Hope all is well EM,
Perfect timing, right. I understand the frustration from the administration about not being informed of Loptegui’s plans on taking the Real job until minutes before the media announcement, but one would have hoped cooler heads would prevail. The administration citing the recent contract extension through EURO 2020 is bullshit because they very well may have sacked him after the WC anyway. With expectations always sky high in Spain who knows what he would have needed to accomplish to stay on.
He certainly played this situation out very poorly and the lame duck manager could have had a negative effect, but sacking the manager a day before the tourney almost certainly will have a negative impact. Spanish media, which could be BS, is claiming a divided lockeroom with Real players backing Loptegui to stay on and some non-Real players supporting his dismissal. For the sake of my wagers, hopefully the team can rally around this, they certainly have an abundance of talent at all positions, but I’m more uneasy about their chances than I was a day ago.
Opening Match:
Russia-Saudi Arabia:
0.8 Under 1.5, 2 +156
0.5 Russia win to nil +100
0.5 HT/FT: Russia/Russia +115
0.3 Russia win/Under 1.5 +375
0.1 Correct score: Russia 1-0 +425
As strong as I feel about Russia advancing, this match has me a bit nervous. Hosts actually tend to tighten a bit and/or struggle under the immense pressure of a major tournament opener. Although, that may not be as big a factor in this situation as many hosts are favorites and/or expected to win the whole thing, which certainly isn’t the case for the Russians.
A major factor in me backing Russia to advance is not believing in the Egyptians one bit, Solah or no Solah. I also think finishing with Uruguay is a favorable slot for that matchup, as they may be sitting comfortably on six points with the group already in hand. Saudi Arabia is overmatched by the talent at this tourney, but I don’t feel they are significantly overmatched within this group, which may be the weakest in tournament history. In fact, I think they finish third ahead of Egypt and may surprise the pundits clamouring for a zero point showing.
Ultimately, I think the Russians get it done in front of the home support, but it won’t be pretty. Look for a Russian goal midway through the first and once the Saudi’s put a little pressure or scare of an equalizer into the Russians, they’ll sit on the lead and ride the emotions of the crowd to an ugly 1-0 victory.
Continued success.
Russia-Saudi Arabia:
0.8 Under 1.5, 2 +156
0.5 Russia win to nil +100
0.5 HT/FT: Russia/Russia +115
0.3 Russia win/Under 1.5 +375
0.1 Correct score: Russia 1-0 +425
As strong as I feel about Russia advancing, this match has me a bit nervous. Hosts actually tend to tighten a bit and/or struggle under the immense pressure of a major tournament opener. Although, that may not be as big a factor in this situation as many hosts are favorites and/or expected to win the whole thing, which certainly isn’t the case for the Russians.
A major factor in me backing Russia to advance is not believing in the Egyptians one bit, Solah or no Solah. I also think finishing with Uruguay is a favorable slot for that matchup, as they may be sitting comfortably on six points with the group already in hand. Saudi Arabia is overmatched by the talent at this tourney, but I don’t feel they are significantly overmatched within this group, which may be the weakest in tournament history. In fact, I think they finish third ahead of Egypt and may surprise the pundits clamouring for a zero point showing.
Ultimately, I think the Russians get it done in front of the home support, but it won’t be pretty. Look for a Russian goal midway through the first and once the Saudi’s put a little pressure or scare of an equalizer into the Russians, they’ll sit on the lead and ride the emotions of the crowd to an ugly 1-0 victory.
Continued success.
