634x258 Dugout Discussion
15 June 2014 3787 comments
Paul Paul
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With three World Cup matches on offer this evening, Fantasy managers have plenty to look forward to. First up, Switzerland take on Ecuador in the 5pm kick-off, with Ottmar Hitzfeld’s side looking to maintain the form that saw them top their qualifying group with an unbeaten record over 10 matches:

Switzerland: Benaglio: Lichtsteiner, Von Bergen, Djourou, Rodriguez: Inler, Behrami; Shaqiri, Xhaka, Stocker; Drmic

Ecuador: Dominguez; Paredes, Guagua, Erazo, W Ayovi; A Valencia, Noboa, Gruezo, Montero; Caicedo, E Valencia

For Switzerland, the highly-rated young left-back Ricardo Rodriguez will add plenty of attacking threat from the back, whilst the likes of Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri are tasked with supplying the creativity behind Josip Drmic, who notched 17 times in 30 starts for German side Nurnberg in 2013/14. The one surprisde from Hitzfeld’s line-up is his decision to opt for Johan Djourou ahead of Fabian Schar in central defence.

Ecuador will be looking for front two Enner Valencia and Felipe Caicedo to grab the goals. The latter was top scorer in qualifying with seven strikes, whilst elsewhere in Reinaldo Rueda’s 4-4-2, Jefferson Montero and United’s Antonio Valencia will also be hoping to make an impact on the flanks.

After that, France square up to Honduras in the other Group E game at 9pm. Despite losing Franck Ribery to injury, Les Bleus are highly-fancied in this one – they’ve won four and drawn one of their last five friendlies, conceding just a single goal in the process. Karim Benzema, Olivier Giroud, Paul Pogba, Antoine Griezmann and Mathieu Valbuena owners have every reason for optimism as Didier Deschamps’ side look to get off to a winning start before a midweek meet with the Swiss.

Our late night viewing sees Group F get underway with a clash of the favourites, as Argentina and Bosnia and Herzegovina go head-to-head. Lionel Messi will surely be sporting the armband for a number of managers for the 11pm kick-off, though there’s no shortage of options on our radars for this clash, with Sergio Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain, Angel Di Maria, Edin Dzeko and Miralem Pjanic all looking to catch our attentions before the schedule eases considerably for both sides.

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  1. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    Going well so far with Lloris, Benzema and Valbuena

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  2. Pork Pie Sausage Roll
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    Bernandez sounds like the sort of unlicensed name you'd get on PES

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  3. Count of Monte Hristo
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    Giroud on for Griezmann and let the goals reign

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  4. Pork Pie Sausage Roll
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    Shit I just realised I left Valbuena on my McPoo bench 🙄

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  5. HuttonDressedasLahm
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    Wow, Valbuena really is on everything apart from pens

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    1. Bøwstring The Carp
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      So annoying, I thought having Cabaye and Valbuena would cover me for everything 😕

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  6. Dr Dream
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    No pts from Valbuena yet but looking like a great FF pick.

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    1. Sanguinista
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      Valbuena shows as 1 point for "every 2 balls delivered into the penalty area". He's had 5 corners and 3 free kicks. How come only 1 point?

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      1. nirst
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 6 months ago

        They need to be 'successful' and find a French player.

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      2. Dr Dream
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 6 months ago

        Got to connect.

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  7. Jonnykanzen
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    Has the formation change thing been fixed yet??

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    1. Jonnykanzen
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      i.e. if i remove players before changing formation will that work? or is it still the far right player

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  8. Fifa las vegas
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    My -1 on France should pull through.....hopefully 🙂

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  9. The Sarjeant
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    Do you get assists for the penalties in the McDonalds game? Who got it?

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    1. Declan
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      Nope, Pogba

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    2. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      Nope

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    3. Grounderz
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      Nope, only successful passes without any deflections.

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  10. Fifa las vegas
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    Should Pogba not get an assist or something?

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    1. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      You're lucky he's still on the pitch to be fair

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      1. Fifa las vegas
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 6 months ago

        Meh...still?

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    2. Grounderz
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      Only FPL style.

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  11. Pork Pie Sausage Roll
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    Three amazing former footballers doing punditry for BBC...and then Robbie Savage

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      1. Pork Pie Sausage Roll
        • 15 Years
        11 years, 6 months ago

        😆

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      2. Optimus.
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 6 months ago

        😆

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  12. Lucas Leiva
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    Henry is amazing 😆

    France WTN @evens looks sealed now v 10 men.

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  13. The Sarjeant
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    So we all still voting for Pogba? Yeah?

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    1. Count of Monte Hristo
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      Yup

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    2. Lucas Leiva
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      There will be tens of thousands of votes, the odd 10/20 here won't make too much difference.

      But yeah...Pogba 😉

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    3. Magerost
        11 years, 6 months ago

        Yeah, 50£ more profit. But money if Benzema gets it also.
        Win win 😀

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      • shillso
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 6 months ago

        If I delete cookies and browsing history can I vote for him again on the website?

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    4. JT's Dog
        11 years, 6 months ago

        Henry should just punch savage
        He is like the son of lawrenson

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        1. Fifa las vegas
          • 13 Years
          11 years, 6 months ago

          Valbuena?

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          1. The Sarjeant
            • 12 Years
            11 years, 6 months ago

            No! Pogba!

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        2. FACUPARSE
          • 13 Years
          11 years, 6 months ago

          I voted Palacios

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      • HuttonDressedasLahm
        • 16 Years
        11 years, 6 months ago

        Pogba vote. Cast

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      • Saint Domingo
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 6 months ago

        Any chance R Rod will get 1 more point for 88% pass completion in the McD game ? Seems like they just add whatever scores they want in this format.

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        1. Big_Andy_GAWA
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 6 months ago

          They're absolute jokers!!!

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      • JT's Dog
          11 years, 6 months ago

          Damn got another FGS and Las Vegas guy isn't here to hear me gloat

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          1. Fifa las vegas
            • 13 Years
            11 years, 6 months ago

            You called?

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          2. Fifa las vegas
            • 13 Years
            11 years, 6 months ago

            Tbf I got that this one too! 🙂

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            1. JT's Dog
                11 years, 6 months ago

                Told you it was easy
                Waiting on di maria for 3 from 4 on this bet
                But every time I tell in advance it doesn't happen

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          3. SW6
            • 13 Years
            11 years, 6 months ago

            Palacios vote. Cast

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            1. Fifa las vegas
              • 13 Years
              11 years, 6 months ago

              F off!! 😉

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            2. Pork Pie Sausage Roll
              • 15 Years
              11 years, 6 months ago

              Would love for FFS to come together and try to pull something like that off.

              Central African Republic stye

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              1. SW6
                • 13 Years
                11 years, 6 months ago

                We should try get the reserve GK to win it in one of the more obscure match 🙂

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          4. Fifa las vegas
            • 13 Years
            11 years, 6 months ago

            Is it through voting man of the match is chosen?

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            1. Lucas Leiva
              • 15 Years
              11 years, 6 months ago

              Yeah, FIFA.com.

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          5. Grounderz
            • 14 Years
            11 years, 6 months ago

            Is that really red card shown by the referee or did he accidentally pull all out his black cover handbook altogether?

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          6. Bøwstring The Carp
            • 14 Years
            11 years, 6 months ago

            Valbuena been MOTM for me so far, irrespective of me owning him. Some class deliveries, well-taken set pieces and hasn't put a foot wrong.

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            1. The Sarjeant
              • 12 Years
              11 years, 6 months ago

              Vote Pogba though!

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            2. Saint Domingo
              • 13 Years
              11 years, 6 months ago

              Correct,should have had a couple of assists,still fancy he will grab a goal for himself 2nd half

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          7. Bubz
            • 12 Years
            11 years, 6 months ago

            Thierry Henry to succeed Wenger at Arsenal I reckon.

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            1. Wilshere Knowledge
              • 12 Years
              11 years, 6 months ago

              With no managerial experience whatsoever?

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              1. Bubz
                • 12 Years
                11 years, 6 months ago

                He will do when Wenger finally leaves.. When he's 90.

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                1. Wilshere Knowledge
                  • 12 Years
                  11 years, 6 months ago

                  😆

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                  1. Bubz
                    • 12 Years
                    11 years, 6 months ago

                    Seriously though, I can see Thierry managing Arsenal one day

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                    1. FACUPARSE
                      • 13 Years
                      11 years, 6 months ago

                      He's too nice for management. Won't happen

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            2. Prime
              • 12 Years
              11 years, 6 months ago

              Get him as assistant first?

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            3. SW6
              • 13 Years
              11 years, 6 months ago

              I reckon Arsenal have already decided they want Martinez when Wenger goes

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              1. FACUPARSE
                • 13 Years
                11 years, 6 months ago

                based on?

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                1. SW6
                  • 13 Years
                  11 years, 6 months ago

                  Fits Arsenal's style perfectly, one of the best young managers in the world. You'd be lucky to get him 🙂

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                  1. Wilshere Knowledge
                    • 12 Years
                    11 years, 6 months ago

                    Wengers contract ends the same time as Klopp. 😉

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                  2. FACUPARSE
                    • 13 Years
                    11 years, 6 months ago

                    Got Wigan relegated.

                    Has done well at Everton but he did inherit a pretty solid team.. Will be interesting to see if they improve next season, don't think they will personally.

                    Not sure I want him as Arsenal's next manager

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            4. FACUPARSE
              • 13 Years
              11 years, 6 months ago

              Big Tony is next in charge 😆

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          8. Sanguinista
            • 13 Years
            11 years, 6 months ago

            Any Valbuena owners in Mcshit? Rules say "1 point for every 2 balls delivered into the penalty area".
            He's had 5 corners and 3 free kicks. How come Valhuena has only gotten 1 point so far?

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            1. Dr Dream
              • 13 Years
              11 years, 6 months ago

              Not connected...and yes I have him.

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            2. FACUPARSE
              • 13 Years
              11 years, 6 months ago

              give it some time to update

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            3. Count of Monte Hristo
              • 12 Years
              11 years, 6 months ago

              They have burgers to flip before any points get updated

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              1. Saint Domingo
                • 13 Years
                11 years, 6 months ago

                Hahaha

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            4. pundit of punts
              • 12 Years
              11 years, 6 months ago

              Only successful deliveries count.

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          9. ZeleniMD
            • 12 Years
            11 years, 6 months ago

            I guess it's about successful deliveries

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          10. Bøwstring The Carp
            • 14 Years
            11 years, 6 months ago

            Argentina line up anyone?

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          11. Thomass
            • 13 Years
            11 years, 6 months ago

            Is it worth taking the armband of Neymar and putting it to Messi?

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            1. Captain Shirokov
              • 14 Years
              11 years, 6 months ago

              No.

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            2. Reedy
              • 15 Years
              11 years, 6 months ago

              The armband of Neymar should stay on the arm of Neymar.

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            3. Bubz
              • 12 Years
              11 years, 6 months ago

              Nah

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            4. Spectrum-FFS Doubles Champ
              • 14 Years
              11 years, 6 months ago

              If you was going to take it off Neymar you would have already been passing it round by now

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          12. Captain Shirokov
            • 14 Years
            11 years, 6 months ago

            Decided to switch on for the second half because France will now score many, many goals.

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          13. Lucas Leiva
            • 15 Years
            11 years, 6 months ago

            Jonathan Stevenson ‏@Stevo_football
            Henry deals with Savage like he's won an audience competition to be a pundit for a day. Borderline disdain.

            😆

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            1. Bubz
              • 12 Years
              11 years, 6 months ago

              😆 so true

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          14. Tony Yeboah
            • 12 Years
            11 years, 6 months ago

            why on earth would u play sacko over kosc?.......damn u deschamps

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            1. Captain Shirokov
              • 14 Years
              11 years, 6 months ago

              for the lolz

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            2. SW6
              • 13 Years
              11 years, 6 months ago

              France wouldn't be in the World Cup if it wasn't for Sakho

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