World Cup Matchday Four Lessons Learnt

After a two-day hiatus the World Cup returns today, and we cast our eye back over the lessons from the last 16 matches and how they will affect the upcoming quarter finals. Germany’s defensive deficiencies, Lionel Messi’s dominance of Argentina’s play and Belgium’s super subs are among the key issues we’ll be looking at. 

France’s consistency

The French have been the most consistent team throughout the tournament so far and booked their place in the quarter finals with a convincing 2-0 win over Nigeria. Karim Benzema has been their star man, but for the second game in a row he has been shunted out wide to accommodate Olivier Giroud to play centrally. This is not a natural position for the Real Madrid striker and France toiled away without looking like scoring in the 1st half. A half time switch to his prefer central role and Benzema looked like a new man, with the Valbuena and the lively addition of Greizmann flanking the striker France looked dangerous, scoring twice in the last 10 minutes to seal the victory. If coach Didier Deschamps has any wits about him he will start with this formation against a German defence that has looked very vulnerable to counter attacking play.

Karim Benzema has to be considered for our front lines especially if he’s played in his preferred central role with Valbuena, who is  another outstanding French option and is completely out performing his 5M price tag in the Official FIFA Fantasy game and takes all the set pieces. The French defence has produced three clean sheets already but they have not really been tested as yet by a top team. A Germany side intent on all-out attack will provide that test.

Germany’s defensive frailties

The Germans willingness to continuously attack may be an attempt to mask their defensive deficiencies. Despite keeping two clean sheets Germany have looked far from convincing at the back. Coach Joachim Low has played four centre backs across the defence and they have looked very vulnerable to counter attacking play as both make-shift fullbacks appear to lack the positional sense of those used to the role. After four games and three separate injuries across the back line Low finally moved his captain and experienced full back Phillip Lahm from defensive midfield to his usual right back slot, with Sami khedira stepping into central midfield role. Germany instantly looked much better and balanced, scoring twice in extra time to set up the quarter final clash with France. Will Low keep Lahm in the fullback spot where he is so desperately needed or will the likely retuning Mats Hummels give Low the excuse needed to shift Lahm back to midfield?

For all their eye catching football the Germans have only provided us with one stand out player for fantasy squads in Thomas Muller. He is classified as a midfielder in most games but is playing as a false 9 and has relentlessly racked up Fantasy points. Toni Kroos is the differential option, he has a monopoly on set pieces and has a penchant for a spectacular long range effort. With Germany looking very vulnerable in defence and up against a French side that look to play on the counter attack surely it’s time to steer clear of German defensive assets for this game.

Brazil stumble on

Luis Felipe Scolari favours a solid defence to free flowing football. But as Brazil’s stellar showing in last summer’s Confederations Cup showed this pragmatism can be combined with attacking flair with devastating effect. During this World Cup, however, we are still yet to see a Brazil side in full flight, in fact they seemed to have even reined back their attacking instincts as their narrow penalty shootout victory against Chile showed.

Brazilian assets surely can’t be recommended for this match. Even Neymar who has produced two fine performances to win a pair of games by himself, comes with question marks attached as he is currently dealing with a dead leg.He will surely start but how will his fitness affect his game? When Neymar struggles to perform, Brazil struggle to perform. They are capable of winning the game but they are just not currently in good form, which brings us onto their opponents Colombia.

Colombia’s impressive form

Form is crucial in tournament football and there is no doubting that Colombia and in particular James Rodriquez and Juan Cuadrado are in the form of their lives. Colombia took maximum points from the group stage with the attacking pair contributing heavily to the team’s success and providing fantasy managers with plenty of points. Heading into a last 16 tie against Uruguay many fantasy mangers looked to offload the Colombians thinking their good form and strong performances were due to competing in a weak group.

But Rodriguez and Cuadrado have proved that form trumps all at major tournaments as Colombia swept aside the physical Uruguayan defence. During the match Rodriguez notched twice more to become top scorer in the tournament with five and Cuadrado provided yet another assist to lead that category with four. Both will look to continue their good form and could run riot against a Brazilian defence that is struggling to keep the ball out of their goal, with just one clean sheet in four.

The Dutch are the comeback kings

After coming from behind against Spain and then again against Australia in the group stage, the Dutch had to produce yet another late charge against Mexico after going 1-0 down. With two minutes left of normal time the Oranje looked down and out only for a Wesley Sneijder strike and a dubious penalty decision to send Holland through to the quarter finals with their third comeback victory of the tournament so far. It is better to be a lucky manager than a good manager but Van Gaal is currently making a case for both, it was his switch of formation, twice in fact throughout the game, that finally produced the desired result. His willingness to change tactics mid game will serve Holland well heading into a quarter final against Costa Rica who have not only been the surprise package but have also been unexpectedly dogged in defence, having conceded just twice so far.

Arjen Robben was the driving force once again for the Dutch and looks undroppable. Robin Van Persie’s owners will have been disappointed by another blank but he is a proven goal scorer and if the Costa Rican defence tires Van Persie will be afforded plenty of goal scoring opportunities. Similarly Fantasy managers should hang onto their Dutch defensive assets. They may only one clean sheet in four isn’t but Costa Rica will be tired after 120 minutes of football during their last-16 tie, and have scored just twice since their opening game.

The “brave bulls” of Costa Rica march on

Costa Rica continued their fairy tale World Cup by beating Greece on penalties and booking a quarter final berth. After victories against heavyweights Uruguay and Italy it would come as no shock if manager Jorge Luis Pinto’s “brave bulls” once again stunned the footballing world and beat Holland. But surely that would be one step too far. A fresh Costa Rica took the game to both Italy and Uruguay in the group stage but after four games in 16 days, plus extra time against the Greeks, Costa Rica may not have enough left in the tank for one more World Cup shock.

Costa Ricans defenders are cheap and a viable option for the  official FIFA McDonalds game, where the point scoring favours defensive attributes. This will be a game where their defensive resolve will be tested to the limits and points for recovered balls could mount up swiftly.

Argentina’s reliance on Messi

Argentina like their South American counterparts Brazil have struggled for form throughout the tournament and have relied on their own star player wearing the number 10 jersey to win them games. Lionel Messi has been asked to win games single handily for La Albiceleste; three times already Messi has scored the winning goal for his nation and it was his pass that set up Angel Di Maria’s winning goal in extra time against a resilient Swiss side in their last 16 tie.

Messi has four goals and one assist so far and needs to be in all Fantasy line-ups. Di Maria with a share of set pieces and willingness to drive into the opposition penalty area with the ball is the differential option for Argentina.

Belgium’s super subs

Belgium was another side that needed extra time to make the quarter finals and once again it was a substitute who scored the goal to secure victory. It was the fourth time a Belgium substitute had scored at this tournament. Marouane Fellaini, Dries Mertens and Divock Origi had all jumped off the bench to score goals earlier in the tournament but it was Romelu Lukaku who emerged from the dugout to score the winning goal in a tight last 16 game against USA.

Belgium have been less than impressive thus far, but as the tournament continues they look to be getting stronger and have the personnel to change games in their favour on the bench. Belgium players seem to be the differential options in this round but with the more expensive Eden Hazard not quite firing on all cylinders Kevin De Bruyne with a goal and two assists may be the fantasy option worth targeting.