[Nogrod]

It was time then! For suitability and availability, and not the least for the excellent feedback from last year’s semifinals it was Minas Tirith that was chosen by the AFA to host the finals this year.

After the renovations to make it suitable to the finals, the marvellous Stadia Anor located right beside the gates of the great city now boasted with 115 000 seats, with more luxury loges, more fast food dealers and beer-vendors at the stadium as well as on the Pelennor fields beside it; but there were now also more exquisite parlors in the bowels of the giant stadium for the very VIP’s with velvet couches and silken clothes, drinks with ice and live music for pre- and post-game enjoyment. And the rows of benches nearest to the field itself were dragged forwards just less than two meters from the side- and end lines of the pitch – leaving room only for a chain of low add-stands to separate the players and the first row audiences.

There were a host of visitors coming to the finals from all corners of the Middle-Earth and from the West as well – but the Minas Tirithians remembered last year’s football frenzy as well and flocked to the box-offices as soon as the ticket sales opened. As a result the price of tickets just sky-rocketed in the black-market a few days before the matches. It was going to be a party of the year. Those left without a ticket would have their parties on the Pelennor fields in front of two giant-screens sending live picture from the game from the beginning to the end.

For the Minas Tirithians there were to be many familiar players in the pitch this year. The team Armenelos was almost the same it was last year – albeit for Sauron, who had indeed played there anyway, only on team T-I-G. So the people were a bit less disturbed with his presence this year. Team Hithlum had been there the last year as well, even if only two players of the team (namely Fingon and Fingolfin) remained, but as the team was built this year on the solid structure of the Formenos team that had beaten the T-I-G on that very same arena last year, people were just thrilled: the same “killer trio” in the front; Aredhel, Maedhros and Fëanor, the same reliable and heroic Huan at the goal… It was soo great!




On the day before the matches a great press conference was held at the press lounge of the stadium and the selected representatives of the teams were gathered together with the representatives of local organiser and the AFA to answer the questions by the top football-journalists of Arda. Let’s look at some highlights of that event.


Armenelos Times: King Felagund, knowing you as “the friend of men” in the ME, do you think you were picked to represent your team here to gain support from the home crowd against Armenelos – would Fëanor just have been too fiery to give a bad impression of your relations to humans, as he surely was the one we all waited for to see here today? And how is it with your team’s spirit, you’re after all a motley crue of ex-Formenos players with some other outsiders like you yourself and only two former Hithlum team players… seeing also that Húrin indeed signed up with the Angband team this year?

Finrod Felagund: Now it’s not worthy of a king to answer mal-directed questions but my half-uncle is indeed concentrating to the game and I felt relaxed enough to take this position. What comes to the team-spirit, well there’s nothing to complain. You know, with my uncle, cousins and half-cousins it’s just great to play and spend time with them after years with no see. And Ulmo has been a rare treat, you’re not seeing him in the scoreboards but he surely gives leadership in the lockers.

Hador’s House Journal: But wasn’t that kind of a coup to oust all the men from team Hithlum and elvenise it? We sure hold you in high esteem but…

Finrod: Well, there’s no foul play there I assure you. The player-markets are as they are, and we didn’t create the Dor Lomin team… and what Húrin did… well, that was his own decision, even if I do wonder why he chose that way. You know all those dark-cloaked agents following the team everywhere? I mean that smells foul for miles away.

The Thangorodrimer: Now let me ask you Oropher, whether the cindarella story of Mirkwood is finally at an end? Do you think you can stand against the solid team of Angband having only three decent players in your team?

Oropher: One journalist doesn’t make a difference in a game. It’s the players, all eleven of them in a team. So you can just shove your question… do I need to say where? Next.

Valimar Quarterly: Well we do appreciate the way your team has brought different races and species together Oropher – and statistically it will be a tough match as the indicators are so even in all the areas of the game. But I would like to address the Angband team here. Now what makes you think you have chances as the evil will never prevail in Arda? Should you have learned that already?

Carcaroth: Well, we have what it takes to fight. You know, last time I tried it out with Huan we ended up even. Well this time we lost to them but that loss only makes us more eager to fight. “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” we say back in Angband. And that’s truly my motto.

The Hidden Rock Bulletin: Coming back to the final if I may… How about you King Tar Calion? Do you think you can raise to the occasion and challenge the elves of Hithlum?

Ar Pharazôn: Anyday. We do not fear any opponent and we will just smash them with our great team-play worthy of the Dúnedain so that all the people can see what we humans are capable of. We’re confident that these Hithlum hippies will be plain outscored tomorrow.

Finrod: Hithlum what? Now you…

Ar Pharazôn: You first-born are over-rated and you know that yourself. And look at those Valar, phwwt… dropped out early on… Words, words, words. Let’s see the deeds on the pitch shall we?

Finrod: Do I have to understand you’re trying to make fun of us? That's pathetic!

Ar Pharazôn: Take it as your wits serve you.

The Meduselder: Now please, I would have a question to the organising party. How have you prepared for any possible violence erupting after a band of angry baddie-supporters getting wild with a lost match? Can you contain Melkor if he gets frustrated to the Angband team even if it wasn’t exactly his team this year? Or how to deal with Sauron?

Carcaroth: There will be no defeat to our team if you’re hinting at that non-possibility…

Ar Pharazôn: Just hold your tongue boy!

Bergil: Excuse me, I think the question was for me. We have enough men at arms to settle down any skirmishes… and should Bauglir go astray we have Manwë, Tulkas and Oromë around, with some other Valar and Maiar at the VIP sections of the stadium and they have promised us their full co-operation if something nastier would happen.

Carcaroth: I already told you this was anything but a balanced venue! Look at that self-satisfactory smile that vermin just gave you! But we will beat all the hindrances you build in front of us… and will prevail whatever you say – or who has paid the referees...

Minas Tïrith Palantír: Now let me ask you all, who will be the deciding players in your teams and in your opponents teams? We have many of those who made the difference here in the last year’s semis, who will light up the audiences this year? The heroes, the villains? Your predictions for your game?

Oropher: My son will continue his great game and I do believe my grandson will rise to the occasion as well. Also Mr. Baggins has been ridiculed by the media a bit too much so that he might just prove you guys wrong in this game. From the Angband team, well, Húrin and Gwindor are guys to be marked carefully but Ancalagon is too old to play at this level any more – and Maeglin just deserves to be humbled after all he has done: Radagast, Treebeard and Grimbeorn are just the guys for that task. Those wolves will prove to be a problem but I believe Ulfast and Uldor will fail their team. We win 2-1.

Carcaroth: You call Ancalagon too old while you have that demented gaffer in your team? I say his fire and wings will beat down all the opponents when the time comes… and it comes tomorrow. Ancalagon will score twice, Maeglin once. We win 3-0. Sorry but you guys are pathetic. Only Scatha or Nazgul #6 may cause some trouble but I’m confident a balrog and a great werewolf are enough to stop them even if the petty humans would fail… but they are more spirited you allow. Don’t fool yourself elf…

Ar Pharazôn: Our team effort will prevail as it has done thus far. We need no single stars like our opponents need. We play together and we win. Plain and simple. If you need names let’s say Tar Atanamir will continue his great goal-tending. He is absolutely the greatest goalie in this tournament. Also our defence is the best of this tournament as are our forwards. Sauron has proven to be a great team-player as well and you should be afraid of his talent when he now plays for the team. Yeah, Tar Calmacil and Ar Gimilzôr haven’t yet risen to their level in this tournament in the midfield but they will play their part anyway and will be up to challenge Finrod here and Fingon anytime. Aredhel – Maedhros – Feänor –trio sure is a good one but our team-defence will just shut them down. Fëanor will get frustrated and will eventually get a red card for misconduct and the other elves will just weep and finally lose all confidence banging their heads against our defences. With the habit we’ve had in this tournament, we will win with two goals: 3-1. I will score and / or assist two goals with Sauron - we really have now what it takes to play together and to trust each other; Ar Adunakhôr or Tar Minastir wil score the third one.

Finrod: With due respect King Tar Calion, you’re wrong with your predicament. You must understand – and as a wise man you do indeed understand it – that your team has never been against such firepower we have in front; and not only the trio, but my uncle and cousin can score as well from the midfield – they’ve made two goals each as well. So that's empty banter. And as you said, there is the difference. Our midfield outruns and outwits yours and confronted with the best forwards in this tournament even Tar Atanamir will have to accept he’s no match for them. And whatever the numbers say, Huan is indeed the best goalie in the tournament and aided by Ulmo, Caranthir and Annael there is no way you guys score thrice. Remember we have second least goals allowed after you in this tournament but we have already faced some really tough teams unlike you. So we’ll win, 1-0. Aredhel will score that one aided by Fëanor.