got cut off....
If you like the Lions:
1) from a neutral, and from afar; SOMETHING just feels different about this team from years past. those "little" things are there which I hadnt seen from years past.
a) little (to none) between-game drama. which is absolutely amazing when you take into account the British media whom are some of the most unforgiving humans on this planet. everyone knew their roles, Southgate smart in naming roster early and put that 'drama' to bed quickly.
2) youth. a double edged sword, they might be able to recover quickly, and theyre playing with confidence. everyone seems to understand their role. the ENTIRE 23 man roster picks up paychecks from the EPL, and you dont play in the EPL unless you have skill;its not a 'little-sisters-of-the-poor' league. just because nobody has heard about them outside of Britain doesnt mean they arent good.
3) Croats centre back Vida. yeah he got them the lead in xtra time the other day. but dont be fooled. he hasnt had a brainfart yet in this WC. man is overdue.
4) that 3-5-2 formation just might stifle & pin back Croatia deep. Croats dont have the blazing speed up front and it would not suprise me to see Lions defenders with their heels parked at midfield. Croats love the 'build-up' and seek out their 2 superstars to start their offense. which brings me to this....
Modric. at the onset of this tourney mentioned that he was one of the most irreplaceable players for his country than almost anyone else. perhaps Southgate should ditch the 5 man middle and just assign someone to mark him relentlessly (sic Henderson or Trippier on him). you just cannot allow Modric time to find passing lanes.
If anyone remembers, the Gauchos setup a similar formation vs Croats; and Croatia really attacked the flanks.if theres one man on that Lion squad whom MUST have a good game, in my mind its Maguire back there, Croats almost certainly have their radars locked in to that area of field to attack. which is why I think Southgate might 'tweak' that formation a little. we'll see how the first 20 mins go.
Final decision: Croats to advance @+145. just too hard to pass up as the 'EPL bias' of being televised weekly & everyone + their mother hammering the books in Britain. though I dont base plays solely on historical precedent, I dont totally ignore it either.
experience trumps youth.
though I DO must admit this: it sure would be nice to see the Lions in the finals.
going to toss some on this for the heck of it.
Croatia/England over 2.5 @+166
****the Three Lions may very well win this & advance. but it sure as heck isnt going to be because "FIFA wants them to" OR "England wants it more" cazzo!!! IDIOTS.
it'll be because theyre the better team today.
but i just cant pass up the value; nothing more, nothing less.
GL to all (including the mass of Three-Lion fanatics in here)