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. Colonel Shoe 肝池
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    play KDB or Bentaleb if playing tomorrow?

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

      kdb

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

      KDB for sure

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    3. Colonel Shoe 肝池
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      cheers

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  2. Colonel Shoe 肝池
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    anyone got the link to the scoring spreadhseet?

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

      overall scores for all players can be seen on the transfer page

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  3. Zombie
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    If you were forced to pick one in your team: Valbuena or Stocker?

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  4. Bubz
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    YES. More Thierry!

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  5. Studgie G
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Every 2 balls delivered into penalty area/ 2 balls recovered is driving me nuts...

    How does this get worked out ? How do they actually look like ? just so I know how much my players are getting...

    Can anyone explain to see if I'm scoring them correctly?

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

      Valid point from Thierry this France team has to be huge favs to win in 2016

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

        oops

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  6. nashi
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    repost

    McD: 8pts or Benzema???

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

      Benzegoal

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    2. chrisjdgrady
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Benzema definitely

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    3. KOKAK
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Benzema should have at least 1 goal.

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

    Chances Valbuena coming on as a substitute?

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    1. McEwan
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Strong chance. Pogba never started the last game and still got a run out. I really need him to take the night off

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    2. nashi
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      strongly depends on the score imo, if France will chase, then he will play for sure

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  8. Zombie
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Repost:

    If you were forced to pick one in your team: Valbuena or Stocker?

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    1. nashi
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Valbuena

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      1. nashi
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        just noticed he is not in 11

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        1. Zombie
          • 12 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          none of them are

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          1. nashi
            • 12 Years
            11 years, 5 months ago

            then Valbuena

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  9. Epic Fail
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    When's the last time a team had a brilliant side from attack right through to defence?

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    1. Bubz
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Arsenal's invincibles

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      1. Epic Fail
        • 15 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        Boom

        Part 2 of the quiz comin up shortly.

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

      I think the Barca team Pep put together was solid through.

      It was a "the best form of defence is not needing one" type of philosophy that actually resulted in an amazingly consistent, tighter-than-a-ma-faa-defence.

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  10. chrisjdgrady
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Ugh I have the wrong palacios too lol. Should I have more hope of him or evra coming on late?

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  11. Polaris - The Mortal Coil
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Pogba, Schneiderlin, Matuidi.

    Now that is what I call an energetic midfield!

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

    will valbuena come off the bench you think lads?

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    1. Shels
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      worth taking put montazeri on 6points, have kombarov and medjani to come in so woth risk of take monty out 🙁 ?

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

        I have done it. Valbuena to copycat JRod!

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

        Wait until you see line ups, but if Komborov plays I'd risk it.

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    2. nashi
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      depends on the score imo, if france will be down in 2nd half, then yes

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      1. Shels
        • 11 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        OK i took monty out lads thanks, beckles/pogba/valbuena/drmic in now.. part decision is because i have ozil and hazard aswell to fit in so in take out valbuena prob for ozil next

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

    Is there no automatic sub's in McD's if a player plays zero minutes?

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    1. Studgie G
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      no

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

        Uugh put Evra in for Cholevas thinking I had back up but rumour has it Kombarov will be dropped tomorrow 🙁

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        1. Studgie G
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          you never know evra may come on and do something, 3pts not much anyway

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

            Wait till line up in future
            You must have Algerian defender

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

              Medjani

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

        Nope

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

      What are the scenarios for USA to get knocked out?

      Do Portugal have to beat USA's GD if they both finish on 4pts?

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      1. Studgie G
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        portugal are screwed they need goals

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      2. Hamstergod
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        It will go down to Goal difference which is much worse for Portugal

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      3. Fantasy Gold
        • 11 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        Portugal need to win minimum of 2 goals and hope Germany beat USA by the same, or a big Portugal winning margin. Can't see it happening

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        1. Studgie G
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          doubt portugal will even beat ghana

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      4. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 16 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        Ghana win pretty much unless margins of 1 each

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    3. The Iron Tulip
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Most likely to keep a clean sheet:

      A) Greece
      B) Costa Rica

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

        Go to any bookie and check the odds

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    4. Fantasy Gold
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Valbuena will definitely come on around the 60 minute mark for Griezmann. Now stop asking 🙂

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

      Off to watch the match. Good luck brothers. 😉

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    6. Bubz
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Those tracksuit tops France are wearing are awesome

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      1. Les Bleus
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        Indeed!

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    7. pundit of punts
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Quick score prediction.

      3-1 France
      2-1 Honduras

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

        4-1 France
        1-0 Switzerland

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      2. Fantasy Gold
        • 11 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        France 2 Ecuador 2
        Honduras 0 Switzerland 1

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      3. Polaris - The Mortal Coil
        • 11 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        France 2-0
        Switzerland 1-0

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    8. Syd.
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Suarez has 2 minutes of his career left

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

        Janmaat misses next match, is this right?

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        1. Polaris - The Mortal Coil
          • 11 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          Don't think so mate. Blind does I think. (2 yellows)

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          1. Mr Sarcastic
            • 15 Years
            11 years, 5 months ago

            Oh really, didn't know that, thanks.
            And I bet there will be no info in transfers page...

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          2. Evs
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 16 Years
            11 years, 5 months ago

            Does he 🙄 ?

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          3. Evs
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 16 Years
            11 years, 5 months ago

            I thought blind only had 1 yellow ?

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            1. Evs
              • Has Moderation Rights
              • 16 Years
              11 years, 5 months ago

              Yep, only 1 he's had.

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            2. Polaris - The Mortal Coil
              • 11 Years
              11 years, 5 months ago

              Wasn't too sure. Thought I recalled him being booked in one of the first 2 games. But according to Mirror, he's only on one.

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              1. Evs
                • Has Moderation Rights
                • 16 Years
                11 years, 5 months ago

                Yep 1.

                I just checked, just a yellow in the last game.

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                1. Polaris - The Mortal Coil
                  • 11 Years
                  11 years, 5 months ago

                  Aye. Sorry if I worried you. 😛

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      • Colonel Shoe 肝池
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        hope valbuena comes on n scores...

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

          Me too, but feast or famine please...

          None of this 6-7pt shite...

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

            😆

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      • Les Bleus
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        Has the Russian team been announced for tomorrow already? Or have there been any rumors of starting lineups?

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      • Colonel Shoe 肝池
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        arghhhhhhhhh what is this bbc obsession with the turn to the camera and fold your arms thing........do it on F1 too, it looks ridiculous

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        1. Les Bleus
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          They all do it. French TV too

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        2. Colonel Shoe 肝池
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          when showing players inset

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

            Do it on golf also now
            Fat men in pastel colours don't pull it off

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            1. Colonel Shoe 肝池
              • 14 Years
              11 years, 5 months ago

              lol christ almighty

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          • VougieDipond
            • 13 Years
            11 years, 5 months ago

            cos they all want to rip sky sports off

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          • SW6
            • 13 Years
            11 years, 5 months ago

            AB posted this yesterday, very funny

            http://www.dancinghenryalmanac.com/world-cup-folding-arms/random-player.html

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            1. Colonel Shoe 肝池
              • 14 Years
              11 years, 5 months ago

              LOL hahahaha brill 😆

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          • BantamPhil
            • 12 Years
            11 years, 5 months ago

            I think it is FIFA, ITV has it as well

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        4. Bubz
          • 12 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          Shaqiri tym

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          1. dhruv_b
            • 11 Years
            11 years, 5 months ago

            Currently No 1 in the McD Game! Woooooo.

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          2. Fantasy Gold
            • 11 Years
            11 years, 5 months ago

            He'll score tonight

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

          A bit unfair this criticism of Thefantasyfreak for his quizzes ..damned unfair...So i'll run a few alternative easy questions during the game

          Question 1

          Who played at The Wankdorf stadium ?

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

            Ashley Young?

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

            Young Boys love a good Wankdorf

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

              Correct...

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

                Ashley must've used the official website then...

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          3. Shels
            • 11 Years
            11 years, 5 months ago

            watching france cause cause better atmoshpere

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        6. Evs
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 16 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          Evening gents.

          I've been looking at my Sun Dream Team transfers, and looking at Zuniga (Col) as a bargain 1.5m.

          He's only played 2 out of the 3 games I believe. Any reason why?

          In others words...l how nailed on is he ?

          Ta
          🙂

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          1. Fantasy Gold
            • 11 Years
            11 years, 5 months ago

            He was rested for the Japan game, nailed on.

            I'm ditching Alba and bringing him in too 🙂

            What's ur Sun rank? 525 here

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            1. Evs
              • Has Moderation Rights
              • 16 Years
              11 years, 5 months ago

              Your well in front of me I'm 6k.

              Having Lukaka (0pts) and not Benny has killed me !

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              1. Fantasy Gold
                • 11 Years
                11 years, 5 months ago

                Lukaku is annoying I'll give you that. Plenty of time to catch up 😉

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

            reserve back 4 out yesterday for Columbia he is nailed

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            1. Evs
              • Has Moderation Rights
              • 16 Years
              11 years, 5 months ago

              Thanks 🙂

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        7. dhruv_b
          • 11 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          Currently No 1 in the McD Game! Woooooo.

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          1. Mr Sarcastic
            • 15 Years
            11 years, 5 months ago

            It was a bit funny replyfail earlier 🙂
            Good job, points?

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            1. dhruv_b
              • 11 Years
              11 years, 5 months ago

              Haha. It was. 😛 371.

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              1. Mr Sarcastic
                • 15 Years
                11 years, 5 months ago

                15 points behind then, what was your rank after round 2?

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          2. Revival
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            11 years, 5 months ago

            Early bird gets the worm, the late mouse gets the cheese

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        8. Bubz
          • 12 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          Shaqiri misses sitter.

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

            rrrrrrrr

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            1. Bubz
              • 12 Years
              11 years, 5 months ago

              Might stop watching it now. I can tell how this is going to go.

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          2. Fantasy Gold
            • 11 Years
            11 years, 5 months ago

            😯 it's because I bet £20 AGS

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

            Shaquri misses from 4 yds

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