-Quidditch World Cup Match: France vs. Italy-

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After France thoroughly trounced Germany and Italy brought in a win against Greece, the two are about to find out who will go on to play China, who has so far won against both the U.S. and and barely scraped a win against Bulgaria, a number of whose best players had retired, leaving the team to work with a set of younger and newer players.

The attendance was lower than usual, many families being abroad for the holidays and unable to attend the match, but there were still a good number of fans around the pitch, and it just so happened that a blizzard had hit just before the start of the match, so the weather was both against fan attendance and general playing conditions. When the players entered the field, a number of quick measures had obviously been taken, to prevent against the swirling snow and biting chill - snow was repelled from their faces, thanks to the Impervius Charm, one of the few of such charms allowed in professional Quidditch.

Both of the teams were serious about the match, which you could see from the beginning. Italian Chasers Paolo Ricci, Mariana De Luca, and Antonio Costa took possession of the Quaffle immediately, executing a new strategy involving constant passing to avoid letting it fall into France’s hands, despite this slowing their progress towards the goal hoops quite a bit.

France’s Beater twins, Isabelle and Irene Le Voir, renowned for their excellent teamwork, attempted to thwart this by furiously hitting the Bludgers towards the Chasers, not letting Beaters Rossi and Marino get a single hit in. Determined not to let the Bludgers stop them as they had the previous match, however, the Chasers determinedly kept possession of the Quaffle, swerving multiple times as the Quaffle continued to fly between their hands and the falling snow.

Slowly but steadily the trio brought the Quaffle to the hoops, despite the French Chasers Alberte Denis, David Fabien, and Francis Gigi multiple attempts at intercepting it. However, France’s Keeper Morgan Nadia made a remarkable save despite the swirling snow blocking her vision and immediately passed it to Chaser Fabien, who was off like a shot down the pitch. While it seemed like Italy had been focusing on their offense strategy, they weren’t going to let France shoot without a fight, streaking down after them and ferociously reclaiming the Quaffle three times before Chaser Denis finally shot - Keeper Matthias dove - and scored the first goal of the game.

Meanwhile the Seekers had clearly both reached the same conclusion, looking down at their teammates from where they circled above the game, the Italian Chasers superb but the French Beaters amazing as well. If the snitch wasn’t spotted soon, this game was going to go on for a while.

Italy had just scored two goals consecutively, much to the delight of the red and green clad fans, when Seeker Fleur made a wild dive so sudden that I’m sure I wasn’t the only one among the crowd to think that it could have been an attempt at the Wronski feint. Seeker D’Angelo appeared to agree with us, hesitating for a moment, but then, not wanting to count on the excitement being fake, dove as well, her newer Firebolt Supreme managing to catch up to his older model before they both neared the pitch, Seeker Fleur easing up from his dive before D’Angelo. Fans squinted through the thickening flurry for the gold glint of the snitch, but few were rewarded. It looked like it was going to be a head-to-head finish as the two zoomed forward, both hands outstretched, Seeker D’Angelo was pulling ahead, just seconds away from taking the game when BAM!

A cry erupted from the crowd as  a hurtling Bludger slammed into the back of her broomstick, courtesy of Beater Le Voir, sending Seeker D’Angelo spiralling off, desperately trying to stay on her broomstick. Taking advantage of his teammates perfectly timed move, he added a burst of speed, reaching through the snow, fingers about to close around the fluttering golden ball when Seeker D’Angelo sped upwards, having regained control of her broom and managed to intercept Seeker Fleur despite a slightly bent end of her broom, emerging triumphantly with the Snitch in her hand.

The game had come to an exciting end, and both teams played an excellent match. Captain Le Voir, from France, said that “We were so close - but Italy bested us fair and square.”

Captain D’Angelo agreed, saying that “It was a very close game, but it was well-payed on both sides.”

Now, Italy will move on to play the winner of the match that will be covered next issue; Brazil vs. Japan. Turn over to this page next issue to find out who will play Italy!