With friendlies across the globe, vital World Cup qualifiers and winner-takes-all Euro 2012 play-offs all on the agenda, there’s plenty for us Fantasy managers to fret about over the next few days.
Last night’s game in the Amsterdam Arena was a case in point- the sight of Rafael Van der Vaart clutching his hamstring as he limped off the pitch in Holland’s goalless draw with Switzerland was a nightmare scenario come true. As of yet, though, there has been no official update to confirm he’s out- it may well just be precautionary.
For now, then, us Fantasy managers are stuck in a no man’s land; all we can do is sit back with fingers crossed, hoping our players come through unscathed and ticking off the games one by one as we frantically wait for the post-match reports.
Read on for our comprehensive guide to the action and events so far, with details of those set to be involved in the coming week…
Arsenal
Robin Van Persie, owned by 22.9% of Fantasy managers, came through Holland’s friendly with Switzerland unscathed last night. The good news for Fantasy managers is that Arsene Wenger has struck a deal with the Dutch management which allows Van Persie to fly back to London to rest, rather than participate in next week’s friendly with Germany. Johan Djourou also played the ninety minutes without issue. Elsewhere, Aaron Ramsey, Theo Walcott, Per Mertesacker, Johan Djourou, Laurent Koscielny, Tomas Rosicky and Andrei Arshavin could all feature twice for their nations, whilst Gervinho has a lengthy trip to South Africa with the Ivory Coast for their game today.
Aston Villa
Shay Given, in 22.4% of FPL teams, kept a clean sheet in the Republic of Ireland’s first leg Euro 2012 play-off against Estonia, with the return on 15/11. Gabby Agbonlahor, selected by 16.9% of FPL managers, has been ruled out of England’s games and reported had scans on his hamstring injury yesterday. Team-mate Darren Bent may clock up some more minutes over England’s two friendlies. Richard Dunne also featured for the Republic of Ireland in their triumph last night and will be expected to start again on Tuesday.
Blackburn Rovers
Lying near the foot of the Premier League table, it is unsurprising that investment in Rovers’ players in minimal. David Goodwillie, Morten Gamst Pederson, Martin Olsson, Grant Hanley and Simon Vukcevic –who played in Montenegro’s 2-0 loss to the Czech Republic last night- are all in line to feature for their respective nations. Whilst Radoslav Petrovic may be the most affected as Serbia face two games in Central America.
Bolton
Gary Cahill, in 23.0% of FPL teams, seems to have cemented himself as a favourite under Fabio Capello and will certainly feature at some point for England in their friendlies. Elsewhere, it’s slim pickings for Bolton, with Ivan Klasnic dropped by Croatia and reserve keeper Adam Bogdan in line to represent Hungary.
Chelsea
Jose Bosingwa, a Fantasy favourite with 21.6% ownership, has been left out of the Portugal squad and could therefore be recalled against Liverpool given his freshness when compared with Branislav Ivanovic, who played in Serbia’s 2-0 loss to Mexico and has another friendly on Monday. David Luiz is in store for a long distance haul with Brazil – he played 90 minutes on Thursday against Gabon and will face Egypt on Monday. John Terry faces two games with England, while Raul Meireles may feel the strain by playing twice for Portugal against Bosnia-Herzegovina. Given that Ramires has been left out of Brazil’s squad, he looks to be nailed on to feature at Stamford Bridge. Elsewhere, Petr Cech came through the Czech Republic’s first-leg Euro 2012 play-off win over Montenegro without any problem, whilst Ashley Cole, Daniel Sturridge, Juan Mata, Fernando Torres and Salomon Kalou could all get some action for their respective nations.
Everton
Phil Jagielka sailed through training on Friday for England despite suffering from a toe injury- the centre-half is currently owned by 10.9% of Fantasy managers and could face Spain today and Sweden. Elsewhere, Seamus Coleman, Jack Rodwell, Tim Howard, Marouane Fellaini may also be involved, the latter played ninety minutes in Belgium’s 2-1 win over Romania last night. John Heitinga and Diniyar Bilyaletdinov could also see action.
Fulham
Brede Hangeland, who has 10.1% FPL ownership, and John Arne Riise are likely to play for Norway in their friendly against Wales in Cardiff today, giving them plenty of time to recover for their game with Sunderland next weekend. Clint Dempsey has two friendlies for the USA – he played 90 minutes in France last night – whilst Damien Duff and Stephen Kelly both started for the Republic of Ireland against Estonia, with the second leg to come on Tuesday. Mark Schwarzer, Patjim Kasami, Bobby Zamora and Moussa Dembele are also in line to represent their nations. Bryan Ruiz faces a lengthy trip to Central America for two games with Costa Rica, which could make him unlikely to feature in Martin Jol’s starting lineup at Sunderland next time out.
Liverpool
Luis Suarez, who is the fourth most selected FPL player with 33.7%, grabbed all four goals for Uruguay in the 4-0 rout of Chile in a World Cup qualifier last night. He now jets off to Italy for a friendly on Tuesday. With Andy Carroll left out of the England set-up, he could be nailed on to keep his place in Kenny Dalglish’s starting lineup. Elsewhere, Dirk Kuyt, Glenn Johnson, Stewart Downing, Pepe Reina, Craig Bellamy and Daniel Agger are all in the squads for their countries. There’s no place for Jose Enrique in the Spain squad set-up though, whilst Charlie Adam pulled out for Scotland last week.
Manchester City
David Silva, the highest owned player in the FPL game, will represent Spain in their friendly games with England and Costa Rica. The latter of these fixtures is the more significant, as the midfielder travels to Central America and the lengthy flight home, in addition to two games in five days, may take its toll. Sergio Aguero has aggravated a groin injury whilst with Argentina, ruling him out of the World Cup qualifier with Bolivia and making him a doubt for the clash with Colombia on Tuesday. Long flights, competitive matches and an ankle injury are sure to worry his 34.4% FPL ownership.
Edin Dzeko played ninety minutes last night for Bosnia-Herzegovina against Portugal and has a return match on Tuesday night. Mario Balotelli scored one and assisted the other in Italy’s 2-0 win over Poland last night and now faces Uruguay on Tuesday. Vincent Kompany turned out for Belgium, Stefan Savic played for Montenegro and Nigel De Jong for Holland, while Joe Hart, Joleon Lescott, Gareth Barry, Adam Johnson, James Milner, Yaya and Kolo Toure should all get some action for their nations. Aleksandar Kolarov was sent off in Serbia’s 2-0 defeat to Mexico, picking up a second yellow card for a foul on Javier Hernandez.
Manchester United
Nani, currently owned by 26.0% of teams, turned out for Portugal last night for their Euro 2012 first leg play-off with Bosnia-Herzegovina. He faces a return leg on Tuesday, which, barring injury, should see him okay for consideration for United’s clash with Swansea. Sir Alex Ferguson clearly has options in this are but one such option, Antonio Valencia, played 90-minutes for Ecuador yesterday as they lost 2-1 to Paraguay in their World Cup qualifier. He faces another tie with Peru on Tuesday, meaning that both Nani and Valencia will go into the Swansea clash having played two competitive matches over the break.
Javier Hernandez grabbed a goal in Mexico’s 2-0 home win over Serbia but should be fit and recovered from the long flight in time for next weekend. Wayne Rooney, selected by 37.3% of Fantasy managers, is out of the England frame for the time being, but Danny Welbeck and Phil Jones should both feature. Fabio Da Silva has been chosen for Brazil and played 45 minutes in the 2-0 win over Gabon on Thursday. He faces another friendly with Egypt on Monday; that could yet be a factor in his chances of figuring at Swansea.
Newcastle
Cheik Tiote, owned by 12.6% of FPL teams, has been drafted into the Ivory Coast squad for their game with South Africa today, although he seems unlikely to feature, given he’s missed the last two league games with a knee problem. Yohan Cabaye has been included in the France squad for their friendlies and was an unused sub against the USA last night, with Tuesday’s clash against Belgium to follow. Tim Krul sat on the bench for Holland against Switzerland and faces Germany on Tuesday. Elsewhere, Leon Best was in the Republic of Ireland squad and could yet feature in their second leg on Tuesday.
Norwich
The international break shouldn’t influence things at Carrow Road too much. Steve Morison and Andrew Crofts have both been selected in the Wales squad for their game with Norway today.
QPR
Jamie Mackie scored for Scotland last night against Cyprus, but team-mate Danny Gabbidon has been ignored by Wales. Adel Taarabt and Armand Traore are the main concerns for Neil Warnock – both are included in the Morocco and Senegal squads respectively and face two friendlies over the break, with Taarabt facing Gabon on Wednesday.
Stoke
Asmir Begovic, who is selected by 14.3% of FPL Managers, played for Bosnia-Herzegovina last night in the Euro 2012 play-off against Portugal. The second leg is on Tuesday. His understudy, Thomas Sorensen, is also away for two friendlies with Denmark. Jon Walters currently holds a 9.9% FPL ownership and scored for the Republic of Ireland in their crucial play-off games with Estonia last night. He could feature again on Tuesday, along with Glenn Whelan who also figured last night. Tony Pulis will be hoping that both earn some form of rest given the aggregate score in the tie.
Sunderland
Seb Larsson is the most prized Fantasy asset to feature over the international break with an ownership of 13.8%. The midfielder played the full ninety minutes in Sweden’s 2-0 loss to Denmark last night, with Nicklas Bendtner opening the scoring for the hosts. Larsson is set to feature against England in midweek but is then suspended for his club’s next league encounter with Fulham. Elsewhere, Kieren Westwood, David Vaughan, John O’Shea could all play roles for their nations, though with the Republic of Ireland 4-0 up from their first leg, it seems unlikely O’Shea’s hamstring problem will be risked on Tuesday if doubts remain. South Korean striker Dong-Won Ji started in World Cup qualifier with United Arab Emirates yesterday – he was subbed at half-time. He faces another trip to face Lebanon on Tuesday – a concern for Steve Bruce given that he is set to feature against Fulham with Connor Wickham surely set to be sidelined.
Swansea
Flavour of the month goalkeeper Michel Vorm, who is currently selected by 24.0% of Fantasy Managers, was called up to the Netherlands squad for their friendlies with Switzerland and Germany. He was an unused sub last night, though may feature in the second game on 15/11. Swans trio Neil Taylor, Ashley Williams and Joe Allen have all been called up to the Welsh squad and could feature in today’s game.
Tottenham
As already mentioned, Rafael Van der Vaart, currently in 19.2% of teams, limped out of Holland’s game with Switzerland last night and may miss the midweek friendly with Germany. Whilst Gareth Bale, owned by 17.9% of FPL teams, is likely to play for Wales against Norway today. Luka Modric and Vedran Corluka both played in Croatia’s 3-0 win in Turkey last night, with the latter scoring. The second leg of their crunch Euro 2012 play-off is on Tuesday. Elsewhere, Roman Pavlyuchenko, Kyle Walker and Scott Parker could feature for their respective countries and Steven Pienaar is making the long trip to South Africa to face the Ivory Coast today. Sandro returned to action following injury and played 90 minutes for Brazil on Thursday – he could figure again in a friendly with Egypt on Monday.
West Brom
It’s fair to say that West Brom players are hardly standing out as FPL staples this season and the international break shouldn’t do too much damage Fantasy-wise, as far as Roy Hodgson is concerned it will come as a welcome break. Simon Cox, Jonas Olsson and James Morrison have all been included in their respective national team’s squads. Cox was given seven minutes as a sub for the Republic of Ireland last night and could figure in Tuesday’s second-leg.
Wigan
Ali Al-Habsi is by far the most selected player for Roberto Martinez’s side with 14.1% FPL ownership. The goalkeeper features twice in two crucial World Cup 2014 qualifiers for Oman over the break. He played in last night’s 1-0 win over Australia and will face Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. James McArthur, Gary Caldwell and James McCarthy make up the other international inclusions.
Wolves
Wolves’ most-owned inclusion over the international break is Stephen Ward, currently in 12.4% of teams. He played the full ninety minutes in the Republic of Ireland’s first-leg Euro 2012 play-off game against Estonia last night. Stephen Hunt had a brief sub cameo, while Kevin Doyle wasn’t included amongst the subs. The second leg, on Tuesday, should be far less strenuous than first imagined, given the 4-0 lead they take into the game. Wayne Hennessey, David Edwards, Sam Vokes and Christophe Berra are all representing Home Nation sides.
