[sbu_large_image] Dugout Discussion

World Cup 2014 – Dugout Discussion – Matchday 2, Day 6

22 June 2014 2095 comments
Paul Paul
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The last three games of Matchday 2 are played out this evening as Fantasy managers start firming up plans for tomorrow’s deadlines. First up this evening, Belgium and Russia will be hoping to improve upon their previous displays after both sides relied on substitutes to find the net last time around:

Belgium: Courtois; Alderweireld, Van Buyten, Kompany, Vermaelen; De Bruyne, Witsel, Fellaini; Mertens, Lukaku, Hazard

Russia: Akinfeev; Kozlov, Berezutskiy, Ignashevich Kombarov; Glushakov, Fayzulin, Shatov; Samedov, Kokorin, Kanunnikov

Marc Wilmots makes a trio of changes for today’s match, with three Tottenham players making way. Jan Vertonghen is replaced by Thomas Vermaelen at left-back, while further up the pitch Nacer Chadli and Mousa Dembele are omitted from the central midfield three, with Marouane Fellaini and Dries Mertens handed a chance to impress after both climbed off the bench to notch against Algeria. Vincent Kompany recovers from a knock in time to start and Romelu Lukaku leads the line once again despite a less than impressive display in the opener.

For the Russians, Fabio Capello made a couple of alterations to his starting XI. Andrei Eschenko drops out for Alexei Kozlov at right-back, while former Chelsea player Yuri Zhirkov drops out for Maksim Kanunnikov in the front three – this could potentially see the versatile Alexander Kokorin shifted left to accommodate the switch. Despite grabbing a goal within minutes of appearing off the bench last time around, Alexander Kerzhakov remains amongst the substitutes for Russia.

After that, South Korea square up to Algeria in the other Group H fixture at 8pm. The former will be buoyed by their opening draw against the Russians and Lee Keun-ho seems favourite to replace Park Chu-yung in the lone forward role after notching as a second-half sub last time around. Algeria need to pick themselves up after suffering a late loss to the Belgians and will be looking for Sofiane Feghouli to find the net once again and steer them into the points, after the Valencia man spoiled Thibaut Courtois’ clean sheet with a coolly-converted spot-kick in Matchday 1.

The last game of Matchday 2 takes place at 11pm, with Cristiano Ronaldo centre stage. After being battered 4-0 by Germany in their opener, Portugal need to pick up the points against a USA side that chalked up a win over Ghana in their opener. With Pepe suspended and Fabio Coentrao ruled out due to a thigh injury, Paulo Bento’s side have half of their first-choice back-four missing – Clint Dempsey will be optimistic of netting again, having opened the scoring in last week’s 2-1 triumph over the Africans.

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2,095 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 9 months ago

    Don't be alarmed boys but Lukaku has been seen on the pitch.

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  2. Bubz
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 9 months ago

    Kokorin is so terrible

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  3. SW6
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 9 months ago

    Kokorin 😆

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  4. Walsh
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 9 months ago

    Kokorin you are joking me.

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  5. 7shadesofsmoke
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 9 months ago

    Belgium CS should have gone there.

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  6. Vote Joke
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 9 months ago

    Where the hell is Eschenko?! Played him over Lukaku and KDB.

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  7. Bøwstring The Carp
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 9 months ago

    Ugh please don't do anything Kokorin, I benched you 😕

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    1. Bubz
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 9 months ago

      No danger of that

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  8. Lawrø
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 9 months ago

    Kokorin misses a sitter!

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  9. Louis
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 9 months ago

    Nooo Kokorin!!!!

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  10. crystalpalaceRus
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 9 months ago

    So apparently its possible to lose a RB point

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    1. SW6
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 9 months ago

      Happens quite a lot, not really sure how they do their scoring.

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    2. 7shadesofsmoke
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 9 months ago

      KDB?

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    3. Polaris - The Mortal Coil
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 9 months ago

      Ronald McDonald likes this.

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    4. Wolverine
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 9 months ago

      Hmmm yh KDB has lost his

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  11. Old Schoolᴼˢ “disa…
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 9 months ago

    Poor defending by Belgium there

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  12. VougieDipond
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 9 months ago

    KDB point removed he's that crap

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    1. crystalpalaceRus
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 9 months ago

      Well he literally just won a ball back so should be 3 again.

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      1. Phil_fox85
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 9 months ago

        Who knows, I'm not always sure they get it right.

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        1. crystalpalaceRus
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 9 months ago

          He just did a RB the commentator even said 'de bruyne wins it back'

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          1. Phil_fox85
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            11 years, 9 months ago

            Correct, I'm watching too 😉

            Just that they seem to be very subjective, I can rarely count how many they will give.

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    2. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 9 months ago

      It's only fair tbh.

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  13. Heydudes13
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 9 months ago

    Kokorin is so hyped but his end product is fecking non existent.

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    1. Captain Shirokov
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 9 months ago

      So hyped?

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      1. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 9 months ago

        Regarded as one of russias bigest talents ever....

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        1. Captain Shirokov
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 9 months ago

          lol

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          1. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
            • 12 Years
            11 years, 9 months ago

            Tbf he had a great year in league

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      2. Heydudes13
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 9 months ago

        In Russia massively.

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      3. 7shadesofsmoke
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 9 months ago

        Keats too, wasn't it?

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  14. Fresco
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 9 months ago

    Kerzhakov would have scored that. Poor lineup from Capello

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    1. Bøwstring The Carp
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 9 months ago

      This so much.

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    2. VougieDipond
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 9 months ago

      im amazed kokorin started he's useless

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  15. Somalion
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 9 months ago

    Kokorin proving why he is so cheap... Lukaku proving why Chelsea don't really want him...

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  16. Captain Shirokov
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 9 months ago

    Worst half of the WC.

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    1. Heydudes13
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 9 months ago

      Iran v Nigeria disagrees.

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      1. Polaris - The Mortal Coil
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 9 months ago

        This.

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      2. Captain Shirokov
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 9 months ago

        Didn't see it, just as well.

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    2. Walsh
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 9 months ago

      I thought the first half of Russia v South Korea was quite poor as well.

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      1. Polaris - The Mortal Coil
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 9 months ago

        Only from a Russia point of view. S.Korea were very good.

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  17. SW6
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 9 months ago

    Lukaku has been so bad, will be subbed early if he keeps this up

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  18. 7shadesofsmoke
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 9 months ago

    I used to think Mourinho was crazy for sending Lukaku out on loan with the strikers he had at Chelsea last season. Now I see why...

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  19. Bubz
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 9 months ago

    What an anti-climax this match is. Looks like the Algeria match will be the one to watch. Mesbahhhhh!

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  20. Dr Dream
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 9 months ago

    Just the worst game...terrible. Both teams are rubbish.

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  21. Heydudes13
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 9 months ago

    Belgium won't go far.

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  22. Gubbins94.
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 9 months ago

    Game as dull as expected. Belgium have no gameplan or chemistry.

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  23. Bubz
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 9 months ago

    Gutted they didn't give that penalty :'(

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    1. Christina.
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 9 months ago

      Also kombarov(c)?

      Could have been 2-0 for Ruski's

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      1. Bubz
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 9 months ago

        Yep. Typical that a clear pen isn't given. Then again, he probably would have missed it, the way he is playing.

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        1. Christina.
          • 16 Years
          11 years, 9 months ago

          I wish he would get a FK. He is good on those.

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          1. Polaris - The Mortal Coil
            • 12 Years
            11 years, 9 months ago

            How do you know? You've already said it is your first time watching him play 😆

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  24. Heydudes13
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 9 months ago

    Stonewaller.

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  25. Heydudes13
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 9 months ago

    Kombarov denied an assist and a pen. Sigh.

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    1. Bubz
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 9 months ago

      Was it Kombarov who put that ball in?? FFS.

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      1. GREENDREAMS11
        • 16 Years
        11 years, 9 months ago

        i dont think so

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      2. GREENDREAMS11
        • 16 Years
        11 years, 9 months ago

        i thought it was ignashevic

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        1. Fresco
          • 15 Years
          11 years, 9 months ago

          Ignashevich is a CB

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      3. Fresco
        • 15 Years
        11 years, 9 months ago

        ìt was Glushakov who crossed for Kokorin

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  26. SW6
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 9 months ago

    What happens if nobody gets any votes for MOTM?

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  27. Polaris - The Mortal Coil
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 9 months ago

    Origi will be on again soon. Lukaku's been struggling with injury.

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  28. Carrick Doesn't Deserv…
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 9 months ago

    this is what happens when you start fellaini. he is not the one to play number 10 if you want to play fast, fluid football

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  29. 7shadesofsmoke
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 9 months ago

    tempted to do Lukaku -> Slimani now just so i don't have to bare the weight of his underwhelming performance anymore.

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  30. MITHRRANDIRR
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 9 months ago

    OptaJohan @OptaJohan
    97 - After 97 World Cup minutes, Romelu Lukaku recorded his first touch in the opposition box. Shielded.

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    1. 7shadesofsmoke
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 9 months ago

      shielded?

      Shit would've saved precious characters and been far more accurate.

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