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!
Argentina: Romero; Zabaleta, Demichelis, Garay, Basanta; Biglia, Mascherano, Di Maria; Lavezzi, Messi, Higuain
Im happy that I didnt pick Gago. Knew that kind of weird name wont make it to starting 11.
Belgium: Courtois, Alderweireld, Van Buyten, Kompany, Vertonghen, Witsel, Fellaini, De Bruyne, Mirallas, Hazard, Origi
Its time to make the subs guys!!
Still no Kun, sighs. I see Vertonghen en Alderweireld made it, both picked up an mini-injury earlier. Unsure if playing them will be a risk. Still weird, seeing them as backs. Aaah well, the Dutch are doing it a step worse, tonight Depay will be leftback (LMAO) and Kuyt rightback. If it’s true what they say. This will be the Dutch Squad Tonight, I think it’s 1-3-2-2-1-2:
Cilessen
de Vrij – Vlaar – Indi
Kuyt – Depay
Wijnaldum – Blind
Sneijder
Robben – RvP
F-ing weird. Kuyt, Depay and Blind not playing where they are supposed to. Can’t go against van Gaal (he has a gold Willy) but damnzzzzzzzzzzzz dude.
That seems a very surprises? No Gago or Fernandez?
Yup. Im thinking both were popular picks.
To right B, i’ve got both, thats me up the proverbial creek without a paddle, its goodbye to this comp. :shake:
Fernandez was already an injury doubt since yesterday, i wonder why people didnt pick that news up.
I’d have to strongly favor a Belgian win now having seen the line ups. I fancied them to get through anyway but eh…. that’s a really weak Argentinian team.
So Captain J.Rod would you guys switch 2 Messi ..?
Dont think you can now, I missed the captain change too!!!
DAMNNN
Cool – we are back online.
Belgium has been very average this game.
Anyway, DVB on 8 points. :hippo:
Messi only on 4
Yeah. What a disappointment these big names have been. Muller and Messi for me, while others who had Benzema were also bitten. Who knew that an injured Neymar would bag 11 points.
Messi > De Virj or Wijnaldum for me i think.
Hows your McD team going Dreamers?
after subs for next game, will be on 97 with Cillessen, Gonzalez and Wijnaldum to play. Hummels as captain been the star of the show. How about you?
Might have inadvertently given you an advantage earlier as advised BigPopz to captain Messi.
Well played, mate…and best wishes.
ATF – looks like FF247 has hugely closed the gap. Its game on really.
Sitting on 90+ points with a keeper remaining. Stuck to Neymar (C).
Will replace Messi for sure, but dont know if KDB at 5 points is worth replacing or not. Advice?
Well, ff247 and, for that matter, almost all those still in the tournament, as well as a good number of those ousted, are quality managers…Patty’s leagues are no park in the walk 😉
Argentina did a great job of stifling them- the Arg defenders were first to everything, awesome performance. Shame for Belgium but they’ll be a much better prospect in 2-4 years time.
So, who captained Messi?! I went with van Buyten, but will probably move it onto Robben for this afternoon’s match. It’s not been a great round here…
I think I’m going to captain a Costa Rica defender. It’ll probably be a tight game and even if they don’t keep a clean sheet, they should rack up points from recoveries and blocked shots. Has anyone else been ending up with like 4 or 5 defenders? I’m about to play a 5-3-2 formation for the second time I think haha.
16 goals in the 4 Netherlands games. You sure about that? 😛
ill end up with a 5-4-1 i think.
I’ve got a 4-5-1, totally useless. :big-lol:
BigPopz – hope you didnt switch to Messi….
I hope he did. :hippo:
Netherlands: Cillessen, Kuyt, De Vrij, Vlaar, Martins Indi, Blind, Wijnaldum, Sneijder, Robben, Van Persie, Depay
Costa Rica: Navas, Acosta, Gonzalez, Umana, Borges, Bolanos, Campbell, Ruiz (c), Diaz, Gamboa, Tejeda