634x258 Dugout Discussion
18 June 2014 2465 comments
Paul Paul
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Fantasy managers will be looking for an improvement from this evening’s three fixtures after yesterday’s schedule served up just five goals. The first match on our agenda bodes well for Fantasy returns as Holland square up to Australia on the back of a stunning 5-1 triumph over defending champions Spain last time around:

Holland: Cillessen; Janmaat, Vlaar, De Vrij, Martins Indi, Blind; De Jong, De Guzman, Sneijder; Van Persie, Robben

Australia: Ryan; McGowan, Wilkinson, Spiranovic, Davidson; Jedinak, McKay, Bresciano; Leckie, Cahill, Oar

Unsurprisingly, Louis Van Gaal names an unchanged side after last week’s humbling of Spain. Holland are expected to line up in a 5-3-2 formation once again, then, with Daley Blind and Daryl Janmaat handed the wing-back role, while front two Arjen Robben and Robin Van Persie will be hoping to maintain the form that saw both score twice in their Group B opener.

Australia make a couple of alterations from the side that lost to Chile. Ivan Franjic is out with a hamstring injury, allowing Ryan McGowan the chance to deputise at right-back, whilst in central midfield, Matt McKay comes in for Mark Milligan. As always, Tim Cahill carries the main threat as the former Everton man looks to get amongst the goals again, having netted in last week’s 3-1 loss.

Following that one, Spain square up to Chile in a must-win Group B match. Their humbling by the Dutch, allied with the South American’s opening win over the Aussies, means Vicente del Bosque’s side have it all to do – if Holland win in the earlier match, a victory for Chile would send the Spaniards tumbling out after just two games. Diego Costa’s starting role looks under threat in light of a poor display against the Dutch, whilst Fantasy managers will be hoping del Bosque’s side can replicate the resilience that made their defence such strong options in the previous couple of international tournaments. Chile will look to Alexis Sanchez to maintain the form that saw him produce a goal and assist in the 3-1 win over Australia, though Jorge Valdivia and Eduardo Vargas are also in form, having served up a goal and assist respectively last time around.

The late 11pm kick-off sees Croatia take on Cameroon as both sides attempt to bounce back from Matchday 1 defeats. Suspended for the loss to Brazil, Mario Mandzukic is available once again and is expected to lead the line – with Ivan Rakitic, Luka Modric and Ivan Perisic supplying the guile from midfield, Niko Kovac’s side may well prove too strong for their opponents. The Africans are sweating on the fitness of Samuel Eto’o ahead of tonight’s game – the veteran’s potential absence could afford Vincent Aboubakar his first start of the tournament in a reshuffle up top.

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  1. viciousrumour
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    C'mon the Netherlands!

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  2. Evs
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    Would you swap out Neymar as McCapt for Iniesta this round?

    Still got muller and messi to go...

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    1. Old Schoolᴼˢ “disa…
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      Yep

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    2. seanie3
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      Yes, that's what I'm doing and I also have muller and messi to go..

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

      yeah, 7 as captain is nothing

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

      McYes

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  3. Leeroy Jenkyns
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    Yes, without doubt.

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  4. Heydudes13
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    I love hearing the Aussie national anthem. Always reminds me of the countless times England have beaten them in Rugby. 🙂

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  5. Adderz
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    Who on Earth is that tiny Australian player?!

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    1. Danos96
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      Matty Mckay 🙂

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      1. Adderz
        • 15 Years
        11 years, 6 months ago

        Bless him, could hardly see over the mascot

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  6. Gaz Downright
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    How many hat-tricks for the Dutch today?

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    1. Manamongst
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      2

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

      2. Both for Van Persie.

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  7. King Nil Miss ✩
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    A bit late, Zlatan... 🙂

    http://web.stagram.com/p/745535661440415642_216355684

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  8. Manamongst
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    FOX: 98 points, just really had time to look at my first round score...Ochoa doing what he´s supposed to do. And I´m not bothered to change a single player for round 3 as well...should I be?

    Ochoa...11

    Zuñiga, Debuchy, Aurier

    DiMaria, Cuadrado, Pogba, Hazard

    Benzema, Messi (c), Neymar...2

    No EVS...gotta holla at Muller or Messi.

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

    Email from Fox:

    We apologise for the delay - data is currently being checked and the automatic substitutions will happen afterwards.
    Regards,
    Fantasy and Tipping Support

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  10. smp
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    I know it's been discussed, but what is the general consensus on being able to see others teams? Do we think that's ever going to happen, or not something MCD feels is important? I think it's ridiculous you cannot see others teams in your leagues...

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

      Doubt it will ever happen as your login is your id, so it has no way of knowing what their team is, unless they change the coding.

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

        Although they would have to have an id of some description to get their score so who knows.

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

      I think on the UCL game in the past (about 3 seasons ago), you weren't able to view opponents teams, so am starting to think that this might be the case.

      Another option is that after the group stage or simply that as everything else they are slowly working on it

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    3. 4vets
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      I hope it happens. Half the fun is looking at your oppo and guessing what subs they are going to make. Surely they can do it after the last game each day?

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      1. smp
        • 15 Years
        11 years, 6 months ago

        I agree. Ridiculous they don't have it. I understand the logic behind not showing during the game week I guess, with the subs, but after the GW...should be able to see.

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

          I can't see why they couldn't have it like UFPL was, where it just showed all 25 players but no indication of who was on the pitch or captain or anything, just the full squad.

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

    Australia look better than I expected.

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    1. J0E
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      I know....I wish they'd get worse soon so I can collect lots of points from my Dutch players.

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

    Samir Nasri agrees contract extension with Manchester City until 2019.

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

    Decidedly average by the Dutch at the moment..

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

      LvG... what a joke manager. 😆

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

      Was very average vs Spain as well for a long time, until RvP, Robben and Blind had a moment of sheer class.

      Spain made the Dutch look a lot stronger than they are.

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

        Of course the gameplan was perfect against Spain, but they'll need something different today which is why I'm surprised he kept the 5-3-2.

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

          It's not the gameplan so far that's wrong..it's just straight forward giving the ball away for some reason.

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  14. BONZ
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    The Dutch struggling to string passes together....bookies gonna be laughing later 6-0 😉

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  15. Parm
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    Diego Lugano will miss tomorrow's match against England with an injury.

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

      You're slower than Lugano. 😉

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      1. Parm
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 6 months ago

        Nah, he'd probably have reported it on Friday 😉

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

      Bad news for England

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  16. The Sarjeant
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    This is so boring.

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  17. 4vets
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    @Billy What's going to happen if McD update the scores to what they should be (eg Spanish defs)?

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

      That's why I have a screenshot of your final XI 😉

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

        Thanx... that's a whole load of work though!

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      2. GTS
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 6 months ago

        Should I put it on Imgur instead? 😳

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  18. Fray Bentos
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    Go on aussies!

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  19. Shakshuka
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    In McD who would you captain out of Iniesta, Ramos and Vidal? Still got Messi and Ronaldo so not afraid to gamble a bit... Currently got it on Ramos.

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    1. Fray Bentos
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      Ramos by a mile

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  20. Evs
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    McShite won't let me alter my captain on iPad. Buttons not working 😡

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

      No it won't sometimes..I had to find a computer last night to do it.

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    2. GTS
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      Sometimes it's too sensitive, sometimes it's insensitive.
      McD on period.

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

      Same for me yesterday as well...

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

    Ah feck.

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    1. pundit of punts
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      You don't have him,do you?

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

        No, hence the "feck"

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

    Robben!!

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  23. Beavis
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    How easy was that?

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  24. pundit of punts
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    Assist?

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  25. LOCO ABREU
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    robben impossible to fail

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  26. Fray Bentos
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    I really wish I had robben in macds!

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

    Omg

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  28. john_t
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    Familiar scenario: one Euro demolishes another in first game, everyone thinks they will win the cup, then they stumble against a weak team. Watch the same thing happen when Germany plays USA.

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

    Oh my lord! What a goal!

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  30. Parm
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    What a goal

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