Shadow Scholar Syndicate: FWM/CA 2019--Day Nine Recap

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 9: Recap

Bookie’s Stats—

Spread: 12-13

Straight up: 17-6-2

GOOOOOOOOOOL. Oh we have to give this day to the Columbians, gentlemen. Wow. Martinez. La Fuerta!!

The Copa America is off to cracking start thanks to absolute scorchers from Brazil’s Everton and Columbia’s Roger Martinez. This year’s Argentine side may be even worse than last summer’s. Maybe they should have sent the girls ; (

S.S.S. Tactical Breakdown

We’ll check in with the Dutch and Canadians, both now officially through to the knockouts. In my analysis, it looks like both these heavyweights have issues that might preclude their advancement unless tactical changes are made.

The two square off against one another on Thursday.

Lineup—The Netherlands—PROJECTED (4-3-3) (6/1/2019)

Lieke Martens Vivianne Miedema Lineth Beerensteyn

Sherida Spitse Shanice van de Sanden

Danielle van de Donk

Kika van Es Desiree van Lunteren

Stephanie van der Gragt Anouk Dekker

Sari van Veenendaal

Lineup—The Netherlands—Match One (4-3-3) (6/10/2019)

Lieke Martens Vivianne Miedema Shanice van de Sanden

Jackie Groenen Sherida Spitse

Danielle van de Donk

Kika van Es Desiree van Lunteren

Stephanie van der Gragt Dominque Bloodworth

Sari van Veenendaal

Lineup—The Netherlands—Match Two (4-3-3) (6/15/2019)

Lieke Martens Vivianne Miedema Shanice van de Sanden

Jackie Groenen Sherida Spitse

Danielle van de Donk

Kika van Es Desiree van Lunteren

Annouk Dekker Dominque Bloodworth

Sari van Veenendaal

Opponents have actually been successful in shutting down that tenacious left side. Apart from a few moments of brilliance, Martens has been abrogated thanks to double and sometimes even triple or quadruple coverage. The Kiwis put Bowen, Percival, Stott, and Bott on her at times. Cameroon used Abam, Yango, and Feudjio. The “real female Messi”—as opposed to all those fake female Messis you’ve been hearing about over the course of this tournament—can barely breathe out there!

We also haven’t heard much from Groenen or van Es. Somehow Wiegman has to get that vertical axis moving. I remain unsure as to the reason for Dekker’s start today, but it most certainly didn’t appear aimed at ameliorating the problem. Fortress Dekker is classic stay-at-home defender. Van der Gragt might be injured.

Van de Donk has tried to feed the left, but the vast majority of the action has come from Spitse and van de Sanden. One of them needs to flip sides or at least engage in some regular rotation if they want to start disorienting opposing defenses. Beerensteyn, Roord, and van Dongen have served as the three subs in both matches, performing admirably in all cases. It might be prudent to even start one of them in the final group stage match.

As it stands, the Leeuwinnen are far too predictable. They need a breakout match to reach the “Brilliant Oranje Threat Level”. Until we witness that, they really can’t be considered contenders.

Lineup—Canada—PROJECTED (4-3-1-2) (6/1/2019)

Jordyn Huitema Nichelle Prince

Christine Sinclair

Janine Beckie Adrianna Leon Deanne Rose

Allysha Chapman Ashley Lawrence

Rebecca Quinn Kadeisha Buchanan

Stephanie Labbe

Lineup—Canada—Match One (4-2-2-2) (6/10/2019)

Christine Sinclair Jessie Flemming

Janine Beckie Nichelle Prince

Sophie Schmidt Desiree Scott

Allysha Chapman Ashley Lawrence

Shelina Zardosky Kadeisha Buchanan

Stephanie Labbe

Lineup—Canada—Match Two (4-2-2-2) (6/10/2019)

Christine Sinclair Jessie Flemming

Janine Beckie Nichelle Prince

Sophie Schmidt Desiree Scott

Allysha Chapman Jayde Riviere

Shelina Zardosky Kadeisha Buchanan

Stephanie Labbe

The approach works well for maintaining possession, but it’s not yielding nearly enough results out wide as it should. Cameroon’s 4-5-1 ground most of the traffic on the flanks to a halt throughout the first match. So many sleeping stretches as Schmidt and Scott could connect with their wingers. Prince’s and Beckie’s fine dribbling skills are essentially wasted with this approach.

I’ve already written what was once unthinkable: Sinclair that high up is killing this team. Everyone wants to be the one who served up history on her boot. The legendary captain eventually made some meaningful contributions in the second match against New Zealand, but that only against a completely enervated back line with an emergency centerback. She didn’t do well against Christine Manie, of all players, in the first match and Annalie Longo handled her fairly well today.

I don’t necessarily advocate dropping Sinclair, merely dropping her back to a ten or six position. She’ll do better in the pocket, charging forward to link up with crosses and drawing coverage when she’s outside the area. Schmidt and Scott work well as a defensive midfield pairing, but an attack engine it’s simply too easy to wrench the gears.

One of them needs to cede a starting spot to one of the numerous phenoms available on this team. Deanne Rose and Gabrielle Carle are two among many covered in the group preview section that would make excellent candidates.

The defensive arrangement appears to work fairly well, even if Jayde Riviere’s introduction at fullback today didn’t provide the offensive spark one might have hoped for. Thursday’s final group-stage encounter against the Dutch looms

Weighing in on VAR

What the shit happened with that 7^thminute goal in Venezuela vs. Peru?

Dunno. VAR is off to a horrible start in the Copa America. Despite the fact that at least four players were clearly offside, it took a four-minute-delay to come to the obvious decision. Another lengthy delay for an obvious offside in the second half. This follows nearly five-minutes-worth of delays in the Brazil opener last night.

As obvious as these errors are, your friendly bookie sincerely hopes that we don’t get errors of the more nuanced variety. I’m watching the tournament on the low-def Telemundo broadcast. For some reason they didn’t spring for instant replay.

“Riffs of the Day”—Day Nine

Reader: The Fox Studio crew is trying to do your over/under prop bet thing.

Vicey: How…dare…they? First Kate Abdo steals my brilliant idea for striped pantaloon parachute pants and now this. Everyone steals from Vicey.

Reader: Since when does Brazil wear white?

Vicey: That’s an excellent question, 33-M. Perhaps one of your brothers has the answer. If that fails, e-mail the uni-watch column. It was downright strange I tell you.

Reader: I can only find Spanish language Copa America coverage.

Vicey: And this is a problem…because? Look…all you really need to understand is “Pilota” and “Gooooool”. Everything else comes down to your ability to observe tactics with the naked eye. You know how we roll over at the Syndicate, 115-M.

Reader: Hope to see “Everton” in the Premiership soon.

Vicey: Fuck that. Give the man a Bundesliga contract for that strike! Are you listening, Andreas Buck?

Reader: Why can’t Los Incas stay onside?

Vicey: Are you asking why a team captained by Paulo Guerrero can’t follow the rules, 23-M?

Reader: We’re all set for another Argentine meltdown.

Vicey: Oh, Christ. Get used to this.

DAY TEN--PREVIEW

Sweden vs. Thailand

vs.

Hope I don’t regret not hitting the upset alert button. Here. The Thais will play better and I don’t think Gerhardsson will start Janogy.

THE LINE: Sweden +1 Goal (holding)

USA vs. Chile

vs.

There will be goals…and there better damn well better be celebrations. I don’t want to hear any more of this “Scheißkäse” from non-football literate American broadcasters. Let the girls do their thing.

THE LINE: USA +6 Goals (rolling up soft from USA +5)

Paraguay vs. Qatar