2026-01-23, 12:21 PM - Word count:
The Start
Everyone on the team knew we were the third worst team going into the WSFC. At least on paper. We knew that our averages couldn't compare. I mean, I was our best player to start with. I'm good, but I'm not "lead a national team" good. Regardless, Kupinas and I planned to do our best. It was the least we could do. So we set up a team. The best Eastern Europe could offer.
Our starting eleven consisted of Predrag Dobrić (myself), Juozas Kupinas (@Jubka), Heung-Man Smalls (@ItZSmalls), Eden Empire IV (@MMFLEX), Dunkler Sowerwine (@Oknom), Denis Mobek (@denismov), Coin Flip (@midknight), Cesare Pinkman (@Prikulis5), Marean Dohbra (@ahtuu), Bread Lasso (@caltroit_red_flames) and Leah Slothinson (@Reno).
While Kaspars Kalinins (@jacobcarson877), Mei Sukzuki (@Breeze837) and Dimitrios Karras (@Fluw) came in from the bench to give the team depth.
Most of our team was built from S20 players, who while did average around 1000 TPE, were nowhere near their peak. This lead to us being the third worst team in the competition. Naturally, this would mean that we would be spared no luck and all other 3 teams in Group A would be stronger than us. Norden, Central Europe and Eurasia.
Last year East Europe didn't even make it past the group stage. I suppose Kupinas and I weren't really expecting much but...we still wanted to do better. In an ideal world, we imagined at least making it out of the group. How low we set our sights now looking back.
The Friendlies
Eastern Europe was scheduled for 2 friendly games before. East Africa and West Africa. East Africa was one of the potential dark horses of the tournament. While not on top in terms of TPE, they were certainly better than us. Playing a friendly game against them first would teach us just how wide the gap between us and the "good" teams was. We were then very pleasantly surprised when we had an equal 1-1 game against them where neither side was the favorite. Alex Calderon and myself scoring a goal. West Africa on the other hand was one of the two teams that were actually weaker than us, the other being Central America. And so playing against them would show how good we were when we were the favorite, if it would ever even come to that during the tournament. A dominant 4-1 win is exactly what we wanted to see. Remi Taarel scored for W.A. while Mei Sukzuki, Eden Empire IV and I scored for E.E.
It may have been intentional by the tournament organizers, or it may have been an accident. Regardless, both of these games were exactly what we needed to prepare for the Group stage. There we would face Norden, Central Europe and Eurasia. Each team definitely could beat us, but we were confident that we could beat them as well.
This article was written by Predrag Dobrić and sponsored by A.C. Romana and East Europe.
Everyone on the team knew we were the third worst team going into the WSFC. At least on paper. We knew that our averages couldn't compare. I mean, I was our best player to start with. I'm good, but I'm not "lead a national team" good. Regardless, Kupinas and I planned to do our best. It was the least we could do. So we set up a team. The best Eastern Europe could offer.
Our starting eleven consisted of Predrag Dobrić (myself), Juozas Kupinas (@Jubka), Heung-Man Smalls (@ItZSmalls), Eden Empire IV (@MMFLEX), Dunkler Sowerwine (@Oknom), Denis Mobek (@denismov), Coin Flip (@midknight), Cesare Pinkman (@Prikulis5), Marean Dohbra (@ahtuu), Bread Lasso (@caltroit_red_flames) and Leah Slothinson (@Reno).
While Kaspars Kalinins (@jacobcarson877), Mei Sukzuki (@Breeze837) and Dimitrios Karras (@Fluw) came in from the bench to give the team depth.
Most of our team was built from S20 players, who while did average around 1000 TPE, were nowhere near their peak. This lead to us being the third worst team in the competition. Naturally, this would mean that we would be spared no luck and all other 3 teams in Group A would be stronger than us. Norden, Central Europe and Eurasia.
Last year East Europe didn't even make it past the group stage. I suppose Kupinas and I weren't really expecting much but...we still wanted to do better. In an ideal world, we imagined at least making it out of the group. How low we set our sights now looking back.
The Friendlies
Eastern Europe was scheduled for 2 friendly games before. East Africa and West Africa. East Africa was one of the potential dark horses of the tournament. While not on top in terms of TPE, they were certainly better than us. Playing a friendly game against them first would teach us just how wide the gap between us and the "good" teams was. We were then very pleasantly surprised when we had an equal 1-1 game against them where neither side was the favorite. Alex Calderon and myself scoring a goal. West Africa on the other hand was one of the two teams that were actually weaker than us, the other being Central America. And so playing against them would show how good we were when we were the favorite, if it would ever even come to that during the tournament. A dominant 4-1 win is exactly what we wanted to see. Remi Taarel scored for W.A. while Mei Sukzuki, Eden Empire IV and I scored for E.E.
It may have been intentional by the tournament organizers, or it may have been an accident. Regardless, both of these games were exactly what we needed to prepare for the Group stage. There we would face Norden, Central Europe and Eurasia. Each team definitely could beat us, but we were confident that we could beat them as well.
This article was written by Predrag Dobrić and sponsored by A.C. Romana and East Europe.
![[Image: GmuKJta.png]](https://i.imgur.com/GmuKJta.png)
