634x258 Dugout Discussion
26 June 2014 3877 comments
Paul Paul
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We reach the end of the group stages of Brazil 2014 this evening as the last 16 match-ups are finalised. Group G gets us up and running at 5pm and with all four of the teams still in with a shout of progressing, Fantasy managers will be hoping there’s less chance of rest and rotation. Germany face up to USA and Portugal square up to a Ghana side devoid of Kevin Prince-Boateng and Sulley Muntari after both players were sent home for disciplinary reasons earlier today:

Germany: Neuer; Boateng, Hummels, Mertesacker, Howedes; Lahm, Kroos, Schweinsteiger; Ozil, Muller, Podolski

USA: Howard; Johnson, Gonzalez, Besler, Beasley; Jones, Beckerman; Davis, Bradley, Zusi; Dempsey

Joachim Low makes a couple of changes from the side that drew with Ghana. The Germany manager brings in Bastian Schweinsteiger for Sami Khedira in the centre of the park, while Lukas Podolski comes in for Mario Gotze in the front three. Thomas Muller owners will be looking for more of the same, after the Bayern man notched three goals and an assist in the opening couple of matches, whilst those holding Mesut Ozil will be desperate for an improvement after a couple of patchy displays so far.

Jurgen Klinsmann also makes two alterations as he attempts to get the better of his native country. Omar Gonzalez replaces Geoff Cameron in central defence, whilst Brad Davis gets the nod ahead of Alejandro Bedoya on the right flank – Clint Dempsey is looking to score for the third successive match, though the likes of Michael Bradley and Graham Zusi also offer a threat from the attacking midfield positions.

Portugal: Beto; Pereira, Alves, Pepe, Veloso; W Carvalho, Moutinho, Amorim; Nani, Eder, Ronaldo

Ghana: Dauda; Afful, Boye, Mensah, Asamoah; Rabiu, Agyemang-Badu; Atsu, Waris, A Ayew; Gyan

Paulo Bento welcomes Pepe back from suspension for the vital game with Ghana, as Ricardo Costa drops out to accommodate the Real Madrid man at centre-half. The Portugal boss makes three further changes, drafting in William Carvalho, Ruben Amorim and Eder for Andre Almeida, Raul Meireles and Helder Postiga – the former two look set to be installed in the middle, with Miguel Veloso shifting to left-back. All eyes will be on Cristiano Ronaldo, though, as he looks to get his goal account finally up and running and fire his side into the last 16.

Prince-Boateng and Muntari’s omissions are the only two changes from Kwesi Appiah after a very encouraging draw with Germany. Udinese player Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu comes into the double-pivot to replace Muntari, whilst the highly-rated Abdul Majeed Waris is tucked in behind Asaomoah Gyan up top. Andrew Ayew, with a goal in both group games so far, looks the major threat for the Africans once again.

Later on, Belgium go head-to-head with South Korea as Marc Wilmots’ side look to end the group stages with a 100% record. Bearing in mind they’re already through, though, there’s a fear that we could see a number of changes from the Europeans in this one, with Eden Hazard and Kevin de Bruyne owners hoping they’ll keep their places in the starting XI. Up top, Wilmots may well omit Romelu Lukaku from his line-up after subbing off the Chelsea man in each of the first two games, whilst at the back, Belgium are set to be without both Vincent Kompany and Thomas Vermaelen through injury.

Those defensive concerns will afford the Koreans optimism and with three goals in their first two matches, they present a definite threat to Thibaut Courtois’ clean sheet prospects. The highly-rated Son Heung-min grabbed his first of the tournament in Matchday 2 and, having netted 10 times for Leverkusen in the previous Bundesliga campaign, carries the main threat for Hon Myung-bo’s side.

Despite scoring once and picking up a single point in their opening two matches, Russia are still in with a shout of making the last 16. A win against Algeria, coupled with a Belgian triumph over South Korean, will take Fabio Capello’s side through – Alexander Kokorin looks their best chance of netting, though Alexander Kerzhakov will be hoping for his first start after climbing off the bench in the first pair of fixtures.

After an emphatic 4-2 win over South Korea, Vahid Halilhodzic’s side will approach this one with little fear. Islam Slimani, Abdelmoumene Djabou and Sofiane Feghouli have all served up a goal and assist in the first two fixtures and will fancy their chances of picking up further returns against an unconvincing backline that has been breached in both their opening matches.

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

    Germans will whoop on both

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  2. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    I bet Russia make a formal complaint about the laser

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

      the laser should receive at least a 4 month ban

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  3. Heels_Over_Head
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    shameless repost for the distracted

    For players on teams in the FFS UEFA WC tourney whose teams don't go on to the knockout phase, I've created a mini-league competition so we can continue to enjoy this game that took weeks to figure out.

    League name: Blotto Winners
    Password: notover

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    1. 4vets
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      The fat lady ain't sung for Belgium yet 🙂

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

        Who're winning in the FFS WC atm? Korea or Belgium?

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

      Are we (Spain) eligible?

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

      Nice idea. I'd love to join but unfortunately my team isn't crap. 🙁

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

    haz coming in

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    1. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Dumbass move

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  5. LSONG
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Everyone's must have players for the round of 16? For me it's J Rod and Blind.

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  6. Marouane Fellatio
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Wtf....

    Kombarov had 8 points and has now lost his point for two deliveries into the penalty area.

    Kokorin had 9 points and has now lost his recovered ball point.

    Grrrrrrr!!

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

    Bentaleb 8 points nice

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

      Wow very nice

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

      Bentaleb 8, Belkalem 8, Kombarov 8

      didn't expect that 😀

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  8. Mr Sarcastic
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Bentaleb 8
    #middlefinger

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    1. bunnyrampage
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Belkalem also at 8 🙂

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  9. Zombie
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Bentaleb on 8 points 😎

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  10. HeartOfTheCity
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    McDs Points Spreadhseet link?

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

      BC, link ekbar bookmark karke rakhne me kya jata hai ?

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

    haz close

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

    Slimani off

    #IfAlgeria can hang on they'll.... just go out in the next round anyway

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  13. Studgie G
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    no kdb 🙁

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

    Mesbah down to 3, while Bentaleb up to 8.

    #balance

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  15. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Lol

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  16. GunsnRoses
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Slimani off , show is my chances of top 10 🙁

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  17. Zep
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Missus- What's the score?
    Me - In the Russia game?
    Missus - Yeah
    Me - 1-1
    Missus - Who's leading?
    Me - 😀

    Bless her...

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

      She asked about who are the captains?

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

        That's just slightly beyond her grasp... 😉

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

    Mbolhi (8), Kombarov (8), Bentaleb (8), Kokorin (8)

    Mesbah (3) ruining it, should've left Sadeghi's (5)

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

      Yeah, I subbed Montazeri's 6 for Mesbah. Pretty annoying.

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

      Enough dude

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  19. Jimmers
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Well done Fabio Capello

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

      fecking up Russia the way he fecked up England

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

    #IFALGERIA

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  21. GunsnRoses
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Algeria throughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

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

    Scenes

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

    ft algeria

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

    #Algeria

    😎

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  25. Zep
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Lost 2pts not bringing in Bentaleb... 🙁

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  26. Reedy
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    😀

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  27. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Austria v Germany can finally be put to rest. GOOD LADS 🙂

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    1. RoysCallerAnne
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Brilliant 🙂

      Revenge for 82

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  28. Studgie G
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    happy for algeria they deserved to go through unlike teams like greece that did

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  29. Heydudes13
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Russia are the biggest bottlers. Capello the biggest load of overpaid shit ever. Hilarious.

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  30. Phil_fox85
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Anyone know how many points Vert got in McD's?

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    1. Jimmers
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      15

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      1. Phil_fox85
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        Thanks, looks like my main FF rival will be closing down any lead I thought I had on him.

        Good for banter at least!

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