634x258 Dugout Discussion
26 June 2014 3877 comments
Paul Paul
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We reach the end of the group stages of Brazil 2014 this evening as the last 16 match-ups are finalised. Group G gets us up and running at 5pm and with all four of the teams still in with a shout of progressing, Fantasy managers will be hoping there’s less chance of rest and rotation. Germany face up to USA and Portugal square up to a Ghana side devoid of Kevin Prince-Boateng and Sulley Muntari after both players were sent home for disciplinary reasons earlier today:

Germany: Neuer; Boateng, Hummels, Mertesacker, Howedes; Lahm, Kroos, Schweinsteiger; Ozil, Muller, Podolski

USA: Howard; Johnson, Gonzalez, Besler, Beasley; Jones, Beckerman; Davis, Bradley, Zusi; Dempsey

Joachim Low makes a couple of changes from the side that drew with Ghana. The Germany manager brings in Bastian Schweinsteiger for Sami Khedira in the centre of the park, while Lukas Podolski comes in for Mario Gotze in the front three. Thomas Muller owners will be looking for more of the same, after the Bayern man notched three goals and an assist in the opening couple of matches, whilst those holding Mesut Ozil will be desperate for an improvement after a couple of patchy displays so far.

Jurgen Klinsmann also makes two alterations as he attempts to get the better of his native country. Omar Gonzalez replaces Geoff Cameron in central defence, whilst Brad Davis gets the nod ahead of Alejandro Bedoya on the right flank – Clint Dempsey is looking to score for the third successive match, though the likes of Michael Bradley and Graham Zusi also offer a threat from the attacking midfield positions.

Portugal: Beto; Pereira, Alves, Pepe, Veloso; W Carvalho, Moutinho, Amorim; Nani, Eder, Ronaldo

Ghana: Dauda; Afful, Boye, Mensah, Asamoah; Rabiu, Agyemang-Badu; Atsu, Waris, A Ayew; Gyan

Paulo Bento welcomes Pepe back from suspension for the vital game with Ghana, as Ricardo Costa drops out to accommodate the Real Madrid man at centre-half. The Portugal boss makes three further changes, drafting in William Carvalho, Ruben Amorim and Eder for Andre Almeida, Raul Meireles and Helder Postiga – the former two look set to be installed in the middle, with Miguel Veloso shifting to left-back. All eyes will be on Cristiano Ronaldo, though, as he looks to get his goal account finally up and running and fire his side into the last 16.

Prince-Boateng and Muntari’s omissions are the only two changes from Kwesi Appiah after a very encouraging draw with Germany. Udinese player Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu comes into the double-pivot to replace Muntari, whilst the highly-rated Abdul Majeed Waris is tucked in behind Asaomoah Gyan up top. Andrew Ayew, with a goal in both group games so far, looks the major threat for the Africans once again.

Later on, Belgium go head-to-head with South Korea as Marc Wilmots’ side look to end the group stages with a 100% record. Bearing in mind they’re already through, though, there’s a fear that we could see a number of changes from the Europeans in this one, with Eden Hazard and Kevin de Bruyne owners hoping they’ll keep their places in the starting XI. Up top, Wilmots may well omit Romelu Lukaku from his line-up after subbing off the Chelsea man in each of the first two games, whilst at the back, Belgium are set to be without both Vincent Kompany and Thomas Vermaelen through injury.

Those defensive concerns will afford the Koreans optimism and with three goals in their first two matches, they present a definite threat to Thibaut Courtois’ clean sheet prospects. The highly-rated Son Heung-min grabbed his first of the tournament in Matchday 2 and, having netted 10 times for Leverkusen in the previous Bundesliga campaign, carries the main threat for Hon Myung-bo’s side.

Despite scoring once and picking up a single point in their opening two matches, Russia are still in with a shout of making the last 16. A win against Algeria, coupled with a Belgian triumph over South Korean, will take Fabio Capello’s side through – Alexander Kokorin looks their best chance of netting, though Alexander Kerzhakov will be hoping for his first start after climbing off the bench in the first pair of fixtures.

After an emphatic 4-2 win over South Korea, Vahid Halilhodzic’s side will approach this one with little fear. Islam Slimani, Abdelmoumene Djabou and Sofiane Feghouli have all served up a goal and assist in the first two fixtures and will fancy their chances of picking up further returns against an unconvincing backline that has been breached in both their opening matches.

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

    Kokorinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

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

    Kombarov - BOOOOOOM!!!!
    I knew it, this is the night!!

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

    Booooooo. Nice goal though

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

    yes kokorin lifesaver

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

      he even told us to calm down 😉

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  5. GREENDREAMS11
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    nice finish btw

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

    Kokorin goal, Kombarov assist 😎

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  7. NERONALDO
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Combarov assist

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

    Koko goal Kombarov assist.

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

    Kombarov assist ?

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

    Ugh. I knew Kokorin would come good, but the one game I want to put him in all my other strikers are on double figures...

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

      Tv said shatov
      Who is left back

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

        see fkn commentator 🙂

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

      Mesbah CS gone 🙁

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    • Why Always Me
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      kombarov assist?

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

        Yes

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

      Kokorin and kombarov trying to save team Nigeria!! 😀

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

        Does my opponent have Kokorin?

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

          You better hope not 😀

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

            😆 my match gonna be closer than we thought

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

              We've definitely lost 2 and there 3 games that ate virtually tied 😀

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    • GunsnRoses
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Bentaleb shots off target ... Does it affect ? 😉

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

          No

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

        Woooo Kombarov

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

        as predicted by me russia win easy.. need another now.. but capello manager

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

          'Win easy' 😀
          There's 10minutes gone FFS!

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

            -_-

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

        That cross was like 3,5 points for Kombarov, one delivery more and we get another point 🙂

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

          🙂

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

          6.5

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

            ?

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

              6 points assist in mc'd

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

                yeah I saw 🙂

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

                  deserved 6, first time cross

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

        We all know who the general obvious targets are for the next round. Anyone got any hunches on differentials that might come in handy?

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

          The differential will be to pick as many as obvious targets possible

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        2. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 16 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          Yes. I have. 😉

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

            I am going to go for a couple of chillies
            Might get burned but worth it

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          • Why Always Me
            • 12 Years
            11 years, 5 months ago

            keep calm and pick fred

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          • Freshy
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 15 Years
            11 years, 5 months ago

            DiMaria shhhhhhhhhhhhhh
            keep it under your hat

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

          Why does Kombarov have 6 points for assists?

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

            So good it counts for 2.

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

            oh, well can't deny it was a beutiful cross

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

          Many keep Kokorin on the bench? I have 5 players in the Russia-Algeria game 😕 couldn't decide who to bench so I played everyone 😀

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

            i kept my algerians on bench

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

            I played Medjani over Kokorin 😡

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

          Whoo hoo....

          Kombarov assist and Kokorin goal for team Iran...

          In other news...WTF !!

          Benched Aurier for his assists in Fox...Benched Rodriguez for his assist in Fox...benched Kombarov for his assist in Fox.....How wrong could it be ?....

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          1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 16 Years
            11 years, 5 months ago

            Life is just a bench - and then you die.

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

              I have a box of chocolates. You want?

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              1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 16 Years
                11 years, 5 months ago

                😀

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

            gw1 aurier benched,gw2 cuadrado benched,gw3 kombarov and pjanic benched. 🙁

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

              Damned annoying...

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

                went for a solid 15 squad to avoid the early wc and hits,that's how it worked.

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

                  Where are you OR

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

                    283,courtois still playing

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

            Benched Djabou and today benched Kokorin

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        7. Messiah Hazard
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          Kombarov given 6 points for an assist in McD... Good news...

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

            corrected now

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

              a fook

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        8. elkunaguero
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          so, Belgium would only lose top place in the group if they lose tonight and Algeria wins... They can be pretty relax for now...

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

            Bit of a shame that Algeria might go out and crap like Greece go through

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

            If Bentaleb, Mbolhi and Mesbah can get me 5 points each I'll be delighted.

            Will break even for my subs along with Kombarov/ Kokorin.

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          • Zombie
            • 12 Years
            11 years, 5 months ago

            Bentaleb on 2 points already...Wooohoooo

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          • VougieDipond
            • 13 Years
            11 years, 5 months ago

            Kombarov > everyone. what a ball that was

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

            I can smell penalty coming for Russia tonight.....

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

              can you smell him scoring it

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

                no, there comes the fear factor - can only hope!

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

              Let's hope so because I put money on Komabrov anytime goalscorer @ 9/1

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

                Well don't start using money yet 🙂

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            1. Mavric Marco
              • 13 Years
              11 years, 5 months ago

              😀 Seen that a while ago, something to get his teeth into...

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