Servus Syndicate Members,
Teams and fans find themselves
as tightly-wound as ever. We wouldn’t have it any other way as we settle in for
an historic semi-final-round. For only the fourth time in twenty-five chapters,
your friendly bookie’s initial tip to win it all remain the favorites. Take
that, 36-M!
While the pressure winds for
the four remaining nations, the rest of us begin to wind down. WM-Fieber breaks.
Normal life resumes. Time to settle up those accounts, make the remaining phone
calls, and start Schwag Pack shopping. Your friendly bookie feels the tinges of
loneliness every year around this time, even when his team’s still in the hunt.
; (
It needn’t be a parabolic
decline of course. One of the great benefits of this stage of the tournament is
that everyone’s girlfriend gradually ceases to be pissed off at us for watching
too much football. With the match days more spread out, we’ve all free time to
engage in “Meadow Prancing” and such.
Be sure to sincerely thank
your ladies for the patience. You might also consider taking the advice friendly
bookie has been dispensing for years and take them out to watch the games with
you. This applies especially to England fans. What the hell is wrong with you
people? I suppose overexposure leaves your women less interested in football
than most, but you’re going to the Finals for chrissake!
We’ll dedicate this section
to all of the women we’ve been neglecting, and invite them to present the Lines
with us.
Hang in there Ladies. It’s almost over. ; )
Tuesday,
July 10th
Belgium vs. France
vs. 
Couldn’t have possibly
envisioned a better Semi-Final than this Border Battle. Alright…perhaps I could
have…but my German Bundesflagge is buried deep within the sock drawer, not to
be retrieved for another eleven months. This one’s pretty damn good. It’s “EU Ultimate
Fighter” between rival Gaul factions. A huge matchup just shy of the and 225th
anniversary of First Republic’s Annexation.
These neighbors have met nearly
eighty times in international competition and it’s usually a passionate affair.
Most recently they produced a seven goal shootout in an exhibition match three
years ago. It’s all on the line here as they’ve not met in the World Cup since
the Third Place Playoff 32 years ago. France’s deep talent pool aside, this
bookie can’t endorse backing when the Belgians look increasingly like a Team of
Destiny.
Immaculate form displayed by
the Rode Duivels in their convincing defeat of the Brazil. I’ve little to add
to the analysis already elucidated in the Daily. Hazard, Lukuka, and De Bruyne
together up front remains a menacing Cerberus. Lukaku’s explosive speed, Hazard’s
insane ball control, and De Bruyne’s range cannot be stopped by Umtiti and
Varane on their best day. It’s simply too much.
Now there’s rumors
circulating that Umtiti might be injured. Ordinarily this wouldn’t be an issue
as Rami, Mendy or Sidibe can play centerback. Kimpembe didn’t do half-bad in
his audition either. It matters gravely know as I’m doubtful Didier has an
answer to this.
As discussed in the Dailies,
Deschamps has found his best eleven. Using history as a guide there’s no reason
to assume he’ll employ any changes. Not good enough. Giroud up top is a
mistake. This business about him drawing coverage is a bad way to explain away
a mistake the French manager will have to roll with.
One can forgive Mbappe’s
antics, but I’m not ready to jump on board with him yet; not until he shows
more consistency. Griezman remains a class act and he actually stands a chance
against a three-man defensive front. If Pogba and Kante can keep winning the
majority of chances in midfield, the Alsation wonder will have opportunities to
exploit that soft pocket.
Martinez might as well let him
have his chances. It shouldn’t matter as his attack gets further strengthened. As
I remarked in the Dailies, Menuier’s suspension actually helps Belgium. The PSG
Man is actually more of a natural Right Back. Dembele or Januzaj can take over
for him and add more prowess to the charge. Chadli’s injury doesn’t appear to
be serious, but I don’t think Martinez will risk starting him.
De Bruyne remains up front,
Dembele takes Menuier’s place, and Tielemans get the nod over Chadli and
Carrasco. At least that’s the way this bookie has it. Martinez can employ many
other options that won’t hurt his chances.
Kante vs. Witsel/Fellaini
will prove perhaps the most interesting matchup to watch. If he can handle both
of them himself, Pogba gets a chance to pour forward more often. That might make
the match closer, but doesn’t affect my pick.
Projected Lineups:
“Les Bleaus” (4-2-3-1) |
Oliver Giroud
|
|
Blaise Mathuidi Antoine Griezman Kylian Mbappe
|
|
N’Golo Kante Paul Pogba
|
|
Lucas Hernandez Benjamin Pavard
|
|
Samuel Umtiti Raphael Varane
|
|
Hugo Lloris
|
“De Rode Duivels” (3-4-3) |
Eden
Hazard Romelu Lukaku Kevin De Bruyne
|
|
Youri Tielemans Moussa Dembele
|
|
Axel
Witsel Maroune Fellaini
|
|
Jan Vertongen Toby Alderweireld
|
|
Vincent Kompany
|
|
Thibault Courtois
|
Prop Bets (as always, feel free to offer your
own)
Over/Under—5 Goals
120 Minutes—Straight Up
Penalty Shootout—3 to 1
Kimpembe Start—Straight Up
Kante yellow—2 to 1
Nzonzi substitution (95”+)—2 to
1
Lukaku brace—2 to 1
De Bruyne set-piece goal—Straight
Up
Januzaj start—2 to 1
THE LINE: Belgium +1 Goal
Wednesday,
July 11th
Croatia
vs. England
vs. 
Though these two teams have
never met in the World Cup, they once shared a WM Qualifying Group back in the “Syndicate
with A Vengeance” Days. What a shockingly poor incarnation of the Blazers that
was. This year’s version remains built to make the Final, but will fall short
just as they did back in 1998.
The only obstacle standing in
England’s path would be a fatal shot to their own foot; perhaps a miff from an
overly-confident Pickford or an overdue penalty miss from Kane. Much has been
made of the physical and mental exhaustion the Croats must endure, but the real
issue for me is that nearly all of their tallies have come from poorer teams
caught in the act of ball watching either on the transition or just outside the
18. Preparation and discipline can fix that.
Another major weakness involves
Dalic’s inability to figure out his basic attack plan. He tried Modric,
Kovacic, Kramaric, and Rakitic behind Mandzukic throughout the tournament. At
times one also sees Brozovic, Rebic, and Pjaca sliding into the center and
crowding out too many players onto the flank. The result has been only one real
convincing cutback since the Group Phases. That was actually supplied by
Mandzukic himself when he set up Kramaric for the equalizer against Russia.
Other than that the whole attacking third has played like discombobulated junk.
Review tape of the Denmark
match if you happen to disagree. I’m sure Southgate and his staff have. Preparation
within the English Camp, as evidenced by their intricate use of set pieces and
well-thought out defensive assignments, happens to be something they haven’t
managed to screw up this time.
They should have more than
enough evidence available to them. An execution plan practically draws itself
up. Mark Modric heavily, challenge immediately on any central attack outside
the box, and collapse two in front of Mandzukic at all times. Subsasic probably
won’t be spry enough to run more quick transitions, but they should keep an
extra defender breathing down on him anyway in the event he can locate one of
the fullbacks.
If there’s a stubborn
variable in this equation, it’ll be the marking of Modric. He’s thwarted
everyone’s tempered expectations with an incredible tournament. One simply
cannot pin him down. I myself proclaimed him dead after the Denmark and clash
and predicted he would be lumbering all over the pitch in the next encounter.
The 32-year-old surprised us
all with a vibrant performance against Russia during which he never stopped
moving. Touch and distribution were top-notch too. Hard to bet against a fiery
football captain with a seemingly endless reserve of energy and ideas. There’s
your X-Factor, gentlemen. The captain can break some English hearts, but I only
see it coming from him.
No changes from Southgate.
Like Deschamps, he’s the type to let it ride. Sterling’s form, despite what
grouchy England supporters would have you believe, continues to improve. He’ll
get past his mental block in time to wake up for this one. I’ll expect Fabian
Delph to be at the ready should there be any defensive issues. Dier or Wellbeck
are the restart subs should the Lions fall behind early. I don’t expect that
they will.
Had to wait for the Croats to
complete training today in order to get accurate injury updates. They’ve been
tight-lipped about the fitness test results of Subsasic and Strinic. We can say
for sure that Vsalijko has been ruled out. That’s a huge loss. Dalic might move
Vida to Right Back, start Caleta-Car or give it a go with Corluka. I’ll predict
he slides Vida over for the switch and taps Corluka for work he used to
undertake in the Premiership.
With respect to the ever
shifting attack plan, Rakitic has to move forward a line and Rebic resally
needs to be sat. Brozovic, being the most defensive of the midfield options,
starts alongside Modric as the protector of the central midfield place.
England still makes it to the
first final since their only championship in 1966. Sweet.
Projected Lineups:
“The Three Lions” (3-1-4-2) |
Harry Kane
Raheem Sterling
|
|
Ashley Young Kieran Trippier
|
|
Jesse Lingard Deli
Alli
|
|
Jordan Henderson
|
|
Kyle Walker
John Stones Harry Maguire
|
|
Jordan
Pickford
|
“Blazing Vatrenti” (4-2-3-1) |
Mario Mandzukic
|
|
I. Perisic
A. Kramaric I. Rakitic
|
|
L. Modric M.
Brozovic
|
|
Ivan Strinic Verdran Corluka
|
|
Somagoj Vida Dejan Lovren
|
|
Daniel Subsasic
|
Prop Bets (as always, feel free to offer your
own)
Over/Under—3 Goals
120 Minutes—2 to 1
Penalty Shootout—3 to 1
Kane penalty miss—Straight Up
Loftus Cheek substitution (75”+)—2
to 1
Tripper set piece goal—3 to 1
Subsasic howler—2 to 1
Corluka injury—Straight Up
Rakitic crusher—2 to 1
THE LINE: England +1 Goal
GENTLEMEN,
ENTER YOUR WAGERS
