Dugout Discussion

World Cup 2014 – Dugout Discussion – Matchday 5, Day 1

After a couple of days’ break, Brazil 2014 gets underway this evening as the World Cup reaches the quarter-final stages. First up, we’ve an all-European encounter between Group E winners France and Group G winners Germany before hosts Brazil take to the pitch against a Colombia side that has scored at least twice in every match and boasts the tournament’s leading scorer, James Rodriguez:

France: Lloris; Debuchy, Varane, Sakho, Evra; Cabaye, Matuidi, Pogba; Valbuena, Benzema, Griezmann

Germany: Neuer; Lahm, Hummels, Boateng Howedes; Khedira, Schweinsteiger, Kroos; Muller, Klose, Ozil

Didier Deschamps makes two changes from the side that started against Nigeria last time around. At the back, fit-again Mamadou Sakho takes the place of Laurent Koscielny in central defence, whilst further up the field, Olivier Giroud is replaced by Antoine Griezmann in a switch that will allow Karim Benzema the chance to return to a central role up front. Having served up back-to-back blanks, the Real Madrid man will be desperate for a return to the form that saw him serve up three goals and a pair of assists in his first couple of appearances, whilst Mathieu Valbuena and Paul Pogba are looking to add to their goal and assist tallies so far.

Joachim Low makes a trio alterations to his flu-hit starting XI for the early kick-off. Mats Hummels recovers from illness to take his place in the heart of defence alongside Jerome Boateng, with Per Mertesacker dropping out. Philipp Lahm looks set to start in defence for the first time in the tournament – he gets the nod ahead of Shkodran Mustafi at right-back. Sami Khedira and Miroslav Klose are also drafted in by the Germany manager; the latter is likely to lead the line, with Thomas Muller and Mesut Ozil handed the roles out wide in the front three. As the only player to have a hand in more than one of his side’s nine goals, Muller carries the hopes of many Fantasy managers heading into this one, whilst Klose will be looking to break the World Cup scoring record after netting the fifteenth of his career earlier in the tournament.

In the 9pm kick-off, Phil Scolari’s side will be seeking an improvement after an unimpressive win over Mexico last time around. The hosts required penalties to dispose of Miguel Herrera’s men after Neymar served up a second blank in three appearances – having bagged a brace in his first and third matches, Brazil will be hoping he maintains that pattern and gets amongst the goals in their fifth match of the tournament. Elsewhere for Scolari’s men, Oscar, Fred and Hulk need to step up if they are to progress – the Chelsea man has picked up just an assist over the last three, whilst the latter two have failed to impress, with Fred’s goal against Cameroon the only time either has found the net.

As mentioned, Colombia have the form player of the tournament in James Rodriguez. With five goals and two assists already to his name, he’s the only player to have scored in all four Matchdays and poses a major threat to the hosts chances of progressing. Fellow midfielder Juan Cuadrado has served Fantasy managers very well thus far, too, with a goal and four assists over his four starts, whilst Jackson Martinez brace against Japan underlined his capabilities in and around the box.

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1,029 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Pork Pie Sausage Roll
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Boateng up to 5. 😎

    Suck it, Hummels owners

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    1. Jafooli
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      😛

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    2. Blue Lion
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Lol

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  2. Bubz
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    This is appalling from France. Do something!

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    1. VougieDipond
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Im happy to take the hummels cleanie and sub out my frenchies

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      1. Bubz
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 8 months ago

        I have Benzema and Valbuena in all my games. Really need them to do something.

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  3. Billy Gilmore
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Oh feck off Sakho

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    1. ManofKent
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Why ????

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  4. Saniul
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Sakho is better than Koscielny, they said.
    Feck you, I say. 😉

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    1. Sheep
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Agreed. Now get Mertesacker on!

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    2. Blue Lion
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      France eill not concede, they saidLol, i said.

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  5. GunsnRoses
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Hummels recovered balls 😀

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  6. Sheep
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Lawro is getting on my tits.

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    1. Bubz
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      I cannot stand him

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    2. Pork Pie Sausage Roll
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      He is the dourest person in history. Smug as well

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    3. Jafooli
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      You breast feeding him?

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      1. Pork Pie Sausage Roll
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 8 months ago

        /shudder

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        1. Jafooli
          • 12 Years
          9 years, 8 months ago

          😆

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    4. Bøwstring The Carp
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Well get him off then! 😛

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  7. Bøwstring The Carp
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    I see this being 1-1 for some reason 😕

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  8. Siva Mohan
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    In Round of 16 I had Hummels and I have Mert now.. fantastic!!

    Hummels score?

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    1. Gatsby
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      15, soon to be 16 i think.

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    2. Pinky and Brain
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      15

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    3. Billy Gilmore
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Why do you have Mert? 🙁

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      1. Siva Mohan
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 8 months ago

        fate!

        I have 6 defenders.. hope someone outscores Hummels!

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        1. Bubz
          • 10 Years
          9 years, 8 months ago

          The lineups were out like 2 hours before the deadline!

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          1. Siva Mohan
            • 11 Years
            9 years, 8 months ago

            I was away from 1:30PM UK time.. shopping with wifey.. don't know who to blame now 🙁

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        2. Billy Gilmore
          • 11 Years
          9 years, 8 months ago

          But we knew the lineups??

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      2. Siva Mohan
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 8 months ago

        and I was away from last 5 hours.. just returned!

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        1. Blue Lion
          • 10 Years
          9 years, 8 months ago

          I see.The Cartel are not working as an unit.

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    4. Bubz
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      You have Mert?! Why?

      Hummels 15.

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  9. GunsnRoses
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    My first choice of Double up on Hummels(C) and Boateng was not bad but then I changed it to Sakho 😛

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  10. Fresco
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    how many points is Varane on?

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    1. Gatsby
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      5

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    2. Fresco
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      7 probably, alrighty

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  11. VougieDipond
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    varane 7 points not bad

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    1. Gatsby
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      oops 😀

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  12. Sif
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Valbuena the franco-playmaker on... 3

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  13. bazrah99
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    The problem with Micky D's game is my F5 is getting worn out!

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  14. SGTMacaroni
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Captained sakho over hummels. I am sad

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    1. BellsOfFreedom
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Better than no Hummels 🙁

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  15. Bubz
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Another block

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    1. 7shadesofsmoke
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      what a guy

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  16. Gatsby
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Hummels is a machine!!

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  17. 420king
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    hahaha hummels legend, another blocked shot

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  18. RoysCallerAnne
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Fantastic block Hummels!

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  19. GunsnRoses
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Hummels block again 😀 😛

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    1. 4vets
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Oh me, oh my...

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  20. crystalpalaceRus
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    everytime i see a shot all i get from the commentator is 'great block by hummels' f you boateng.

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    1. Jafooli
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      😆

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  21. Billy Gilmore
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Another Hummels block. Jesus H Christ.

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    1. Bubz
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Hope Epic has him

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      1. Jafooli
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 8 months ago

        Maybe

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      2. Billy Gilmore
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 8 months ago

        Don't think he does looking at the scores.

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        1. Bubz
          • 10 Years
          9 years, 8 months ago

          Feck sake. We're gonna lose

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  22. 420king
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    and that was another point for Lahm too

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    1. Proggy
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      I saw a Lahm the other day in a field, I was Klose to petting it, but I thought it might be a bit Krul, as Noone is aloud to pet it.

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  23. Sheep
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Is there any truth in the Hummels to United rumour?

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    1. RoysCallerAnne
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Yep, him and diMaria as roomies in a digs in Salford

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  24. crystalpalaceRus
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    It seems the world and its wife captained hummels today, fallen 300 places in rankings, i need a neymar masterclass

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    1. Pork Pie Sausage Roll
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Boateng brace coming up in the last 10mins.

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  25. Smarty Pants
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    German back line:
    Hummels
    Lahm - Neuer - Boateng - Hoewedes

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    1. Jafooli
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      😀

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    2. 7shadesofsmoke
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      😆

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  26. Kip
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Hummels OG incomin

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    1. Billy Gilmore
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      He'd manage to block that too

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  27. VougieDipond
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    I wish you could give players nicknames like on football manager I would change Hummels to Epic

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  28. sre10
    • 9 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    Hummels 17,Lahm 7,yeah B|

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    1. Condey
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      and Kroos?

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  29. Tomlette Greggs
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    sömeöne's having a very pöör game again

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    1. Kip
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Nemo?

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    2. fc.cubilas
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      Cöuld nöt agree möre!

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  30. Judas
    • 11 Years
    9 years, 8 months ago

    How many points is Hummels on at the moment? without clean sheet points

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    1. sre10
      • 9 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      17

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      1. Judas
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 8 months ago

        where are they all coming from

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    2. RoysCallerAnne
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 8 months ago

      17

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