Shadow Scholar Syndicate: FWM 2015--Group F Preview

Introduction—“Old Europe and the New World”

(France, England, Columbia, Mexico)

Our final group features four familiar teams, all of whom have received their share of coverage in bygone Syndicate Chapters.

Do the dozens upon dozens of pages of backdated coverage mean we can concisely discuss a few technical points before moving on to the Match Lines? Yes, gentlemen ; ) MERCIFULLY, it does. ; )

A few hardcore Syndicate Members have already written or called in to essentially ask, “Vicey, when the hemorrhaging fuck will you be done with these overdone and underwritten Odds Sections?”. What’s the problem gentlemen? Tired of looking at all the pretty girls?

In any event, I get you. Your friendly bookie stands rearin’ and ready to go. Enough of the speculative talk! Even I grow tired of looking two-dimensional snapshots the pretty girls. Let’s play some football already! I’m ready for some action! I’ll give you your answer, gentlemen.

Lines will drop.....TONIGHT. Prepare to extend your arms to heaven and vociferously proclaim the advent of this tournament, Shang-Tsung Style:

…..

IT HAS BEGUN!!!

…..

.....or at least it will short order.

First your friendly bookie needs to introduce you to the new-look French and English Sides. Neither one should have any problems getting out of the group. The Mexican and Columbian squads look to slay the giants. Both countries roll the dice with very young squads the humble beginnings of which we witnessed in 2011.

The Frogs and The Limeys may very well choke their chance at redemption right away, as they’re so often prone too. The two Latin American teams will give them competitive matches even if they boast mostly unproven players. Expect a set of tight fixtures with the mightier programs prevailing late.

France—“The Gauloises Gals”

Hail, Hail. The gang’s all here! Well...not exactly. Sandrine Soubreyrand and Corine Franco have both retired. In Soubreyrand’s case it was well past time. She turned in a most unbecoming performance in the 2013 Euros, contributing perhaps more than any other player to the shock exit in the quarterfinals.

Other than those two, all of your favorite Frenchies return. Gaëthine Thiney and Louisa Necib. Wendy Renard and Camile Abily Elise Bussaglia and Eugene Le Sommer. They’re all coming along! Vive le France!

There were plenty of tears shed in 2013 as the Danes upset “ma cherie” in a very heinous and disquieting shootout. Louisa Necib unexpectedly elected to do her best Arjen Robben impersonation. Poor little Sabrine Delannoy came within a millimeter of saving the day, but it just wasn’t to be. Ugh. Your friendly bookie was inconsolable.

Delannoy and Elodie Thomas are charged with plugging the respective holes left by Franco and Soubreyrand. One couldn’t have picked two stronger candidates to step up. Both have been steadily improving since Bruno Bini began integrating them into the National Eleven. Combined with the fine recent form of Abily, Thiney, Le Sommer, and Necib one must aver that the French field a team without any glaring weaknesses.

Our “Froggy Fawns” look strong all over the pitch. Opposing trainers will find it nearly impossible to draw up a promising plan of attack. There simply isn’t any position one can reasonably hope to exploit. On the topic of drawing up lineups….your friendly bookie has been looking forward to formulating this one all damn day ; )

Projecting the French Lineup (4-2-3-1)

Gaëthine Thiney

Louisa Necib

Camile Abily Eugene Le Sommer

Elodie Thomis Elise Bussaglia

L. Boulleau W. Renard L. Georges S. Delannoy

Celine Deville

The Talisman—Gaëthine Thiney

The original inspiration for the “Storia della Belleza” Serial has just completed another magnificent year for her club team. She’s one of the smoothest finishers you’ll ever see.

Commentators talk up the controversial decision to outfit 23-year-old Wendy Renard with the captain’s armband and speak of the crucial role Laura Georges is to play in keeping the defensive unit tight.

Nevertheless, this team isn’t going anywhere unless Thiney tallies early and often. Her chemistry with Necib means everything to this side’s prospects. Can’t wait to see how those two react!

Who Rocks the Blues?

1) We haven’t forgotten about Wendy Renard have we? She no longer rocks the fro, but remains gorgeous nonetheless:

France Women's Official Olympic Football Team Portraits

2) Good to see Laure Boulleau back

3) The same applies to Laura Georges. Rock that crazy fro, girl!

4) Pleased to see Sabrina Delannoy again.

5) Amadine Henry has an interesting Twitter Feed…unlike 99.99% of people with a Twitter Feed

6) Claire Lavogez is a neat new face

7) Elodie Thomis returns to rock my world!

8) Introducing Kadidiatou Diani

9) Who could possibly forget our little “Algerian Angel”?

10) Or Marie-Laure Delie!

England—“Princesses of the Pitch”

The “Three Lionesses” are in many respects every bit as snake bit as their make counterparts. Anyone want to take a guess as to how they were eliminated back in 2011? Don’t bother looking it up. It’s England, gentlemen.

They ALWAYS bow out via a shootout loss. Every bit as reliable as a Yorkshire shower ; ( ; ( We’ll skip our customary “Why England always Loses” graphic in the hopes that this might finally be the year St. George wins something.

Dear God please. I don’t want to describe another shootout loss! The Pantheon is about to crush under its own weight!

We’ll begin with who’s missing. It’s quite the list. Faye White, Rachel Yankey, Kelly Smith, Anita Asante, and Rachel Unitt are all gone. Legendary coach Hope Powell has also long since abdicated. What remains is a dynamic young team led by an extremely young trainer. 32-year-old Mark Sampson is only a tick older than your friendly bookie. He was plucked out of nowhere to rebuild a team that had only previously had one head coach.

The manner in which the young gun went about his task began with the re-recruitment of veterans Josanne Potter and Lianne Sanderson. Forward Jodie Taylor was another older addition, deemed by Sampson to be a late bloomer. He then began to select and mold his own youngsters: Fran Kirby, Toni Duggan, Jade Moore, Lucy Bronze, and Alex Greenwood.

This bookie doesn’t quite see Sampson overhauling his starting eleven with these new faces; certainly not when he still has plenty of experienced and proven players at his disposal. Ellen White, Fara Williams, Jill Scott, Karen Carney, Eniola Aluko, Laura Basset, Casey Stoney, Steph Houghton, and Alex Scott are all projected to start.

The projection below assumes that Sampson will try to pair club teammates so as to take maximum advantage of the familiarity players already have with one another. Aluko and Chapman both play for Chelsea Ladies. Karen Carney and Jade Moore partner all the time at Birmingham City.

It may all prove garbage, however, as the English Lineup is exceedingly difficult to forecast. Tuesday can’t get here soon enough ; )

Projecting the English Lineup (4-2-3-1)

Ellen White

Eniola Aluko

Katie Chapman Jill Scott Fara Williams

Jade Moore Karen Carney

L. Bassett C. Stoney S. Houghton A. Scott

Karen Bardsley

The Talisman—Ellen White

“Ellen White, Shining bright for England!” Ian Darke delivered that unforgettable call. She carefully honed her skills at the top-notch Arsenal Ladies Academy. Now she’s off to a dream start at Notts County.

White may have only tallied 17 times for the Lionesses, but that goal against the Japanese in the 2011 Group Stages won’t soon be forgotten. Shine bright, Ellen White. The Syndicate roots for you unequivocally. Such a splendid striker!

Who’s That Lioness?

1) Alex Scott looks as good as ever

2) Ditto Claire Rafferty

3) Fara Williams is happy to pose for you

4) So is Steph Houghton

5) And Casey Stoney

6) Jordan Nobbs would like to meet you

7) Don’t forget my future wife Eniola Aluko!

8) Katie Chapman obstinately refuses to grow old

9) Toni Duggan is a hot young prospect

Columbia—“Las Chicas Superpoderosas”

A hearty welcome back to our “Bogota Babies”, all of whom presumably dream of emerging from this competition as the “Female Hammer Rodriguez”. In general, the present constitutes a great time to be a fan of Colombian football. The Era of Carlos Valderama and the two Escobars now a distant memory, both national sides can be classified as on the march.

Las Cafeteras failed to score a single goal in their previous appearance at a Women’s World Cup finals. Their mere presence, however, enabled your friendly bookie to scout some promising young talent. He had little doubt that they would return much stronger.

Tatiana Ariza never set foot on the pitch in 2011. In the intervening four years she’s solidified her place in the attacking third, demonstrating the ability to turn in solid performances either as a winger or short-striker. We saw very little from youngsters Daniela Montoya, Oriancca Velasques, Natialia Gaitan, Yorelli Rincon, Catalina Usme, and Carolina Arias back then. Even so, your friendly bookie saw enough potential to confidently predict they could eventually find their stride…..even if he had some über-harsh words for all of them.

The team affectionately dubbed “The Powderpuff Girls” (for some unknown reason) rides high following an unexpected Cinderella Run in the most recent Women’s Continental Championship. On paper they possess enough talent to at least claim one scalp out of this group.

Here’s hoping they provide us with at least one worthwhile story before they’re eliminated. Otherwise, your friendly bookie will be forced rely on a few cheap puns involving striker/roving midfielder Catalina Usme and perhaps another protracted rant covering Antonio Mockus.

No one wants that. Trust me ; )

Projecting the Columbian Lineup (4-3-1-2)

Yorelli Rincon Orianca Velasquez

Catalina Usme

Ingrid Vidal Daniela Montoya Tatiana Ariza

Melissa Ortiz Nataly Arias

Natalia Gaitan Carolina Arias

Sandra Sepulveda

The Talisman—Yorelli Rincon

Meet another prodigy. She signed her first professional contract at the age of 12. Yes, that still happens quite frequently in football. Such an early start enabled her to rack up seven years of playing experience in the domestic league before moving on the States, Sweden, and eventually Italy.

Rincon earned “player of the tournament” honors in the aforementioned Cinderella Run the girls put together during the 2014 Copa America. The team’s entire offensive strategy revolves around the joint thrust of Rincon and Catalina Usme. Orianca Vealsquez also needs to put her work in as the “false 9” and draw a few defenders away.

Who’s That Powderpuff Girl?

1) Have you forgotten about Natalia Gaitan already? She hasn’t forgotten about you!

2) Daniela Montoya hasn’t forgotten you either

Colombia Women's Official Olympic Football Team Portraits

3) Nataly Arias is evidently a dman fine writer in her own right.

4) Tatiana Ariza is just waiting for you to call.

5) Lady Andrade is one phone call away from becoming “Lady Vice”

Lady Patricia Andrade Rodríguez - Retrato.JPG

Mexico—“The Cartel of Cuties”

With such a proud female footballing tradition in the country itself, one wonders why the Ladies of El-Tri don’t have their own domestic league to play in. Throngs of rabid urine-bag-tossing Mexican fans have packed the Azteca to see the women’s national team play since the early 70s.

A nation so obsessed with the pageantry of football should be able to support a women’s professional league. Telemundo could get away with purchasing the rights for chicken scratch. Jorge Ramos could be dusted off to provide color commentary. Won’t someone please make this happen?

The squad that proved so valiantly entertaining in defeat back in 2011 has undergone extensive changes. Former captain Maribel Dominguez hung up her cleats shortly after the tournament. We’ve also bid farewell to veterans Ruby Sandoval, Juana Lopez, Guadalupe Worbis, and Luz Saucedo. Players ruled out for this tournament either owing to injury or weak form include Liliana Mercado and….prepare to weep…Natalie Vinti. ; (

Former defender Charlyn Corral now emerges as this team’s predominant attacking threat. She burst onto the scene with several spectacular goals in the qualifying stages, including an incredibly late brace in the fixture that ultimately secured the berth. Teresea Noyola, Kenti Robles, Stephany Mayor, and Alina Garciamendez were all college kids back in 2011. They now return as the official next generation; all projected to start in vital positions and expected to carry this team as far as possible.

Monica Ocampo, the scorer of that fabulous thunderstrike against England in the 2011 Group Phase, gets slotted in as the sole established old-pro tasked with anchoring the attack. Her experienced deft touch will be needed to steady the field of talented tyros who have yet to prove themselves on a grander stage.

Captain Nayeli Rangel is only 23-years-of-age. She only recently inked her first big club contract two years ago, and has since struggled with inconsistent form and injury. The rest of the youngsters will feed off her performance for better or worse.

Good luck, Chicas. Interesting little experiment you’ve got going here. This amateur oddsmaker can’t wait to see the results.

Projecting the Mexican Lineup (4-2-3-1)

Charlyn Corral

Monica Ocampo Nayeli Rangel Stephany Mayor

Teresa Noyola Veronica Perez

Bianca Sierra Kenti Robles

Alina Garciamendez Ariana Romero

Cecilla Santiago

The Talisman—Nayeli Rangel

Is twenty-three simply too young an age to strap on the armband? As you can infer from the picture below, Rangel doesn’t look the slightest bit phased by the extra responsibility. Smiles can still lie, however. ; ) Leonardo Cuellar has held the reigns of the women’s national team since 1998.

If he wishes to field a team of young prodigies and tap one of them as the leader, assume that his reasoning is sound. Cuellar clearly banks on this group gelling at precisely the right moment. Rangel shoulders the heavy responsibility of both setting the tempo in central midfield and governing the distribution. Should she succeed, she’ll be an instant star.

Who’s That Mexican Girl?

1) Might as well start with Nayeli Rangel. The girl clearly has some Aztec in her ; )