634x258 Dugout Discussion
16 June 2014 4420 comments
Paul Paul
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Fantasy managers are treated to a feast of football once again this evening, with a trio of fixtures on the agenda. Undoubtedly, the standout match is the 5pm kick-off, where Germany brace themselves for a tough opening showdown with Portugal:

Germany: Neuer; Boateng, Hummels, Mertesacker, Howedes; Lahm, Khedira, Muller, Ozil, Kroos; Gotze.

Portugal: Patricio; Pereira, Alves, Pepe, Coentrao; Veloso, Moutinho, Meireles; Nani, Almeida, Ronaldo.

Judging by the team sheets, Philipp Lahm is set to reprise his club role for the Germans, with the captain likely to be fielded in the centre of the park. Jerome Boateng and Benedikt Howedes are set to be handed the full-back roles, whilst further up the pitch, those recent rumours suggesting Mesut Ozil could be dropped turned out to be nothing more than red herrings – as many expected, the Arsenal man takes his place in the starting XI alongside Thomas Muller, Toni Kroos and Mario Gotze in the four attacking slots.

Portugal line up as expected. Cristiano Ronaldo recovers from injury to take his place on the left of a front three, with Nani wide right and Hugo Almeida handed the central role up top.

Later on, the second game in Group F gets underway at 8pm, where Iran and Nigeria go head-to-head. Both sides will be desperate for a win to boost their prospects of progressing, though with upcoming clashes against Argentina and Bosnia still to follow, neither of the underdogs have been subject to much Fantasy investment. Carlos Quieroz’ side are expected to park the bus and hit their opponents on the counter, though the Africans will be hoping the likes of John Obi Mikel, Victor Moses, Peter Odemwingie and Emmanuel Emineke can make the difference in the final third.

Our 11pm kick-off looks an even affair as Ghana square up to the USA. With both sides in the same group as Germany and Portugal, Fantasy investment has been minimal – Kevin Prince Boateng and Asamoah Gyan carry the main threat for Kwesi Appiah’s side, whilst Clint Dempsey, Jozy Altidore and Michael Bradley look the most likely for Jurgen Klinsmann’s troops.

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  1. HuttonDressedasLahm
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    Pepe (c)

    Said no-one ever

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  2. Studgie G
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    meireles looks like a plucked rooster

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    1. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      An Aamish plucked rooster

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    2. FPL Touches
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      Fking barbarian

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      1. Studgie G
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 6 months ago

        your next

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  3. Jafooli
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    Ozil not even on FK's 😀

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  4. Spectrum-FFS Doubles Champ
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    I don't even know what formation I'm going to end up with in McDonalds yet anyone else in the same boat?

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    1. 4vets
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      Probably 532 for me.

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      1. Spectrum-FFS Doubles Champ
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 6 months ago

        I will defo be sticking with Neymar Benzema and Messi just not sure if it will be 3 or 4 at the back/mid

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    2. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      I'm in 3-4-3 now, I think im stuck with it now though

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    3. LewanGOALski
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      started with 343, never changed it and gonna stick with it till the end

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      1. HuttonDressedasLahm
        • 16 Years
        11 years, 6 months ago

        I've had 4-4-2, 4-3-3 and 3-4-3 now 🙂

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        1. Spectrum-FFS Doubles Champ
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 6 months ago

          I have 7 players left to pick from not including the 2 forwards who won't see light of day

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    4. Prime
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      All the split decision I made in McD are going the other way 🙁

      At least I went with the alternatives in a Belgian FF game, clear leader now 😎

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  5. Bubz
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    Hahaha did anyone see Kroos just completely ignore that high five?

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  6. Shels
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    Dam ozil could bomb here

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  7. JT's Dog
      11 years, 6 months ago

      Official notice
      Portugal are in no way connected to team portudogal. All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

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      1. 7shadesofsmoke
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 6 months ago

        😆

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    • LewanGOALski
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      I am so glad I have finally sticked with Kroos pick. He seems to be on all set pieces bar penalties 🙂

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      1. CABAYE4
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 6 months ago

        Wanted him but couldn't find a spot for him.

        Di Maria let me down as my expensive midfielder, needs two big games now.

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        1. LewanGOALski
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 6 months ago

          it was him or Alonso for me. I hope he will deliver bigger than the Spaniard

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    • 4vets
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      How is that violent conduct? Pepe just about kissed Muller 🙄

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      1. JT's Dog
          11 years, 6 months ago

          He actually cured his sore mouth

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        • Heels_Over_Head
          • 12 Years
          11 years, 6 months ago

          ask the moderators? 😛

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        • Hamstergod
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          11 years, 6 months ago

          tough love

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      2. SW6
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 6 months ago

        If only Portugal and Honduras played each other

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        1. Spectrum-FFS Doubles Champ
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 6 months ago

          Game abandoned due to lack of players 🙂

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      3. Messimerized- Join My FPL L…
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 6 months ago

        Pepe is the most ill-disciplined & the worst player I have ever seen.

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        1. Jafooli
          • 13 Years
          11 years, 6 months ago

          Cattermole says hello

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        2. 7shadesofsmoke
          • 12 Years
          11 years, 6 months ago

          He's neither to me, but he is the biggest bell-end of a player in recent years. The diving, the constant attempts to cheat. Horrible player.

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        3. Heels_Over_Head
          • 12 Years
          11 years, 6 months ago

          Maxi Pereira called, he'd like to compete

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        4. Gnu
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 16 Years
          11 years, 6 months ago

          Vile & cheat are the 2 words that always spring to mind when I see Pepe.

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      4. HuttonDressedasLahm
        • 16 Years
        11 years, 6 months ago

        I think I may have underestimated Germany in this World Cup?

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        1. Spectrum-FFS Doubles Champ
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 6 months ago

          Never underestimate Ze Germans

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        2. FPL Touches
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 6 months ago

          What did they open at? 3rd/4th favourites?

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        3. CABAYE4
          • 13 Years
          11 years, 6 months ago

          I bet on them to win.

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          1. Heels_Over_Head
            • 12 Years
            11 years, 6 months ago

            no European team has ever won a South American World Cup... good luck

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            1. FPL Touches
              • 14 Years
              11 years, 6 months ago

              The history is irrelevant.

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            2. CABAYE4
              • 13 Years
              11 years, 6 months ago

              Last one was hosted in 78, pretty irrelevant imo.

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        4. 7shadesofsmoke
          • 12 Years
          11 years, 6 months ago

          you are not alone (not in a creepy Michael Jackson voice)

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      5. Ludo
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 6 months ago

        I don't understand how the slightest movement of the head has become equivalent to a headbutt in footballing terms. It's stupid, obviously, but hardly dangerous or violent behaviour.

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        1. HuttonDressedasLahm
          • 16 Years
          11 years, 6 months ago

          But a red card for "stupid conduct" would sound, well, stupid

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        2. Shels
          • 11 Years
          11 years, 6 months ago

          Even if the intent is there you can receive red, that goes for kicking or punching aswell

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      6. Bubz
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 6 months ago

        Rubbish headbutt. If you're going to do it, you might as well go all out. Zidane knows.

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        1. Billy Gilmore
          • 13 Years
          11 years, 6 months ago

          Yep, get your money's worth.

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      7. Demí
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 6 months ago

        How many games will Pepe miss? Didn't see the incident

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        1. JT's Dog
            11 years, 6 months ago

            2 for red
            Unless reviewed under fud rule and gets more

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          • The Bandit
            • 15 Years
            11 years, 6 months ago

            3 for sure

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          • SW6
            • 13 Years
            11 years, 6 months ago

            1. Can be increased though

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          • HuttonDressedasLahm
            • 16 Years
            11 years, 6 months ago

            3

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          • Wilshere Knowledge
            • 12 Years
            11 years, 6 months ago

            So 1, 2 or 3... 😆

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            1. Demí
              • 14 Years
              11 years, 6 months ago

              Clear as mud 😀

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          • Shels
            • 11 Years
            11 years, 6 months ago

            1+

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          • Hamstergod
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            11 years, 6 months ago

            I doubt he'll feature in this WC again

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        2. The Bandit
          • 15 Years
          11 years, 6 months ago

          Ironic that Pepé should get so upset about someone play acting to get another player in trouble 🙄

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          1. HuttonDressedasLahm
            • 16 Years
            11 years, 6 months ago

            To be fair, I've never seem a player "hand off" somebody with a fist before

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        3. ben167
          • 11 Years
          11 years, 6 months ago

          Still toying with this one: Cillesen to Dauda in the McDonalds game? No further GK backup after Dauda in my squad.

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        4. Billy Gilmore
          • 13 Years
          11 years, 6 months ago

          Muller again.

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        5. Bubz
          • 12 Years
          11 years, 6 months ago

          YESSSS MULLERRRRRRRRRR

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        6. Lucas Leiva
          • 15 Years
          11 years, 6 months ago

          That's Muller MOTM...

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        7. Jafooli
          • 13 Years
          11 years, 6 months ago

          Muller again 😀

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        8. 7shadesofsmoke
          • 12 Years
          11 years, 6 months ago

          Battered.

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          1. HuttonDressedasLahm
            • 16 Years
            11 years, 6 months ago

            Mullered

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            1. 7shadesofsmoke
              • 12 Years
              11 years, 6 months ago

              nice 😎

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        9. Wirtzle Gummidge
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          11 years, 6 months ago

          I should have captained ze German!

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        10. HuttonDressedasLahm
          • 16 Years
          11 years, 6 months ago

          #shouldhavegotmuller

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        11. Messimerized- Join My FPL L…
          • 13 Years
          11 years, 6 months ago

          Muller!!

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        12. 4vets
          • 15 Years
          11 years, 6 months ago

          Is CR7 in tears yet?

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        13. Dr Dream
          • 13 Years
          11 years, 6 months ago

          Get in Muller...GET IN...!!!

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          1. 4vets
            • 15 Years
            11 years, 6 months ago

            I'd prefer not to.

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        14. LewanGOALski
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 6 months ago

          Kroos assist for that? Alves touched it...

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          1. Pinky and Brain
            • 12 Years
            11 years, 6 months ago

            No assist imo.

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        15. 7shadesofsmoke
          • 12 Years
          11 years, 6 months ago

          was that celebration aimed at Pepe, per chance?

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        16. Telpuialion
          • 12 Years
          11 years, 6 months ago

          Oh dear. I have no Germans in McD. Muller (C) on Football fanager though!

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