2026-01-11, 06:57 PM - Word count:
One might say that even after just one pool play match, Eurasia’s backs are now squarely against the wall in Group A pool play of the World Simulation Football Classic.
Eurasia already sports a negative 6 goal differential after just one match, a 9-3 shellacking at the hands of Central Europe.
One might say – fret not, while not a great outcome it is only one match.
Yet Eurasia has to this point, in both friendlies and that wholly unsuccessful first match-that-counts against Central Europe, not shown an ability to actually win one.
In their first friendly, Eurasia was defeated by Canada by a 0-1 final. In their second friendly, it was East Africa handing Eurasia a 2-3 defeat.
During the last WSFC, it could be said that Eurasia was happy to be in the tournament and fielding a team that at least looked like it belonged on the same pitch as some of the other national squads from around the world. Coming into this WSFC, it had felt like Eurasia was ready to take that next step. On paper, it seemed to have the talent necessary to make it out of Group A to the next round. They boast legitimate star power in defender Ilya Prusikin and midfielders George Shaheen and Hanibal Armaros. But they do not have the top-to-bottom balance of more established national programs like Central Europe, who may claim fewer superstar talents but who has a roster laden with really good, solid, talent at every position. And specifically, the lack of a superstar striker may be creating difficulties in finishing goal-scoring opportunities. Obviously in the head-to-head with Central Europe that took place in game 1, having solidity up and down the roster proved more important than having a handful of elite players at a few positions.
Eurasia will have to dig deep and focus on doing what they have not done as a collective yet – win.
Their next matchup sees them take on Norden, whose roster is built similar in its overall solidarity to Central Europe’s. A loss in this one could spell the early end of Eurasia’s WSFC.
A win could allow them to control their own destiny in pool play in a final matchup with East Europe, a team that – at least on paper – Eurasia likely fares better against than all the rest in Group A.
Eurasia already sports a negative 6 goal differential after just one match, a 9-3 shellacking at the hands of Central Europe.
One might say – fret not, while not a great outcome it is only one match.
Yet Eurasia has to this point, in both friendlies and that wholly unsuccessful first match-that-counts against Central Europe, not shown an ability to actually win one.
In their first friendly, Eurasia was defeated by Canada by a 0-1 final. In their second friendly, it was East Africa handing Eurasia a 2-3 defeat.
During the last WSFC, it could be said that Eurasia was happy to be in the tournament and fielding a team that at least looked like it belonged on the same pitch as some of the other national squads from around the world. Coming into this WSFC, it had felt like Eurasia was ready to take that next step. On paper, it seemed to have the talent necessary to make it out of Group A to the next round. They boast legitimate star power in defender Ilya Prusikin and midfielders George Shaheen and Hanibal Armaros. But they do not have the top-to-bottom balance of more established national programs like Central Europe, who may claim fewer superstar talents but who has a roster laden with really good, solid, talent at every position. And specifically, the lack of a superstar striker may be creating difficulties in finishing goal-scoring opportunities. Obviously in the head-to-head with Central Europe that took place in game 1, having solidity up and down the roster proved more important than having a handful of elite players at a few positions.
Eurasia will have to dig deep and focus on doing what they have not done as a collective yet – win.
Their next matchup sees them take on Norden, whose roster is built similar in its overall solidarity to Central Europe’s. A loss in this one could spell the early end of Eurasia’s WSFC.
A win could allow them to control their own destiny in pool play in a final matchup with East Europe, a team that – at least on paper – Eurasia likely fares better against than all the rest in Group A.
![[Image: lisfor-3.png]](https://i.postimg.cc/sDzJYqYM/lisfor-3.png)
