WFAS World Cup

World Cup Match Review (Turkey vs Azerbaijan)

Take it from someone who hasn't played in any of WFAS competitions prior to this, I was actually in awe watching this match unfold. Granted, Mags and myself were a bit saddened that the other two matches were not happening due to rescheduling, so we were expecting a quick match, especially given the fact that Azerbaijan's team was the latest addition and we figured that the team will probably not be able to come together this fast, especially considering that their first opponent was none other than Turkey!!! But even as the first battle unfolded we quickly realized that this was no ordinary walk in the park for Turkey, and clearly not a first competition game for Azerbaijan.

So what did happen? I bet most of you are wondering what the hell is he talking about? Well, for starters, team Azerbaijan began the match as if they were the winners (or at least finalists) of every single WFAS tournament. The first match took place on Marketplace and just like Turkish players, Azeris were quick to camp the alley, position shooters and move their infantry in coordinated and determined formations. To top it all off, even with flags spawning away, they moved in organized and highly coordinated fashion. The whole first match of ten games was basically a tit for tat, and the result was astonishing (5-5). The second match started on the Fields, and to our continued bewilderment (by we I mean myself and Mags, cause I am sure he could relate to my feelings) the rounds went back and forth. In fact, the only difference I could observe was the way in which Turkish and Azeris team deployed on this map. Azeris basically stayed in the village, all the way to the flags. They appeared to have adopted a defensive stance. The Turkish team finally came out of shock - I can't really call it anything else, because it was clear from the way the match was unfolding they did not at all anticipate this type of performance from Azerbaijan. To them this was no longer a walk in the park... hell it was not even about toughing it out... To the Turks it was now do or die, as they were looking at either a tie or loss. Yes, guys, this match of 20 games went all twenty games not because of ego or pride - it went all this way because until the last battle, this entire match was not decided!!!

Turkish players as Poland finally defeated Azeri team as Sweden on the Fields, but long after the musket smoke faded and the hissing of the hussaria subsided, we were still left with a few questions.

Was it just a very good game with an almost impossible upset? Sure. It could have been just that. It could have been that Azerbaijan as a team just came together naturally in the matter of days and almost took out one of the best teams in the tournament.

Did anyone "ghost" in this round? Ghosting is a term I use in reference to players using different tags to pretend they are someone else. In regards to this question, I can't truly answer it because I simply don't know enough players in MP to know if someone actually 'ghosted' here. But this match did feature some incredible shots by people who moved and fought like a bunch of pros. I am not even going into cavalry tactics of the Azeris on the Marketplace.

One thing is for sure... whatever element of surprise Azeri team had it has now lost because now they will be taken extremely seriously by whoever their next opponent is. Turkish team had to pull out all kinds of tricks and draw heavily on the experience of its veterans to pull off a win here. And in the final match they succeeded.

Strategy wise, especially in the last battle, their cavalry simply managed to wreck havoc on Azeri infantry during flag rush and this left Azeri shooters dangerously unprotected. Without pike protection, they succumbed to repeated Hussar charges.

One final thought on all this... I truly hope that I am as surprised and excited as I was during this match, because honestly this is what World Cup is all about. And if our matches continue in the same fashion we are bound to make history with some incredible games!!!

Thanks to both teams and congratulations to Turkey!!! In this match, there were no losers. It was a spectacular event and regardless of the side stories, this event featured two very abled and determined squads that put on quite a show in skill and coordination.

Ele