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. Jebiga
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    howedes or boateng ?

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    1. The Hound
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Boeteng, but I'd look to find the cash for hummels.

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  2. FPL Daniel
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo what a bad match upppppp damn u Daley Blind. I faking give up. I resign in no time!!

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    1. FPL Daniel
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Camzu lost with 131 pts. WOW just faking wow !!! God damn it, bad luck

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

    When will the Fox game update sub points?

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    1. Aaron Ramessi - Straya
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      before the next round starts im sure

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    2. Arvin-ation
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      1 more point for me 😆

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

        I have 7 points waiting on the bench.

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        1. Arvin-ation
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          Nice! Just realised how much 1 point means 😯 Fantastic 3 spot jump coming up I think 😀

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  4. balotelli2good
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Please RMT

    cillesen/navas/mbolhi
    hoewedes rojo blind duarte manolas 1m 1m
    jrod mascherano kroos valbuena bentaleb 1m 1m 1m
    messi neymar müller benzema 1m

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    1. Aaron Ramessi - Straya
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      I like it...anyone reckon ADM + Cuadrado is better than Masch + Kroos?

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

      1/10

      No Slimshady

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  5. Irish Madridista ⭐
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Hmm... Now that Ghana are knocked out I need another grav... Where do you guys get yours? Just Google images? Or do you make them?

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    1. Aaron Ramessi - Straya
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      google images

      now I don't have to call you GM anymore 🙂

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    2. Jackson123
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Mines just a 'selfie' in the office.

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      1. Irish Madridista ⭐
        • 15 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        How do you take a selfie without thumbs? 😯

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        1. Jackson123
          • 12 Years
          11 years, 5 months ago

          I delegate to my PA.

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

      Never swap your grav. You lose your identity once you start messing about.

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      1. Aaron Ramessi - Straya
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        he already has 😀

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      2. Irish Madridista ⭐
        • 15 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        I've swapped gravs multiple times, my "Madridista" name has always been how people around here recognise me 🙂

        (...Well I think people recognise me.. 😥 )

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

          I've no idea who you are, sorry.

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          1. Irish Madridista ⭐
            • 15 Years
            11 years, 5 months ago

            That's fine, you don't have to apologise 😛

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  6. FPL Daniel
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    We have WC now and again before QF?

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

      Yep. Just like old times.

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  7. The 12th Man
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    current team, any advice?

    Cillessen, Karnezis,Mbohli
    Hummels, Van Buyten, Rojo, Duarte, Manolas, Cholevas, Halliche
    J. Rodriguez, Cuardado, Kroos, Valbuena, Aranguiz, Maniatis, Bentaleb
    Neymar,Messi,Benzema, Slimani,Djabou

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

      10/10

      Has Slimshady in it.

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      1. The 12th Man
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        thanks, only 1 Brazil. Is that enough?

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  8. Albert Cole
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Cholevas on set pieces?

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

      Kind of. Karagounis hogged most of them against Ivory Coast!

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    2. Aaron Ramessi - Straya
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      it appears he isn't (although it says so in the set-piece table)

      still him and torosidis have good attacking threat

      cholevas hit the bar v ivory coast

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      1. Albert Cole
        • 15 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        Maybe Manolas the better choice? More defensive potential (sick sentence)?

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  9. Kuns n Moses
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    If you had to to choose 3 from this lot, all classified stickers in my local game and money being insignificant. Specifically for the last 16 games, Who would you have?

    A. Neymar
    B. Messi
    C. Benzema
    D. Muller
    E. Robben

    Much appreciated

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

      a b d

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

      BCD

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  10. Sweetpea
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Fox transfers are unlimited now , right?

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

      Yup

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    2. LukeyLuke777
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Yep.

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  11. Coaly
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Who is going to play in goal for Greece in the last 16? Karnezis or Glykos?

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

      Karnezis should be back fit

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  12. Messiah Hazard
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Is Hummels fit for the Knock Out Stages of the World Cup?

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    1. Aaron Ramessi - Straya
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      yep

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

    Germany defenders a waste of money in MCDs? Shouldn't do much defending?

    In Fox they are bloody brilliant

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    1. Aaron Ramessi - Straya
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      howedes and hummels in fox 😎

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

        I've gone them two and Neur

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    2. puddingbrood
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      Hummels is the player with the most points so far, so I'd say they aren't/

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

    please RMT

    cillessen (mbohli, xx)
    boateng, hoawedes, luiz, duarte (medjani, xx, xx)
    j rod, valubuena, cuadrado (di maria, bentaleb, lacen, xx, xx)
    neymar, messi, benzema, mueller, slimani

    not sure about 4 top end forwards? or both boateng and hoawedes? thoughts?

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  15. Jafooli
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    New post >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

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      1. Irish Madridista ⭐
        • 15 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        ^ what he said.

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

    RMT Please

    Howedes, Debuchy. Blind, Rojo, Zapata, Halliche, Mesbah
    J Rodriguez, Shaqiri, Gustavo, Valbuena, KDB, Bentaleb, (2 eliminated),
    Neymar, Benzema, Muller, Dempsey, Djabou

    0.5m in the bank

    Am I right to think Shaqiri and Lichsteiner might destroy Rojo? And with Shaqiri's selfishness and shooting ability against Romero, Shaqiri may be a great differential to have?

    Yay or Nay? Gustavo to Lahm or Mascherano

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  17. Colmbia2014
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Mcdonalds league my team for first knock-out round:

    Cesar / Cillesen / Mbolhi
    Marquez / Van Buyten / Rojo / Gonzales / Blind / Duarte / Halliche
    Mascherano / Cuadrado / Herrera / Aranguiz / Gago / Maniatis / Bentaleb / (Iranian 1 point)
    Messi / Benzema / Muller / Slimani / Djabou

    I ahve 2,5 in the bank. Thoughts on what to change? I'm trying to have someone solid from each game so I can change captain until I get decent points. But do I have too much average guys? A lot of guys on the bench to be changed in. Would it maybe be better to buy a bit more expensive guys and have less on the bench whom to change in? THinking of going 4-3-3, maybe change to 5-3-2 if Benzema or Muller fail to do well..

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  18. Saurabh A.
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Just trying to make changes in my FIFA McD'z Round of 16 team...

    Gk -- Cesar / Karnezis / Ahmadi

    Def - Rojo / Van Buyten / Bruno Martins / Cholevas / Bouguerra / Medjani / Halliche

    Mid - Ozil / J Rodriguez / Oscar / Cabaye / Kdb / Bentaleb / Palacios / Xx

    Fwd - Messi / Neymar / Robben Or Muller / xx / xx

    confused between Robben and Muller...which one to go with....I'll mostly play with 3-4-3
    & I still have 3 millions in bank....any changes recommended ??

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    1. Colmbia2014
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 5 months ago

      I would probably go with Robben and take Slimani @1 point and change him in if Robben fails. Or Neymar for that matter. Slimani is huge bargain at 1, he is a beast.

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      1. RedLightning
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 15 Years
        11 years, 5 months ago

        Slimani is 2.0m.

        It's Djabou who is 1.0m.

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  19. Colmbia2014
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    OK updated my team a bit. Comments maybes?

    Cesar / Karnezis / Mbolhi
    Boateng / Van Buyten / Rojo / Zapata / Janmaat / Manolas / Halliche
    Mascehrano / Cuadrado / Herrera / Aranguiz / Valbuena / Gago / Bentaleb / (Iranian 1points)
    Messi / Neymar / Benzema / Slimani / Djabou

    Maybe get 4th forward likely to play? Maybe Greece or Costa Rica?

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  20. Syd.
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Anyone named Shaw cannot play football

    Trust me

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  21. No Fuchs Given
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    McD Team:

    G: Same as all - Cillessen, Karnezis, Mbohli
    D: JanMaat, Duarte, Rojo, Van buyten, Halliche,
    M: JRod, Cuadrado, Valbuena, Kroos, Di Maria, Banetelab
    F: Neymar, Messi, Mueller, Benz, Djabou

    Any thoughts on a differential play?

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  22. jubileestreet
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Anyone has a list of players who are doing standards?

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  23. afifapit93
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Mcd team

    G: Cillesen,Mbolhi,1m
    D: Duarte, Marquez, Janmaat, Mesbah, Halliche, Johnson, 1m
    M: JRod, Matuidi, Cuadrado, Valbuena, Dimaria, Bentaleb, Maniatis
    F: Benzema, Muller, Neymar, Messi, Djabou,

    Dimaria or Kross??

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