Dugout Discussion

Defence proves popular in Russia v Saudia Arabia

World Cup Fantasy managers have a first chance to see their players in action as Russia take on Saudi Arabia in the opening fixture.

The showdown takes place in the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, the venue which will host next month’s final.

Despite both sides combining for just five clean sheets in 22 matches, defensive assets have proved the most popular for the encounter.

Goalkeeper Abdullah Al-Mayouf (£4.0m) comes into the opener with five percent ownership on McDonald’s FIFA World Cup Fantasy, more than any other in the match.

Meanwhile, Russian counterpart Igor Akinfeev (£5.0m) and Mohamed Alburayk (£4.0m) both have a three percent share of worldwide managers.

Alexandr Samedov (£7.5m) is the most likely to do well this afternoon, having been involved in 11 goals in the nation’s last 20 matches. Despite that, Samedov has between zero and one percent ownership.

STARTING LINE-UPS

4-2-3-1: Akinfeev; Fernandes, Kutepov, Ignashevich, Zhirkov; Gazinskiy, Zobnin, Golovin, Dzagoev, Samedov; Smolov.

4-5-1: Al-Maiouf; Alburayk, Os.Hawsawi, Om.Hawsawi, Al-Shahrani; Otayf, Al-Dawsari, Al-Faraj, Al-Jassam, Al-Shehri, Al-Sahlawi

970 Comments Post a Comment
  1. ★Kuntheman★
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    There won’t be an easier captaincy next week. Cavani(c) easy.

    1. GoonerByron
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Suarez (c) 😉

    2. SW6
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Will be hard to pick between Cavani and Suarez

      1. Red Dagger ✪
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Getting both now

        1. Shels
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          Using you captain boost, winning

    3. Fantastisk
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Lol

  2. Sebbo29
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Wow what a start to the WC. Gotta feel sorry for the Saudis though

    1. SW6
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Why? They were awful

      1. Nomar
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        This.

        Worse than a Sunday pub team.

    2. Sailboats
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Why? They deserved to lose

  3. FER FUSCH AKE
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    congratulations Russian players owners.

  4. barracuda
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Ownership of Golovin in 10k?

    1. The Cherry Picker
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      100% probably

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

    Captain locked in.

  6. Jafooli
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Currently on 0pts......crap game

  7. Fantastisk
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    The Saudis are much better in Mosque than Moscow.

  8. Lav
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Hands up if you had Golovin and now you dont.

    Dropped him after my first draft.

    1. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      O/
      had him for most of the week but Switched to Dzagoev

  9. Taking the Mkhitaryan
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    LMS score update?

    1. Red Dagger ✪
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Saudi's all dead.

  10. Jack Frost
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Well nobody has Cherry... but a bunch will have Golovin as C... good for ya. No more captain decisions.

  11. FER FUSCH AKE
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    lewa to cavani is gw 2

  12. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Clean sheet for my 4.5m defender, I will take that!

  13. Ógie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Biggest win ever in a WC opener.

  14. Red Dagger ✪
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    I think I'm getting Suarez and I already have Cavani.

  15. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Shocking result for Egypt. Need to beat Russia now to have a chance of getting out of the group.

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

      You assume they can't do anything against Uruguay.

      1. Ógie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        I would not give Egypt much of a chance against Uruguay with or without Salah.That game against Russia will be a big crunch game for them now.

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

      Yes 🙁 but hopefully Salah can do it

  16. Waynoo
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Wouldnt like to be a Saudi player right now

    1. Fantastisk
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Marched off to Justice Square when they return to Riyadh...

    2. Shels
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      I would but only as a foreign national... But maybe not then either

  17. Alex_thekid
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Anyone have any Russian players?
    Golovin?

    1. Paul
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Aye

    2. Norman Conquest
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      lad in my ml had him as captain

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

      Gazinsky. Great value at 4.5m xD

    4. Alex_thekid
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      I'm devoud i went with non of them people on here were saying stay away from them I Wanted 1 of them just for something to watch and to be excited

  18. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Coutinho to golovin?

  19. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Had one Saudi player and that is all

    1. Fred54
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      *Al-l.

    2. Shels
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      The gk he he

  20. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    WC for gw2.Get Suarez and cavani + another uruguayan

    1. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      You haven't seen Panama play yet do

      1. Nomar
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Lord help us if they’re worse than that shower of sh*te that just let Russia abuse them on International television.

      2. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Heard they are Uber crap. So have triple Belgium this round. England play them. So kane(c) 😉

  21. Shels
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    41% possession

    Russia :\

    1. Shels
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Actually it was 39%

  22. Fred54
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Sad story, I've only seen 10 seconds of this WC.

  23. Frip
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    where can we see player scores?

    1. Fred54
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      On all of my rival's teams. 🙁

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

        appreciate the joke, but you can't even view rival teams 🙁

  24. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Green arrow for Al Dawsari cappers!

    1. Ógie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      They should have went with some of the Al-Ternatives

  25. Taking the Mkhitaryan
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    So who has already brought Cavani in for wk 2 before he has played?
    Be honest!

  26. Stats Don\'t Lie
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    And to think I had golovin all week...

    1. socho
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Same...

  27. dvdguy
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    no. 3 for Saudi, just go home now

    1. The Cherry Picker
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      He was genuinely there best player.

  28. socho
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Was on Golovin captain until a genius here goes that if Russia scores it would surely be Smolov...

    1. Maddi Son
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Prove you have Smolov and Golovin

    2. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      He didn't put a gun to your head.

  29. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    After that Golovin performance I'm glad I can't see other people's teams . Hope it stays this way

  30. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    8 points any good?