Fantasy World Cup Live Match Chat Quarter Finals
Hello and welcome to the quarter-finals. We are moving ever closer to the biggest game in world football and while this is something we’re all looking forward to, it does mean that there are only eight games left. The four quarter-finals are spread over two days and the great thing is that these two days are Friday & Saturday, so send the significant other away for the weekend (it doesn’t matter where), get the fridge fully stocked with your favourite tipple, sit back and relax!
First up is the clash between European heavyweights Germany & France who get on well these days, but this hasn’t always been the case (don’t mention the ‘you know what’!). The Germans had a blitzkrieg start to their campaign as they demolished Portugal but since then they have flattered to deceive and they needed extra time to defeat Algeria in the last round. Like the Germans the French had a great start to the competition as they scored eight in their first two games, although since then they have lost some of their early fluidity. This is a tough game to call but as the Algerians proved, you’d turn a double decker bus quicker than the German defence and this will surely give Benzema & co quite a bit of confidence. From a fantasy perspective someone to keep an eye on is Antoine Griezmann who could be given the nod over Olivier Giroud after the youngster impressed off the bench against Nigeria.
Friday nights offering is the all South American clash as hosts Brazil take on FF247’s adopted team, Colombia. The Brazilians laboured through the group stages and then needed penalties to dispose of Chile. Colombia on the other hand cruised through the group stages and then comfortably beat a Uruguay side shorn of the talents of Luis Suarez. On the balance of play throughout the tournament Colombia will possibly start this one as favourites and with James Rodriguez orchestrating things in the number 10 jersey it wouldn’t be a major surprise should they turn the hosts over. However Brazil are Brazil and they can turn to their own mercurial talent, Neymar and while he’s clearly not 100% fit he still has the class to win the game on his own, which is just as well because Fred couldn’t hit a cows arse with a banjo!
Saturday afternoon sees the experienced Argentinian’s take on the relatively inexperienced Belgians. As is the norm these days, Argentina arrived at the World Cup with many expecting them to impress and to date they have yet to do so, in fact you could say that their diminutive #10 has carried them to the quarters. Does this remind anyone else of 1986? Despite being relatively inexperienced the Belgians also arrived in Brazil with much expected of them, due to the abundance of young talent available to them. Just like Argentina, Belgium have done just enough to get this far and while they don’t have a genius like Messi they are playing quite well as a collective. The Argies must go into this one as firm favourites thanks largely to Messi and don’t forget that when Argentina last won the world cup they beat the Belgians on their way to glory.
The quarters come to a conclusion on Saturday night as the Netherlands take on the surprise package of this World Cup, Costa Rica. Apparently the Dutch camp is unified, I know it’s difficult to believe but that’s what they keep telling us and the fact that they’ve come from behind in three of their four games would suggest there might be some truth to this. None of us gave the Costa Ricans any chance of qualifying from their group, but that’s just what they did and now here they are in the quarters. Player for player the Dutch must surely be the favourites to progress from this one but at this stage who’s brave enough to write off the Costa Ricans and with Nigel de Jong set to miss the rest of the competition, the Dutch have no one to maim the opposition!
RMT
Cillessen
Alves Zaba VanBuyten Blind Gamboa
Oscar Pogba/Valbuena Kroos/Lahm Rodriguez DiMaria/Machetano
Robben messi (Neymar or Benzem/muller)
Any input, feedback, constructive criticism?
Looks a strong outfit, ATF. Zapata/Gonzalez/4m Dutchie might be worth a shout in place of Gamboa but aside from that, it looks strong to me.
Howdy ATF, I’d recommend De Vrij over Blind.
My World Cup team is done!
Biggy, have you booked a ticket to your way home already?
The banter is really heating up for the quarters!
How many strikers is everyone going for, and who are the essentials?
Thinking of having only 2 big names up top, this might be the only way to have a team with majority regular players.
I have gone with 3 and got a squad of 15 starters. The other 12 are crap though to be fair! 2 may be the best way to get a better balance.
Yep, three for me too, 15 man squad. Let battle commence!!
loving the mind games, the poker faces…and the planned destruction of Mutley :hippo:
Evening Cookster, just on way to bed, god start from you, but seriously, i got you covered.
3 am time for bed, later Pal
Germany starting XI vs. France: Neuer; Lahm, Boateng, Hummels, Höwedes; Khedira; Schweinsteiger, Kroos; Müller, Özil, Klose. No Mertesacker …
Best defender to get from Fra vs Ger?
Can only get one.
i went with Evra (team below) if that’s any use.
Sakho for me, Hummels if you prefer Germany coverage.
Flu? Dropped?
Dropped, he’s on the bench, tactical change apparently
France starting XI vs. Germany: Lloris; Debuchy, Sakho, Varane, Evra; Cabaye, Pogba, Matuidi; Valbuena, Griezmann, Benzema.
Thanks Bongo.