Boa Noite Syndicate Members,
One begins to feel slightly remiss when it comes to the
Final Round of the Group Stages. Your friendly bookie runs the risk of running
out of words. I suppose we’ll just go with a classic:
GENTLEMEN,
ENTER YOUR WAGERS
TUESDAY—
Italy
vs. Uruguay
vs. 
With the Wops needing only a draw to advance, history
teaches us that the Azzuri will deploy a perfectly boring defensive pocket with
emphasis in cherry picking a few counters. History, as it turns out, can still
be a very lousy guide.
Prandelli has much to answer for, beginning with his
spiritless lineup selection against Los Ticos. Abate and Motta have to go. De
Sciglio and Aquilani should replace them. Candreva isn’t running and Cassano
looks to be finished. With Balotelli struggling to break through miserly
defensive ranks provided that they keep their shape, now is the time to either
pair him with Immobile, or sit him and let Immobile and Cerci handle matters on
their own.
La Celeste will keep this one competitive with or without
Suarez. Maxi Pereira returns from suspension. Diego Lugano also reemerges
(hopefully) from injury. Godin still has life in him yet and Caceres has proven
himself versatile enough to engineer some creativity out of the back.
Edinson Cavani’s eye for goal can give Tabarez’s eleven a
deft equalizer if needed. Abel Hernandez and Christian Stuani can be inserted
in the event of a late deficit. A draw seems the most likely outcome, but one
just fancies that Pirlo will settle matters with one of his set piece
specialties.
Pirlo bends one past a disorganized and exhausted wall late.
The Azzuris progress to the K.O. Round.
THE
LINE: Italy +1 Goal
Have we been here before?
Thanks to Syndicate Member 5-M, I’ve been reminded of last
Summer’s Confederations Cup. We were, in fact, just here:
From CC 2013: Goodbyes and Championship Pick
Third
Place Match—Italy vs. Uruguay
vs.
The
marathon 120-minute firework show that took two rounds of Sudden Death Penalty
Kicks to decide will surely leave Chielleni, Bonucci, Maggio, De Rossi, Pirlo,
and Gaicherreni too exhausted to participate. A positive outlook prevails for
the Wops, even if the injured Balotelli will be unable to play. Prandelli can
easily dust off Abate, Giovinco, and Diamanti.
This
match will feature more aged has-beens than the United States Senate.
Nevertheless, “Spaghetti-Fresser” will salvage some pride against the Uruguayan
reserves.
THE
LINE: Italy + 1 Goal
Editor’s
retroactive notes:
RESULT: Italy 3, Uruguay 2. (a.e.t. 3-2 PSO) Come kickoff
time many of us were pondering the utility of a third place match in an
eight-nation tournament. What was the use of a consolation prize in a dry-run
competition that winning is already considered a consolation prize?
Fortunately, the 22 participants demonstrated that they did in fact care and
gave us quite the entertaining show. The result constituted another strong
argument for the implementation of Third Place Matches in ALL international
tournaments. Listening UEFA?
Initially both sides played as one might expect in a
meaningless match. One had the impression that no one particularly wanted to be
playing football on a sunny day in Salvador. The Wops then broke in open in the
24th. Diamanti’s fine curling free kick deserved the far post
corner. It got the actual far post instead, but then took a lucky bounce off of
Uruguayan keeper Fernando Muslera and hit the line square. Backup centerback
David Astori nudged it over the line for the lead. After being denied a goal by
a close offside decision, La Celeste finally drew level thirteen minutes after
the restart when Arevalo set up Cavani with a sweet little diamond cutter.
Cavani let it roll until he could pounce on it with full momentum for the
first-time finish.
Uruguay kept the pressure on with worthy efforts from
Forlan and Suarez, but the Azzurri would recapture the lead in the 73rd
courtesy of another Diamanti set-piece gem. The tyro Walter Gragano studded
down Diamanti just outside the area with a late challenge. The Bologna
midfielder then peeled off a real beauty, bending his effort outside the wall
and past the fully outstretched arms of Muslera. Cavani tied matters up with
his own brilliant free-kick a scant five minutes later. Tripped up by Christina
Rodriguez, Cavani blasted a swerving 35-yard hellfire missile over the wall and
past a flailing Buffon.
Not much to report on in with respect to either the final
twelve minutes or the additional half hour of added time. Suarez tried to gain
an advantage with some of his patented simulation, but that was about it.
Fatigue was clearly a factor for the Italians, who also had to play with ten
men after Montolivo was sent off on double yellows in the 110th.
Forlan set the tone of the shootout with a weak ground effort that was scooped
up by Buffon. The Talismanic Wop Captain would also hold on to low drives from
Caceres and Gargano. Aquilani, El Shaarawy, and Giacherreni all converted to
secure the win and the bronze in Confed Cup 2013.
Costa
Rica vs. England
vs. 
It’s a meaningless match for the Three Lions. Hodgson’s mind
now turns to his next failed stint with a second tier English Club. Wigan?
Leeds? Derby County? Cardiff City? Norwich? Ipswitch? Hull? Perhaps we’ll see
him return to the U.A.E. or Qatar in the coming months.
In any event, we should see Alex Oxlade-Chamberlin and
Rickie Lambert start. The Ticos, having the luxury of already clinched a
K.O.-Runde berth will either rest Ruiz, Diaz, and Bolanos or pull them early.
No need to risk starting Joel Campbell in this fixture. Save him for the
Quarters, Cinderella.
THE
LINE: England +1 Goal
Have we been here before?
The pair barely missed one another in 2002, then again in
2006. It’s all new to us, gentlemen. Rejoice!
Initial
Group Projection (6/2/2014)
1)
England
2) Italy
3)
Uruguay
4) Costa
Rica
Final
Group Projection (6/23/2014)
Straight
Up for Bookie
1) Costa
Rica
2) Italy
3)
Uruguay
4)
England
Japan
vs. Columbia
vs. 
Surely Zaccheroni is done tinkering with Osako and Honda up
front in the un-menacing 4-2-3-1. If he’s wise enough to start Okazaki as the
center-forward and have Kagawa back him up as the anchor, this incarnation of
the Blue Samurai still possesses lethal offensive ability. Of course, that
leaves him with little choice but to move Hasebe and Endo out to the wings, but
the two wily veterans will surely play their hearts out in what may be their
final meaningful international match.
It’s likely the last go-around for Konno as well. He’ll
sweat up his Samurai jersey good and proper before taking it off for the last
time. Okubu, despite looking completely worn down in the Greece match, realizes
it’s his last hurrah as well. Expect him to fight hard, particularly on the
50-50s.
The high-flying “Coffee Growers” rely primarily on Teofilio
Gutierrez’s innovative skill as a distributor and motivator in and around the
danger area. He’s come up with great ideas in the first two matches and I
wouldn’t be surprised if Pekerman sits him down for this fixture. The former
Argentine national coach typically plays his cards close to the vest at this stage
in tournament. Something tells me he doesn’t want future high stakes opponents
to get too good a look at Jackson Martinez, Freddy Guarin, or Abel Aguilar.
He’s also prudent enough to keep his players from logging
too many minutes in the marathon that is tournament football. In addition to
the physical pressure exerted on players who start all three group games, the
potential for mental mistakes builds up too.
Pekerman plays it safe and the bookie picks a draw.
THE
LINE: Pick em’
Have we been here before?
The “Cocaine Snorters”….er…“Coffee Growers” are Syndicate
Debutantes. It’s thus impossible.
Greece
vs. Cote d’Ivoire
vs. 
Before anyone accuses me of setting a line with my heart on
my sleeve, consider what a huge loss Kostas Katsouranis is for “To Piratikop”.
Santos’s tactical plan falls apart without his key central defensive
midfielder. On the topic of “falling apart” Konstantin Mitroglou lives up to
his reputation as a real stinksauer “morale breaker”. Goals will have to come
from either Gekas, Salpingidis, or Samaras, none of whom can be relied upon to
fetch loose balls by themselves at this point.
At the end of the day, whether Drogba turns out to be the
goat or the hero, he’ll factor into our story somehow. For the time being I’m
much more in wondering how Lamouchi will get Toure, Soloman Kalou, and Max
Gradel going. Boka and Aurier are doing well at the back, but an upfield
impetus has been severely lacking in the opening two matches.
I have to believe he finds a way. The former Marseille standout
has the respect of his players, the talent of whom remains legion.
THE
LINE: Cote d’Ivoire +1 Goal
Have we been here before?
Nowhere close. What do these two nations have in store for
us?
Initial
Group Projection (5/31/2014)
1) Cote
d’Ivoire
2)
Columbia
3) Japan
4)
Greece
Final
Group Projection (6/23/2014)
2 to
1 Odds for Bookie
1)
Columbia
2) Cote
d’Ivoire
3) Japan
4)
Greece
WEDNESDAY—
Nigeria
vs. Argentina
vs. 
Two underachieving teams clash, the Albiceleste qualifying
as a sort of “sleeping giant” insofar as this tournament is concerned. It’s
been quite the rude awakening for those of us who predicted that the “Cerberus
Triplicate” of Messi, Higuain, and Aguero would sparkle during this tournament.
Thus far they’ve torn nothing up, unless one counts our hearts.
We could explain away the halfhearted and downright
apathetic tempo of the midfield during Argentina’s opener against Bosnia and
Herzegovina by noting that Argentine head coach Alejandro Sabella inexplicably
changed their preferred formation. He rolled out a peculiar looking 5-3-2 that
was overly dependent on Di Maria on the left flank and Maxi Rodriguez on the
right. Now that they’ve switched back to their conventional 4-3-3 (with
Mascherano as the midfield “flight director”) we’ve flat run out of excuses.
This squad should spring into life at some point, but don’t
count on them necessarily doing so against Keshi’s “Super Eagles”. I began my
discussion of this “Syndicate Fan Favorite” nation in the Group F Preview
Section by noting that Keshi’s critical move was to re-recruit Stoke’s Peter
Odemwingie as his anchor.
Odemwingie not only scored the winning goal against the
Golden Lillies on Saturday Night, he also demonstrated above average lateral
prowess in squaring and crossing for Musa, Mikel, Onazi, and Emenike. I’ve no
clue why he didn’t start the first match, but he’s now full of confidence, well
poised to slow Mascherano and Di Maria down in the central pitch.
Are we in for another defensive stalemate capped by some
late-game heroics? Methinks so. Messi or Mascherano with the late goal.
THE
LINE: Argentina +1 Goal
Have we been here before?
Me oui! Journey back with me in the elevator of time…we’re
headed all the down to the mezzanine: “2002: The Humble Beginnings of a Syndicate”.
From WM 2002—Round One:
Heart palpitations ensue. I’ve thrown my lot in with the
Argentines and the “EU-Wing Theory”. Here comes the first test. I expect them
to come out with guns blazing. Should their coordination not necessarily match
their talent, they can always cheat Maradona style.
THE
LINE: Argentina +2 Goals
Editor’s
retroactive notes:
RESULT: Argentina 1, Nigeria 0. Not ready for primetime
yet. The “EU-Wing Theory” did in due time find corroboration in this
tournament. I simply picked the wrong squad….on the wrong continent.
Bosnia
& Herzegovina vs. Iran
vs. 
Time to “go home happy”, Golden Lilly enthusiasts. Susic
will utilize his best eleven in hopes of bringing home a moral victory for the
motherland. Dzeko and Ibisevic will start together as a striking tandem. (If
someone could please explain to me why they weren’t paired together before, I’d
be most grateful.)
Luci will handle the left flank and Pjanic will be moved up
to command the right. It’s time for Misimovic and Salihovic to have a bit more
fun. With nothing to lose, expect them to flick a few tricks just for the hell
of it. No pressure. No stress. No burden
No chance for Iran.
THE
LINE: Bosnia & Herzegovina +2 Goals
Have we been here before?
That’s why we love our Golden Lillies. Novelty galore!
Initial Group Projection
(6/4/2014)
1)
Argentina
2)
Bosnia & Herzegovina
3)
Nigeria
4) Iran
Final
Group Projection (6/23/2014)
Straight
Up for Bookie
1)
Argentina
2)
Nigeria
3)
Bosnia & Herzegovina
4) Iran
Honduras
vs. Switzerland
vs. 
Ottmar Hitzfeld is worse with his damn notebook than your
poor, forlorn, friendly bookie. He scribbles away for a few minutes and tucks a
little black book very much like mine back into the pocket of his trench coat.
During the French debacle he looked like the football equivalent of Nero,
leisurely composing an anthem while Rome burned around him.
As pertains to the Swiss, the rhetorical question this
bookie finds himself most often jotting down is, “where is Fabian Schär”?
Ottmar’s given us Von Bergen and Djourou twice now in spite of lackluster
performances. He even dusted off Phillipe Senderos when von Bergen succumbed to
an early injury. I honestly don’t know what this man’s plan is. I do know that
it will likely be Mehmedi over Stocker and Drmic over Seferovic.
This basically amounts to window dressing. Die Schweizer
Nati will roll over their inferior opponents, albeit in typically boring Swiss
fashion. They shouldn’t have to work too hard to improve upon their last
meeting (see below)
THE
LINE: Switzerland +1 Goal
Have we been here before?
….
….
It was easily one of the worst matches of the South African
World Cup.
From WM 2010—Round Four (Part IV)
Switzerland vs. Honduras
vs.
The Cuckoo clock has run out on the Swiss. The fondue pot
has boiled over. Time for these out-of-touch micro-staters to go offer
some “Grüzi” sacrifices in the
shrine of ACCT # 237102437. The team with the giant “H” on its jersey may have
had the adverse fate of being the “CONCACAF Doormat”, but I believe they will
teach this country of 7 million goofballs a lesson in football.
The Hondurans may not know much about keeping a stable
government, but Figueroa, Hernandez, Palacios, and Suarez know how to play
UPSET ALERT!
THE
LINE: Honduras +1 Goal
Editor’s
retroactive notes:
RESULT:
Honduras 0, Switzerland 0. Who the hell cares? Beyond a moment or two from
Tranquilo Barnetta and Alexander Frei, this was a fetid match. What a stinker.
Waiting for this game to open up was akin to waiting for Godot….to get interesting.
I hate that play almost as much as I hate the Swiss. Good riddance
Ecuador
vs. France
vs. 
Ze Frogs are NOT technically through yet! This must be
emphasized. It would take a cataclysmic loss to Ecuador and a Swiss win to
eliminate them, but it remains a strong possibility that they may not top the
group. Hence, we can expect Deschamps to go with his strongest 11. I, for one
am eagerly anticipating another delicious dish whipped up by our French
Gourmand.
From
WM 2014—Day Nine Recap:
GO
FROGGIES GO!! It should have been a six-goal night! Benzema should have had his
Hat Trick. What kind of vile and spiteful behavior was the ref engaging in when
he denied him that goal? Deschamps made all the right moves. Starting Giroud at
center forward and moving Benzema to the left was a stroke of genius. Moving up
Matuidi and giving Sissoko the shot. Oh-la-la. What a delectable French recipe!
Cabaye
had a monster night in central midfield. Evra looks really strong despite those
lapses. Didn’t I tell you that I liked this team? I told you how much I believe
in Les Bleus. All the way to the Semifinals, just as we augured!
Whether it’s Cabaye or Pogba…the result is clear.
THE
LINE: France +2 Goals
Have we been here before?
Negative. They slid past one another in 2006. In 2002
neither one of them got out of the group..
Initial Group Projection
(6/4/2014)
1)
France
2)
Switzerland
3)
Ecuador
4)
Honduras
Final
Group Projection (6/23/2014)
(Straight
Up for Bookie)
1)
France
2)
Switzerland
3)
Ecuador
4)
Honduras
THURSDAY—
Deutschland
vs. USA
vs. 
(Glorious
Fatherland vs. Country of Convenience)
vs.
Give it up, America. Fun and games are over. For all those
of you who insist on pressing me to root for the States…….sorry. My name is Vicey. I’m the last in a long line of Vice Males to live on this German Straße.
My great-grandfather, my grandfather, and my
father called this very house home.
There will be no continuation of “The Line of Vice”. I am
the last one. Even, if by some inexplicable miracle, a girl convinces me to
breed; the kids can have her last name.
I live where they lived. I drink what they drank. I eat what
they ate. I root for the same country that they do. Period. The only thing
precluding me from setting a higher line is that I know you’ll eat this one up.
Good luck, Gentlemen. You’re really going to need it this time. This match
won’t even be close.
Stop getting your hopes up. Welcome back to the “K.O.
Phase”. You won’t get there over our backs.
Podolski, Hummels, and Lahm.
You’re dead.
THE
LINE: Mannschaft +1 Goal
Have we been here before?
Oh yes. ; ) ; ) The Glorious Fatherland and the Country of
Convenience met in a hotly-contested Quarterfinal Clash back at the “dawn” of
the Syndicate. It was legendary in Syndicate Lore!!
Germany vs. USA
vs.
Nothing special about this match. Ho hum. Just two
ordinary Nation-Sates squaring off on a routine Saturday night. I’m told that
these countries have people living within their borders and that these people
in turn speak domestic languages. I seem to be remiss in any endeavor to write
something further. Thanks to the Marshall Plan, these two are essentially the
same country anyway. Yawn. I discern no reason why I should expend any energy
in picking one or the other.
Wait for it……
Wait for it……
Wait for it……
The fuck is wrong with you? Not interested in any of the
other matches?
Wait for it…..
You know my cat did something peculiar the other day. He
climbed in an open 40-pound bag of kitty liter and took a shit. I’d be happy to
spin more yarns about my pet’s digestive eccentricities. All you have to do is
ask. J
Wait for it….
The Phillies have a decent team this year. I think this
will be the year that Brandon Duckworth kid breaks out. Ricky Ledee also looks
solid.
Wait for it….
Wait for it…
I know that everyone’s anxious to hear my views on the
revised EU Common Agricultural Policy. The French turnip quotas are especially
fascinating.
Wait for it…
Coverage of this game will begin at 3:30 a.m. Central
Daylight Time. Before committing yourself to this appointment, all of those of
you in the States should seriously consider the competing programming offered
simultaneously by our other fine broadcast outlets. For example, at least
twelve separate stations will be selling various trinkets, 9/11 coins,
Commemorative NASCAR plates, Girls gone Wild DVDs and Diana dolls. For those of
you after the elusive washboard abs, a number of quality infomercials will
enlighten you as to how can obtain them by sitting on your fat ass and hooking
pulsating massagers up to your beer gut. “Nick at Nite” will feature some
episodes from the third season of “Coach” (undoubtedly the strongest season)
and the second season of “Major Dad” (also undeniably the peak of this short
lived gift from the heavens). Are you prepared to miss that? Tuning into this
match means you’ll have to postpone your 423rd viewing of “Conan the
Destroyer”, 241st viewing of “Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome”, your 875th
viewing of “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”, your 13,983rd viewing of
“Halloween III: Season of the Witch” AND your 345,678thth viewing of
the 45th Scooby Doo Episode (It’s a good one. Old Man Smith turns
out to be the Swamp Monster. Did not see that one coming).
If you fail to switch over to the History Channel, you
run the risk of not knowing something about Hitler’s favorite Tuesday afternoon
vegetarian meal! Next time you’re out at the bar and your mates start talking
about the spellbinding information conveyed during C-Span 2’s academic panel
discussion on Southeastern Appellate Court Jurisdictional Reach in Property
Claims Cases 1871-1875, you’ll be left out of the conversation! You’ll never
know the incredibly riveting true resolution to the Turner Child Custody Case
of 1987, because you weren’t watching “He took her Baby and She wanted It Back”
on the Lifetime Movie Network! How will you live with yourself without knowing
when precisely Jesus will show up? “Sometime in the near future after the
checks are cashed” or “Very soon indeed after you give me more money”. YOU
WON’T KNOW. YOU WON’T KNOW!!
Alright, Sweetie. Hope you enjoyed that. I’m going to go
ahead and copulate now. Time for the Money Shot!
GLORIOUS
VATERLAND vs. Country of Convenience
vs.
Achhhh Ja. Whew. Glad I got that off my chest….and onto
yours. Sorry for all the pussyfooting around, but I surely couldn’t just give
you such an important pick without a bit of foreplay. Pre-mature delegation
affects bookies of all ages and this momentous match is no fat chick.
Editor’s
retroactive notes:
According
to my legal team, I must now issue a sincere apology to all Women of Girth
(WOGs) for all of the pain inflicted by my proclivity towards instinctively
mean and callously insensitive shock humor during my youth. I myself possess no
genuine malice towards women of the more rotund persuasion. In fact…er…some of
my best friends are fat chicks. Look, the bottom line is I’ve honestly loved
more chubby chicas than the amount of any readers of this combined. Leave me
the fuck alone and stop taking it personally. Dry your tears and put down that
pint of Haagen-Dazs. I said put it down! NO..NO. BAD GIRL! STOP IT!
Here’s
the deal: Mein Name ist Peter Josef Weis und ich bin ursprünglich und zuerst
ein aufrechter Deutscher! As much as I’d love to pretend that I agonized over
this decision, vacillating between the two countries and pacing all over the
computer lab until I was compelled to unleash a soliloquy on matters of the
conflicted soul before breaking down and starting to sob uncontrollably, it
took about 0.002313 atomic seconds after the possibly of this pairing came up
before I started having a craving for Schnitzel and Spätzle. Deutschland is
where I attended my first football match. Germany is where I started following
the sport. The Fatherland is where I scored my first own goal (actually it was
in Rome, but close enough). My dearest Americans, I find it too arduous to back
a country I only recently learned has a male team. J I, like most everyone else
around the globe, simply assumed you would disguise the women, teach them how
to grasp their groin during free kicks and pack them off to the World Cup. We
had no clue you intended to shipping some actual swinging dicks and that you
would let them hang low.
Let’s
dive into detail about why you might want to watch Jack van Impe anyway: We’ve
got the rising star of this tournament, a sprightly little Pollack by the name
of Miroslav Klose. So precipitous has been his rise that he might even start in
lieu of Bierhof. Fullback Christian Ziege will hassle McBride all night long,
not even allowing him to get so much as a whiff of goal. Should he lapse, we’ve
got the best keeper in the world: Karlsruhe’s own Oliver Kahn. As the Poland
match demonstrated, your back four is softer than Snuggles the Fabric Softener
Bear’s Junk. Agoos, Saneh and Pope are bad options. Berhalter and Mastroeni and
Lhamosa. You’ll be forced to play only three defenders. We shall, prod
puncture, and penetrate. Alright. Enough of the autoerotic euphemisms. Here’s
your line:
THE LINE: Deutschland +2 Goals
Editor’s
retroactive notes:
RESULT:
Germany 1, USA 0. Arena gave Berhalter the nod and started four defenders. The
bulky backfield of Uncle Sam gave us quite a scare. This was a tense match,
about as exciting as a coffee enema. Klose started, but managed only one shot.
After Ballack scored shortly before the half, it was all America. Donovan
released three vicious strikes that pushed the limits of Kahn’s brilliance.
Claudio Reyna found John O’Brien in space, resulting in a cracker that I’m
still not certain how Kahn saved. Of course one cannot discuss this game
without mentioning the blatant takedown of Clint Mathis by Torsten Frings in
the box. Yes, U.S. fans. You should have been awarded a penalty. Thus began the
distinctly American tradition of griping that the officials give them no
respect. Dems the breaks, Yanks. I present an alternative view: The Refs can’t
SAVE a game FOR you. You were outclassed. The headline in Die Bild Zeitung the
following morn read “Kahn beats America”. Nothing truer has been printed in die
Bild since.
Portugal
vs. Ghana
vs. 
Kwadwo a’int finished yet. C. Ronaldo, conversely, can
barely hold himself together. That goddamned tendonitis may end up ruining his
career. That’s why we have an
UPSET
ALERT!!
THE
LINE: Pick em’
Have we been here before?
The pair oh so narrowly missed one another in 2006, then not
so narrowly in 2010.
Initial Group Projection
(6/6/2014)
1)
Germany
2)
Portugal
3) Ghana
4) USA
Final
Group Projection (6/23/2014)
(Straight
Up for Bookie)
1)
Germany
2) USA
3) Ghana
4)
Portuga l
Belgium
vs. South Korea
vs. 
Without any pressure, it’s impossible to even conceive of
Wilmots putting forth Kompany and van Buyten here. That’s why we have ourselves
a pick.
Heung Min-Son opens up the scoring and the much-maligned
Lukaku evens matters up.
THE
LINE: “Pick em”
Have we been here before?
South Korea’s historically improbable run to the
Quarterfinals didn’t include a meeting with Belgium.
Algeria
vs. Russia
vs. 
I was wrong to doubt Halilhodzic. Capello only has four
years to get the Ruskies in gear. He’ll have to start from behind as the
“Trappatoni Tenet” has been unequivocally proven.
Either Slimani or Bougherra grabs a brace.
THE
LINE: Algeria +1 Goal
Have we been here before?
They’ve never even qualified for the same WM before.
Initial
Group Projection (6/8/2014)
1)
Belgium
2) South
Korea
3)
Algeria
4)
Russia
Final
Group Projection (6/23/2014)
Straight
Up for Bookie
1)
Belgium
2)
Algeria
3) South
Korea
4)
Russia
GENTLEMEN,
ENTER YOUR WAGERS
