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.

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

  1. Fray Bentos
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Dammit duarte, gonna miss out on the ton tonite now 🙁

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

      Ton? 😯

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      1. Fray Bentos
        • 16 Years
        11 years, 7 months ago

        only 93 now i've subbed him 🙂

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

      He will get 9 if it stays the same, why did you take him out?

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      1. Fray Bentos
        • 16 Years
        11 years, 7 months ago

        -3 for red. Still got others to come on

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

          -3 is straight red, not two yellows

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

    i feel sorry for the lad there. both yellows were soft, first one especially

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

    So let's find out if you can sub a red card out?......

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

    Quickest captain change, everrrrrrr!!

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

      a great manager is someone who can adapt to changing circumstances..

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

        😎

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

    CS locked in for Duarte!

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

      not in McD

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

      Surely not? Like FPL?

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  6. Camzy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Subbed Duarte now haha before he gets locked.

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

      🙂

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

      Red Carded players don't get locked...

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

        Had song ©.
        There's no problem in sub him.

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

    will duarte get CS?

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

    change duarte now from your team.. if you have time

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

    Can we remove him?

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

      Try.

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

    not exactly went to plan this game has it. disaster for all

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  11. zarquon
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Just taken duarte from my team. Change accepted

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

      My only hope of winning my head to head 🙁 dont like this rule but fair enough

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

    That was Duartey.

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

    Duarte->Rojo done

    that was quick

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

      Lucky boy! My only hope gone! 😀

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

        indeed

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  14. Tony Warner Fan Club
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Hmm.. so on iTeam it looks like as long as the player plays 60 minutes he'll still get the clean sheet bonus. Just got to hope Costa Rica get that clean sheet!!!!

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

    Can you sub red carded players on McDonald's? Ouch if not

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

      Fecks knows. But he isnt red-carded on there yet....

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      1. Tony Warner Fan Club
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 7 months ago

        he'll only get 2x yellow cards so -2 off score.

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

        go greece go go go

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

      you should change him before locked

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

        Don't have him 😎 just curious in case one of my players is sent off during the tournament

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

          you don't have him? hi5 then 🙂 .... but apparently no problem

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

    Lol I've just took him out.

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    1. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      Me too.

      He was my captain as well!

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

      ha ha me too

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

    GET HIM OUT NOW! We dont know if he will get stuck with that red. 😎

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

    Would Durate still get a CS if this maintains 1-0

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

      Yes.

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

    Also took him out!

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

    He will end up on 7 points no ? after red 10-3 ?

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

      8, he had a YC already

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

        even 9 as only a straight red is -3 but two yellows are -2.

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

      Still not good enough to be part of my backline 😎

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

      too risky with so many options

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  21. DaveZubie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Feck McD - I cant get at my team 🙁

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  22. seanie3
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    He will get another -1 deducted for second yellow surely as -3 is for a straight red card

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    1. Tony Warner Fan Club
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      yeah that's correct.

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

      good point

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  23. Pards Against Humanity
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Come on Diaz, put in a bloody shift, make my double-up seem like a good idea

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

    Manolas still only on 3. 🙁

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

      Lol. 2

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

    two yellow cards only -2 for duarte

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

    Duarte still gets 5 points, not too bad 🙂

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

    Didn't doos have song and sub him out?

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  28. 7shadesofsmoke
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Duarte just picked up a red, right?

    I just whipped him out after seeing some comments... not watching the game

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

    You can sub sent off players in McDs was cleared up in the group stages so everyone stop panicking

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

    go greece go go go

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