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. Zasa
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Gamboa 5
    Blind 6
    Manolas 3
    Guardado 2

    Pretty fd up stuff this

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  2. Gnu
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    This is like watching one of those Greek tragedys.....

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

      Anthony Costa in blue?

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

    Its like watching The 300, except I'm rooting for Xerxes

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

      The Persians won at Thermopylae (albeit a pyrrhic victory), so there is still hope

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

      😆

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

      😆

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

      He had Eva green...I think you're rooting for her

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

    Unfortunately, the match was not as boring as we had hoped

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

    Holevas WILL score a free kick in extra time.

    Just letting you all know 😉

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

    #believe http://i.imgur.com/K5REaRA.png

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

      Good luck man 🙂 it was 12's on PP 😯

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

      😀 good luck

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

    This is like watching Stoke on an endless loop.

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

      *shudders uncontrollably*

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

    Should have gone with the plan and got Armero

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

      meh he got 7

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

        Trally? Thought he got an assist too?

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

          Can't type. Getting late.

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

            no assist.. he did noting that match

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

    Can't believe how shite all those defenders scored, despite both losing CS...

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    1. Smarty Pants
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      😆

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

    McD

    Zapata 14
    Gamboa 5 - second best still!
    Duarte 4
    Diaz 3
    Manolas 3

    I'm gonna switch to 3-4-3 now? o_0

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

    Now I've got to look at those -3 Duarte points on my iTeam for another few days. Thanks, Greece.

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

    do players still rack up points in extra time or do they stop scoring points at 90 mins

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

      They still get points in ET

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

        feck, why oh why did I get rid of cholebas when I had him for the first 3 games, brought in Duarte instead, oh well that could really come back to bite me on the jacksy

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

          Doubt you would keep either

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

            for this round I meant, cholebas could easily score 8 -10 points more than Duarte now..

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

              Yeah I think both will be discarded this round

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

    5 points or less worth bringing in the alegerians?

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

      3 points for playing full match, count from there

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

    Respect where it's due -- Sokratis finished that shot like a striker. If it's John Terry, he would have probably skied it.

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

    The subbed out player should be given his CS points! 🙁

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

    Greece manager looks like a gangster

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

      😀

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

    Daenerys Traegareyen will score the winner.

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

    Still got 10 playable subs

    Cod be worse

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

      **could

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

      Plaice them in the team. Your Sole source of Hake.

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  19. Messiah Hazard
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    All the so called best forwards have failed.

    Neymar and RVP both failed for me. Not sure what to expect from Messi and Benzema.

    Should have spent money on better midfielders/defenders. 🙁

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

      Yeah GRE/CRC defenders since they were supposed to be the masters of defense 😛

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

      You can't expect them to deliver every game,and the point of having 4 is probability that at least 1 or 2 will get a big haul

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

        Ya, hope Messi and Benzema score 20 points each

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

          Im not gready, at least 80

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    3. Valar(Keith)
      • 16 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      tbf there've been no midfielders and defenders whove done anything apart from the columbians

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  20. emperikal
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    How come Duarte is on -1 in the FOX game?

    2 points for minutes played
    4 points for CS
    -3 for the RC

    Should be on 3 points?

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

      No CS. Greece did score.

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

      Red Cards
      If an World Cup player receives a red card during an World Cup match, he will continue to be penalised for goals conceded by that player’s World Cup team during that World Cup match. Fantasy points deductions for red cards include any Fantasy points deducted for yellow cards.

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

        Aw boo

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

      Clearly doesn't get a CS then.

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

      doesn't bank CS

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

      no CS for sent off players

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

    Greece will probably go on and win it now.

    Mitroglou to score the winner if so.

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

    Ah damn, they don't bank CS in Fox, so Duarte ends up on -1, and possibly more in ET...

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

      But it shows him with CS points?

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

      Same as EPL.

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

    Blind 6
    Duarte 4
    Zapata 14
    Have Hummels, Halliche, Rojo and Van Buyten on the bench
    Was hoping to play 5-3-2
    Still do-able with those subs you think?

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

      switch to 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 for the Germany vs Algeria match and decide afterwards?

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

    Lol at the people who subbed Cillessen for Karnezis

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

      I don't think many did...if at all..

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

    Manolas will score the winner. BELIEVE 😀

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

    3 Fulham players on now

    Explains a lot

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  27. FlyingHamster
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    That 37 year old Greek antique is still playing, I've noticed. Marathon man.

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

      Is it safe?

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  28. Gnu
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Tonights been a nightmare. Told the wife I'm watching Greece. She got the popcorn & wine which was a bit weird. 5 minutes in it all kicked off....
    Karagounis is no John Travolta but Samaras does a pretty good Olivia Newton John.

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    1. Wilshere Knowledge
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      😆

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

    if you could choose between seeing another 30 minutes of this game, or go to a corner being spanked.. What would you choose?

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

      Depends on who is doing the spanking 😉

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

        you are taking

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

      Can I do both? 😀

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

      Who's doing the spanking?

      A pretty critical factor

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

      The game

      Greece vs Costa Rica in a World Cup is a rare sighting , u can get spanked every other day

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

      Well seeing as I normally have to pay to experience one of those... that choice is rather easy.

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

        😀

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

    After no CS for Brazil, Netherlands and Costa Rica, suddemly feel confident about my quadruple German defence. 😉

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

      You are obsessed with defenders

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