Like most people, I’d assume (actually checking would require too much effort), this World Cup has grown on me.
Heading into it, we were all a bit dubious. Qatar? The winter?! A stinking first round of games did little to cheer us all up, or – basically – make us care. We’ve had some excellent team- and player-based storylines since then, however, and – most amusingly – have seen a number of the heavyweights knocked out in surprising circumstances. Usually by Morocco.
Fantasy World Cup has also grown on me. It launched in a sorry state, and the game itself remains rubbish from a technical level. The interface is particularly horrible to use. It’s been increasingly fun to try and dissect the more evenly-balanced matchup as we’ve gotten to the knockout rounds, however, and has added the usual extra layer of suspense and/or rage that all fantasy sports give us.
Am I going to be weeping when it’s over? Definitely not, because I’m actually quite excited for regular FPL to come back (James is already tinkering with his first Gameweek 17 draft). Fantasy World Cup is… not as much of a dislikable pain as it used to be, though, and that’s something at least!
Fantasy World Cup – Semi Finals Preview
My highly-placed Fifa sources inform me that there will be two matchups in the semi-finals stage of this tournament. I’m still waiting for confirmation, but we’ll assume that’s right for now.
Here are those very matchups:
(Times, as always, are GMT +1)
Can you imagine if it’s a Croatia vs Morocco final, rather than Argentina vs France? Fifa would have a behind-the-scenes meltdown. ‘LIVAKOVIC… FACES AMRABAT!’ doesn’t have quite the same marketing pull as Messi vs. Mbappe.
Either way, these are two of our very last matchups in Fantasy World Cup 2022, so let’s get stuck into the actual analysis.
As a quick reminder, here are the updated rules for the semi-finals:
- You get five free transfers
- Maximum of six player per nation
Argentina vs Croatia
Messi is obviously one of the first two names in your team. He’s got four goals and two assists in five games so far, which is just ridiculous.
Martinez is going to be one of our two goalkeepers as well. Take out the 4-1 against Canada, and Croatia’s goalscoring form is just binary code – they literally score either one or zero goals every game. For the same reason, Otamendi is another lock at only 5.0.
Croatia are also really good defensively, which makes Argentina’s non-Messi attacking options far less interesting. Lautaro has been so rubbish this tournament that I’m assuming Alvarez starts up top, and he only costs 6.5.
Di Maria is a really interesting one. Midfield has been terrible all Fantasy World Cup, and is even worse now. He’s listed as a midfielder, and looked excellent when he came on against the Netherlands. He’s probably not completely fit, but surely he’ll be risked in a semi-final. Maybe he won’t start, but he’ll definitely come on, and – with there being so few other good midfielders – he might be worth a punt just for that.
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Croatia – as noted – are rubbish going forward. Argentina are also pretty good at the back, so we can’t really trust them to score any goals here.
I’ll probably have Perisic anyway, just because there are so few relevant midfielders. He did look good against Brazil, has generally grown into the tournament, and will probably be involved if Croatia do score.
The Croatia defence has been great all tournament. We can’t expect them to keep a clean here, but they’re worth backing with at least one player anyway. Sosa – who you probably have already – is the obvious value pick at 3.5.
France vs Morocco
France didn’t look great against England. Morocco is an even tougher matchup on paper, from an attacking point of view at least. That’s pretty annoying for us in Fantasy World Cup, since this team is stacked with attacking talent!
Mbappe is the second of the two… first names (grammar shmammar) on your team sheet, along with Messi. England kept him quiet, and now he has to place against Hakimi, who’s rapid and has been one of the best defensive full-backs in the tournament. He’s got such a high ceiling, though, that we just have to have him.
Giroud is the other tempting name. This sort of matchup suits him fine, playing against a very defensive team. He could definitely pinch one at a set piece, or get involved in some intricate, close-quarters link-up play. He’s only 7.5 too.
The France defence is obviously worth buying into. Morocco will play super defensively, and there’s every chance France get a clean. Lloris is your other keeper, along with Emi Martinez. Unfortunately, the only actual defenders I’d say are completely, 100% nailed are Kounde and Varane, both of whom cost 6.0. Either is fine, though. Theo Hernandez is cheaper at 5.0, and probably has to play because there are no other left-backs, but he was terrible defensively against England.
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The legend of Morocco continues to grow. Having already beaten Belgium, Spain, and Portugal this tournament, nobody would actually be surprised if they won this game.
It’s all built upon the defence, of course, which has to be one of the best in recent international footballing history. In five games so far, they have conceded one goal… and they scored that against themselves. Eight of their last nine games in all competitions have been clean sheets now.
As such, we can’t help but buy into the Morocco defence, even if they are playing France. Saiss is the cheapest nailed-on starter, at 4.5. Hakimi isn’t exactly expensive either, at 5.0. In goal I’ll probably have Martinez and Lloris, as noted, but obviously Bounou is still a good shout at only 4.5.
Morocco don’t actually score any goals, so we’re not buying into their attack. Get Ziyech for 7.0 if you want at least a shot at a return, and are struggling for midfielders… but don’t expect anything from him.
Fantasy World Cup Semi-Finals – My Team
As always, writing this little Fantasy World Cup preview has helped to get my own thoughts in order. This is the result of said thinking:
This was built using a wildcard, which I still had. You might as well use yours now too, if you’ve got it, since you’ll be bringing in plenty of players for the final anyway.
Both my goalkeepers are good, although – to be honest – any of the remaining four would be fine.
I like my coverage in defence, and have favoured France with my double.
Midfield is pretty rubbish, as usual. In theory any of these guys could get a return, however, or a clean sheet.
Mbappe and Messi pick themselves as forwards. I’ve gone with Giroud as my third, who I slightly prefer over Alvarez.
If you don’t have your wildcard, you probably already have lots of players you can keep: Sosa, Messi, Mbappe, Ziyech, etc. I’d prioritise bringing in good coverage at the back for both games after that, because these matchups both look very defensive. Make sure you get your third forward in too. Midfield is not such a priority, with no good options there.
For captaincy, we’re running with the well-worn M&M strategy – Messi in game one, then switching it to Mbappe if he blanks.
Right, that’s all for now, folks. I’ll be back with your last Fantasy World Cup preview before the final, and James will be putting out regular Fantasy Premier League content again in no time. Follow us on Twitter, @Full90FPL, to get all that as soon as it lands.