With Matchday Three kicking off tonight, we cast our eye back over the second round of fixtures and assess the lessons learnt from the World Cup so far, including Spain’s early exit, the return of a certain Uruguayan striker and the top teams stuttering through the group stage.
The Big Four Stutter Through the Second Round of Games
All four of the main contenders struggled in the second round of games. Argentina narrowly beat an Iran side tipped to be the whipping boys of the group – with that in mind many Fantasy mangers would have handed Lionel Messi the armband assuming he and Argentina would run riot in this game, but it wasn’t to be. Iran defended stoutly and had chances of their own to win it, but a last-minute strike from Messi saved Argentina, and most likely the many Fantasy mangers that captained him.
Any managers that opted for value choosing Sergio Aguero or Gonzalo Higuain over the Barcelona forward will have been disappointed so far as it is Messi who is finally producing at a major tournament for the national side. With two goals in as many games both securing vital victories for La Albiceleste, this could be Messi’s World Cup.
Brazil also struggled but were unable to match their South American rivals’ last-minute winner and played out a goalless draw against a well set-up Mexico side. Brazil have yet to get out of first gear, they almost apologetically ended up winning their opening game 3-1 with a cheaply won penalty to take the lead and a last-minute strike from Oscar to make the scoreline more impressive than it could have been. The Mexico game was always going to be a tough game –Luis Scolari had already said as much – Mexico were the only side to cause them problems at last summer’s Confederations Cup, a 2-1 victory only assured with a last-minute Paulinho goal.
Any managers worrying about their Brazilian assets must hold tight this week with the weakest team in the group, Cameroon, up next. Neymar and co. should produce the Fantasy points against the group’s whipping boys.
Germany also stuttered. After an impressive 4-0 victory against Portugal in the opening game, they were held to a 2-2 draw against Ghana, and along with USA’s shock draw with Portugal the group has been thrown wide open. Germany are essentially playing with four centre-backs across the defence – Per Mertesacker, Mat Hummels, Jerome Boateng and Beni Hoewdes all play centre-back for their clubs and the balance to the side, especially at the back, is compromised by the lack of traditional full-backs. Going forward Germany are fantastic to watch – the front four all interchange positions at will, which causes defences all sorts of problems – but the lack of width provided by the make-shift full-backs means the play becomes very central. When the full-backs eventually get forward it leaves the Germans vulnerable to counter attacks as neither have the pace to recover or the positional awareness of top full-backs. Even after Pepe’s first-half dismissal, Germany looked vulnerable on the counter attack. Ronaldo and Nani were set loose several times but were unable to take advantage of the Germans’ sloppy defensive coverage. Ghana, however took full advantage. Attacking with pace and power they scored twice and exposed Germany’s poor defensive positioning.
Thomas Muller provided an assist to keep owners happy, but with the Germans scoring 6 goals in 2 games, owners of Meust Ozil will be disappointed he has not had a hand in any of them. With arguably the weakest team in the group, USA, left to play and in need of a victory to ensure top spot, there should be little risk of rotation, so play your Germans with confidence.
And as for Spain…
It was the end of an era. The best national team in the world for six years and the defending champions exited the World Cup early. It was one tournament too many for Del Bosque’s men, who were good enough to beat the smaller European nations in qualification, but when they came up against the top teams in Brazil, their age started to show. So many of the Spain squad came into the tournament in poor form – the entire Barcelona squad for instance – or tired from a long season culminating in a champions league final for seven of the squad, they lacked the youthful energy and hunger which Del Bosque should have been integrating into the side during qualification. Players like Koke, Isco and Illarramendi should have been utilised in Brazil. Top managers are able to rebuild sides and Del Bosque, who is very loyal manager, was unable to cut the older players loose.
Spain’s early exit will leave plenty of holes in Fantasy teams to be filled. With one game left to play, Fantasy managers will be left wondering how Del Bosque will play it. Will he give his golden generation one last hurrah before a major overhaul is required or will he start it early and give the fringe players an outing in the dead-rubber against Australia? More involved managers may have had their plans scuppered by Spain’s early exit. It’s an easy fix for those in games that allow mid-group stage transfers, a change to a player with guaranteed playing time and with something to play for seems advisable. It is worth noting that the FOX sports game allows transfers and the Matchday Three deadline comes after the Spain team sheet is announced, which will help decide on which of their players to ditch.
Luis is back
After terrorising premiership defences, scoring 31 goals in the process, Luis Suarez announced his return to World Cup action with two goals against England. The leading scorer for the national team and their talisman underwent surgery to his knee just six weeks ago but he was the difference in a tight game. Twice Suarez cleverly looked to nick a goal at the near post direct from corners; it is that sort of creativity and unpredictability that Uruguay lacked in their opening game loss to Costa Rica. He clearly wasn’t 100 per cent – he faded in and out of the game, though he did last 88 minutes. His acquisition may not be the first managers look to with a final winner-takes-all game against a strong Italian side that tends to only win when they have to, but he seems to be first in line for corners, will take any free-kicks within shooting distance and should jump ahead of Edinson Cavani for penalty duties. He is more than worth a gamble in Fantasy managers’ front lines. He is a special talent, capable of moments of pure magic.
French Prove their World Cup Credentials
The French had already put themselves in the World cup dark horses conversation after a comfortable 3-0 win against 10-man Honduras but they produced an even better performance against a strong Switzerland side that went undefeated during qualification. The French dominated them from start to finish, capable of counter attacking at pace and finishing clinically. Every time France had the ball they looked likely to score.
Karim Benzema was the headline act for the French. The much-criticised forward has never really shone for Les Blues at major tournaments. His run of 16 months without a goal for the international team was a low point, but it has been Benzema who has shone the most in the absence of star winger Frank Ribery. The Real Madrid striker, fresh from a two-goal haul versus Honduras, bagged another goal for himself in this game and also teed up both Blaise Matuidi and Moussa Sissoko for their goals, finding time to miss a penalty in the process and have a last-second wonder strike chalked off the board as it emerged the referee had already blown the final whistle.
With three goals and two assists in two games, Benzema will be influential once again in the French attack as they take on Ecuador in their final group game. France still need at least a draw to top the group so rotation shouldn’t be an issue. Those in need of replacement for the suspended Robin van Persie should look no further than the in-form Benzema. Being in what is on paper the easiest group, many Fantasy mangers will already have French assets in their ranks looking to prey on the weaker opponents during the group stage. The French performance against Switzerland shows that hanging onto those players come the knock-outs could be a valuable tactic.
Colombia Dark Horses?
Are Colombia the surprise package? It depends who you ask, many have touted them as dark horses, whilst others have looked at a team devoid of their star player, Radamel Falcao, and given them no chance. The truth is the one place Colombia have depth is in attack and they will be able to cope with the loss of the Monaco forward. Jose Pekerman religiously played a 4-4-2 during qualification but as the tournament started, without his star striker, Pekermann has switched to a 4-2-3-1, giving James Rodriquez a free role, pulled inside from his natural left attacking role he occupied during qualification. The Colombian number 10 operated in the hole behind the striker against Greece, scoring a goal in the 3-0 victory. He will be the inspiration for this Colombia side.
The Ivory Coast provided a sterner test in the second match. It was the introduction of the fantastically talented Juan Quintero that changed the game. Playing in the hole, it meant Rodriguez was able to switch to his natural left-midfield role, and it paid dividends as both Rodriguez and Quintero scored to give Los Caféteros a second successive victory. With the shift to one up front for Colombia, there is a place for the 20-year-old to be the creative linchpin in the attacking trio alongside James Rodriguez and Juan Cuadrado, who has produced three assists already.
Columbia could be a real force going into the last 16 – Rodriguez and Cuadrado have been fantastic so far. Playing in their home continent, Colombia will be used to the heat and weather conditions of Brazil and will be able to use it to their advantage against the European nations. The aging centre-back pairing is cause for concern, but Colombia did have the best defensive record in South American qualifying, conceding just 13 goals and keeping seven clean sheets. Colombia could be the surprise package, offering managers several differential options as we head into the knockout rounds.
9 years, 10 months agoLovely stuff.