Natus Vincere continued their impressive performances at the IEM Cologne tournament, reaching the grand finals for the third consecutive time. In the semifinals against MOUZ NAVI, they came away with a 2-0 victory, although this result was achieved with great effort. Despite the win, the game left questions about the team's current form, which makes the upcoming final against Vitality even more intriguing.
This is interesting because the NAVI team, being one of the best in the world, is again proving its high level but is also facing some challenges. In an interview with HLTV, coach Andrew “B1ad3” Gorodensky admits that the team must improve their game to adequately face Vitality in the finals. According to B1ad3, “we need to show a much better game if we want to beat Vitality.” Given the heat and importance of the tournament, the question is whether NAVI can pull off their third win in 2024.
A tough road to the finals
NAVI had to withstand some serious pressure in the semifinals against MOUZ, especially on the Inferno map. Although they started the game confidently, winning the first half 10-3, a series of mistakes and lack of coordination allowed their opponent to take the game into overtime. However, through individual skill and adjustments in strategy, NAVI was able to take the upper hand in overtime and seal the victory.
Coach B1ad3 noted that the team lost concentration during the second round on the CT side. “We thought there were two B's and there were three. Maybe we were rushed,” he said, adding that mistakes and lack of coordination played a role. On the Mirage map, the team also faced difficulties, winning only four rounds on the terrorist side. According to B1ad3, one of the key problems was being overly hasty in some rounds and not doing enough to deal with the opponent's positional errors. Nevertheless, NAVI were able to hold the lead and win the match, which allowed them to advance to the finals.
Final against Vitality
NAVI has a tough task ahead of them, the final against Vitality, a team they have not faced this year. Vitality have approached the tournament in great form, and as B1ad3 points out, NAVI need to improve their game significantly in order to emerge victorious. He emphasizes: “The two best teams in the tournament will meet each other, I think the best team will win, but we certainly need to add to our game if we want to win.”
Winning this tournament would be a significant achievement for NAVI, especially in the lead up to the Major. For most players, this will be the first trophy in Cologne, which adds to the importance of this victory. However, as the coach points out, it is important not to overemphasize the importance of this success to avoid putting unnecessary pressure on the players. “It's good if we don't think about it as players. Because, let's be honest, this squad is not like FaZe when you open their profiles and there are dozens of trophies,” says B1ad3.
Final Thoughts
The IEM Cologne Grand Final promises to be a tense and exciting matchup where NAVI will have to show their best game to defeat the powerful Vitality team. The outcome of this final may have a serious impact on the team's future career and its readiness for the next major tournaments.
Source: HLTV
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