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. BantamPhil
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    The one time I get Manolas and Cholevas outscores him

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

      I had both in the Group stages, and somehow felt completely vindicated in dropping Holebas and keeping Manolas.... 🙄

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

    They must be doing something on the field. So why are my points stuck at same level since last 30 minutes ???

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

      The ball is going out of play *a lot*.

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

    Even the heroic blocks are mediocre looking...

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

    BBC - "Costa Rica defender Oscar Duarte was sent off nearly 45 minutes ago - and he' still played more passes in the game than any of his team-mates."

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

      😆

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

    Campbell has no shots...

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

    How many is Gonzalez on anyway?

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

      7

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

        9 now

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

      Soon to be 9...

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

        It's updated, he's on 9...

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

          1 more recovered ball for 10. he's on 5 currently

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

    Found sausages. Checks smoke alarm 😎

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

      Put them in the toaster.

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

      **gets fire brigade on standby*

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

      -_-

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

    Gonzales up to 7 but with no BS given yet!

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

      Check again...

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

        Odd, he was on 4RBs a second ago, now down to 2, but given his 2 BSs...

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  9. Captain Shirokov
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Kasabian are on in Glastonbury right now, f**k the match

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

      Lesbi**s are on??? Where where???

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

      Why are you on the internet at Glastonbury? Go have fun mate

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      1. Captain Shirokov
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 7 months ago

        Lol, I'm not actually there haha

        Its on BBC

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

        😯

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

      Shoot the Runner!

      Oh, they are all jogging.

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

    manolas on 5 points -2, playing nearly 110+ mins... how bad have costa rica being in reality

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

    Would much rather have Costa Rica defence here 😕

    So many blocks and stuff whereas Manocrap and Karneshit are woeful 🙁

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

      Double German defence and Rojo to replace the greek clowns. Roll on tomorrow

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

    ****loads up fantasy team with Dutch players

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

      Loads on with Greek defenders. Ave it

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

      Back 5
      Robben
      RVP
      Minimum

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

        Maybe not strikers, Greece would park the bus

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

    5 players, 4 defenders
    #1 Gamboa 5 points subbed out
    #2 Duarte 4 points with the red

    FFS

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

    Ooo Bremner.

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

    close from Brenes

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

    Come on Costa Rica!

    I don't want Greece playing defensively against my Oranje attackers in the Sun game.

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

    Remember kids, It's in the quantity (of costa rican/greek defenders).....It's all in the quality

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

      where is the negative form you're missing?

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

    How many points for Karnezis so far?

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

      3

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

      3 i think

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

        0 saves

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

    Which team is actually favored in penalties?

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

      I guess the one with an uninjured GK

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

        Nobody is injured

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

      Flip a coin

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

    Cheering blocked shots is not something I'll miss once FPL opens its doors again

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

      its good bcoz its' different , keeps us awake through matches like this

      Nothing can be compared to FPL , FPL is God

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

    Gonzalez on 9 😀

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  22. Why Always Me
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    have mcDs fixed the formation glitch thing?

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

      Aye.

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      1. Why Always Me
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 7 months ago

        so if i switch formation they wont take the furthest right out or anything?

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

      If you manually sub out players first before changing formation and you are not using the mobile version, yes they have.

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      1. Why Always Me
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 7 months ago

        what about ipad verison lol

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

    That's it Navas make a meal of it

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

    this goalie wants a kermode award..

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

    Feck sake this better go to pens now.

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

    I have Greece much lower than the mean in the DZ Picks Challenge so I am rooting for Costa Rica -- plus my Greek McFifa players are awful.

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

      Has there been an update on how that challenge is going?

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

      I think I have them at 16, so I'd probably be happy for them to go through..

      If it finishes 1-1 and goes to penalties, do we get the average of our two scores?

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

      Here is the link. Torres Magic has been a hero with the updates. The winning team regardless of duration gets all the pts.

      https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1_Bbt3iz70Cj-sgABKF9-sZYoGK5FxZKwoAPzg2eBUKU/edit

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

    Bicycleta from Gonzalez 😆

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

      Worth a point at least

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

    fs karnesiz save that

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

      Haha.

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

    This christodouloupolous guy is so good at beating his man but his final ball sucks.

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

      The Greek Aaron Lennon.

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

      Discricination. Nobody is exempt from getting a slap.

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