Euro 2012

Matchday Three – Day Three – Dugout Discussion

18 June 2012 886 comments
Paul Paul
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It’s the penultimate evening of the group stages already and Group C is still far from decided. While Republic of Ireland have nothing but pride to play for against Italy, Cesare Prandelli’s team need the three points to stand any chance of progressing.

A win for Spain against Croatia in the other game would be beneficial to the Italian cause but, as the previous couple of nights have shown, we should take nothing for granted. Both games kick off at 7.45pm this evening and, as always, our Dugout Discussion is up and running.

The team news is in and is as follows:

For Italy, Cesare Prandelli rings the changes for their must-win match. The 3-5-2 system is out, replaced by a 4-3-1-2, while four players are replaced in the starting XI. Ignazio Abate and Federico Balzaretti are handed starting roles at right and left-back respectively, Daniel De Rossi moves back into midfield, while Andrea Barzagli comes in at centre-half. Thiago Motta plays “in the hole” behind a front two, with Antonio Di Natale partnering Antonio Cassano up top โ€“ Mario Balotelli, Christian Maggio, Emanuele Giacherrini and Leonardo Bonucci drop out.

Giovanni Trapattoni makes just a single alteration to his side, with Kevin Doyle returning to partner Robbie Keane up front โ€“ this means Simon Cox drops to the bench.

Italy Starting XI: Buffon; Abate, Barzagli, Chiellini, Balzaretti; De Rossi, Pirlo, Marchisio; Motta; Cassano, Di Natale

Republic of Ireland XI: Given; Oโ€™Shea, St Ledger, Dunne, Ward; McGeady, Andrews, Whelan, Duff; Keane, Doyle

Defending champions Spain keep faith in the side that hammered Republic of Ireland last time out. Fernando Torres continues to lead the line after his double against Trapattoniโ€™s troops last Thursday, leaving Cesc Fabregas to warm the bench.

Slaven Bilic makes a couple of changes to his side. Croatia look for a little more security and roll out what appears to be a 4-5-1 formation; Nikica Jelavic drops out, as does Ivan Perisic, with Danijel Pranjic and Domagoj Vida handed starting roles against the Spanish.

Spain Starting XI: Casillas; Arbeloa, Pique, Ramos, Alba; Busquets, Xavi, Alonso; Silva, Torres, Iniesta

Croatia Starting XI: Pletikosa; Srna, Corluka, Schildenfeld, Strinic; Pranjic, Rakitic, Vida, Vukojevic, Modric; Mandzukic

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886 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. UKG
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 5 months ago

    Damn Pirlo one Rb short. Stick Pirlo cap on 12 or twist for Roopig? Guess he has to score and assist to beat Pirlo....

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  2. Jive Turkey
    • 13 Years
    13 years, 5 months ago

    The 2 better teams went progressed. Good effort by Croatia though...

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    1. Jive Turkey
      • 13 Years
      13 years, 5 months ago

      They went and they progressed as well...

      Fail

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    2. HVT
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 5 months ago

      -1, Italy are Sh1te.

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      1. juvelova
        • 13 Years
        13 years, 5 months ago

        how is italy shit!? amazing defense and their midfield is pretty tough , my money is on them !

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  3. RoysCallerAnne
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 5 months ago

    I reckon I'll hit the top 100 tonight. 280th after last night. 53 points with Benzema, Nasri, Gerrard, Lescott to go....go me

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  4. Elniñorules
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 5 months ago

    Azzurris going all the way my amicos!!!!!!

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  5. Abominable Snowy84
    • 13 Years
    13 years, 5 months ago

    So I have 3 players on 2pts. Dont have to pick and choose which players to take out unlike gw1 ๐Ÿ˜›

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    1. Spike โšฝ๏ธ
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 5 months ago

      Three players on 2pts and Strinic on 1 so I'm stick with a 2pter ๐Ÿ™

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  6. GunsnRoses
    • 13 Years
    13 years, 5 months ago

    With three substitution ...

    42+Benz+Terry+Kono

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  7. Mull
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 5 months ago

    Anyone coming on haxball? Join 'racing map'.

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    1. Mull
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 5 months ago

      Anyone?

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  8. r0nh
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 5 months ago

    54 points, with 2 players still to play.

    Anyone else wanna show theirs?

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    1. Boz
      • 13 Years
      13 years, 5 months ago

      53 with 3

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      1. Boz
        • 13 Years
        13 years, 5 months ago

        make that with 4 to play

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    2. Parm
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      13 years, 5 months ago

      59 with 3 to go, might not bring one in though....

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    3. A.
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 5 months ago

      47 + 4 to play ๐Ÿ˜‰

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      1. Canadian Football
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 5 months ago

        Thank god iniesta got the assist otherwise you would have killed me.!!!! LOL

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    4. SPorting
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 5 months ago

      feck off bighead.

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    5. 1966 was a great year for E…
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 5 months ago

      31 with 5. Poor.

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    6. Dynamic
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 5 months ago

      47 with 2 to play. Meh, but it was looking worse before today with only 28 scored.

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    7. paddym25
      • 13 Years
      13 years, 5 months ago

      owzers, 41 with debuchy, lescott, walcott and benzema to play

      but im still caning my mini league so its all good

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  9. Sarnab
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 5 months ago

    62 with Nasri, Mexes and Hart to play.. Satisfied.

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    1. Parm
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      13 years, 5 months ago

      GW rank?

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      1. Sarnab
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 5 months ago

        46

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  10. pukey
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 5 months ago

    Twist (c) from Pirlo to Benzema? (or young or A.cole...)

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    1. juvelova
      • 13 Years
      13 years, 5 months ago

      ima stay on iniesta although got nasri/benzema/hart for 2moro

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  11. Pratik
    • 16 Years
    13 years, 5 months ago

    @Daniel - See how good knee-jerking is even in the Euros? It's just like FPL, a mixed bag of goodies. The Spanish bandwagon - Silva & Torres completely failed today.

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  12. Parm
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    13 years, 5 months ago

    72nd, get in!!!!!

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    1. Elniñorules
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 5 months ago

      i'm just behind.

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    2. RoysCallerAnne
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 5 months ago

      235th, I'm actually a little disapointed thought I'd go higher

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      1. r0nh
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 5 months ago

        I am 235th!!!!

        On 170 points.

        Stop copying my team!!

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  13. Demí
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 5 months ago

    Iniesta clearly saving his goal for the final again ๐Ÿ™„

    Happy with the assist though ๐Ÿ™‚

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    1. Scroobius Mac
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 5 months ago

      Very decent night for the Menez who stare at Gotze.

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      1. Demí
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 5 months ago

        Deeeeecent indeed. Won a couple bets too. Looks like we've got 2 french defenders to their 1 tomorrow. Wonder if i should switch the armband off Cassano.

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        1. Scroobius Mac
          • 14 Years
          13 years, 5 months ago

          Yeah so it's now:
          Debuchy x2, Young and Benzema +11 vs. Lescott, Rooney, Ribery and Nasri

          I think? I assume they will go captain Rooney. Up to you, I think Benzema could easily outscor Cassano.

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          1. Demí
            • 14 Years
            13 years, 5 months ago

            I think we have two Young's too don't we? Think that's spot on with the rest. Don't want to count any chickens but it's looking good so far. Well it seems certain that JohnD won't switch his Ronaldo C, so i'll be up against Roscola, wondering if he'll switch. Reckon he will to Rooney. I have a good feeling about Benzema, will probably do the switch tbh. Cheers Mac.

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  14. HuttonDressedasLahm
    • 16 Years
    13 years, 5 months ago

    Right then, France Germany Spain then champions..... Easy!!!

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  15. HVT
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 5 months ago

    Anyone Care to predict Group D outcome ?

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  16. Sarnab
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 5 months ago

    Overall Rank updated. 385 here.. ๐Ÿ˜€

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    1. Parm
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      13 years, 5 months ago

      72nd ere'.

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      1. Sarnab
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 5 months ago

        noice

        i'll catch u ๐Ÿ˜‰

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  17. Abominable Snowy84
    • 13 Years
    13 years, 5 months ago

    Sleep Talk about?

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    1. Sleep Talk
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 5 months ago

      Still here! We should be able to win this right? Great job on Cassano and Pirlo. ๐Ÿ˜‰

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      1. Abominable Snowy84
        • 13 Years
        13 years, 5 months ago

        Hope you didnt captain Andrews! Iv 4 tomorrow. Stick with Cassano captain?

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        1. Sleep Talk
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          13 years, 5 months ago

          I might be stupid, but not that much. ๐Ÿ˜‰
          Iniesta captain for today, but I'm switching to Benzema/Rooney, not satisfied with 6 points, and the potential is to tempting. Do you feel it? ๐Ÿ˜‰

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          1. Abominable Snowy84
            • 13 Years
            13 years, 5 months ago

            I dont know. Wait till line-ups tomorrow. We will have to email before game tomorrow as to tactics.

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            1. Sleep Talk
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 14 Years
              13 years, 5 months ago

              I'll be going over to some friends in the evening to see the match so I won't be visiting FFS while the matches are taking place. I'll try to check the board a couple of times during the day though, and I'll be available on email at all time.

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              1. Abominable Snowy84
                • 13 Years
                13 years, 5 months ago

                Sound. I will be around after 2.

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                1. Sleep Talk
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 14 Years
                  13 years, 5 months ago

                  Nice, I'll probably be around by then. Nighty night! ๐Ÿ˜‰

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                  1. Abominable Snowy84
                    • 13 Years
                    13 years, 5 months ago

                    See ya then ๐Ÿ™‚

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  18. Fudge
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 5 months ago

    stick on Iniesta captain, or go to Rooney? Rooney scoring 1 goal would only equal Iniesta's score, so he would need something else.. England will be looking for goals tomorrow for goal difference (to win the group and avoid spain).. thoughts?

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  19. juvelova
    • 13 Years
    13 years, 5 months ago

    Forca Hard luck my friend !! hopefully next time .
    PIRLO I FUKIN LOVE YOU!!!

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  20. NATSTER
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 5 months ago

    Thought a lot whether to captain Iniesta or Cassano, they ended up with same points.. ๐Ÿ˜†

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  21. Valar(Keith)
    • 16 Years
    13 years, 5 months ago

    updated.. beautiful

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  22. hillbillypete
    • 16 Years
    13 years, 5 months ago

    Overall rank: 30 ๐Ÿ˜ฎ

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    1. Mull
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 5 months ago

      113,000 ๐Ÿ˜Ž

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    2. hillbillypete
      • 16 Years
      13 years, 5 months ago

      with Benzema, Nasri, Lescott to play...

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    3. Parm
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      13 years, 5 months ago

      Nice, 5 points and 42 spaces behind you.

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    4. Dynamic
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 5 months ago

      16,000, improving ๐Ÿ™‚

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  23. 4vets
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 5 months ago

    64pts but with a real quandry ๐Ÿ˜•

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    1. SPorting
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 5 months ago

      about whether to post your score and look smug?

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      1. 4vets
        • 15 Years
        13 years, 5 months ago

        Jesus... I was obviously going to that. It'll be my one and only chanced this year.

        Will wait 'til later to seek rare advice!

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        1. SPorting
          • 14 Years
          13 years, 5 months ago

          you mean Doos, don't you?

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          1. 4vets
            • 15 Years
            13 years, 5 months ago

            No, I said "advice", not tom foolery ๐Ÿ˜‰

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  24. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    13 years, 5 months ago

    I wish FPL updated this quick....

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    1. Parm
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      13 years, 5 months ago

      THIS x99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999

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  25. โ˜…A-O-Chamberlainโ˜… COYG …
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 5 months ago

    Neuer or Casillas?

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    1. Kagawa-san-mia
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 5 months ago

      both
      neuer if only one

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    2. Mulder
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 5 months ago

      Neuer

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  26. Dan - We want our Trophy ba…
    • 16 Years
    13 years, 5 months ago

    Overall rank 170. Happy with that ๐Ÿ™‚

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  27. Pratik
    • 16 Years
    13 years, 5 months ago

    Scores updated on both sites - Euro and Friendly WC (That means no need of clicking refresh but I know you will do it anyways).

    Goodnight everybody

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    1. Ginkapo FPL
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 5 months ago

      thx

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    2. 4vets
      • 15 Years
      13 years, 5 months ago

      Thanx Pratik

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      1. FPL Daniel
        • 16 Years
        13 years, 5 months ago

        Russia 105 get innnnnn we are kicking in it !!! I knew that there isn't any chance to loose from the Greeks

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        1. Ginkapo FPL
          • 14 Years
          13 years, 5 months ago

          eh? Russia are on 87......

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    3. Sarnab
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 5 months ago

      there's something wrong.. our group's score isn't right.

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  28. Access
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 5 months ago

    Rooney or nasri for captain

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  29. Ginkapo FPL
    • 14 Years
    13 years, 5 months ago

    Currently 24pts adrift, with Rooney captain tomorrow for Doosra. Do I keep Pirlo's 6 or roll to Benzema?

    Our players left are;

    Lloris, Lescott, Rooney + Hart, Debuchy, Benzema, Welbeck

    against Russia's (CR7 captained for both)

    ACole, Gerrard, Ribery + Lescott, Young, Nasri, Benzema

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    1. FPL Daniel
      • 16 Years
      13 years, 5 months ago

      We are winners, we are winners tiram tiram tiram ๐Ÿ˜› ahahaha

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      1. Ginkapo FPL
        • 14 Years
        13 years, 5 months ago

        the 24pts include our 10pt deficit btw. I am hoping we can still get the 3 pts.

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  30. FPL Daniel
    • 16 Years
    13 years, 5 months ago

    Raising hand for amateur move, wasn't logged in and can't log in now

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    1. Ginkapo FPL
      • 14 Years
      13 years, 5 months ago

      Need all the luck we can get now..

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      1. FPL Daniel
        • 16 Years
        13 years, 5 months ago

        I think its over only if Rooney goes crazy or something

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        1. Ginkapo FPL
          • 14 Years
          13 years, 5 months ago

          Can I just say; Barzagli you lucky man. Chillieni should have got those points too ๐Ÿ™

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