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. Tomlette Greggs
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    CazorLOL

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

    I may be slow but the Mac D Mini leagues seems to have scores........

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

      how did you guts do In first game? you are up against us in round 2...

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

        *guys

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

        Dunno - had a fukfull of it....

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

      they, but useless because they're cumulative totals and not for round 1...

      its like their web designer never played a fantasy game before

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

    this is downright ignominious

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  4. Give The Todd Some Love
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    Bravo has played brilliantly in both games

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

      Yeh some good keepers so far in this world cup, impressed with Ochoa too, scouts will love this

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    2. Malcolm Tucker for England …
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      I don't know quite how to say this, but "well done"

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  5. Tomlette Greggs
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 6 months ago

    CRO LINE-UP: Pletikosa, Pranjic, Perisic, Corluka, Lovren, Rakitic, Modric, Srna (c), Mandzukic, Olic, Sammir

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

      no kovacic and vraljicko

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

        pranjic and sammir starting instead

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

      Spain should have never got rid of chu

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

        😆 that's where it all went wrong

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    • Tomlette Greggs
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      Cameroon line-up, though posted earlier: Itandje, Assou-Ekotto, Nkoulou (c), Song, Moukandjo, Aboubakar, Choupo Moting, Chedjou, Mbia, Enoh, Matip

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

        decent team

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    • Godfather Bandit 42
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      Please score, Valdivia!!!

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

        Id still take him out

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        1. Godfather Bandit 42
          • 13 Years
          11 years, 6 months ago

          Really? Dinner or cinema?!

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    • FACUPARSE
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      Fernando Lolles

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    • Heels_Over_Head
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      Del Bosque to manage in the Premier League before year end?

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    • Mílanista
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      Triple Spanish defence again 😎

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

        Don't tell us they've had another great night.

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

      Penalty!

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

        what are you watching?

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    • Sif
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      Iniesta 6pts, tricky. Bentaleb or Valbuena?

      The Eye-talian could do something.

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

        Valbuena is playing great.

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

        the first to play

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

        leave bentaleb on the bench to the very end and replace him with your lowest

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

        😆

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

        🙂

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

        😀

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    • Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      No need to foul Torres there. He wouldn't score anyway.

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

      Will anyone actually be watching Spain Australia?

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

        might put some money on aus

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

        Like watching 2 relegated teams fighting it out for last spot

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      3. Malcolm Tucker for England …
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 6 months ago

        I backed the group to finish Chile, Netherlands, Australia, Spain at 60/1 so I will!

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

          That's some bet!

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        2. Give The Todd Some Love
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 6 months ago

          😯

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

          Those are extremely low odds if you placed the bet at the start of the tournament

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          1. Malcolm Tucker for England …
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            11 years, 6 months ago

            Not really. Chile were only 4s to win the group. I was hoping it would have been longer odds but was always backing Chile

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    • Henry Hill
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      Chilean porn star Marlen Doll has promised to have 16 hours of continuous sex if her country defeats Spain 😯

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

        The friction burns alone... 😯 😆

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        1. Henry Hill
          • 16 Years
          11 years, 6 months ago

          Torres still wouldn't score 😆

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

            😆 +1

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

        Why 16?

        I'm not sure anyone wants to see that having taken a look at the prospect.

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    • Prime
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      Think this will be a tough game for Croatia. Haven't seen them win easily in any of their qualificatoin matches.

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    • Vardy Gras PBFC
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      What is going on with Cazorla's lid?

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    • HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 6 months ago

      Where did my Vidal assist go??

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

          He didn't get one

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

          no vidal assist

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

            Fair enough then 🙂

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      2. Give The Todd Some Love
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 6 months ago

        Surprisingly Danny Murphy isn't an awful commentator

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        1. Henry Hill
          • 16 Years
          11 years, 6 months ago

          I think he's really good. He was an intelligent player and seems a knowledgeable bloke too.

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          1. Give The Todd Some Love
            • 14 Years
            11 years, 6 months ago

            Yeah I was expecting the worst tbh. But he's wiped the floor with Lawro/Townsend. Thought Keown was terrible yesterday.

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

          Dear mr del bosque
          The board has decided we no longer need you due to your lack of commitment
          Kind regards
          Señor thomass

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          1. shazzaaam
            • 11 Years
            11 years, 6 months ago

            cosign 😀

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

          sergio ramos almost

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          1. shazzaaam
            • 11 Years
            11 years, 6 months ago

            almost? i stopped watching

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        • Heels_Over_Head
          • 12 Years
          11 years, 6 months ago

          zero goals from free play for Spain so far... Australia should be excited

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          1. thermogimp
            • 11 Years
            11 years, 6 months ago

            Why would they be excited? They've just been eliminated.

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        • Nomar
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 16 Years
          11 years, 6 months ago

          This is like watching an ageing heavyweight champion getting spanked all over the ring by a blown up middleweight.

          Its great!!

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

          I assume costa won't be taking his holidays in Brazil anytime soon

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

            Forbidden to enter Brazil in the future

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          2. Nomar
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 16 Years
            11 years, 6 months ago

            He has been on holiday in Brazil for the last week hasn't he?

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        • tw
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 6 months ago

          1 goal from the penalty spot, pathetic

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

            chile was 6/1 to win. odds on aus vs spain should be good

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

            😆 Brilliant

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

            😀 Excelent

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        • HuttonDressedasLahm
          • 16 Years
          11 years, 6 months ago

          Farewell Tikki Taka is been (pretty dull) great

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        • Give The Todd Some Love
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 6 months ago

          What a performance from Chile

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