IEM Cologne 2024 Playoffs preview

Every team in the IEM Cologne playoffs can genuinely believe they've got a shot at the title, but by Sunday, five of them will face a harsh reality.

Who will celebrate, and who will be left dreaming of what could have been?

We've gathered the strongest cases for each team’s success, though only time will tell if these hopes are more than just wishful thinking.

G2 Esports vs. MOUZ

The newly formed G2 seems to have quite the “honeymoon” after hammering down every opponent in the group stage. Ironically, Team Spirit, Astralis, and paiN all lost 13-1 on their map picks which is a great testament to just how strong they are.

Aside from their in-game leader, Janusz "Snax" Pogorzelski, the rest of the squad is making waves on the players’ leaderboard, with Nikola “NiKo” Kovač shining brightly as he aims to reclaim his MVP title from last year. The only blemish on G2's record came at the hands of SAW in their opening match.

“We definitely have tough opponents. Obviously you can't expect to have easy opponents in the playoffs, right? So it doesn't really matter, we are confident. We just have to do what we did in the group stage, and with MOUZ I think we have the upper hand to be honest, I think we will be favorites in that matchup.”

– NiKo to HLTV

While they appeared somewhat unsteady during that game, their strong recovery in the following matches should strike fear in MOUZ. Although Kamil "Siuhy" Szkaradek's team has advanced to the playoffs, their lackluster performance against Vitality is enough to make G2 the favorite to win the series. MOUZ's struggles in big events are hardly a surprise, except perhaps during the ESL Pro Leagues and other lower tier tournaments.

While they faced setbacks against teams like G2 and Vitality during IEM Dallas and Cologne, they managed to perform well in the most recent Pro League season. However, expectations are low for their upcoming quarter finals appearance. With Ludvig "Brollan" Brolin serving as their standout player, it’s evident that MOUZ is currently not in a strong position to compete against teams that have established themselves as serious title contenders.

FaZe Clan vs. SAW

FaZe secured the final spot in the playoffs of IEM Cologne after completing one of the greatest comebacks to date in Counter-Strike 2, recovering from 1-11 and 3-12 deficits on the Mirage decider to scrape past Team Liquid in the Group B lower bracket final.

Led by Finn "karrigan" Andersen, FaZe had previously found themselves in dire straits after suffering unexpected losses to less formidable foes. However, their breathtaking comeback reestablished them as a team that should never be underestimated. As demonstrated in past tournaments, karrigan thrives in front of a live audience, and FaZe usually elevates their game when the stakes are high. This is particularly true for Håvard "rain" Nygaard, who continues to make a significant impact despite his long tenure with the organization.

"I told the guys five days before the event that we are going to play some extra hours and we are going to throw the structure out of the boat. The way we've been playing, people are not finding the gaps, we're not [winning] individually, don't understand the full philosophy, we're not playing off each other, so now I'm back to micro-managing like we have a stand-in.”

- karrigan in post match desk

Nonetheless, FaZe’s next challenge will not be a walk in the park, as they face an opposing team that has proven to be this tournament's dark horse. This underdog has already taken down formidable opponents, including G2 and The MongolZ, and even managed to secure a map against NAVI.

The Portuguese team has the potential to pull off an upset or, at the very least, put up a strong fight against FaZe Clan. However, their map pool poses a significant challenge, as both Nuke and Inferno are not only their most frequently played maps but also favorites for FaZe. Moreover, the pressure of the moment could be daunting for the less experienced squad, possibly giving FaZe an upper hand in the matchup.

Natus Vincere

The top-ranked team in the world, Natus Vincere, has advanced directly to the semi-finals after a decisive victory against SAW in the upper bracket final. Following their triumphant win at the Esports World Cup in Riyadh, Aleksi "Aleksib" Virolainen and his teammates maintained their impressive momentum throughout the group stage, solidifying their status as strong contenders for the championship title.

Thanks to outstanding performances from Mihai "iM" Ivan and Valerij "b1t" Vakhovsjkyj, the possibility of clinching the IEM Cologne 2024 title seems closer than ever, as three members of NAVI ranked among the tournament's top players alongside Major MVP Justinas "jL" Lekavičius.

NAVI will compete against the winner of the match between G2 Esports and MOUZ in the quarter-finals, though current momentum appears to favor G2, who are performing at a high level. Regardless of their opponent, NAVI is expected to secure a spot in the grand final for the second consecutive time.

Team Vitality

Vitality have become the second team to clinch a direct spot in the semi-finals, where they will compete against the winner of the match between SAW and FaZe Clan. As the year draws to a close, Team Vitality still faces a playoff jinx, having advanced to the later stages of every tournament they entered in 2024 but failing to secure any titles.

Given their track record, their eventual result in this tournament should not come as a shock. If they emerge victorious and claim the trophy, it would be a testament to their strong individual players. However, if they fall short, it would align with their performance throughout the year, making it less unexpected.

No clear winner at IEM Cologne

Finally, while the quarterfinals may seem predictable, the real test will come in the semifinals as each qualifying team possesses a legitimate shot at the championship. In spite of the winner, we’re up to an exciting showdown in Cologne with the best ranking teams in the world forming a competitive playoffs.

Therefore, make sure to catch all the action as it unfolds in the LANXESS Arena starting the 16th of August, and stay tuned for the latest updates on Strafe.

Featured Image source: ESL

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