Here is why NA PRO teams struggle against EU teams despite playing better than usual

NA has actually played over my expectations during this Rift Rivals tournament so far. I have seen a lot less mechanical mistakes than what is common in NA during the LCS and it's clear NA came prepared.

But despite that, NA is still is packing a 0 win 4 losses score against teams that don't bring their best champs, are substituting junglers or swapping positions. Meanwhile NA teams are tryharding with Sona Taric (a combo C9 did well with in NA), but due to mechanical difference has no chance.

I can be wrong but I think I know why NA has no hope and probably won't have a chance during this rift rivals and later words this year either.

I did a thread weeks before where I raised concerns that: NA can't compete internationally playing like they do. People did not agree that much and argued against me.

I'm no expert but I sort of have an eye for bad play as I have laned against multiple pro players from EU myself (top 100 and even top 10 players on the server, some of these I know for sure are on a PRO teams). I have some grasp of what good laning looks like and what "meh" laning looks like.

Here is the problem with NA if we are to speak openly. The first thing that goes through your head watching NA challengers streaming in solo Q is usually "yeah I would win that lane 9 out of 10 times, even if I fell behind". That's what you think when you see challengers from NA stream, the laning is just so bad from both sides and the decision making too, its nothing special, diamond plays. I think it's fair to say that "in general most NA challengers would be skilled close to diamond or masters on EU or LPL", I can be wrong but I think the gap is around there somewhere.

So there is no shock that when you put together a team of players that are NA challengers they have big issues competing internationally. You are bringing what would internationally be diamond/master players to a game with only challengers.

NA has played well this tournament for their skill level, EU has not, but the gap is just showing and even their best is (diamond low masters) and looking not too good.

I think somewhere your top players too realizes the gap has just got so wide many have given up trying to become number one, and with that attitude you can't win. You have your players like Sneaky out traveling taking photos of himself during the most crucial periods this season instead of mastering LoL and coaching his team that can't compete anymore. This is probably the actions of a person escaping reality and giving up. I think NA's best know they are so behind they might as well just go around doing whatever for weeks, the results will be the same (good enough for NA still, but not for international).

Maybe I'm completely wrong and NA will prove this post bogus during the upcoming best of 5's. I hope you deliver this time since NA is probably done for forever as a competitive region if it sucks super hard this tournament and later also at worlds.