World Cup of Pokemon: Teams of 2017
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Art by anundeadboy.
Introduction
The World Cup of Pokémon is back for another year, this time with the highest number of player signups in the tournament's history. We've already witnessed a number of highly entertaining battles in the unprecedented four-way tiebreak to determine the final two spots in Round 1 proper, and with things about to get underway for real, it's now time to get to know the participants a little better. Below you will find overviews and general musings on all of this year's teams.
Teams
Asia
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The first three-time winners and the team with the most overall playoff appearances in World Cup history, this is the highly decorated Asia. Throughout the years, Asia has been home to some of the game's greatest players. In more recent times, this has not always been the case. Every now and then, some of their icons will return and help push them to a decent finish, but this year, only a small handful have returned, and their new generation doesn't appear quite so intimidating to the rest of the field. Chill Shadow is the standout name of the newer players, as he has had a pretty stellar year so far in other competitions. Lord Outrage, while known more for his Ubers accolades, has also shown promise in SM OU, most notably his impressive run in OST 13. As for returning players, DPP legend ToF is more than capable of competing with the best, and two-time Smogon Tour winner Veteran In Love needs no introduction. The always controversial WhiteQueen is a slightly different matter. Depending on his commitment, the former OST winner can be either an elite player or an outright liability. Asia will be desperately hoping for the former, as without a player of his potential quality, we could be seeing one of the very rare years where Top 8 doesn't feature the tournament's most iconic team.
Brazil
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Since winning World Cup in 2014, things haven't gone quite so well for Brazil. In both 2015 and 2016, the former champions failed to even advance from Round 1 pools. Overconfidence, lack of motivation, and yan[sogeking]'s ban were just some of the reasons given to explain their poor results. But after a bad couple of years, many are expecting a return to form for the Brazilians. Success in other major tournaments for a number of their players has raised spirits within the team to an all-time high. In the past year, Eternal Spirit reached the final of OLT III, KratosMana claimed one of the top SM OU records in SPL 8, and Nintendi and Tamahome won SPL 8, producing standout records in ORAS OU and DPP OU, respectively. With the backing of respected veterans such as dekzeh and Tiba, Brazil boasts not only arguably the strongest old gens lineup in the tournament but also one of the most well-rounded as a whole. The one potential weakness could be the BW2 OU slot, once occupied by yan[sogeking], but with players such as Destiny Device and elodin in reserve as well as the great strength they possess in other tiers, this is unlikely to be a major concern to Brazil. If Brazil are ever to repeat their success from the first XY-era World Cup, the first SM-era World Cup could well be the place for them to do it.
Canada
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The past few years have been quite tough for Canada. Since their golden generation's Top 4 finish in 2011, the team has only reached the last eight on one occasion (2014), and they have finished in the bottom two in each of the past two years. But as bad as these statistics may seem, the team itself is unlikely to be fazed by them. This is because Canada knows they have steadily been assembling a very capable group of players, and while the time wasn't quite right before, signs are starting to emerge that things could be about to change. Earlier this year in SPL 8, BW2 aficionado Tokyo Tom's performances helped win the tournament for the Circus Maximus Tigers, while Nedor and osgoode both made big impacts in what were their debut seasons. Rising star Iloveleague has arguably been the most impressive of all, winning the SUMO (SM) OU Release Tournament before going on to reach the semis of OST 13. But perhaps most notably, 2017 also sees the return of YouTube goliath blunder to the starting roster, thereby providing Canada with a massive boost to their SM lineup. With a number of seasoned veterans filling out most of the remaining slots, Canada could very well end up with one of the better lineups going into the tournament.
Europe
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Semis at least. That is the motto of Europe this year, undoubtedly mocking their past history by setting themselves a more realistic target. Since reforming a number of years ago, Europe have repeatedly failed to advance from Round 1 pools. This can most likely be attributed to the fact that a majority of the best European players are from countries with their own teams. Unless the players from these regions are rejected by their main teams, they will not be permitted to play for the Europe team. This leaves Europe with players from underrepresented countries such as the Netherlands and Sweden and players who for whatever reason were not picked up by another team. This isn't to say that they are completely outmatched, though. Even with these requirements Europe do have a few high-level players to choose from. Jimmy Turtwig has been on a tremendous run of form in Smogon Classic III, most notably the DPP and GSC Cups, and has a lot of big game experience. While known more for RBY than GSC, Isa has consistently shown that he is among the best of the best in the oldest generations, and the Belgian duo of MetalGro$$ and ZoroDark are as reliable as just about anyone. Europe will probably have some difficulties with squad depth, but overall they should pose a decent threat this year.
France
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Over the years, France has gained a reputation for underperforming. So often they go into the year as one of the favorites, yet ever since reaching semis in 2011, they have either been eliminated in Top 8 (2012, 2013, 2015) or not made playoffs at all (2014, 2016). It's hard to pinpoint why this has been happening, but it definitely cannot be attributed to a lack of talent. In terms of sheer player quality, France is undeniably one of the best teams here. In McMeghan and Ojama they have two of the best Pokémon players of all time, and this year, their talent pool seems to be even greater again, thanks in part to the acquisition of former Smogon Tour finalist Leftiez. The addition of one of SM's next big things, Kickasser, has helped quash any doubts about their current gen lineup, as has the recent form of Welli0u. They will be a little disappointed that RBY OU is no longer included, because in Peasounay they have arguably the #1 RBYer in the world right now. But it doesn't stop with those. boudouche, Mounts, and Reymedy are just some of the names France can call upon if needed. If this plethora of stars can perform for their country like they perform as individuals, France will have a very realistic chance of winning the blue trophy.
Germany
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What a ride it has been over the past year for Germany. They went into 2016 with a positive attitude, and after some hard-fought battles, they reached the final for the first time in their history. Unfortunately, things would only go downhill from there. Not only did they lose the final (on a tiebreak no less), but it also emerged that some of the team had been involved in "ghosting" in some of the final games. This led to a number of bans for their squad, most notably their star player Conflict, who had been illegally advising plays in some of his team's games. However, since only a few members were involved in this, they did manage to keep a number of their best players for this year's World Cup. Veterans Fakes and Bedschibaer are back to lead the way in old gens, and a great debut season in SPL for Obliviate, coupled with the improving form of the already established Steve Angello, means Germany will be no slouches when it comes to SM OU. Captain xray will certainly have his work cut out for him if his team is to live up to last year's performance, but this is by no means an impossible job, and even if they appear a little weaker on paper, not a single person will be taking this Germany lightly.
Greece
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Greece are once again going into World Cup as big underdogs. Many were skeptical last year when they entered the tournament with a team composed mostly of relatively unknown players, but they exceeded every single expectation by finishing as #2 seed and reaching the last eight. However, while they have managed to hold onto their two superstars, Astamatitos and Fear, few of their other returning players have played or succeeded in any major tournaments since then, bringing their overall experience and knowledge into question (particularly in SM OU). In addition to this, the lack of new players seems to be resulting in a familiar look to last time, just without the surprise factor. Captain roudolf13 has also been disadvantaged by the removal of RBY OU, which is known to be his main tier. It's not all doom and gloom for Greece, though. Despite the lack of accolades outside of old gen duo Astamatitos and Fear, the team possesses a tremendous spirit, as well as camaraderie that rivals even the best. They also know how to overcome the odds, as proven by last year, so while little is expected of them this year, they will no doubt believe that they can silence their critics for a second straight year and repeat, if not better, their historic performance from 2016.
Italy
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Coming off a performance that saw them achieve their best ever World Cup placing, Italy will no doubt be entering this year's tournament with a lot of confidence. After many years of Round 1 failure, Italy powered all the way through to the last four last year, only losing in a tiebreak against Germany. But for as much confidence as this showing may give them, there's definitely some doubts about their roster. The removal of RBY OU means they can no longer call upon arguably their most potent player in marcoasd, Tele's ban leaves them without one of their top current gen players from last year, and the almost complete lack of activity over the past year from PokèManiac Livio raises concerns about his current level of play. Not only that, but Italy haven't had any prodigies or big prospects making waves in the tournament scene lately. Most of their team, even the newer additions, have been around for a while now, and yet they have struggled to truly establish themselves as elite players. The obvious exception to this is Alexander. The former OLT winner is regularly making deep runs in a variety of major tournaments, including Smogon Tour 23 and Smogon Classic III. Players such as -Snow and Tricking have also put up some decent results, but with so few true superstars on the team, it's hard to see Italy repeating the success they enjoyed in 2016.
Latin America
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Recent years have not been kind to Latin America. Taking last place in 2015 and not even qualifying in 2016, the modern LA team is seen as a shell of its former self. Gone are the days they would be considered one of the favorites to win the tournament. Just qualifying for Round 1 was the main objective this year, and even though they did reach this goal by virtue of knocking off Bangladesh in pre-tournament qualification, expectations are still low for this once great side. Over the past few years, a lot of their most recognizable players from their glory days moved on to different teams, mostly to Brazil, and as a result have left LA struggling to field a threatening lineup. The big hope this year comes in the form of Posho. Skilled in a number of generations, the former Smogon Tour finalist will be looking to make a major statement in his first World Cup campaign. Lcans will also provide quality to a somewhat unfamiliar-looking SM lineup, while old gen regulars .Mx, CyberOdin, and NightFox should bring much needed experience to the overall roster. However, LA still lacks a lot of things, particularly squad depth and recognized SM mains, and with so many star-studded teams in this year's tournament, securing a top-half finish is going to require an almighty effort.
Oceania
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By virtue of winning three consecutive World Cups around the turn of the decade, Oceania established itself as one of the all-time greats of the tournament. A team of superstars with outstanding work ethic and team chemistry made them a truly daunting prospect to face. But after their run ended in 2012, many of their players became less active, and by the time XY arrived at the end of 2013, the number of active current gen players from their old squad was approaching zero. There also hasn't been much of an influx of new talent to take the reins in the modern era, with captain Snowy being the only player from the team to start in an SM OU slot in the most recent season of SPL. Players such as Escavalier and Googly are solid additions, but they can't be expected to match the quality of the SM OU elite. In old gens, Oceania should still be able to match just about any team, though. Despite not being active in modern generations, babidi1998, Earthworm, and panamaxis are all still incredible players in the older generations, and they are arguably as good as anyone in their respective tiers. If Oceania's SM players can play to their best, then the strength of their old gens core might be enough to take them deep into the tournament. But anything less is likely to result in a second straight year of Round 1 misery.
Spain
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Arguably the best team to have never won World Cup, Spain are being touted by many as this year's second favorites. The Spaniards have reached the final four in each of the past three years (with only a tiebreak separating them and US East in the semis last year), and this year they are boasting perhaps their strongest roster to date. This is less because of new arrivals and more because their newer players from last year have developed into massive threats. Poek in particular has become one of the game's most feared players. In the past year alone, he has won OLT III, reached the playoffs of Smogon Tour 23, finished in the Top 8 of OST 13, and produced a 7-2 record in SPL 8. Axel10 also had a stellar showing in SPL 8, reaching the final with an 8-3 record. Add players such as reiku and Trosko to that, and you have one of the best modern gen lineups in the tournament. They are equally well equipped in old gens, too. In M Dragon, Malekith, and SoulWind, Spain possess three of the best players from over the past five years or more. They're also all highly experienced in multiple generations, meaning that they can play a big role in helping the entire team's progression. It's hard to find a weakness in Spain's roster, and if they play to expectations, it's going to take a very good side to stop them.
UK
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It's looking like it could be another difficult year for UK. It has been a number of years since they last progressed from Round 1 pools, and with no new big prospects emerging, it's being predicted that things aren't going to change for them this time around. The majority of their signup pool consists of unknown players, many of whom are completely inexperienced in tournaments, and while few of these (if any) will be added to the roster, the only alternative is to stick with largely the same team that has failed in the past. However, it should be noted that UK's failure as a team isn't always because of lack of individual quality. Captains 6A9 Ace Matador and p2 are both very good players, with the former being a legend from the past and the latter being a rapidly improving SM OU main. Gingy, when active, is always capable of a good showing, and if they can acquire his services again this year, there will be little reason to doubt that he'll be able bring home some wins once more. And of course, they can call upon the UK's best known citizen, the incomparable Jamvad. The options for old gens are lacking a little bit, though, and outside of 6A9 Ace Matador, they don't have anyone who would be regarded as "world class" for these spots. Unless UK can make the most of the strengths they do possess, another Round 1 exit is likely awaiting them.
US Central
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US Central has been in the shadow of their American rivals East and West for a long time now. Since 2011, every World Cup final has featured at least one of their counterparts, and yet Central has been unable to even reach the last four in this time. Even more concerning is that they only made it through Round 1 pools once during this period (2015). This is troubling because they have made few changes to the roster that went out at the first stage last year, so if it's a matter of player quality, they could be doomed to repeat their past failures. However, while the roster itself is largely unchanged, some of the players within the roster have themselves changed. reyscarface is a prime example of this, as the long-time old gen player has adapted extremely well to the SM OU metagame and is currently seen as one of the best around. HSA has also returned to a much higher level of activity than he had last time and could prove to be a big threat in any generation he is placed in. There's also the matter of Finchinator. As much as he brings as a competitor, there's few, if any, who can match his commitment and determination as a team supporter. With a year of captaincy under his belt, he will be able to do an even greater job of leading the team. They do suffer a bit from a lack of depth in SM OU, but with Finchinator as captain, even if their roster isn't among the top eight, Central as an overall team might very well be.
US East
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Unquestionably the favorites to win this year's World Cup. Despite an unprecedented run that has seen them reach five consecutive finals (and win three trophies in the process), US East has shown absolutely no signs of slowing down. With their SM OU starters consisting of ABR, FlamingVictini, John, PDC, and TDK, East possesses quite possibly the strongest current gen lineup of any team in the multi-gen era of World Cup. If this wasn't intimidating enough, their old gens lineup includes Smogon Classic II winner -Tsunami- and two-time Smogon Tour winner BKC. Add Folgorio, idiotfrommars, and Jayde to that, three of the top players in their respective generations, and you have one of the strongest teams ever assembled in World Cup. As pointed out by a number of opposing players, even US East's substitutes would be surefire starters on almost every other team. But as East will tell you themselves, this will be no stroll in the park, regardless of how good their roster is. There's many other extremely capable teams in this tournament, and as it has proven many times, Pokémon is a highly volatile game. While they are more than deserving favorites, US East will know that even the smallest mistake could be costly, and they will have to be at their absolute best to retain their title.
US Metro
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Once a near-permanent fixture in Round 2 pairings, US Metro has since experienced a significant fall from grace. In 2016, Metro suffered their worst ever World Cup, finishing rock bottom in the Round 1 table. This is something to feel ashamed of, but more importantly, finishing last means you must compete in a pre-tournament qualifier against new applicants in order to remain in the tournament the following year. Fortunately for Metro, they were able to overcome this playoff and advance to Round 1 once again. The silver lining to all of this is that this victory should be a great confidence boost to a team that really needed it. That said, their roster is looking a fair bit stronger than it did last year, anyway. obii and Star are rapidly improving players who are expected to excel in SM, the return of Adam and Funkasaurus provides both experience and an extra bit of quality to the team, and in aim and JabbaTheGriffin they have two very trustworthy old gen battlers. There's still going to be questions about a couple of things, particularly depth in SM OU, but overall things are starting to look a lot better for the forgotten USA representatives. An improvement from 2016 is almost certain, and even a place in Top 8 is not too improbable.
US West
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Lastly, we have US West. In recent years, it has been a case of consistently good but rarely great for the West Coast team. Few teams reach the second round as regularly as West do, yet not since 2012 have they been able to claim the ultimate prize. This year they will be hoping to put things right as they go into World Cup with another formidable roster. In craing ;_; they have one of the absolute top battlers of the modern era of Pokémon, with excellent performances in both OST and Smogon Tour this year proving just how good he can be. The rest of their SM lineup could be seen as a little weaker by comparison but is still undoubtedly very competent. psychicmewtwo and z0mOG in particular have put up some good results in recent months, and Lax and rozes have consistently proven to be good players. A quality old gens pool led by DPP expert Philip7086 rounds off the starting lineup, with substitutes including in-form dice and the enigmatic Blightbringer. However, the potential problem facing US West is the lack of change from last year. Many of the teams around them have improved, some quite significantly, whereas West remains largely the same as before. Unless they can form exceptionally strong team chemistry, another year of "good, but not great" is expected to be in the cards for the former winners.
*Note: You may have noticed that the previously advertised Africa and Middle East (Afrabs) team were not featured in this list. This is because they elected to withdraw from this year's World Cup due to a low number of eligible players. This is also the reason why two of the four teams competing in the pre-tournament qualifying tiebreak advanced to Round 1 instead of the usual one.
Final Thoughts
A plethora of great teams, a variety of players from all different communities, and a whole bunch of new players looking to showcase themselves on the big stage. There's few tournaments quite like World Cup, and the twelfth edition of this legendary tournament is shaping up to be the best yet. Whether you're a player, a supporter, or just a casual spectator, there's something for everyone here. If you want to watch the battles live, then make sure to check out http://smogtours.psim.us/, and if you just want to keep up with your favorite players and teams, there will be a thread in the World Cup of Pokemon forum that contains all of the replays from this event.
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