[sbu_large_image] Dugout Discussion
29 June 2014 3432 comments
Paul Paul
Share:

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.

Paul Is certain he won't make the same mistakes next season. Follow them on Twitter

3,432 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Nomar
    • 16 Years
    12 years, 2 months ago

    Get in!!!!!!!

    Open Controls
  2. Piggs Boson
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 2 months ago

    Huntelaar(C) 😎

    Open Controls
      1. Piggs Boson
        • 14 Years
        12 years, 2 months ago

        🙁

        Open Controls
    1. Studgie G
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 2 months ago

      said no one 🙂

      Open Controls
  3. Pilleri
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 2 months ago

    3x Amazing top 16 matches so far! Great world cup!

    Open Controls
    1. VougieDipond
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 2 months ago

      Greece Costa Rica is going to bring that to a halt

      Open Controls
      1. Woy of the Wovers
        • 16 Years
        12 years, 2 months ago

        Let's hope so. £110 resting on 0-0.

        Open Controls
        1. Konig Luther
          • 13 Years
          12 years, 2 months ago

          b.ruiz scoring

          Open Controls
          1. Woy of the Wovers
            • 16 Years
            12 years, 2 months ago

            Don't mind if it stays 0-0.

            Open Controls
  4. GreenWindmill
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    12 years, 2 months ago

    No extra time for De Vrij to rack up ridiculous points, shame.

    Open Controls
  5. crystalpalaceRus
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 2 months ago

    I always knew Ochoa was overrated

    Open Controls
  6. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 2 months ago

    Kung Fu kick on the corner flag 😎

    Open Controls
  7. MJ6987
    • 15 Years
    12 years, 2 months ago

    LVG tactical genius. 😎

    Open Controls
    1. Fifa las vegas
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 2 months ago

      😀 😛

      Open Controls
  8. JT's Dog
    12 years, 2 months ago

    Bottom right is keepers Achilles heel

    Open Controls
    1. Oflow
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 2 months ago

      Anywhere but center really.

      Open Controls
  9. rk007
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 2 months ago

    Are points awarded during extra time?

    Open Controls
    1. VougieDipond
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 2 months ago

      are you watching on +1

      Open Controls
    2. Fifa las vegas
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 2 months ago

      No need to worry 🙂

      Open Controls
    3. crystalpalaceRus
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 2 months ago

      wtf?

      Open Controls
  10. Studgie G
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 2 months ago

    haha sucked in rvp owners and robben passing it off lol major troll

    Open Controls
  11. pundit of punts
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 2 months ago

    This is cruel.

    Open Controls
    1. Heels_Over_Head
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 2 months ago

      and wrong. Hope Robben gets a retroactive red for diving.

      Open Controls
      1. Wilshere Knowledge
        • 13 Years
        12 years, 2 months ago

        He should be put in a room with a hungry Suarez as punishment.

        Open Controls
      2. Hamstergod
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        12 years, 2 months ago

        If they gave those, he would play every second game

        Open Controls
  12. Fpl Old Guard
    • 15 Years
    12 years, 2 months ago

    Happy Huntelaar captain here 🙂

    Open Controls
    1. Chu Young Ping Pong
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 2 months ago

      yea sure

      Open Controls
      1. Fpl Old Guard
        • 15 Years
        12 years, 2 months ago

        Your right, stuck with Ya-mez Rodriguez

        Open Controls
        1. Fifa las vegas
          • 14 Years
          12 years, 2 months ago

          Ya-mez? Lol

          Open Controls
  13. Piggs Boson
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 2 months ago

    Fergie-esque last minute goal 😉

    Open Controls
    1. Fifa las vegas
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 2 months ago

      Van Gaal-time

      Open Controls
  14. chanvoodoo
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 2 months ago

    Marquez kick me in a..ss, penalty + yellow card arghhhh

    Open Controls
  15. THE Wild Rover
    • 16 Years
    12 years, 2 months ago

    Robben in the box.. Three fouls, three dives, one pen. Overall came off worse than he should have done 😉

    Open Controls
  16. Tony Warner Fan Club
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 2 months ago

    Cillessen stays in the iTeam! Phewwww

    Open Controls
  17. Judas
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 2 months ago

    Does Robben get that assist for the pen?

    Open Controls
    1. Judas
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 2 months ago

      on McD's

      Open Controls
    2. tw
      • 15 Years
      12 years, 2 months ago

      He gets 1pt

      Open Controls
  18. Marouane Fellatio
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 2 months ago

    Cillesson has to be a twist at 7 points?

    Actually that might be another save and up to 8, hmmmm.....

    Open Controls
    1. LSONG
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 2 months ago

      Assuming everyone has the Greek keeper coming up and mbohli, can't decide either! What are y'all doing?

      Open Controls
      1. Shels
        • 12 Years
        12 years, 2 months ago

        yes, but i have nuerer aswell

        Open Controls
      2. Sif
        • 13 Years
        12 years, 2 months ago

        +1

        Open Controls
    2. Jack Frost
      • 16 Years
      12 years, 2 months ago

      That's my take, stick at 8.

      At 7 I get to cheer the next one up as GK.

      Open Controls
    3. Cristi@no R7
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 2 months ago

      He is on 9 pts..
      Sticking...

      Open Controls
  19. crystalpalaceRus
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 2 months ago

    Time for the Greek wall

    Open Controls
    1. Pilleri
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 2 months ago

      You must mean the CRC wall. 😉

      Open Controls
      1. tw
        • 15 Years
        12 years, 2 months ago

        Both 😉

        Open Controls
        1. Pilleri
          • 12 Years
          12 years, 2 months ago

          3x CRC def, 1x GRE def and GK coming up! The first time in my life I hope for a match of 90 + 30 minutes no goals and nothing happens! 😀

          Open Controls
    2. OPTA FPL
      • 15 Years
      12 years, 2 months ago

      😯

      Open Controls
  20. Fifa las vegas
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 2 months ago

    Have to feel sorry for Mexico 😐

    Open Controls
    1. Woy of the Wovers
      • 16 Years
      12 years, 2 months ago

      But happy for our work betting syndicate. If Brazil had ended 2-1 we'd be rolling in money - and have something like £800 on the 0-0 in Greece - Costa Rica.

      Open Controls
      1. Fifa las vegas
        • 14 Years
        12 years, 2 months ago

        GL it has a good chance imo

        Open Controls
        1. Woy of the Wovers
          • 16 Years
          12 years, 2 months ago

          Cheers.

          Open Controls
  21. Tony Warner Fan Club
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 2 months ago

    I'd rather lose 6-0 over the course of 90 minutes than lose by a penalty in the 92nd minute.

    Open Controls
    1. tw
      • 15 Years
      12 years, 2 months ago

      You'd rather be Spain than mexico?

      Open Controls
  22. Jack Frost
    • 16 Years
    12 years, 2 months ago

    Well perfect reminder of the EPL fantasy season,.......successive goals which help no one ( except relatives of Sneijder/Huntelaar and screws everyone with a Defender. Can't wait for the new season. LoL

    Open Controls
  23. MJ6987
    • 15 Years
    12 years, 2 months ago

    No one expected this Holland team to do anything at this World Cup. Incredible achievement by Van Gaal.

    Open Controls
    1. The Missing Link
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 2 months ago

      United supporter? 😀

      Open Controls
      1. MJ6987
        • 15 Years
        12 years, 2 months ago

        Maybe 🙂

        Open Controls
    2. Studgie G
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 2 months ago

      really ? they're always expected to do something

      Open Controls
      1. Old Schoolᴼˢ “disa…
        • 14 Years
        12 years, 2 months ago

        erm the odds were 33-1... the bookies disagreed...

        i have a ew wager on them

        Open Controls
        1. Studgie G
          • 14 Years
          12 years, 2 months ago

          well I didn't think they can win it but they weren't going to get knocked out early

          Open Controls
    3. Wilshere Knowledge
      • 13 Years
      12 years, 2 months ago

      He deserves at least one more trophy as a manager before he retires I suppose.

      Open Controls
  24. Studgie G
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 2 months ago

    Don't thank god mexico didn't get a cleanie but -1 is even better now

    Open Controls
  25. tw
    • 15 Years
    12 years, 2 months ago

    Mexico so close 🙁

    Open Controls
  26. Buck The Trent
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 2 months ago

    Cillesen 7 points, stick or twist to Karnezis?

    Open Controls
    1. Pork Pie Sausage Roll
      • 16 Years
      12 years, 2 months ago

      twist methinks

      Open Controls
    2. Kostja
      • 15 Years
      12 years, 2 months ago

      shouldnt he get one more save and save bonus too?

      Open Controls
      1. Tomlette Greggs
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        12 years, 2 months ago

        bonus in McD's?

        Open Controls
        1. Kostja
          • 15 Years
          12 years, 2 months ago

          yup there is 1 pt bonus for over 80% save rate

          Open Controls
      2. Spectrum-FFS Doubles Champ
        • 15 Years
        12 years, 2 months ago

        I thought the same

        Open Controls
    3. Tomlette Greggs
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      12 years, 2 months ago

      this. tough one. think I'll twist.

      Open Controls
    4. Fresco
      • 16 Years
      12 years, 2 months ago

      wait for an hour to see any changes in his points and if it's still 7, we can all twist to Karnezis, given that the Greek starts

      Open Controls
    5. Pilleri
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 2 months ago

      The real question is, stick Cillessen/Karnezis or twist to MBolhi? He's bound to get a lot of saves

      Open Controls
  27. The Missing Link
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 2 months ago

    Marquez on for 11 points with 2min to go, ends on 4 😀

    Open Controls
    1. Fresco
      • 16 Years
      12 years, 2 months ago

      lol @ Marquez owners

      Open Controls
      1. 4vets
        • 16 Years
        12 years, 2 months ago

        Nice sportsmanship 🙄

        Open Controls
  28. Debauchy
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 2 months ago

    Robb(in)ed !!

    Open Controls
    1. EAGLES (0 Chelsea players)
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 2 months ago

      (en)

      Open Controls
  29. Spectrum-FFS Doubles Champ
    • 15 Years
    12 years, 2 months ago

    Herrera major fail

    Open Controls