[sbu_large_image] Dugout Discussion
17 June 2014 3828 comments
Paul Paul
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Once again, we have three fixtures on our World Cup Fantasy agendas this evening. Up first, Belgian take on Algeria in the 5pm kick-off – an impressive qualifying campaign has ensured Marc Wilmots’ side are rated as one of the dark horses for the tournament and brought plenty of investment their way for what looks a straightforward passage through Group H. Can they live up to our expectations though?:

Belgium: Courtois; Alderweireld, vBuyten, Kompany, Vertonghen; Witsel, Dembele, Chadli; de Bruyne, Lukaku, Hazard

Algeria: M’Bohli; Medjani, Halliche, Bougherra, Goulham; Mostefa, Bentaleb, Taider; Feghouli, Mahrez, Soudani

Romelu Lukaku has recovered from a knock and leads the line for the Belgians, with Kevin de Bruyne and Eden Hazard on either side in a 4-3-3. Wilmots’ selection is more or less as expected, with the inclusion of Tottenham’s Nacer Chadli in the central midfield three the only real eyebrow-raiser.

Chadl’s club team-mate Nabil Bentelab takes his place in the Algerian midfield three. The creativity of Valencia’s Sofiane Feghouli is likely to carry the biggest threat to Thibaut Courtois’ prospects of picking up a clean sheet, though Leicester City’s Riyad Mahrez will be hoping to make an impact after getting the nod up front.

The 8pm kick-off then sees hosts Brazil return to action. Big Phil Scolari’s men square up to Mexico this evening with both sides looking for back-to-back wins, following victories over Croatia and Cameroon in their respective openers. Depending on which Fantasy game you are playing, this clash is either the opener in Matchday 2 or the final fixture of Matchday 1 – either way, Neymar and Oscar seem the strongest options for the hosts after both delivered points aplenty in the first match of the tournament, whilst Oribe Peralta will be hoping to notch for the second match in succession and upset the hosts.

Russia and South Korea are our final pairing of the evening. Fabio Capello’s side are the favourites for this one and with Roman Shirokov out through injury and Alexander Kerzhakov expected to be named amongst the subs, the likes of Alexander Kokorin and Alexander Samedov could prove the difference up front and on the right respectively.

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3,828 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Hamstergod
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    Just came back, I love my Algerian players and KDB, Lukaku will hopefully get better

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    1. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      He couldn't get worse. He will be dropped

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      1. Hamstergod
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        12 years, 1 month ago

        really, that bad?

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        1. HuttonDressedasLahm
          • 16 Years
          12 years, 1 month ago

          Made Rooney look good 😉

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          1. Hamstergod
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            12 years, 1 month ago

            lol
            ohh well, if he plays like in the pl then there is a lot of trolling to be endured

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        2. The Bandit
          • 15 Years
          12 years, 1 month ago

          His replacement scored the winner too

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          1. Hamstergod
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            12 years, 1 month ago

            ohh, well , 4-4-2 it seems

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        3. Camp No No
          • 12 Years
          12 years, 1 month ago

          That's actually quite true. I gathered little statistics of him in the match and posted them before:

          Lukaku, 58 minutes, 0/0 shots on target, 0 key passes, 0 successful dribbles, 0/0 crosses successful, was fouled 0 times, pass accuracy 83%, dispossessed 5 times, 2 turnovers.

          For comparison, his replacement Origi:

          Origi, 35 minutes, 1/1 shots on target, 1 key pass (not counted by opta, because Fellaini fumbled it without a shot), 1/1 crosses successful, 2 successful dribbles, was fouled 0 times, pass accuracy 100%, dispossessed 0 times, 0 turnovers.

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          1. Camp No No
            • 12 Years
            12 years, 1 month ago

            According to one stat he also got 0 touches in opponent's area, whatever that exactly means. So, yeah, Lukaku could only possibly have been worse by scoring an own goal and getting a red card.

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  2. Shels
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    Saves + clean sheet* + motm.. ochoa is trolling everyone tonight

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    1. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 16 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      Second CS already

      Sadly ignored Mexico all together

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      1. Spectrum-FFS Doubles Champ
        • 14 Years
        12 years, 1 month ago

        Think a lot of people will have done never even considered them

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  3. FACUPARSE
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    Good Ref

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  4. HuttonDressedasLahm
    • 16 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    Yellow surely?

    Idiot!

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  5. SW6
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    So annoying the ref doesn't give Marcelo a YC

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  6. Gnu
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    I like Guardado in my McFecked back 3.

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  7. Tomlette Greggs
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    Dzagoev doesn't even start. Glad I dodged that one.

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    1. Gnu
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      That's why he was only 4.5m.

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  8. FACUPARSE
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    Mexico for the world cup

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    1. Hamstergod
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      I still think Croatia has a better chance to qualify, stronger performance than what I saw so far

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      1. FACUPARSE
        • 13 Years
        12 years, 1 month ago

        hopefully not

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        1. Hamstergod
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          12 years, 1 month ago

          Expect Croatia to beat Cameroon (really bad in the first match) and then beat Mexico.
          Overall they both have better performances than Brazil so far

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          1. Michaelangelo
            • 13 Years
            12 years, 1 month ago

            As a mexican you can piss off 😀

            Mexico to finish first in the group!

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      2. Shels
        • 12 Years
        12 years, 1 month ago

        I expect them to beat mexico

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        1. FannyBlatter
          • 12 Years
          12 years, 1 month ago

          Should be a great game that, probably Croatia 3-2 🙂

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    2. SW6
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      Brazil making them look better than they are imo.

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      1. FACUPARSE
        • 13 Years
        12 years, 1 month ago

        Brazil are still a good team, Mexico showing balls here, not scared...

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      2. Gatsby
        • 15 Years
        12 years, 1 month ago

        They looked pretty good against Cameroon too.

        Underdogs ftw!

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        1. GREENDREAMS11
          • 16 Years
          12 years, 1 month ago

          yeah, I agree. fancied Mexico to qualify before a ball was kicked and seen nothing to make me doubt that.

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  9. Djerbil
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    Turned volume UP on TV just to listen to the BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOS

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  10. Spectrum-FFS Doubles Champ
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    My first clean sheet of the tournament at last

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    1. MJ6987
      • 15 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      My first 4 😎

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  11. MJ6987
    • 15 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    Phew! 4 Clean Sheets in the bank!

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    1. Pork Pie Sausage Roll
      • 15 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      😯

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      1. MJ6987
        • 15 Years
        12 years, 1 month ago

        I needed the points, believe me!

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        1. Djerbil
          • 14 Years
          12 years, 1 month ago

          3 Brazilians + Ochoa??

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          1. MJ6987
            • 15 Years
            12 years, 1 month ago

            Cesar, Marcelo, Luiz and Alves

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            1. Djerbil
              • 14 Years
              12 years, 1 month ago

              4 Brazilians?? which game??

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              1. MJ6987
                • 15 Years
                12 years, 1 month ago

                Telegraph. Was a fail the first game though especially with Marcelo's OG.

                Think I will shift Luiz to Kombarov for Russia's 3 games now.

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            2. tw
              • 14 Years
              12 years, 1 month ago

              😯

              what game is this?

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              1. MJ6987
                • 15 Years
                12 years, 1 month ago

                Telegraph.

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  12. HuttonDressedasLahm
    • 16 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    Oh come on ref. add at least another minute for Mexico taking that free kick!

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  13. Gnu
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    Happy with that fantasy wise.

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    1. tw
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      I'm most certainly not

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  14. JT's Dog
    12 years, 1 month ago

    Makes captain move easier now

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  15. tw
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    Bar Germany and the Netherlands, all the big sides have been pretty disappointing so far imo

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    1. Djerbil
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      and Colombia

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      1. Beavis
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        12 years, 1 month ago

        They weren't that great really. Camped inside their own half for the whole 1st half against Greece of all teams.

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        1. Djerbil
          • 14 Years
          12 years, 1 month ago

          yeah Netherlands has the best performance in the World Cup so far

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    2. MJ6987
      • 15 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      True. And even Holland weren't thought to be that big this time round.

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      1. tw
        • 14 Years
        12 years, 1 month ago

        agreed

        I guess Italy were decent too

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        1. MJ6987
          • 15 Years
          12 years, 1 month ago

          Yeah, pretty good

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    3. Bøwstring The Carp
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      Me and my mate were discussing this today. We both agreed not to judge anyone by the first round.

      Brazil showed themselves for what they are tonight, average without the referee's decisions going their way.

      Need to step it up if they wanna challenge for the WC

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    4. Shakshuka
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      And netherlands wasnt really considered a big side

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      1. tw
        • 14 Years
        12 years, 1 month ago

        agreed. that's mostly cuz they didn't do too well during the Euros I think. been considered a big side in the past recently and after that result I think they're considered a big side now

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  16. Bøwstring The Carp
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    This will be the week of the clean sheets 😕

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    1. Djerbil
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      obviously in many cases U lose u are out

      U draw u still in with a chance of qualifying

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  17. papasupreme
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    Change to a 442 (i.e. bring on Kompany for Neymar)? My other strikers are non-starters.

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  18. Captain Shirokov
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    Time to sub out Neymar(c)

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    1. 4vets
      • 15 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      To who? Wait until you see line ups 🙄

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      1. Captain Shirokov
        • 14 Years
        12 years, 1 month ago

        Alright, alright. Didn't mean to work up anyone.

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  19. Defcons are for Kinnear
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    Lineups?

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    1. Spectrum-FFS Doubles Champ
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      He means for tomorrow's games

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  20. tm245
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    So now it's time to play lineup roulette once again. Oscar on the far left goes out, everyone else moves over one. Good times.

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    1. Albert Cole
      • 16 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      That happened now?

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      1. tm245
        • 14 Years
        12 years, 1 month ago

        I just shifted all of my midfielders to the left so I can keep them in order of appearance. Hope I have it figured out.

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  21. GuyIncognito
    • 16 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    6 point Valbuena -> Fayzulin? Thinking no right now.

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    1. Albert Cole
      • 16 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      Go for it.

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  22. Valar(Keith)
    • 16 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    Vargas + Lukaku over Sanchez + Kokorin seems to be my biggest regret at the moment. i always have an irrational draw towards lukaku... grrr

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  23. Bubz
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    I'm glad that game wasn't part of round 2 in Mirror game

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  24. Captain Shirokov
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    BURRITOS FOR EVERYONE

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  25. GoonerByron
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    Cesar, Alves and Layun in my Mirror team should do me nicely.. Not so much Neymar (c)!

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  26. Dr Dream
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    Neymar/Oscar double up not looking quite so handsome now...oh well, good while it lasted.

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    1. Camp No No
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      Don't worry, they will destroy Cameroon.

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  27. shazzaaam
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    how many points for neymar and oscar?

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    1. Beavis
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      7 and 6

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    2. SW6
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      7 & 6

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  28. Spectrum-FFS Doubles Champ
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    Neymar is going to be this weeks Rojo stick or twist with his 7 points

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    1. Pork Pie Sausage Roll
      • 15 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      definite twist. You must have another 9+ players to try and get better

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  29. JT's Dog
    12 years, 1 month ago

    Glad I changed my mind and got Ghana keeper over Mexico

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  30. LJEZB
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 1 month ago

    when is it safe to sub out Neymar and not lose his points from the first match?

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    1. Pork Pie Sausage Roll
      • 15 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      now. just make sure you sub him out of the GW2 team, not Gw1

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    2. Werkself
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 1 month ago

      now - if you do it on the matchday 2 page.

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