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. MITHRRANDIRR
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Goalkeeper mistake?

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

      Defender blocked the view

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

      He probably didn't see the ball.

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

      fooled by the crapness of the finish

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

    The beauty of McDonalds is you can just move on and pretend you never owned any of these players.

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

      I've already done that last night.

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

      🙂

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

    Always hated this f**cking game anyway....

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  4. Spectrum-FFS Doubles Champ
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    There goes the clean sheet

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    1. Spectrum-FFS Doubles Champ
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      On the plus side kept Cillesen over Karnezis

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

    Now, time for Rodriguez to get his RB points. 😉

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

    I don't think there is a phrase for "parking the bus" in Costa Rican

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  7. The Sarjeant
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Who got the assist?

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

      Not Duarte

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

      Bolanos

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

      Bolanos

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    4. Saniul
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      Bolanos.

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    5. applebonkers
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      Bolaños

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

        Flash get

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

    no penalty for costa rica!

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

    I guess James is no longer hipster, it was fun while it lasted folks. 🙁

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

    Stone cold penalty

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    1. Spectrum-FFS Doubles Champ
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      Steve Austin agrees

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  11. applebonkers
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    who takes pens for costa rica?

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

      One would presume Ruiz.

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

      Borges

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

    How is that NOT a handball? 😯

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

    Costa Rica running around now like they are actually good.

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

    wut bench yellow?

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

      there was one yesterday too for Lugano

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

        i don't think i've ever seen it before.. language?

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

          either that or potentially time wasting and invading the pitch 😀

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

    i'm having terrible last 16

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

    Ref missed huge hand ball penalty.

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

    Wow Torosidis deflects cross with hand in the box. But the Tica bench gets the YC.

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

      Better them to get YC than any of my FF guys on the pitch! 😀

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  18. Abrakadabraaaa
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    WTF is Maniatis doing on the pitch..just 2 🙁

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    1. Spectrum-FFS Doubles Champ
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      He is praying

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

    Never seen so many players on the bench booked than this World Cup.

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

      Caduro Algeria timewasting. anyone else than this Costa Rican?

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

        Lugano yesterday.

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

          Ah, so that's three.

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

            Not a player but the Uruguayan coach was sent off

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

    Lol at Granados owners?

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  21. MITHRRANDIRR
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Another one from bench gets booked.yet to play in this worldcup.Didn't leave Lugano alone.

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

    What a rubbish goal, everything about it was wrong 😆

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    1. EAGLES (0 Chelsea players)
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      Really?hmm I thought it was quite good

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

        Scuffed shot in slowmo and nobody moved 😀 Maybe I'm doing him an injustice but unless Ruiz knew the keeper was unsighted that was never going in

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        1. EAGLES (0 Chelsea players)
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 7 months ago

          On seeing replay lol true, it was scuffed

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

      you would have loved the 0-0, eh? 😀

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

        God no! I'm not playing any fantasy games, i wanted a goalfest

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

      it was VERYVERY soft

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

    first player to play ina world cup and be booked? espn

    seriously commentators on all channel are morons

    diego lugano.. a few days ago

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

    Lol at Samaris owners

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

      I'd say they're few and far between!

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

    here comes Fulham's very own

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

    So James Rodriguez says he'd like to go to La Liga some day and would prefer Real Madrid apparently, there's their Galctico signing so.

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    1. Parm
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      We let him go back in 2012 🙁

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

        Shit we did and all 🙁

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

    Mitroglou on.

    Well isn't this F'ing marvellous. Bad enough with two Fulham players on the pitch.

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

    Mitroglou looks like a hipster with that artisan's facial hair.

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

      Looks like a creepy horror character.

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

    damn I missed the goal because of ines sainz gallo 😉

    can't believe I didn't get bolanos or ruiz, went with campbell instead

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

      Would have chosen Ruiz over Campbell most def. But in 5-3-2 not room enough for a 4th forward. Muller Benzema Messi will have to do.

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

        yeah strangely I thought ruiz was atleast priced at 7 and overlooked him, but he's exactly the same as campbells 5.5

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  30. JK - Cønt ⭐
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Right reckon I'll go back to the Captain. The joke needed to be done.

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