Piccolomini, captain of Italy: Spoiler  | Q. Your team is one of the 'veteran' teams of the Cavalry Nations Cup, it has always taken part with great motivation in the past. Do you feel the same motivation and dedication in this year's Italian team ?
Piccolomini: I believe our players are not veterans this year. The Italian team has changed a lot compared to two years ago, most of the old Lupi players are not present. I still think the players are showing a great motivation, although some of them are begginers, but even with that fact we try out best.
Q. You were in the first Italian team in 2014 as a player, then became the captain in 2015 and you still captain the team this year. What would you say your very best Cavalry Nations Cup memory would be ?
Piccolomini: Definitely last year: the match against Turkey. It was the opening match of the CNC, and we were losing 7-2 against the Turks. I told my men "Do you really think we are going to lose this match?", and we started fighting our very best, not losing anymore round. We managed to come back to 7-7, and finally won the match 8-7. It was not easy at all, nothing was taken for granted. After the match the whole team and myself were very proud, it was a great success.
Q. Your next match is against Poland, which is the other heavy cavalry team of your group. How do you feel about this upcoming challenge and how did you prepare your team to it ?
Piccolomini: First of all, it'll be a very interesting match, because it's gonna be the only heavy vs heavy match in this CNC. I have prepared my team by showing them how to fight in group. Our previous matches against hussars were difficult, because they knew how to face us. Against cuirassiers it should be better. We had a friendly match against Poland, which we have lost 8-4 if I recall well. I am confident, and we will really be trying to win that match, we'd really like to.
Q. This year you have decided of a big change for the Italian team, by going heavy cavalry instead of hussars. What were the reasons of this choice ? Would you say you enjoy the event more as heavy cavalry ?
Piccolomini: The first reason is that our players are mostly new recruits, it's not like we have a team full of experienced hussars like last years. Having that many new players, we could learn heavy cavalry more easily. Second reason is that we believe that cuirassiers have an advantage against hussars, thanks to the longer swords. It's a difficult challenge though, because when playing as heavy cavalry, if you start winning it can become very easy thanks to the number advantage, but on the other hand if you start losing you can go down very fast, you have to be very careful. As cuirassiers we stick together more, we feel more like a team, we have a more passionate teamwork, so I think this new gameplay and teamplay setup makes us see the event differently. I'm originally a hussar player, but I really enjoy playing as both units.
Q. What comment would you give about the teams in your group ?
Piccolomini: It was a very difficult group, with very experienced teams: France, and the UK which has improved a lot, and as heavies it wasn't easy. We think we've improved between our first match against the United Kingdom and our second against France. I remember some British players telling me they were scared of us because they had won a very tense friendly match against us last year, but it turned out they played very well against us. France was more confident, and we did a good job against them, we put up a good fight, and that gives me good hopes for the upcoming matches against Poland and the Czechs & Slovakians. I think our team becomes stronger match after match. |
Traeeseron, captain of Spain:
Spoiler Q. Your team has two very big matches coming, against Benelux and the Germanic Countries. Are you confident, and would you say your team is prepared for these challenges ?
Traeeseron: I can't say I'm confident about these matches. I know it will be really hard. But I think we are ready for the challenges, we have trained very hard for these matches. I don't know if we are going to get two victories in these two matches, but I'm sure we are gonna put up a very good fight anyway.
Q. Your team did not reach the final stage in 2014, and reached the semi-final in 2015, losing to the Germanic Countries then winning the bronze final, taking the third place. Would your say your team improves with the years, and what are your hopes for this year's edition ?
Traeeseron: Of course, we have been improving since the first edition. Now we have a better team, because we have new talented players associated with veterans. This year I would really like to reach the semi finals again, or even the final. But I know it's not gonna be easy at all, some very very strong teams will be in the way, like France, or the United Kingdom. But I think we have our chances, just as much as the other teams, and we'll do our best.
Q. You and Archer have been the only ones who have captained your countries' teams 3 times our of 3 Cavalry Nations Cups organized. What do you like the most about leading your country, and what would you say is the hardest thing about being the captain ?
Traeeseron: I don't care much about being a leader, I do care about achieving our aims. I like the feeling I have when we have done a good job, when I feel satisfied by the effort I've put in and the answer I get from the team. The hardest thing about being the captain is keeping the spirit and motivation of the team up and high during the whole competition, keeping the team alive.
Q. Have you made big changes in the roster with the years ? Would you say you miss anyone from the past two editions who is not here this year, and are you satisfied with the team you have gathered this year ?
Traeeseron: I've made many changes from the first edition to the second one. The first year we had some players from infantry, not experienced at all. I didn't know many Spanish cavalry players by then either. For the second edition we were all cavalry players, so that was a big change. But from the second one to the third one there were not many changes. The changes I've made are due to some of our old members being inactive or not playing the game anymore. The new additions to the team are motivated people, but not very experienced in this kind of tournaments. I'm quite satisfied with this year's team nonetheless. You asked me if I missed someone. Well, yes I do. I miss my vice-captain from last editions, TheWillyM4AK, who, even if he's in the roster, is very busy at the moment and we haven't seen him in a while now. I also miss Fabri, who is a close friend, but he is not active since long ago.
Q. We are quite used to seeing many Spanish players playing on the CavGF server all the time. How would you describe the team spirit within the members, and would you say everyone is as motivated as you are to go far in the tournament ?
Traeeseron: We have a really cool mood in the team, we all get along quite well. When some of us are going to the Cavalry Groupfighting server, they call the others to join them and gather on the same TeamSpeak, that's why you can see many Spaniards playing together at the same time. We all are motivated, or at least our most active players are, and they are about 70-80% of the team. Some of us have been close friends for many years ago, we've been playing together for much time, either Warband and many other games. We know each other very well and we know the play style of each one and how to play together, which is a big plus for us.
|  |
|
