634x258 Dugout Discussion
25 June 2014 3486 comments
Paul Paul
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Groups E and F come to their conclusions this evening as the Brazil 2014 World Cup treats us to four more fixtures. Argentina are already through, after winning both their opening matches courtesy of late Lionel Messi strikes, and the South Americans square up to a Nigeria side who require just a draw to join them in the last 16:

Argentina: Romero; Zabaleta, Garay, Fernandez, Rojo; Gago, Mascherano, Di Maria; Messi, Higuain, Aguero

Nigeria: Enyeama; Ambrose, Omeruo Yobo, Oshaniwa; Mikel, Onazi; Odemwingie, Babatunde, Musa; Emenike,

Alejandro Sabella names an unchanged XI from the side that edged past Iran last time around. Despite the fact that his side have clinched a place in the last 16, the Argentina boss has resisted the urge to rest and rotate and is clearly affording his first-choice players the chance to step up in performance, after a pair of very unconvincing showings thus far. Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain and Sergio Aguero once again lead the line, then, with Angel Di Maria owners looking for the Real Madrid man to improve his contribution from the centre of the park.

Nigeria – along with Mexico – were one of only two sides to register a clean sheet in both the opening Matchdays. It’s no real surprise, then, to see the Africans remain unchanged, with Peter Odemwingie hoping to replicate his winner against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the previous match as Stephen Keshi’s side attempt to pick up the point which would ensure their progress.

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Begovic; Vrsajevic, Sunjic, Spahic, Kolasinac; Hadzic, Besic, Susic, Pjanic; Ibisevic, Dzeko

Iran: Haghighi; Montarezi, Hosseini, Sadeghi, Pooladi; Nekounam, Teymourian; Shojaei, Hajsafi, Dejagah; Ghoochannejad

Bosnia make five changes in their final game of the tournament. In defence, full-backs Avdija Vrsajevic and Sead Kolasinac come in for Mensur Mujdza and SenadLulic, whilst further up the field, Zvjedan Misimovic, Izet Hajrovic and Haris Medunjanin drop out for Anel Hadzic, Tino-Sven Susic and Vedad Ibisevic. Manager Safet Susic looks to have returned to the 4-1-3-2 formation that served his side so well in qualifying, with Ibisevic up front alongside Edin Dzeko.

Iran, meanwhile, are unchanged for the showdown as Carlos Quieroz’ side attempt to overcome the odds and make it through to the knockouts. As the only team in the tournament yet to score a goal, though, they face a tough task to get the better of the Bosnians.

In the later matches, Karim Benzema owners will be desperate for the France striker to continue the form which has harvested three goals and a trio of assists in the opening couple of Matchdays. With his side already through, though, Didier Deschamps certainly has the option of resting key players, with the likes of Antoine Griezmann and Paul Pogba hoping to return to the starting XI after both were dropped for last week’s 5-2 win over Switzerland. Opponents Ecuador have an in-form frontman of their own as they look for the result that would steer them through – Enner Valencia has also notched three times in the first two games and has netted in six of his last seven international appearances.

Switzerland also have plenty to play for. A win over Honduras, coupled with at least a draw for the French, would seal the progress of Ottmar Hitzfeld’s side as they look to bounce back from their mauling at the hands of Les Bleus, though the Swiss boss has decisions to make up front, after alternating Josip Drmic and Haris Seferovic as the lone forward over the first two games. Fantasy managers will be hoping raiding left-back Ricardo Rodriguez can replicate his pair of assists in Matchday 1, whilst Xherdan Shaqiri and Granit Xhaka offer the main threat in the attacking midfield three.

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  1. Louis
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Montazeri down to 4 points 🙁

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    1. Colonel Shoe 肝池
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      boourns

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  2. pundit of punts
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Messi hatty looking very likely now.

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    1. emperikal
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Sadly. Own him in McDs but not FOX. A single goal would have done nicely

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  3. emperikal
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Lulic didn't start? Thought I saw him on the lineups posted on here

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    1. Epic Fail
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Demi was trolling.

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  4. JT's Dog
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Who scored the other direct free kick in the WC so far

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      1. emperikal
        • 15 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        That Swiss player

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      2. LOCO ABREU
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        dzemaili

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

      Wait I'll Benzema plays 😎

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

        *until

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    • Saniul
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      So, how are your players doing right now?
      For me, I have Messi (14), Pjanic (6) and Montazeri (4).

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

        Ramos 9
        Neymar 16
        Garay 3
        Omeruo 4
        Manolas 8

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        1. Billy Gilmore
          • 13 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          lol

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

            What u mean lol?

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            1. Billy Gilmore
              • 13 Years
              11 years, 5 months ago

              He's not asking who you have that's already played...this page would be miles long if everyone answered that. 😉

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

                O, sorry

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      2. crystalpalaceRus
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        Messi 14, Montazari 4, Rojo 5, Di Maria 3

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        1. Saniul
          • 12 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          Nice, good to see Pjanic get an assist for me. 😉

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      3. Billy Gilmore
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        Messi, Pjanic, Monty, Rojo(5), Di Maria(3)

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        1. Saniul
          • 12 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          With an assist, I thought Pjanic would be on some more points?
          And Rojo on 5? That's quite good for a player who wasn't supposed to start.

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          1. Billy Gilmore
            • 13 Years
            11 years, 5 months ago

            He doesn't seem to be a RB or delivery player unfortunately.

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            1. Saniul
              • 12 Years
              11 years, 5 months ago

              Yeah, hope he can sign off with a goal. 😉

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              1. Billy Gilmore
                • 13 Years
                11 years, 5 months ago

                As long as there's one from Di Maria as well (what an awful pick so far)

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      4. SW6
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        Messi - 14
        Fernandez - 6
        Rojo - 5
        Monty - 4

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      5. Captain Shirokov
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        Rojo 5, Messi 14, Lulic 0

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      6. Djerbil
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        Messi (C) 28
        Di Maria 3
        Montazeri 4
        Sadeghi 4
        Rojo 5

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        1. Saniul
          • 12 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          That's a nice (c).
          Did you switch it from Neymar?

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      7. Epic Fail
        • 15 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        14
        5
        4
        3
        0
        0

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      8. Pap Le Cissier
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        Messi 14
        Shojaei 4
        Sadeghi 4

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      9. Vote Joke
        • 15 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        Messi - 14
        Rojo - 5
        Di Maria - 3
        Dzeko - 8

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      10. LOCO ABREU
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        kolasinac-4
        montazeri-4
        messi-14
        di maria-3
        dzeko-8

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        1. LOCO ABREU
          • 13 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          *rojo-5
          lulic-0

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      11. Piggs Boson
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        Montazeri 4
        Di Maria 3
        Higuain 2

        Feck off.

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    • Bøwstring The Carp
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      If Algeria are watching the Argentina game, they have seen Messi score twice so far.

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      1. crystalpalaceRus
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        #IfAgeria

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      2. 7shadesofsmoke
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        😀 its back

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    • Saniul
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Who else has Messi (c) on Fox? 😉

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      1. emperikal
        • 15 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        Neymar (C) and don't own Messi. Behind the couch type stuff

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        1. Saniul
          • 12 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          Ah, I think that will affect your rank considerably now. 😉

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          1. emperikal
            • 15 Years
            11 years, 5 months ago

            Considerably 🙁 Was 6th before kick-off

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            1. Saniul
              • 12 Years
              11 years, 5 months ago

              Ah, hope your other players do well. 🙂

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              1. emperikal
                • 15 Years
                11 years, 5 months ago

                Need Benzema and Muller do bag at least a brace each!

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      2. Freshy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        Last minute switch to Messi from the Benz
        Good for now anyway

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        1. Saniul
          • 12 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          Benzema could well get a nice haul, atleast I'll hope so since I have him. 😉

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      1. Epic Fail
        • 15 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        Should have listened to us 😎

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        1. King Nil Miss ✩
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          😆

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        2. Billy Gilmore
          • 13 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          I'm taking it you didn't listen to yourself? 😉

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          1. Epic Fail
            • 15 Years
            11 years, 5 months ago

            I didn't have time. Was too busy advising others to do it. 😉

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            1. Billy Gilmore
              • 13 Years
              11 years, 5 months ago

              We in the Cartel are good at helping the less fortunate (i.e. everyone)

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      2. JT's Dog
          11 years, 5 months ago

          Hope you moved captain to messi

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          1. King Nil Miss ✩
            • 14 Years
            11 years, 5 months ago

            I would if I could.

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            1. JT's Dog
                11 years, 5 months ago

                Oh right you have the second best player in the world

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                1. King Nil Miss ✩
                  • 14 Years
                  11 years, 5 months ago

                  😕 😀

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        • Colonel Shoe 肝池
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          karnezis was a huge disappointment last game........1 pt............ time for MBOLHI!!

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          1. Pap Le Cissier
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            11 years, 5 months ago

            At least you have an option b 🙁

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          2. 7shadesofsmoke
            • 12 Years
            11 years, 5 months ago

            I think I'm also backing the beard now...

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        • Blue Lion
          • 12 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          Damn 45 minutes and 14 points..should have captained Messi!

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          1. Vote Joke
            • 15 Years
            11 years, 5 months ago

            You'd have to been a bit nuts taking it off Neymar (I presume you have him). At least you have Messi. Last week I took it off Messi as his 10 points weren't good enough. Ended up on Bentaleb in the end. Gutted.

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        • LSONG
          • 11 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          So are Valveuna and Evra a lock to be rested? I have both and actually don't have a replacement for Evra, sucks.

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        • Vote Joke
          • 15 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          That smug fat git in the XBOX One ad is so damn annoying.

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            1. Vote Joke
              • 15 Years
              11 years, 5 months ago

              I'd so like to punch that face.

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              1. Piggs Boson
                • 14 Years
                11 years, 5 months ago

                He's in character as Jesse Pinkman from BB. I don't think he's really a dick.

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        • tm245
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          Higuain has 2 pts in case any of you were concerned.

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          1. Piggs Boson
            • 14 Years
            11 years, 5 months ago

            🙁

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          2. 7shadesofsmoke
            • 12 Years
            11 years, 5 months ago

            that guy is doing my knob in. Sick of him.

            I don't know who i'd like to fantasy-punch in the face more, him or Lukaku.

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            1. tm245
              • 14 Years
              11 years, 5 months ago

              My other strikers are Suarez Balotelli Bony. Sickening.

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              1. 7shadesofsmoke
                • 12 Years
                11 years, 5 months ago

                wow. You really went full differential didn't you?!

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            2. Tommytour
              • 15 Years
              11 years, 5 months ago

              Messi Captain pal?

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              1. 7shadesofsmoke
                • 12 Years
                11 years, 5 months ago

                yeah. Thank god he's turning it on now - I own Neymar and put the armband on Alves on MD1.

                How are you getting on?

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                1. Tommytour
                  • 15 Years
                  11 years, 5 months ago

                  I'm hiding behind the couch 🙁

                  All my players being rested, ouch!

                  Does Jogo have Messi or Higuain?

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                  1. 7shadesofsmoke
                    • 12 Years
                    11 years, 5 months ago

                    "errr..." - As his team captain, I'll go with "...it would be irresponsible to hand out that sort of information"

                    (rather than "I don't have a clue")

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          3. King Nil Miss ✩
            • 14 Years
            11 years, 5 months ago

            who?

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        • Piggs Boson
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          @Evs, do you have McMessi?

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        • The Sarjeant
          • 12 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          @OfficialFOXES: BREAKING: #lcfc manager Nigel Pearson has signed a new three-year contract. #PearsonLCFC

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          1. JT's Dog
              11 years, 5 months ago

              Leicester trying to take messi back page

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            • VougieDipond
              • 13 Years
              11 years, 5 months ago

              just means he gets more money when he gets sacked at Christmas when Leicster are bottom

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          2. Saniul
            • 12 Years
            11 years, 5 months ago

            Oh well, it is cute that Messi is on 14 points, but people who are so pissed that they didn't move it from Neymar must realise that he was on 13 at HT, as well.

            Messi could well end on 16 or 17, for all we know.

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          3. VougieDipond
            • 13 Years
            11 years, 5 months ago

            Higuain is gong to turn up this half and score a couple

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            1. Tommytour
              • 15 Years
              11 years, 5 months ago

              Assisted by Angel hopefully

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              1. 7shadesofsmoke
                • 12 Years
                11 years, 5 months ago

                would be a dream come true.

                Not gonna happen though!

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          4. LOCO ABREU
            • 13 Years
            11 years, 5 months ago

            heydari coming in

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            1. LOCO ABREU
              • 13 Years
              11 years, 5 months ago

              shojae subbed for him

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            2. Optimus.
              • 14 Years
              11 years, 5 months ago

              I have CR7 to come in for him(hopefully) if he doesn't perform

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          5. JT's Dog
              11 years, 5 months ago

              Does every player talk behind their hand now
              Reminds me of joe pesci in casino

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            • Sweetpea
              • 13 Years
              11 years, 5 months ago

              aNY DECENT BETS THIS EVENING?

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              1. 7shadesofsmoke
                • 12 Years
                11 years, 5 months ago

                wHAT?

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

                  Any decent bets, he/she said so they did

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            • Billy Gilmore
              • 13 Years
              11 years, 5 months ago

              2-2

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            • Captain Shirokov
              • 14 Years
              11 years, 5 months ago

              MUSAAAAAAAAAAA

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            • JK - Cønt ⭐
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 14 Years
              11 years, 5 months ago

              Musa 2-2 Messi

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            • Bøwstring The Carp
              • 14 Years
              11 years, 5 months ago

              Errr what just happened? 😯

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            • Bubz
              • 12 Years
              11 years, 5 months ago

              Oh my

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            • Optimus.
              • 14 Years
              11 years, 5 months ago

              Argentina's defence is good

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            • tm245
              • 14 Years
              11 years, 5 months ago

              Don't anger Messi.

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            • Dr Dream
              • 13 Years
              11 years, 5 months ago

              (Checks Musa's price...)

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