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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. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Aguero or Costa?

    1. Hy liverpool
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      Diego

    2. kinghenry14
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      costa without a doubt imo

  2. The Yorkshire Pirlo
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    How’s this wildcard look?

    Don’t care about captains on same day as I might use the Max Cap chip.

    Ochoa, Uzoho
    Meunier, Godin, 5m, Varela, Dalsgaard
    Coutinho, Isco, Lingard, Layun, Inui
    Ronaldo, Cavani, Costa

    1. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      Lingard for 7.0 not worth over the next two games. Find money for Eriksen. Maybe downgrade Godin and Ochoa to Akanji and Ben Mustapha?

  3. Kasper the ghost keeper
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Prioritise?
    A) Belahanda to Layun
    B) Jesus to Costa

  4. Ten Season Wonder
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Hamez YC what a troll

    1. Klopptomist Scott Jelly
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      🙁

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

    Hegazi or Mojica on WC?

  6. Jebiga
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Pick one for the 2nd round:

    1. Cavani
    2. Costa
    3. Ronaldo
    4. Kane
    5. Griezman

    ?

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

      1

    2. Hy liverpool
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      2 or 4
      Kane

      1. kinghenry14
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 11 months ago

        this

    3. Bun Rab
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      1.

    4. Root
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      Keep Neymar

  7. Dušan Citizen
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Do u think C. Sanchez will start for Uruguay?

    Would like to double up on Uru attack against KSA

    1. GoonerByron
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      1 goal in 36 games...

      1. Sune
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 11 months ago

        Great assist potential though. I think he starts.

  8. CloudSky
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Im thinking Egypt might take the W today. Anyone agree?

    1. Jebiga
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      Nah, Golovin is soooooo good

      1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 11 months ago

        anyone can look good v saudi

        1. Jebiga
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 11 months ago

          did you sow world class free kick ?

          1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
            • 14 Years
            5 years, 11 months ago

            it was a decent free kick

            He played very well don't get me wrong but it is difficult to judge him against saudi

            1. Jebiga
              • 12 Years
              5 years, 11 months ago

              that is true, but i just have some feeling...

    2. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      If Salah is 100% fit, maybe. If he isn't, can't see it.

    3. GoonerByron
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      Yes.

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

      Not for me

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

      0-0 draw imo.

  9. L'Aeroplanino
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Well done Japan

  10. GoonerByron
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    How does this WC look?

    Elshenawy - Uzoho
    Varela - Danilo - Dalsgaard - Akanji - Maguire
    Eriksen - Isco - Coutinho - Layun - Inui
    Cavani - Suarez - Kane

    GW2 captain plan - Elshenawy, Suarez, Eriksen, Coutinho, Layun, Kane

    1. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      Looks great. Seriously.

      I like the double Uruguay attack. But if you want to spread the risk pick up Costa.

      1. GoonerByron
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 11 months ago

        Thanks. Really want to punt on them both vs Saudi Arabia.. Will maybe get Costa in for GW3 for one of them 🙂

  11. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Another good result in the long run for England...

    It's all falling into place!

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

      This.
      Japan still outplayed despite having a man advantage for 87 minutes.

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

      So they can get eliminated by Colombia in the R16?

  12. JJeyy
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Is Ronaldo essential?

    1. liiusions
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      If WCing I couldn't imagine going without him

      1. GoonerByron
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 11 months ago

        Not essential I don't think.

        I'm going Cavani Suarez Kane on WC.

        1. liiusions
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 11 months ago

          Fair play. WCing and don't have either of them 3 😆 Think all expensive strikers will come good anyway

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

      As close as can be

    3. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      ronaldo rules out uruguay c v saudi

    4. HamezMace
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      He's not essential.
      You need to look at how it changes the balance of your team.

      For example if you've got Lukaku and Cavani, for the same budget you'd have Ronaldo and who? Iwobi, Carrillo?

  13. Maddi Son
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Is having a 5.0 and 5.5 keeper a waste of funds? Uruguay and Swiss keeper rotate and solid fixtures.

    1. liiusions
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      yes

    2. GoonerByron
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      Too much for me when you can get Varela and Akami for 4.5 each

      1. Maddi Son
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 11 months ago

        Got them both already.

    3. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      You can get a great 4.0/4.0 rotation with Uzoho and Ben Mustapha lol. If I was on WC I'd do that.

      1. Maddi Son
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 11 months ago

        Indeed but I want 12 points from 2 games, not 4 points 😛

  14. kinghenry14
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    after todays game and with poland senegal as upcoming fixtures i don't think james is worth 9.0.

    A) james to isco
    B) play WC

    el kajoui uzoho
    kimmich meunier varela pavard sabaly
    james eriksen coutinho meza nandez
    lukaku cavani mbappe

    cheers

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

      A

    2. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      A. Looks fine.

  15. King Klopp
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    A

  16. The Darkest Knight
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Muller or Isco??? (wild card)
    already have Costa...

    1. kinghenry14
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      isco out of the two surely

  17. anish10
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    James owners, keeping now or selling?

    1. Sune
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      I'm keeping

    2. Gringo Kid
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      Keeping, next game is a matter of life or death to Colombia

    3. kinghenry14
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      think i'm selling

    4. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      I sold for Isco.

    5. MESSINHO
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      Keeping.

    6. We Will Klopp you
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      Keeping

    7. Sif
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      Selling, didn't look sharp, isn't nailed on to start.

    8. Assisting the assister
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      Did Muller>Couts and James>Isco -4

  18. Lewa
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Any predictions will Falcao score any goals this World cup

  19. Goodnight Kiwi
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    -3 from my two Goalumbians 😀

  20. THFC4LIFE
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Who to get in for J.Rod?

    A. Eriksen
    B. Isco
    C. Modric
    D. Other

    Rest of midfield is

    Coutinho Carrasco Golovin Gudmundsson

    1. anish10
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      I'd keep

    2. TLF
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      I'm debating whether to get rid of J.Rod for Coutinho or Isco. There is an argument to keep though. Columbia will need a response after that defeat.

  21. Atwood
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    A- Muller > Coutinho (better captaincy rotation)
    B - Werner > Costa (Werner rotation risk?)
    C - Other

    Muslera / Uzoho
    Varela /Trippier / Pavard / Mojica / Meunier
    Isco / Muller / Cueva / Grosicki / Colindres
    Cavani / Lukaku / Werner

  22. Monkey Hanger
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    One goal deduction for Japanese because of their goalkeeper telling bare faced lie. 🙂

    1. Louis_Sans_Balls
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      This is why you need refs, rules, technology and all that rubbish because these million dollar players are basically little kids who can't police themselves

  23. UNDERSCORE
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    worth giving jesus another chance?

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

      at Easter yeah

      1. Jebiga
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 11 months ago

        😀

    2. LuckyLQ
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      Kinda 50/50. Could be rotated after mediocre performance

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

    Any team news? I heard Milik is out as he slipped at a Dolphinarium (true story!) , Keita Balde starting ?

    1. Louis_Sans_Balls
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      sorry this made me lol so hard 🙂
      Time to play WC for sure

  25. 007 [RoboKlopp]
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Hi, how many pts for Inui? 2?
    Cause in website showing only 1.
    Ta.

    1. Bun Rab
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      2. Patience young grasshopper. Whats your total score so far?

      1. 007 [RoboKlopp]
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 11 months ago

        65 final here. I count that we are leading 11 pts with no player more vs Lewa + Sabaly. It will be close one Sir.

  26. Louis_Sans_Balls
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    This WC is shades of 2002 all over again. Wouldn’t be surprised to see many favorites continue to go down and a new Champion like Belgium, Portugal, Uruguay or heck even England arise

    1. Atwood
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      Like the new champions Brazil in 2002?

      Nah I know where you're coming from. I don't mind the so called giants falling at all either.

  27. Son is Rising
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Absolutely flying in this game. Captains so far: Suarez 2 > Messi 0 > Mueller 1 > Rodriguez 0.
    Also got C. Sanchez for the minus 3 and Cueva for his missed pen 😆
    25 points so far...

    1. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      Oh no... Damn that's some bad luck. I too had the Messi - Cueva disaster. But I'm faring better with 58. Thank god for Lukaku xD

    2. Root
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      Day 5 captain?

      1. Son is Rising
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 11 months ago

        Had no players. No Belgian in my squad - oops!

  28. Jebiga
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Ok, the last one 🙂

    1. Kane

    or

    2. Suarez

    ?

    1. A19
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      Suarez

    2. Bun Rab
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      2.

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

    Sabaly and S Sane start

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

      hoping for a reverse OOP Senegal CB listed as 4.5mid to beat Jesus's 2-pointer, come on!

  30. A19
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Last question for wild card

    A) Lukaku Salcedo Muslera
    B) Messi Idowu Ryan

    ___
    Kimmich Akanji Varela Trippier
    Isco Coutinho Layun
    ___ Ronaldo Cavani

    Ben Mustapha Meza Inui ___

    A is more balanced but B has Messi and Ronaldo which looks quite attractive
    Thanks!!