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. Djerbil
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    This whole World Cup is fixed

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

      quiet

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

    More time for RB's now

    Shame Tejeda went off

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

    Yeah, I subbed off Duarte in panic.

    Feck off all now. 😉

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    1. Blue Lion
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      Me too!!..

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

      Duarte is out with a red

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

    Navas just blown my chances in Fox...

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

      Have him too. 7 points would have been nice.

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

    socky scored

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

    Come on Manolas time to get some pts

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

      some as has to..

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    2. Pork Pie Sausage Roll
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      Thought it was him that scored at first.

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

      ^^^This

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

    Feeling good about Duarte out now...

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

    They always find a way!

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  9. Blue Lion
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Gamboa gets the CS!!!! 😀

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

      mm... no

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      1. Blue Lion
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 7 months ago

        Huh?..no?

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

          nope, no cs for anyone in this game

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

    They keep taking pts off manolas then back then off again, wtf.

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

      He's my remaining Greek and he's on 2 points with maybe 30 more minutes to go.

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

    If it wasn't for fantasy football id have slit my wrists by now!

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

      Wow!!

      I would have just changed the channel.

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

        told you dont change you undies

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

        Knickers ok now Rohn?

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

          Ronh even

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    2. Spike ⚽️
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      you must lead a sad life !

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

    Everybody loses!

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

    No cleanie for Navas : /

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

    Oh jesus, another 30 minutes of this and possibly now a further 90 minutes of Greece...

    ugh.

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    1. Pork Pie Sausage Roll
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      +urgh

      Why won't they just die?

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

    Yes, another 30min of gonzalez points defending!! 😀

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

    do something manolas. had cholovas 🙁

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  17. Keepergirl
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Well vanBuyten for Duarte is at least an easy decision now.

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

    Dutch back 5 for me in the next round

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

      Kuyt??

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

    Great time for the game to come alive

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

      🙂

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

    should have gone with zapata...

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

    **Clean sheet points will only be awarded to a player if the following two conditions are met: (1) their team doesn't concede a goal in the entire match and (2) the player plays more than 61 minutes*** of the match.

    So no CS points for Duarte , stuck on 4

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

      He would have had a CS if they did not concede the goal, I believe the second yellow came after 61 minutes.

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

    Navas NOT injured

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

    Navas dead, subs gone?

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

      He's fine

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

      Taking a breather

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

    Greece defenders are cheaper than Costa Rica defenders more budget to spend. Come on Greece.

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

      and i like greece, play good football

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

      lol

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

    SCENES. 😀

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  26. asquishypotato
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Red card for my Costa Rican defender in fox.
    Clean sheet lost for my other Costa Rica defender in the sun.
    Bets out the window with 4 minutes to go in the game.

    Not happy.

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

    Manolas 3pts and counting

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  28. Zombie
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    I am so pissed off right now.....Aaarrrggghhhhh. will have to watch it now till 4 AM

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

      4.30 dude. 😉

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

        I'm in Kolkata....Feels even earlier for me

        Wait, why 4:30 😯 ?

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

      This game is not worth staying up past 12 for, go to bed! 😀

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

        Too late 🙁

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    3. Blue Lion
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      Ditto.

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

    Greece manager looks like a gangster.

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