634x258 Dugout Discussion
29 June 2014 3432 comments
Paul Paul
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Sunday evening brings us another couple of World Cup fixtures to focus on after the knockout stages got underway last night. Louis Van Gaal’s free-scoring Holland are bidding to join Brazil and Colombia for a place in the last eight but face a tough task in the 5pm kick-off – opponents Mexico conceded just once in the group stages and have already stopped Neymar and co from finding the net:

Holland: Cillessen; Vlaar, De Vrij, Blind; Verhaegh, De Jong, Wijnaldum Kuyt; Sneijder; Van Persie, Robben,

Mexico: Ochoa; Aguilar, Rodriguez, Marquez, Moreno, Layun; Herrera, Salcido, Guardado; Dos Santos, Peralta,

The Dutch welcome back Robin Van Persie from suspension after their skipper served a one-match ban against Chile in the previous match. Van Persie is one of only two changes to the XI that beat the South Americans, with Paul Verhaegh replacing Daryl Janmaat on the right of the midfield four – Dirk Kuyt keeps his place on the opposite flank, with Daley Blind utilised in the back-three once again by Van Gaal. The United striker will be hoping to continue the form that has seen him score in both his appearances thus far, whilst Arjen Robben owners will also have high expectations after the Bayern man served up three goals and an assist over the group stages.

Mexico make just one enforced alteration from the side that won 3-1 against Croatia in the final match of Group A, with former Fulham man Carlos Salcido handed his first start of the tournament. Up front, Giovanni dos Santos will be desperate to open his account for the campaign, whilst his fellow forward Oribe Peralta – along with skipper Rafael Marquez – has already chipped in with a goal and assist over the opening three fixtures.

Later this evening, Costa Rica and Greece go head-to-head after both sides exceeded our expectations to reach the last 16. Jorge Luiz Pinto’s side cannot be underestimated after topping the so-called “Group of Death”, with wins over Uruguay and Italy underpinned by a defensive resilience that has served up two clean sheets in three matches. Pinto is understandably expected to keep faith in a 5-4-1 formation, with Bryan Ruiz and Joel Campbell carrying the main threat further up the pitch.

Despite a last-gasp win over Ivory Coast, Greece have failed to impress. That 2-1 triumph was the only time Fernando Santos’ side found the net in the group stages and, even then, they had to rely upon defensive mistakes from the Africans to make a breakthrough. With a converted spot-kick and assist to his name, Giorgos Samaras has been the main up top for the Greeks – once again, we can expect Santos’ side to keep it tight at the back and look for a goal on the counter.

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  1. Pilleri
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Robben, Kuyt & 9 filler players today

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  2. crystalpalaceRus
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Persie off lol

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  3. Bubz
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Bizarre that he didn't go down there

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    1. MJ6987
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      Does he need to for it to be a pen?

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  4. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Lol bye rvp

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  5. Buck The Trent
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    rvp off

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  6. Jafooli
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    RVP subbed 😯

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  7. Siva Mohan
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Chicharito's time to prove to LVG why he is one of the best finishers!!

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  8. Chu Young Ping Pong
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    rvp fail

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  9. Louis
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    OMG we just saw Van Persie!

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  10. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Last name on my team sheet 😛

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    1. Fifa las vegas
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      Nah he, still first 🙂

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  11. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Would love to see chicharito score and knock lvg out

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

    Dutch forwards were expensive fillers for this round

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  13. Shels
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    RTE COMMENTATOR

    huntelaar on off schalke, ex celtic

    who gives these guys jobs gobshyte

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    1. Fifa las vegas
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      Off? Ex Celtic? Clown

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  14. Tomlette Greggs
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Meet the new Boss. Same as the old Boss.

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

    Tactical genius...

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    1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      Bacterial flatulence ...

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

        😯

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  16. Moin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    My McD fantasy so far...
    Neymar Fail, Oscar Fail, Vargas Fail, De Jong Fail, Van Persie Fail
    Only thing I'm happy about is that this isn't FPL!

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  17. Sif
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    And I thought Neymar was dissapointing...

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    1. Sif
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      Switching to 3-5-2

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  18. Konig Luther
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    who went with Neymar, RVP, Muller, Neymar, just have 2 now to score big

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

      I feel for those with Neymar twice.

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      1. JT's Dog
          11 years, 7 months ago

          Sure he means slimani

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        • Konig Luther
          • 13 Years
          11 years, 7 months ago

          🙂 can't write Messi on my computer..

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          1. JT's Dog
              11 years, 7 months ago

              I once had to explain why my computer was messi

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        • crystalpalaceRus
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 7 months ago

          JRod was my 4th striker.

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      2. Gubbins94.
        • 11 Years
        11 years, 7 months ago

        LVG protecting RVP from injury for more important matters.

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      3. Mr Sarcastic
        • 15 Years
        11 years, 7 months ago

        I hope here wasn't any smugtalk how "I picked RVP instead of Neymar 😎 " yesterday.

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      4. Tomlette Greggs
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 7 months ago

        Ochoa's contract runs out tomorrow.

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      5. The Missing Link
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 7 months ago

        Did no one tell the European teams that its a bit hot in Brazil? shouldve played warm up games in these conditions rather than playing back home or in America for publicity. Poor form really

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        1. Debauchy
          • 12 Years
          11 years, 7 months ago

          Well ... most of them did this but not enough time to really get used to the conditions I guess.

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          1. Debauchy
            • 12 Years
            11 years, 7 months ago

            Miami is as humid as Brazil

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          2. The Missing Link
            • 12 Years
            11 years, 7 months ago

            They technically had over 4 years to get used to playing in the sun 😀

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      6. Chu Young Ping Pong
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 7 months ago

        Moyes out.

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      7. FPL Daniel
        • 16 Years
        11 years, 7 months ago

        I see RVP saved for Utd early season in Europe 😆

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

          Eh?

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        2. Fresco
          • 15 Years
          11 years, 7 months ago

          they actually tour in the US

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        3. Declan
          • 15 Years
          11 years, 7 months ago

          🙄

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      8. Wilshere Knowledge
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 7 months ago

        Which manager should replace LvG at Man U?

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        1. Declan
          • 15 Years
          11 years, 7 months ago

          Klopp

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

          They should just manage themselves.

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        3. Debauchy
          • 12 Years
          11 years, 7 months ago

          Hey WS 1- 0 , can we hold yr pred my bet.

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          1. Wilshere Knowledge
            • 12 Years
            11 years, 7 months ago

            Sorry, I only speak English. 🙁

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        4. Somalion
          • 16 Years
          11 years, 7 months ago

          Me.

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        5. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 16 Years
          11 years, 7 months ago

          David Moyes.

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      9. Tomlette Greggs
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 7 months ago

        Sneijder one of the flops of the tournament. Don't remember seeing him do anything special.

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      10. Jafooli
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 7 months ago

        Did Suarez just bite him?

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      11. JT's Dog
          11 years, 7 months ago

          Do blocking crosses count or is it just shots

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        • Jack Frost
          • 15 Years
          11 years, 7 months ago

          Cillessen on 7 pts... come on one more point and I don't have to change GK.

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          1. Jimbo123
            • 15 Years
            11 years, 7 months ago

            Reckon I'd take 8 as well

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          2. JT's Dog
              11 years, 7 months ago

              One of those points is for save rate which he might lose

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              1. Jack Frost
                • 15 Years
                11 years, 7 months ago

                that point already disappeared.

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

                4 save points 3 for playing time

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            • X T I A N
              • 14 Years
              11 years, 7 months ago

              How the hell does save rate work? 4 saves, 1 goal conceded, surely that means a save rate of 4/5 = 80%?

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              1. X T I A N
                • 14 Years
                11 years, 7 months ago

                Maybe they're being pedantic and it has to be GREATER than 80%... :/

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                1. Jack Frost
                  • 15 Years
                  11 years, 7 months ago

                  I think it's some sort of flawed thinking here by McSlop...... only works in ice hockey.

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          3. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
            • 15 Years
            11 years, 7 months ago

            Holland playing like a David moyes team

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            1. Debauchy
              • 12 Years
              11 years, 7 months ago

              Heres hoping Bemba , Heres hoping ......i

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