[sbu_large_image] Dugout Discussion
5 July 2014 3841 comments
Paul Paul
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Matchday 5 of the Brazil World Cup continues this evening as four sides square up for the right to join Brazil and Germany in the semi-finals. First up, Argentina take on Belgium in the 5pm showdown before Holland and underdogs Costa Rica go head-to-head in the 9pm kick-off:

Argentina: Romero, Zabaleta, Garay, Demichelis, Basanta; Mascherano, Biglia, Di Maria, Messi, Higuain, Lavezzi

Belgium: Courtois, Alderweireld, Kompany, Van Buyten, Vertonghen;Witsel, Fellaini, De Bruyne; Mirallas, Origi, Hazard

In the later match, Louis Van Gaal’s men are seeking a fifth straight victory to take them into the last four. The Dutch have racked up 12 goals on their way to the quarter-finals and, with three strikes apiece, front two Robin Van Persie and Arjen Robben have netted half their nation’s goals, with the latter also chipping in with an assist. Van Persie will be expected to retain his starting berth in spite of a poor showing against Mexico last time around, whilst Daley Blind’s Fantasy owners will be looking for the Ajax man to add to his current tally of three assists – if Nigel de Jong fails to recover from injury, Blind is expected to start in central midfield this evening.

The Costa Ricans have already shown they are no pushovers though. Back-to-back wins over Uruguay and Italy helped clinch Group D and with just two goals conceded over the tournament so far, Keylor Navas has been an inspiration between the posts for Jorge Luis Pinto’s side. Having scored each of his side’s last two goals, Bryan Ruiz is the main threat from the underdogs, though Joel Campbell, with a goal and assist to his name, and left winger Christian Bolanos, with a pair of assists, could also be key in providing an upset.

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  1. Bubz
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 9 months ago

    Nooooo Messi 🙁

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  2. MITHRRANDIRR
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 9 months ago

    This worldcup has seen so many teams put in effort despite being not so good like Algeria, USA, Mexico and we have to watch a team like Belgium in QFs.No effort all game, USA would've shown so much here.

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

    Oh ffs Messi.

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  4. LewanGOALski
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 9 months ago

    WTF Messi !?!? 😯

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  5. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 9 months ago

    Messi fail

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  6. GREENDREAMS11
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 9 months ago

    oh dear

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  7. funny money
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 9 months ago

    How long for team confirms ???

    Messi??

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  8. Kroos Kontrol
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 9 months ago

    Hahahaha BEAT IT MESSI! 😀 YOU CANT BEAT THE BEST GK IN THE WORLD!

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    1. Polaris - The Mortal Coil
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 9 months ago

      He will face the best GK in the world on the 13th, in the Maracana.

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  9. Piggs Boson
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 9 months ago

    Messi hasn't scored against Courtois in 8 games now 🙂

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  10. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 9 months ago

    Great save Djokovic

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  11. 4vets
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 9 months ago

    Ouch!

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  12. GunsnRoses
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 9 months ago

    Messi fail 😉

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  13. crystalpalaceRus
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 9 months ago

    Garay block?

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  14. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 9 months ago

    Lukaku fail

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  15. JK - Cønt ⭐
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 9 months ago

    Courtois' first ever defeat in a Belgium shirt

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    1. MITHRRANDIRR
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 9 months ago

      if it had happened it would've been better.

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  16. Zasa
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 9 months ago

    Looks like a Germany v Holland final tbh.
    Can't see the Argies going further than semis, & out maneuvering LVG.

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    1. GREENDREAMS11
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 9 months ago

      I can

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    2. Hurricane
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 9 months ago

      This!

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  17. Bubz
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 9 months ago

    All Messi had to do was go round him

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  18. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 9 months ago

    Lukaku in a WC SF just wouldn't seem right.

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  19. GREENDREAMS11
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 9 months ago

    yesssssssssssss. cmon Argentina

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

    impressive lot of striker fails in my team again. Robben to save the day then

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  21. Piggs Boson
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 9 months ago

    All my Sun game eggs are in one basket now then.

    Come LvG!!

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  22. GunsnRoses
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 9 months ago

    Done 😀

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  23. crystalpalaceRus
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 9 months ago

    Garay 13pts with cleanie, not bad

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    1. FPL Daniel
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 9 months ago

      Yeah? Great, I have him. Well done Daniel

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      1. Old Schoolᴼˢ “disa…
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 9 months ago

        Talking in the third person.... I like it

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  24. fc.cubilas
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 9 months ago

    And people here were saying Greece was playing boring football... Well, how enjoyable Belgium, France, Argentina etc have been lately...

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    1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 9 months ago

      Wait till you see holland

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  25. FPL Daniel
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 9 months ago

    Those without Messi raise hands. Looks like it was bold but the right call. we survived 😉 😛

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    1. Konig Luther
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 9 months ago

      o/... but german forwards didn't make better

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  26. 4vets
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 9 months ago

    I'm doing quite well. Makes a change! 🙂

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  27. boc610
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 9 months ago

    stick to the chocolate liqeurs belgium. thats more your thing.

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  28. Grounderz
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 9 months ago

    Basanta's clean sheet points? 🙁

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  29. Zasa
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 9 months ago

    Bad move to take out Gago, the man has all the creativity in midfield. Plus, he has one of the highest rates of pass % in the WC so far. He's already contributed to 2 good plays in 3 minutes.

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    1. 4vets
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 9 months ago

      They won. Nuff said.

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      1. Old Schoolᴼˢ “disa…
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 9 months ago

        This ^

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  30. pundit of punts
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 9 months ago

    Garay points?

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    1. 4vets
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 9 months ago

      13+

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      1. bunnyrampage
        • 11 Years
        11 years, 9 months ago

        🙁 knew I should have spent the extra 0.5 over Fernandez...

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    2. BellsOfFreedom
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 9 months ago

      9 + 4 CS = 13

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