Starters Rest, Cosumar Await
To Be Vanquished or Not, That Is The Question
Janet Heinrik here, and today we shall discuss at some length about some of the strategical decisions made by Franscesca Larriet in the game against Euran Oceania Territories. Perhaps it was because of EOT's form in their first few matches, and how they had conceded an astonishing number of thirteen goals. Perhaps it was because Ko-oren had scored seven on the EOT squad and caused there to be an absurd goal differential. But, regardless of whatever the reason, Franscesca Cortes Larriet decided to rest all starters save two in the final game of the Group Stages, with a starting lineup that read: Nier in goal, Ilya, Raoul, Aart, Damjana, Colbert, Montague, Sybill, Liam, Niro, and Antonio, with Antonio getting the captain's armband for the match. Of course, it should be noted that Raoul and Ilya had considerable experience in the first team in the previous World Cup Cycles, so the defense would be in capable hands - especially with Aart being at the center of it all to dictate the pace. Giving Niro a start would let the world see what a talent she was to the world, and Antonio would be there to ensure that a goal would be scored.
To no one's surprise, the Anomalies did win, but the possibly worrying sign was that it was by a long goal by Ki Niro in the seventy-eighth. The defense of the Anomalies were solid as usual, but they had trouble linking with Sybill, Colbert, and Montague in the midfield. The absence of Meagan Kelly was definitely felt, which was ramified by her entrance in the second half, which led the goal. It was apparent that the starting eleven for this game had not had much time to practice with each other, and that the timing of their passes and plays were a bit off. But, it was still enough to see how the Anomalies would handle an adverse situation, and the fact that the players didn't lose their heads is to be commended. Niro's goal was a beauty - neatly crossed over by Liam, nice dribbling around her man, and then a neat shot that tricked the keeper by bending to the right to be the difference in the match.
So, regardless of whatever people were to say about her tactics, Franscesca had led her team to the Round of Sixteen in Atlantian Oceania's tournament, to be faced with the task of Cosumar in the Round of Sixteen. Of course, the Vanquishers of Cosumar had destroyed Group C, winning all four matches and scoring fourteen goals while conceding five. If we look at the Anomalies' matches, scoring seven and conceding five, we can see that defense will once again be the calling card of the matchup. Whether it be Anders Engström or Tevin Lilley leading, or Ole Öhman making plays, the Vanquishers' offense had definitely generated an enormous amount of goals, the greatest being their 5-4 win over Eshan. Mauricio Sigler will also be another player to watch, and his matchup with Erika Morningstar will be very important. The Vanquishers will have to deal with the wall that is Nikolai Thorben, however, and that should provide the Anomalies with a chance.
On the other end, Trenn Rien, Gabriella Antonio, Meagan Kelly, and Rachel Hellion will be given the chance to take apart the Cosumarite defense. Soarhaven, Svensson, Pandan, and Serra have done an admirable job, and of course, the man before the net, Jakk Winterfyll, will not be a pushover. The crispness of the Chromatik counterattack will determine whether the team gets to have many opportunities against the Vanquishers, and just how good those opportunities will be. It may actually be another game where the Anomalies decide to pull out Sorendai and add Montague to form a 4-4-2 to keep the match in the middle third of the match instead of the Chromatik third as usual. That will depend on the pace of the match, and just how fast the ball moves back and forth.
If Chromatika is to start making a splash in the international stage, a Round of 16 showing at the Cup of Harmony will need to be followed with this victory over the Vanquishers. A loss would not mean the end of the world, just signal where the Anomalies are at this point. In order to start achieving and thinking of possibly achieving bigger and better things, a team must grow up; now is the chance for such a thing to happen. The question is, will the Anomalies take the moment? Or will they simply be Vanquished?
