[NASL] Season 2 Preview - Page 11

On September 14 2011 19:51 Sphaero wrote:
For the most part, Germany has been the European example of how population and GDP don't seem to have any relation to Starcraft skill. You know, like America! They're both kinda good at Starcraft II, but any compliment beyond that seems like flattery.

Not sure if serious. Especially, because the OP contradicts himself before and after with saying, that Germany is one of the countries with the most representation in this league. It is also the only country outside South Korea that had more than one player in the grand finals and the highest placing among western players.

While its true that Germany has not that much top players in relation to its fanbase and population (Great Britain and Russia are still better examples for it), but the few we have belong to the Top in EU:

- We have the online monster Goody, who wins pretty much every week a tourney, sometimes more (why no Goody in NASL T.T).
- The RTS-veteran Hasu, captain of one of the strongest clans and Team Germany, a guy with extreme strong unit control (impressively proven yesterday against the french Top Zerg Stephano) and a habit to collect tourney wins around the Mediterranean Sea (Spain, France and Italy).
- The solid macro Zerg Darkforce, who seems to get better and better.
- And last but not least the best german player Socke. One of the most consistent top foreigner in the scene with tons of strong results in major tournaments and tournament victories. I was literally shaking my head at the predictions. Socke 7th in his division? Are you kidding me? What have Idra, Hwangsin, Jinro, Kiwikaki and Morrow shown recently to put them above him?

I expect, that Hasu, DF and Socke all get at least to the play offs like last season. They also have decent chances to get Top 2 in their groups. The only real wildcard (Lol at Socke being a wild card) here is TLO, who truthfully is not on the others level atm.

On September 14 2011 20:31 Xoronius wrote:

Sure Germany is one of the Top-Nations in Europe, no one doubts that, but altgough we have many good players, there is no real wrecking machine. Look at Poland for example, they have 1/4 of our population and they have two beasts with MaNa and Nerchio. Or Sweden, which has 1/9 of our population and has ThorZain, Naniwa, Sjow, Morrow, Jinro, Sase, Lalush, Haypro, Jimpo, Bischu, Merz, Seiplo(...).

On September 14 2011 21:14 TeH_CaRnAg3 wrote:
I just want to know who the pretty lady in the backround of the text is O.o

On September 14 2011 21:16 Sphaero wrote:


First of all, there is no doubt, that Sweden is the number one country outside Korea. Their player pool is ridiculous and that goes beyond SCII. I think the acceptance of esport is greater there than in Germany. Maybe its the long winters, I dunno.

Second, define "real wrecking machine", because the ones you named from Poland are very similar to the best germans. Nerchio is by all the hype around him an extreme strong and active online player, who needs to back up his results in major lans. His showing at IEM Cologne was good, but thats not enough to put him above players like Socke or Hasu. Actually Goody fits Nerchios description pretty well.

Mana is on fire lately, no doubt about it, but he is overall not better than Socke. Going by both results and skill, they are on the same level (although Socke earned a good chunk more price money, because he is more consistent over a longer time). Right now, Mana has the edge in TvP, while Socke is a little bit better against Zerg. Their Mirror is dead even, which was the reason for their extreme close bronze match in Cologne. Hasu is not far behind both of them.

Poland is very strong and with Tarson and Diestar on the same level as Germany, which is amazing going by their population size. They build together with Ukraine and Germany the second line behind Sweden, which as said above stands at the top.