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. VougieDipond
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    What a finish

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

    ADM assist?

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

      Garay

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    2. iCon
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Nope. possibly Lavezzi, probably Garay

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

      Garay I think.

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

      Lavezzi corner, hit someone in the box (Garay/Nigerian)

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

    Rocko

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

    Oshaniwa, that has to be a Japanese name 😯

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

      Racist.

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  5. Pinky and Brain
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Lavezzi assist.

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

    Rojo please come to the Premier League so i can have you in my FPL team for 8 months/

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  7. Heydudes13
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Rojoooooooo!! 😀

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

    This is wonderful. Messi and rojo in my team.

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

      Messi,Rojo,Jrod & Neymar in mine 🙂

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      1. Vote Joke
        • 15 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        ...and virtually everyone's.

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

          Im pretty sure alot dont have all of them

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

        + Alba

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        1. Heydudes13
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          What did alba do?

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

            32 (c)

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

            Got 8 RB points and 16 total.

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

            16 points

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            1. Heydudes13
              • 14 Years
              11 years, 5 months ago

              Dafuq. 😯

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

      Messi, Neymar, J Rod, Guardado, Rojo in mine 😉

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

        I also have alba neymar and slimani so this has put the icing on the cake after the suarez disaster.... 🙂

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  9. Blue Lion
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Lavezzi playing much better than Aguero!

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

      That's not hard.

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

      *Higuain

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  10. The 12th Man
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Total points for every player up now on transfer page. When did that happen?

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

      Sometime yesterday I think.

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

      james neymar messi Manolas Montazeri top 5 for me

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

    Surely DiMaria can't leave empty handed ?..playing way above his last two games.

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

      theres nearly 40 mins left. chill

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  12. Funkyav
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Clarke Carlisle may actually be the worst of all the co commentators. quite some doing that.

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    1. Wilshere Knowledge
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Andy Townsend is the worst for me.

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

    Rojo has score more point than Higuain and De maria combined useless

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

    lavezzi or garay assist?

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    1. Beavis
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Lavezzi, hit the defender.

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  15. Piggs Boson
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    +ppi

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

    Higuain 😡

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

      frustrating 🙁

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

      ahh well, Lukaku on the bench 😎

      😯

      🙁

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  17. Tomlette Greggs
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Portland Timbers sign @premierleague vet Liam Ridgewell (@liam_ridgewell) to DP contract

    http://t.co/jIYp8IwkB4

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

      good riddance

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

      Give him some Benjamin Franklins to wipe his arse with.

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  18. iCon
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Assist given to Lavezzi in McDs

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

    Actually feeling good at the prospect of playing 3 Algerians against Russia.

    They've been super to watch, hope they go through.

    #IfAlgeria

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    1. Vote Joke
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      I shouldn't play double Russian defense then?

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

        Might end up playing Kombarov myself, but hope Algeria can get a result, even a 0-0

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

    Messi showing Ronaldo who the top player in the world is...and always was really...

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

      I agree.

      Messi is the greatest of all time in my opinion.

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

    Pjanic goal

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    1. Vote Joke
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Assist?

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

        will find out

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

          susic assist

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

        susic i think

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        1. Vote Joke
          • 15 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          Poo. Wanted Dzeko.

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

      Lovely. Just Di Maria to go now.

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  22. Tomlette Greggs
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Pjanic goal

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  23. mental
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Neymar(c),messi,rojo,alba,jrod,pjanic!!! What a round

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

      Mental.

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    2. Fifa las vegas
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Lucky you

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    3. Vote Joke
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      That's Mental.

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

    Anybody got the link to the FFS WC tournie spreadsheet ?

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

    Kind of got used to McD scoring system. That first GW of FPL when I score 45 is gonna feel depressing

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

      UFPL will help.

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  26. Pinoche
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    C'mon Di Maria just one goal.

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

    Sold Pjanic in Mirror and JRod in Fox. Brilliant.

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

      #Coupincoming #crappycartelkingpin

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

      Please tell me the next person you're selling.

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

    Nice. Now take the ball in the corner and keep it there Bosnia. There's a pug with it's pedigree chum at stake here.

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

    Arghhhhhh how have I left Rojo on the bench?? FFS

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

    Messi off

    Yay!

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