*Played 13th August*
After 51 games, this year's FMF World Cup comes to its pinnacle, but no matter the result, this tournament will be remembered for a number of reasons. Held in Senya for the first time, the rest of Micras got to experience the unique culture the Senyans bring to their sport, as well as adopting the high-scoring style of play that Senyan football is famous for.
After 189 goals already, the most witnessed at a finals, we've seen scoring records tumble all summer; biggest margins of victory extended, Craitland scoring more in their group than anyone before followed by Tellia scoring even more in the overall tournament, and individual players' exploits giving us more hat-tricks than the last four World Cups combined, with Danetskë hitting three in a row and Lassana-Traoré even scoring his fifth ever in Alexandria's last ever match.
Alongside goals, we'll also remember this summer for the upsets; 2015 semi-finalists Passas failing to advance and holders Hamland departing before the quarters, but also the surprise runs of the newcomers, with Vyktory and Jingdao both making the last eight on their début, and giving us some dramatic moments along the way.
But now, the final. Hosts Senya have made it difficult on themselves, although pre-tournament favourites, but have overcome the odds to make it to the final for the first time. Despite losing their opening match, a superb comeback victory over today's opponents Tellia turned their fortunes around, but a last-minute strike in their final group game was still needed to seal an unexpected 5-0 victory over Talenore; the very result they required to top their group. Since then, a relatively easy dispatch of Birgeshir was followed by a nerve-wracking semi-final shoot-out win over Mercury (the longest penalties in World Cup history - another record) to book their place in the showpiece game on home turf. Tellia, on the other hand have surprised a few with their run this far. While always seemingly in the mix, the typical friction among the players seems to have subsided, and the return of Sezer Özker to the fold has pushed them on. Senya's aforementioned heroics swindled the Tellians out of topping the group, finishing second on goal difference after three good wins, but an extra-time win over reigning champions Hamland in the play-off, a solid defeat of four-time winners Craitland and a thumping 4-0 over former winners Alexandria saw the side overcome arguably the most difficult route to the final with aplomb as chemistry wins out through the squad.
This final is anyone's to win now, however, but will it be the Senyans, aiming to become only the second team to win with home advantage, or Tellia, who want to avoid being the first team to lose two consecutive finals, who will be victorious? The time has come...
Final
Senya vs. Tellia
Watch the full final match
here!
