634x258 Dugout Discussion
29 June 2014 3432 comments
Paul Paul
Share:

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.

Paul Is certain he won't make the same mistakes next season. Follow them on Twitter

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

    Spider-keeper

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

    ochoa come to the prem

    Open Controls
    1. GREENDREAMS11
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      lucky barstewards

      Open Controls
  3. Pilleri
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Even when it's clearly offside, Ochoa saves everything!

    Open Controls
  4. The Missing Link
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Ochoa 😀

    Open Controls
  5. JT's Dog
      11 years, 7 months ago

      Mexican goalie always has eyes shut when saving, how good would he be with them open

      Open Controls
    • Bubz
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      A keeper who can stop a ball coming straight at him woo-hoo

      Open Controls
      1. crystalpalaceRus
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 7 months ago

        Isnt that the point

        Open Controls
      2. potatoace
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 7 months ago

        yeah, but he did it with his eyes shut.

        Open Controls
      3. The Missing Link
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 7 months ago

        That was with his hands, closed down the space amazingly well

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

        Every ball a gk saves is towards him

        Open Controls
      5. MJ6987
        • 15 Years
        11 years, 7 months ago

        It would have been harder to get out of the way!

        Open Controls
    • Pilleri
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      does that count as a BS for Martens Indi? 😛

      Open Controls
    • r0nh
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      Costa Rica could be in the semis 😯

      Open Controls
      1. Mr Sarcastic
        • 15 Years
        11 years, 7 months ago

        or greece!

        Open Controls
        1. Mr Sarcastic
          • 15 Years
          11 years, 7 months ago

          * or holland!!

          Open Controls
          1. r0nh
            • 14 Years
            11 years, 7 months ago

            😆

            Open Controls
    • crystalpalaceRus
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      sniejder lmao

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

      GOAL!

      Open Controls
    • ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      OMG sneijder

      Open Controls
      1. Jafooli
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 7 months ago

        😀

        Open Controls
    • Jafooli
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      1-1

      Open Controls
    • Pilleri
      • 11 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      Who said anything about Sneijder?

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

        Moi.

        He has been useless.

        Open Controls
    • JT's Dog
        11 years, 7 months ago

        What a player Wesley is

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

            Always loved him

            Open Controls
            1. Mr Sarcastic
              • 15 Years
              11 years, 7 months ago

              and this was perferct time to tell it public 🙂

              Open Controls
        2. Somalion
          • 16 Years
          11 years, 7 months ago

          Boom!

          Open Controls
        3. Konig Luther
          • 13 Years
          11 years, 7 months ago

          NO cs 🙁

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

            Good, good

            Open Controls
        4. VougieDipond
          • 13 Years
          11 years, 7 months ago

          there was me laughing at the 16/1 price boost on Sniejder next scorer

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

          Yyyyyeeeeessssss extra time points coming up!!

          Open Controls
        6. r0nh
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 7 months ago

          Like a bullet.

          Boom!!

          Open Controls
        7. MJ6987
          • 15 Years
          11 years, 7 months ago

          Sneijder done nothing at this WC...till now!

          Open Controls
        8. Fifa las vegas
          • 13 Years
          11 years, 7 months ago

          My word......the commentators reaction was very late 😀 had to wait to see if it was actually in or not....

          Open Controls
        9. tw
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 7 months ago

          Noooooo 🙁

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

          Dos Santos Goal 😎
          Sneijder Goal 😎

          both in my local league

          Open Controls
        11. Jafooli
          • 13 Years
          11 years, 7 months ago

          Mexican keeper is awful

          Open Controls
        12. Bubz
          • 12 Years
          11 years, 7 months ago

          Sneijder player of the tournement

          Open Controls
        13. Nomar
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 16 Years
          11 years, 7 months ago

          Yessssss!!!!

          Bout time ye did something Wes!

          Open Controls
        14. Pilleri
          • 11 Years
          11 years, 7 months ago

          Excellent volley btw! Great power and accuracy, usually you don't get both.

          Open Controls
        15. Fray Bentos
          • 16 Years
          11 years, 7 months ago

          He hit that quite hard

          Open Controls
        16. Pratik
          • 16 Years
          11 years, 7 months ago

          BOOOM!!!

          Open Controls
        17. The Bandit
          • 15 Years
          11 years, 7 months ago

          What exactly does Sneidjer do? 😀

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

            Fook all, crept this

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

              I know tut, some people know nothing

              Open Controls