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

    Slimani off

    #IfAlgeria can hang on they'll.... just go out in the next round anyway

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

    no kdb 🙁

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

    Mesbah down to 3, while Bentaleb up to 8.

    #balance

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

    Lol

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

    Slimani off , show is my chances of top 10 🙁

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

    Mbolhi (8), Kombarov (8), Bentaleb (8), Kokorin (8)

    Mesbah (3) ruining it, should've left Sadeghi's (5)

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

      Yeah, I subbed Montazeri's 6 for Mesbah. Pretty annoying.

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

      Enough dude

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

    #IFALGERIA

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

    Algeria throughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

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

    Scenes

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

    ft algeria

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

    #Algeria

    😎

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

    Lost 2pts not bringing in Bentaleb... 🙁

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

    😀

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

    Austria v Germany can finally be put to rest. GOOD LADS 🙂

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    1. RoysCallerAnne
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Brilliant 🙂

      Revenge for 82

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

    happy for algeria they deserved to go through unlike teams like greece that did

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  16. Phil_fox85
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Anyone know how many points Vert got in McD's?

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    1. Jimmers
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      15

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      1. Phil_fox85
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        Thanks, looks like my main FF rival will be closing down any lead I thought I had on him.

        Good for banter at least!

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  17. Spectrum-FFS Doubles Champ
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    25 points from that game subject to change. Happy with that

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

    so ,5 Algerians it is then.

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    1. Amateur Pundit Zan
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      I forgot we could have 5. I was mentally accounting whether to trade me snag for a striker. Now I can have them all 🙂

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

    transfer window opens in the morning. Not much work getting done tomorrow then.

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

      other than Ramos out and a few Algerians in for Honduras players, I'm keen to stick with my current team

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  20. Maddocio
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Dinosaur Capello out what a shame

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  21. Amateur Pundit Zan
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    So you can buy to host the world cup but you can't buy your way into the second round
    Bye bye Russia

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

    139 this round, good?

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

      Shite 😉

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

      No

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

      I told you earlier in the week you'd end up getting a great score... and you did...

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

        lol i was 1 off what you said 🙂

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

          Haha

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

      140 is better

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

    Mesbah up to 4 😐

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

    Capello hurrying off to the fancy dress party. Hope he remembered his Super Mario hat

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

    122 points all out.

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

      118 here

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

      123

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    3. Carrick Doesn't Deserv…
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      ditto

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      1. Maddocio
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        Snap 123 for me too, think I've list H2H though

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

      120

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

      121 here

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    6. Spectrum-FFS Doubles Champ
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      114 here 🙁

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

      132

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

        You're a machine

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    8. Declan
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      119 here

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

      133

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

      132

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    11. Konig Luther
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      125 and lost my FFSWC match

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

        Yuck

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

      133

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

      128

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    14. Werkself
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      135

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  26. Spectrum-FFS Doubles Champ
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    My big regret is having Zemmamouche instead of MBohli that will be put right in the knockout rounds

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

      same -_- i wda kept karnezis and dauda for two of the matches anyway tough

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      1. Spectrum-FFS Doubles Champ
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        Wish I put more thought into my picks rushed a team together last 15mins wasn't going to bother, picked the wrong Iran cheapies and Algeria keeper and Durm. Will spend more time on it for the knockout rounds

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

    We get to keep our Algerians for a bit longer. 😀

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

      excellent...

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

    Let's just have one big

    #IFALGERIA

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

    140 points this week good?

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

      Gash

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

      😯

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

    116, I'll take it 😀 lot more than I was expecting tonight

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