29-01-2003 04:10									#61
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Matzania-Falangusta 2-3 (1-2)

Honorable Result
"The outcome of the game does not - however - reflect the overwhelming discrepancy between the teams. We can thank ourgoalkeeper for not having run into a debacle."
Matzanian Voice

RNFAR-Pasiphae 1-1(0-0)


"Tie in group B
A rather boring game with few highlights and a just draw."
Matzanian Voice

	29-01-2003 10:24									#62
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I'm not worried by the draw. We're here to learn and that we are.

	29-01-2003 11:16									#63
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The Antioch Crusaders would like to join the AFA.

	29-01-2003 18:45									#64
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The King of Falangusta would like to thank Matzania for its fair play and competitiveness. Our team is eager to find you again on the playfields, and we sincerely hope to have a great, spectacular match once again, for the glory of Sport !

	29-01-2003 20:05									#65
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Interview of Federico Tacconi, goalkeeper and captain of the Wine National Team

Did you watched yerstuday games?
Yes sure
What do you think about our next rivals?
Falangusta?, Well they surely played a very good game yerstuday, they play a very aggressive football and it is hard to get past their strong midfielders, however they defense seems to do a lot of mistakes when they receive pressing.
What do you plan to do?
Well, as I already said, and as we have already agreed with the coach, we are going to have a very short team, and our defensive players are going to press against their midfield, and to help out our own a little bit. Also, as the Falangustan players don't seem to be very fast, maybe we can get past them by doing a series of short and fast little passagges, triangles and "1-2".
What do you think about Matzania, are they out of the game?
Of course not, we don't have to forget that Matzania is the hosting team, and as such they have support from all their country. Plus yerstuday I saw that the Matzanian goalkeeper was incredibly good, he really did a miracle on that free kick that he saved on the 24th of the first half. And their main striker proved to be in good shape, as he managed to score 2 goals against Falangusta, the second one from a very difficult position.
I think they just had a bad day, although probably their big problem stand on their defense, and most of all on their midfielders, for a second I thought that the Matzanian number 8 was playing for Falangusta, as he gave a superb assist to the Falangustan striker on the occasion of the second goal.
But as I just said, probably Matzania just had an unlucky day, I know they have a strong football tradition, and even if now they didn't played much good they are still very dangerous.
It's gonna be a very tough tournament I think.

Saluti

	29-01-2003 23:11									#66
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Even though the Matzanian squad had a bad start into the tournament, football fever has reached dimensions never thought possible. "Even if Matzania will perform only modestly in this tournament, there's hundreds of enthusiastic young people who once could be the basis for a strong squad within the next 10 years, it's a huge success." says Rudolf Rottenbacher, president of the MFB.
For today's match, the Petzi Stadion will be filled to the last seat. Rumors say, that our dear leader, President Wernazuma, will also come to watch the game.
4000 of the 70000 spectators will be supporters of the away team, the Kingdom of Wine. Whether their fans will be disciplined and abstain from stripping of their cloths can not be said. Colonel Wagnes from the Matzanian police issues a call to all Matzanian fans: "All in all we can only hope that our own fans won't provoque and chant stupid choruses. Lamentably, some of them don't understand that different traditions have to be respected and not used for discriminating or even hateful propaganda."

	30-01-2003 03:00									#67
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Kingdom of Wine-Matzania 0-1 (0-1)

Victory!
One great shot from 25m distance by Matzania's topscorer Gerald Smola already in minute 38 was enough to beat an astoundingly weak team from Wine. In the second half the game was dead. Matzania concentrated on defending, but the attackers of Wine didn't even come close to a goal, their attacks ended at the 16m line.


Uberlandia-RNFAR 1-2 (0-0)

RNFAR in 2nd round
With their victory over Uberlandia, RNFAR marched on to the semifinals. The match was played on a high technical level but there was also an excess of foul play. In minute 46, right after the change, the right defender of RNFAR had to leave the field with a red card after having attacked very hard from behind.
But even with 10 players, RNFAR was the better team and they really deserved the winning goal out of a free kick in minute 78.

	30-01-2003 03:42									#68
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Greater Mongolia wishes to join the AFA as well, but as a lowest level starting football nation.

Ball sports are totally unheard of in Mongolia, but to take part in these festivities, it sends a team of Taoist monks to represent our nation. Upon arrival they finally get to see what a "football" actually looks like. Unfortunately, the game rule book wasn't available in Mongolian, so they'll have to find those out on the go.

	30-01-2003 22:13									#69
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The Wine team performance was commented by King Giovanni as "the worst I ever saw".

He declaalso declared that the team will better win or at least play well, in the match against Falangusta, or next year the football association will be left with no fundings.

The Wine National Team, have been training since the Matzanian game till now, and nothing was given to the press.

In other news, the Matzanian police today arrested two Wine supporters which were running around the streets naked and completely drunk.
The two men were sent back to Wine where their passport was taken and it will be given back to them after 10 years.

Saluti

	31-01-2003 00:30									#70
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Falangusta-Kingdom of Wine
Pasiphae-Uberlandia

Day of decisions
Today's the day of decisions in the Matzanian Friendship Tournament. The Kingdom of Wine needs a good victory if they still want to remain in the tournament. Even a 1-0 or 2-1 would be too little. Although every team would have one win and an equal goal difference, Wine would have scored less goals than the other teams. Even with a 3-2, Matzania would advance because it won the direct match between the two teams. But in the meanwhile the Matzanian team can do nothing but wait and hope. All in all, our chances are not bad. If Falangusta wins or in the case of a draw, we're up. If Wine wins with 2 goals difference, Falangusta will have to fly home. The only chances that Matzania will not advance automatically are 4-3 or 5-4 victory for Wine.
The emotions in the Kingdom of Wine seem to be quite high, king Giovanni was very shocked at the outcome of the match. Although publically the Winian team had stated their "respect for a good team" everything but a victory was not even considered a possibility. "As I know the dramatic character of Winians, their parliament will come together tomorrow to make January 29th a national memorial day" said Markus Gantler, head of the 'Matzanian Patriots' fan club.

	31-01-2003 22:19									#71
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Falangusta-Kingdom of Wine (1-1) 1-3 [

One great half safes Wine!
After their defeat against Matzania, the first half of the match against Falangusta was nothing better for Wine.
Wine already scored the 1-0 in the 5th minute but since then, there was only Falangusta playing.
The equalizer in minute 38 was more than deserved! Wine can thank the referee, who overlooked a clear foul in the penalty area.
The trainer of Wine must have said some hard words in the break, because the team was a completely different one in half two.
Good direct and fast play through the center made the defense of Falangusta tumble and fall.
If Wine continues to play on this level, they're a hot tip for winning the tournament.
Falangusta is out, despite their victory over Matzania and having the same amount of points as the other teams.

Table A:
1. Kingdom of Wine 1 0 1 3 3-2
2. Matzania 1 0 1 3 3-3
3. Falangusta 1 0 1 3 4-5

Pasiphae-Uberlandia (2-2) 2-3

Table B:
1. RNFAR 1 1 0 4 3-2
2. Uberlandia 1 0 1 3 4-4
3. Pasiphae 0 1 1 1 3-4


Semi-Finals:

RNFAR-Matzania
Wine-Uberlandia

	01-02-2003 03:16									#72
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The Gazzete of Sport
Bringing sport to your home

The Wine senate have decided, after the great victory of the National team against Falangusta, to make tomorrow a holyday for everybody, therefore all factories... including the Automobile Factory will be closed, together with all businesses and everything.

People are running and chantings on the streets of Wine for the happiness and somebody have even raised an issue to the senate as to dedicate a monument to our striker, Alessandro Del Piero, in the main square of Barolo, near the monument dedicated to the great musician Verdi.
The senate laughed about the proposals and answered that "we will consider it".

Some people claim that during the break between the first half and the second one, the King himself phoned to the team and encouraged them to win, we don't know it's true, but we know for sure that the King started screaming for the joy after the 2nd goal of Del Piero, when he realized the goal for the 1-3.

Saluti

	02-02-2003 03:07									#73
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RNFAR-Matzania 2-1 (0-0)
Wine-Uberlandia 4-2 (2-0)


No surprises in the semi finals

Although it's a pitty not to stand in the finals, the outcome of the semifinals was no surprise. The Matzanian team performed well in the tournament, with even a victory over the favorites from Wine. Uberlandia had to pay tribute to the strain of the tournament and their intensive schedule in their national league and seemed tired and exhausted.
Nevertheless they showed that the defense from Wine is vulnerable. At standard situations like corners and cross balls, they sometimes look even amateurish.

	02-02-2003 04:09									#74
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Okay, our team is now ready to play. Ready to win, however? Not necessarily. But one thing is for sure -- no violent fans.

Ready to play wherever there's an opening.

	02-02-2003 17:33									#75
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The Kingdom of Wine can be best decribed as a huge party nation, after the victory of the Wine team against Uberlandia, people chantings and drinking can be spotted everywhere in the streets of Wine.

Many people are noew positive that the final victory will be awarded to Del Piero and his team mates, but the coach of Wine, Marcello Lippi commented:

"RNFAR is a very strong team, and we must not forget that they won against Matzania, wich they defeated us, it won't be an easy game at all, and the mistakes that our defence showed in the match with Ubelandia are not a good thing at all"

Also King Giovanni which appears to be a great football fan is on the same line of thinking of coach Lippi

"RNFAR is a solid team, and personally I think that coming to the final round, after the big disappointment we had last year, is still a very good achievment"

Saluti

	02-02-2003 21:27									#76
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Uberlandia's hopes are crushed, but the country is glad to have reached the semi-finals in their first tournament. All over the country, children and teens are joining youth leagues. In a few years, Uberlandia will be a power, but for now its people are content to have scored against Wine.

	03-02-2003 00:50									#77
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Don't forget that your team still has the chance to get the bronze medal in the tournament today in the game against Matzania.

	03-02-2003 03:59									#78
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Matzania-Uberlandia 3-1 (2-1)

RNFAR-Wine 2-3 OT (2-1; 2-2)

Dramatic Final!

It was a match we won't forget so fast. Two different football philosophies clashed on the field. While Wine was dominant in technics and passing, the team from RNFAR engaged in a very rough play, quick play and with high cross balls. In the first half, RNFAR had the upper hand. Additionally, they were aided a bit by the referee who decided a regular goal of Del Piero to be offside. The heavy protests of the Winian trainer led to his banning - he had to watch the rest of the game from the tribune. But what he saw surely has pleased him! The second half was all for his team and the equalizer more than deserved. In the overtime it didn't take long until Del Piero - who else - scored the decisive goal.
However, there was a sad highlight after the game, when some 200 fans from Wine couldn't keep themselves under control and performed a strip in open public. Although some Matzanian women are reported to have been delighted at the sight, the police wanted to arrest them. There was some unrest, when those fans kept accusing the Matzanian police force to be prude philistines and claimed their right to (not) dress as they see fit. They are detained now in the Matzanian state prison and face their deportation to Wine. Diplomats from Wine have issued concern about possible maltreatment of the fans by police officers. The Matzanian minister of security has ordered an immediate investigation.

	04-02-2003 18:42									#79
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The Kingdom of Wine thanks the Matzanian government for the good organization of the games, and we hope that our two teams will be able to meet each other many other times.

About the Winian supporters who were arrested, they are now facing a 3 months ban from the Stadium, and their passport have been taken away for 10 years, with the accuse of "disrespect of foreign cultures" which is one of the highest crime here in the Kingdom of Wine.

Saluti
Foreign Minister: Count Gianfranco Donati da Casale Monferrato
Prime Minister: Gran Duke Francesco Morelli da Pinerolo
Head of State: King Giovanni Bennati da Moncalieri

	05-02-2003 00:09									#80
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The Matzanian government thanks king Giovanni and his cabinet for the good cooperation during the tournament and we also looks forward to future events. The claims of some tifosi from Wine about maltreatment have been proven false accusations and all the police officers involved in the case are on duty again. Nevertheless, Amnesty International in its yearly report will include this case among "possible violations of human rights". The Matzanian government is happy though that the authorities from Wine have come to the same conclusion after our officials have handed all relevant material for a check. This will surely help our efforts to make police cooperation between the countries even more efficient. We should aim to sign a bilateral security treaty.

Saluti