[sbu_large_image] Dugout Discussion
29 June 2014 3432 comments
Paul Paul
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Sunday evening brings us another couple of World Cup fixtures to focus on after the knockout stages got underway last night. Louis Van Gaal’s free-scoring Holland are bidding to join Brazil and Colombia for a place in the last eight but face a tough task in the 5pm kick-off – opponents Mexico conceded just once in the group stages and have already stopped Neymar and co from finding the net:

Holland: Cillessen; Vlaar, De Vrij, Blind; Verhaegh, De Jong, Wijnaldum Kuyt; Sneijder; Van Persie, Robben,

Mexico: Ochoa; Aguilar, Rodriguez, Marquez, Moreno, Layun; Herrera, Salcido, Guardado; Dos Santos, Peralta,

The Dutch welcome back Robin Van Persie from suspension after their skipper served a one-match ban against Chile in the previous match. Van Persie is one of only two changes to the XI that beat the South Americans, with Paul Verhaegh replacing Daryl Janmaat on the right of the midfield four – Dirk Kuyt keeps his place on the opposite flank, with Daley Blind utilised in the back-three once again by Van Gaal. The United striker will be hoping to continue the form that has seen him score in both his appearances thus far, whilst Arjen Robben owners will also have high expectations after the Bayern man served up three goals and an assist over the group stages.

Mexico make just one enforced alteration from the side that won 3-1 against Croatia in the final match of Group A, with former Fulham man Carlos Salcido handed his first start of the tournament. Up front, Giovanni dos Santos will be desperate to open his account for the campaign, whilst his fellow forward Oribe Peralta – along with skipper Rafael Marquez – has already chipped in with a goal and assist over the opening three fixtures.

Later this evening, Costa Rica and Greece go head-to-head after both sides exceeded our expectations to reach the last 16. Jorge Luiz Pinto’s side cannot be underestimated after topping the so-called “Group of Death”, with wins over Uruguay and Italy underpinned by a defensive resilience that has served up two clean sheets in three matches. Pinto is understandably expected to keep faith in a 5-4-1 formation, with Bryan Ruiz and Joel Campbell carrying the main threat further up the pitch.

Despite a last-gasp win over Ivory Coast, Greece have failed to impress. That 2-1 triumph was the only time Fernando Santos’ side found the net in the group stages and, even then, they had to rely upon defensive mistakes from the Africans to make a breakthrough. With a converted spot-kick and assist to his name, Giorgos Samaras has been the main up top for the Greeks – once again, we can expect Santos’ side to keep it tight at the back and look for a goal on the counter.

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3,432 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Declan
    12 years, 4 months ago

    Cmon RVP(c)

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  2. Les Bleus
    12 years, 4 months ago

    Predictions? 1-1 penalties to Netherlands

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    1. Declan
      12 years, 4 months ago

      2-1 Netherlands

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    2. GTS
      12 years, 4 months ago

      3-1 Netherlands

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    3. Wilshere Knowledge
      12 years, 4 months ago

      1-0 Mexico

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    4. X T I A N
      12 years, 4 months ago

      3-1 Netherlands

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    5. Piggs Boson
      12 years, 4 months ago

      4-1

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    6. Tomlette Greggs
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      12 years, 4 months ago

      2-0 Dutch

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    7. Jafooli
      12 years, 4 months ago

      3 - 2 Mexico

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    8. Pilleri
      12 years, 4 months ago

      0-0 regular time

      Netherlands wins in the end

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  3. Piggs Boson
    12 years, 4 months ago

    It's all about the Sun game for me.

    10pt goals for RVP Robben and Blind please 🙂

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    1. Jafooli
      12 years, 4 months ago

      JRod went up to 70pts today 😛

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      1. Piggs Boson
        12 years, 4 months ago

        Nice!

        My work is organising our money league, and I asked to change one of players to JRod last minute.

        Best. Decision. Ever.

        I think it's won me 1st place.

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        1. Jafooli
          12 years, 4 months ago

          Same here, had him from the start. No one else has him. My lead? 70pts 😛

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  4. Arvin-ation
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    12 years, 4 months ago

    Captain Herrera or Ochoa?

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    1. Declan
      12 years, 4 months ago

      Ochoa

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  5. Dr Dream
    12 years, 4 months ago

    Anybody not got Robben in the Fox game ?

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    1. Epic Fail
      12 years, 4 months ago

      o/

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      1. Dr Dream
        12 years, 4 months ago

        Blimey..are you feeling lonely..?. Good shout though.

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        1. Epic Fail
          12 years, 4 months ago

          I don't play the Fox game.

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    2. Ben Mee Over A Table
      12 years, 4 months ago

      Posted about it in the last article. I'm going to get destroyed.

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      1. Dr Dream
        12 years, 4 months ago

        Didn't see it, just got in. Wish I'd ditched him now.

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        1. Bubz
          12 years, 4 months ago

          Why?

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          1. Dr Dream
            12 years, 4 months ago

            It's not very exciting having the same team as everybody else...not in that game anyway. Dunno what I was thinking. Should have gone RVP and Hazard over Robben and Benzema or something...Started the week in 19OR = going nowhere...

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            1. Bubz
              12 years, 4 months ago

              That attitude is what made me go into a spiral in rank last season in FPL 😆 . I know what you mean.

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              1. Dr Dream
                12 years, 4 months ago

                Yeah but at least you gave it a go..you and Doosra. You didn't need to be a genius to know Suarez was a good pick...along with 3 million others.

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        2. Ben Mee Over A Table
          12 years, 4 months ago

          Yeah, why? I figured he would have to have an off game eventually, and Mexico have been quite tight at the back and are quick too, which negates his best asset. But he's still pretty damn likely to score.

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  6. Shels
    12 years, 4 months ago

    ffffsssssss holland playing now WTF i thaught was funking france ffs missed putting in blind by about 2 secounds.. red card blind now

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    1. Epic Fail
      12 years, 4 months ago

      😀

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      1. Shels
        12 years, 4 months ago

        this match is awfull to watch now, not enjoying it 🙁 blind gone into middle

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        1. Dr Dream
          12 years, 4 months ago

          That's where my Gimenez pick ended up playing against Colombia...4pts incoming for you.

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          1. Shels
            12 years, 4 months ago

            i hope he gets 4 :/ he on the bench for me

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  7. Damo.
    12 years, 4 months ago

    Wonders how and why this site has become obsessed with talking in the third person.
    Scratches balls. Watches match

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    1. Piggs Boson
      12 years, 4 months ago

      GB agrees. He thinks it's crazy.

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      1. Jafooli
        12 years, 4 months ago

        Jafooli begs to differ.

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        1. JT's Dog
          12 years, 4 months ago

          Mark says stop it

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  8. Bubz
    12 years, 4 months ago

    Just keep it tight at the back Netherlands!

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    1. Fray Bentos
      12 years, 4 months ago

      Forget double Dutch, triple Dutch here!

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  9. JT's Dog
    12 years, 4 months ago

    That's the worst balloon animal I have ever seen

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    1. Jafooli
      12 years, 4 months ago

      😆

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  10. Poseidon. Not arrogant, jus…
    12 years, 4 months ago

    What has Martin O'Neill said? He's getting some horrible abuse about whatever it is on my Twitter feed.

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    1. Epic Fail
      12 years, 4 months ago

      He said LVG's coaching isn't revolutionary. Plenty of teams have used this so called revolutionary 532 system etc. He was spot on.

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      1. THE Wild Rover
        12 years, 4 months ago

        Well he actually claimed to have started it. Sort of

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      2. Poseidon. Not arrogant, jus…
        12 years, 4 months ago

        Ah, that too then. Certainly gone down well on the interweb. Apparently he's a 'bitter abu'.

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    2. Lord Dragon
      12 years, 4 months ago

      Said van gaal gets on like he invented the 5-3-2, but Martin said he was using the formation 20 years ago etc etc

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      1. Poseidon. Not arrogant, jus…
        12 years, 4 months ago

        Thanks Nedved51.

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    3. Poseidon. Not arrogant, jus…
      12 years, 4 months ago

      Never mind, apparently he called Robben Holland's main man.

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  11. Tomlette Greggs
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    12 years, 4 months ago

    Netherlands about to make a change already?

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    1. Tomlette Greggs
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      12 years, 4 months ago

      de Jong off

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      1. Nomar
        12 years, 4 months ago

        Transferred him in on Friday in McDonald's game.

        Fail.

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      2. Jafooli
        12 years, 4 months ago

        Reported

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    2. Poseidon. Not arrogant, jus…
      12 years, 4 months ago

      Not good news for them.

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  12. Bubz
    12 years, 4 months ago

    Wtf. Was de Jong injured?

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    1. Poseidon. Not arrogant, jus…
      12 years, 4 months ago

      Must have been. Didn't look it, mind.

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    2. The Missing Link
      12 years, 4 months ago

      Yeah, muscle strain

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  13. Demí
    12 years, 4 months ago

    De Jong(C) fail

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    1. 4vets
      12 years, 4 months ago

      Ouch!

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  14. JT's Dog
    12 years, 4 months ago

    Nigel de long
    He didn't last long
    If I ain't wrong
    This could be a song

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    1. Jafooli
      12 years, 4 months ago

      Nigel de Jong
      Forgot his bong
      He's left the pitch
      Cause he's got a stitch

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      1. JT's Dog
        12 years, 4 months ago

        Nigel de long
        He wasn't on song
        Had to go off
        Cause he forgot his thong

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        1. Jafooli
          12 years, 4 months ago

          Nigel De Jong
          Thought he was wrong
          But he went to the bog
          To drop a log

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          1. Jafooli
            12 years, 4 months ago

            *Ode to Jason Puncheon

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      2. Shels
        12 years, 4 months ago

        Nigel de Jong's
        touchline song
        indi on
        holland gone

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  15. ManofKent
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    12 years, 4 months ago

    There goes my Dutch player...

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    1. JT's Dog
      12 years, 4 months ago

      With the guy you used to call you're friend

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      1. JT's Dog
        12 years, 4 months ago

        *your

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        1. THE Wild Rover
          12 years, 4 months ago

          The extra post has ruined the continuation so I won't adding the next line 😛

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  16. Shels
    12 years, 4 months ago

    dutch dient arm up for long.. if dutch go out van gaal will be to blame surley

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    1. THE Wild Rover
      12 years, 4 months ago

      Is there a translator in the house? 🙂

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      1. Shels
        12 years, 4 months ago

        🙂 warm :/

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  17. Jafooli
    12 years, 4 months ago

    Blint OOP?

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  18. Tommytour
    12 years, 4 months ago

    If Netherlands lose I will have to WC in Fox game

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  19. Saniul
    12 years, 4 months ago

    What formation are Netherlands playing anyway?
    All I see on the pitch are 5 backs, and 5 strikers/attackers.

    You can't win a match like that. 😐

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    1. Poseidon. Not arrogant, jus…
      12 years, 4 months ago

      4-3-3 apparently. Looks 5-3-2 to me.

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    2. Louis
      12 years, 4 months ago

      5212

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  20. THE Wild Rover
    12 years, 4 months ago

    Mexico should be 1-0 up

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  21. MJ6987
    12 years, 4 months ago

    Mexico looking much more dangerous at the moment!

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    1. Jafooli
      12 years, 4 months ago

      It does have a high crime rate. Holland safer place to holiday.

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  22. LewanGOALski
    12 years, 4 months ago

    Herrera you gotta score sth like this 🙁

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  23. r0nh
    12 years, 4 months ago

    In McDs, what is your rank?

    Mine is 40k after changing captain

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    1. Damo.
      12 years, 4 months ago

      338,580 Vlaar (c) today

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    2. THE Wild Rover
      12 years, 4 months ago

      3 Stars on my badge. Taking the supersize training tomorrow

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    3. Mr Sarcastic
      12 years, 4 months ago

      About 500

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    4. LewanGOALski
      12 years, 4 months ago

      207th atm 😎

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  24. Gubbins94.
    12 years, 4 months ago

    That is what I mean about the space the Dutch cb's give away. There were 3 players unmarked in a dangerous position.

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    1. THE Wild Rover
      12 years, 4 months ago

      They should have just given a penalty away

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  25. Saniul
    12 years, 4 months ago

    United could've bought this Herrera. 😉

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    1. Poseidon. Not arrogant, jus…
      12 years, 4 months ago

      Would've probably still offered up 30m.

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  26. The Missing Link
    12 years, 4 months ago

    Thought Herrera was a cdm 😀

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    1. Lord Dragon
      12 years, 4 months ago

      Same, I brought him in for the rbs, a goal would be ok too 🙂

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  27. Mavric Marco
    12 years, 4 months ago

    Afternoon gents,
    Any other Man Utd fans hoping Holland get knocked out.?
    LvG's got more important things to be doing 😉

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    1. Tommytour
      12 years, 4 months ago

      Hope they win it to give the players a massive lift

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  28. Wilshere Knowledge
    12 years, 4 months ago

    Herrera looks like a good buy so far.

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    1. Wilshere Knowledge
      12 years, 4 months ago

      Well done Man U.

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      1. Tommytour
        12 years, 4 months ago

        Wrong Herrera 😉

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    2. Louis
      12 years, 4 months ago

      They bought Ander Herrera from Bilbao, not this one.

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    3. Mavric Marco
      12 years, 4 months ago

      Errr, he's spanish! 🙂

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    4. Poseidon. Not arrogant, jus…
      12 years, 4 months ago

      Lot of biters so far WK!

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  29. MJ6987
    12 years, 4 months ago

    Ed Woodward must be pleased watching Herrera here, although slightly confused at the same time why he signed his name Ander and not Hector.

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    1. The Missing Link
      12 years, 4 months ago

      😀

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    2. THE Wild Rover
      12 years, 4 months ago

      Edward Woodward would, would you?

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  30. Shakshuka
    12 years, 4 months ago

    Is it safe to access MCD from mobile devices now? Thanks

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    1. Tomlette Greggs
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      12 years, 4 months ago

      Although some people had trouble making changes on the iPhone earlier, I didn't have any problems a couple of days ago. Worked like a charm.

      If changing formation though, remove a player first, and then change formation.

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    2. Mr Sarcastic
      12 years, 4 months ago

      I suppose so, but I'm still avoiding it.
      Already stressing, because I need to make my team/transfers for semis by ipad.

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    3. FPL Daniel
      12 years, 4 months ago

      Don't dare I say

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    4. Shakshuka
      12 years, 4 months ago

      Thanks guys, ill proceed with caution

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