RobbaN: "I think [the stage] is where we belong"
In a crazy series, FaZe beat out NAVI after coming back from 9-15 down on the final map Anubis to secure their spot in playoffs. The Major hasn't been short of upsets and FaZe and NAVI being in a 2-2 elimination match was the culmination of the two team's losses against underdog teams in the Legends stage.
After a close map one on Overpass, the FaZe side regrouped to demolish NAVI on Mirage with a 16-5 scoreline. The decider would be Anubis and FaZe looked out of it, and the tournament, finding themselves 15-9 down and on the brink of going home. The international squad bounced back with six rounds in a row to force overtime, before they closed it out 22-19.
The result means that FaZe will be making their return to the playoff stage of the Major for the first time since their win in Antwerp after the team was sent out 0-3 at IEM Rio.
The way this match played out is pretty insane, I feel like it could have been a Final. the guys never gave up the communication was on in the end. I think we played really good CS:GO today, even though we lost Overpass it felt like we were very competitive on the map. I'm just happy to secure the playoff spot.
For the last CS:GO Major questions have been brought up regarding the seeding, leading several teams to 0-2 records or high-profile matchups for qualifications. In particular, the adoptions of the Buchholz seeding have been pointed to as the main culprit behind such controversial early contests.
Yeah, of course, I feel like it's a problem but I don't have a solution. I think no matter how you put it, it's going to be bad for some teams and good for others. I don't really care, we play the format and just go from there.
Not only for FaZe, but several teams have fallen victim to their own mentality. As FaZe is no stranger to losing against comebacks, remaining resilient and mentally strong is a focal point of the squad. For RobbaN, it's just part of the job.
I mean I do everything I can right? There are different ways to do it to handle different problems. I feel the most important thing to do is to wake up on a day and feel good and feel ready to fight. You are ready to give everything you have all the energy you need to put into this game is so much before the actual game starts. Today we delivered some days you come to a match and you feel like something is off, today was not one of those days.
The squad has been fairly inconsistent since 2022 but seems to be coming into their own now at the last CS:GO Major. With the European mix team finally getting their feet under them after going down early on, their coach expects them to rise to the occasion once they're in the arena.
I really didn't miss out on Rio, we just sucked in Rio. In Antwerp, I missed out though. I think we always get a little bit of a stage buff, I think that is where we belong. It's every player's dream to play in front of a crowd and the atmosphere in the arena. Let's see who we get to play against in the arena and we will do everything we can to win.
FaZe do not yet know who their opponent is, but will be preparing hard on their own game and everything else as they look to add a second Major to their cabinet this Spring.
