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 6: Recap
Record—
Spread: 5-12
Straight up: 8-7-2
Hot
Girl Standings
Country
|
Tally
|
Games Played
|
Russia
|
19
|
2
|
Egypt
|
15
|
2
|
Mexico
|
14
|
1
|
Spain
|
10
|
1
|
Argentina
|
9
|
1
|
Poland
|
9
|
1
|
South Korea
|
9
|
1
|
Senegal
|
8
|
1
|
Denmark
|
8
|
1
|
Costa Rica
|
8
|
1
|
Columbia
|
8
|
1
|
Brazil
|
8
|
1
|
Serbia
|
7
|
1
|
Iceland
|
7
|
1
|
Tunisia
|
7
|
1
|
Panama
|
6
|
1
|
Japan
|
6
|
1
|
Peru
|
6
|
1
|
Morocco
|
6
|
1
|
Iran
|
6
|
1
|
Belgium
|
6
|
1
|
Croatia
|
5
|
1
|
Australia
|
5
|
1
|
Nigeria
|
5
|
1
|
Sweden
|
5
|
1
|
Portugal
|
4
|
1
|
Uruguay
|
4
|
1
|
France
|
4
|
1
|
Germany
|
4
|
1
|
Switzerland
|
4
|
1
|
England
|
3
|
1
|
Saudi Arabia
|
2
|
1
|
Some day. A Japanese Earthquake both on and off the pitch. Believe
it or not it’s the first time an Asian team has ever beaten a Latin American
one at the World Cup Finals. More history from the Terrangans, who pulled off
the upset your friendly bookie essentially predicted but ultimately didn’t have
the guts to pull the trigger on.
Gentlemen, AFRICA RISES!
Kudos to the Russians, but this is the shit we really want
to see.
S.S.S.
Tactical Breakdown 
Really startling stuff from Jose Pekerman today. One almost
sensed the upset as soon as he trotted out his troops.
Your friendly bookie has been waiting for what seemed like
an eternity to see how Cisse would use his nine natural strikers.
Let’s break it down.
Lineup—Columbia—PROJECTED
(4-2-3-1) (6/10/18)
Radamel Falcao
|
L. Muriel J. Rodriguez J. Cuadrado
|
Abel Aguilar Carlos Sanchez
|
Johan Mojica Santiago Arias
|
Y. Mina D. Sanchez
|
David Ospina
|
Lineup—Columbia—ACTUAL
(4-2-3-1) (6/19/18)
Radamel Falcao
|
J. Izquierdo
J. F. Quintero J. Cuadrado
|
Jefferson Lerma Carlos Sanchez
|
Johan Mojica Santiago Arias
|
O. Murillo D. Sanchez
|
David Ospina
|
We knew that he would field something radically different.
It’s all about building around Falcao in this tournament. This is a team of
distinct identity from the Cafeteros side that spanked the Samurai four years
ago in the group phase.
Didn’t anticipate that he would be so strict with the
fitness tests so as to bench Rodriguez. Picking Lerma and Izquierdo totally
reshaped the left. I recall thinking what significant pressure that would put
Sanchez and Cuardado under. It could work, but only if Sanchez out aimed to
switch fields with loads of long balls.
Then came Sanchez’s Red Card! It looked like he sent
Cuardado back to do double the work in midfield for a few minutes, but was
forced to abandon that strategy when it became clear the whole right side was
collapsing. He then astonishingly subbed off Cuardado and went into full damage
control mode with a sort of 5-3-1 anchored by Quintero. They practically never
got near the attacking third for the rest of the match. Falcao might have
gotten a touch or two all afternoon.
Yikes. That’s what happens when your best laid plans go to
hell (literally) in less than five minutes. Talk about a nightmare day!
Lineup—Senegal—PROJECTED
(4-2-3-1) (6/10/18)
Sadio Mané Diafra Sakho
|
M. B. Diouf
|
I. Gueye
C. Kouyate M. Niang
|
Y. Sabaly L. Gassama
|
K. Koulibaly S. Sane
|
Abdoulaye Diallo
|
Lineup—Senegal—ACTUAL
(4-4-2) (6/19/18)
M’Baye Niang M. B. Diouf
|
Ismaila Sarr Sadio Mané
|
Idrissa Gueye Alfred N’Diaye
|
Y. Sabaly M. Wague
|
K. Koulibaly S. Sane
|
Khadim N’Diaye
|
Cool. M’Baye Niang all the way up front. Brilliant. Explosive
speed and a superb first touch, as evidenced by that second goal that made
Szczesny the laughingstock of the entire world. Mané doesn’t need to spearhead
this attack, at least not yet. Either Diouf or Sow can stand in as the target
forward up front. Sakho and Sarr can pair with Niang. There’s also Cheikou
Kouyate and Keita Balde.
So many possibilities. Such a great coach. Such a
magnificent story developing. These Lions are good enough to make it to the
Quarterfinals just they did under Cisse’s leadership in 2002. Hopefully we’ll
have one of those rare tournaments like 1990 (Cameroon) and 2010 (Ghana) where
an African Team provides us with sustained hope.
Roar on, Terrangans!
S.S.S.
Half-Assed Culture Minute
The PBS journalism program Independent Lens has really
delivered masterpieces this season. The super slick “Rat Film” episode takes
you inside the racial dynamics of Baltimore. One entitled “Tell them we are Rising”
covers the fascinating stories of HBCUs in America. “Look and See: Wendell
Berry’s Kentucky” chronicles the debates the great American Agrarian Activist
and Author had with Nixon’s Agriculture Secretary during the shifting landscape
of the 1970s….and will absolutely blow your mind.
There’s also one that football lovers need to see, uncomfortable
as it may be. “Forever Pure” brings a human face to familiar gut-wrenching
story: The two Chechen Muslims recruited to play for Israel’s Beitar FC.
I know guys. In the midst of our wonderful Footballing
Holiday—a celebration of global unity—we don’t want to face the harsh realities
of the human race. We don’t have to yet. It’s only Day Six.
Just thought I might throw this out for when we all
invariably have to return to normal life.
“Riffs
of the Day”—Day Six
Reader:
Where’s Lothar Matthäus?
Vicey:
Excellent question. He was contracted to cover this competition for Fox, just
as he was last Summer. Did he run off
with another wife? Is he really angling that hard for the Cameroon job? We miss you Lothar! Come home, Kumpel.
Actually…now
that I think about it, I haven’t seen any German commentators on the American
coverage feed. Where’s Arne Friedrich or Michael Ballack? Klinsi’s probably got
some free time on his hands. Ariane Hingst might be nice.
Where
are they hiding all the Krauts?
Reader:
Live coverage from the 2019 Women’s World Cup?
Vicey:
Damns to the straight. My only concern is that the World isn’t fully prepared.
DAY SEVEN--PREVIEW
Portugal vs. Morocco
vs. 
Still forecasting a tight match. Tighter than Herve Renard’s
obviously surgically altered face.
THE
LINE: Pick em’ (rolling down soft from Portugal +1)
Uruguay vs. Saudi Arabia
vs. 
No one wants to touch it. Can’t blame you. One never really
knows with the Saudis.
THE
LINE: Uruguay +3 Goals (holding)
Spain vs. Iran
vs. 
There you are, skeptics. We’d all love a repeat of that
performance from Friday, but it’s not likely. They’ll get the right result, but
a second match lull is anticipated.
THE
LINE: Spain +2 Goals (holding)
GENTLEMEN,
ENTER YOUR WAGERS
