Your “Syndicate
Hangover” is proudly presented by “Das Bier”
Only at Karlsruhe’s
“Das Fest” can one buy beer bottles labeled “Das Bier”. Your friendly bookie
does not often drink beer…but when he does, he prefers “Das Bier”. May we all
meet again together under cerulean Southern German Skies. Bleib durstig,
Kumpels!
Day 20: Recap
Record—
Spread: 17-31
Straight up: 25-14-9
Hot
Girl Standings
|
Country
|
Tally
|
Games Played
|
|
France
|
54
|
5
|
|
Spain
|
45
|
4 (finished)
|
|
Poland
|
44
|
5 (finished)
|
|
Iceland
|
43
|
5 (finished)
|
|
Italy
|
40
|
5 (finished)
|
|
Germany
|
39
|
5
|
|
Wales
|
38
|
5
|
|
Republic of Ireland
|
35
|
4 (finished)
|
|
Croatia
|
33
|
4 (finished)
|
|
Belgium
|
32
|
5 (finished)
|
|
Switzerland
|
31
|
4 (finished)
|
|
Northern Ireland
|
28
|
4 (finished)
|
|
England
|
26
|
4 (finished)
|
|
Slovakia
|
25
|
4 (finished)
|
|
Hungary
|
24
|
4 (finished)
|
|
Turkey
|
24
|
3 (finished)
|
|
Albania
|
23
|
3 (finished)
|
|
Portugal
|
22
|
5
|
|
Romania
|
21
|
3 (finished)
|
|
Austria
|
19
|
3 (finished)
|
|
Sweden
|
18
|
3 (finished)
|
|
Russia
|
16
|
3 (finished)
|
|
Czech Republic
|
16
|
3 (finished)
|
|
The Ukraine
|
11
|
3 (finished)
|
Errrmmm….and thanks for playing “Ice-ssons”! We appreciated
all of those platinum blondes and perfectly symmetrical synchronized clapping.
Nice show ; ) We all knew that the farmhands had to get sent packing at some
point. Time to head back to your treeless, rustic little isle and till the
fields of pulverized pillow basalt. Yep. You never really stood a chance. Even
Deschamp’s dithering indecisiveness couldn’t save you. The opening two draws
were hard won. Upsets over Austria and England meant little as they were teams
in disarray.
To their credit, they fought hard until the very end, very
nearly covering the spread! The fans from this bizarre shark-eating inbred
hipster haven also demonstrated great class, serenading their lads with
inspiring songs even after they fell behind 3-0. Good stuff.
You’ll return to your homeland heroes…just don’t forget that
three of your cows are pregnant and that those turnips won’t harvest
themselves. ; )
LINEUP—France—Match
Five—PROJECTED (4-2-3-1) |
Olivier Giroud
|
|
A. Martial D. Payet K. Coman
|
|
Blaise Matuidi Paul Pogba
|
|
Patice Evra Bacary Sagna
|
|
Laurent Koscielny Adil Rami
|
|
Hugo Lloris
|
LINEUP—France—Match
Five—ACTUAL (4-2-3-1) |
Oliver Giroud
|
|
D. Payet
A. Griezmann M. Sissoko
|
|
Blaise Matuidi Paul Pogba
|
|
Patrice Evra Bacary Sagna
|
|
Laurent Koscielny Samuel Umtiti
|
|
Hugo Lloris
|
Got the formation right and the midfield wrong. Your
friendly bookie falsely believed Deschamps wouldn’t back Griezmann or Sissoko.
I was also damn sure that Payet needed to be deployed directly behind Giroud.
In hindsight, it really was the perfect match to refine his strategy. Pleased
to meet Samuel Umtiti. Looking forward to seeing the newly-signed Barça
defender this Autumn.
LINEUP—Iceland—Match
Five—PROJECTED (4-4-2) |
J.D. Bovarsson K. Sigborsson
|
|
B. Bjarnasson J.B. Guomundesson
|
|
G. Sigursson A. Gunnarasson
|
|
A.F. Skulasson B.M Saeversson
|
|
K. Arnasson R. Sigurosson
|
|
H. P. Halldorsson
|
LINEUP—Iceland—Match
Five—ACTUAL (4-4-2) |
J.D. Bovarsson K. Sigborsson
|
|
B. Bjarnasson J.B. Guomundesson
|
|
G. Sigursson A. Gunnarasson
|
|
A.F. Skulasson B.M Saeversson
|
|
K. Arnasson R. Sigurosson
|
|
H. P. Halldorsson
|
Ha! How about that? A “Perfect Pick”! One reason I debuted
such a high line concerns the absolute lack of depth on this Iceland side. They
deployed the exact same starting eleven in each of their preceding four
matches. They had little choice. One can’t get away with that in tournament
football! The poor forlorn “Ice-ssons” looked exhausted on the pitch today. Who
knows how many tournament-related injuries they were struggling through?!?
Onwards to the grades.
GRADES—France
(Match Five) |
Olivier Giroud
|
A+
|
|
Dimitri Payet
|
A+
|
|
Antoine Griezmann
|
A+
|
|
Paul Pogba
|
A
|
|
Bacary Sagna
|
A
|
|
Samuel Umtiti
|
A-
|
|
Moussa Sissoko
|
B-
|
|
Eliaquim Mangala
|
B+
|
|
Blaise Matuidi
|
B
|
|
Bacary Sagna
|
B
|
|
Patrice Evra
|
B
|
|
Hugo Lloris
|
B
|
|
Laurent Koscielny
|
B-
|
|
Andre-Pierre Gignac
|
C
|
It won’t be as easy on Thursday. Good to see some talented
players find their form and their moment. The defense needs to tighten up if
they’re to have some hope.
GRADES—Iceland
(Match Five) |
Kolbein Sigborsson
|
A
|
|
Bikar Bjarnasson
|
A
|
|
Gylfi Sigurrsson
|
A
|
|
Aron Gunnarsson
|
A
|
|
Ragnar Sigursson
|
A-
|
|
Johann Berg
Guomundsson
|
B
|
|
Ari Freyr Skulasson
|
B-
|
|
Hannes Por
Halldorsson
|
B-
|
|
Bikar Bjarnasson
|
B-
|
|
Alfreo Finnbogasson
|
C
|
|
Sverrir Ingi
Ingasson
|
C
|
|
Jon Daovi
Boovarsson
|
D
|
|
Kari Arnasson
|
D
|
|
Birkir Mar
Saeversson
|
F
|
Good God. May the Angels smile upon me, NEVER forcing me to
sort through these names again!! The “Ice-Dottirs” are a different matter
entirely. This bookie loves analyzing the Iceland Women’s team. These guys need
to leave me alone so that I may concentrate on their women….okay that came out
wrong ; ( ; (
Great job, mates!!
Breaking news already forces me to revise my projected
German Lineup for Thursday. Mario Gomez has been ruled out. Sami Khedira is
listed as doubtful. Schewine claims to have re-aggravated his knee injury,
though he may just be embarrassed about that sky-high penalty miss. The depth
of my Mannschaft means that all of this makes little difference. Let’s
reconfigure the lineup.
LINEUP—Deutschland
(Match Six)—PROJECTED—4-4-2
(7/3/2016)
|
Mario Gomez Mario Götze
|
|
Meshut Özil Thomas Müller
|
|
Toni Kroos Sami Khedira
|
|
Jonas Hector Joshua Kimmich
|
|
Emre Can Jerome Boateng
|
|
Manuel Neuer
|
LINEUP—Deutschland
(Match Six)—PROJECTED—4-3-3
(7/4/2016)
|
Julian Draxler Mario Götze Thomas
Müller
|
|
Meshut Özil Toni Kroos
|
|
Andre Schürrle
|
|
Jonas Hector Joshua Kimmich
|
|
Emre Can Jerome Boateng
|
|
Manuel Neuer
|
Shouldn’t prove much of a problem. One might even deem it a
“blessing in disguise”. Müller needs to play up front. Draxler can tear it up
on the left. Keeping Özil underneath three “false 9”s virtually guarantees
success. Schürrle didn’t have the best season, but that doesn’t matter come
Summer.
Your friendly bookie remains confident.
Syndicate Members really came through with the riffs today.
; )
“Riffs
of the Day”—Day Twenty
Reader:
I told my wife that I’d be happy to run through a meadow with her if she can
find someone to watch the “Demon Hellspawn Children”.
Vicey:
Oh Christ….ZING Syndicate Member 51-M! You are the true “Champion of Cynicism”.
You slayed us all!
Not
to be outdone…
Reader:
Don’t describe my children as “Demon Hellspawns”! They’re more like “Squealing
Imp Devils”
Vicey:
No way…ZING Syndicate Member 86-M! Stay Strong, brother!
…and
we a’int finished yet. ; )
Reader:
I still love my little monsters…when is the next football game?
Vicey:
….ZING 5-M! Great to hear from you, brother ; )
13-M
set the whole thing in motion with yesterday’s riff. Let men watch their
football!! I remain somewhat envious of the brothers who have settled down and
started families. At least you guys are cultivating a new generation. I’ll
handle the entertainment. Here's the best "Romantic Photo" you'll ever see.
We'll take a little break from the gambling. ; )
