Your “Syndicate
Hangover” is proudly presented by “Heineken 0.0”
All of the calories
and none of the intoxication!
This dog don’t bite ;
)
Day 8: Recap
Record—
Spread: 6-17
Straight up: 12-8-3
Hot
Girl Standings
Country
|
Tally
|
Games Played
|
Russia
|
19
|
2
|
Spain
|
19
|
2
|
Argentina
|
17
|
2
|
Iran
|
16
|
2
|
Egypt
|
15
|
2
|
Croatia
|
15
|
2
|
Mexico
|
14
|
1
|
Denmark
|
14
|
2
|
Australia
|
14
|
2
|
Morocco
|
13
|
2
|
Portugal
|
12
|
2
|
Peru
|
10
|
2
|
Poland
|
9
|
1
|
South Korea
|
9
|
1
|
Uruguay
|
9
|
2
|
Senegal
|
8
|
1
|
Costa Rica
|
8
|
1
|
Columbia
|
8
|
1
|
Brazil
|
8
|
1
|
France
|
8
|
2
|
Serbia
|
7
|
1
|
Iceland
|
7
|
1
|
Tunisia
|
7
|
1
|
Saudi Arabia
|
7
|
2
|
Panama
|
6
|
1
|
Japan
|
6
|
1
|
Belgium
|
6
|
1
|
Nigeria
|
5
|
1
|
Sweden
|
5
|
1
|
Germany
|
4
|
1
|
Switzerland
|
4
|
1
|
England
|
3
|
1
|
Debuting the Croatia line as a pick, I warned against an
Argentine implosion. Now we have it. Time for the tears as the tournament’s
first real disaster arrives.
Well put, Diego.
Plenty of post mortem below. One does actually feel horrible
for the fans. Can’t we think of some better news to discuss? Well….Cristiano
Ronaldo appears in no hurry to head home. Perhaps that’s because he’s rumored
to have “put a ring on it”.
S.S.S.
Tactical Breakdown
We’ll catch up on what the Danes have been doing and check
in with what the French and Argentines haven’t.
Your friendly bookie has been tracking on this poor version
of La Albiceleste since the Group Preview Section, pointing out that Sampaoli
wasn’t much more than a generic plug-in and that defensive issues (especially
goalkeeping) could sink this team.
Three Recap I covered the confused lineup and lamented this
country’s tendency to sabotage itself with all the pressure placed on Messi.
Sampaoli didn’t select much of a side and presented nothing coherent in his
lineup. I actually wrote “my worst fears are confirmed”.
Very bad premonitions about the Danes and French as well.
Look closer and you’ll see that these sides are not well managed. They feature
inadequate and disjointed systems requiring immediate attention. Tactics matter
so much in a brutal competition such as this. One has to have at least the
semblance of a plan.
Naturally tactics can go and taking a running jump if one
player produces a moment of magic. An otherworldly performance from someone on
the pitch means you can take all this talk and stuff it. As we saw today,
however, expecting so much from one of the greatest players the world has ever
known can prove too much on this grand stage.
You have to have a plan!
Lineup—Denmark—PROJECTED
(4-2-1-3) (5/30/18)
Nicolai Jorgensen
|
Niklas Bendtner Yussuf Poulsen
|
Christen Eriksen
|
M. Krohn-Dehli W. Kvist
|
A. Bjelland S. Kjaer J. Vestergaard P. Ankersen
|
Kasper Schmeichel
|
Lineup—Denmark—Match
One (4-3-3) (6/16/18)
Pione Sisto Nicolai Jorgensen Yussuf Poulsen
|
Thomas Delaney William Kvist
|
Christian Eriksen
|
Jens Stryger Larsen Henrik Dalsgaard
|
Simon Kjaer Andreas Christensen
|
Kasper Schmeichel
|
Lineup—Denmark—Match
Two (4-3-3) (6/21/18)
Pione Sisto Nicolai Jorgensen Yussuf Poulsen
|
Christian Eriksen Thomas Delaney
|
Lasse
Schöne
|
Jens Stryger Larsen Henrik Dalsgaard
|
Simon Kjaer Andreas Christensen
|
Kasper Schmeichel
|
You’d think Bendter and Kvist’s injuries would have forced
Dolberg into the lineup. Perhaps Poulsen’s suspension will set it in motion.
Haeride’s practically doubled down on his languid lineup. He stuck with the
ineffective Sisto on the left, refusing to switch Poulsen despite the fact that
he looked more comfortable on the other side. The solution to Kvist’s absence
was to move Eriksen out wide, pair him with Delaney, and inset Schöne below in
what appeared to me to be an anchoring role.
While this initially produced results, it didn’t take long
for Bert van Marwijk to adapt. Never a good sign when you’re being outthought
by that man. He simply reformatted to a makeshift 4-1-4-1 and crowded an
already too crowded Eriksen out. Hareide didn’t even try to counter with an
aggressive shape. He shoehorned into a 4-5-1 and played for the slim win.
Braithwaite and Cornelius off the bench was just insipid.
Three points could have seen them clear to the Knockouts and poised to top the
group. Where’s the ambition, Aga? Now you’ve got an emerging crisis in
defensive midfield and a huge hole up top. This team is not well handled. Don’t
be surprised if the Socceroos edge them out for second place.
Lineup—France—Match
One (4-3-3) (6/16/18)
Kylian Mbappe
|
Antoine Griezman Ousmane Dembele
|
Paul Pogba Corentin Tolisso
|
Lucas Hernandez N. Kante Benjamin Pavard
|
Samuel Umtiti Raphael Varane
|
Hugo Lloris
|
Lineup—France—Match
Two (4-2-3-1) (6/21/18)
Oliver Giroud
|
Blaise
Matuidi Antoine Griezman Kylian Mbappe
|
Paul Pogba N’Golo Kante
|
Lucas
Hernandez
Benjamin Pavard
|
Samuel Umtiti Raphael Varane
|
Hugo Lloris
|
Time to speculate whether or not Deschamps is playing the
long game, or just playing around. Matuidi on the left didn’t make a great deal
of sense. Giroud up front against a quad-box defense system seemed
unintelligent. Mbappe got that all important first goal, but he was gifted that
ball mostly thanks to the hard work of Pogba; the only convincing player on
this team.
Pogba’s placement is really just my best guess. He drives
the whole sputtering Peugot from back there, sometimes from right central but
he’s got a pretty wide heat map. At present no one else is producing anything
offensively. Les Bleaus once again struggled to maintain possession, passing
was choppy at best, and the young fullbacks just aren’t working. Liked
Hernandez’s work in the first half. One still can’t ignore that neither one of
them were running much at all after the restart.
Once again Les Bleaus were lucky to escape with the points.
The points are all that matter at the end of the day. It’s not impossible they
can find their peak later, but later may never come if they can’t get rolling.
Bookie not liking what he saw today, especially Griezman’s pronounced dip.
Can’t trust them in this state. Cest le Merde ; (
Lineup—Argentina—Match
One (4-2-3-1) (6/16/18)
Sergio Aguero
|
Angel Di Maria Lionel Messi Maxi Meza
|
Lucas Biglia Javier
Mascherano
|
Nicolas Tagliafico Eduardo Salvio
|
Marcus Rojo Nicolas Otamendi
|
Willy Cabaellero
|
Lineup—Argentina—Match
Two (3-4-3) (6/21/18)
Maxi Meza Sergio Aguero Lionel Messi
|
Marcos Acuna Eduardo Salvio
|
Enzo Perez Javier Mascherano
|
Nicolas Otamendi
|
Nicolas Tagliafgico Gabriel Mercado
|
Willy Cabaellero
|
What the shit was this? I can scarcely believe I just typed
it. I can scarcely believe I just watched it. Everybody wants to do the Löw
when you don’t have the players. Should you wish to build a 3-4-3, it’s
generally a good idea to have the roster to do so.
How in the hell can you move Salvio all the way up to
supporting winger when you don’t have a right back?!? What the fuck is Acuna doing
all the way up there when you’ve got no one on the left flank?!? Why is Maxi
Meza starting again, this time as a left striker?!? Enzo Perez next to
Mascherano? Do you even WANT him to succeed? Otamendi pushing forward at his
age? What sort of result did you expect from a Perez-Mascherano-Otamendi-Perez
triangle? Of course those old farts were going to collapse later on in the
match. Anyone could see that.
One of the most idiotic lineups I’ve ever seen. Sampaoli
attempted to make adjustments, readying Higuain for the re-shaped 4-4-2 around
the 50th minute. Unfortunately, they couldn’t get him on before
Cabellero’s error led to the first goal. By then it was too late. It was clear
that no one knew where the hell they were supposed to be and couldn’t even be
bothered to care.
This team just doesn’t have the players or the coach. They
have Lionel and that’s about it. Everyone wants to blame Messi for stressfully
stroking his forehead during the anthem. He deserves neither the blame nor the
pressure this country put on him. In fact, he’s the only reason they’re in this
tournament to begin with. He bailed their sorry ass out in qualifying, coming
out of retirement, and eventually hopping a red-eye down to the jungles of
Ecuador to secure their place.
Don’t blame him. Blame the dolt who ripped off his jacket as
if that might have helped the situation. Jorge Sampaoli. Oh how far he’s fallen
from those days of Chilean Glory. Walking off the field with his head hung in
shame. Thought he had more pride than that.
S.S.S.
Half-Assed Culture Minute
No….your friendly bookie doesn’t do Netflix just yet. Excuse
if I remain a bit stubborn about getting on that Bandwagon. I happen to waste
enough time as it is. Two Syndicate Members have written in to suggest I
finally take the plunge in order to check out some very worthy football
documentaries. The 101-M salivates over the new one “First Team Juventus”.
Nope. Not taking the plunge and wasting precious hours of my life with more
Gianluigi Buffon. Don’t need any more Buffon in my short time on this earth.
33-M has a better idea. Apparently, “Les Bleaus” covers the
whole mercurial saga of the French National Team from 1996 to 2016. Fuck yeah!
Now THAT’S a story, gentlemen. The glory of 1998 and 2000. The implosions of
2002 and 2010. The magnificent runs in 2006 and 2016. Beautiful. Laurent Blanc.
Thierry Henry. Zidane. Domench. Cisse.
I CAN’T WAIT! Every football fan, including this one, needs
to check this one out. Excited beyond belief. Argentine fans might want to
watch it too after today.
Think you guys know what an “World Cup Implosion” feels
like? Ask the French. No one implodes like ze French
“Riffs
of the Day”—Day Eight
Reader:
Own goals lead the tournament. The Golden Boot goes to the “Global Citizen”
Vicey:
(giggling)
And….Zing
11-M
Reader:
Your Hot Girl standings are all mixed up this morning.
Vicey:
Appreciate the correction, 119-M. Guess I was too tired to put together an
arithmetically sound table. Yawn. Sleep deprivation isn’t bad when it leads to
giddiness.
Reader:
Go Socceroos!
Vicey:
…..
Everyone
gangs up on the friendly bookie.
Reader:
Made $500 on picking Croatia for the upset. Thanks, Vicey!
Vicey:
Amazing how our Syndicate has evolved this year. Far fewer friendly bets and
far more friendly conversations. In addition, many are collecting bank
elsewhere using the info.
Wow…we’ve
become a Gambling Column. Simmons would be proud.
DAY NINE—PREVIEW
Brazil vs. Costa Rica
vs. 
Latin American countries are performing horrible so far away
from home. The turf. The latitude. The security guards. What’s up? As we said
in the Lines section something’s got to give.
Wager on the South Americans over the Central ones. It’s all
“Latin”, but there’s a big difference.
THE
LINE: Brazil +1 Goal (rolling down soft from Brazil +1)
Nigeria vs. Iceland
vs. 
Your friendly bookie finally officially tips an upset. The
previous two (Senegal and Croatia) have only been strongly hinted at…and should
have been picked ; (
Honestly not feeling this one as strongly as I felt the
other two, but I’m sticking with it nonetheless.
THE
LINE: Nigeria +1 Goal (holding)
Serbia vs. Switzerland
vs. 
Tempted to roll this one down to a pick. Not much between
these sides. Let's just keep it. Shaqiri has something in store. Bookie's hunch.
THE
LINE: Switzerland +1 Goal (holding)
GENTLEMEN,
ENTER YOUR WAGERS
