hall in despair. They leaned back in the rickety folding chair and ran their fingers through their hair, sighing loudly.
Hege turned from their seat, "Was the match really that big a deal? I thought were already doing well?"
"Well...yeah but it always helps to have more wins." Elin said, looking at the ceiling, "After the other matches finish today we'll know better how it looks."
"Ahh, alright, everyone was so into it I thought there was more to it," Hege said,
"Well yeah! It's hard not to get into it!" Elin replied, "I know it's not your thing and all, but it's fun to cheer on the team, y'know? To feel a part of something happening across the world."
Hege smiled, "Oh I get it, I'm just more interested in the whole thing except the match itself. The whole world coming together, even in the midst of such hardship, is nice..." They paused, looking into nothing, "Maybe though...the world could be more focused on finding peace here instead of...creating a distraction somewhere else..."
Elin looked down, thinking, and sighed, "Can't say you're wrong there."

Zoranian Times Live!
On the screen Quiyakaso looks disheveled and is covered in white feathers from what can only be assumed to be from the Dilberian seagulls. He sighed before speaking in a monotone voice,
"Hello Zoran, I am Quiyakaso and I am here to report the past few matches because I was too busy being attacked by drugged up seagulls that followed me from Dilber. Now with that out of the way, let's look at the match against Arrifiyah, out team lost 1-0 after a blade in one of the keeper's shoes went off and embedded itself into the field, causing the keeper to fall over and be unable to block the incoming ball. The Zoranian team congratulates Arrifiyah on their victory. Then in last night's match, our team lost to Recuecn 0-2 after our team failed to control the midfield and were defeated by Recuecn's offensive. The team also congratulated Recuecn on their victory, but rumor has it that the NACZ is not pleased with the team's performance or their political statements that they have been making recently. I asked the coach how he felt about the teams performance he replied with a simple shrug. But when asked what he is going to do to ensure the team progresses in the tournament he responded by saying, 'We will win by any means necessary, we aren't just going to beat the team, we are going to decommission them...permanently.' The members of the Zoranian team do not seem to agree with the coach's statement saying that they will play to the best of their abilities and that all they care about in the end is the game and their countrymen."
Quiyakaso pulls out his phone for a second only for it to start filling up with Nieubasrian ads.
"Damn it! This is what happens when I decide to stop paying for ad blockers! Grrr now it will take me hours to close them all out!" 
Quiyakaso continues to grumble about the Nieubasrian ads until the NACZ logo appears on the screen.

President Goldberg announces new passport designs to be rolled out with new citizenship policies
Today, President Paul Goldberg(DCB-FE) announced that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had completed designing new passports for Santo-Dominians. The endeavour, which cost around 675,000 SD Dollars, was completed by the MFA with the help of design and marketing firm DesignSD, famous for employing top students from the University of Friberne's Elaine Ip School of Arts and Design. Senator Diane Hutchison(DCB-YC), Minister of Foreign Affairs, said that the passports would be rolled out by 1422, though she added that expedited production may make widespread distribution possible this year.
Sen. Hutchison explained to reporters that the old passports, adopted after the foundation of the Federal Republic, had become outdated and inconvenient, especially for government officials and diplomats, as their passports were identical with the normal civilian version in terms of appearance and only identifiable by checking the first page. She stated to avoid inconveniences and misunderstandings, there would be three new passports, with one for civilians, a diplomatic passport for diplomats and a service passport for government officials.
The new passports were revealed to be in different colours. The civilian passport would be in a splendid shade of deep purple with gold letters, while the diplomatic passport would be in a much lighter shade of purple with white letters. The service passport was in a shade of burgundy(though some say maroon), Santos-Dominius' unofficial national colour besides the classic dark grey, with letters also in white. The 10-Star Partitioned Shield, the Federal Republic's most recognisable symbol and unofficial coat of arms, is displayed prominently on all three passports.
She also stated that accompanying the new designs would be a new citizenship policy. The Overseas Citizens' Rights Act of 1421, passed the day before yesterday in the National Senate, would introduce a new kind of citizen: the Santo-Dominian Overseas National(SDON). Whereas Santo-Dominians living overseas were traditionally required to completely abandon their citizenship if they stay for over 5 years with less than 10 visits to Santos-Dominius, expats abroad can now apply for SDON and stay indefinitely in foreign countries while still retaining the full rights and privileges afforded to a regular Santo-Dominian citizen living back home. Sen. Hutchison stated that SDON citizens would have to renew their status every five years, with the condition that they must at least stay in Santos-Dominius for an accumulated total time of at least one week every five years.
The new passports, as well as the Overseas Citizens' Rights Act, were generally well-received by most people. Sen. Jeremy Maxson(CLP-WS), former presidential contender, praised the designs of the new passports, calling them "an improvement over the previous, outdated version". Political commentator James Lindsey agreed, saying that the new passports "are miles better in appearance and design". However, Sen. Art Bernstein(CLP-LM) was more critical overall, calling the MFA out for "excessive spending on designing passports while the Santo-Dominian people yearn for better lives". Sen. Bernstein remarked that the cost to have DesignSD create these passports, 675,000 SD Dollars, was an "exorbitant amount of money wasted".
President Goldberg himself stayed notably silent on the matter following the announcement, with the press conference mostly dominated by Sen. Hutchison's explanations. Lindsey noted that this may be a result of his narrow re-election and weakened political standing, stating that since the President was elected on such a tiny margin, he would therefore attempt to avoid partisanship and controversy at all costs in order to solidify popular support for a possible fourth term. Now in the early days of his third term and nearing his later 90s, President Goldberg is known for his political strength and perseverance, which has allowed him to obtain victories, albeit with the thinnest of margins.

(From left to right above: the new civilian passport, the new diplomatic passport, the new service passport)

President Paul R. Goldberg barely wins re-election, beats Sen. Jeremy A. Maxson by razor-thin margin
Today, in what was widely described as the greatest political upset in the history of Santos-Dominius, President Paul Goldberg of the centre-right Democratic Coalition Party(DCB) won re-election, beating an extraordinarily strong and spirited challenge from Senator Jeremy Maxson(WS) of the centre-left Country Liberal Party(CLP), which was heavily favoured to take control of the Fribernese Fortress throughout the entire duration of the campaign. As polling stations opened in the early hours of election day, President Goldberg managed to consistently gain votes at a steady pace as Sen. Maxson underperformed expectations and saw terrible turnout among the mail-in voting demographic, which leans heavily CLP and tends to be counted the earliest.
As the day went on, Sen. Maxson pulled ahead several times as President Goldberg suffered from strong CLP turnout in the battleground swing cantons of Niedersasslen and especially Nordrhuin-Theronigen, where the President's lead shrunk to an abysmal 342 votes in what was called "the tightest cantonal race in all history". Sen. Maxson also suffered from low turnout in left-wing cantons like Lemandie, Framboise and Waldburg-Stadt, as well as voter apathy in important CLP strongholds like the cities of Roivivion, Louisann and Waldburg. At one point, upon looking at the results at a polling station in rural Lemandie, CLP vice presidential candidate Sen. Art Bernstein(LM) exclaimed: "my home canton has abandoned me for the President and the DCB!" Maxson purportedly did the same at his Waldburg home in Waldburg-Stadt, his home canton.
When night fell in Waldburg, the mood at the CLP election headquarters in the city's downtown slowly became sombre. It was becoming crystal clear, at the time, that Sen. Maxson would not be able to catch up to President Goldberg, who finally surpassed him in the popular vote an hour ago at 5pm. Leading in Niedersasslen and narrowly surpassing Sen. Maxson in Nordrhuin-Theronigen, President Goldberg had achieved what seemed impossible only a month ago - winning re-election, albeit by the smallest and thinnest of margins. He is expected to be sworn in, this time for his 3rd term, on February 16th. The final results of this presidential election have been provided below in detail.
Overall Presidential Results
Candidate Party Nat. Senate Canton Incumbency Approx. Votes Approx. Vote Share Paul R. Goldberg[WIN] DCB Friberne(FE) Yes 3,641,749 50.0% Jeremy A. Maxson Sr. CLP Waldburg-Stadt(WS) No 3,640,929 49.9% Presidential Results By Canton
Canton Name Capital Numeral Votes for Pres. Goldberg(DCB) Votes for Sen. Maxson(CLP) Total Votes Framboise(FR) Framboise 1 154,557(38.9%) 242,221(56.5%) 396,778 Friberne(FE) Friberne 2 563,897(71.8%) 220,663(28.1%) 784,560 Neuenstadt(NE) Neuenstadt 3 110,034(55.6%) 87,830(44.3%) 197,864 Pressen(PN) Carindorf 4 116,005(53.2%) 102,048(46.7%) 218,053 Lotharburg(LT) Lotharburg 5 71,812(47.0%) 80,953(52.9%) 152,765 Lemandie(LM) Louisann 6 247,839(37.7%) 408,995(62.2%) 656,834 Roivivion(RO) Roivivion 7 29,485(23.6%) 95,137(76.3%) 124,622 Yatasailie-Comte(YC) Gardewig 8 42,631(42.9%) 56,576(57.0%) 99,207 Sasslen(SA) Sasslen 9 373,041(52.6%) 335,770(47.3%) 708,811 Niedersasslen(NL) Anheit 10 200,558(50.0%) 200,073(49.9%) 400,631 Sasslen-Vorpalain(SV) Rederburg 11 134,547(63.0%) 78,959(36.9%) 213,506 Palain(PL) Palain 12 76,581(52.0%) 70,542(47.9%) 147,123 Ostpalain-Westrhuin(PW) Busselfort 13 287,584(50.3%) 283,655(49.6%) 571,239
Nordrhuin-Theronigen(NR) Arkurter 14 335,162(50.0%) 334,820(49.9%) 669,982 Waldburg-Landschaft(WL) Wilhelmton 15 205,149(48.6%) 216,258(51.3%) 421,407 Waldburg-Stadt(WS) Waldburg 16 137,355(21.4%) 501,795(78.5%) 639,150 Oberandolien(OA) Franzhaven 17 62,209(45.6%) 74,159(54.3%) 136,368 Zentrum-Dominien(ZD) Berchstein 18 59,124(82.2%) 12,781(17.7%) 71,905 Schwabenburg(SH) Schwabenburg 19 425,238(74.8%) 143,055(25.1%) 568,293 St. Arlaine(SN) St. Arlaine 20 8,941(7.0%) 94,639(92.9%) 103,580 Santos-Dominius(SD) Friberne - 3,641,749(50.0%) 3,640,929(49.9%) 7,282,678  

"Hello, everyone! From Steskia, United Adaikes, we at Santo-Dominian Cable-Satellite Network Channel 3 bring you live coverage of the 1st World Cup of Football! Our coverage of WCF1 is brought to you by our generous sponsor, Dominion Philanthropies, a subsidiary of Dominion Bank of Santos-Dominius. I, Approctoflecticus Blubberman, will be your host for the entire duration of WCF1. And we've just received news that the Match Day 3 has concluded and the results have been released to everyone! Let's go over them and analyse the WCF1 situation. Starting with Group A, let's look at this graphic."

"And we're seeing almost the exact opposite of Match Day 2, as Match Day 3 has a lot of victories and only one tie throughout the entire day! In Group A's first match, Fujai manages to cement their status as a leading country in the competition by beating Teralyon in a 3-1 win. In the second match, Nagaraningrad fails to defeat the host country and leading competitor, United Adaikes, with their match ending in a 1-2 loss for the former. In the third match, Fuentana handily wins against the Provisional Auran Team in a splendid 5-0 victory. Now, let's move on to Group B!"

"Just like Group A, Group B also has no matches ending in a draw on Match Day 3! Starting with the first match, Pallandole barely loses to Fhaengshia in a close match that ends with a 2-3 loss for the former. In the second match, Larxia successfully defeats the football team from Giovanniland in a 3-1 victory that puts the latter on the bottom of Group B. In the third match, the strong players from Dalimbar unexpectedly lost to Libterraria in a relatively surprising 0-1 defeat. Now, let's move on to Group C!"

"And in Group C, we also have no matches that end in a tie! Seems like today is quite a decisive day, indeed. In the first match, one between the "I" nations of WCF1, Irador scores a 1-0 victory against Italia, solidifying its place in the competitive field of WCF1. In the second match, Arifiyyah inflicts a 1-0 defeat on the strong nation of Zoran, breaking its consecutive winning streak of 2 matches. In the third match, Hertfordshire & Jammbo's strong performance leads them to victory against their opponents from Reçueçn. Finally, let's move on to Group D!"

"And in Group D, we find the sole match in the entire Match Day 3 that ends in a draw - the first match, where Nieubasria and Alchera both fail to score against each other, resulting in a 0-0 tie. In the second match, our home country of Santos-Dominius pulls ahead of the strong country of Dilber, winning a 1-0 victory against heavy odds. In the third match, the exceptionally strong players from Badgeria are given a wake-up call after losing 0-2 to the currently stronger team from Tara & Cambray! Now, let's review the situation and analyse the current rankings and positions."
"After Match Day 3, in Group A, Fujai and United Adaikes both lead the pack with 7 points overall, while Fuentana and Teralyon are close behind. Nagaraningrad and the Provisional Auran Team are losing, however, and will have to give a strong performance in their upcoming respective matches if they want to stay in the competition. In Group B, Fhaengshia and Libterraria are the best-performing teams currently while Larxia and Dalimbar stand strong in the middle of the pack. Pallandole and Giovanniland, however, on the edge of being eliminated and will have to claw their way back into the competition if they want to win."
"In Group C, Arifiyyah and Hertfordshire & Jammbo are the leading players in the struggle to win WCF1. Zoran and Irador are close behind as well, demonstrating that they are also worthy of victory as well. Reçueçn and Irador, however, are under threat of being eliminated and must do their best if they aspire to survive and thrive. In Group D, Tara & Cambray is the strongest football team, while Badgeria and our home country Santos-Dominius are close behind, with Nieubasria also holding its own against its opponents. Unfortunately, Dilber and Alchera may very well be eliminated from the competition, and will have perform exceptionally in the remaining matches to overtake the aforementioned rivals to take the win."
"And that is it for Match Day 3! Congratulations to the leading teams and players, and a 'Good Job' to the teams who are able to hold their own and fend off the threat of elimination. I also give warm encouragement to the teams and countries who may not be doing so well right now, for they still have a few chances to show their strength and excel in the upcoming matches. I'm Approctoflecticus Blubberman, and this was Match Day 3 of the 1st World Cup of Football. Stay tuned to SDCSN Channel 3 for coverage of the WCF, and see you tomorrow!"

Match Day 4 Results

"Hello, everyone! From Steskia, United Adaikes, we at Santo-Dominian Cable-Satellite Network Channel 3 bring you live coverage of the 1st World Cup of Football! Our coverage of WCF1 is brought to you by our generous sponsor, Dominion Philanthropies, a subsidiary of Dominion Bank of Santos-Dominius. I, Approctoflecticus Blubberman, will be your host for the entire duration of WCF1. And we've just received news that the Match Day 3 has concluded and the results have been released to everyone! Let's go over them and analyse the WCF1 situation. Starting with Group A, let's look at this graphic."

"And we're seeing almost the exact opposite of Match Day 2, as Match Day 3 has a lot of victories and only one tie throughout the entire day! In Group A's first match, Fujai manages to cement their status as a leading country in the competition by beating Teralyon in a 3-1 win. In the second match, Nagaraningrad fails to defeat the host country and leading competitor, United Adaikes, with their match ending in a 1-2 loss for the former. In the third match, Fuentana handily wins against the Provisional Auran Team in a splendid 5-0 victory. Now, let's move on to Group B!"

"Just like Group A, Group B also has no matches ending in a draw on Match Day 3! Starting with the first match, Pallandole barely loses to Fhaengshia in a close match that ends with a 2-3 loss for the former. In the second match, Larxia successfully defeats the football team from Giovanniland in a 3-1 victory that puts the latter on the bottom of Group B. In the third match, the strong players from Dalimbar unexpectedly lost to Libterraria in a relatively surprising 0-1 defeat. Now, let's move on to Group C!"

"And in Group C, we also have no matches that end in a tie! Seems like today is quite a decisive day, indeed. In the first match, one between the "I" nations of WCF1, Irador scores a 1-0 victory against Italia, solidifying its place in the competitive field of WCF1. In the second match, Arifiyyah inflicts a 1-0 defeat on the strong nation of Zoran, breaking its consecutive winning streak of 2 matches. In the third match, Hertfordshire & Jammbo's strong performance leads them to victory against their opponents from Reçueçn. Finally, let's move on to Group D!"

"And in Group D, we find the sole match in the entire Match Day 3 that ends in a draw - the first match, where Nieubasria and Alchera both fail to score against each other, resulting in a 0-0 tie. In the second match, our home country of Santos-Dominius pulls ahead of the strong country of Dilber, winning a 1-0 victory against heavy odds. In the third match, the exceptionally strong players from Badgeria are given a wake-up call after losing 0-2 to the currently stronger team from Tara & Cambray! Now, let's review the situation and analyse the current rankings and positions."
"After Match Day 3, in Group A, Fujai and United Adaikes both lead the pack with 7 points overall, while Fuentana and Teralyon are close behind. Nagaraningrad and the Provisional Auran Team are losing, however, and will have to give a strong performance in their upcoming respective matches if they want to stay in the competition. In Group B, Fhaengshia and Libterraria are the best-performing teams currently while Larxia and Dalimbar stand strong in the middle of the pack. Pallandole and Giovanniland, however, on the edge of being eliminated and will have to claw their way back into the competition if they want to win."
"In Group C, Arifiyyah and Hertfordshire & Jammbo are the leading players in the struggle to win WCF1. Zoran and Irador are close behind as well, demonstrating that they are also worthy of victory as well. Reçueçn and Irador, however, are under threat of being eliminated and must do their best if they aspire to survive and thrive. In Group D, Tara & Cambray is the strongest football team, while Badgeria and our home country Santos-Dominius are close behind, with Nieubasria also holding its own against its opponents. Unfortunately, Dilber and Alchera may very well be eliminated from the competition, and will have perform exceptionally in the remaining matches to overtake the aforementioned rivals to take the win."
"And that is it for Match Day 3! Congratulations to the leading teams and players, and a 'Good Job' to the teams who are able to hold their own and fend off the threat of elimination. I also give warm encouragement to the teams and countries who may not be doing so well right now, for they still have a few chances to show their strength and excel in the upcoming matches. I'm Approctoflecticus Blubberman, and this was Match Day 3 of the 1st World Cup of Football. Stay tuned to SDCSN Channel 3 for coverage of the WCF, and see you tomorrow!"

"Hello, everyone! From Steskia, United Adaikes, we at Santo-Dominian Cable-Satellite Network Channel 3 bring you live coverage of the 1st World Cup of Football! Our coverage of WCF1 is brought to you by our generous sponsor, Dominion Philanthropies, a subsidiary of Dominion Bank of Santos-Dominius. I, Approctoflecticus Blubberman, will be your host for the entire duration of WCF1. And we've just received news that the Match Day 3 has concluded and the results have been released to everyone! Let's go over them and analyse the WCF1 situation. Starting with Group A, let's look at this graphic."

"And we're seeing almost the exact opposite of Match Day 2, as Match Day 3 has a lot of victories and only one tie throughout the entire day! In Group A's first match, Fujai manages to cement their status as a leading country in the competition by beating Teralyon in a 3-1 win. In the second match, Nagaraningrad fails to defeat the host country and leading competitor, United Adaikes, with their match ending in a 1-2 loss for the former. In the third match, Fuentana handily wins against the Provisional Auran Team in a splendid 5-0 victory. Now, let's move on to Group B!"

"Just like Group A, Group B also has no matches ending in a draw on Match Day 3! Starting with the first match, Pallandole barely loses to Fhaengshia in a close match that ends with a 2-3 loss for the former. In the second match, Larxia successfully defeats the football team from Giovanniland in a 3-1 victory that puts the latter on the bottom of Group B. In the third match, the strong players from Dalimbar unexpectedly lost to Libterraria in a relatively surprising 0-1 defeat. Now, let's move on to Group C!"

"And in Group C, we also have no matches that end in a tie! Seems like today is quite a decisive day, indeed. In the first match, one between the "I" nations of WCF1, Irador scores a 1-0 victory against Italia, solidifying its place in the competitive field of WCF1. In the second match, Arifiyyah inflicts a 1-0 defeat on the strong nation of Zoran, breaking its consecutive winning streak of 2 matches. In the third match, Hertfordshire & Jammbo's strong performance leads them to victory against their opponents from Reçueçn. Finally, let's move on to Group D!"

"And in Group D, we find the sole match in the entire Match Day 3 that ends in a draw - the first match, where Nieubasria and Alchera both fail to score against each other, resulting in a 0-0 tie. In the second match, our home country of Santos-Dominius pulls ahead of the strong country of Dilber, winning a 1-0 victory against heavy odds. In the third match, the exceptionally strong players from Badgeria are given a wake-up call after losing 0-2 to the currently stronger team from Tara & Cambray! Now, let's review the situation and analyse the current rankings and positions."
"After Match Day 3, in Group A, Fujai and United Adaikes both lead the pack with 7 points overall, while Fuentana and Teralyon are close behind. Nagaraningrad and the Provisional Auran Team are losing, however, and will have to give a strong performance in their upcoming respective matches if they want to stay in the competition. In Group B, Fhaengshia and Libterraria are the best-performing teams currently while Larxia and Dalimbar stand strong in the middle of the pack. Pallandole and Giovanniland, however, on the edge of being eliminated and will have to claw their way back into the competition if they want to win."
"In Group C, Arifiyyah and Hertfordshire & Jammbo are the leading players in the struggle to win WCF1. Zoran and Irador are close behind as well, demonstrating that they are also worthy of victory as well. Reçueçn and Irador, however, are under threat of being eliminated and must do their best if they aspire to survive and thrive. In Group D, Tara & Cambray is the strongest football team, while Badgeria and our home country Santos-Dominius are close behind, with Nieubasria also holding its own against its opponents. Unfortunately, Dilber and Alchera may very well be eliminated from the competition, and will have perform exceptionally in the remaining matches to overtake the aforementioned rivals to take the win."
"And that is it for Match Day 3! Congratulations to the leading teams and players, and a 'Good Job' to the teams who are able to hold their own and fend off the threat of elimination. I also give warm encouragement to the teams and countries who may not be doing so well right now, for they still have a few chances to show their strength and excel in the upcoming matches. I'm Approctoflecticus Blubberman, and this was Match Day 3 of the 1st World Cup of Football. Stay tuned to SDCSN Channel 3 for coverage of the WCF, and see you tomorrow!"

"Hello, everyone! From Steskia, United Adaikes, we at Santo-Dominian Cable-Satellite Network Channel 3 bring you live coverage of the 1st World Cup of Football! Our coverage of WCF1 is brought to you by our generous sponsor, Dominion Philanthropies, a subsidiary of Dominion Bank of Santos-Dominius. I, Approctoflecticus Blubberman, will be your host for the entire duration of WCF1. And we've just received news that the Match Day 3 has concluded and the results have been released to everyone! Let's go over them and analyse the WCF1 situation. Starting with Group A, let's look at this graphic."

"And we're seeing almost the exact opposite of Match Day 2, as Match Day 3 has a lot of victories and only one tie throughout the entire day! In Group A's first match, Fujai manages to cement their status as a leading country in the competition by beating Teralyon in a 3-1 win. In the second match, Nagaraningrad fails to defeat the host country and leading competitor, United Adaikes, with their match ending in a 1-2 loss for the former. In the third match, Fuentana handily wins against the Provisional Auran Team in a splendid 5-0 victory. Now, let's move on to Group B!"

"Just like Group A, Group B also has no matches ending in a draw on Match Day 3! Starting with the first match, Pallandole barely loses to Fhaengshia in a close match that ends with a 2-3 loss for the former. In the second match, Larxia successfully defeats the football team from Giovanniland in a 3-1 victory that puts the latter on the bottom of Group B. In the third match, the strong players from Dalimbar unexpectedly lost to Libterraria in a relatively surprising 0-1 defeat. Now, let's move on to Group C!"

"And in Group C, we also have no matches that end in a tie! Seems like today is quite a decisive day, indeed. In the first match, one between the "I" nations of WCF1, Irador scores a 1-0 victory against Italia, solidifying its place in the competitive field of WCF1. In the second match, Arifiyyah inflicts a 1-0 defeat on the strong nation of Zoran, breaking its consecutive winning streak of 2 matches. In the third match, Hertfordshire & Jammbo's strong performance leads them to victory against their opponents from Reçueçn. Finally, let's move on to Group D!"

"And in Group D, we find the sole match in the entire Match Day 3 that ends in a draw - the first match, where Nieubasria and Alchera both fail to score against each other, resulting in a 0-0 tie. In the second match, our home country of Santos-Dominius pulls ahead of the strong country of Dilber, winning a 1-0 victory against heavy odds. In the third match, the exceptionally strong players from Badgeria are given a wake-up call after losing 0-2 to the currently stronger team from Tara & Cambray! Now, let's review the situation and analyse the current rankings and positions."
"After Match Day 3, in Group A, Fujai and United Adaikes both lead the pack with 7 points overall, while Fuentana and Teralyon are close behind. Nagaraningrad and the Provisional Auran Team are losing, however, and will have to give a strong performance in their upcoming respective matches if they want to stay in the competition. In Group B, Fhaengshia and Libterraria are the best-performing teams currently while Larxia and Dalimbar stand strong in the middle of the pack. Pallandole and Giovanniland, however, on the edge of being eliminated and will have to claw their way back into the competition if they want to win."
"In Group C, Arifiyyah and Hertfordshire & Jammbo are the leading players in the struggle to win WCF1. Zoran and Irador are close behind as well, demonstrating that they are also worthy of victory as well. Reçueçn and Irador, however, are under threat of being eliminated and must do their best if they aspire to survive and thrive. In Group D, Tara & Cambray is the strongest football team, while Badgeria and our home country Santos-Dominius are close behind, with Nieubasria also holding its own against its opponents. Unfortunately, Dilber and Alchera may very well be eliminated from the competition, and will have perform exceptionally in the remaining matches to overtake the aforementioned rivals to take the win."
"And that is it for Match Day 3! Congratulations to the leading teams and players, and a 'Good Job' to the teams who are able to hold their own and fend off the threat of elimination. I also give warm encouragement to the teams and countries who may not be doing so well right now, for they still have a few chances to show their strength and excel in the upcoming matches. I'm Approctoflecticus Blubberman, and this was Match Day 3 of the 1st World Cup of Football. Stay tuned to SDCSN Channel 3 for coverage of the WCF, and see you tomorrow!"

"Hello Giovanniland! Here's your host for the 1st World Cup of Football, Vanessa Desniana, bringing you more news about this tournament directly from Steskia, United Adaikes. Unfortunately, the news I have to deliver is not good for any Giovannilandian watching either at home or here in United Adaikes: our team has lost the match against Larxia and is now placed last in Group B." 
"The game started with a goal by striker Gustavo Zapata after 15 minutes of fierce attempts by both sides. However, this was probably the only good part of the match for Giovannilandians because the Larxian team scored just 3 minutes after and drew the game. The score did not change for the remainder of the first half, despite more attempts by Giovanniland and Larxia." Vanessa then stops talking in order to show both goals scored in the first half, and some other close goal attempts and defenses. She then continues, "Larxia then scored 12 minutes into the second half, and a third Larxian goal happened near the end, which settled the final score and relegated Giovanniland to the last place in Group B."
Karlo Nakamura-Edrense then appears on the screen from the Giovannia Sports Studio. "This was yet another retrospective for another 1st World Cup of Football matchday, and I will now be exploring the chances Giovanniland has in order to qualify even with only two draws and one loss so far. In other Matchday 3 games of Group B, Fhaengshia and Pallandole had a close match but the former won by one point, putting them first in the group, whereas the match between Dalimbar and Libterraria resulted in a 1-0 win for the latter. Now thinking about the future, Giovanniland still has matches against the Libterrarians and Dalimbari in Matchdays 4 and 5 respectively, and our team should ideally win both or else risk elimination."

Match Day 3 Results

"Hello, everyone! From Steskia, United Adaikes, we at Santo-Dominian Cable-Satellite Network Channel 3 bring you live coverage of the 1st World Cup of Football! Our coverage of WCF1 is brought to you by our generous sponsor, the Santo-Dominian Embassy here in United Adaikes! I, Approctoflecticus Blubberman, will be your host for the entire duration of WCF1. And we're here with the coaches of the National Football Team of our very own Santos-Dominius, Mr Paul von Kluger and Mr Arthur Hinterland! Hello, coaches!"
"Hello, Blubberman. Paul and I are glad to be here."
"Now, coaches, I believe you've heard of the recent allegations concerning the Dilberian team's doping scandal. These are bombshell accusations, and foreign media and governments, including the likes of Nieubasria as well as Tara & Cambray have paid close attention to this story. What is your opinion on this scandal, Mr von Kluger, and what is your general opinion on the Dilberian team, whom our Santo-Dominian players will eventually have to face off against?"
"Well, Blubberman, I am appalled by these recent allegations. WCF1 is a world-class international sports event, and in participating, I believe all players agree to abide to the rules and make this competition a fair and balanced one, with the result decided purely by talent. I sincerely hope that the WCF will not be mired by doping and cheating regardless of the outcome or truth of this scandal, and I hope that the Dilberians themselves will give us, as well as the organisers, the truth so we can all leave this behind."
"Indeed. Let's not dwell on negative things. In much better news, our National Football Team has won a 4-0 match against the nation of Alchera! Yay! Mr Hinterland, as one of the coaches of the team, what do you think helped our players win such a decisive victory?"
"Well, it's gotta be the unity in our team. Us Santo-Dominians have always had a unique bond with each other, and that bond is also very strong between our players. Although our players come from different places and speak three very different languages - Common, Santosian, Dominish - we still are united by our love for our country and for football. I believe that this bond and this unbreakable friendship showed in the match and was the deciding factor in our victory."
"That's inspiring. As Match Day 2 nears, I think all of the players regardless of teams are training very hard in preparation for the upcoming matches against opponents. As one of the coaches, Mr von Kluger, will you tell us what the Santo-Dominian team is doing right now in preparation for the next matches?"
"Well, we just finished an hour-long training session. Of course, our players were given some time to rest after the match with Alchera, but we cannot become complacent if we are to win the WCF and take gold. Arthur and I have been developing new strategies and tactics and learning from some of our future opponents, including the Dilberian team's innovative 'crab formation', which we find very interesting. We also did some friendship exercises with the team to strengthen the team bond Arthur just mentioned."
"Wonderful! Now, I know that both of you are very busy, so I shan't occupy your time any further. Thank you, Mr von Kluger and Mr Hinterland, for agreeing to this interview. I am the host, Approctoflecticus Blubberman, and this has been an exclusive interview with the two coaches of the National Football Team, Paul von Kluger and Arthur Hinterland! Stay tuned to SDCSN Channel 3 for live and full coverage of the entire WCF1 and see you on Match Day 2! Goodbye!"

As the camera pans to the courtyard in front of the WCF stadium, Blubberman is seen silently weeping. As the camera pans closer and closer to him, he takes out a handkerchief, wipes his tears and puts on a fake smile before facing the camera and beginning his monologue.
"Hello, everyone! From Steskia, United Adaikes, we at Santo-Dominian Cable-Satellite Network Channel 3 bring you live coverage of the 1st World Cup of Football! Our coverage of WCF1 is brought to you by our generous sponsor, Überschuss Automobiles! I, Approctoflecticus Blubberman, will be your host for the entire duration of WCF1. And we've just received news that the results for Match Day 2 are in! Let's get to looking at and analysing them. Starting with Group A! Let's look at these graphics."

"It seems that Match Day 2 is mostly indecisive for Group A! Teralyon prevails over the footballers from K66, resulting in a comeback win of 3-2! Other than that match, however, every other Group A match ends in a tie! Both Fuentana v. Nagaraningrad as well as United Adaikes v. Fujai end in a 1-1 tie, with all four teams being unable to score more than their respective opponents. It seems that they are all quite skilled at preventing each other from scoring. Haha!"

"And as we move on to Group B, we see that the craziness continues! All Group B matches on Match Day 2 end in ties! In the first match, Fhaengshia and Dalimbar are both unable to score more points than the other. The same can be said for the second match between Libterraria and Larxia. These two matches both end in a 1-1 tie. In the third match, both Giovanniland and Pallandole are unable to score any points at all! Therefore, that match ends in a 0-0 draw. Nobody wins in Group B!"

"The situation is slightly better in Group C. In the first match, both Irador and Reçueçn are unable to win any points, resulting in a 0-0 tie. In the second match, Hertfordshire and Jammbo loses a 2-3 match to Arifiyyah, with their losing margin being exactly same as the winning margin that they had for their victory against Italia yesterday. In the third match, the war-torn nation of Zoran extends its one-day victory streak and wins against Italia in a 1-0 win!"

As the graphic for Group D shows up, Blubberman starts tearing up, but takes out his handkerchief again, wipes the teardrops again, and resumes his monologue with the fake smile on.
"And in Group D, we have the exact opposite of Group B! All Group B matches on Match Day 2 end in victories and defeats depending on which side you're on, with no matches ending in a draw. In the first match, Alchera continues its unfortunate losing streak, with Tara and Cambray scoring a 2-0 victory against them. In the second match, Badgeria continues its strong performance and dominates the match against Dilber, winning a 2-0 victory. In the third match, Santos-Domini...Santo..."
Blubberman struggles to deliver the bad news. A producer comes into view, rushing to pat Blubberman on the back. Blubberman then resumes his monologue.
"In the third match, our country, Santos-Dominius, loses against Nieubasria in a 0-1 match. Truly a sad defeat. Now, let's go over the general situation of the teams as the dust settles after Match Day 2."
"In Group A, Fujai and host country United Adaikes, both from Polaris, take the lead! Teralyon and Nagaraningrad are also doing fine. K66 and Fuentana, however, will need to put in more effort and make comebacks if they are to stay in the competition and win. In Group B, Dalimbar is the clear leader in terms of overall points, while Fhaengshia, Giovanniland, Libterraria and Pallandole all hold their own. Larxia, however, must fight back if it wants to survive and thrive in WCF1."
"In Group C, Zoran and Arifiyyah are leading the pack, while Reçueçn and Hertfordshire & Jammbo are also doing pretty well. Irador and Italia, however, are under the threat of elimination and must win the upcoming matches to increase their chances of staying in the competition. In Group D, Badgeria continues to dominate with its strong performance, while Tara & Cambray is close behind. Our home country of Santos-Dominius and our opponent today, Nieubasria, are on equal footing. Dilber, rocked by the doping scandal, is doing poorly, and the same can be said for the team from Alchera. Both must claw back if they want to take gold."
"And that's it for Match Day 2! Congratulations to the winners and the leading teams! I also want to applaud the teams that are holding their own and doing well, though they might not be ahead of everyone else at the moment. As for the defeated teams, it's still not too late to make a grand comeback! I'm Approctoflecticus Blubberman, and this was Match Day 2 of the 1st World Cup of Football. Stay tuned to SDCSN Channel 3 for coverage of the WCF, and see you tomorrow!"
As the camera pans away from Blubberman, he is seen weeping and bursting into tears as he whips out his handkerchief. The screen then goes back to the SDCSN Broadcasting Centre and the sponsor screen shows.