Bad News Eagles might have made their name as a scrappy underdog, but juanflatroo lets out an exasperated breath at the mere idea of being written off.

"I see some pick’ems and some people are making a mistake, picking us to go 0-3. I’m pretty sure we’ll surprise a lot of people, if we play our game."

If that's you, dear reader, watch your back. juanflatroo doesn't forget, and he certainly doesn't forgive.

Write them off at your own risk

In truth, though, he and the Bad News Eagles have no problem with being written off. It's not just a case of having no problem in it, they thrive in it. They revel in the idea of being underestimated.

When asked if he thinks ENCE might underestimate them, juanflatroo grinned, as if he knew he'd just written this headline for us.

"They're welcome to do that. They're gonna get smashed. They're welcome to do that."

Thanks for that, by the way.

Stephanie Lindgren

He did give a more serious, detailed answer on the ENCE matchup, where he explains why you shouldn't write off ENCE just yet.

"Feeling pretty confident, we’re playing ENCE I think. We played them before, it’s always been close matches to be honest. Even if we lost it always felt like we somehow won.

"The score didn’t say so, I don’t know what happened," as though somehow the scoreboard was conspiring against them, "but I think we need to fix a few mistakes, take every round seriously, grind round by round and I think we’re going to be alright."

Hard work was something of a theme of the interview, with juanflatroo believing that "lose a lot of games" due to being "unfocused" and underestimating what he refers to as "lower tier teams".

Michal Konkol

The flip side of that being, of course, that they "focus a lot more and put everything that we have in the server and the results are always better" against some of the better sides in the world.

Asked what it would take for BNE to become one of the apex predators in world Counter-Strike, juanflatroo responded with a candid self-awareness.

"The first is a mindset I guess, going with the same mindset in every game and not underestimating any team, putting a lot more effort into practice, playing in practice as we play in officials as well, to have the same energy and will to win in practice as well, and I think we can slowly get there."

Few would admit that they struggle to practice consistently, but juanflatroo is nothing if not honest. Proclaiming that "practice kind of gets boring sometimes, you know?", and we feel inclined to nod along as if we know exactly what he means.

Dear reader, we have not practiced like BNE have. We have no idea if it's boring. But his energy is so infectious, that you have to.

BNE picked up Devilwalk in the last few months, who is famous not just for his stint on fnatic where he famously won a Major himself, but for his more lowkey but perhaps equally important time coaching GODSENT, later FunPlus Phoenix.

Devilwalk apparently brings "experience, of course, a lot more calmness, a lot more seriousness" - juanflatroo struggles to contain a knowing giggle - "when it comes to practice", which sounds in line with everything one can see on screen.

There is still a level of disbelief even from juanflatroo at the position he finds himself in. When questioned on whether he thought this would ever happen, that he would play at three Majors, he rolls the question around in his mouth. "Maybe three Majors… I don’t know..."

Quickly though, he regains the same cocksure bravado that he's known for. "Definitely the main goal was to be in the Major and the big tournaments, so it’s working out pretty well, actually, the hard work is paying off slowly, and I’m really proud of it."

When you interact with, or even just watch, Bad News Eagles, there's a real sense of pride. Not just in themselves and what they've achieved, but in where they've come from.

"It’s really nice, it’s a really nice feeling to have your entire country cheering for you, like seeing you on the streets, giving you a smile, some nice words, it’s always good."

Their playstyle is typical of the carefree abandon with which BNE approach life - as though there's nothing left to lose, that fear is an emotion best left unfelt.

juanflatroo believes it's somewhat indicative of the nation as a whole."We’re very impulsive people, we really like to get into people’s faces you know?"

Michal Konkol

And it's not just Bad News Eagles - those who have played against Albanian and/or Kosovar stacks in our own games know that this is just the way the game is played over there.

"I’m not sure they’re trying to be like us, it’s more like being themselves, it’s just how we are. (laughs) Crazy Albanians!"

The big boy trophy

Bad News Eagles start their campaign against ENCE very shortly, but juanflatroo is looking deeper than that, and at what they can achieve overall.

"To be honest I’m expecting a really nice run at this Major, because we’ve been in the Legends Stage twice already and I think now we’re much more confident because it’s our third time. We have that little bit of experience that is going to push us, so we’re just hoping to do a little bit better than the last two times."

juanflatroo's unwavering confidence in his own ability is so unshakeable, we almost believe him when he says they can win the whole thing.

"Definitely, we’re looking to go as far as we can, and win it all. Why not? It’s not an impossibility, so we’ll see."

"It's not an impossibility" has been their motto for as long as we can remember.

And it's becoming harder and harder to not believe in them.