World Cup 2014 – PlayON Player Picks – Round 2

We roll out our second player picks article for PlayON’s World Cup Game this lunchtime. With Brazil’s clash against Mexico getting Round 2 underway later this evening, we scour the Player Price List for bargains once again:

PlayON is running a number of different Gameweeks for each round of the World Cup. Each Gameweek is where you pick your teams and enter one-on-one and multiplayer games for the relevant matches. PlayON is running a separate Gameweek for each individual group each round, as well as a Gameweek for all groups each round, so you can pick teams just from players in the four teams in a particular group, or from all 32 teams – the choice is yours. The different Gameweeks are located in the dropdown menu in the top left . Fantasy managers must save their teams of XI two hours prior to the start of each Gameweek, with the deadline for the “Round 2 All Groups” and “Round 2 Group A” Gameweeks at 19.00 this evening. A new addition to PlayON for the World Cup is being able to pick multiple teams, so you can pick up to three different teams in each gameweek, thus increasing your chances of success.

New cash games for the World Cup are multiplier games, where you can double or treble your money, as well as limit entry games so rather than playing against hundreds of people, you can enter games with a maximum of five, 10 or 20 entrants. In-play games are also due to be released over the coming days, as well as the return of limitless entry games.

Goalkeeper – Asmir Begovic
The Bosnia and Herzegovina stopper comes in at a mere £7.4m for a key encounter with Nigeria. Safet Susic’s side limited Argentina to just two shots on target in an unfortunate defeat on Sunday night and if they replicate that resilience against the Africans, a clean sheet for Begovic could well be on the cards. Ecuador’s Alexander Dominguez is a budget-friendly £7.2m in the PlayON Round 2 Price List. After losing to Switzerland in the group opener, they desperately need a win against a Honduras side that mustered just one effort on target in last week’s loss to France. Italy’s clash with Costa Rica is also worth monitoring. With Gianluigi Buffon struggling to recover from injury, Salvatore Sirigu is expected to get the nod again and costs just £8.3m – if the veteran stopper proves his fitness, though, he’s the best value at £7.7m.

Defender – Giorgio Chiellini
The versatile Juventus man is arguably the only guaranteed starter at the back for Cesar Prandelli’s side. Either in a 3-5-2 or last week’s 4-3-3 against England, Chiellini offers the Italians options for a Group D clash with Costa Rica that could, potentially, put his side into the knockout stages – he’s available for £8.7m ahead of this evening’s 19.00 deadline, although you’ll be able to pick him up in the Round 2 Group D gameweek for a few more days. Holland’s Daley Blind delivered a pair of assists in last week’s stunning win over Spain. Fielded as a left wing-back in a 5-3-2, the Ajax man sets you back £8.5m for a game against Australia, as Louis Van Gaal’s swashbuckling side look for another victory. If you’re shopping in the budget bracket, Sead Kolasinac is priced at just £7.3m for Bosnia’s above-mentioned clash with Nigeria.

Midfielder – Arjen Robben
Coming in at 9.5 in the PlayON Player Price List, the Dutchman is one of the most expensive midfielders around. Nonetheless, a change of position in last week’s devastating win over Spain boosted Robben’s potential – shifted up front alongside Robin Van Persie, he bagged a brace in a 5-1 rout of the defending champions. Up against group underdogs Australia tomorrow evening, he looks difficult to ignore in our starting XIs. Ivan Rakitic is a more budget-friendly option as Croatia look to bounce back from an opening day defeat against Brazil. Available for £8.4m, the new Barcelona signing notched 12 goals and 10 assists for Sevilla last season and looks essential to his side’s chances of bettering Cameroon this week. Antonio Candreva also sets you back £8.4m for Italy’s game against Costa Rica. Handed a role on the right of a front three against England, he provided an assist to continue the form that produced 12 goals and six assists for Lazio in 2013/14.

Forward – Mario Mandzukic
Suspended for Croatia’s opener with Brazil, the centre forward will return to the starting XI for a vital showdown with Cameroon. Both sides desperately need a win after losing their first group matches and Mandzukic – available for £9.6m – arrives in confident mood, having fired 18 league goals in 21 starts in the previous campaign. Edin Dzeko comes in at £9.4m for Bosnia’s crunch encounter with Nigeria. Having scored 10 times in qualifying, the big striker is clearly essential to his nation’s chances of picking up the points, with spot-kick duties enhancing his appeal. Ecuador’s Enner Valencia grabbed a goal in last week’s narrow loss against Switzerland and has now netted in five of his last six appearances for his country. Up next, the £9.7m-priced frontman squares up to a Honduras side that were comprehensively beaten by France in their Group E opener.

Pick your teams for the “Round 2 All Groups” and “Round 2 Group A” gameweeks by 19.00 this evening at www.playon.co