[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. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 2 months ago

    Spider-keeper

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  2. crystalpalaceRus
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 2 months ago

    ochoa come to the prem

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    1. GREENDREAMS11
      • 16 Years
      12 years, 2 months ago

      lucky barstewards

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

    Even when it's clearly offside, Ochoa saves everything!

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  4. The Missing Link
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 2 months ago

    Ochoa 😀

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  5. JT's Dog
    12 years, 2 months ago

    Mexican goalie always has eyes shut when saving, how good would he be with them open

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  6. Bubz
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 2 months ago

    A keeper who can stop a ball coming straight at him woo-hoo

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    1. crystalpalaceRus
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 2 months ago

      Isnt that the point

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    2. potatoace
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      12 years, 2 months ago

      yeah, but he did it with his eyes shut.

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    3. The Missing Link
      • 12 Years
      12 years, 2 months ago

      That was with his hands, closed down the space amazingly well

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    4. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 16 Years
      12 years, 2 months ago

      Every ball a gk saves is towards him

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    5. MJ6987
      • 15 Years
      12 years, 2 months ago

      It would have been harder to get out of the way!

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  7. Pilleri
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 2 months ago

    does that count as a BS for Martens Indi? 😛

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  8. r0nh
    • 15 Years
    12 years, 2 months ago

    Costa Rica could be in the semis 😯

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    1. Mr Sarcastic
      • 16 Years
      12 years, 2 months ago

      or greece!

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      1. Mr Sarcastic
        • 16 Years
        12 years, 2 months ago

        * or holland!!

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        1. r0nh
          • 15 Years
          12 years, 2 months ago

          😆

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  9. crystalpalaceRus
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 2 months ago

    sniejder lmao

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

    GOAL!

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  11. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 16 Years
    12 years, 2 months ago

    OMG sneijder

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    1. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      12 years, 2 months ago

      😀

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  12. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 2 months ago

    1-1

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  13. Pilleri
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 2 months ago

    Who said anything about Sneijder?

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    1. Jimbo123
      • 16 Years
      12 years, 2 months ago

      Moi.

      He has been useless.

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  14. JT's Dog
    12 years, 2 months ago

    What a player Wesley is

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    1. JT's Dog
      12 years, 2 months ago

      Always loved him

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      1. Mr Sarcastic
        • 16 Years
        12 years, 2 months ago

        and this was perferct time to tell it public 🙂

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  15. Somalion
    • 16 Years
    12 years, 2 months ago

    Boom!

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  16. Konig Luther
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 2 months ago

    NO cs 🙁

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

      Good, good

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  17. VougieDipond
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 2 months ago

    there was me laughing at the 16/1 price boost on Sniejder next scorer

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  18. The Missing Link
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 2 months ago

    Yyyyyeeeeessssss extra time points coming up!!

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  19. r0nh
    • 15 Years
    12 years, 2 months ago

    Like a bullet.

    Boom!!

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  20. MJ6987
    • 15 Years
    12 years, 2 months ago

    Sneijder done nothing at this WC...till now!

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

    My word......the commentators reaction was very late 😀 had to wait to see if it was actually in or not....

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  22. tw
    • 15 Years
    12 years, 2 months ago

    Noooooo 🙁

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  23. Siva Mohan
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 2 months ago

    Dos Santos Goal 😎
    Sneijder Goal 😎

    both in my local league

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  24. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    12 years, 2 months ago

    Mexican keeper is awful

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  25. Bubz
    • 13 Years
    12 years, 2 months ago

    Sneijder player of the tournement

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  26. Nomar
    • 16 Years
    12 years, 2 months ago

    Yessssss!!!!

    Bout time ye did something Wes!

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  27. Pilleri
    • 12 Years
    12 years, 2 months ago

    Excellent volley btw! Great power and accuracy, usually you don't get both.

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  28. Fray Bentos
    • 17 Years
    12 years, 2 months ago

    He hit that quite hard

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  29. Pratik
    • 17 Years
    12 years, 2 months ago

    BOOOM!!!

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  30. THE Wild Rover
    • 16 Years
    12 years, 2 months ago

    What exactly does Sneidjer do? 😀

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

      Fook all, crept this

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    2. JT's Dog
      12 years, 2 months ago

      I know tut, some people know nothing

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