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How to build your World Cup Fantasy team around set-pieces and penalties

The introduction of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) at the 2018 World Cup has resulted in an unusually large number of penalties in Gameround 1 – and Fantasy managers are encouraged to factor this into their plans for Gameround 2.

We’ve already seen referees award eight spot-kicks so far now that they are able to review offences in the box that they had previously missed. To put that into context, there were only 13 in the whole of the last World Cup.

With VAR now well-established in the running of World Cup matches, we can expect a similar number of penalties in the second round of Group Stage fixtures.

Which is why we’ve decided to bring you some updated set-piece information for Gameround 2. There are some managers who are even building their teams around the penalty-takers of each nation considering the impact VAR has had.

We’ve also gone into the data for other set-pieces so that you can view accurate and update to date information for who takes each team’s corners and which players have been the most dangerous in set-piece situations.

In the information below, we’ve included how many of each type of set-piece each asset has taken. If there is no number next to their name that’s because they took at least one in qualifying and/or warm-up games but are yet to at the tournament itself.

Also, to clarify further, the ‘Attempts from set plays’ section combines those who have shot from direct free-kicks or those who have latched onto the end of a corner.

The deadline for Gameround 2 is at 19:00 BST, just over an hour after the final match of Gameround 1, so make sure you sort your team during the Group H fixtures today.

Get all our transfer tips for Gameround 2 by CLICKING HERE.

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…

McDonald’s FIFA World Cup Fantasy

Join our McDonald’s FIFA World Cup Fantasy league ‘FantasyFootballScout’ using the code: HEWJPVYR

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.

1,280 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Karan14
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Safe to do Werner to Costa now?
    Won’t have access to internet for 3-4 hours.

    Also did James look okay? Thinking of keeping him now.

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

      James looked fine. Hard to judge with 10 men, but Colombia mostly dominated, so I have not worried about James. Keeping, myself

      1. Karan14
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Cheers DF!
        Thoughts on Werner to Costa?

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

          For free, I'd be very happy with that transfer, assuming I was happy with the rest otf the team. Money ITB for next week, would be lovely. I'm personally likely to leave 1.0 for Mitrogoal > Salah

    2. jia you
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Not at his sharpest and got a bit frustrated. Colombia were poor (real lack of ideas) despite dominated most of the game with 10 men. Tough game to judge but they are certainly up against it to qualify now! The game just tipped the balance for me to sell James to Isco.

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

        Also picked up a yellow. Honestly I didn't think he looked good at all. Came on just to get a yellow and got 0 pts should have stayed on bench

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

    A) Mertens (TUN/ENG)
    B) Costa (IRN/MAR) -4

    1. Karan14
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Not sure if a hit is worth it in such a short format.

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

        Under no circumstances? It's the same as FPL. You just gotta weigh up whether it will be repayed in the nuber of games that you need it to be repayed. In FPL sometimes that's only one game! 😀

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

      Costa

  3. Defochibe
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Why Inui?

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

      Difficult to say. Literally

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

      One of the top 4.5 mid choices

  4. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Need to transfer Cueva out. Which is the best 6.0 mid to bring in?

    Thanks a lot!

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

      5.5 choices are better IMO

      1. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Which one?

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

          Layun - Meza
          Must have a good team if Cueva is your biggest problem

          1. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 10 months ago

            Have the following:

            Uzoho/ Almuaiouf
            Pavard/ Varela/ Trippier/ Meunier/ Hummels
            Isco/ J. Rod/ Willian/ Cueva/ Gazinsky
            Lukaku/ Lewa/ Cavano

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

    Pique / Alba / Kimmich
    Please pick one
    Currently on Mr Shakira
    Have Isco and no Germans

  6. Kasper the ghost keeper
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Anyone think Layun will be less dangerous considering Korea will probably sit deep?

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

      He is, who he is..A 5,5 mid. don't over think.

      1. Kasper the ghost keeper
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 10 months ago

        Costa for Jesus is the alternative so I have to weight it up

  7. Jambot
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Any suggetions for this wildcard? I've got 15 min window at work

    Kane Ronaldo Cavani
    Isco Paulinho Layun Eriksen
    Valera Dalsgaard Rodriguez
    Uzoho

    Hassen Akjani Inui Hegazi

    Thanks

  8. Forza Papac
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Is Cheryshev expected to start?

  9. EmreCan Hustle
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Danilo or R.Rodriguez on WC?

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

    "Neymar returns to Brazil training amid concerns over right foot"

    "Neymar returned to Brazil training on Tuesday, one day after missing the session with concerns about his right foot after Brazil's opening World Cup game, a 1-1 draw with Switzerland on Sunday."

    http://www.espn.com/soccer/brazil/story/3533231/neymar-fitness-concerns-continue-as-brazil-forward-misses-training

    Should I keep ? don't want to waste a transfer

    1. EmreCan Hustle
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Of course keep.

  11. CRO KLOPP
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    What to do with ft?
    A) Mbappe to Costa
    B)Willian/JRod to Isco
    Willian is my only Brasil player

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

      A

    2. CRO KLOPP
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Cheers

  12. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Is Pavard nailed on for the next one?

    1. EmreCan Hustle
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      50-50, no news yet.

  13. CellinoArmy
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Right, so made some changes,

    Ochoa Sommer
    Pique Godin Rodriguez Meunier Guerreiro
    Gazinsky Bentancur Isco Layun Coutinho
    Costa Cavani Hernandez

    Recommendations? It's 3 mexicans, 3 uruguayans, 3 spaniards, 2 swiss, 1 brazilian, 1 portuguese, 1 belgian, 1 russian so slightly concerned for balance. Also someone pointed out Sommer/Ochoa play same day rd3, but can't think of a reliable double for round2/3.

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

      2 million spending money and on wild card

  14. Kasper the ghost keeper
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Jesus to start next one?

  15. ihateramsey2
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Neymar 100% out?

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

      I want to know too

  16. Defochibe
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    WC Team GTG?

    Uzoho Kajoui
    Pique Guerriro Varela Menuier Dalsgaard
    Golovin Meza Coutinho Layun Lingard
    Ronaldo Costa Lukaku

    1. EMERGING STAR
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      Looks fine.
      I have same front 3. How about doing Costa-> Kane by compromising defence ?

  17. Totalfootball
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Why is everyone going R. Rodriguez ??

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

      On pens, good fixtures, likes to attack in general.

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

      The way VAR is going, the Swiss could easily get a pen. Shaqiri the man to win it.

  18. cigan
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Once more, who goes?

    a. James
    b. Pavard
    c. Cueva
    d. Nandez
    e. El Hajoui (2nd keeper is Uzoho)
    f. Ziyach
    g. all of them, go wildcard

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

    If I have taken a hit and now decided to use a wildcard, the hit is removed, right?

    This is a weird game so confirming.

  20. FPL ElasticO
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Who should you have ??

    Kane or Costa (also have isco)

  21. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Which transfer makes most sense:

    1) Cueva to 6.0 or less Mid
    2) Lewa to Salah/ Mane/ Sterling
    3) Pavard to Dalsgaard
    4) J. Rod to Eriksen

    Thanks a lot

  22. THFC4LIFE
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Best 5m defender lads?

  23. Totalfootball
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Akanji Daniko or
    R. Rordriguez Varela

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

      Danilo*

    2. Neves say Neves
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 10 months ago

      RRod and Varela because of RRod on pens I think

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

    Is Meza a good budget option ?

  25. migas2k7
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    When to bench boost?

  26. leftfootusa
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 10 months ago

    Anybody for Maguire?

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

    Lewa -> Cavani
    or
    JRod -> Isco