Les Bleus versus Strákarnir okkar
This match arguably epitomises what is truly paradoxical in modern football. On one end, purists would want to see a resounding victory for the Franks. On the other hand, romantics are now most likely praying for a famous scalp claimed by the Norsemen. If you belong to both, it's best you don't watch this match lest you get caught in the middle like some lucky dude who is fancied by two beautiful local S'porean girls who happened to be rich and intelligent as well.
Before I start...
I realised that the German Löw may have read what this Singaporean Löw had written in his previous post. Before I went to sleep last night, I was absolutely positive Julian "Der Dazzler" Draxler was in the starting lineup. Then come the next day, that German Löw changed the whole damn thing from 4-2-3-1 to a bloody 3-4-2-1 Christmas tree. As it turned out, Christmas was delayed in Rome while the very same holiday actually came in early to Saxony. I really have to give credit to the correct Löw (read: the German one, not the Singaporean one). Who could have imagined this crazy kerl pulling off two-man offensive anchor behind the current Super (German) Mario? As it turned out, the match was quite boring. It's a no-brainer given the fact that Der Löw and Il Bestia were pretty much playing the same tactics on the same chessboard (read: a reverse horseshoe crab vs the same horseshoe crab tactics). This match won't be remembered for the goals scored on the pitch, but you can be very sure it will be remembered as that finest battle of wits between the two tactical geniuses of modern day football. If there's any proof pointing to how crazy a true blue genius can be, look no further.
And speaking of genius...
Don't we all love to hate Paul "Le Chevalier Noir" Pogba? 2 yrs ago, he failed to show Sir A.Fergie what he's missing out all the while. 2 yrs later, it's still the same old story and same old song. He reminds me of the correct Gómez in a sense that he should be playing better given his scintillating club form. He may not have put a foot wrong, but that doesn't mean he's actually playing better than Dimitri "the Frankish Depay" Payet.
Assuming Monsieur Bleu (I mean the human being, not that place at 20 Avenue de New York) won't end up trolling me like that German Löw (i.e. changing things 1-2 hrs before kickoff), it means Pogba will most likely be playing in hole 9. What this may possibly mean is this: Monsieur Bleu is telling Pogba to prowl, destroy, and maraud with impunity. I remembered reading an article about the late George "best of the best in Belfast" Best where Sir Matt Busby just told him to do whatever he wanted to do (i.e. on the pitch, not off it). In return, the other 9 outfield players were to perform their respective tasks like a bunch of Germans. If there's any chance of redemption for Pogba, this match will be it. If he overcomes the shackles of fame, then he will be two steps away from becoming the national hero of the Republic ever since Le Professeur X somehow contrived to drag Les Bleus into their last World Cup final. If he ends up playing like a shackled slave, however, I'm pretty sure the entire Parisian press will run riot like what happened to Paris 11 yrs ago.
And speaking of riot...
We may really end up seeing a peaceful version should the impossible happen. Namely Iceland doing a Greece and those Icelanders flooding the streets of Paris.
What exactly went right for Iceland
Lars "not from Tekken" Lagerback isn't a moron. He knows what he's dealing with. During the group stage, the discipline of the Icelandic longboats was good enough to hold off the onslaught staged by the Portuguese Armada. Already, the danger signs were bloody apparent before England. 65 shots, 3 goals, and an imminent loss against a country more famous for volcanoes and beautiful girls. I actually jokingly stated that Iceland may easily hit that over 9000 mode against the English, no one actually told me my joke would become way too real to be seen as a... well, joke.
Against the Franks, the Norsemen will definitely park the bus. If they're to launch volcano ash from the flanks, however, that's where the problem lies. By sticking with an ageing pair of fullbacks, Monsieur Bleu's defensive approach would mean that Iceland needs to commit men down the centre. Ultimately, it's all about how high the Norsemen will press upon break and counter. In fact, I won't be surprised if Gylfi "a good name for any high fantasy hero" Sigurdsson will do a De Bruyne. Not in a technical way, but in a tactical manner.
My country got Steven Tan, their country got this bloke
I still remember the good old days where football was clean and green. No kelong kings, no Dan "not Brown" Tan and Wilson "not Willy" Raj. That was also when every Singaporean knew who was Steven "not Lim" Tan. Once he came off the bench, any sane minded Malaysian team knew they're in trouble. N yrs later, Les Bleus got its own Steven Tan. Only that his complexion is more akin to local Indians and the correct daughter of the correct Rahmat.
I once said that Monsieur Bleu's decision to play one man up front or two at the same time may easily make or break one entire nation's dream. A lot has been said about Monsieur Bleu's shrewd tactical changes, but none of it would have mattered if Kingsley "his last name sounds like the creation of Robert E. Howard" Coman had not come off the bench. In other words, Coman the Barbarian was the reason why Monsieur Bleu was able to shift Antoine "the white Henry" Griezmann into a central position instead of his starting role as a wide forward. Tbh I don't see any difference in approach for this match.
Minghui-matics, anyone?
Before I go to sleep, let me just do a little Minghui-matics here.
France 1-0 Iceland+Coman=advantage Les Gunners
France 0-0 Iceland+Coman=Les Gooners
France 0-1 Iceland+Coman=Les Goners
No comments:
Post a Comment