Official Fifa World Cup Game – Budget Defenders

Whilst there are numerous defenders available for between 3m and 4.5m who will be able to provide both defensive solidity and attacking potential, today I will be looking at those defenders who are nailed on yet available for 3m or less in the Official Fifa World Cup game.

Jose Cholevas  (2.5m)

Greece’s attack-minded full-back seems a bargain considering he is likely to be taking corners and free-kicks for Greece. This boosts his assist potential as, due to the Greeks lack of attacking firepower, it looks like their most likely source of goals will be from set-pieces, as seen in qualifying when more than half of their goals came from this route. Cholevas has had a hugely successful season at Greek champions Olympiakos, coupled with the fact that he started nine of Greece’s qualifiers, means he looks like a very good defensive option considering his low price.

Konstantinos Manolas (2.5m)

Cholevas’ Greek compatriot has shot to prominence over the past year after several successful performances for his club side Olympiakos and earning himself the coveted starting spot in the Greek defence alongside Sokratis Papastathopoulos. The fact that both of them play with each other at the heart of the Olympiakos defense on a regular basis means that the two have developed a good relationship between each other. Although Manolas only started three qualifers for Greece, he looks like he has nailed down a starting berth in the heart of the Greek defence.  He is another budget option that is nailed on to start for the always solid Greeks.

Yasuyuki Konno (2.5m)

Konno has well and truly nailed down a starting berth alongside Southampton’s Maya Yoshida in the heart of the Japanese defense. Whilst not being known for their defensive solidity, his price makes Konno a draw for anyone who wants budget defender who is guaranteed a start. A favourable fixture against the goal-shy Greeks means that Konno could at least be able to have one clean sheet to his name by the end of the group stage.

Victor Bernandez and Maynor Figueroa (both 3m)

This pair of budget options are assured of their starts at the heart of the Honduran defence. Due to their lack of attacking potential as a team, it is in all likelihood that the Honduras defence will have to be at the top of its game in order for them to stand a chance of progressing. As well as this, both will be targets from corners and free-kicks due to their height and aerial prowess. Figueroa also has a penchant for a long shot, as seen when he scored from beyond the halfway line against Stoke City for Wigan Athletic a couple of seasons ago. Although Honduras’ fixtures are neither kind nor extremely challenging, expect to see the pair pick up numerous points for blocked shots and recovered balls.

Carl Medjani and Madjid Bouguerra (both 2m)

Having impressed defensively in the 2010 World Cup, the Algerian defence cannot be overlooked. In the tournament, they only conceded two goals, including keeping a clean sheet against England. This time around, it looks as if the best way into the Algerian team may be through the defence. Madjid Bouguerra, the captain, is a guaranteed starter. The former Rangers man impressed in the previous tournament and he scored the goal that got Algeria to the World Cup during qualification. Bouguerra’s partner at the back will be Carl Medjani of AS Monaco. Despite being loaned out this year, Medjani impressed and started all eight qualifiers and also scored a goal. Algeria’s fixtures are not too challenging and I expect to see them keep clean sheets if they are able to progress through to the next round of the World Cup. Their price-tags seem like a bargain given their fixtures and defensive solidity.

Other Options

Other budget defenders who are nailed on to start but are less enticing prospects include Iran’s Jalal Hosseini (2m) and his teamate Amirhossein Sadeghi (1.5m). Both are guaranteed starting berths, however, they are not likely to see much in the way of clean sheets.  They both may receive lots of defending bonus due to their teams tactically defensive approach and their oppositions’ attacking prowess. Australian Alex Wilkinson (2.5m) comes to the World Cup off the back of some impressive displays in the J-League. However, their challenging fixtures mean that in all likelihood Australia will keep no clean sheets but Wilkinson may be required to make lots of blocks and ball recoveries, thus improving his defensive bonus points.

I would just like to mention that some good options for the mid-range price-bracket for defenders include Dmitry Kombarov of Russia, who is on all his team’s set pieces including penalties, Miguel Layun of Mexico, who provided three assists in his country’s playoff against New Zealand, Argentina’s Marcos Rojo, a mainstay in defence and Daley Blind of the Netherlands, a versatile defender who is able to slot in at left-back or central midfield, thus increasing his points potential.