Post by Lombardy und Venetien on Apr 16, 2014 13:55:54 GMT
Ah yes, the time is upon us again, the FIFA World Cup looms ever more imminent, and as such, the need for a sweepstake grows stronger. This doesn't come around very often, so get involved!
Each SLU nation selects a number from 1 to 32 and posts it here, with each number being allocated to a real-life nation's national football team. There are 32 teams to choose, and as such, if the number of participants exceeds 32, we'll pair up nations. There will be prizes for champions, runners-up, and 3rd/4th place. Avaerilon and I have the randomly numbered list of teams between us, so I can't be evil and fiddle the numbers. Obviously I could still fiddle them and choose the best team, which is why I won't be choosing my number - you the people will!
!!!!PRIZES!!!!
Avaerilon has very kindly agreed to produce prizes for the winners, which are as follows:
Champions - Custom map of nation and Coat of Arms
Runners up - Coat of Arms
3rd Place - Nation Seal and Custom Flag
4th Place - Custom Flag (either national, military, or something else)
Avaeliron is our resident (and very talented!) vexillographer, cartographer, and heraldic designer. For examples of his work, see Goncar's flag, the SLU regional map, and his own coat of arms.
If you're unfamiliar with the World Cup and/or its format, I shall summarise.
The tournament itself: Every (or nearly every) country in the world has a national association football (*sigh* soccer) team, each included in the FIFA World Rankings, from 1st ranked, and current world champions, Spain, to 207th placed Turks and Caicos Islands. All these teams complete in regional qualifying stages (Africa, Europe, South America, etc) with the ultimate aim of qualifying for the quadrennial FIFA World Cup - arguably (because of course there'll be some debate) the most prestigious prize in world sport.
Format: Qualified teams are put into pools based on their FIFA World Ranking, and 8 groups (A-H) are drawn from these pools. The top two from each group qualify for the Second Round, or Round of 16. Similarly, before the draw for the second round, there are two pools: one made up of group winners; one of runners-up. Beyond this round, it is a simple knockout competition until the final. Losing semi-finalists enter the 3rd/4th place play off.
List of teams competing:
GROUP A
Brazil (hosts) - United Democracy of Scientists
Croatia - Anaaxes
Mexico
Cameroon
GROUP B
Spain (champions) - Avaerilon
Netherlands - Northern Inertia
Chile
Australia - Kanoria
GROUP C
Colombia - Millyland
Greece
Côte d'Ivoire - the Golden Mean
Japan - the Hulls
GROUP D
Uruguay
Costa Rica
England
Italy - Westerheim
GROUP E
Switzerland - The Jasminia Islands
Ecuador
France
Honduras
GROUP F
Argentina
Bosnia and Herzegovina - Eggy216
Iran
Nigeria
GROUP G
Germany - Grolsch
Portugal - Feebland
Ghana
USA
GROUP H
Belgium - Ceni
Algeria - Schwarznia
Russia
Korea Republic
Anyhoo, get choosing with those numbers! (1-32, remember)
Each SLU nation selects a number from 1 to 32 and posts it here, with each number being allocated to a real-life nation's national football team. There are 32 teams to choose, and as such, if the number of participants exceeds 32, we'll pair up nations. There will be prizes for champions, runners-up, and 3rd/4th place. Avaerilon and I have the randomly numbered list of teams between us, so I can't be evil and fiddle the numbers. Obviously I could still fiddle them and choose the best team, which is why I won't be choosing my number - you the people will!
!!!!PRIZES!!!!
Avaerilon has very kindly agreed to produce prizes for the winners, which are as follows:
Champions - Custom map of nation and Coat of Arms
Runners up - Coat of Arms
3rd Place - Nation Seal and Custom Flag
4th Place - Custom Flag (either national, military, or something else)
Avaeliron is our resident (and very talented!) vexillographer, cartographer, and heraldic designer. For examples of his work, see Goncar's flag, the SLU regional map, and his own coat of arms.
If you're unfamiliar with the World Cup and/or its format, I shall summarise.
The tournament itself: Every (or nearly every) country in the world has a national association football (*sigh* soccer) team, each included in the FIFA World Rankings, from 1st ranked, and current world champions, Spain, to 207th placed Turks and Caicos Islands. All these teams complete in regional qualifying stages (Africa, Europe, South America, etc) with the ultimate aim of qualifying for the quadrennial FIFA World Cup - arguably (because of course there'll be some debate) the most prestigious prize in world sport.
Format: Qualified teams are put into pools based on their FIFA World Ranking, and 8 groups (A-H) are drawn from these pools. The top two from each group qualify for the Second Round, or Round of 16. Similarly, before the draw for the second round, there are two pools: one made up of group winners; one of runners-up. Beyond this round, it is a simple knockout competition until the final. Losing semi-finalists enter the 3rd/4th place play off.
List of teams competing:
GROUP A
Brazil (hosts) - United Democracy of Scientists
Croatia - Anaaxes
Mexico
Cameroon
GROUP B
Spain (champions) - Avaerilon
Netherlands - Northern Inertia
Chile
Australia - Kanoria
GROUP C
Colombia - Millyland
Greece
Côte d'Ivoire - the Golden Mean
Japan - the Hulls
GROUP D
Uruguay
Costa Rica
England
Italy - Westerheim
GROUP E
Switzerland - The Jasminia Islands
Ecuador
France
Honduras
GROUP F
Argentina
Bosnia and Herzegovina - Eggy216
Iran
Nigeria
GROUP G
Germany - Grolsch
Portugal - Feebland
Ghana
USA
GROUP H
Belgium - Ceni
Algeria - Schwarznia
Russia
Korea Republic
Anyhoo, get choosing with those numbers! (1-32, remember)
