634x258 Dugout Discussion
25 June 2014 3486 comments
Paul Paul
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Groups E and F come to their conclusions this evening as the Brazil 2014 World Cup treats us to four more fixtures. Argentina are already through, after winning both their opening matches courtesy of late Lionel Messi strikes, and the South Americans square up to a Nigeria side who require just a draw to join them in the last 16:

Argentina: Romero; Zabaleta, Garay, Fernandez, Rojo; Gago, Mascherano, Di Maria; Messi, Higuain, Aguero

Nigeria: Enyeama; Ambrose, Omeruo Yobo, Oshaniwa; Mikel, Onazi; Odemwingie, Babatunde, Musa; Emenike,

Alejandro Sabella names an unchanged XI from the side that edged past Iran last time around. Despite the fact that his side have clinched a place in the last 16, the Argentina boss has resisted the urge to rest and rotate and is clearly affording his first-choice players the chance to step up in performance, after a pair of very unconvincing showings thus far. Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain and Sergio Aguero once again lead the line, then, with Angel Di Maria owners looking for the Real Madrid man to improve his contribution from the centre of the park.

Nigeria – along with Mexico – were one of only two sides to register a clean sheet in both the opening Matchdays. It’s no real surprise, then, to see the Africans remain unchanged, with Peter Odemwingie hoping to replicate his winner against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the previous match as Stephen Keshi’s side attempt to pick up the point which would ensure their progress.

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Begovic; Vrsajevic, Sunjic, Spahic, Kolasinac; Hadzic, Besic, Susic, Pjanic; Ibisevic, Dzeko

Iran: Haghighi; Montarezi, Hosseini, Sadeghi, Pooladi; Nekounam, Teymourian; Shojaei, Hajsafi, Dejagah; Ghoochannejad

Bosnia make five changes in their final game of the tournament. In defence, full-backs Avdija Vrsajevic and Sead Kolasinac come in for Mensur Mujdza and SenadLulic, whilst further up the field, Zvjedan Misimovic, Izet Hajrovic and Haris Medunjanin drop out for Anel Hadzic, Tino-Sven Susic and Vedad Ibisevic. Manager Safet Susic looks to have returned to the 4-1-3-2 formation that served his side so well in qualifying, with Ibisevic up front alongside Edin Dzeko.

Iran, meanwhile, are unchanged for the showdown as Carlos Quieroz’ side attempt to overcome the odds and make it through to the knockouts. As the only team in the tournament yet to score a goal, though, they face a tough task to get the better of the Bosnians.

In the later matches, Karim Benzema owners will be desperate for the France striker to continue the form which has harvested three goals and a trio of assists in the opening couple of Matchdays. With his side already through, though, Didier Deschamps certainly has the option of resting key players, with the likes of Antoine Griezmann and Paul Pogba hoping to return to the starting XI after both were dropped for last week’s 5-2 win over Switzerland. Opponents Ecuador have an in-form frontman of their own as they look for the result that would steer them through – Enner Valencia has also notched three times in the first two games and has netted in six of his last seven international appearances.

Switzerland also have plenty to play for. A win over Honduras, coupled with at least a draw for the French, would seal the progress of Ottmar Hitzfeld’s side as they look to bounce back from their mauling at the hands of Les Bleus, though the Swiss boss has decisions to make up front, after alternating Josip Drmic and Haris Seferovic as the lone forward over the first two games. Fantasy managers will be hoping raiding left-back Ricardo Rodriguez can replicate his pair of assists in Matchday 1, whilst Xherdan Shaqiri and Granit Xhaka offer the main threat in the attacking midfield three.

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  1. SW6
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Fernandez up to 9, the guy is a recovered ball king.

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  2. Optimus.
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Is Hummels supposed to be back for their next match??

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  3. LOCO ABREU
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    dzeko assist i think

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  4. Captain Shirokov
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Di Maria you twonk

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    1. 7shadesofsmoke
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      😀

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  5. The Missing Link
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Di maria, as an owner you just have to laugh 😀

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  6. Bøwstring The Carp
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Just won't happen for Di Maria 😕

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  7. Atwood
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Di Maria should have the golden boot won by now

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  8. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    I think I just heard Damo swear 😀

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  9. tm245
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    DiMaria and Higuain advanced stats must be awesome.

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  10. Ginkapo FPL
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Just remembered that I captained Rojo. yeah baby. groovy

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    1. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      I bet you didn't just remember 😉

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      1. Ginkapo FPL
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        I did, I was happy with the Rojo goal for about ten minutes. THEN I was overjoyed!

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    2. 7shadesofsmoke
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      that grav is mental.

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        1. 7shadesofsmoke
          • 12 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          terrifying

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          1. Ginkapo FPL
            • 14 Years
            11 years, 5 months ago

            Beware us Uruguyuans have been know to bite

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            1. JK - Cønt ⭐
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 14 Years
              11 years, 5 months ago

              😀

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            2. 7shadesofsmoke
              • 12 Years
              11 years, 5 months ago

              Uruguyuans? Is that a simian Chinese/Uruguayan mix-breed?

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    3. JK - Cønt ⭐
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      That's up there with St Legend

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      1. Ginkapo FPL
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        Cheers.

        Marcos Godsend Rojo.

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  11. Kostja
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Defo keeping dimaria despite the fail so far

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    1. Atwood
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Same. He's gotta score at some point in this World Cup...

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  12. JK - Cønt ⭐
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    No team has kept 3 clean sheets

    No team has failed to score

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  13. emperikal
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Dzeko get that assist?

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    1. LOCO ABREU
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      don't think so, Besic

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      1. emperikal
        • 15 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        Booooo

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      2. LOCO ABREU
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        *Salihovic S

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  14. SW6
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Don't you dare concede late Argentina! 😈

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  15. Zep
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    So, after missing Neymar (c), I think I will stick on Messi 28pts (c)

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    1. Billy Gilmore
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Only 2 points lost.

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      1. Zep
        • 15 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        I'd have to be mental to switch it to Muller now...

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    2. 7shadesofsmoke
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      he came through for us today, eh?

      What a player. Hero.

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      1. Zep
        • 15 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        Yes he did, very relieved...

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      2. Tommytour
        • 15 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        Have you got a Rojo or Mojo?

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        1. 7shadesofsmoke
          • 12 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          nope and nope!

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          1. Tommytour
            • 15 Years
            11 years, 5 months ago

            I lost my mojo but found a Rojo 😉

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    3. Louis
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Nice on Zep. How is our team doing?

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      1. Zep
        • 15 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        Even if we lose to Cameroon, it looks like Mexico will come through for us... but I'm still hoping we can get the clean sweep...

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  16. VougieDipond
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Higuain out 3 points and leaving Heydari (2 points) in just because he is a shambles. Benzema to repair the damage

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  17. ⁀⋎⁀⋎⁀⚽
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    RVP, Messi, Benz, Neymar
    Which 3?

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    1. SW6
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Last 3

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    2. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Robben.

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      1. ⁀⋎⁀⋎⁀⚽
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        Robben not a forward in fox.

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  18. Dr Dream
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Unlucky fellow DiMaria owners...great performance by him though.

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    1. Konig Luther
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      🙁 my captain...

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      1. Dr Dream
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        Could have been 30pts on another day...

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  19. 41212 Bayol
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    how many points for messi in mcd?

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  20. Tony Warner Fan Club
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Di Maria, I'm not mad, I'm just disappointed.

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  21. Captain Shirokov
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Nigerian keeper must be on like 15 points

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

    Lineups for the Group E games?

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  23. Zep
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Di Maria, constantly disappointing me with his average scores...

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    1. Fray Bentos
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Good performances not really translating into fantasy points

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      1. Zep
        • 15 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        Yep he's been close, just no cigar...

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  24. Ospreylian
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    I joined the McD's site late and picked a generic FFS for a laugh with my my mates for £10, I'm now 8th overall and taking things seriously, I'm think Fernandinho may now be a decent cheap option but anyone got any others?

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    1. JT's Dog
        11 years, 5 months ago

        would get on a few colombians, decent prices
        also c rica

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    2. The Sarjeant
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Sooooo many bets coming in now!!!!

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    3. tm245
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Wilson Palacios (c) surely has never been posted before, right?

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      1. Zep
        • 15 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        Surely someone did in a Wigan DGW of old... 😉

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        1. tm245
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          Then it's on once more! I am chasing you by fifty or sixty points but am running out of players. No studs left so I need divine intervention...

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    4. Bøwstring The Carp
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Gonna keep Di Maria myself, like Valbuena, he's been getting in so many threatening positions but just unlucky with the returns.

      Has the quality to turn it around.

      #IfDiMaria

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      1. Tommytour
        • 15 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        Easy game next too

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    5. BantamPhil
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Di Maria should have more than 2 delivery points surely

      #injustice

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    6. SW6
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Numero Uno 😎

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    7. Ginkapo FPL
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      If Benzema doesnt flop I might not play Muller! Ridiculous

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