634x258 Dugout Discussion
13 July 2014 2625 comments
Paul Paul
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A month of thrilling football culminates this evening as Germany and Argentina take to the pitch in the 2014 World Cup Final. Many Fantasy mini-leagues are on the line tonight as Joachim Low’s free-scoring side square up to one of the most resilient backlines in the tournament so far:

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

Argentina: Romero; Zabaleta, Garay, Demichelis, Rojo; Biglia, Mascherano; Perez, Messi, Lavezzi; Higuain

Low makes one late change to the XI that started the 7-1 rout of Brazil, with Christoph Kramer replacing Sami Khedira in central midfield. Mats Hummels has recovered from the knee problem that forced him off at the break last time around, then, while Miroslav Klose leads the line for the third successive match. Thomas Muller carries the hopes of many Fantasy managers into this one after serving up five goals and a trio of assists so far, whilst Toni Kroos’ double against the Brazilians has earned him plenty of new owners across the Fantasy games. Elsewhere in attack, Klose is gunning for his third of the campaign after breaking the World Cup Finals scoring record last week, though Low also has the option of Andre Schurrle off the bench, with the Chelsea man notching three times already.

Alejandro Sabella’s side is also unaltered from the semi-finals. Martin Demichelis gets the nod ahead of Federico Fernandez in the heart of defence once again, while Enzo Perez and Ezequiel Lavezzi are handed another start due to injury concerns over Angel di Maria and Sergio Aguero – the latter is likely to appear off the bench again, though. The South Americans have delivered four clean sheets in their last five matches and Sabella’s defence has been subject to heavy Fantasy investment as the returns dry up for Lionel Messi. It’s now three games without a goal for the Barcelona man now, who has looked lethargic for his country over the knockout matches – when it matters most of all, can he deliver?

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  1. Blue Lion
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    Palacio coming in for Sneijder in Fox.... So close!!

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    1. Pinky and Brain
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      De Vrij here 😎

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      1. Blue Lion
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        Nice!!

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      2. Billy Gilmore
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        Wijnaldum here.

        #wijnning

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  2. Marouane Fellatio
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    Hummels must have at least two additional points on the way.

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    1. Condey
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      hope so

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  3. Bøwstring The Carp
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    Mascherano MOTM for me so far

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    1. seanie3
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Boateng or bastian schewy for me

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      1. seanie3
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        * Bastian Schweinsteiger

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      2. Gnu
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        This.

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    2. VougieDipond
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Boateng MOM

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    3. Billy Gilmore
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Boateng's been immense

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  4. HuttonDressedasLahm
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    Mascherano

    Player of the tournament right there

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    1. Mr Sarcastic
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      +1

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      1. HuttonDressedasLahm
        • 16 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        Is that sarcastic? 😉

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        1. Mr Sarcastic
          • 15 Years
          11 years, 4 months ago

          of course not 🙂

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  5. HuttonDressedasLahm
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    Argentina are so frustrating on the break!

    Just hold it up a bit and wait for others. Arghhhh!

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    1. Woy of the Wovers
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Bit tough when they play 8 at the back.

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  6. funny money
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    boateng > hummels

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    1. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Boateng(c) here

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      1. funny money
        • 16 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        points?

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        1. Condey
          • 11 Years
          11 years, 4 months ago

          9

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  7. HuttonDressedasLahm
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    Cillessen to Neuer not looking so clever

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    1. Marouane Fellatio
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Why would you twist on 10??!!

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    2. Colonel Shoe 肝池
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      good no penos..... yet

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  8. GreenWindmill
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    Shame for Argentina that Tevez is such a poisonous influence, he's a way better player than Palacio.

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  9. The Sarjeant
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    I want this to hurry up and finish so FPL opens.

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    1. Gnu
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Change your grav then.

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  10. Bubz
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    Moment of magic Messi c'mon now is the tiiiime

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  11. VougieDipond
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    15 minutes 23 clean sheet points at stake

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    1. funny money
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      how is that possible? 23 prime number

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      1. VougieDipond
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        4 defender one captain and 3 mids

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      2. HuttonDressedasLahm
        • 16 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        Mids

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        1. funny money
          • 16 Years
          11 years, 4 months ago

          oh!

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      3. Billy Gilmore
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        5 defs/gks, 3 mids?

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  12. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    Didn't they used to swop straight round at half time in extra time with no break? 😕

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  13. Piggs Boson
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    Argentina have won 4 out of 5 penalty shootouts at the World Cup.

    Germany have won 100% of their 4 shootouts.

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    1. copps
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      germany have a pretty poor record in finals though. this is their 8th final yet they have won only 3.

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      1. CellinoArmy
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        so it will be 4/8 tonight

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    2. Woy of the Wovers
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Argentina won their last game on penalties. Not a good sign for them.

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  14. copps
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    gosh i only just realised that BOTH itv and bbc are showing the final. which have you chosen to watch?

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    1. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Beeb

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      1. copps
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        i much prefer them as well

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      2. funny money
        • 16 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        itv

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      3. I.A.P
        • 11 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        Beeb. Lawro and hansens last !

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    2. seanie3
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      BBC much better pundits and also ITV has that arse wipe Adrian chiles

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      1. copps
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        chiles is a proper douchebag. i LOVED what martin o neill destroyed them all, what a legend

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    3. Optimus.
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      RTE2

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      1. iCon
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        Dis

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  15. Pratik
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    Who's gonna be the 3rd German substitution?

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    1. Piggs Boson
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Podolski. Pen taker.

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  16. Optimus.
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    Which would hold more importance to a player,winning the WC or CL?

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    1. Bubz
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      WC easily

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    2. Pratik
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      WC - Once in 4 years.

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    3. Fifa las vegas
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Has to be the WC IMO. If I was a player it would be!

      A remember a good few years back, not sure exactly when, but Fabregas was still with arsenal. He was asked, WC with Spain, or CL with Arsenal. Nearly sure he said WC.

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    4. copps
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      WC for sure! Very few players get it, you typically only really get 2 chances for it in your whole career. its also the prize that really elevates a player in their accomplishments like no toher

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    5. Mr Sarcastic
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      of course wc, you can't buy it
      well you can buy to host it, but not to win

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  17. Fifa las vegas
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    If it goes to penalties, who do you think will win?

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    1. Bubz
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Germany

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    2. copps
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      whoever neuer is playing for

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  18. tm245
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    Synchronized defending.

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    1. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      *fouling

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  19. iCon
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    All these extra times keep meaning I need to open another bottle of wine! Not good for my mornings...

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    1. Optimus.
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Amen 🙂 I'm immune at this stage

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      1. iCon
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        Yeah, but the missus has now started counting -_-

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        1. Optimus.
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 4 months ago

          Wow what age is she,4?

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          1. Optimus.
            • 14 Years
            11 years, 4 months ago

            *calls 911

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    2. Fifa las vegas
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      😯 wine

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      1. Fifa las vegas
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        Guess it is nice tbf, but beer's better 😉

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        1. iCon
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 4 months ago

          Start on beer, but at my age you can't be drinking too much gassy stuff. And btw, wine is the way forward!

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    3. Epic Fail
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Wine? Man up.

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      1. iCon
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        I'm old; when you grow up you'll understand 😉

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      2. VougieDipond
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        this, Pint of Lager for the men and a glass of white wine for the lady

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      3. copps
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        he forgot to mention the absinthe chaser though

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  20. Bøwstring The Carp
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    Annoys me that Muller won't pull his socks up 😕

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    1. Fifa las vegas
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Likes to show of his legs 😎

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    2. Optimus.
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Sanchez' short shorts must annoy you? 🙂

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      1. Bøwstring The Carp
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        A friend wouldn't ask and a gentleman wouldn't tell.... 😉

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    3. funny money
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      it's better than socks over knees like Neymar!!

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    4. I.A.P
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Very untidy looking. Annoys me three.

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  21. I.A.P
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    Dirty by Aguero.

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    1. MJ6987
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      I'm not sure he knew much about it.

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  22. the axolotl
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    Who will miss a peno?
    Hummels i reckon

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    1. MJ6987
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 4 months ago

      Will he take one?

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      1. Woy of the Wovers
        • 15 Years
        11 years, 4 months ago

        No

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  23. Pratik
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    GOTZEEEE!!!!!

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  24. Woy of the Wovers
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    Thank you.

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  25. Bøwstring The Carp
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    Bollocks.

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  26. tm245
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    Wow! Beautiful goal.

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  27. Piggs Boson
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    OMG

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  28. Zombie
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    Juuuuuuuuuuuuuuhuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu

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  29. Gnu
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    Yes....

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  30. Willis.
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 4 months ago

    Goetze

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