'StefanoPinna': My aim was just to make it out of the groups
Stefano Pinna talks about finishing as runner-up at the FIFA eWorld Cup 2018
Became first Belgian to reach Final Showdown of a Grand Final
Pinna: “My target for next season is to win a major tournament”
Hardly anyone saw Stefano 'StefanoPinna' Pinna coming. After ending the group stage as the fourth-strongest player in the competition, the Belgian impressed in the knockout rounds to book his place in the Final Showdown, where he lost 4-0 over two legs to the phenomenon that is Mosaad ‘Msdossary’ Aldossary.
“I was understandably very disappointed immediately after the match,” Pinna told FIFA.com. “But now, after a few days, I’m very proud of my performance at the Grand Final.”
After sweeping aside six-time Grand Finalist and 2014 champion August ‘Agge’ Rosenmeier, two-time Grand Finalist Mohammed ‘MoAubameyang’ Harkous and FICWC 2016 champion Marcus ‘Marcuzo’ Jorgensen in the knockout stages, PlayStation specialist Pinna ultimately came up short in the Final Showdown against Xbox titan ‘Msdossary’.
“I knew it would be very difficult and that I needed to have a lead in the PlayStation game,” he explained. Having lost 2-0 on his ‘home’ console, the tie was all but over when he fell behind in the second leg. “When he scored his first goal in the Xbox match, I knew it would be really tough to turn the Final Showdown in my favour.”
Pinna was full of praise for ‘Msdossary’, who dominated the competition in the group stage by scoring 22 goals while conceding just eight. “It’s so difficult to play against him. He controls the entire game and every attack is extremely dangerous.”
After winning the FUT Champions Cup in Manchester earlier this year, Msdossary’s tournament experience gave him an added advantage. When asked why he was unable to clinch the title, Pinna said: “Playing in front of such a big crowd didn’t make me nervous, as I always stay calm and can deal with the pressure. Instead it was my lack of experience of playing in a final.”
Nevertheless, Pinna is justifiably proud of his performance. “I didn’t expect to make it so far, as the Grand Final was the biggest tournament I’ve ever played in,” he said. “My aim was just to make it out of the group stage.”
When asked what it meant to be the first Belgian ever to reach the Final Showdown, he replied: “I’m very proud of myself, and it’s a great achievement for the Belgian FIFA community.”
The PSV Eindhoven player signed off with a statement of intent, saying: “My target for next season is to win a major tournament.”