Middle-Earth Football Tournament

[Hookbill the Goomba]

The Groups! The Final tables!
Those whose points are in bold have a greater goal difference.

[Sleepy Ranger]

Finally, after much anticipation here are the Quarter-Final's matches.

Mirkwood

Numenor

vs.

vs.

Valimar

Angband

Gondor

Nargothrond

vs.

vs.

Bree

Moria

Doriath

Tol-In-Gauroth

vs.

vs.

Shire

Arnor

Mordor

Alqualonde

vs.

vs.

Fangorn

Barrow-Downs

[Bergil]

Mirkwood: An O.K. team, though Legolas' ability is often over-rated. Their unique training method of taking practice shots at spiders (usually followed by a run) may pay off.

Valimar: An old favorite, but their field presence is declining. Their coaching, however, is only improving and I have heard several fans saying that coach Eru is God.

Gondor: A newer team, but they have potential. Chants of "Gondor rocks" are becoming more and more common.

Bree: This team has never, in all its long years on the league, made an impact, and whith their best players out, this trend will likely continue.

Doriath: Another old favorite, but they have a real chance. Some fans remember the time Melian removed her girdle in the middle of a game.

Shire: Something has sparked this unassuming little team, and the return of Gandalf has only incresed their chance. They could definetly go all the way.

Mordor: A team whith a bad reputation for trying to weaken the other teams. If they aren't disqualified, they could do well.

Fangorn: wooden you know it, these old guys will succeed in anything they get around to doing.

Numenor: some say the second-age finals were there downfall, and they certinly over-reach themselves often enough.

Angband: Known for playing dirty. romored to have secret dealings with Mordor and Tol-In Gaurhoth. Can win honestly. Generally considered the favorite to win.

Narogothrond: Definitely a threat, but they may be neglecting their defence.

Moria: If their players are ever convinced to co-operate, they could be unbeatable. However, they are not unbeatible now.

Tol-In-Gaurhoth: Another team plagued by rumers. Apperantly, they have the other teams' cobblers on the take.

Arnor: some say this team is gone, I say otherwise.

Alqualonde: Generally considered to be full of players the other teams don't want.

Barrow-Downs: This team exemplifies the hocky saying "it's not enough to score goals, you have to be able to talk about it". They're serious contenders.

[the phantom]

A very quick look at the next round...

Mirkwood versus Valimar
Despite shortcomings such as an unwillingness to act and poor judgement, Valimar simply has too much talent to lose to a less than spectacular Mirkwood team.

Gondor versus Bree
Remind me- how did Bree get this far? I think it goes without saying that a fairly talented and pretty solid Gondor team is more than a match for Bree.

Doriath versus The Shire
Pippin will not continue his scoring binge. You can bet that Doriath will assign one of their players to stay with him at all times, and frankly, Pippin will not be able to get away from the defender. The elf will be faster, taller, more agile, and have better vision. If Pippin scores a goal then you can bet your life that someone did something illegal, like slipped tranquilizer into Doriath's drinking water. Gandalf will be the only person for the Shire capable of scoring, and he could very well score a goal, but I doubt he can score much more than that, because he's not going to get many chances. The vast majority of the time the ball is going to be on the other end of the field, being controlled by Doriath's extremely potent offense. The Shire will not be able to stop the Beleg-Mablung-Thingol combination from putting up two or three goals- or maybe more.

Mordor versus Fangorn
You have to go with Mordor in this one. Their talent and teamwork cannot be overcome by the Ents. Sauron's team is the most likely in this half of the draw to make the finals.

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

Numenor versus Angband
Numenor certainly has some talented men, but they do not have the ability to stop Ancalagon, Gothmog, and Melkor from scoring, nor do they have the talent to work the ball up the field consistently against Angband's Balrog defenders. And even if they get the ball past the Balrogs, there is still Glaurung the Golden Goalie to contend with.

Nargothrond versus Moria

Finally, a match that could go either way!

Moria's Azog has been playing very well, and Bill the Balrog is always tough to defend, but on the other hand it is doubful that Moria can stop Turin from scoring. And if they focus on him too much, he's good enough to get the ball to the open man (er, elf, actually), and Gwindor and Finrod are certainly talented enough to finish the job and get the ball in the net.

This match could go either way.

Tol-In-Gaurhoth versus Arnor

Arnor will have a difficult time matching up with Sauron's strong, speedy wolves, and surely an impossible time stopping Sauron himself. Though Arnor is a good team, Gaurhoth is a cut above.

Alqualonde versus The Barrow-Downs

The Barrow-Downs shouldn't have a problem with the Teleri. The Downs has solid defense and goalkeeping, and a scary offense. That is more than enough to win, but then add to that the fact that two of the Down's players, Fea and Gil, are Noldorin. We know how elves from Alqualonde tend to get killed when they come up against the Noldor.

The Barrow-Downs will dominate Alqualonde.

[Boromir88]

Ok, so we have

Mirkwood vs. Valimar-
Sure Mirkwood has played well, but really who have they beat? Valimar is the more talented team by far.

Valimar wins 4-2.

Gondor vs. Bree-
This games going to be a blowout. Gondor has already had impressive victories over Angband and Gondolin. However, some may think the forfeited match against the Grey Havens may cause Gondor to come out of the gates slow. They will come out of the gates slow, because of excessive partying in the streets this past weekend, but they still take care of Bree pretty easily.

Gondor wins 3-0

Doriath vs. The Shire-
I think this game is going to be closer than a lot of people think. The Shire has been one of the more impressive teams so far, but Doriath has been lighting it up on the scoreboard. This one comes down to a shootout(!!) and I'll pick The Shire for the upset. (5-4)

Mordor vs. Fangorn-
This will be another pretty close game. It appears that Mordor has the advantage in their matchup against the Ents. But, don't forget these are the ents, and the sight of thousands of Orcs filling the stands should cause the Ents to get into a quite fearsome rage. Watch out Mordor.

Fangorn wins 2-1.

___________________________

Numenor vs. Angband-
Numenor is talented, but with Melkor back, plus Gothmog and Ancalagon Angband is just a way too tough a team for Numenor to handle.

Angband wins 4-1.

Nargothrond vs. Moria-
Surely is a tough game to decide. And since "ties" are now over this one will make it into OT, and the only goal of the game will be scored by Turin in OT. Nargothrond wins.

Tol-in-Gaurhoth vs. Arnor

Arnor is in it's decline, Tol-in-Gaurhoth and the wolves are thriving right now...enough said.

T-I-G wins pretty easily. 2-0

Alqualonde vs. Barrowdowns-
Another easy match to decide the Downs will dominate every offensive and defensive category and control this game. They get the shut out 5-love.

[Anguirel]

Mirkwood vs. Valimar-or, Clash of the Hippies

This game may be pretty slow starting as both sides will be eager to avoid damaging the grass on the pitch.

However, once Mirkwood get onto form, there will be no stopping them. They embody the wild spirit of Faerie, while the ethos of the Valier is just too mixed. They're in a Celto-Norse-Hellenic muddle, which will lead to a disordered atmosphere in contrast with Mirkwood's dynamism and determination.

Winner: Close victory to Mirkwood

Likely Scorers: Legolas, Thranduil, Varda, Yavanna.


Gondor vs. Bree-or, Epic Pub Crawl

Bree have scraped through so far by the skin of their yellowed teeth. They lack Barliman Butterbur, a vital morale-raiser, and the crafty Bill Ferny. Gondor is on peak form. The question is whether Bree will be able to humiliate its conqueror by penetrating its defence even once.

Winner: Walkover to Gondor

Likely Scorers: Aragorn, Boromir, Faramir, Imrahil, Harry Goatleaf


Doriath vs. The Shire-or, Under the Greenwood Tree

Gandalf is full of surprises, but he'll have to be on top form if he hopes to take on Thingol's star-scattered Sindar. The Shire's talent base is too narrow to be efficiently exploited against such a versatile opponent; other Hobbits than Pippin are going to have to show their quality. Bar a radical improvement in performances of key players like Frodo Baggins, Doriath will storm this one...

Winner: Solid win to Doriath

Likely Scorers: Beleg "Strongboot", Thingol, Mablung "Heavyfooted", Saeros, Pippin, Gandalf


Mordor vs. Fangorn-or, Slash n' Burn

Remember the Brown Lands Cup Final? The Dark Lord led his Mordor diehards against a solid Entwives United opposition and slaughtered them so heavily that their team had to be disbanded-the survivors went out east and took up netball. Now there's only the males to deal with, though they'll put up a stiff resistance.

Winner: Mordor will defeat Fangorn. Many injuries on both sides.

Likely Scorers: The Dark Lord, the Witch-king, Khamul the Easterling, Ringwraith No. 7, Treebeard, Quickbeam


Numenor vs. Angband-or "His name is Melkor, the Giver of Freedom"

Numenor famously caves in against Melkor's mere apprentice Sauron. The host of Angband, it might be said, is rather too much for them. But brute force is what Numenor excells in opposing. Provided Ar-Pharazon is positioned as centre-forward, the Numenoreans will have a slim chance of humbling the pride of He Who Arises In Might. In such a situation the subtle tactics of new striker Maeglin may prove more useful than the brute force of Gothmog or Ancalagon.

Winner: Narrow victory for Angband

Likely Scorers: Melkor, Maeglin, Gothmog, Ancalagon, Ar-Pharazon, Ar-Zimraphel, Tar-Ancalime


Nargothrond vs. Moria-or, Claustrophobia

This struggle for the caves can only have one victor! Nargothrond has dealt with a Petty-Dwarven team in the past which should easily prepare it for Balin, and friendlies with Angband have made this team more than used to Orcs and Balrogs. If the rumours that Nargothrond are planning to transfer Edrahil and Orodreth in exchange for Celegorm and Curufin prove true, the defeat of Moria will be still more pronounced.

Winner: Solid win for Nargothrond.

Likely Scorers: Turin, Finrod Felagund, (Celegorm and Curufin-to be confirmed), Bill the Balrog, Azog


Tol-in-Gaurhoth vs. Arnor-or, Who's the Ranger?

Tol-in-Gaurhoth have been tipped to romp through this one, but Arnor have a tendency to overturn predictions-they are, we must remember, fresh from knocking out Rivendell against the expectations of the phantom. With so many Rangers in their ranks, the dirty lynching tactics of Tol-in-Gaurhoth will be consistently thwarted; but expect the wolves, bitter at their loss, to aim to injure Arnor's star players towards the end.

Winner: Arnor will win, just

Likely Scorers: Arvedui, Arathorn, Halbarad, Sauron, Draugluin, Thuringwethil


Alqualonde vs. Barrowdowns-or, The Gulls Are Crying

Here I must cohere with previous expectations. Unless Alqualonde signs Tom Bombadil at the last minute, a somewhat unlikely course of action for these haughty Elves, they will go down. Into the barrow. Ha ha!

Winner: the Barrow-Downs will win with usual elegance and contempt for its piffling opponent.

Likely Scorers: the Saucepan Man, Sleepy Ranger, Olwe

[Sleepy Ranger]

Middle-Earth World Cup Poster - Done by Valesse

I'm sorry but the results will NOT be up today because of a problem with video settings. (Yea, I messed up >_<) SORRY!