634x258 Dugout Discussion
1 July 2014 3833 comments
Paul Paul
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We reach the final day of Matchday 4 this evening as the World Cup edges towards the quarter-final stages. Argentina and Switzerland go head-to-head in the early 5pm kick-off as Alejandro Sabella’s look to maintain their 100% record so far, while Lionel Messi’s Fantasy owners will be optimistic of picking up the points in a round which has seen the likes of Neymar, Robin Van Persie and Karim Benzema fail to score over the previous three evenings:

Argentina: Romero; Zabaleta, Fernandez, Garay, Rojo; Gago, Mascherano, Di Maria; Messi, Higuain, Lavezzi

Switzerland: Benaglio; Lichtsteiner, Djourou, Schar, Rodriguez; Inler, Behrami; Xhaka, Shaqiri Mehmedi; Drmic

Argentina make just one enforced change from the side that saw off Nigeria last time around, with Ezequiel Lavezzi replacing the injured Sergio Aguero in the front three. Having scored four of his side’s six goals, Messi is the standout option for the South Americans, with the likes of Gonzalo Higuain and Angel di Maria yet to pick up any returns whatsoever over their first three matches.

Switzerland, unsurprisingly, are changed from the XI that swept aside Honduras in the final group match. Fabian Schar continues in central defence, then, with Ricardo Rodriguez owners looking for further attacking returns from the raiding left-back, who already has a couple of assists to his name. Further up the field, Xherdan Shaqiri is the form player, having bagged a hat-trick against the Hondurans, while Josip Drmic also arrives on the back of a decent display which served up a pair of assists in the 3-0 win.

Later in the evening, Belgium seek to extend a record which has seen them win every match in the tournament. Marc Wilmots made a number of changes for the final group game against South Korea and Fantasy favourites such as Eden Hazard and Kevin de Bruyne are expected to return to the starting XI against the USA. Divock Origi may fancy his chances of a start up front after another impressive display off the bench last time around, whilst at the back, the Belgians will be desperate for Vincent Kompany to recover in time for tonight’s clash as they look to maintain a series of defensive displays which has seen them concede just a single spot-kick so far.

After beating Ghana and drawing with Portugal, Jurgen Klinsmann’s side tasted defeat in their final group game against Germany. The USA will be looking to bounce back immediately and Clint Dempsey, with a goal in each of his first two appearances, is the main threat for the underdogs, though Graham Zusi, with two assists to his name, and Jermaine Jones, with a goal and assist to date, could be key to Klinsmann’s chances of springing an upset.

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  1. Alan The Llama
    • 16 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Angel of Maria, you legend.

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

    Goalio

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

    Actually I take them back lol

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

    DI MARIA GOAL MESSI ASSIST YESSSSSSSSS

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

    Di Maria goalllllllll

    Messi assistttttttttt

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  6. Billy Gilmore
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Called it!

    😎

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  7. Siva Mohan
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Messi assist
    Di Maria goal

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

    LOL @ Di Maria haters

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  9. Buck The Trent
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Di Maria goal, Messi assist

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  10. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    boring argentina go through to bore us in the quarter finals

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    1. Fifa las vegas
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      I all honesty, it's the Swiss that are making the game boring 😛

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

    That is a 13 pointer for me!!!

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

    Billy!!

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    1. Billy Gilmore
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      😎

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

        What have you done?

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  13. HVT
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    🙂

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  14. LOCO ABREU
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

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

    So overrated...

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

      The Swiss defence? I agree 😉

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

        Yes!

        Di Maria is class.

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  16. Jimmers
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Di Maria and Messi 🙂

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

      ...and Rojo 🙂

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

    How many late goals theres been in this world cup

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  18. ZE GERMANS
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Maria for President

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  19. Fifa las vegas
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Hat was a nice goal tbf. I was expecting another tame shot and easy save for the keeper. Happy with that for mirror. (Not McD)

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  20. Jafooli
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Too many holes in that Swiss defense.

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

    YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

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

    Agentina triple for me:

    Messi assist
    ADM goal
    Rojo CS (probably, hopefully)

    😎

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

      Same!!! 😎

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

      yep same

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

      Same! Alleuia

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

      +1 🙂

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    5. Fifa las vegas
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      Don't bet on the cleanie 😉 look what happened yesterday 😉

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    6. Buck The Trent
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      O/

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  23. TheSteady ¤ Wines th…
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    When he goes out of almost every fantasy team, he DOES IT. 😯

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

      Not mine!

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

      Not mine..many have him.

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

    Bale's gonna be mad about that celebration!

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  25. Colonel Shoe 肝池
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    monty python and the holy Gaël

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  26. Mr Sarcastic
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    I have my doubts that Robben would have assisted DiMaria there.

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

      Would have done great dive though

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

    I stand corrected 🙂

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    1. Fifa las vegas
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      So you do

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  28. kim don juan
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    How many points has Di Maria now?

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  29. Louis
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    Di Maria yellow card hahahaha

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

    No assist for Messi because of extra time?

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

      surely thats nott a rule

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    2. Billy Gilmore
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 7 months ago

      -1 for that assist apparently/

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