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. crystalpalaceRus
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    di maria yellow lol

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

    Di Maria has had 11 shots? 😯

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

      😯

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

    DiMaria 11 shots / 10 on goal

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

    The Windass Shakes The Barkley

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  5. Carrick Doesn't Deserv…
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    YC for Di Maria. JuuuuuuHuuuuuuuu

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

    Guti and Beasley

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

    I wanted to see Penalties

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

      How many points Di Maria?

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

    God-dammit Sun game, why don't you give assists?!

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

    Switzerland will score to make everyone mad, just like yesterday.

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

    OMG

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  11. Kip
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 7 months ago

    OMG

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

    Left him on my bench : )

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

    The poor fellas 🙁

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

    Whoa!

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

    GK overhead. 😆 That would've been the greatest moment of WC history right there

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

      Jimmy Glass eat your heart out.

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

    Well, I hope the guy I advised to twist to DiMaria from 7pts ... did it.

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

      How many points is he on?

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

    My heart skipped a beat there

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

    you plonker!

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

    Wowzers.

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

    Insane miss

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

    Wow

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

    That will haunt his dreams for a long long time...

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

    epic team facepalm time

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

    That miss has Got. To. Hurt!

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

    115 mins of utter garbage followed by 5 mins of complete chaos. 🙂

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

    Shaqiri is a meathead.

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

    Worth a try! 😀

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

    Dammit Di Maria 😡

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

    Silence of Di Maria!

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

    Now that would have been cruel on me if that went in. 😆

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