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

    --------------------Neuer------------------
    Lahm----Kompany----Silva----Alba
    -------------Yaya------Vidal--------------
    Bale------------Messi----------Ronaldo
    -----------------Suarez----------------------

    Best world XI atm?

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    1. Epic Fail
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      Courtois

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

        Nah... Neuer.

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      2. Fantasy Football Friend!
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 6 months ago

        De Gea 😀

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

          😆

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

      Looks about right, misspelled Alaba tho

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

        Was thinking that myself 🙂

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      2. Aaron Ramessi - Straya
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 6 months ago

        this

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

      Needs Pirlo

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

        For who?

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

          May as well get rid of that luckbox Yaya

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

      Robben > Bale
      Alaba > Alba
      Courtois > Neuer
      Wilshere > Messi

      Imo

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      1. Aaron Ramessi - Straya
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 6 months ago

        🙂

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

        Wilshere. 😀

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

      No Ibra 😯

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

        Where would you fit him?

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

          Ahead of Bale, Suarez can go on the right 🙂

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    6. Aaron Ramessi - Straya
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      I think courtois is better than neuer
      ramos is better than kompany

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

        Ramos is a disastrous waiting to happen. Kompany is a leader.

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

          *disaster

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        2. Aaron Ramessi - Straya
          • 12 Years
          11 years, 6 months ago

          he is a leader, but not better than ramos...ramos is a monster...just look what he did for Madrid at the end of the season....he can be rash, but is better than kompany

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

            You don't judge a centre back on goals though.

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

              What do you mean, Skrtel's amazing!

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

                😀

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

      Cahill over Suarez

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

        The most accurate possible use of moment 🙂

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

      Busquets & Iniesta over Yaya & Vidal
      Also Kompany isn't the best

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

        Surely not Busquets. Iniesta maybe.

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

      Alaba over Alba, and I wouldn't have Kompany, probably would say Chiellini instead.

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

        Alaba vs Alba is a toss up I feel.

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    10. Bøwstring The Carp
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      My mates did one the other day without Messi and Ronaldo. Mine was:

      -------------------- Neuer ---------------------
      Zaba/ Lahm --- T. Silva --- Hummels --- Cole/ Alaba
      --------------- Yaya --- Vidal --------------
      Robben ----------- Hazard ------------ Bale
      -------------------- Suarez --------------------

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

        Nice one. Looks about right without those two.

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

      --------------------Neuer------------------
      Lahm------Kompany------Silva------Alaba
      Bale-----------Busquets-----------Iniesta
      Suarez------------Messi----------Ronaldo

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

        Nice, but no real need for Bale with that front three, would say Vidal or some other box to box midfielder to complement Busquets and Iniesta.

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

        Hummels in place of Komp

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

      needs more Delph 😉

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

        Or Dejagah maybe? 😉

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  2. JK - Cønt ⭐
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    Lovely goal from Cahll. How bad did Martins Indi's injury look do we think?

    A little bit worried that LvG wants to bring with him the likes of Depay and Clasie who he doesn't deem good enough to start for Holland.

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    1. Nice to Finally Michu
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      Dont be worried, the major reason they dont start is becuase of inexperience for the Nation Team. Both are very young and very talented and will thrive in the prem should they go there. The Martins indi injury looks very bad and its definitely something to monitor.

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      1. Aaron Ramessi - Straya
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 6 months ago

        depay is quality

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        1. Nice to Finally Michu
          • 12 Years
          11 years, 6 months ago

          One of my favorite players of the past few years and I was planning on buying his jersey for this WC but I haven't found a place that sells it

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          1. JK - Cønt ⭐
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            11 years, 6 months ago

            why not just buy it online? shirley you can buy the jersey plain and get it printed?

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            1. Nice to Finally Michu
              • 12 Years
              11 years, 6 months ago

              I thought of this two days ago and bought the normal kit that instance, still waiting for it to come in the mail 🙂

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      2. JK - Cønt ⭐
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 6 months ago

        I don't play WC Fantasy so not worried from that angle. Just don't like to see these things

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  3. X T I A N
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    Not sure if it's been said, but leagues have been updated.

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

    100% Blind assist

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

      Imo as well.

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    2. potatoace
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      he wont get it,
      same happened in the last game , sneijder should have got the assist but didn't coz of Robbens maizy run around.

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      1. Fifa las vegas
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 6 months ago

        Mirror game has added it?

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

          who's sneij or blind?
          McD wont I bet

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          1. Fifa las vegas
            • 13 Years
            11 years, 6 months ago

            Blind

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

        lol? Blind gives the ball to robben who puts it into the net, nobody else touches the ball. Pretty clear cut if you ask me

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

          exact same thing as the sneij incident.
          McD are idiots.

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

          Solo run doesnt count it seems

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  5. Fifa las vegas
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    Did blind get an assist or what?

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  6. Siva Mohan
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    WTF News

    Supermodel Gisele Bundchen will present the World Cup to the winners in Brazil, according to reports.

    The Boston Globe claim the 33-year-old will replace Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff, who has been criticised for spending public money on hosting the tournament.

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

    How do you bet on goalscorer ews on 365?

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

      Under goalscorers.

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

        😆 I guees its too late now...

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

    Rumours that Ronaldo is out of the world cup... hope it's bull

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    1. Konig Luther
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      that's not true,

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

      He left training early, that´s it!

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

      If you're going to say things like this, give a source.

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

        Just going around Twitter. Could be absolute rubbish but it's usually the first place news breaks.

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  9. Fifa las vegas
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    Hmmmm......holland -1 isn't looking very good now 🙂
    Still expect them to win though? Opinions?

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    1. Fifa las vegas
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      *-2 even! 😳

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  10. Djerbil
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    2014 World Cup @2014WC_Brazil ·

    BREAKING: Portugal's doctor - "If Cristiano Ronaldo plays in this World Cup, the injury could end his career." #POR

    (don't know if legit)

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

      So sulking is now classed as an injury?

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    2. Fifa las vegas
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      😯

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

    Yeah Aussies are playing for their lives now. But there is something about Robben. He is wicked this tourney.

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  12. JK - Cønt ⭐
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    No Pepe, no Conetrao, no Almeida, possibly no Ronaldo

    Let's do this Team USA

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    1. Fifa las vegas
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      🙂 really?

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

      😆

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      1. JK - Cønt ⭐
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 6 months ago

        You're talking arguably Portugal's 3 best players in Pepe, Coentrao and Ronaldo. I don't think they'll be that great with those 3 gone.

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    3. Nice to Finally Michu
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      I BELIEVE THAT WE WILL WIN

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

    Tim Cahill has now scored more World Cup goals (5) than Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi combined (4).

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    1. Konig Luther
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      ...and Bendtner

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      1. Fifa las vegas
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 6 months ago

        🙂

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    2. The Hound
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      Extraordinary stat

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

      And they'll NEVER score a better one either

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

      Add Bale to that list 😉

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    5. Premier Virgin
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      Heard commentator saying exactly the same just now O_O

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

    Cristiano Ronaldo left training earlier with his knee strapped in ice before the World Cup started. They later explained it was a normal thing to do and he wasn't injured. Is this any different?

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    1. Konig Luther
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      no... just press trying to give news

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

      *early

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

      He must be, in fact, with his knee injured and playing through the pain since that last CL semi-final game, I find it strange and brave at the same time that he wants to play, but doubt he´d risk his career to do it.

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

    CHI XI: Bravo; Mena, Isla, Jara, Vargas, Aránguiz, Díaz, Medel, Sánchez, Vidal, Silva

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

      There's my next (C).

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

      Vargas(c)

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

      Sanchez (c) 🙂

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  16. Respect My Authoritah
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    Stoke's fixtures look tasty, Arnautovic a dead cert for me!

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

    For feck sake Van Persie!!!

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

    RVP out of the next match.

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

    rvp yc,misses game vs chile

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  20. Bøwstring The Carp
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    Van Persie out of the 3rd group game

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  21. 4vets
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    RVP misses the next one...

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  22. SPorting
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    RvP YC.

    Misses next match

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

    Van Persie out of the Chile game 🙁

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  24. Fifa las vegas
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    Well done Rvp. Wasted striker spot for next round!

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  25. Messiah Hazard
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    Thank god I didn't get RVP in Fox game on transfers.

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    1. Bøwstring The Carp
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      ..... yea me neither... 🙁 🙁 🙁

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  26. JK - Cønt ⭐
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    Huntelaar punt for the next game then?

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

    Lolercopter

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  28. Messiah Hazard
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    Spain: Casillas; Azpilicueta, Javi Martínez, Ramos, Jordi Alba; Busquets, Xabi Alonso, Iniesta; Pedro, Diego Costa, Silva

    Chile: Bravo; Medel, Silva, Jara; Isla, Díaz, Aránguiz, Mena; Vidal; Sánchez, Vargas.

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

      Ramos ©

      Lets do this!

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

    yes rvp ban helps alot next round if only it was robben

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

      in McD game

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

    sneijder close

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

      was a blind assist, always involved this guy!

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