World Cup

World Cup 2018 – Team Analysis – Sweden

A new era dawns for Sweden, who will be without Zlatan Ibrahimovic at a major tournament for the first time since Euro 2000.

Though Ibrahimovic had hinted that he would end his international retirement to play in Russia, the Swedish FA resisted pressure to recall their talismanic striker, which would have risked irking the players who had performed miracles to qualify for this summer’s finals.

Sweden’s is a workmanlike squad, devoid of any real star names – with the exception, perhaps, of Emil Forsberg – and reliant on a gameplan that makes them difficult to break down.

Progression to the round of 16 would seem a tall order for Sweden given their draw, but Fantasy managers might nevertheless wish to consider some squad-filling budget buys among the Swedish ranks.

Janne Andersson’s side kick off their World Cup campaign in Nizhny Novgorod on Monday 18 June, with a likely must-win encounter against South Korea. Sweden’s fixtures subsequently toughen after this, with Germany next up in Sochi on Saturday 23 June before a final-day meeting with Mexico in Yekaterinburg on Wednesday 27 June.

Road to Qualification

Drawn in a qualification group that also contained France, the Netherlands and Bulgaria, Sweden’s chances of progress seemed slim as they entered the post-Ibrahimovic era.

However, Sweden’s only defeat in their first six matches came in a 2-1 away reverse in France, a loss they avenged with a victory by the same score in the return fixture.

Andersson’s side sat top of UEFA Group A qualification following this success over the French, which followed wins over Luxembourg, Bulgaria and Belarus and a draw with the Dutch.

The hammer blow to Sweden’s automatic qualification chances came in their seventh group fixture, with Bulgaria running out 3-2 winners over the Swedes in Sofia.

Comprehensive victories over Belarus and Luxembourg still left Sweden with an outside chance of top spot going into their final group match, but a 2-0 defeat to the Netherlands proved to be immaterial as France simultaneously ground out a 2-1 win over Belarus.

Sweden scored 26 goals en route to finishing in second place, the most in Group A and indeed more than any side finishing as runners-up in the UEFA qualifying section.

Andersson’s troops conceded nine goals in all, with seven of these strikes coming in away defeats to France, Bulgaria and the Netherlands. The Swedes remained unbeaten at home throughout qualification, meanwhile.

A nervy 180 minutes against Italy in the play-off round was settled by a 61st-minute Jakob Johansson strike in the first leg in Solna, with Gianpiero Ventura’s Italian side unable to break down a stubborn Swedish defence in the return fixture.

Most starts: Robin Olsen, Andreas Granqvist, Emil Forsberg (12), Victor Lindelof, Marcus Berg (11), Ludwig Augustinsson, Mikael Lustig, Ola Toivonen (9), Jimmy Durmaz, Albin Ekdal (7), Sebastian Larsson (5)

Most goals: Marcus Berg (8), Emil Forsberg (4), Andreas Granqvist, Mikael Lustig, Ola Toivonen (3)

Most assists: Ludwig Augustinsson, Ola Toivonen (4), Marcus Berg, Emil Forsberg (3), Mikael Lustig, Emil Krafth (2)

Sweden have contested three “official” friendlies since sealing qualification in Russia, as well as two other encounters with Denmark and Estonia in Abu Dhabi in January.

The Swedes are without a win in their three most recent FIFA-sanctioned matches, with defeats against Chile and Romania preceding a goalless draw with Denmark.

The Key Targets

The stand-out target in attack is Marcus Berg (£6.7m on Fantasy iTeam and £8.0m on McDonald’s FIFA, Sweden’s most expensive player in both games).

Only four other European strikers beat Berg’s total of eight qualifying goals, four of which came from his head – no forward scored more headed goals in UEFA qualification.

Berg has consistently found the net at club level, scoring 65 goals in 99 league appearances for Panathinaikos before a move to the Middle East last summer. In his debut season with Al Ain FC, the champions of the United Arab Emirates, Berg scored on 25 occasions in just 21 appearances.

It should be noted that six of Berg’s eight strikes for Sweden in qualification came against group also-rans Luxembourg and Belarus, while just one of his 18 goals for the national side (against Iran in March 2015) came against opposition that will be participating in this summer’s World Cup.

Berg registered three assists during qualification, though hasn’t delivered an attacking return in two subsequent international friendly appearances.

The bustling Ola Toivonen (£6.2m on Fantasy iTeam | £7.0m on McDonald’s FIFA), who had an unremarkable loan spell at Sunderland in 2015/16, is a cheaper option up front.

Though Toivonen scored fewer goals (three in total) than his strike partner during qualification, the Toulouse forward provided more assists (four) than Berg and also found the back of the net in Sweden’s 2-1 home defeat to Chile in March.

Emil Forsberg (£6.6m on Fantasy iTeam | £7.5m on McDonald’s FIFA) is the closest thing Sweden have to a superstar in their squad. The midfielder, who can either play as a second striker or, as is more likely in Andersson’s preferred 4-4-2 formation, on the left of midfield, scored four goals and supplied three assists during qualification.

Forsberg’s second year in Germany with RB Leipzig wasn’t nearly as productive as his debut campaign in 2016/17, in which he was involved in 30 of his team’s league goals.

Forsberg scored only twice and recorded two assists in 21 Bundesliga appearances this season, scoring just once for club and country in all competitions since the turn of the year.

No Sweden player had more attempts on goal during qualification than Forsberg, however, and his importance to his country’s attacking prospects cannot be understated.

Andreas Granqvist (£5.5m on Fantasy iTeam | £5.0m on McDonald’s FIFA) represents excellent value in defence. The 33-year-old centre-half started all 12 of his country’s qualification matches, keeping clean sheets in seven of those fixtures – including in both legs of the play-off tie with Italy.

As well as being an aerial threat from set-pieces, Granqvist has assumed penalty-taking duties for the Swedes: all three of his qualification goals came from the spot.

The Long Shots

Like Granqvist, Sweden’s full-backs could provide Fantasy returns at both ends of the pitch.

No Swedish player created more goals in qualification (four) than Ludwig Augustinsson (£5.4m on Fantasy iTeam | £5.0m on McDonald’s FIFA), whose excellent delivery from set pieces and open play on the left flank provides huge assist potential.

However, the Werder Bremen defender faces stiff competition from Martin Olsson (£5.6m on Fantasy iTeam | £5.0m on McDonald’s FIFA) for the left-back role and starts are far from guaranteed: Olsson lined up at left-back in Sweden’s most recent friendly against Denmark, though Augustinsson was largely favoured during qualification.

Mikael Lustig (£5.6m on Fantasy iTeam | £5.5m on McDonald’s FIFA) looks a safer bet at right-back. Sweden tend to play with a compact midfield four, with their two full-backs encouraged to bomb forward and deliver crosses into their two menacing forwards.

The Celtic defender provided two assists during qualification, but also offers a goal threat from set pieces with his height: two of his three strikes were headers.

Goalkeeper Robin Olsen (£5.5m on Fantasy iTeam | £5.0m on McDonald’s FIFA) was an ever-present during qualification and looks to have recovered from a shoulder injury that kept him out for three months towards the end of the season.

Seven of Olsen’s 12 starts resulted in clean sheets, with back-to-back shut-outs against Italy proving that the Swedish backline can stand firm against top-class opposition.

Olsen could benefit hugely from McDonald’s FIFA and Fantasy iTeam both rewarding save points: the Swedish goalkeeper made more saves per match than any other shot-stopper who played more than two matches in UEFA qualification.

Further Analysis

Our comprehensive World Cup guide can be found here.

Group A Egypt, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay

Group BIran, Morocco, Portugal, Spain

Group CAustralia, Peru, France, Denmark

Group DArgentina, Iceland, Croatia, Nigeria

Group EBrazil, Costa Rica, Switzerland, Serbia

Group FMexico, Germany, Sweden, South Korea

Group GBelgium, Panama, Tunisia, England

Group HSenegal, Japan, Poland, Colombia

Our editor’s Fantasy World Cup tips as told to Proper Sport

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423 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Emiliano Sala
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Lukaku or jesus?

    1. FFFrog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Kaku

    2. DantheManinaPan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Jesus for me. Especially with the cheaper price tag

      1. FFFrog
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        But Panamaaaaa

        1. DantheManinaPan
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          Oh crap yeah... Now I'm scared of not having him XD

    3. yakirh
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Kaku

  2. Mossy Pebble
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Please RMT?

    Ospina / Uzoho

    Christensen / Danilo / Meunier / Advincula / Jimenez

    C. Rodriguez/ Isco/ J. Rodriguez/ Carrasco / Ndiaye

    Cavani / Mbappe / Lukaku.

  3. SW6
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Muller goal, Werner assist....

    1. SW6
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      O.g. in fact Werner assist

      1. FFFrog
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Please stop Timo...... I like my frontline at the moment....

        1. Klopptomist Scott Jelly
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          This

  4. Lav
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Szczesny to start over Fabianski?

  5. Tommytour
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Whos bench boosting GW1 to get the extra 2 pointers out the way?

  6. yakirh
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Werner looks very promising

  7. RubberDucky
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Think I'm going 4-5-1

      Rotating big hitting striker with my FT depending on opponents.

      Just to see how it pans out.

      1. asquishypotato
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        The heavy hitters are up front and at the back with 2 at most in the middle.

    • asquishypotato
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Can’t believe how underrated Falcao is in the McDonald’s game, he’s he only player there I think that it’s massively over priced (lots of dodgy pricing decisions as it is).

      Good chance of pens, great form, good players around him, countries all time top scorer, what more do we want?

      1. FFFrog
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        James?

        1. Klopptomist Scott Jelly
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          Good sir Frog, is there a "losers cup" like in Rugby 7s for your Community tournament? As in a mirror of the proper knockout but for 3rd/4th rather than 1st/2nd?

          1. FFFrog
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 9 months ago

            Unfortunately probably not - once we get to the latter stages I quite like not having quite so much to do!

            1. Klopptomist Scott Jelly
              • 6 Years
              5 years, 9 months ago

              That is absolutely fair enough - just don't want to pointlessly hang on to a chip!

      2. Camzy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        The problem is Colombia aren't in good form at all. They were really low scoring in qualifying and because they play last there is significant risk in having their players because if say Falcao doesn't score, you're stuck with 2 points.

        Also James is on penalties most likely and for a little more, you can get Mbappe, Jesus and Sterling among others.

      3. SW6
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Not much wrong with Falcao. But there are just so many good forwards options and only 3 spots.

      4. yakirh
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        James on pens & free kicks makes him a better option for me

    • Red Dagger ✪
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      This Germany team is going to win the World Cup in 2nd gear.

    • Emiliano Sala
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Picking forwards is the hardest one

    • DAZZ
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      See ya later jesus, hello werner

      1. Red Dagger ✪
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Yup.

    • Sembach1
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Anyone knows anything of who to bargain in Peru squad, whom maybe will surprise i think ?

      1. Red Dagger ✪
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Edison Flores i think. Looks tasty.

      2. DantheManinaPan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Cueva is pretty popular on here

    • dfroes
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Hey!

      So this is my team rn for the McDonalds game

      Muslera (Rodriguez)
      Varela Kimmich Trippier Meunier Marcelo
      Ozil Paulinho (Ndiaye; Ogu; Asencio)
      Lewandowski Cavani Lukaku

      Was looking for:
      1) 4.0 playing GK
      2) 4.0 playing DEF; (also any 4.5 to replace Varela)
      3) 4.5 playing MID.

      Any advice is appreciated

      1. Sembach1
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Advice yes .. get some better goalscorers

        1. dfroes
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          Ronaldo is coming GW2

          1. Camzy
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            5 years, 9 months ago

            How're you gonna get Ronaldo with just one free transfer?

    • DantheManinaPan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Thoughts on Paulinho? Other than Isco are there any better £8.5 options? He seems to be quite involved in Brazil's play.

      1. Pigeon
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Rather go .5 more for Coutinho

      2. FFFrog
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        I'd go Paulinho over Coutinho if you want a Brazil mid, but Jesus may well be enough.

        1. DantheManinaPan
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          Ok thanks

    • Jafooli
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Which WC teams are truly tragic? Totally whipping boys? Not gonna get a goal, let alone a point?

      1. FFFrog
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Panama

        1. Jafooli
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          No one else Froggy?

          1. FFFrog
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 9 months ago

            I don't like to completely rule teams out. Japan, Korea and Iran my other choices if you fancy some more.

            1. Jafooli
              • 12 Years
              5 years, 9 months ago

              Cheers....

      2. Red Dagger ✪
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Australia and Panama.

        1. Jafooli
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          That all Red?

          What about Tier 2 Tragic, who’s in that?

          1. Red Dagger ✪
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            5 years, 9 months ago

            Well England are too but don't tell anyone 😉

            1. Jafooli
              • 12 Years
              5 years, 9 months ago

              This 😛

              1. Red Dagger ✪
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 6 Years
                5 years, 9 months ago

                😉

      3. SW6
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Panama, Iran. Maybe Australia and Japan.

        Could see either of Korea or Sweden not scoring too.

        1. Jafooli
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          Iran might deploy nukes if they’re losing.

      4. CloudSky
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Panama followed by Iran, Australia, Japan and Korea.

        1. Jafooli
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          Crikey, everyone said Panama in a flash....

    • Klopptomist Scott Jelly
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Agh will be forever chopping and changing my team swapping in and out Muller or Werner...

      1. Brosstan
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Considering dropping Hector to go Muller/Werner double up myself

        1. Klopptomist Scott Jelly
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          Cannae afford that - and I want a Brazil attacker too!

      2. DantheManinaPan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        I have both.

        2 attacking players from each of the 2 favourites - Germany and Brazil
        1 from each of the next 2 favourites - Spain and France.

        Looks pretty strong and balanced, though very much subject to change!

        1. Klopptomist Scott Jelly
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          Oooh - can I have a ganders? 🙂 Interested to see what sacrifices you have made elsewhere!

    • Jafooli
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Is the Finger Sniffer still the manager of Germany?

      1. CloudSky
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Ye

    • CloudSky
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Looks like Cavani, Kaku and Werner for me.

      1. FFFrog
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Currently on Cavani, Kaku, Jesus - sell me Timo over Gabriel.

        1. CloudSky
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          Might switch Cout + Werner -> Jesus + Muller.

        2. DantheManinaPan
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          Looking at betting odds...
          Werner has shorter odds on being top goalscorer for the tourney than Jesus

      2. Jafooli
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Can’t even find Werner in the player list....mind you the interface is a bit shat.

        1. CloudSky
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          A bit is putting it mildly. Dont think Ive ever seen worse.

          Hes between Lewa and Mbappe.

          1. Jafooli
            • 12 Years
            5 years, 9 months ago

            Neymar came up on the German team list instead of him 😆

            I refreshed and then he appeared 😆

            Is there a HT on how crap the coding is?

            1. CloudSky
              • 7 Years
              5 years, 9 months ago

              Maybe its a sign. 😉

              Nah, but some people said that hiccups are to be expected as it was poorly done the last time they did it.

    • Where dahoud at
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Whats the better midfield and attack

      A. Muller, coutinho, isco, cueva
      Neymar, suarez, griezeman

      B. Muller, coutinho, isco, pogba
      Neymar, suarez, werner

      1. Deeney-is-a-god
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Probably B.
        Not sure about pogba though, but think pogba and werner is better than the other duo anyways

    • Jafooli
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Is it possible to put together a full PL team in the WC game?

      1. Jafooli
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Would it be any good?

        1. Brosstan
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          Yea it seems very possible

          Pickford
          Trippier - Christensen - Stones - Lindeløf
          Hazard - Eriksen - D.Silva
          Lukaku - Jesus - Iheanacho

          something like that. Biggest problem would be finding cheap enablers.

      2. Emiliano Sala
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        De gea
        Trippier vertonghen mendy alder
        Eriksen ozil pogba b.silva j.mario
        Kane lukaku salah

      3. Ghost Gooner
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Jesus Lukaku Giroud
        Ozil KDB Iwobi
        Vert Lovren Ota Danilo
        Cabillero

    • Deeney-is-a-god
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      A) Danilo and Kimmich
      B) Marcelo and hummels
      Option A leaves 0.5 itb which I would most likely save

      1. CloudSky
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        A

        1. Deeney-is-a-god
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          Thanks

    • Emiliano Sala
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      I have front 3 of: griezmann mbappe and jesus and can't convince myself to lose any of them for that kaku

      1. CloudSky
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Id lose all of them for Kaku against Panama.

        1. Emiliano Sala
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          Maybe just get him for panama game and sell him after that. Opinion?

          1. CloudSky
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 9 months ago

            Wouldnt be selling him before Tunisia. Im WC in GW3 so thats where Im looking at re:selling him.

    • DantheManinaPan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Any reason Lukaku is a lot more popular than Hazard/Mertens?

      1. Deeney-is-a-god
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Front of the attack and loves scoring against smaller teams. Will probably get more chances than the other two aswell

      2. CloudSky
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        All of them are fwds so no cs points and + points for goal for those two. Might as well pick the guy in the nr 9 that has a reputation of being a flat track bully.

        I also dont like Hazard in any fantasy format. All fart and no po o. Doesnt even have the bonus to fall back too in WCF.

    • JurgenRodgers
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Who’s most nailed in Russia’s defence £4.5?

      1. Jafooli
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Novichok

        1. FFFrog
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          Yeah he really stops the attackers in their tracks

          1. JurgenRodgers
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            5 years, 9 months ago

            Cheers 🙂

    • Del Monte
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Which teams will get the most CS in the Group Stage?

      1. Deeney-is-a-god
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Impossible to tell, most of the highest rated nations have easy groups and good potential. Uruguay is a team that offers less exspensive players and have a good defence and group

    • FFFrog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      We've currently got a dilemma - there are too many good forwards and far too few mids. This comes with good reasoning; almost always in a WC the strikers from the big teams do better than the mids. The best value from the mids come from teams with weaker strikers, world-class mids in average teams or teams that don't play with a striker at all. The mids that come into this category are: James, Eriksen, Isco, Shaqiri, Siggy. 5 real choices. I agree that the likes of Paulinho/ Coutinho, KDB, Ozil can seem appealing, but fundamentally they are not going to score as many as the forwards or mids that are given their responsibility, such as Eriksen or Isco. Thoughts?

      1. FFFrog
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Muller the only real exception to this rule imo.

      2. Brosstan
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Is Hazard a forward in the McDs game?

        1. FFFrog
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          Yeah unfortunately he is - this is where the problem is coming from. Silva, Mane, Salah etc all the same

      3. CloudSky
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Due to classification which is similar to the one they use in UCL, Im probably going with a heavy front and back formation (523 if you will) with 2 heavy hitters mid and some 5-6.0s on the bench. Worked a treat there.

    • SW6
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Saudi Arabia to beat Russia at 9/1...

      1. FFFrog
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Salem Al-Dawsari in my team at 5.0m.

        1. SW6
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          Is he a midfielder?

          1. FFFrog
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 9 months ago

            Yeah - he's looking quality tonight

            1. SW6
              • 11 Years
              5 years, 9 months ago

              I'm bringing him in too, let the bandwagon commence

              1. FFFrog
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 8 Years
                5 years, 9 months ago

                I knew I should've kept schtum

        2. SW6
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          He almost just scored 😮

          1. FFFrog
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 9 months ago

            Let's keep this one between us 😉

            1. SW6
              • 11 Years
              5 years, 9 months ago

              Al Faraj the other 5.0 looks like he's playing no.10

      2. Lyonnais
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        They're looking far better than expected.

      3. Alan The Llama
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        They are 6/1, draw no bet. I'll be having some of that, Russia are terrible.

    • Legomané
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Imagine if FPL followed suit and reclassified all wingers and attacking mids as forwards next season...I think I might not bother 😮

      I know there has been some well reasoned chat on here about reclassifying the likes of Salah and Sterling as forwards next season, but I think the FIFA game has indulged to the extent that the game is borderline unplayable. The vast pool of attacking talent needing to be squeezed into just 3 slots dwarfs the relative mediocrity we somehow need to spread thinly over 5 unsatisfying midfield slots.

      Going forward, I'd advocate that FPL considers only players who are the pinnacle of their teams attack as the forward option for that team - ergo Salah FWD, Firmino MID, Sterling MID etc.

      FIFA Fantasy have gone far too far 🙁

      1. SW6
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        If they did, they should allow 4 forwards in the team

    • Boomerang V
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Is the Wild card in McDonalds more effective if played early?

      Because there unlimited changes between group phase and knockout phase and then the number of transfers increase:
      Before Quarter-finals: 3
      Before semi-finals: 5
      Before finals: 5
      So I think in round 2 or 3 is the ideal time for it.

      1. CloudSky
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Agree.

      2. Rotation
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Similar thinking. I like the idea of a building a team for gw1 based on fixtures then flipping to form for gw2 on a WC, and trying to get that BB in early or for gw 4.

    • The Desi Messi
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Brian Idowu (Nigeria)

      £4.0m starting defender I believe

      1. FFFrog
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Their goalie is also a 4m starter

      2. The Desi Messi
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Also, Salif Sane (Senegal) is a £4.5m Mid starting as a centre back

        1. FFFrog
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          Not nailed on