NationWars IV - Group Stages

Only a day after the qualifiers, which has reduced the number of participating national teams by half, NationWars IV kicks off with the group stage. While most of the groups will be played out early next year, Group USA is due in 2016.

The United States, who have once more shaken off the shackles of their British overlords with a narrow 4-3 victory in the newest sequel to the Independence War, will face Ukraine, whose old school team was triumphant against the Russians thanks to an all kill by an impressive Kas.

In the second match of the night we have a duel between north and south: Team Norway—qualified through a solid team performance against their next opponents’ neighbour New Zealand—meets Australia. The Aussies come off a strong victory themselves, eliminating Romania with a score of 4-1 from the tournament.

Only two teams will remain in the competition, however: One team qualifies for the playoffs today and one tomorrow, when the rest of the group is played out. Which country will be left in the dust, forgotten in history, and which one can build a legacy that will stand against the test of time?

USA vs Ukraine

Team USA: Neeb | puCK | Nathanias
Team Ukraine: Bly | DIMAGA | Kas

The qualifiers have already confirmed Team USA's mantra in this competition: It’s all about Neeb. Neither Nathanias nor puCK were able to put a point on the score board for their team against the British line-up, which looks tame compared to some of the other rosters present in the tournament, and even Neeb struggled against British veteran DeMusliM. The Protoss player managed to complete the US-victory after his revival, raking in all four wins in total, but US-weakness has been revealed. That said, even a team consisting of Neeb and some support cast is a dangerous foe. No one in their right mind would ever underestimate Neeb after what happened this year, and puCK is certainly capable of taking a few maps here and there to help out his colleague.

Team Ukraine is not an easily dismissed opponent though. Indeed, looking at the line-up many viewers will feel six years younger all of a sudden, sent back to a different time. Bly, DIMAGA and Kas (together with the one and only White-Ra, of course) reads like a line-up Ukraine would’ve already fielded back in 2010 when StarCraft 2 was still fresh and unexplored, which is a testament to the sheer amount of experience this roster has to offer.

Experience is not the only thing this team has: Kas just all killed the Russian team, which must certainly have a certain spiciness to it for the Ukrainian line-up, boosting the morale of his comrades—as well as his own. DIMAGA and Kas might not have the punch they both had a few years ago, but the qualifier showed that even the old guard is capable of achieving impressive feats. They both are absolutely a match for the US-players outside of Neeb. And let's be honest; every player in StarCraft 2, be they great or small, successful or irrelevant, will sooner or later fall to Bly in one way or another. Even Neeb.

Team USA certainly holds the trump card in their hands with Neeb, and thus have greater potential to simply all kill their opponents, but Team Ukraine looks like it has the more balanced and experienced team, which might be able to take down even the super weapon that is Neeb. This will either be a short and violent all kill by Team Neeb, or a long, violent affair in favour of Team 2010 All Stars.

Norway vs

Australia

Team Norway: Snute | Scythe | Evire
Team Australia: iaguz | Probe | Seither

Norway, together with Brazil, France and Germany, are one of only four nations left with a roster containing all three races, and thus the most strategic flexibility. However, Zerg will be the most valuable race for the Scandinavians, as their ace player will in all likelihood be Snute. The Liquid player already secured Norway’s qualification against New Zealand with two wins over Petraeus, after Scythe and Evire had disposed of the other opponents.

This seems to be a sound strategy going forward as well: Send out Snute last, after Scythe and Evire already weakened and battered the adversaries, to minimize the risk of him being sniped out early on. New Zealand’s team consisting of only Zerg players might have helped this approach, as they always knew what would come next and could prepare accordingly.

It’s going to be a bit different against Australia. The Aussies field two Terrans and a Protoss—no zergs in the roster is a bit strange given the SEA region's traditional strength. They landed a very safe and solid victory over Romania with both Seither and iaguz taking two maps each, not revealing any huge weaknesses in their line-up. With Norway’s greatest asset highly visible to everyone, they would do well to prepare to get rid of Snute—twice—while not underestimating Norway’s other players.

Likewise, the Europeans are advised to not take Australia too lightly. ROOT’s iaguz is best known internationally, but Probe and Seither are not to be joked with either: They are very capable of challenging any EU Grandmaster, and Seither showed that against Romania by taking out NightEnD and Light.

Still, the favourites come from the far north, as they have more all kill potential and are the more rounded out line-up overall. If Norway can keep their Aasgard up, they should be able to Ragnarök this competition and send Australia straight to Valhalla. Should the Aussies triumph against the odds however, they might make up for the shame of the Great Emu War in 1932, finally cleansing their image from this crushing defeat through such an important victory.