Gabriel “FalleN” Toledo has singled out Luciano “luchov” Herrera as a standout talent ahead of FURIA’s quarter-final match against 9z at the IEM Cologne Major 2026. Speaking during Wednesday’s media day, the Brazilian veteran expressed high regard for the 9z player.
I’m very impressed with this Luchov guy. He’s been playing lights out. I think a rifle of this capacities in our region doesn’t really show often.
The praise aligns with the statistics from Stage 3, where the Argentinian secured a 1.19 rating, making him the 11th highest-rated player of the phase. This individual performance has been a driving factor for 9z as they enter Thursday’s playoffs.
FURIA advanced to the playoffs with a flawless 3-0 record in Stage 3, placing them on the opposite side of the bracket from tournament favorites like Team Vitality and Falcons. Their Thursday opponent, 9z, has already secured victories against Falcons and Team Vitality, proving their capability against top-tier international competition.
It’s been two years since the last meeting between 9z and FURIA, so despite it being a battle between two South American teams, FalleN doesn’t feel any rivalry between the two teams.
I think it is hard to say there is a rivalry because we do not get to meet too much. Even though we are Brazilians, we are not really playing in the region that much, but we are following what they are doing,” FalleN said. “9z just incredibly put up a new team, getting some new pieces, and they rose up the rankings in South America so fast. They won so many tournaments, and now that they have had the chance to play against Europeans, they are doing very well. The rivalry is not quite there right now because we do not have many games against each other, but maybe this is the spark of a rivalry. Why not?
Preparing for the arena environment
Transitioning to the Lanxess Arena introduces new variables for both teams. FalleN explained that the live audience directly impacts server dynamics, making certain tactical plays impossible due to crowd noise.
There are sneaky plays that you just cannot do and there are moments who can be decided by the crowd chanting something and making some noise,” FalleN detailed.
He stated that success in the arena relies on mental preparation and the ability to make correct decisions under pressure. Despite FURIA experiencing quick playoff exits in recent appearances, FalleN dismissed the idea that past results affect current performance, emphasizing that teams must simply focus on the opponent in front of them and move forward.
A final run in Cologne
The IEM Cologne Major marks FalleN’s final competitive appearance in a city where he won a Major championship in 2016. With his retirement scheduled for the end of the year, the Brazilian captain is prioritizing his mental approach over the pressure of securing another trophy.
I just want to make sure that I go to the game. I give it all. I have no regards, no frustrations. I have no second thoughts,” FalleN said. “I just want to be there and do the best I can.
You can see the full interview with FalleN in the video below.
