Fantasy managers have another three matches to look forward to this evening as we edge towards the halfway point of the group stages. First up on our agenda, Ivory Coast square up to Colombia as both sides look to build on the back of opening wins over Japan and Greece respectively – a victory tonight would take the winners within touching distance of the knockout stages:
Ivory Coast: Barry; Aurier, Zokora, Bamba, Boka; Tiote, Serey, Y Toure; Gervinho, Bony, Gradel
Colombia: Ospina; Zuniga Zapata, Yepes, Armero; Sanchez, Aguilar; Cuadrado, Rodriguez, Ibarbo; Gutierrez
Ivory Coast make just one alteration from the side that beat Japan in Matchday 1. Surprisingly, Didier Drogba remains on the bench in spite of his crucial cameo last time around, with Wilfried Bony once again leading the line as Salomon Kalou drops out for Max Gradel in the front three. Fantasy managers will be hoping for more of the same from Serge Aurier, who served up a pair of assists from right-back in the opener.
Colombia, meanwhile, are unchanged after a convincing 3-0 win over Greece. This sees James Rodriguez fielded in “the hole” behind Teofilo Gutierrez, with both looking to notch for a second successive appearance, whilst Juan Cuadrado owners will be optimistic after he produced a couple of assists from the right wing against the Greeks.
After that one, England take on Uruguay in a vital Group D showdown. Having tasted defeat last time around, both teams desperately need a win to boost their chances of progressing – the South Americans could have Luis Suarez back in the fold after he sat out the 3-1 defeat to Costa Rica due to a knee problem, whilst Roy Hodgson has a dilemma over Wayne Rooney’s role up front, after fielding the United man on the left and through the middle in the 2-1 loss to Italy last Saturday night.
In the late 11pm kick-off, Japan and Greece also attempt to recover from Matchday 1 losses. Keisuke Honda will be looking to maintain the form that saw him score against Ivory Coast in the opener, whilst Shinji Ozazaki, with 15 goals in the Bundesliga for Mainz in 2013/14, carries a threat down the right. Greece mustered a mere two shots on target in the 3-0 defeat to Colombia and, having failed to impress at either end of the pitch, could be subject to changes, with Fulham’s Kostas Mitroglou perhaps in line to start after appearing off the bench in the opener.
