Dugout Discussion

Budget options to the fore in Nigeria v Croatia

A marathon Saturday of World Cup action climaxes with the fourth fixture of the day, as Nigeria take on Croatia in Kaliningrad. Kick-off in this Group D encounter is at 8pm.

Though the likes of Ivan Rakitic, Luka Modric, Mario Mandzukic and Victor Moses will be on show, there is only one place to start: Nigeria’s £4.0m-rated goalkeeper Francis Uzoho.

The budget custodian has been selected by 12% of those playing McDonald’s FIFA, having established himself both in the Nigerian team and as a fund-freeing Fantasy asset.

Wing-back Bryan Odowu, also priced up at £4.0m, offers the same appeal to Fantasy managers looking for a cheap fifth defender who is guaranteed game-time.

Though Nigeria qualified for the World Cup in style, scoring more goals along the way than any other African team who made it to Russia, their form in recent months will offer plenty of encouragement to Croatia: the Super Eagles have lost their last three friendlies against European opposition, scoring on only one occasion.

Though not as cheap as the aforementioned Nigerian assets, Dejan Lovren‘s modest £5.0m price tag has attracted the investment of 8% of McDonald’s FIFA managers.

Croatia’s backline kept six clean sheets in the UEFA qualification group stage (and another in the play-off win over Greece), conceding on just four occasions in their ten initial fixtures: only Spain and England had better defensive records.

No Croatia player assisted more goals in World Cup qualification than Luka Modric (£9.0m), who is the only other Croatia asset with an ownership greater than 2%. The Real Madrid star, selected by 5% of McDonald’s FIFA managers, is not part of a team that excels at set-play situations though: the Croats had fewer goal attempts from set pieces per match than any other European team during qualification (31 efforts in 12 matches).

825 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Emiliano Sala
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Just understood
    There is no assist for own goal in this game
    And pogba's goal has considered own goal, so he does not recieve neither goal nor assist point

    1. 420king
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Then why did Mandzukic get the assist? This is strange...

      1. 420king
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Nevermind, he didn't, those were the points for penalty won. This means FIFA give assists for own goals, oh well 🙁

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

    anyone having problems with fantasy McDo substitutions?

    I can't sub in my brazilians :-/

    1. 420king
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Yeah, I couldn't change my captain. Kept trying, worked eventually...

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

        yup, already fixed..
        Thanks!

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

      nevermind...
      took more than expected, but already updated

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

    So - who to captain today:
    Jesus - Cout - Mueller or Kimmich?

    And - Messi out for Mr. Ronaldo? Messi looked way off yesterday..!

    1. Legomané
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Jesus
      Messi > Ronaldo looks decent with those fixtures

  4. Legomané
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    The uncomfortable twist...

    I feel that on 6 pts there's no question I would twist, on 10 I'd definitely stick...but torn in both directions on 8...

    Twist Griezmann(c) >

    A. Coutinho(c) or
    B. Kimmich(c)
    (Lukaku and J'hames)

    C. Just stick on 8

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

      Twist, you brought Lukaku and James in for a reason so why stick under 10?

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

      twist with cout kaku and james

  5. Djemba-Djemba
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Silly question, how do I updated my profile pic?

  6. Emiliano Sala
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    cout or paulinho ?

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

    Am i evil?I took the armband from a Christian (Eriksen) and gave it,not to Jesus,but to doubting Thomas (Muller).

  8. kj3llern
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Does anyone have like a Round 2 and 3 fixture difficulty spreadsheet?

    Im planning on using my wildcard.

  9. Now I'm Panicking
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Yes/No competition website updated

    http://tyroreports.wixsite.com/yesorno

    Just 1 person with 3 out of 3 correct (you bunch of casuals 😉 ) - Shiva_Destroyer 🙂
    25 people with 2 out of 3
    25 people with 1 out of 3
    8 people with 0 out of 3

  10. Now I'm Panicking
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Live pictures of England training on SSN - looks a really happy and united squad

  11. Mind över Mata
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Captain Kimmich or Lukaku?

  12. FDMS All Starz
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Would you WC this:

    Courtois