Scout Notes

Brazil assets pass Fantasy auditions with flying colours

Neymar, Gabriel Jesus and Philippe Coutinho all made compelling cases for inclusion in World Cup Fantasy squads on Sunday.

They grabbed the goals in the Selecao’s final warm-up game ahead of this summer’s finals.

We’ve got everything you need to know about the match.

AUSTRIA 0-3 BRAZIL

Brazil rounded off their World Cup warm-up campaign in some style as they waltzed to a 3-0 victory in Austria.

In the 38th minute Gabriel Jesus scored the opening goal, pouncing on the rebound from Marcelo’s blocked shot from range.

Neymar, making his first start since February, doubled the Selecao’s lead in the second-half after some typically impressive skilful play.

The Paris Saint Germain forward has now scored in his last two Brazil matches following his return from injury.

Philippe Coutinho added the third and final goal of the meeting, assisted by substitute Roberto Firmino.

The only personnel change to Brazil’s starting XI from the side that beat Croatia earlier this month was Neymar’s return in the left-forward position of a 4-3-3.

He replaced Fernandinho, who is not expected to be starting player in Brazil. Paulinho dropped deeper than the right-forward role he has fulfilled of late to sit in the midfield three, as did Coutinho.

That allowed Willian to play in a more advanced role, resulting in his assist for Neymar’s goal.

The defence of Marcelo, Joao Miranda, Thiago Silva and relatively budget-option Danilo remained unchanged.

Brazil XI (4-3-3): Alisson; Marcelo (Filipe Luis 67’), Joao Miranda, Thiago Silva (Marquinhos 60’), Danilo; Coutinho (Taison 76’), Casemiro (Fernandinho 61’), Paulinho; Neymar (Douglas Costa 84’), Gabriel Jesus (Roberto Firmino 67’), Willian.

Further Analysis

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

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

Fantasy iTeam

Fantasy Football Scout is supporting Fantasy iTeam, a free World Cup game available on a number of mobile devices, including iPhone, iPad, iPodTouch and Android. We have an official Fantasy Football Scout League open to UK users only, with a £1000 of Amazon vouchers to give out, split between the top three performers. There’s also the small matter of £10k worth of prizes available in the main competitions: Overall World Championship and Manager of the Gameround.

Click here for details and here to sign up.

Our League name is Fantasy Football Scout and the pin is 1887.

Please note, users must be over 18 and based in the UK to join our league.

World Cup Data
We’re delighted to offer World Cup data as an early addition to our regular season offering to help those playing Fantasy games over the summer.

We’ve secured Opta data, not only for the tournament itself, which begins on June 14 but also from the Qualifying Rounds for Europe and South America and for international friendlies involving the participating nations. This includes all the matches played right up to the tournament kick-off.

Just to stress, this World Cup offering comes packaged with the regular Fantasy Football Scout membership.

Check out this new trailer previewing the World Cup content below…

682 Comments Post a Comment
  1. thekingiii
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Afternoon boys, the excitement is kicking in!

    What are the thoughts on Muller + Jesus or Werner + Coutinho? And any reasons that I may be missing as to an obvious better pick?

    1. johnnymorrocco
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      muller as a mid is erotic to me

  2. unlethal
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Repost for more thoughts (sorry)

    This is my current midfield:

    Eriksen - JRod - Isco - Kvist - Hamed

    Is it really worth downgrading one of the premiums to spread the money to upgrade the other cheap options? (Seems to be the popular opinion right now)

    I know this allows more bites of the cherry, but are they significant enough to offset the impact of having the premium midfielder instead?

    1. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Yes. Downgrade Isco.

      1. unlethal
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Doesn't Isco have a much higher chance of attacking returns than, for example, the Nandez and Ljajic that downgrading him allows?

        Or do you think the possibility that either Nandez or Ljajic delivers is higher?

        1. Camzy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          Ljajic definitely good returns possible. And yes two attacking players from worse teams is better than one premium and two midfield fodders.

          1. unlethal
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 10 months ago

            Thanks so much! You've convinced me.

            Made these moves:
            Isco + Kvist + Hamed > Ljajic + Cueva + Nandez

  3. mcrayeps
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    who is the nailed 4.5m and below GK beside Uzoho?

    1. AusieAllTheWay
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Matt Ryan

    2. Christina.
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Morocco

      1. johnnymorrocco
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        hello

    3. mcrayeps
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      what about Gallese?

      1. mcrayeps
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        just realized that Galesse and Uzoho is not the best pair as they play on the same day 🙁

  4. FF Dirtbag
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    In your opinion, what are the Top 3 GKs to have for the whole tournament?

    1. AusieAllTheWay
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Neuer
      Courtious
      Allison
      (Muslera for group)

    2. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Uzoho. He will continue to provide value to the rest of the team long after Nigeria are out because of his price tag xD

      Only one that I'm sure of. The others are just so expensive...

  5. AusieAllTheWay
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Thoughts on Milinkovic-Savic? Should i look to get someone like Forsberg instead?

  6. Kook kook kooki
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Afternoon, everyone!
    So, here goes my team:

    Muslera Uzoho
    Danilo Meunier Varela Trippier Mojica
    J.Rod Paulinho Carrasco Cueva Aldawsari
    Cavani Werner Lukaku
    (with +0.5 in the bank)

    Concerns -
    1. Paulinho vs Eriksen - Paulinho seems to have a knack of scoring goals & Brasil could be more free-scoring than Denmark (Eriksen)
    2. If I do drop him though, makes more sense to include Jesus instead of the strikers - which one should go?

    Thoughts?

    1. johnnymorrocco
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      will walker not play ahead of trip?

      1. Kook kook kooki
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Given the back 3, Trippier will certainly go RWB?

  7. cthaeh
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    anybody else concerned about overthinking their team and going with worse option that a previously chosen one? lol

    1. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      I go through so many drafts I'm pretty sure I've passed the one that would've scored the most points already.

  8. Mystogan
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    I think I am gonna win the Car! Please RMT . Is it better to use the players in the bracket?

    Muslera / Uzoha

    Lovren (R.Rod) / Trauco (Advincula) / Kimmich / Meunier /Sabaly

    Isco / JRod / Coutinho / Gvist / C.sanchez

    Cavani / Jesus / Lukaku

  9. geese01
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Please pick, thanks! :

    a) Neymar, Suarez, Meza

    b) Jesus, Cavani, Muller

    1. Rains of Castamere
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      What's your potential captain schedule for Round 1?

      Thurs - Al-Dawsari
      Fri - Isco/Muslera
      Sat - Messi
      Sun - Neymar
      Mon - Lukaku
      Tues - Mojica if it's all gone to sh*t

      1. Rains of Castamere
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Oops, ignore.

        1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          Tuesday. 😀 Wednesday's child is full of woe ... 😉

  10. goBUDDYgo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    After seeing so much 5-2-3 with strikers priced between 9-10.5, but a lack of the Uber 3, even tho Neymar and Messi have a relatively high ownership overall, I am playing around with an Uber 2 up front.

    Muslera, Uzoho
    Meunier, Danilo, Kolorov, Mojica, Somaly
    JRod, Ljajic, Cueva, Belhanda, Nandez
    Messi, Neymar, Jesus

    Surprised by the lack of Messi on here. Personally think he's in a pretty weak group and he scores for fun.

    Thoughts on this strategy?

  11. cthaeh
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    RMT

    Lloris, Courtois
    Kimmich, Marcelo, Meunier, Alba, Ramos
    Cout. Eriksen, J.Rod, KDB, Mueller
    Neymar, Messi, Lukaku

    1. johnnymorrocco
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      So you've found the cheat as well ? don't tell anyone

  12. Mystogan
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    RMT please.Is Behrami nailed?

    Muslera/Uzoho
    Kimmich/Meunier/Lovren/Mojica/Sabaly
    Isco/Coutinho/Jrod/Behrami/Kvest
    Jesus/Lukaku/Cavani

  13. Hig1990
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Thoughts on these two pairings? Which is stronger?

    Hazard & Jesus or Lukaku & Coutinho?

  14. Richd
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Right i'm done.

    Dunno enough about this stuff

    Thoughts appreciated of course!

    Nigeria and Saudi keepers
    Varela, Trauco, Tagliafico, Trippier, Meunier
    Cueva, Isco, Mueller, Jrod, Aljassam
    Cavani, Jesus, Giroud

    0.0 ITB

    I'll captain the saudi guy
    then Cavani
    Giroud
    Jesus or Mueller
    Then Trippier?!?!?!
    Then Jrod

    I guess no Belgium or England attacks annoying, but i'd have to replace a forward to do that as no other options I like. Anyone else having that problem?

    1. Richd
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      I guess a Russian or Egyptian would be decent for round 2 as well.. :/

  15. Richd
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    A strange thought. The later a player plays in the week, the less likely he is your captain right?

    I mean say any player grabs double figures as your captain you'll prob hold it. Meaning Belgian/English/Colombian's are less likely to be our captains.. or a final hurrah if you've gambled too much or got very unlucky?

  16. hazardous11
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    How the squad looking fellas ?

    Gk - Muslera , Shmeichel
    Deff- Trippier , Godin , Meunier, Hakimi, Spajic
    Mid - Eriksen , Coutinho , Laljic , Sanchez , Hamed
    Fwd- Mbappe , Cavani , Neymar

  17. veranceftw
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Muslera - Ozoho
    Trippier - Danilo - Meunier - Kimmich - Varela
    Carrasco - Eriksen - Lo Celso - Aldawsari - James
    Lukaku - Werner - Griezzmann

    What do you think of my team? I would like to add Ziyach from Morocco but I don't think it would be worth it to sacrifice any of my mid players.
    Can you think of any replace or something that would smooth my team even more?

    And some extra info:
    How are your thoughts in using the WC and BB? I'm pointing for a WC in GW1 or GW3 and BB on GW1.

    Good luck everyone