Senya wins the World Cup!

[DES Senya]

"and Senya win the ball back, the nation breathes a sigh of relief... "
"HOOF IT DOWNFIELD! HOOF IT!"
Ĵerzënyœ smashes the ball into the Otaq sky...
*the referee blows his whistle, the crowd go crazy*
"AND WE'VE DONE IT, WE'VE ONLY GONE AND BLOODY DONE IT!"
"WHAT A REMARKABLE DAY, AN HISTORIC DAY FOR SENYA"
"ALESANDRŒ DANETSKË'S GOAL IS ENOUGH TO CROWN SENYA CHAMPIONS!"
"REMEMBER WHERE YOU WERE, IF YOU HADN'T ALREADY!"
"I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M SAYING THIS... BUT...
SENYA ARE WORLD CHAMPIONS
INCREADIBLE!"

The words of the commentator echoed around the various communal viewings of Otaq's World Cup final, as Senyans paused to take in their national football team win their first ever World Cup.

The 10,000 lucky fans inside the stadium were setting off flare after flare and smoke bomb after smoke bomb, jumping up and down in a more erratic and crazed way than usual. In the various fan parks around Senya, the people were dancing, embracing with each other, and singing.

To say Senya is a football country is an understatement. It's a religion here. In fact, it's written into the constitution. Every Saturday, non-essential work is paused between 1pm and 7pm, so people can watch football. 96% of children play the sport reguarly, alongside most adults of working age.

And despite a thriving club scene, the national team is the pride of the nation. For a small nation in the far northwest of Apollonia, it may not rank high and mighty compared to the military and economic powers of this World, but when it comes to football, everybody knows of this country.

Green and White flags adorned every street. Many were burning green and white smoke bombs, the nation running at a shortage of pyrotechnics, people were going crazy.

It may seem crazy, but looking back, all those years ago, when Senya first took to the international stage, just how different things were. Then, they played in a small athletics stadium on the edge of Tiga. Now, they host games in the infamous and globally renowned Snakepit, a colossus arena which holds 115,000. Back then, the players had no clubs, now Senya has one of Micras' most competitive leagues. Back then, Senya were on the end of a 3-0 thumping by North Antarctica. Now, they're World Champions.

But remarkably, many of the players are the same. Four of the Starting XI of that North Antarctica game seven years ago started today's World Cup final. Jan Maytek, who came off the bench that day, was also amongst the starters in Otaq. And all the more remarkably, that squad was assembled of trialists. People who showed up on fields all around the country, as Senya scouted its people to find a national team. Today, Barnaby Hands, who back then was just a long-haired scrawny 15-year-old high school student who showed an aptitude for bombing down the left, lifted the World Cup trophy.

Senya's players have largely came through together. Besides forward Kiket Volinsk, the vast majority of the national team have been playing for over four years together. But despite that, they've always remained a humble group. The fans have loved them. "They're not wondrous others, they're normal people. You can say hi to them in the street and hold a conversation. They send their kids to the same schools. You'll bump into them shopping. They represent us, the people" noted one observer.

[DES Senya]

In response to the national team's victory, the Senyan Government has announced a full week of national celebration, beginning tomorrow and ending on Sunday. All non-essential workers will not be required to work, and those working in essential jobs will have their hours reduced where possible.