World Cup Fantasy: The players and teams to target in Matchday 3 – from Cody Gakpo to Lamine Yamal
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With two rounds of fixtures now complete, the World Cup group stage reaches at an interesting point.
Some teams have already secured qualification, while others have it all to play for, and fantasy managers are now faced with crucial decisions ahead of the final round of group matches in World Cup Fantasy.
This brings plenty of opportunities to gain ground through differential picks, scouting bonus candidates and teams that remain highly motivated heading into Matchday 3.
Here are the main talking points from Matchday 2 and the teams that fantasy managers should be targeting in Matchday 3, which gets under way on Wednesday at 8pm UK time/3pm ET).
Why it might be worth going Dutch
If there was any doubt about the Netherlands’ attacking credentials, their emphatic 5-1 victory over Sweden quickly put those concerns to bed.
The Dutch were outstanding from start to finish, creating chances at will and overwhelming their opponent. Cody Gakpo ($7.7m) and Brian Brobbey ($5.7m) both scored braces, with the former also picking up an an assist, and both were at the heart of everything positive going forward.
The result leaves the Netherlands in a strong position heading into their final group game against Tunisia, which arguably stands out as the best fixture of the matchday from a fantasy perspective.
Importantly, the Dutch still have plenty to play for. Top spot in the group is not yet secured, so we shouldn’t see mass rotation in their final group game. They will need another victory to maximise their chances of finishing first and securing a more favourable knockout route.
Gakpo looks like the standout attacking option right now. His ability to score and create makes him one of the most complete fantasy assets available, and after an explosive display, he will undoubtedly attract significant investment.
Striker Brobbey also deserves serious consideration. Two goals should be enough to secure another start, and if selected again, he could represent excellent value in a fixture where the Netherlands are expected to dominate.
Defensively, Denzel Dumfries ($5.7m) continues to justify his reputation as one of the most attacking defenders in the game. The wing-back produced two assists against Sweden and remains a constant threat down the wing.
The Netherlands’ Denzel Dumfries, left, and Brian Brobbey, right, are both worthy of consideration for your team (Molly Darlington/Getty Images)
The Netherlands currently rank among the favourites to score the most goals in Matchday 3 while also carrying the highest clean-sheet probability.
Gakpo and Brobbey are still currently under five per cent owned at the time of writing, so qualify for the scouting bonus points.
The Ivory Coast differentials that should be on your radar
Although Ivory Coast suffered a 2-1 defeat against Germany on Saturday, the scoreline arguably did not reflect the balance of play.
The Ivorians were unfortunate not to come away with something from the match.
Qualification remains firmly within their grasp but victory over Curacao would remove any uncertainty and guarantee progression to the round of 32.
The underlying numbers are equally encouraging. Ivory Coast are projected among the strongest teams this matchday for both expected goals and clean-sheet probability.
Franck Kessie ($5.9m) stands out as the safest attacking option. He is his team’s first-choice penalty taker and one of the most nailed players in the team, offering goal threat from midfield, which he showcased against Germany.
Meanwhile, goalkeeper Yahia Fofana ($4.2m) looks like one of the best value options available. He is nailed to start, offers high clean-sheet potential and his cheap price means you can invest more into your starting XI.
Both Kessie and Fofana currently qualify for the scouting bonus, which makes them even more attractive as differential selections.
Impressive Morocco have defensive and attacking options
Few teams have impressed as much as Morocco in the opening two matches.
After frustrating Brazil in their opening fixture, they followed it up with a 1-0 victory over Scotland. That result leaves Morocco with a genuine opportunity to win the group.
Should Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil fail to defeat Scotland and Morocco take care of business against Haiti, they will finish top. That means there is little danger of the Moroccan side easing off despite their extremely favourable fixture.
Achraf Hakimi ($6.0m) remains the standout defensive target. His clean-sheet prospects look excellent but what separates him from most defenders is his attacking involvement. He constantly gets forward, creates chances and has the ability to deliver attacking returns alongside defensive points.
Ismael Saibari ($6.8m), meanwhile, is quickly becoming one of the stories of the tournament.
The 25-year-old has scored in both matches so far and is playing up top despite being classified as a midfielder in the game.
That positional advantage is incredibly valuable in fantasy football as midfielders gain an extra point for a goal over forwards and can also get points for chances created and tackles.
Given his form, fixture and classification, he could be one of the standout differentials for Matchday 3.
Don’t overlook Spain and Brazil’s big hitters
Both Spain and Brazil sit on four points heading into their final fixtures and are not guaranteed to top their groups.
Neither side can afford to take their foot off the gas, which is encouraging news for fantasy managers.
Spain face Uruguay next in what is far from an easy fixture on paper. Uruguay possess enough quality to make life uncomfortable for any opponent. However, they have yet to fully convince at this World Cup and Spain’s superior quality means they are still strong favourites.
The fixture may not be one that immediately jumps off the page compared to some of the others this matchday but that should not put managers off investing in Spanish attackers.
Lamine Yamal ($10.0m) didn’t take long to register his first World Cup goal. Spain were up 3-0 at half-time, so he was taken off early and will no doubt play plenty more minutes in Matchday 3.
Don’t overthink it when it comes to world-class players like Lamine Yamal (Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Mikel Oyarzabal ($8.1m) is another great option. He was also subbed at half-time but still managed to score a brace and get an assist. He is Spain’s first-choice No 9 and still a fine pick.
Brazil find themselves in a similar position. After a mixed start to the tournament, Carlo Ancelotti’s side remain firmly in contention for top spot and will be expected to beat Scotland.
The Scots have shown plenty of determination throughout the tournament but Brazil will enter the match as clear favourites and should dominate both possession and chances.
Vinicius Junior ($10.0m) remains the standout fantasy asset. The Real Madrid forward is unquestionably Brazil’s talisman and the player most likely to deliver attacking returns. He has two goals and an assist in the first two games.
His appeal may have increased even further following a potential injury for Raphinha ($8.2m). Should Vinicius Jr take over penalty duties, it would add another route to points and further strengthen his case.
Although neither Spain or Brazil possess the absolute standout fixtures, managers should be careful not to overlook world-class players.