Rogue vs FC Schalke 04

For our first semifinal clash of the day we have a rather thrilling match-up -- Rogue vs. Schalke 04. Now, on paper, there's not much to get excited about, and you'd be remiss if you thought this was just one mediocre Best of 5. But to say that you'd be wrong, would truly be an understatement.

This is not just one random Best of 5, but rather an exciting clash between two exceptional competitors; two teams with insane amounts of potential along with stellar, attention-grabbing narratives. Obviously, G2 Esports fighting against Fnatic a day later takes the cake hype-wise, but there's a lot to like about this match-up as well.

In fact, this Best of 5 could, in all fairness, end up being more exciting than the one following it primarily because these two teams have nothing to lose, and they're also fairly even when it comes to overall potential and skill.

Perhaps the most thrilling aspect of this Best of 5, are the many narratives that have sprung over the last couple of months. These exciting storylines create not only an air of intrigue, but also a fair bit of hype and momentum.

Schalke 04 really hasn't achieved much over their LEC stint. Sure, they had moments of brilliance, along with more than just a few commendable achievements, but in the grand scheme of things this organization was always rather underwhelming. The potential was often present, but they rarely capitalized. They never went to Worlds, they never won an LEC title, and they never even came close to actually leaving a mark.

But even though they haven't accomplished much, they're still a feared and highly respected adversary -- regardless of line-up. With Schalke 04, there's always something to like, and someone to root for. They're always competitive, and they always find a way to make things interesting. At this point in time, the European region would truly be worse without them. Even though they're somewhat shackled to their gatekeeper status, they always find new and exciting ways to surprise us, and their most recent line-up is no exception.

After making just a single change to their roster, Schalke was able to fully realize their inherent potential. Trick, the two-time LEC MVP recipient, was the missing piece of the puzzle. His grit and cerebral playstyle were exactly what Schalke needed. Now, their Summer Split run wasn't perfect. Not in the slightest. But the fact that they were able to finish fourth (with a very commendable record) tells us all we need to know. They fought their hearts out, they lost games they should've won, but also managed to upset the status quo when we would least expect it.

In short, they were a layered threat, that could tango with the very best the LEC had to offer. The fact that they were building synergy with their new jungler only made things more complicated, but they persevered nonetheless.

They're well-rounded and have multiple avenues for success. They're strong in all stages of the game, and their veteran status allows them to not only fight until their Nexus explodes but also compete for every inch of the Summoner's Rift.

Furthermore, there's no glaring weakness, or huge and easily exploitable hole in their game. If you want to beat Schalke, you really have to be better at League of Legends than they are -- and that's not easy. This fact allowed them to compete with the upper echelon of the LEC and stand their ground, regardless of opponent. If G2 Esports or Fnatic didn't exist, Schalke would be more than competent to take their spot as a top-tier behemoth.

But alas, that is not the reality that surrounds us. As a result, Schalke has been forced to play second fiddle to those who are more talented, and seemingly more capable. Despite this, make no mistake -- they're an exceptional bunch with a high skill ceiling. They might not always play to their best, but when push comes to shove, they're always up to the task.

Fortunately for Schalke -- or unfortunately, depending on whose hype train you're boarding -- they're not up against a proven LEC titan. Instead, they're facing a team many deemed unworthy of being in the playoffs. In all fairness, it was with good reason. After all, Rogue finished tenth in Spring, and showed only mild improvement once Summer began. Their roster wasn't particularly flashy nor did it contain any awe-inspiring veteran, other than their support Oskar "Vander" Bogdan.

Instead, they mostly had rookie and solo queue superstars; players who were stuck in the limbo of competitive League's academy scene. And even though some of them had ample potential, it was hard seeing them actually challenging any of the veteran-filled teams the LEC had to offer.

They lacked the experience and the mental fortitude that come from lengthy (and challenging) careers. It was hard believing in them, seeing how they accomplished nothing worthy of mentioning. Talent alone is not enough in a hyper-competitive environment such as the LEC. A team needs more -- insane mechanical prowess, sheer ingenuity, or exceptional bravado. Or all three, if it's an option.

Rogue, for a lack of a better word, was lacking. There was some potential within their line-up, but they lacked both time and experience to actually develop in the right way.

Which is the main reason why their recent resurgence makes no sense to anyone without first-hand knowledge of their practice and team-wide habits.

To say that Rogue has been dominating over the last few weeks would truly be an understatement. They've been wrecking house, beating teams left and right -- teams they have no business beating -- and looking downright spectacular in the process. They've found an identity far quicker than anyone thought was possible. They leapfrogged so many exceptional veterans and teams that we've been used to seeing.

The sheer fact that they've overtaken the likes of Origen, Misfits, and Vitality boggles the mind. There's no rhyme or reason behind their staggering improvement -- and yet it happened. It feels like they took control of their fate in a twinkling of an eye. To an outsider, this makes no sense as it occurred in too short a time span, but to Rogue, it is surely a result from a stupendous amount of work.

Their coach, Simon "freddy122" Payne definitely deserves a ton of praise, and yet he's getting none. The former SK Gaming top laner took Rogue from the bottom of the standings to Top 4 in a matter of months. That's pure wizardry. The players surely had a key part as well, but without an experienced coach, without a grizzled veteran to lead the charge and wield the baton, there's little that a group of ragtag solo queue superstars and veteran rejects can do.

For Rogue, everything coalesced at the right moment. Their trajectory resembles a cliche Hollywood film (but not in a bad sense), and it was magical to watch. Truth be told, they probably don't stand a chance against the G2 dynasty, but the fact that they came this far is already mind-blowing. They have nothing to be ashamed of if their run stops here.

That said, the chances of them beating Schalke are big, much bigger than the odds tell us. They're not just a worthy contender, but they're also one of the strongest teams in the region right now. They might not look like it, but they're playing some insane League of Legends right now. They were able to lock down an identity and capitalized fully whereas others struggled to find their footing in the ever-changing meta.

They're fearless and they're reveling in their underdog status. Schalke, on the other hand, not only have the pressure to perform because of past failures, but the sights of them losing to Rogue just weeks ago is still fresh in everyone's mind. To say that they were outclassed just wouldn't cut it -- they were annihilated. They want redemption, they want to prove their worth and show the world that their one-sided loss wasn't a result of them being subpar, but rather a one-off anomaly.

Make no mistake -- Rogue have all the right tools in order to beat Schalke. The level of play which they displayed over the last couple of weeks is spectacular. The fact that they beat Splyce in such dominant a fashion is a testament to their inherent skill and potential. In other words, they belong in the Top 4, there's just no other way to phrase it.

What will happen today, however, is still a mystery. There are so many unknown quantities, so many question marks and possible ways this thing could resolve. Schalke are favored just because they're Schalke -- not because they've shown more recently. While they definitely are a bit more consistent than Rogue, they're not exactly entering the playoffs with a ton of momentum. Rogue, on the other hand, is getting hyped to infinity, and with good reason.

This series could, in all fairness, go the distance. Or, conversely, it could end up being a 3-0 shellacking. We simply don't know. That's just one of the many reasons why you absolutely have to tune in and watch -- this Best of 5 has all the potential in the world and it's bound to deliver on multiple fronts.

In the end, however, we're going to side with Rogue. They've done more than enough to earn our benefit of the doubt.

Their mechanical skill, inherent bravado and fearless style of play is not something that can be easily contained. Schalke is no pushover, and they're definitely going to throw down from the very get-go. That said, in the case Rogue actually does pull off the upset (should we even call it an upset at this point in time?), we'd be gaining a lot more. Going with the "underdogs" makes a lot more sense this time around, especially from a betting standpoint.