World Fantasy: Defenders

Step #2: Pick 5 defenders, without ruining your budget. Offensive returns, clean sheet potential and price are the determining factors behind good choices.


The World Cup is about to begin and as the D Day to close your squad for GW1 is nearing, we’ll take a dive into the player pool, one position at a time, to give you the best options in all price ranges. Goalkeepers are done. Next up, the Defenders.

THE HEAVY-HITTERS

With Dani Alves ruled out, the Junior of the “Canarinha” will be featured more prominently while also playing on the same side as the other Jr.: Samba is clearly leaning left. Marcelo (7.0M) had 1 goal and two assists in qualifying, and if he had his friend Cristiano to take advantage of his crosses, his record would be higher. In 7 games, he managed clean sheet in 4 showings, adding 47 recovered balls, more than 6 BR’s per game.

The tactical change promoted by Roberto Martínez in Belgium, now playing a 3–4–2–1, made Thomas Meunier (6.0M) one of the best heavier options for your back-line. This Belgian tank covers the entire right flank and collected 5 goals and 8 assists on the Belgians way to Russia, impressive numbers for a defender. He also netted 5 CS (of 8 possible) and 49 recovered balls, another one in the 6 BR/g range. Playing against the likes of Tunisia and Panama from the get-go may prove to be a gift to the defender with more big chances created during the qualifiers, on a par with Kimmich.

If you’re one of those who prefers the big, physical centre-half type, Mats Hummels (7.0M) and Sergio Ramos (7.0M) have a delightful set of stats, defensive and offensive, and maybe that’s where their heavy price tag comes from. After all, we’re talking about a duo that averages of 12 and 16 min/BR, respectively, and with 1 goal and 1 assist, resulting from 6 created chances and at least 9 goal attempts in qualifying. Can’t go wrong here.

THE AFFORDABLES

Switzerland was the team with the most “cleanies” in the European zone. On top of that, in offensive set-pieces Fabian Schär (5.0M) is the focal point of the Swiss, with an impressive 7 goals in 39 caps. After the opener against Brazil, a defender with potential on both sides of the field and with an average of more than 6 BR/g is not to be neglected.

Kieran Trippier (5.0M) played in only one game during the England’s journey to Russia. His season for Tottenham on the other hand, 7 assists in 24 appearances, should guarantee him a place in the starting X, with the rest of Pochettino’s pupils. For his price and placed in a group with Tunisia and Panama it’s difficult to resist the Trippier-Kane connection.

In what might be the most even group of the World Cup, we found you two very offensive wingbacks for that special touch: Łukasz Piszczek (5.5M) and Santiago Arias (5.0M). The Dortmund fullback created 8 goal chances, ending with 2 assists and netting 1 goal during qualifiers. The Colombian seems to be about to burst into the football scene: 5 clean sheets, 8 goal attempts and 8 chances created in 13 games. The cherry on top? They’re both good options for the last day of every gameweek.

THE LOW-COST OPTIONS

Kári Árnason (4.5m) and Stephan Lichtsteiner (4.5M) represent the scoring class of the “discount shop” part of the talent pool. The Icelandic (42 balls recovered) with 2 goals and 2 assists in 9 qualifying games, the Swiss (53 balls recovered) with 3 goals and 1 assist in 11 games. After Matchday 1, a double-up on these two defenders might be what your team will need to take you a step higher.

Since we’re physical football territory, the Swedes showed in the group stage and in the playoff against Italy that they are a defensive stalwart, ending with 7 clean sheets in just 12 games. Left-back Ludwig Augustinsson (4.5M) has the added bonus of enjoying creating galls, from set-pieces or open play, with 4 assists on his way to Russia.

As there aren’t many starting options at 4.5M, we’ll keep looking at the offense side of things and get into a group where all teams love to play behind the ball. Achraf Hakimi (4.5M), young prospect of the Moroccan side is a modern wingback, with 3 goals in 17/18, 2 for Real Madrid and 1 for his national team. A risky option but one that sets the difference. In case of success.

World Fantasy: Goalkeepers

Setting up a solid team has many strategies, namely where you allocate your budget. Here are your best options for between the posts.


The World Cup is about to begin and as the D Day to close your squad for GW1 is nearing, we’ll take a dive into the player pool, one position at a time, to give you the best options in all price ranges. Let’s start with the Goalkeepers.

THE HEAVY-HITTERS

Two Latin options that face each other in Group B, David De Gea (6.5M) and Rui Patrício (6.0M) play against Tunisia and Iran in rounds 2 and 3, and are two of the best bets available in the group stage.

The current European champion is currently under auction and will take advantage of the World Cup’s spotlight to raise the bidding. Patrício managed 7 clean sheets in the qualifiers, trailing only Sommer (Switzerland), and conceded only 4 goals. On the other corner, the Man United goalkeeper had a dream season for his club, at least statistically, and ensured a “cleanie” in 2/3 of the qualifying games, allowing only 3 goals in the 9 games he played.

Regarding “Saves Made”, the Portuguese had one every 75 minutes against De Gea’s 68 minutes for each save. This way, clean sheets become essential for good scoring outputs. Looking at the profile of their coaches, we bet on, at least, two clean sheets in the first three games.

THE AFFORDABLES

Also conceding only three goals in Qualifying (but in 10 games), Jordan Pickford (5.5M) is a key-player in England’s attempt to erase their latest World Cup performances. Getting off the blocks with a double-header against Tunisia and Panama is a divine combo, which should not be ignored.

Another budget option is Danijel Subašić (5.5M), from Croatia. The Monaco goalkeeper is another contender for at least two clean sheets in the group stage, especially going against Iceland and Nigeria. As for the game with Argentina, the group’s top-seed, the low offensive efficiency of the Argentines (8%) may earn Subašić some extra points with Saves, even if Croatia ends up conceding goals.

THE LOW-COST OPTIONS

With 28 goals conceded and a single clean sheet during qualifying, it may seem strange to go forward with Pedro Gallese (4.5M), but the truth is that “cleanies” are not be be expected from 4.5M goalkeepers. Here, we’re only looking for the extra points for every two saves. The Peruvian has an average of 1 save every 25 minutes, thus becoming the perfect shot-stopper for any Fantasy team.

Iceland’s Hannes Halldórsson (4.5M) allowed only five goals in a very difficult qualifying group, facing fierce sides like Croatia, Ukraine and Turkey. He boasts an average of 30min per save. To take note of: the high percentage of shots from outside the area, about 70% of total shots conceded by the Icelandic, always a good sign to accumulate those easier saves that also score points.

RealFevr’s World Fantasy and ICO Play Along

Join the Fevr at RealFevr.io and win ICO related prizes.


Have you already picked your World Cup fantasy dream team at RealFevr? This is your chance to put your management skills to the test and win yourself some great prizes and the option to buy FevrCoin with a nice bonus during our ICO.

If you are interested in the upcoming RealFevr token sale, know that you can win prizes just by playing RealFevr’s World Fantasy. It works like this:

  • Already a RealFevr user? Simply whitelist with the same email at realfevr.io
  • Already whitelisted? Just register with the same email on realfevr.com, or download the iOS or Android App and register there
  • Launch RealFevr, create your World Fantasy team, after a while your team will automatically be part of the FevrCoin League
  • Follow the World Cup for your chance to share in the prize pool (see below)
  • You can build a total of 5 different World Fantasy teams with the same account, which will greatly increase your chances to win
  • The winners will be announced at the end of the World Cup in July

We will have winners for every Gameweek, Group and Knock-Out Stages, and the overall winners at the end of the season. Have a look at the prizes below.

Gameweek Prizes


Group Stage & Knock-out Phase Prizes


Season Prizes


To know more about the rules of the FevrCoin League visit RealFevr’s ICO medium.

Get started now by whitelisting at realfevr.io, then go to RealFevr.com and start building your team! Only a few days until the World Cup begins.

Until next time,
The RealFevr Team

World Fantasy: Group H analysis

Teams, players and a fantasy overlook of Group H of the World Cup.


The luck of the draw meant Group H would consist of Poland, seeded in Pot 1, Colombia, Senegal and Japan, from Pots 2, 3 and 4 respectively.


From the get-go, the most appealing match of this group happens in Round 2, when Poland and Colombia measure up for a possible 1st place finish. But Senegal and Japan aren’t going just visiting Russia and have shown the ability to take a stance every given Sunday. The openers will oppose Colombia to Japan and Poland to Senegal and, unlike other groups, it doesn’t appear that these matches will prove decisive for the outcome of Group H.

If there is a group in this WC2018 were every place is up for grabs, this is the one. Poland, currently 8th in the FIFA ranking, gave up playing friendlies before the World Cup draw to ensure a top-seed. Colombia, slight favourite, ranks 16th and Senegal is a few spots below at 27th, the second best African team, after Tunisia. Japan appears to be, by current ranking (61st), history and potential, the weakest squad of the bunch.

Poland

Poland had a nice and quiet qualifying stage. Grabbing 25 points out of 30, the 16 goals scored by their biggest star, Robert Lewandowski, should not be ignored. On the other hand, that also shows on how much the Poles rely on the Bayern Munich’s striker finishing ability. They played their last friendlies in March, beating South Korea by 3–2 and losing to Nigeria.

Lewandoswki (10.5M) leads this Polish team, heavily dependent on his production to go into the Round of 16 matches. The core of the team has some well-established players in European football, notably Zieliński (6.5M), but also Krychowiak (5.0M) and Kamil Grosicki (6.0M). If Poland features a two-man front, then Milik (7.5M) is one of the best options available at this price range.

Despite their seed, Poland couldn’t catch the luck of the draw and will have to do well against Senegal and Colombia to ensure a last round match with Japan that could settle their ticket into the knockout rounds. With individual talent on the offensive side of things, their greatest concerns are at the back, but ensuring a place in the Round of 16 will feel like duty fulfilled for the Poles.


Colombia

They only booked their place in WC2018 in the final round of the qualifiers, something unthinkable with four gameweeks remaining. In 18 games, they only scored 21 goals, a modest record for such a strong offense. From their recent friendly matches, we’ll highlight a comeback win against France, after being down 2–0, and a draw against Egypt.

James Rodríguez (9.5M) will, once again, be Colombia’s great hope for a magical run. He was their best scorer in the qualifying stage, with 6 goals adding 4 assists to his name. Another football superstar, Falcao (8.0M), has been revived since returning to Monaco and his killer instinct and finishing skills make him one of the best options up forward. Winger Juan Cuadrado (7.0M) is another option to take into consideration, as well as centre-backs Yerry Mina (5.5) and Davinson Sánchez (6.0), great options for their physical power and good aerial ability.

The “Cafeteros” are looking for 1st spot, as they are believed to be the best team in Group H. After this stage, and already looking at potential opponents, Pekerman’s side can clearly aspire for a spot in the quarter-finals.


Senegal

Senegal took 1st place in their qualifying group, without any loss and conceding only three goals during this stage. Their last friendly game was played against a cupcake opponent, Luxembourg, but for some reason, the Senegalese did not score.

Most of the attention will be on Sadio Mané (8.0M). The Liverpool player was great this season, especially in the Champions League. His dazzling speed and ability to pop up in finishing areas make him one of the most desirable midfielders in the competition. Another highlight for this side is centre-back Koulibaly (5.5), one of the best of the season, netting five goals for Napoli. The “Lions de la Téranga” have been generating quality talent the last few years, and Keita Baldé (4.5) or M’Baye Niang (5.0) could also be good bets.

Player by player, Senegal is the best African national squad in Russia. They will battle Colombia and Poland for a spot in the next round. If they can’t keep away from old habits, already showcased in previous international tournaments, they will have a brief journey throught this World Cup.


Japan

Japan were the best team in the Asian Qualifying stage, leading the group with 20 points, one above Saudi Arabia and Australia, in the 10 games played. This year hasn’t gone well so far for the Japanese: a draw and two losses, all against teams that won’t be at the World Cup.

Despite his poor club season, Kagawa (8.0M) still is the main man of the Japanese side, scoring six goals during the qualifiers. On the co-driver’s seat, Keisuke Honda (7.0M) left Europe this year to go play for Mexico’s Pachuca, but his relevance for the national team remains intact, grabbing top-scorer in the qualifying rounds, with 7 goals. Leicester’s forward Okazaki (6.5) may be a good option, if you are looking for a budget alternative, to invest more in other positions. The defense relies on the experience of Maya Yoshida (5.0M) and Nagatomo (5.5M) but isn’t known for being a solid unit.

The Japanese are the lowest-ranked team of Group H, and after negative performances setting up the World Cup, few expect them to relive the journey of 2002 and go ahead of the group stage.


Go to RealFevr.com and start building your team now! Only four days until the World Cup begins.

Also, don’t miss our previews of the other groups: Group A, Group B, Group C, Group D, Group E, Group F and Group G.

World Fantasy: Group G analysis

Look no further. Here’s everything you need to know about Group G of the World Cup.


Group G of the 2018 World Cup is led by Belgium. From Pot 2 came England, on an upward trajectory football-wise, and a candidate to steal the spotlight away from the Belgians. The group is completed with Tunisia, drawn out of Pot 3, and Panama, from Central America, who was in Pot 4.


Facing only in the last round, Belgium and England, the top two contenders, look like excellent fantasy bets for the two opening gameweeks. Tunisia will try to interfere in this fight, but they’ll need a good result on their inaugural, when they go against England. Belgium and England, nonetheless, need to prove their worth in the openers, to put a stamp on their intentions at WC2018.

The Belgians are currently 3rd place in the FIFA ranking and can no longer be called sleepers in 2018. Interestingly, Tunisia is just one place below England, 14th and 13th respectively. As for Panama, it has one of the worst ranks at the World Cup, currently in 55th. Despite the slight difference between England and Tunisia, the quality and experience difference between both sides should be in display in their opener.

Belgium

Belgium brilliantly won Group H of the European qualifiers. They drew just 1 game and won 9, without any defeat, in a group where they faced Greece, Bosnia, Estonia, Cyprus and Gibraltar. They scored 43 goals and conceded only 6 in 10 games. Romelu Lukaku was their marksman with 11 goals. In their 2018 fixtures, they thrashed Saudi Arabia and were held to a goalless draw with Portugal.

There are a lot of world-class players in this Belgian squad, starting at the goal and finishing ip top. Courtois (6.0M) and the entire defensive line are excellent, but perhaps the best bet is Meunier (6.0M), a very offensive wingback, that scores and assists. In the midfield, you have play-maker Kevin De Bruyne (9.0M) and the vertiginous Eden Hazard (10.5M). Poacher Lukaku (8.5M) and the restless Dries Mertens (8.5M) will want to get in the boxscores. If the Belgians deliver what they’re expected to, there are plenty of good bets on this team.

Theoretically, Belgium must be accounted for any title talk. However, it’s a group of players that still needs to show their true potential in the pitch and against top-notch competition. Despite a great qualifying stage, they need to hit the ground running and dominate Group G to be taken seriously.


England

England reaches the World Cup after beating everybody to the top of Group F, in the Euro Qualifying Stage. The English won 8, drew 2, good for 26 points, and ended without any losses in a group that featured Slovakia, Scotland, Slovenia, Lithuania and Malta, conceding only 3 goals in the process. In their friendly matches of 2018, they have beaten the Netherlands and Nigeria and drew against Italy.

The English will arrive in Russia with a young team, with talented players eager to claim this World Cup, after England’s great run of disappointments in international. Harry Kane (11.5M) is the men to watch, a lethal forward who can fight for top goal-scorer in the WC2018. Behind him, Sterling (9.5M) and Dele Alli (8.0M) bring speed and creativity and are also able finishers and passers. In the defensive line, Trippier (5.0M) and Danny Rose (5.5M) should flank a trio of centre-backs, bringing to the table the potential for offensive returns. Even their goalkeeper, Pickford (5.5M), is a good budget option, cheaper than some of his counterparts from similarly ranked squads.

It’s expected for England to beat Tunisia in their opener and showcase their intents on getting far in the World Cup. If everything goes smoothly, England and Belgium will face each other to wrestle for top spot, having already qualified for the knockout rounds.


Tunisia

Tunisia won Group A of the African qualifiers with 4 wins and 2 draws, paired with the DR Congo, Libya and Guinea Conakry. Their qualifying top scorer, Msakni, misses the World Cup due to an injury. In the friendly matches held in 2018, Tunisia has beaten Iran and Costa Rica, fellow participants, and came away with ties against Portugal and Turkey.

In the absence of Youssef Msakni, the main star of the Tunisian team is Wahbi Khazri (6.0M), a winger who can also play behind the striker, who had a good season in Ligue 1 for Rennes. Badri (5.5M) and Ben Youssef (4.5M) are expected to fight for the strike spot, having both scored against Portugal in their recent friendly. It’s difficult to spot more fantasy talent in a selection of slim aspirations.

Tunisia will try to assert their collective, lacking individual players that can unlock games. The first round against England will serve to assess what this team is worth. Facing Panama in the last round, it wouldn’t be surprising if Tunisians was already out of contention by then.


Panama

Panama are one of the debutants in this World Cup, a status they only share with Iceland. The squad from Central America was probably the great beneficiary of the US debacle in the CONCACAF’s qualifiers. Panama finished 3rd, with only 9 goals scored in 10 games and 13 points out of 30, the same as Honduras, who finished 4th and went to the play-offs. In friendly matches this year, Panama only won against Trinidad and Tobago, tied with Northern Ireland and lost to Denmark, Switzerland and Norway.

All indicators point out that we stay way from all of Panama’s players. Blas Pérez (5.5M) is the reference up front and Aníbal Godoy (5.5M) the most skilled behind him. Still, only strong believers in this Panama squad should take their chance on them. And yet, they’ll most likely be wrong.

Only a miracle could turn Panama into the surprise of this World Cup. First-timers at this kind of stage, starting off against England and Belgium, bets are that they are eliminated by the end of these games.


Go to RealFevr.com and start building your team now!

Also, don’t miss our previews of the other groups: Group A, Group B, Group C, Group D, Group E and Group F.

World Fantasy: Group F analysis

All there is to know about Group F of the World Cup and how the reigning champions will fare.


The reigning world champions, Germany, were the Pot 1 to be drawn for Group F. Pot 2 is represented by the strongest CONCACAF team, Mexico, while Pot 3 and 4 resulted in Sweden and South Korea, respectively.


The first round opposes the higher ranked teams in the group, Germany and Mexico. In Gameweek 2, there is a Germany-Sweden. With these tricky games right from the start, you may get upset if you bet on three German players. In a group where balanced games and few goals are expected, it is risky to overload on the German side bet or players of the other teams.

The biggest favourite to take 1st place is, of course, Germany: title holders and current leaders of the FIFA ranking, with more or less struggle they should achieve that goal. Theoretically, Mexico, occupying place #15 in the FIFA ranking, and Sweden, 23rd, are the strongest bets to join the Mannschaft in the knockout rounds. South Korea, despite being only 61st for FIFA, still is a quality side and can certainly upset Sweden early to become the surprise of the group when facing Mexico.

Germany

In the European Qualifiers, Germany was placed in a rather accessible group, eventually winning all their 10 games with an average of 4.3 goals per game and only 4 goals conceded in total. In 2017, they won the Confederations Cup, with a team made out of second lines and rising prospects, another sign of the work put into improving German football since 2006. However, their recent friendly form has very poor not winning a single match until receiving Saudi Arabia at home, before departing to Russia.

The individual talent is so vast that a player like Leroy Sane was left out by choice. Kimmich (7.0M) had 2 goals and 9 assists in the qualifying stage and Jonas Hector (6.5M) had 2 goals and 4 assists, a strong showing from the fullback duo of Germany. In the middle of the park, Toni Kroos (6.0M) is the users’ favorite, a nice budget pick, but Özil (10.0M) and Draxler (7.5M) are the ones expected to carry the burden of offensive returns. Upfront, Muller (9.0M) who, despite being able to wing it on the right flank, is aiming to become the all-time scorer in World Cup history and Timo Werner (7.5), who had 21 goals and 10 assists for Leipzig this season.

Germany has all-around quality and a very strong collective game, making them not only favourites to win Group F but also to raise the Cup in Moscow in July.


Mexico

Juan Carlos Osorio’s Mexico had an uneventful qualifying stage, losing only the last game, when they had already guaranteed the ticket to Russia, with 21 points out of 30. Since then, they participated in the Confederations Cup, in 2017, finishing 4th, after losing to Group F opponent Germany in the semi-finals by 4–1. Their most recent preparation games for WC2018 account for a goalless draw against Wales and a 1–0 win over Scotland.

Forward Hirving Lozano (5.5M) seems to be the Aztec’s great hope for the World Cup. He was their top-scorer in the qualifiers, with 4 goals, and had 19 goals and 11 assists this season for PSV. Porto’s Héctor Herrera (6.5M) is one of Osorio’s undisputed and a safe bet for a midfielder with attacking returns. Still in the doubt, who will be the striker up front, with Javier Hernández (8.0M) and Raúl Jiménez (6.0M) the candidates.

Historically, the Mexicans have always managed to get out of the group stage, before falling in the round of 16. It’s a wall they intend to overcome in Russia.


Sweden

Sweden managed the historical feat of placing Italy off the World Cup, taking a nil-nil in Italy after a 1–0 win in Stockholm. The defensive wall they built in San Siro remains in our memories. In the group stage that led to that playoff, they were 2nd, behind France, getting ahead of the Netherlands, although with the same 19 points. In their most recent friendly, Sweden tied neighbour Denmark.

This Swedish side is no longer one that carries the star-power of the likes of Ibrahimovic or the 90’s generation. But there are some interesting players, like Forsberg (7.0M), providing play-making, passing quality and decent crossing and the team’s scorer, Marcus Berg (7.0M), who scored eight goals during the qualifiers. However, their best fantasy options are at the back, where solidity is the key to the general team effort: goalkeeper Robin Olsen (5.0M), back-line boss Granqvist (5.5M), who also takes penalty kicks, and fullback Augustinsson (4.5M).

Sweden’s main objective is getting out of the group stage and much of their future relies on the first match. Any result other than a victory over Korea, should condemn the Swedes to an early elimination.


South Korea

The South Koreans finished 2nd place in their qualifying group, behind Iran, getting only 15 points out of 30. Looking at their latest friendlies, the scenario is not encouraging, having lost every match against tougher competition.

We can say that this team is Heung-Min Son (7.5M) and the other 22. The striker comes off a very good season at Tottenham, where he had 18 goals and 11 assists. In the qualifying stage he was the top Korean scorer, with 7 goals. Su-Yeung Ki (5.5M) and Ja-Cheol Koo (6.0M) are the highest-valued midfielders for this South Korea’s team. There’s also a rising prospect in the offensive line: Hee-Chan Hwang (5.5M). Since they’re placed in a strong and balanced group, we suggest you stay away from any Korean defender.

Looking at their rivals in Group F, expectations are that the Koreans don’t get out of the group stage. This allows for South Korea to play without pressure, which may end up playing into their hands.


Go to RealFevr.com and start building your team now!

Also, don’t miss our previews of the other groups: Group A, Group B, Group C, Group D and Group E.

World Fantasy: Group E analysis

The full story of Group E of the World Cup. Teams, players, schedules and more.


The top seed of Group E is Brazil, who were a bit lucky with the draw. From Pot 2 came Switzerland, Costa Rica is the representative of Central and North America, being drawn out of Pot 3 and Group E was completed by a second European squad of the group, coming from Pot 4: Serbia.


With Brazil facing Switzerland in the group’s opener, the match between Costa Rica and Serbia could be fundamental to square off who’ll have the better chance of going through. Everything points out to Brazil qualifying easily in 1st place, but all the other three teams seem able to put up a fight for 2nd place, with Costa Rica perhaps a step behind. Fantasy-wise Serbia can be a good bet for the first two gameweeks.

Brazil is currently in 2nd place in the FIFA ranking and is the clear-cut favourite to win the group and a record of “3 out of 3” for the Brazilians would not be surprising at all. Switzerland came from Pot 2 and holds a surprising 6th place in the FIFA ranks, but the Swiss do not appear to have a significant quality edge over for Serbia, so their fight for qualification won’t be easy. Serbia has the worst ranking of the group, ranked 35th, while Costa Rica is ten places up the ladder, 25th. And let’s not forget that, in the last World Cup, Costa Rica came out on top of their group, despite facing Uruguay, Italy and England! So, let’s not completely exclude the Ticos from the battle for 2nd spot.

Brazil

The “Escrete” qualified for the WC2018 winning the CONMEBOL qualifying with 41 points, 10 more than the 2nd placed Uruguay. Gabriel Jesus was their top goal-scorer with 7 goals, and Neymar was king of assists, with 8 goals created. This calendar year, Brazil has held three friendly matches, all against fellow World Cup participants, picking up wins against Russia, Germany and Croatia.

Brazil’s biggest star is Neymar Jr. (11.5M) but the PSG play-maker has lost the end of the season due to an injury. He has already played in Brazil’s last friendly, netting one in the process. But Neymar isn’t the only star in this Brazilian squad. Up front, Gabriel Jesus (8.5M) and Roberto Firmino (8.5M) fight for the #9 sport, with Jesus seeming to have an advantage. Behind, in supporting roles, Phil Coutinho (10.0M) and Willian (8.5M) are the ones who offer the most offensive potential. Allison Becker (6.5M) is nowadays a top-ranked goalkeeper, with the veteran presence of Thiago Silva (6.5M) and offensive wing-backs Danilo (6.0M) and Marcelo (7.0M) playing ahead of him. With this group, it is mandatory to have at least 2 players from Brazil in your team.

Only a major collapse will cause Brazil to not reach the knockout rounds, in what would be a shocker for the ages. The South Americans have one of the most serious candidacies for the title and are riding on a very talented generation to get there.


Switzerland

Switzerland finished 2nd place in Group B in the World Cup qualifiers, tied with Portugal for 1st. The Swiss had the same 27 points, losing only one game against Portugal and winning all the others, and only missed the direct entry in the WC2018 due to the goal difference against the Portuguese. In the playoff, they knocked out Northern Ireland with a timid 1–0 on both legs. In 2018, Switzerland has played three friendlies, having beaten Greece and Panama and coming out with a surprise draw against Spain.

There isn’t a bigger star in this Swiss selection, so Xherdan Shaqiri (7.5M) remains the player who has the weight of this team on his shoulders. Seferovic (6.0M) has been a forgetful forward, threatened by the lurking shadow of a promising young man who could have some serious chances in Russia: Breel Embolo (6.0M). Lichtsteiner (4.5M) is the veteran of a rock-solid defensive line and can be a good budget bet for a 4th or 5th defender on your team.

Switzerland’s plan is to make it out of the group stage, but the path may not be easy. Starting against Brazil, with a possible defeat on the horizon, the Swiss could arrive already under pressure for their second game, against Serbia. If the Serbs beat Costa Rica on Matchday 1, they’ll surely try to settle the fight for 2nd against the Helvetians.


Costa Rica

Costa Rica qualified for the World Cup with the 2nd place in the CONCACAF qualifiers, with 16 points, 5 fewer than Mexico. Marcos Ureña and Christian Bolaños shone above all others, with 4 goals each. In their 2018 friendly matches, the Costa Ricans have beaten Scotland and Northern Ireland while losing against Tunisia.

The player to follow will be goalkeeper Keylor Navas (5.0M), who has come into his own at Real Madrid. In the attacking line, Ureña (6.0M) carries the hope for goals, with Joel Campbell (5.5M) waiting for an opportunity, either up front or in the wings. Bolaños (6.0M) and Bryan Ruiz (6.5M) dominate play from the middle of the park. The bet on Costa Rican players is a risky one but their first game will give you an idea of ​​what they are worth.

After their great journey in Brazil 2014, where they reached the quarter-finals, Costa Rica wants to repeat the feat. The probability of that happening is very slim, being expected to end their World Cup at the end of the group stage but that was also the general perception in 2014.


Serbia

Serbia have qualified for Russia by winning Group D of the European qualifiers, ahead of Ireland, Wales, Austria, Georgia and Moldova. The Serbs scored 21 points with 6 wins, 3 draws and 1 loss. Aleksandar Mitrovic was their top scorer, with 6 goals. In their three friendly matches held this year, Serbia defeated Nigeria but has lost with Morocco and Chile more recently.

Serbia does not have a main star in its ranks, but still has some interesting players. In the back-line, veterans Kolarov (6.0M) and Ivanovic (5.5M) bring solidity to the team, with the help of holding midfielder Matic (5.5M). On the attacking side, Mitrovic (7.0M) is expected to be the focal point, but behind him there is also a lot of talent: Tadic (7.5M), Milinkovic-Savic (7.0M), Ljajic (6.5M) or even young prospect Zivkovic (5.5M). Their schedule gets rougher at every game, so any bet on Serbs should be right from the start of the competition.

Arriving with the worst FIFA ranking of the bunch, in theory Serbia seems to have the team to fight for getting into the knockout rounds. Their latest friendlies, however, show that there is still a lot to do in the training ground to overcome the Swiss, a more mature and cynical team.


Go to RealFevr.com and start building your team now!

Also, don’t miss our previews of the other groups: Group A, Group B, Group C and Group D.

World Fantasy: Group D analysis

Everything you need to know about Group D of the World Cup


Leo Messi’s Argentina headlines Group D, coming out of Pot 1 in the World Cup Draw. The squad now managed by Jorge Sampaoli will measure themselves against Iceland, Croatia and Nigeria, drawn out of the remaining pots, in this order.


The first round should settle the plot for this group, with Argentina-Iceland and Croatia-Nigeria as the openers, it will be a good opportunity for both Argentinians and Croatians to take a hold on the two top spots and to stop Iceland from stealing the spotlight again, as they did in the last European Championship. Messi apart, your regular fantasy-insurance, all bets are off for players from this group for Gameweek 1.

Group D could be a wild one, since Argentina and Croatia, favourites in the public’s eye, arrive in Russia after going through more rough patches than expected. Croatia and Iceland are only 3 spots apart in the FIFA ranking, Modric and his teammates in 18th, the islanders in 21st. Argentina remain at the top, in 4th, mainly due to two Copa America finals in a row, and Nigeria, the last ranked team of the group, sits at 47th.

Argentina

The Argentinians road to the World Cup was a rocky one after finishing the qualifying stage in 3rd place, with 28 points, despite those difficulties. In their luggage, they bring two straight losses in Copa America, both against Chile and in penalty shootouts, and the loss to Germany in the 2014 World Cup final. Their recent friendly results have been all over the place: a convincing win over Italy followed by an historical defeat against Spain (1–6) a few days later. Their latest match was a 4–0 win over an underwhelming Haiti squad.

Their biggest star is, unsurprisingly, Lionel Messi (12.5M), the most expensive player in the World Fantasy, in Russia in pursuit of the missing trophy in his curriculum. To reach this goal, La Albiceleste will need help from the remaining stars that crowd their team, players of the likes of Di María (9.5M), Agüero (10.0M) and Higuaín (9.0M) will have to take a step forward and improve on their performances over the qualifiers. The back line is, without a doubt, the weakest sector of the team, something aggravated by the recent injury to the keeper Sergio Romero, forcing him out of the World Cup.

Despite their 4th place in FIFA’s ranking and been the holding vice-champions, the current mood in the Argentinian camp is very wary of the dangers ahead in Group D, where there’s no obvious weaker link. A good start against Iceland might prove fundamental in a good run for Messi’s team.


Iceland

This is Iceland’s first ever appearance in the World Cup, after the Nordics confirmed their good run of form in the Euro2016 with a 1st place finish in their qualifying group, with 22 points, relegating Croatia to the European playoff round. In this period, the Icelanders have only taken the foot off the gas in their recent friendlies, currently on a 3-game losing streak, having faced Peru, Mexico and Norway.

Everton’s star midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson (7.5M) keeps that role with his national team, and despite playing in the middle of the park was still Iceland’s top-goalscorer during the qualifiers. Another important part of the team’s dynamics is captain Aron Gunnarsson (5.5M), still questionable for Gameweek 1’s match against Argentina, due to a knee problem. Heimir Hallgrímsson’s squad will display one the most direct styles of football that will be on display during the World Cup.

While Argentina and Croatia take the front-row to snatch the two spots that go through to the knockout rounds, Iceland’s feeling good about their chances, having beaten the Croatians during qualifying, furthermore establishing themselves in the football scene.


Croatia

Having finished 2nd behind Iceland in the European qualifiers, Croatia had to beat Greece in the playoffs to book their ticket to Russia. Juventus’ Mario Mandžukic was on point during this stage, with 10 goals out of 11 games. After a disappointing qualifying, the Croatians have missed more opportunities to arrive at the World Cup on a higher note after two losses in their preparation, against Peru and Brazil, and only a win over Mexico.

Luka Modric (7.0M) leads a generation of players that might have their last opportunity in a major international tournament. The Real Madrid maestro is already 32 years old, the same as Mandžukic (8.0M) and, as well as equally veteran Rakitic (7.0), who’s just passed the 30-year mark. Croatia usually shows a very competitive team yet inconsistent, filled with good players, on top-tier clubs all around the best leagues in Europe. Placed in a group like this, their inconsistency could make them a riskier bet than expected.

The last time Croatia reached the knockout round was in France 98, twenty years ago, going on to a spectacular 3rd place finish. Now, placed in a group where a hard-fought battle for the last place behind Argentina is expected, it may seem like a cliché but their result against Nigeria could set the tone for the rest of the Croatian campaign. They’re the kind of team that could finish first or last in the group and not surprise anybody while doing it.


Nigeria

The only of the five African squads present to be in Brazil in 2014, Nigeria confirms a legacy of consistency within the African continent with another World Cup appearance under the belt. The Super Eagles won their group in the African qualifiers, with Victor Moses shining with 3 goals. Their last friendlies have a bit of everything: a win over Poland, a defeat against Serbia and a disappointing tie with DR Congo.

Victor Moses (6.5M) and John Obi Mikel (5.5M) are the main references of a squad with 3 forwards to keep an eye on: Kelechi Iheanacho (6.0M), Ahmed Musa (5.5M) and Ighalo (5.0M) are always looking to score and should not be underestimated. Also under the spotlight is Arsenal’s rising star Alex Iwobi (6.0M).

Currently the 47th in the world, the Nigerians are supposed to run from behind to try and reach the knockout stage. With a physical edge in their round 1 matchup against Croatia, they’ll only face Argentina in the last round of the group, so they can benefit of their previous results in combination with the Argentinian ones to go through. After being in the same group for the last 3 World Cups, this classic is a fitting end to what might be one of the most exciting groups in Russia.


Read our previous analysis: Group A, Group B, Group C.

World Fantasy: Group C analysis

All you need to know about Group C of the World Cup


Group C is headed by France, one of the favourites to win it all. Peru was the draw from Pot 2 and Denmark and Australia complemented the group.


France is the strongest squad of the bunch and placing your bets in 2 or even 3 french players should provide plenty of points. That decision should be made right from day one, since they face Australia first. The opening round also has an intriguing Peru-Denmark that could help settle the group result, with an eventual loss from either part carrying its weight when they face France further down the road.

Les Bleus, 7th on the FIFA ranking, are the clear-cut favourites to snatch 1st place and any other outcome would be a shocking surprise. Peru and Denmark should fight it out for the remaining place in knockout rounds, with their FIFA rankings, 11th and 12th respectively, and indicator on how they are levelled going on to the already mentioned inaugural game of capital importance. Australia, despite being the lowered ranked team of Group C (40th) will try to not leave Russia empty-handed and spoil someone else’s party.

France

The french qualified 1st from their group, with 23 out of 30 possible points, being matched against teams like Sweden and the Netherlands. They showed great defensive consistency, conceding only 6 goals, and despite netting only 18, they have a tremendous display of offensive firepower. Griezmann and Giroud were their top-scorers during qualifying with 4 goals each. In their latest friendly against Italy, that firepower has showcased with a 3–1 victory. The only thing France may be lacking is a true leader, with many of their youngsters still unproven at international tournaments.

Didier Deschamps’ team greatest reference is Antoine Griezmann (10.0M). The Atlético Madrid’s striker arrives after a huge season with his club and is expected to lead France again, after the 7 goals in the Euro2016. Mbappé (8.0M) has been stealing some of the spotlight after barely playing during the qualifiers, and is one of the early-voting candidates for the youth player of the tournament award. With Koscielny out due to injury, the pair of centre-backs will be made of Varane (6.5M) and Umtiti (6.5M), one of the best duos of this World Cup. Against Italy, Dembélé (7.5M) also had a strong outing and could battle for a spot in the starting lineup, for a more dynamic approach, replacing Giroud and shifting some pieces around.

One of the squads expected to go far in the World Cup, mainly due to individual talent in every sector, France has left the last major tournaments with the feeling they should’ve done better and in 2018 anything less than a trip to the semi-finals will be a disappointment.


Peru

Peru finished the south American qualifiers in 5th, with 26 points, hanging Chile out to dry, watching the World Cup at home. Then they beat New Zealand in the playoff to ensure the last spot in Russia. The two stalwarts of the qualifying stages were Paolo Guerrero and Edison Flores, splitting 10 goals between the two. In their recent friendlies setting up the WC2018, the Peruvians have mostly played European sides (Scotland, Iceland, Croatia) and finished it off with Saudi Arabia, emerging victorious of every game.

They also received some last-minute great news, with the lift of the ban on Paolo Guerrero (7.0M), their biggest star. He’s the focus point of their offense and will have the job, along with Farfán (6.0M), of keeping Peruvian dreams alive. Their midfield consists of quality role-players like Tapia (5.0M), Cueva (6.5M) or Carrillo (5.5M) and goalkeeper Gallese (4.5M) is the best bet on their defensive players, with those who remember his exhibition against Argentina during the qualifiers nodding in approval.

With good chances of escaping the group stage, Peru will have more difficulties in the Round of 16. Anything beyond that, it will feel like winning it all.


Denmark

The Danish ended up in 2nd in Group E of the European qualifiers, behind Poland, with 20 points and 20 goals scored. Christian Eriksen left his mark with 8 goals and 3 assists. Like Peru, Denmark also had to go through a playoff to book their ticket to Russia, against Ireland, with Eriksen coming through again with a hat-trick on the 2nd leg. In their latest fixtures, friendlies against Chile and Sweden, the Danish got the same result: nil-nil draws.

The creative Eriksen (9.0M) is, without a doubt, one of the best available options from Group C for your team. All of the forward game of Denmark goes through him and he also owns all the set-pieces. Their defensive prowess in the qualifiers and their “easy” schedule to start the WC2018, only facing France in the last group stage match, makes Schmeichel (5.5M) and Christensen (6.0M) decent options as well, despite a not so light price-tag.

Despite having legitimate aspirations to get out of the group stage, it will be hard to beat the feat of 20 years ago, when reaching the quarter-finals. However, the Danish are no pushovers and anything further than the Round of 16 will be a bonus to this squad.


Australia

After moving to the Asian Qualifying stages, due to lack of true competition in the Oceania groups, the Aussies had to survive two playoff rounds to be in the World Cup, knocking out Syria first and then Honduras to clinch their spot. They finished the group stages in 3rd, behind Japan and Saudi Arabia, with veterans Tim Cahill and Mile Jedinak on most of the highlight reels, with 11 and 7 goals respectively. In the last friendly, the Australians hammered Czech Republic by 4–0 and will start the WC2018 on a high note.

Few are the players that are spotlighted for the World Fantasy. Goalkeeper Mat Ryan (4.5M) might be a good low-cost option for a 2nd keeper, facing Denmark in Peru in the last two group stage games. Other budget options are “europeans” Mathew Leckie (6.0M) and Aaron Mooy (4.5M), after great seasons for their clubs.

While being one of the worst ranked of the squads in Russia, the Ozzies are not expected to go anywhere, with the main objective being getting out of Russia with something more than 0 points in the bag.


Read our previous analysis on Group A and Group B.

World Fantasy: Group B analysis

What you need to know about Group B of the World Cup


Group B of the World Cup has the European Champions, Portugal, as the first seeded team. Cristiano Ronaldo and company didn’t have much luck with the team they got from Pot 2, their neighbors Spain. Morocco and Iran are the teams from Pot 3 and 4, respectively, that complete the group.


The first round of the group will bring us, probably, the most interesting match of the whole GameWeek: Portugal vs. Spain. After this tough start, the Iberian teams will have a nicer calendar, playing agains Morocco and Iran. It should be a good idea to have some Portuguese and Spanish players for the second and third GameWeeks. If one of the two wins that first game, that team is the safer bet for the rest.

Spain and Portugal, 8th and 4th in the FIFA ranking respectively, are in the pole position to gain access to the next round. Nevertheless, this first game can become very important because if someone loses, they might go under pressure for the next match. Morocco, 42nd of the FIFA ranking, and Iran, 36th, will battle each other to gain some hope. The Moroccans, having one of the best generations of the last years, seem to start ahead of Iran and are the best candidates to take advantage of a slip from Portugal or Spain.

Portugal

Portugal won Group B of the European Qualifiers, with 27 points of 30 possible. Cristiano Ronaldo was the star, netting 15 goals in just 9 games played. The Portuguese team played in the Confederations Cup last year, as the European Champion. Fernando Santos’ team couldn’t repeat the success of the Euros, falling in the semi-finals against Chile. In the most recent friendlies, Portugal draw against Tunisia and Belgium.

The main figure in Portugal’s squad is unquestionable: Cristiano Ronaldo (12.0M) bears the hope of a country trying to win its first ever World Cup. But Ronaldo is not alone. The Real Madrid attacker has a lot of young talented company in the national team in the likes of Bernardo Silva (8.0), Gelson Martins (6.5) or Gonçalo Guedes (7.0) and the one with whom Ronaldo established a fruitful partnership in attack, AC Milan striker André Silva (7.5). In defense, Pepe (6.0), one of the most important players in the European title won by Portugal, is already 35 years old and has a partner only one year younger, José Fonte (5.5). They’re both playing away from the European elite, in Turkey and China, respectively.

In theory, Portugal should contend with Spain for the first place in the group. The teams advancing in this group will play against the ones from Group A and will have good chances of going forward for another round.


Spain

Spain granted their pass to Russia after winning Group G of the European Qualifiers, with 28 points. With several players scoring, there are four top scorers for the qualifiers, each with 5 goals: Diego Costa, Isco, David Silva and Morata (who is not on the final list of 23 for the World Cup). The team managed by Julen Lopetegui finished ahead of Italy, who couldn’t make it past Sweden in the play-off and won’t be in Russia. In the friendlies played this year, Spain draw with Germany and Switzerland, but smashed Argentina with a 6–1.

The Spaniards don’t have a major star above the others, like Neymar or Messi, but have a very strong starting XI, full of experienced players from the best teams in the world. In this starting XI they have five players who were World Champions in South Africa: Piqué (6.5M), Sergio Ramos (7.0), Busquets (5.5), Iniesta (8.0) and David Silva (8.5). We should highlight also the keeper David De Gea (6.5), one of the world’s best, and the striker Diego Costa (9.5).

The Spanish national team is one of the favourites to win the tournament. With a squad full of talent, the Spaniards will be one the main attractions, even if they fail to win the title.


Morocco

Morocco’s qualifying for the World Cup was brilliant. The team coached by Hervé Renard won the Group C of the African Qualifiers, ahead of Ivory Coast, Gabon and Mali. The most remarkable achievement of the Moroccans was not conceding a single goal in the group’s six fixtures. With 3 wins and 3 draws, the Moroccans scored 11 goals without conceding. This year, Morocco won the CHAN, a tournament like CAN but only for players who play in their nations championships.

The African team returns to a World Cup after 20 years, when they qualified for France 98. The Moroccans goal is to compromise Spain or Portugal’s qualification. This Moroccan generation is their best in several years. Under the leadership of defender Mehdi Benatia (5.0), there are some talented players to keep an eye on, like midfielders Nordin Amrabat (5.5) and Hakim Ziyech (6.0) and defender Achraf Hakimi (4.5), from Real Madrid’s academy.

With an underwhelming 42nd spot in the FIFA ranking, the “Atlas’ lions” will play without pressure, and that could make them dangerous. If they beat Iran in the first GameWeek and if there isn’t a draw in Portugal vs Spain, Morocco will have more reasons to believe in going forward.


Iran

Iran booked their passage to Russia thanks to the first place in the Group A of the Asian Qualifiers, ahead of Korea, Syria, Uzbekistan, China and Qatar. With 6 wins and 4 draws, Iranians were unbeaten in a steady qualification. With 11 goals, Sardar Azmoun was Iran’s top scorer and one of the main reasons they were able to grant a place in their second World Cup in a row. In their last friendlies, they beat Uzbekistan and lost to Turkey.

Iranian’s main star is the Rubin Kazan striker Azmoun (6.0). He is the main hope of Iran for scoring goals. With Carlos Queiroz’s solid defensive system, Iran will explore the counters, where Alireza Jahanbakhsh (5.0) should have an important role, after a great season in Eredivisie’s AZ Alkmaar.

Sitting in the 36th place in FIFA ranking, Iran is the best Asian squad of the moment. Like Morocco, Iran can only dream of going beyond the Group Stage if they beat the African side in the first game. After that, they need to shock the world agains Portugal or Spain.


Read our analysis of Group A, and create your team at RealFevr.com!

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