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

    Lol; only got him in as was sure he’d start

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

      Sorry I didn’t give him the C but thought more chance he’d be sent off than score

      1. OPTA FPL
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        same idea

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

        Yea same ... But its alot more fun to not have your captain go crazy game 1 😛 you get to get exited for a few more matches this way

    2. OPTA FPL
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      just did Sanchez to him at deadline here ))

    3. Balls of Steel
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      So did I for Inui 5 minutes before deadline 🙂

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

        Same. Looks like genius right now. Great start for us.

    4. Aurora Borealis?
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Same transferred him in 1min before deadline. Nobody in the office likes me know

      1. Aurora Borealis?
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        now

  2. Now I'm Panicking
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    The ref obviously wants to see his kids again.

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

      Lol

  3. ★Kuntheman★
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    To think I picked Dawsari over Gazinski because he was more attacking

  4. Jack Frost
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Unreal, I downgraded to 4.5 Gaz, just as fodder from 5.0 Zobnin when I saw the lineup.

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

    Haha Putin shaking hands with the Sheikh. All pre-arranged

  6. FER FUSCH AKE
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    how does one view one's rivals' squads?

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

      Was it the last World Cup where 3 weeks down the line you still couldn't do this?

      1. FER FUSCH AKE
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        first time playing this game

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

          Yeah sorry I was more just putting my thoughts into words, not actually asking you. 😀

          I'm pretty sure the site was crap like this last time. Someone with a better memory may remember.

    2. Old Schoolᴼˢ “disa…
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Wot wot wot wot

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

      I'm not sure you can lol

    4. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Screenshot

  7. Krafty Werks
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Gazinsky golden boot gtd.

  8. Tony Warner Fan Club
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Got Saudi Arabia in a worst team sweepstake.

    It begins...

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

    Saudi defence is AWFUL
    Literally much worse than an over 35's Sunday league defence

    1. The Cherry Picker
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Honestly, no ones defence is THAT bad.

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

    Al-down

  11. Ógie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    How the hell was that not flagged for off side?

    These officials might be dodgy.

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

      Free fuel for life

  12. Horlicks esq.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Now I feel like Im really gonna miss Cavani / Salah / Suarez.

    Russia and KSA are total pap.

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

      You can get them though.

    2. Krafty Werks
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      This^...hence i have triple Uruguay 😉

  13. NUFCAndrew
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Al-Dawsari red card please

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

      If he gets a red card he'll go down in FFS infamy. Would love it.

    2. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      the lol at those who have captained him.

    3. The Cherry Picker
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      This

  14. FDMS All Starz
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Can you change your subs order?

  15. Richd
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    When can we see rivals teams ?

  16. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    I want salah now

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

      Just thinking that.

  17. ♤TeddyBear♤
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Is there bonus points in the Mcdonalds fantasy?

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

      Deadline passed and only now you want to know the rules?

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

        haha

      2. ♤TeddyBear♤
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        I have other things to do 🙂 and its not gonna change who i pick.......

    2. The Cherry Picker
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      I want to know this...

  18. FPL ZB
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Threw a £10 free bet on a goal in the first 15 minutes. Happy days!

    1. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Odds? about 2/1?

      1. FPL ZB
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        3/1

        1. Now I'm Panicking
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          Nice 🙂

  19. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    People thought South Korea's run was dodgy... Wait till Russia beat Spain, Argentina, Germany & Brazil to win the World Cup!

  20. The Cherry Picker
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Assist for Golovin.

  21. bitm2007
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    36% of players have captained Naymar or Messi, and Ronaldo at 3% is the highest selected captaining playing in the first two day. Don't people realize that you can have a different captain every day ?

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

      Doesn't really matter until tomorrow when we'll see if lots of people have picked someone else.

      1. bitm2007
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Still means that nobody in this game is being captained by more than 2% of players (and it may be lower than that)

  22. FadeEye
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Any Leagues in FIFA World cup i can join.

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

      HEWJPVYR

  23. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Al-close

  24. Ógie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Al-Quite on the eastern front.

  25. puddingbrood
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Anyone suddenly craving some Salami?

    1. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Wrong site

  26. 420king
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Dzagoev injured.

  27. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Hammy

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

    Sniper in the stands

    1. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Those darn Ukrainians

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

      Highly likely to be honest

  29. FER FUSCH AKE
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    should ha e gotten golovin

  30. FER FUSCH AKE
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    should have gotten golovin