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. HuttonDressedasLahm
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    It's like Chelsea v Chelsea

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

      Thankfully, I have a defender from both teams 🙂

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      1. HuttonDressedasLahm
        • 16 Years
        11 years, 7 months ago

        Who will get no RBS or blocks
        Both GKs to get no saves in a 0-0

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

          This 😀

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

          didn't think about that 😕

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        3. r0nh
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 7 months ago

          DUARTE (C)

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    2. Ginkapo FPL
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      Juuuuuuuuhhhhhhhhuuuuuuuuuuuuu

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    3. Woy of the Wovers
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      Who's playing in white?

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      1. HuttonDressedasLahm
        • 16 Years
        11 years, 7 months ago

        Chelsea away

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        1. Woy of the Wovers
          • 15 Years
          11 years, 7 months ago

          It's the weaker team. More defensive too.

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      2. Ginkapo FPL
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 7 months ago

        CRC

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        1. Woy of the Wovers
          • 15 Years
          11 years, 7 months ago

          Chelsea Royal Chelsea?

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    4. Piggs Boson
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      It's not defensive, just low quality.

      Both sides keep losing the ball, or playing long balls. Scrappy.

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  2. tm245
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Just saw my captain. Sweet.

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  3. Dr Dream
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Is there any part of the McD's game you'd consider introducing into the regular FPL game ?

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    1. Ginkapo FPL
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      The entire scoring system. (After callibration)

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    2. little_wizard123
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      No, imo. Unless no bonus points counts.

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

      1 point per save

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      1. Dr Dream
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 7 months ago

        I definitely like the fact that the defenders stay in the game longer. With a reliance on CS's in FPL it''s a bit over and out most weeks with just one kick against. Maybe not RB's but the general principle of keeping defenders active is good

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

          I like rb's not blocked shots though. They are a complete lottery, rb's are more predictable.

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          1. little_wizard123
            • 14 Years
            11 years, 7 months ago

            Recovering a ball in most cases is not even doing anything good. Why should you get a point for a long ball being played to you by the opposition? Can't be cheering for that in FPL, would ruin it.

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        2. Woy of the Wovers
          • 15 Years
          11 years, 7 months ago

          Defenders get lots of baps in FPL. Anymore and there's no point spending money on strikers and we all end up cheering clean sheets.

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

      The £1.49 Double Cheeseburger

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

        Mmmm Really want one now 🙁

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      2. little_wizard123
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 7 months ago

        Used to be £1.19 not long ago.

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

          Yup 🙁

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    5. Studgie G
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      to be honest everything will make it better, the only change I would make is gls should be more then 5pts

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      1. Studgie G
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 7 months ago

        the only things I would leave out is bonus pt which it already doesn't have and the (c) change

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    6. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      No baps
      Ability to change captain
      Recovered balls

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      1. Dr Dream
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 7 months ago

        I love the ability to change captain...especially knife edge decisions. It would be a real + for me.

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        1. Studgie G
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 7 months ago

          I don't like it it's way to easy and you shouldn't get a 2nd chance if it fails

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          1. Dr Dream
            • 13 Years
            11 years, 7 months ago

            I'm not sure if it is that easy. The borderline calls to stick or twist would be a real problem.

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            1. Studgie G
              • 14 Years
              11 years, 7 months ago

              not really, you'll have so many chances to get a big score no one will end up having (c) fails

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        2. tm245
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 7 months ago

          Somewhere between the all or nothing captain reward in FPL and the six bites at the apple of FIFA would be ideal, since a deep squad is not rewarded in either case right now.

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          1. Dr Dream
            • 13 Years
            11 years, 7 months ago

            Then it becomes a stick or twist between C and VC...that'd be good.

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            1. tm245
              • 14 Years
              11 years, 7 months ago

              That would be good. Gives you some control.

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

          Only really works well as matches happen in isolation, wouldn't be as good with the BPL even with the early, late, Sunday kick offs.

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

      Not really. We've got got UFPL for that.

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

        this^

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    8. tm245
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      I like the increased scoring opportunities so a score of 10 is an easy barometer of a good performance, but the genius of the Rodriguez show needs more rewarding. Just feels like it deserved to be an 18-20 pointer.

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      1. Dr Dream
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 7 months ago

        Yeah it's a can of worms but you can see what they were trying to achieve with the scoring..they just made a pigs ear of it. In general I like the idea of increased scoring opportunities, if it's done right.

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

        There a barometer in FPL, 6.
        Def- CS
        Mid- Assist & CS
        Att- Goal

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  4. Woy of the Wovers
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Shouldn't the commentators use the names on the shirts?

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    1. Woy of the Wovers
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      Lee Dixon beat me by seconds.

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  5. Heydudes13
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Why the feck am I sitting down watching a game where I feel disappointed when I realise my player didn't make the block, clearance etc. 😆

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    1. little_wizard123
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      Because you have no life.

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      1. Heydudes13
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 7 months ago

        😥

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    2. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      It's this or casualty

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

        He self harms if he misses a game 😯

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        1. Holy See
          • 15 Years
          11 years, 7 months ago

          😀

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        2. HuttonDressedasLahm
          • 16 Years
          11 years, 7 months ago

          😆

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

      few times i have been out my seat claiming an RB or Block then attacked the refresh button

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

    ITV commentators have rehearsed these names well. "Christodoulopoulos!"

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    1. Heydudes13
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      Easy. Christodoulopoulos.

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      1. Piggs Boson
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 7 months ago

        Christofopopoli-damn.

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    2. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      Christapodoplopodopolis it seems 🙂

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

      "Christ" for short 😛

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

    Chelsea , Chelsea , Chelsea .......... Yawn

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  8. tw
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Tejeda already on 2pts 😀

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    1. tw
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      what has FF done to me? 😕

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

    Inches from a pen

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

    Wow, not in the box!

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  11. Bøwstring The Carp
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Costa Rica are gonna score... aren't they? 🙁

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  12. tm245
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    That bank teller is lucky...

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

    Greece saved by The speed of Karagounis... Any slower and that would have been in the box 😛

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

    5 players, 5 points total so far. All from played minutes.

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    1. little_wizard123
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      Congrats.

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  15. Ginkapo FPL
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    If only Costa RIcans's could pass straight

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

    How come Socrates can't even spell his name anymore? Genius isn't what it once was..

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

    Cillesen + at least two holland def next round...

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  18. tm245
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Hope Chile's players are not watching this. Would be brutal.

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    1. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      Why?

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

        probably thinking that Chile would have demolished either of these two, and that one of them is going through to the next round.

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

          Yeah, I bet they felt the same way when Costa Rica had to play Uru, Italy and England... all soft teams. LOL

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

          True. Chile played like a t4 team easily this WC, thankfully their generation still has another WC in their prime. Plus, the sub 20 team has a monster defense.

          Sadly the right side of the bracket has to be the easiest & most one sided fixtures I've seen in a while. Argentina vs Holland semi. W/ the Argies playing scrappy football & undeserving of the t4 rank.

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

    only another 92 minutes left to play in this game

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

      Even the penalties will probably be a yawnfest.

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  20. funny money
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    is anyone else having probs with McDs site?

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

      It's been shite from day 1

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

        to be fair, its only been shite until the second match day

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

      No.

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  21. HuttonDressedasLahm
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Greece looking like Barcelona here

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  22. Reed_Rothchild
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    If you want to do well in EPL Fantasy, all you need to do is read the Watch List articles, pay attention to the season fixture ticker, and utilize Total FPL and Crack the Code to monitor price raises/decreases. You don't need to pay for the premium content on this site, which is overrated IMO.

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    1. Jake Donahue
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      Oooh controversial

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      1. Jake Donahue
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        11 years, 7 months ago

        I do agree to an extent, doing well in FPL is not rocket science however the membership fee is well worth the hard work that goes into the site (says the man who is yet to resubscribe)

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

      Go back to Totalfpl

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    3. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      Tom Fenley disagrees

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      1. Reed_Rothchild
        • 16 Years
        11 years, 7 months ago

        And Mark consistently churns out terrible fantasy teams year after year.

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

          Lol, total nonsense

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          1. Reed_Rothchild
            • 16 Years
            11 years, 7 months ago

            Have you seen his scores? Awful.

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

              It's irrelevant to your op but last year was a rare event. He is consistently one of the top playera

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              1. Reed_Rothchild
                • 16 Years
                11 years, 7 months ago

                Top 10,000? LOL! He sucks and overthinks the game. Last season wasn't an aberration.

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

      As simple as that eh.

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    5. Poseidon. Not arrogant, jus…
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      Go back to totalfpl

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      1. Reed_Rothchild
        • 16 Years
        11 years, 7 months ago

        I only use it to monitor price rises and decreases.

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        1. Poseidon. Not arrogant, jus…
          • 13 Years
          11 years, 7 months ago

          I don't even use what I pay for. For £12.50 over a 12 month period it's more like a little thank you. A token gesture.

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

      But 12,50 is not much for a rich and humble dude like me.
      I pay it for great site, even when I don't use those extra tools too much.

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      1. Reed_Rothchild
        • 16 Years
        11 years, 7 months ago

        The tools are overrated.

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

        Haven't paid for next season yet tough 🙂

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    7. tm245
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      If you want to support a great site so it does well, all you need to do is pay for a membership.

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      1. Reed_Rothchild
        • 16 Years
        11 years, 7 months ago

        Mark does well enough with the google ads and Paddypower.

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  23. 7shadesofsmoke
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Evening y'all!

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  24. RÏɠBY
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    if greece win this.. how embarrassing for italy uruguay and that england 🙁

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

      Euro 2004 winners, don't lower them to Englands level.

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

      You're confusing us with Italy. They never beat us

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

        Ignore the Italy bit, your lack of capitals threw me 😉

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  25. Studgie G
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    campbell on 2

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  26. HuttonDressedasLahm
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Don't catch it. Save it! 😉

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  27. Henry Hill
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Highlights of the game so far:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asTgXMFoZ-s

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  28. Bøwstring The Carp
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Greece to win 1-0 just throwing it out there

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

      I said 1-0 Costa Rica

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

        I also said 1-1 Brazil, 2-0 Colombia...

        And 3-1 Holland 🙁

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  29. r0nh
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    This is like WC 2010 again 🙁

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    1. PGR
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      Points are all that matter Teddy! And I'm getting plenty if it stays 0-0 for 120 minutes.

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

    Lol at whoever said this would be a good game and not low scoring 😆

    😳

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