2018.2 Lusophone Micronations World Cup

The 2018.2 Lusophone Micronations World Cup was the second CFM World Cup, the championship for micronational football teams organized by micronations from the Lusophone Sector. It took place in Karnia-Ruthenia from 04 to 14 October 2018. Karnia-Ruthenia was chosen to host the event with the support of the confederations of Asgard, Terras Marianas, Borgonha, Parsháh and Terranova, defeating the joint nomination of São Guimarães e Deltaria, that was supported by Gaston and Escorvania and the nomination of Asgard, that retired their indication to support Karnia-Ruthenia. This edition of the World Cup was embroiled in controversy. The Confederations of Gaston and Escorvania left CFM in the hours before the World Cup and numerous criticisms about the organization of the event were made. However, it was also the first edition to feature a theme song and opening and closing speeches, made by the Emperor-King of Karnia-Ruthenia.

Group A
Borgonha faced the German Empire in a game marked by the fact that the two teams played without select their tactics. Even after two minutes of play, Borgonha opened the scoring. After five minutes of play the German Empire had a player expelled, which ensured the domination of the whole game by Borgonha. The match ended 1-0 for Borgonha. Possession in the 52nd minute belonged to Borgonha and 48% in the German Empire. The stolen ball was 65% for Borgonha and 35% for the German Empire. Borgonha hit 62% of the passes and the German Empire hit 70%. Quality score of 3.04 for Borgonha and 3.49 for the German Empire. Escorvânia defeated the Asgardian Team in a fierce game during the first half. In the second half Asgard opened the scoring with a goal in the 51st minute. Ten minutes later, Asgard widens his lead by scoring the second goal. Escorvânia even tried to sketch a reaction but it was not enough and the game ended in 2 x 0 for Asgard. For the second round of group A, Borgonha and Asgard faced a game without many surprises. Asgard emerges as a high-quality team, maintaining themselves as a micronational football power since the last World Cup when they played the final against Bugolavija. In the match against Borgonha, the Asgardian Team won 3-0 and secured the top spot. Borgonha, despite the defeat, classified for the second position. German Empire and Escorvânia made an unusual game. Both teams did not choose their tactics, but they managed to reach a draw that gave Escorvânia a 3rd place in the group, but both teams are disqualified from the World Cup.

Group B
For group B, Lancastria played against Terranova. The Terranova team was determined to show their excellent football and at thirteen minutes opened the scoring. The game was fierce, but the second goal of Terranova came in thirty-one minutes. 2 - 0. Lancastria tried to focus their attacks down the left hand side, but the keeper failed to get the 2 - 0 lead. Also by group B, "The Crusaders" of Karnia-Ruthenia faced the historic-modelist Kingdom of Italy, an already classic game of MFC. During the first half, the Empire dominated the game but failed to convert their attempts into goals and the first half ended in a 0-0. Already in the beginning of the second half Kárnia-Rutênia opened the scoring at forty-eight minutes. After the first goal the team picked up the pace and at sixty-four minutes came the second goal. 2 to 0. At eighty-four minutes the Empire secured the victory by scoring the third goal. 3-0 for the Crusaders and end of game. Terranova and Karnia-Ruthenia faced each other. Terranova, who had been making an inconsistent and even surprising Cup because he was maintaining quality points above the average expected by the team, emerged and secured a 4-1 win against the host of the World Cup. With the victory, Terranova takes 1st place in Group B and Karnia-Ruthenia secured the 2nd place, both qualifying for the next phase. Lancastria and Italy also faced each other at group B. Both teams had timid performances in the World Cup, but Italy managed to start a 2-0 win and took 3rd place in the group. Both selections were disqualified.

Group C
Pathros and R.U.P.A. met in a fierce match. The first half was quite balanced, with both teams having a chance to open the scoring, but the front-runner was Pathros, forty-four minutes into the first half. The second time continued fierce, Pathros closed while R.U.P.A. sought the tie, could not. The game ended in 1 to 0 with the victory of the Pathranos. The other group match was between Platina and Porto Claro. Another tough game, although both teams did not choose their tactics. The first goal came after thirty-six minutes to Porto Claro. Platina went out in the second half and Porto Claro extended his lead at sixty-nine minutes. The match ends 2 - 0 for Porto Claro. RUPA faced Platina for group C and managed to win by 1 to 0. RUPA, which is also a traditional selection of CFM, has kept an inconsistent campaign, far from what was expected of the team. RUPA and Platina were the teams disqualified from the Cup in Group C. For the same group, Pathros and Porto Claro did a fierce game that ended in zero to zero. The Pathran Team managed to qualify in the first position, followed by Porto Claro.

Group D
The current World Champion faced the Kingdom of Parshah in their first game. The game was quite balanced all the time, but Bugolavija managed to get ahead in the twenty-seven minutes of the first half. Parshah continued to work for Bugolavija, leading coach Breno to make two changes that did not have the necessary effect and Parshah tied the game at eighty-nine minutes. End of game, 1 to 1. The Kingdom of Deltaria faced São Guimarães in the other game of group D. The federations that had united to host the World Cup made a very balanced match. The first half ended without goals but with both selections having chances to open the scoring. São Guimarães made some changes in the team in search of the goal, and already at the beginning of the second half he came. 1 - 0 for São Guimarães. Deltaria made changes in the team but was unable to equalize and São Guimarães were the best team of the match. In Group D, Deltaria won the play against Parsháh by a timid result of 1 to 0. The Deltarian Team, first place in Serie B of the League of Micronations, has been making a shy Cup, far from what was expected of the team. Parsháh has been disqualified from the World Cup. São Guimarães and Bugolavija also played for Group C. São Guimaraes has been steadfast as one of the favorites to the world title in this World Cup and in this last round started a 2 to 1 victory against the current world champion. Surprisingly, Bugolavija fell into the same "curse" of the FIFA World Cup champions and did a well below-expected performance and ended up disqualified from the World Cup. São Guimarães was ranked first, followed by Deltaria.

Group A
Terranova faced Borgonha and played well above their opponents and won 3-0. In addition to the quality of Terranova Team, the fact that Borgonha is not selecting their tactics has been making it difficult for them. Terranova qualified would face São Guimarães on 12 October.

Group B
One more time, Karnia-Ruthenia and Asgard faced each other for the quarter-finals of a World Cup, and again the game was marked by errors. It is worth remembering that in the first CFM Cup, Asgard and Karnia-Ruthenia faced each other in the group stage and in the quarterfinals they played again, being the only two selections that did not go through a cross of keys at the time. This time the key crossing occurred, but the tactics of the Karno-Ruthenian team were not recognized by the system and identified that the tactics were not chosen. Asgard started to score, scoring the goal in the 7th minute. After some tactical changes and even with the error, the Imperial Team managed to score a goal, but Asgard extended the score to 2 to 1 and qualified.

Group C
Deltaria beated Pathros in a 2-0 game marked by changes made during the match by both coaches. Despite the scoreboard, the game was fairly evenly matched, but Deltarian Team made the better match.

Group D
São Guimarães beated Porto Claro with a score of 3-0 and dominated the entire match, playing well above the rival, without giving a chance for reaction.

Semi-finals
On 14 October, took place the semifinals of the World Cup. In games with surprising results, Deltaria faced Asgard, while São Guimarães played against Terranova. The game between Deltaria and Asgard started fiercely, both teams rushed to open the scoring but the first half ended in a 0-0. Already in the lap of the interval, Deltaria opened the scoring, marking the goal that guaranteed his going to the final of the tournament.

São Guimarães and Terranova made a game of emotions. In the first half, Terranova opened the scoring with 6 minutes, but at 16 São Guimarães tied the game. The tie dragged on until the 89 minutes of game, when São Guimarães scores the second goal and guarantees the classification for the final.

Final
The final match of the World Cup was a game entirely dominated by São Guimarães; they kept an incredible 84% of possession, as opposed to 16% of Deltaria. The quality score was of 2.61 for São Guimarães and 3.02 for Deltaria, but at 21 minutes of play, Deltaria opened the scoring with the only goal of the match and São Guimarães could not reverse the score. 1 to 0 and the championship went to Deltaria. They made a good campaign in the World Cup, maintained an excellent performance since the League of Micronations, with excellent quality and good results. The match do decide the third place was played by Terranova, that won against Asgard after a 4-2 result. Emperor Oscar I of Karnia-Ruthenia handed a certificate to the World Champion as a recognition for the victory and a thanked the participation of all members of the CFM for their roles in World Cup. The top scorer of the World Cup was Dennis Eriksen of Terranova, followed by Phillip Schwarz of Asgard.