Fantasy World Cup Mega Preview

The Fantasy World Cup is almost here, and whilst it’s all coming at a weird time and not therefore that exciting… it’s still an opportunity to beat your mates. Most importantly, if you win, you can lord it over them for 4 YEARS!

So, here is our piece looking at the best players for each and every team. I’d encourage you to read our rules and strategy pieces (both found here), but the most important thing is that you can sub in between days and move captaincy. Therefore, you need to get players playing across the tournament.

At the end I’ll also give you a sneak preview of my current draft team. Keep reading to find out the lucky beggars currently in my team.

Group A

Netherlands

FIFA World Ranking: 8

The Netherlands have great fixtures so we want some of their assets. Three players jump out to me.

Dumfries is probably the most attacking defender in the game. Those of you who played Euros fantasy will remember this marauding wing-back, and on that basis he’s the first name on my team.

Depay has an injury concern. But if he is fit then he’s an excellent option. He will be on pens and probably all set pieces. At only 8.0, he offers great value as a mid priced forward. If Depay is injured, Gakpo might be an option.

Steven Bergwijn doesn’t seem like the most exciting choice, particularly if you have ever watched Spurs. But, he has potential to offer great value for this team at only 7.0. Mid priced mids with potential for points are few and far between in this game so I like this option.

Qatar

FIFA World Ranking: 50

They’re one of the worst teams in this tournament. How did they even get here? It wasn’t because of FIFA corruption right?

Almoez Ali scored nine times to help Qatar lift the Asian Cup in 2019. They won all three group stage games before beating South Korea 1-0 in the quarter final and Japan in the final. So, whilst their rank is nothing to shout about, this team has tournament pedigree, albeit from a few years ago. We still don’t expect them to go far, but hosts have surprised us in this tournament before (including in 2018).

Ecuador

FIFA World Ranking: 44

Ecauador snuck into the top 4 qualification spots from South American qualifying by two points. Since the beginning of 2021, they have played 16 games, winning six, losing two and drawing the rest. They have only won two of their nine games in 2022 but have managed 1-1 draws against both Argentina and Brazil this year. On the other hand, they also drew 0-0 against Saudi Arabia and Japan in their last two friendlies.

Fenerbahce’s Enner Valencia is Ecuador’s overall top scorer of all time with 35 goals in 74 appearances. I don’t mind a punt on him.

Senegal

FIFA World Ranking: 18

Reigning AFCON Champions

Sadio Mane is confirmed out injured, so I’ve not got much faith in this side. He was their main man, so I think they will struggle now.

That being said, Ismalia Sarr is on set pieces and we know he can be a good attacking asset. They’re solid at the back too, with Chelsea’s Kalidou Koulibaly and Edouard Mendy pairing providing some harmony gained at club-level. I just don’t love them as picks.

Group B

England

FIFA World Ranking: 5

Trippier. Assuming he starts, he will be on at least some set pieces and is a great defender. He could offer excellent value at 5.0. Shaw is safer for a start, but worse at scoring points.

Kane is Kane and can always score. I wouldn’t be shocked if he finished the tournament as top scorer. But, I don’t think it’s very likely because all the teams in this group will park the bus against England. Ultimately, I think there are better ways to spend 11mn.

United States

FIFA World Ranking: 16

Matt Turner an interesting cheap keeper. Pulisic is pretty good and on set pieces and pens.

But this team isn’t mega strong. They have a chance of getting out the group, but it’s going to be reliant on grinding out results.

Wales

FIFA World Ranking: 19

Have you heard of Gareth Bale? He’s this guy who plays in MLS. He’s been really good for Wales throughout his career. Probably on all set piece scoring opportunities and pens. He’s only 8.0 too, so I think he’s a great option.

Iran

FIFA World Ranking: 20

This team will be very defensive, so it’s hard to find an exciting option. Jahanbaksh is on all set pieces if you really really want to go there.

Group C

Argentina

FIFA World Ranking: 3 (Reigning Copa America champions)

Formerly a squad of individuals and now with a proper squad mentality. Saudi Arabia first, which is an easy game. Mexico don’t look great coming into the tournament. In short, I love the fixtures.

In terms of options, Messi is pretty good. Lautauro is one of the best strikers in Serie A. Di Maria isn’t fully fit, but worth consideration, especially later on in the tournament. Tagliafico has pretty good attacking output for a defender – less xG than Dumfries, but more xA. He didn’t start their last friendly which has me nervous, but I do think he’s great.

A lot of good options here.

Poland

FIFA World Ranking: 36

Cash is fun as he does love to shoot, Zielinski will be on all set pieces, and Lewa is one of the best strikers in the world. But I don’t think there is great value there, simply because… the team isn’t that good.

Saudi Arabia

FIFA World Ranking: 51

The second worst ranked team in the tournament. Just don’t go there.

Mexico

FIFA World Ranking: 13

Bit of a blindspot for me, but I am reliably informed that this isn’t as good a Mexico side as we have seen in recent tournaments.

Group D

France

FIFA World Ranking: 4 (Reigning World Cup Champions)

The reigning champions come in looking pretty good still.

No Kante, no Pogba is a strange look, and I’m not a huge fan of the midfield for FWC. However, forwards and defence are better.

Mbappe and Benzema are good, but the former feels safer in terms of minutes. We don’t know who the third guy up front will be with Nkunku out.

Pavard is a good defender and the cheapest way in. But not that many attacking options back there.

Denmark

FIFA World Ranking: 10

Eriksen is the talisman and on all set pieces. He might actually be on pens too. I love him and I want him.

Joachim Maehle is a Euro fantasy legend. Plays wing back and is cheap.

Australia

FIFA World Ranking: 38

They go at opponents, so I don’t have much faith in clean sheets here. More importantly, that makes any team playing against them a good shout.

Aaron Mooy is the set pieces man if you really want an option here.

Tunisia

FIFA World Ranking: 30

Bit of a blind spot for me. I think Khazri is on set pieces. Otherwise, I’m not sure how good they are.

Wait and see to see if an option appears, I think.

Group E

Germany

FIFA World Ranking: 11

They always do well in tournaments don’t they (except for at the last World Cup, of course)?

Reus and Werner are injured, so Gnabry, Sane and Muller will probably start up top. I think Sane could be the one for 9.0.

Spain

FIFA World Ranking: 7

Expensive defence, but one of the best.

I like Alba, not as a goalscorer (although he’s got that in him), but he does have the chance of an assist. I don’t understand where the goals come from though, and I don’t love the group, so I will avoid unless someone emerges.

Japan

FIFA World Ranking: 24

I understand they do not have a fixed XI, which makes it a bit risky, but any of Motoma, Ito, Mayeda, Minamino, Kubo, Kamada might grab a good haul.

Kamada plays as a 9 for only 5.5.

Costa Rica

FIFA World Ranking: 31

Navas at 5 feels expensive to me. On the other hand, he’s an elite shot stopper and will probably annoy everyone.

Group F

Belgium

FIFA World Ranking: 2

Bad defence… well not a ‘bad’ defence, but how has it not improved in the past three tournaments?

De Bruyne could be amazing given the points scoring rules (the points for key passes makes me want to have the best creative midfielder in the world in my team). They’re an attacking side, and Lukaku is pretty cheap given his role. So I like these two.

Croatia

FIFA World Ranking: 12

Modric could be interesting. He’s super old, but he’s so good. Perisic is also an option, and Sosa apparently starts and is only 3.5.

That said, a bad fixture run is not making me super interested.

Canada

FIFA World Ranking: 41

Not a very good team, so I would avoid.

Morocco

FIFA World Ranking: 22

Hakim Ziyech has performed well in previous tournaments.

Group G

Brazil

FIFA World Ranking: 1

There’s options all over the place here, especially in defence and attack.

Neymar is a particularly great pick, and cheaper than expected. Likewise Vinicius.

Serbia

FIFA World Ranking: 21

Tadic, Milinkovic-Savic and Vlahovic are good. Mitrovic is injured, which is a shame.

Switzerland

FIFA World Ranking: 15

Xhaka is always good for Switzerland, and I like saying this because it annoys Joe.

Cameroon

FIFA World Ranking: 43

Again, a bit of a blind spot, but… the ranking makes me think they aren’t good!

Group H

Portugal

FIFA World Ranking: 9

Good defence but not much goalscoring value.

I dislike Ronaldo as a person and think he makes the team worse by taking everything off everyone else. So, for example, Bruno doesn’t feel valuable. I think Costa in goal is probably the best shout.

Ghana

FIFA World Ranking: 61

The worst ranked team in the tournament. Just avoid.

Uruguay

FIFA World Ranking: 14

Great attacking line-up. Nunez, Cavani, Suarez are all pretty cheap.

South Korea

FIFA World Ranking: 28

It’s unclear whether talisman Son is going to be fit, so without knowing that I’m just not interested in going here.

My First Draft

Okay, so in truth it’s probably my third draft… but here goes:

I’ve covered a lot of these guys above, but here is my logic.

GKs: Turner is cheap in a bit of a defensive group. He plays early, so I can sub him off for Costa. Costa plays for a great defence and plays on the last day, which I think is fun.

DEF: Dumfries, Trippier and Maehle have attacking potential for good defences, and Pavard plays for possibly the best defence in the tournament. Sosa is a budget enabler.

MID: De Bruyne is the best mid in the game, Eriksen is a talisman and on all set pieces, Bergwijn plays in a nice group and is good. Goretzka I’m not sold on – need to figure that spot out. Khazri is a budget enabler and is on all set pieces.

FWD: Messi and Neymar are two of the best players in the world. The double-up on Argentina is because of their excellent fixtures.

Booster? Maybe. I’m very tempted to play the 12^th Man booster and bring in Mbappe for a game against Saudi Arabia.

Obviously, I will be rotating the captaincy until I get at least one return. Earlier on in the gameweek I might try and take a punt on getting two.