So what are the few things which we can/should/will expect?
If Les Bleus' penchant for self-expression is seen as a certain parallel to Corellon Larethian (after all, arts and craft are but only part of his portfolio), then the pragmatism embodied by Die Nationalelf is basically the parallel to the realism surrounding death (after all, we all know what Kelemvor stands for). Like the previous semi-final, this is a match between idealism and realism. Quite a bit like my characters' concept for the Neverwinter Six, this is a clash of personalities between the idealistic Cyrea Durothil (who happens to worship Corellon) and the realistic Arylos (who happens to be a Chosen of Kelemvor). Indeed the grand finale could have never come sooner.
Die Müller Rätsel
Otherwise known as the Müller conundrum (taken straight from Google translate no less), a lot has been said about him being a World Cup kerl instead of an Euro kerl. Fact or fiction? Let us consider the difference between one Müller and the other.
There's a very good reason why Thomas "the super mallet" Müller was scoring for fun 2 yrs ago. As the above 2 panel meme strip suggests blatantly, Pep was the reason. As if creating a false 9-centric system at his homeland of Catalunya wasn't enough, he decided to do the same with Bayern München. In the same way he redefined Messi the attacking mid, he also redefined Müller the attacking mid.
In other words, Müller is most likely the kind of kerl who truly thrives in the false 9 role. Ofc it doesn't really explain why he played so well on the right against Argentina in the grand finale 2 yrs ago. Barring the footballing equivalent of the Titanic (i.e. where Kate "hey, she's English!" Winslet survived and Leonardo "DiCapricious when it comes to super hot models" DiCaprio died much to the anguish of every idealistic local S'porean romantic), what this most likely means is this: European teams seem to have a higher tendency to close shop width to width unlike their Latin American amigos.
Assuming my conclusion was right after all... (barring the debate about myself)
What this means is that playing Müller on the right against shouldn't be a problem against the Franks. After all, I've seen the starting XI and it seems that Monsieur Bleu is out to control the width in order to stage a frontal assault on his Normandy. If only we have someone better, if not at least his equal in that role. Which now comes to this kerl.
I'll admit it straight. It sucks to be Obi-Wan Kenobi if you happened to be Ewan "not an ewok" McGregor instead of the late Sir Alec Guinness. Don't believe me? I got witness one hor!
If you're wondering why I'm talking abt football when the above statement was abt which Obi-Wan Kenobi is truly GAR, that's because my subject has always been Mario "not yet super" Götze.
Seeing him in the false 9 position was a nightmare. Capable of pulling the trigger, he doesn't seem to have the kind of tenacity Müller is known for. While it's ironic to know that (not so) Super Mario himself actually first made a name for himself under the watchful eye of Jürgen "#RoboKop #RoboKlopp" Klopp. Interestingly enough, his meteoric rise within the ranks of Die Schwarzgelben may easily be down to the presence of Robert "the Lews Therin Telamon of Dortmund" Lewandowski. With Kagawa "still scoring?" Shinji playing in hole 9, (not so) Super Mario's task seemed simple enough: occupy the left (or the right depending on your preference).
In other words, he has NEVER been in the false 9 role until the German Löw decided to throw him into the lone vorhut role. I may be wrong (as in [not so] Super Mario may have tried his hand in that dept), but it's accurate to say that Löw's gamble had spectacularly backfired. Because the negativity caused by S'pore's education system N yrs ago had created a schwein in yours truly, I decided to compare the German Löw's current false 9 strategy with this image below.
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| The German Löw and an English high... Football is indeed an interesting subject to dissect. |
So should (not so) Super Mario start as the false 9?
Seen the starting lineup sheet. For some funny reason, the Anglo-Saxon blokes at Sky chose not to up the formation list. It's almost as if they're fearing me doing something like this.
In other words, I can only hazard a guess. While the hole 9 and right side of the attacking mid are most likely a done deal, I truly hope that the German Löw will revert to what truly worked for the country 2 yrs ago.
Note: While the German Löw had undergone plenty of friendly fire over his decision to play an unorthodox 3-4-2-1 Christmas tree, it's quite likely due to his worry that Antonio "Il Bestia" Conte would try to suffocate the holding mid area. In other words, the Romans did have more than enough fuel in the tank to cripple the Teutons this way.
Add note: Most likely this wasn't the first time the German Löw tried playing with fire like Lisbeth Salander. 2 yrs ago, Mesut "Teutonic passport, still an Ottoman Turk" Özil became that guinea pig. Try recalling who the German Löw played out on the left lol.
Enough on the Teutons...
Let's talk about the Franks. Or rather what Monsieur Bleu did right in the previous match of 16. Against Iceland, he reverted to a 2 striker system. I once said before that whether/when Monsieur Bleu decides to play an orthodox 2 up front will go a long way in defining one nation's dreams and hopes. Prior to La Conquête d'Islande, my analysis turned out to be an accurate prediction due to the tactical value defined by Kingsley "the black Cimmerian" Coman's introduction halfway through. After La Conquête d'Islande, it truly seemed that great minds think alike. It's like Guo Jia's ending sequence in Dynasty Warriors 7 XL.
Unlike the Belgians, it's not as if Monsieur Bleu had stumbled upon a magic tactical formula halfway through. It doesn't matter whether he has secretly read this blog so far. Rather, he knew what he's doing. And he still knows what he's doing. The starting XI he put out is most likely the same hand he played against Lars "not from Tekken" Lagerbäck. In other words, Antoine "the white Henry" Griezmann will most likely play as an orthodox 2nd striker in the hole.
The story of La Conquête d'Islande can surmised in one tactical statement: 4-2-3-1 in name, 4-4-1-1 in reality.
By creating a stranglehold via Dimitri "the Frankish Depay" Payet and Moussa "he's no black mousse" Sissoko, the white Henry was given the license to roam and kill like James Bond 007. At the same time (that is if reports are to be trusted), it also brought out the best (?) in Paul "Le Chevalier Noir" Pogba. As in tackled less, shot more, ran equally much.
Monsieur Bleu has hit a tactical jackpot here where he managed to extract the best out of the best box to box midfielder and auxiliary striker in the République.
Ultimately, there's nothing to fear for the Frankish brigade. While it'd be stupid to assume the Teutons will have everything to fear, I prefer to see this match as a pulsating battle between two fearless XI descended from two fearless people (okay, not so much literally. Technically, yes).
Where the battle will/may be won
The space between the attacking 4 and four by two. Les Bleus will surely want to prevent the Teutonic knights from running amok just in front of their four by two. Ironically, that's most likely what Die Nationalelf will want to do as well when it comes to the Frankish cavalry charging forward.
Style wise, it's all about control and flair versus discipline and speed. The first touch of the ball is of utmost importance. The moment any fellow in the middle 3rd screws up on this end, that's it. Either 'tis au revoir or auf wiedersehen (depending on whether you're a local S'porean who understands French or a local S'porean who is based in Hamburg).
P.S: It can be quite frustrating at times when your own father doesn't seem to understand your own struggles despite your best ability to send blatant signs. I don't deal well with noise, I don't deal well with his complaints against just about any entity which happened to annoy him. There's nothing rational about the random nature of my mental tension. In fact, he should be notified of this. It's either his son is born a genius or a mere madman. I'm going to share this post twice. Once in public view, once with those whom I can trust. Maybe my cousin Stella can try arranging a MRI scan for me since she's working in SGH. *shrugs* Until then...
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