Your “Syndicate Hangover” is proudly presented by “Perrier”
Your friendly bookie remains more of a San Pellegrino man, but we’ll accord the hosts some respect for their second-rate club soda. Along with La Croix, it’s an acceptable option when the only other alternative happens to be Seltzer Water.
Day 4: Recap
Bookie’s Stats—
Spread: 5-4
Straight up: 6-2-1
Alright! Two matches. Over 180 minutes of football. One measly goal. Sigh. Where’s my “Football Apologist’s Handbook”? I’ve got to dive into the index. Give me a sec….
Bravo, Argentine girls! You win this day. No one else came to play. Congratulations on your first point.
S.S.S. Tactical Breakdown 
Two defensive efforts I’d like to highlight tonight. This is why no one likes watching games in the stadium with me. I always insist on sitting high in the nose-bleeds on one of the ends. Why? Because that’s how you get the best tactical view!
And no…I’m not putting my notebook down. Why do you think I brought it with me?
Lineup—Argentina—PROJECTED (3-5-2) (5/31/2019)
Sole Jaimes Yael Oviedo
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Milagros Menendez Yamila Rodriguez
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Vanessa Santana Estefana Banini
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Mariela Coronel
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Ruth Bravo Adriana Sachs Aldana Cometti
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Vanina Correa
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Lineup—Argentina—Match One (5-4-1) (6/10/2019)
Sole Jaimes
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Florencia Bonsegundo Estefania Banini
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Miriam Mayorga Lorena Benitez
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Eliana Stabile Ruth Bravo Virginia Gomez
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Aldana Cometti Augustina Barroso
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Vanina Correa
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By all accounts, the Japs were a dud. I still want to cover the disciplined defensive performance put in by the Argentine back-five.
If you knew next to nothing about the Argentine women’s football program entering this competition, your friendly bookie assures you they were the most maddening part of his pre-tournament research. Much like the Jamaicans, the Argentine women’s program had to endure the humiliation of disbandment. That story gets less coverage because Jamaica went six full years without a women’s team while their southern sisters were back up and running in just over two years.
Suffice to say that getting reliable data on the players proved difficult. It’s a small miracle I was able to project half of the starters correctly. I even had to guess as to who would make the final cut, and guessed wrongly on Yamila Rodriguez. One area I did well in was defense. Ruth Bravo, Aldana Cometti, Mariela Coronel, and Vanessa Santana all took turns on a back line that featured between three and five players. Joining them were Eliana Stabile, Virginia Gomez, Mariana Larroquette, and Augustina Barroso.
These girls cycled in and out of their rows like total pros! Compact. Disciplined. Organized. Sophisticated. Whenever two came forward, three dropped back. They maintained their shape like masters. Where the hell did that come from? Who taught them how to move in such a precise clockwork manner? Are they, in fact, robots?
A more realistic explanation concerns their long-time manager Carlos Borello. I know little of him other than he was indeed the same coach who oversaw their previous Women’s World Cup appearances in 2003 and 2007. Recall that they exited both tournaments winless, getting blown out by global female footballing powerhouses Japan, Germany, Canada, and England in all six of their matches. Goal differentials were -14 in 2003 and -17 in 2007.
Borello’s footballing CV at Worldfootball.net features nothing outside of two-plus decades of work with the Argentine Women’s footballing program. He’s been involved in this program in some capacity for much of its existence, sometimes even running the youth development squads concurrently just to keep it alive.
It was he who oversaw the reboot of the program a scant eighteen months ago, guided the women to their improbable qualification to this tournament via the intercontinental playoff and, evidently, worked the girls very hard on the importance of solid tactics. When facing a superior opponent, midfielders not involved in the play must drop back. Improvisation is allowed, but discipline is more important.
Well done, ladies. Everyone gets an A.
Lineup—Cameroon—PROJECTED (4-4-2) (6/1/2019)
Ajara Nchout Henriette Akaba
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Michela Abam Gabrielle Onguene
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Jeanette Yango Raissa Feudijo
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Yvonne Leuko Ninon Abena
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C. Meffometou C. Manie
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Annette Ngo Ndom
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Lineup—Cameroon—Match One (5-4-1) (6/10/2019)
Marlyse Ngo Ndoumbbouk
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Ajara Nchout Gabrielle Onguene
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Jeanette Yango Raissa Feudijo
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C. Meffometou Christine Manie Yvone Leuko
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Estelle Johnson Aurelle Awona
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Annette Ngo Ndom
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By all accounts, the Canucks were a dud. I still want to cover a very good defensive performance put in by the other back five.
Christine Manie was always a husky player, even when she was deployed at forward earlier in her career. Her new role as captain of the defensive corps suits her well, particularly considering—and I still love watching her play—baby girl’s put on a few more pounds. It happens to many of us in the latter stages of our thirties.
This 5-4-1 operates completely differently from the one covered above. Six players undertake a circular rotation around Manie…and I assure you that has nothing to do with her newly-added girth. It’s more of a case of Leuko and Meffometou switching to take turns covering wide attacks while Yango and Feudijo go wherever they guess the break position is going to be.
Johnson and Awona can slot out if the opportunity presents itself, provided one of those four players keeps an eye on the vacated position. Shape isn’t so terribly important here. This is a team designed to escape on the rare counter. They’ll leave themselves exposed if need be, even though they mostly played it conservatively tonight.
Hmmmm…..this would work if they had some youth and speed up front. What the hell is Ndoumbbouk doing at lead striker? For that matter, just who in the hell IS 34-year-old Marlyse Ngo Ndoumbbouk? Never heard of her. I swear I heard some of the FOX Sports commentators talking about how she dazzled in the 2015 tournament. No she didn’t! She didn't even play in that competition! You guys are thinking of Madeline Ngono Mani, the player I PROJECTED TO START. Where was she?
Ngono Mani isn’t exactly a spring chicken, but Henriette Akaba, Michaela Abam, Ninon Abena, and Enganmouit still have plenty of legs left. I know the Canadians weren’t exactly the best side to showcase your new attack against, but it’s not as if you’ll have much success debuting them against the Dutch!
Sigh. I had my qualms about this most recent coaching change. Back in January, Alain Djeumfa was the team’s strength and conditioning coach. Bookie tried to give him the benefit of the doubt when he saw his latest round of cuts. One would think a fitness trainer would know how to select a fit squad. Today’s arrangement was okay. They did well defensively. The attack, on the other hand, is a broke down, slow, old joke. With the Falcons tanking, we might as well abandon all hope of seeing an African team in the knockouts ; (
And as for my much awaited reunion with Gaelle Enganamouit…loved the green hair, but she deserved that booking in the 74th. Here’s a tip, girls: try not to elbow other players in the face. It’s unsportswomanlike ; (
“Riffs of the Day”—Day Four
Reader: How much sleep are we getting these days, Vicey?
Vicey: Much like Jose Mourinho, I have “nozing to say…no, no…nozing to say…so sorry, nozing to say.”
Reader: You missed a real classic in the UEFA Nations league Third Place Match! 120 minutes of jack and shit!
Vicey: Note that this one was sent in yesterday. Today, the women got their turn.
Reader: This day belongs on the Boring James Milner Twitter Feed.
Vicey: There we have it. I’ve been waiting one this one. And…..ZING, 111-M!
“Time to go home and give the kitchen floor a grand old clean!”
DAY FIVE--PREVIEW
New Zealand vs. the Netherlands
vs. 
Almost no action on this line. Might as well have a Lieke Martens vs. Ali Riley who’s hotter contest. Bookie expects your very best, gentlemen.
THE LINE: The Netherlands +2 Goals (holding)
Chile vs. Sweden
vs. 
These need to be your most productive hours, gentlemen. Skip lunch and skip this match. You’ll need to watch the U.S. Ladies live in the early afternoon.
THE LINE: Sweden +1 Goal (holding)
USA vs. Thailand
vs. 
Prior to the beginning of this tournament, FOX was so kind as to replay the USA vs. Japan 2015 Final once or twice. Your friendly bookie was lucky enough to catch it one evening whilst doing his prep work. Who can forget that feeling? Three goals inside of 14 minutes. Carli Lloyd with the midfield volley to complete the Hat Trick in the 16th.
Prepare to feel that way again.
THE LINE: USA +6 Goals (rolling up hard from USA+4)
