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. Waynoo
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Dzubaaaaa

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

    Hulk scores

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

    I scrolled past that guy as I picked my team
    Lol@ me

    1. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      I am laughing

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

    so who has Golovin?

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

      o/

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

      Guillllllty

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

      First name on team sheet for last year

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

    GOLOVIN (C) yesss

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

      imagine him being top scoring captain this round

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

      Stick or twist from 9 points to Cavani/Suarez?

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

      Will you stick? 😉

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

        Probably, 9 pts is decent. If he ends up on 8 somehow I'll twist for sure

    4. Meinhoff
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      On the other hand, stick or twist conundrum begins

      1. StoichkovFPL
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        If it was for eg Coutinho you would stick. Now you will probably twist. Thats how it works 😉

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

          True that. Not sure I will twist though

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

      no swap (C)?

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

      9 points isn't too impressive for a C though, especially after first game

  6. 420king
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Saudi King was not happy with the 3rd goal..asking Putin wtf is up.

    1. Differential C (Mark)
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      "Got any of that Novichok on ya?"

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

    Putin be like..."Good... I don't have to kill anybody..".

    1. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Good?

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

        Haha. Yeah probably "Shame I don't have to kill anybody..".

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

      Putin already claiming he has scored 3 goals this tournament

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

        No that's Harry.

        1. Deulofail
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          Ever seen them in the same room together?

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

            Haha!

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

    one extra day until Ramadhan is over. Looks like the Saudi players are fasting, haven't heard anything to eat since dawn.

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

      they are not fasting

      1. ★Kuntheman★
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Hence the 3-0 😉

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

    Alwasari goes close

  10. On The Other Hand I've…
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Paul McGann playing right-back for Russia?

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

    It's only Saudi Arabia - I wouldn't be Russian to get the home side's assets in...

  12. jam sandwich
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Al Dawsari hits the post almost

    1. willl
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      so... he missed...

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

      Al-most a post 😀 Thats new low of excuses.

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

        lol how many pts does that get you?

  13. WE GO FOR IT
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Did Golovin to Dzagoev 5 minutes before deadline after having him since draft 1. I've carried my FPL form into FWC. lol.

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

    Al-faili

  15. ★Kuntheman★
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Golovin is a class player. I wanted him for today’s game but thought that 6.5 was too much for him.

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

      I would have definitely have bought him if I knew who he was....or at the very least scrolled past his name.

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

    Saudi are so bad every Ivan Ivanovitch Ivanov and his dog are scoring against them.

  17. Deulofail
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Walcott on

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

      haha, I so got this, cheers!

  18. yakirh
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    "Golovin plays deep"

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

      He does and was until Dzagoev went off.

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

    That was another Zobnin assist, no? Golovin with just one assist but definitely been Russia's best player,

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

      Nope. Golovin twice mate

    2. 420king
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      No that was Golovin. Zobnin is 11

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

    Ended up swapping Akinfeev for Saudi keeper and Golovin for Ziyech last minute... Good start! 😀

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

    Oh wait... Isn’t it Ramadan?
    They must have no energy.

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

      It was Ramadan against Germany as well

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

      they are not fasting

  22. Salarrivederci
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Created my team with 9 minutes to go (thought the opener was a late nighter) 😀
    BB active with Golovin, Zhirkov & Ignasevich. Proper start 😀

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

      Go away

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

    Pretty sure that was #11 that put in that cross which is Zobnin.... Shame, Golovin deserves the points.

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

      it was 17, Golovin

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

        I stand corrected. The 17 looks like 11 I guess. Good for Golovin pickers.

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

    So stick or twist from Golovin captain???

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

      Twist for Cavani/Suarez cause you'll end up switching for Lukaku anyway.

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

        Haven't got Lukaku... Cavani I have and Messi are the 2 options i might switch for

        1. willl
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 10 months ago

          twist

  25. Chandler Bing
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Stuck with the Saudi keeper for 2 rounds lol

    1. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Same, but at least he plays first

  26. Je suis le chat
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Damn, have Gazinski first sub. Didn't think that through. Work is such an inconvenience to fantasy football planning!

  27. Lets Talk About 19 Baby
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Golovin is in my I team, but took him out my McD's one.

  28. Bardo9
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Switched from marinchuk to golovin with 2 minutes left in deadline. Put a C on him. Oh baby.

    Stick or twist on 9 points. Ahhhh

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

      Stick surely

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

      Swap maybe for lukaku cavani Kane Suarez etc but I would not rush it

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

      10 was my stick prior to a Messi, Neymar type.

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

    BB, Triple cap Suarez next round? 🙂

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

      3 Baps surely

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

    stuck with aldawsari for 2 more rounds.

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

      Lucky you.

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

      Al dear.

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

        phew, dodged that one