eNations Cup – National teams now also in eSport

Germany and 19 other nations compete against each other in eSport. The match will be played by FIFA, with two players each representing a football association. Germany is one of the top favorites with England – at the first virtual international tournament.

What is the eNations Cup?

The “eNations Cup” is the official international match tournament in FIFA eSport. 20 nations will play on 13 and 14 April 2019 and represent their respective countries. In contrast to the other Global Series tournaments, two players compete for a country and can only win the title as a team. The tournament will be played in London.

Who plays for the German Football Association?

The decision was made by the DFB without a selection tournament. According to the association, the reason for this was the short-term invitation to the eNations Cup and the subsequent discussion at Presidium level. The choice fell on a duo of the SV Werder Bremen: Michael ‘MegaBit’ Bittner and Mohammed ‘MoAuba’ Harkous are the first official eNational players for Germany. Both are the best German players in the world rankings on their console, the Xbox and Playstation respectively.

How is the DFB national team structured?

Unlike the other nations, the DFB appoints a total of 21 players to the national team squad. The DFB thus draws an important parallel to real football, was emphasized in the presentation. However, only two players can play in the eNations Cup.

From the large squad, Bittner and Harkous, as well as two substitutes, were chosen to replace them in the event of an impediment. In addition, the DFB announced the nomination of a national coach to temporarily supervise the national team. The choice fell with Benedikt ‘Salz0r’ Saltzer (VfL Wolfsburg) on a professional, who can show some at experience.

Which nations will take part?

In the group, Germany will face Norway, Argentina, Brazil, and Sweden. The supposedly easiest opponents are the Norwegians, who have hardly attracted any attention on the scene so far. England will be the host nation. From Europe, there will also be Denmark, Finland, France, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain. Australia, China, Mexico, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Russia, and the USA will also be taking part in the competition, which will be made up of 20 nations.

How is the game played?

As in the Virtual national League, a match consists of three games. The matches will be played one against one per console (Xbox and Playstation). As the third game, the teams play a two against two on one of the two consoles. Each match ends after 90 in-game minutes and is rewarded with one point in a draw and three points in a win, just like in real football. This means that up to nine points can be awarded in each match. From the group phase, it goes into a knockout system.

How big are the chances for Germany?

The Bremen players already know the played mode well from the national competition. As the first champion of the “Virtual Bundesliga Club Championship”, they proved consistently good performances throughout the season. This could become an advantage over other nations that don’t have a comparable national competition. Bittner and Harkous are also regularly considered favorites at international tournaments.

What influence does the decision have on the position of the DFB?

In the person of Vice President Dr. Rainer Koch, the DFB once again emphasized its efforts to promote eSport. There are also concepts in the amateur field. The decision to promote eSport was taken unanimously by the Executive Committee. However, support only refers to football simulations. “It is incredibly important for an umbrella organization like the German Football Association that wherever there is football, the DFB should also be on it,” explained Koch.

Michael ‘MegaBit’ Bittner sees a positive influence of such tournaments on the perception of eSports in the long run: “Team competitions like the eNations Cup are very authentic in order to make people familiar with eSports. That’s why I see a lot of potential in them and think that there will be more such competitions in the coming years.”