World Cup 2014 – Dugout Discussion – Matchday One, Day Five

Fantasy managers are treated to a feast of football once again this evening, with a trio of fixtures on the agenda. Undoubtedly, the standout match is the 5pm kick-off, where Germany brace themselves for a tough opening showdown with Portugal:

Germany: Neuer; Boateng, Hummels, Mertesacker, Howedes; Lahm, Khedira, Muller, Ozil, Kroos; Gotze.

Portugal: Patricio; Pereira, Alves, Pepe, Coentrao; Veloso, Moutinho, Meireles; Nani, Almeida, Ronaldo.

Judging by the team sheets, Philipp Lahm is set to reprise his club role for the Germans, with the captain likely to be fielded in the centre of the park. Jerome Boateng and Benedikt Howedes are set to be handed the full-back roles, whilst further up the pitch, those recent rumours suggesting Mesut Ozil could be dropped turned out to be nothing more than red herrings – as many expected, the Arsenal man takes his place in the starting XI alongside Thomas Muller, Toni Kroos and Mario Gotze in the four attacking slots.

Portugal line up as expected. Cristiano Ronaldo recovers from injury to take his place on the left of a front three, with Nani wide right and Hugo Almeida handed the central role up top.

Later on, the second game in Group F gets underway at 8pm, where Iran and Nigeria go head-to-head. Both sides will be desperate for a win to boost their prospects of progressing, though with upcoming clashes against Argentina and Bosnia still to follow, neither of the underdogs have been subject to much Fantasy investment. Carlos Quieroz’ side are expected to park the bus and hit their opponents on the counter, though the Africans will be hoping the likes of John Obi Mikel, Victor Moses, Peter Odemwingie and Emmanuel Emineke can make the difference in the final third.

Our 11pm kick-off looks an even affair as Ghana square up to the USA. With both sides in the same group as Germany and Portugal, Fantasy investment has been minimal – Kevin Prince Boateng and Asamoah Gyan carry the main threat for Kwesi Appiah’s side, whilst Clint Dempsey, Jozy Altidore and Michael Bradley look the most likely for Jurgen Klinsmann’s troops.

4,420 Comments Post a Comment

Old Schoolᴼˢ “disa…
9 years, 10 months ago
wow... i just went against my rule number one which is never bet for the sake of betting...

come on Iran, please kick off 😆 roulette bet or what
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1. Alan The Llama
  9 years, 10 months ago
  Literally betting on the toss of a coin. Good work.
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  1. Old Schoolᴼˢ “disa…
    9 years, 10 months ago
    stupid... but just have a feeling 😉
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2. GREENDREAMS11
  9 years, 10 months ago
  what did you go for Old Skool,,?
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  1. Old Schoolᴼˢ “disa…
    9 years, 10 months ago
    Iran to kick off :lol;
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    1. GREENDREAMS11
      9 years, 10 months ago
      lol, it always kicks off in Iran.
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    2. GREENDREAMS11
      9 years, 10 months ago
      Khomeini goals do you think they'll score. ooohhhhhhh
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3. VougieDipond
  9 years, 10 months ago
  i was going to do btts and Iran to win 17/2 and bottled it. Done Moses for first goal instead same price
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4. Lucas Leiva
  9 years, 10 months ago
  😆 guessing it was @10/11? How much did you stick on that?
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  1. Old Schoolᴼˢ “disa…
    9 years, 10 months ago
    40 quid... been winning so like a fool thought i would throw some away
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    1. Lucas Leiva
      9 years, 10 months ago
      Damn, that's ballsy for a 50/50, fair play & good luck.
      
      I went with £50 on Nigeria @6/5, prefer them odds & chances 😉
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Blue Lion
9 years, 10 months ago
Di Maria out,Montazeri IN.
#nervy2minutesofsubstitution
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1. Christina.
  9 years, 10 months ago
  Change of formation?
  
  Ballsy.
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  1. Blue Lion
    9 years, 10 months ago
    yep....Already chucked out Ozil for KdB. If Montazeri dosn't perform IN comes Bentaleb. plan OK?
    
    btw..today morning i was around 2000 places behind you in Fox..right now i am just around 3 points behind with Cortouis and kdB to play!
    #Muller
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    1. Christina.
      9 years, 10 months ago
      Good for you.
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      1. Blue Lion
        9 years, 10 months ago
        aww..
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Heydudes13
9 years, 10 months ago
Bps got added on Fox? Wow got tonnes...

Angel Di Maria even got 1!
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1. SneakyPete
  9 years, 10 months ago
  stupid, Ricardo was my captain he got no bonus. He created both goals, super creative
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Gnu
9 years, 10 months ago
Where's that Gooner chump that wrote off Germany last night? 😉
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What is on the balotelli
9 years, 10 months ago
Question on the USA game - Bedoya likely to get a start? I'm thinking of putting him in for Di maria (5 points). I've got KdB as a backup for tomorrow. Surely I can get 5 points from one of Bedoya or KdB?
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Declan
9 years, 10 months ago
Montazeri in, Kun out 😎
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Horizontal
9 years, 10 months ago
Is there an official and confirmed lineup for Iran yet?
And no, it isn't in the hot topics before you ask.
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1. Alan The Llama
  9 years, 10 months ago
  https://www.google.co.uk/webhp?hl=en&tab=ww#hl=en&q=iran+nigeria
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2. Spencer
  9 years, 10 months ago
  Not a hot topic, but it's stickied. Sort by Sticky Comments First and you'll see it.
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3. Spectrum-FFS Doubles Champ
  9 years, 10 months ago
  Yes should be stickied
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  1. Horizontal
    9 years, 10 months ago
    Forgive my complete stupidity but how do I find "Stickied" posts?
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    1. Lucas Leiva
      9 years, 10 months ago
      Top right, 'Hot Topics'.
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    2. User
      9 years, 10 months ago
      "Sort comments by" Ctrl+F
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      1. Horizontal
        9 years, 10 months ago
        Ah!
        Went to top of page and chose "Sort by Stickies" or something similar and there it was.
        So thanks to the people that gave me good advice.
        The rest of you, not so much thanks. 🙂
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    3. Christina.
      9 years, 10 months ago
      Indian chief puts ear on railroad track. He listens and says "Buffalo come".
      
      Apache: "How do you know chief?"
      
      Chief: "Sticky ear"
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Atwood
9 years, 10 months ago
Shameless repost, looking for opinions. Stick or twist?

Rojo > Montazeri (I also have Kombarov and Aldeweireld tomorrow)
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Gnu
9 years, 10 months ago
Scoring generally looking quite poor on the McPoop game, I've poor score but ranked 62,000. Surely not a glich in the McFecked game?
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1. SW6
  9 years, 10 months ago
  It must be if I've ended up 5th 🙂
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  1. Spectrum-FFS Doubles Champ
    9 years, 10 months ago
    That's awesome mate
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  2. Gnu
    9 years, 10 months ago
    Nah, you HAVE got a pretty good score I believe.
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    1. SW6
      9 years, 10 months ago
      Perhaps but I only have 1CS, no dutch players. Was very surprised I was that high
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2. VougieDipond
  9 years, 10 months ago
  how many points have you got?
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  1. Gnu
    9 years, 10 months ago
    Showing 80 at mo with rank of 62,900.
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    1. VougieDipond
      9 years, 10 months ago
      your only 26 behind me rank 2,113 and I seen someone in rank 100's with 10 points more. Pretty tight can change pretty quickly (even if we won't see it very quickly wth this shambles of a game)
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Siva Mohan
9 years, 10 months ago
I just sent an email to McD Fantasy Buggers

Hi McD Fantasy Team,

I tried to change formation from 3-4-3 to 4-3-3

1. Took out Di Maria (empty slot in midfield)
2. changed formation to 4-3-3 to add a defender slot
3. It took out Juan CUADRADO (14 Pts) from midfield and gave me 1 empty defender slot and midfielder slot

why didn't the game consider the empty slot created after shipping out Di Maria and instead remove my right most player Juan CUADRADO?

Don't the user have right to select the player to ship out while changing formation?

Please help.
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1. RoysCallerAnne
  9 years, 10 months ago
  Only a professional can help you now, I'm afraid.
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  1. SW6
    9 years, 10 months ago
    😆
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  2. Siva Mohan
    9 years, 10 months ago
    I don't think a professional has written the BRD 🙁
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  3. Optimus.
    9 years, 10 months ago
    😆
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2. teddy.
  9 years, 10 months ago
  I am created Shiva, the Destroyer, Death, the shatterer of worlds
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3. GunsnRoses
  9 years, 10 months ago
  I pity you
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4. Mark
  9 years, 10 months ago
  It's a farce. As I understand it, when you change formation, the player who makes way is pre-determined by their spot in your current formation. I'm not sure there's anything you can do about it - even when you allocate an empty space, the change in formation always removes the same slot, empty or not.
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  1. Ginkapo FPL
    9 years, 10 months ago
    Its not really.
    
    The rules clearly state that you can take forwards out for other forwards. No where does it say that you can change formation.
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    1. Siva Mohan
      9 years, 10 months ago
      If the rules doesn't state then they should have hidden or disabled the formation drop down.. arse holes 🙁
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      1. Mark
        9 years, 10 months ago
        I didn't bank on changing formation - I set mine and will keep it but as you say, they should have locked that feature out - would have been simple to do and save anguish.
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5. OShaughnessy
  9 years, 10 months ago
  Honestly, I feel once you've set a formation for the 5 day round that's it.
  
  I tried to sub out Ozil & put a defender in his place but was only allowed to replace him with a midfielder...
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  1. Mark
    9 years, 10 months ago
    I really want to know who came up with this automatic save when making subs and formation changes - it's tricky enough to avoid errors on a laptop, on a mobile device it's just ridiculous.
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    1. OShaughnessy
      9 years, 10 months ago
      Momma knows honey child... Momma knows!
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6. pundit of punts
  9 years, 10 months ago
  It's always the right most player that gets removed. Should have asked tbh.
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7. Siva Mohan
  9 years, 10 months ago
  Now all I am left with is pray for Pejman MONTAZERI to match Juan CUADRADO points!
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laGan1n1
9 years, 10 months ago
whats wrong with Messi (c) on macdonalds fantasy ?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?
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1. Mark
  9 years, 10 months ago
  For some reason they've removed the double points on all captains. Don't worry, I'm sure they'll put it right. They've had a lot of practice fixing cock-ups.
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  1. laGan1n1
    9 years, 10 months ago
    ty!
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2. kalmoffit
  9 years, 10 months ago
  I noticed he was back on 11
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  1. Riojasaurus
    9 years, 10 months ago
    It's not showing the points on the player logo but the double points are still in the total (only just noticed that's showing now!)
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crystalpalaceRus
9 years, 10 months ago
Cillessen 6pts out, Iran GK in?
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1. The Shadow
  9 years, 10 months ago
  If you managed to pick the right Iranian GK definitely, you're on a lucky streak.
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  1. crystalpalaceRus
    9 years, 10 months ago
    Do them blocked shots pts still occur?
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    1. OShaughnessy
      9 years, 10 months ago
      Nope.
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      1. crystalpalaceRus
        9 years, 10 months ago
        So what you rekon? keep Cillessen or twist? Also have Mbolhi for tomorrow
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        OShaughnessy
        9 years, 10 months ago
        Go Iran & if they do poorly then you've got a back up.
        
        And honestly with the way pts are going in this game 6pts is hardly anything to worry about...
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Scoredelario
9 years, 10 months ago
Did sturridge to Ronaldo and have now done Ronaldo to Heydari. Lesson learnt - be conservative.

But then I see doosra left Muller on the bench for sturridge's points. Lesson learnt - be aggressive.

Wait what?
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BONZ
9 years, 10 months ago
Who is all going for as MOTM in the Nigeria game?
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1. Bubz
  9 years, 10 months ago
  Moses
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  1. Heydudes13
    9 years, 10 months ago
    What's your name on Fox?
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    1. Bubz
      9 years, 10 months ago
      Insane in De Bruyne. 23rd atm but will be higher once I get Auriers points from bench.
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      1. Heydudes13
        9 years, 10 months ago
        I'm 120th with 89 points and Muller's bps to come. Go us!
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2. Alberto Tomba
  9 years, 10 months ago
  Emineke
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3. The Enlightener
  9 years, 10 months ago
  Odemwingie.
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SPorting
9 years, 10 months ago
Beikzadeh on the bench?

Chances of him coming on? Might just bring him in instead of Di Maria with KdB as cover.
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1. Telpuialion
  9 years, 10 months ago
  That's what I did. As long as he doesn't get sent off, should be fine.
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2. Spectrum-FFS Doubles Champ
  9 years, 10 months ago
  Not risking it with the chance of a red card but he could come on and score
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Heels_Over_Head
9 years, 10 months ago
Di Maria or Bentaleb (and I wont' be around when squads are announced tomorrow)
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1. Blue Lion
  9 years, 10 months ago
  Di Maria.
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2. GunsnRoses
  9 years, 10 months ago
  Bentaleb
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GunsnRoses
9 years, 10 months ago
Sadeghi and Hosseini
Hope they don't see red cards
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#WinterIsNotComing
9 years, 10 months ago
Hyderi in --- Drmic out
montezari in -- Schaer out
BEIKZADEH in -- Di maria out

never thought I would be starting them...

Come on Iran.... do some magic.. 😛
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seanie3
9 years, 10 months ago
Is it worth switching cholebas (4pts) for Montazeri of Iran
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Alberto Tomba
9 years, 10 months ago
Yaya or Honda? - for the final two games.
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1. Alberto Tomba
  9 years, 10 months ago
  They're the same price in my game.
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2. Prime
  9 years, 10 months ago
  Honda for me
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  1. Alberto Tomba
    9 years, 10 months ago
    Hey Le Prime! What's your score on your game? I'm on 69 atm.
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    1. Prime
      9 years, 10 months ago
      106 and Muller's captain points coming in.
      
      No rank updates but I'm fairly sure I'm winning 😎
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      1. Alberto Tomba
        9 years, 10 months ago
        Wow! Congrats, keep up the good work :). What's the prize?
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        Prime
        9 years, 10 months ago
        Thanks 🙂
        
        1st prize over the entire game is a PS4 + FIFA WC game
        For the different rounds it's a PS3 + FIFA WC game
        Some promotional crap for the other top 10 spots
        
        Worst prizes I've seen in this game and it has 50k players -_-
        
        Most satisfying would be the eternal Fantasy respect from everyone I know + increased nerd status 😀
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ManofKent
9 years, 10 months ago
Remind me in 2018 to make sure my Iranian picks are guaranteed starters...
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1. DGW blindness is for Kinnea…
  9 years, 10 months ago
  You're missing out on all the fun
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2. BONZ
  9 years, 10 months ago
  for £1m they are only squad fillers!
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john_t
9 years, 10 months ago
No mention of Heydari. Is he capable of doing anything?

Thinking of a formation change to bring him in. Nothing to lose, hoping that he would come in on the right side of the forwards and be taken out similary from the right.
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1. Prime
  9 years, 10 months ago
  Does indeed come in on the right
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  1. john_t
    9 years, 10 months ago
    Thanks, just did it.
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2. Dr Dream
  9 years, 10 months ago
  My three lowest scoring def/mid/fwd just happened to be on the right side of my team..I wouldn't have risked it otherwise.
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3. OShaughnessy
  9 years, 10 months ago
  Who Scored are usually pretty good with their line-up predictions... & they've got him starting along the wing.
  
  http://www.whoscored.com/Matches/789645/Preview
  
  If you do swap him & this requires a formation change let me know if it works?
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Heydudes13
9 years, 10 months ago
How many players are there in Fox game?
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Nico.
9 years, 10 months ago
Btw when a player gets sent off, he CAN be subbed out.

My friend has both Maxi Perreira and Wilson Palacios 😆
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1. Spectrum-FFS Doubles Champ
  9 years, 10 months ago
  Good to know this thanks
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Captain Shirokov
9 years, 10 months ago
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuefYS_34xg

lol
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1. Heydudes13
  9 years, 10 months ago
  'If he's in good shape, yeahhh'
  
  😆
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2. john_t
  9 years, 10 months ago
  Explains the pool of people that the McD programmers came from.
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3. Optimus.
  9 years, 10 months ago
  😀
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Sean.
9 years, 10 months ago
Fox Transfer deadline 4.45 EST ( 18 June)
What time is that in England ( BST ) ?
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FACUPARSE
9 years, 10 months ago
How did Ozil play for Germany??
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1. VougieDipond
  9 years, 10 months ago
  meh
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RedLightning
9 years, 10 months ago
My McD score for Neymar (C) has mysteriously changed from 28 to 14.

Neymar has been my leftmost forward and captain throughout, and he still has a C against his name.

I did however change my formation from 4-4-2 to 4-3-3.

I'm using a PC, not an iPhone.

What's going on?
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1. #WinterIsNotComing
  9 years, 10 months ago
  you havn't lost nay point from neymar.. they have changed the way captain points appear.. in total your captain points are included. happened with me too. but later realized the total is still the same.
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  1. RedLightning
    9 years, 10 months ago
    That's a relief. Many thanks for your reply.
    
    I hadn't noticed that they are now showing total overall points (as they stood before the Germany-Portugal match) - or that Neymar's points breakdown still says "Captain bonus x2".
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SW6
9 years, 10 months ago
Can't wait to watch Montarezi play, been a fan of his for years.
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RoysCallerAnne
9 years, 10 months ago
(1) Wins McDonalds and receives a shiny new car ..
(2) Drive to closest off liscence to buy some Champagne.
(3) Parks in furthest right space.
(4) Car disappears.
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