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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. UnitednationsXI
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Ideas on the next move?

    Cavani Lukaku Jesus
    Eriksen jrod cueva isco belhanda
    Danilo meunier Pavard varela mojica
    Uzoho el.kajoui

    A: Jesus >> Costa/Mbappe
    B: Belhanda >> 5.5m mid (meza,Layun,any Uruguay mid)
    C: Pavard >> Akanji
    D: something else

    1. uhahpaulmcgrath
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      i am thinking of getting rid of greiz and jrod for ronaldo and another.. hard to ignore ronaldo

  2. TaiwanHC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Playing a local game where we get 2 free transfers between each fixture during group stage and 4 free transfers during play-offs. The free transfers can be saved.

    Current team:

    Lukaku (11.0) - Cavani (9.5) - Lewandowski (7.0)
    Neymar (12.5) - Eriksen (8.5) - JRod (8.0)
    Hector (5.5) - Marcelo (6.0) - Meunier (6.0) - Trippier (5.0)
    Pickford (5.0)

    I can see two valid options:
    A. Save
    B. JRod + Meunier --> Isco (9.0) + Layun (5.0)

    Thanks guys!

  3. Tomlette Greggs
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Please pick one for Matchday 2:

    A. Lewandowski + Isco
    B. Kane + Golovin
    C. Ronaldo + Layun

  4. Horlicks esq.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    WC'd

    Egypt GK (sh..ts and giggles)

    Varela / Kimmich / Marcelo / Kutepov

    Coutinho / Meza / Golovin (c)

    Ronaldo / Lukaku / D. Costa

    Rui Patricio (Portugal through to next phases - easiest fixtures)
    Layun
    Inui
    Trippier

    DOne.

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

    A- Muller > Coutinho (better for 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

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

      B.
      Keep Muller over Werner

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

        Yeah leaning toward that. Plays same day as Cavani which is kind of annoying though.

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

          Cavani captain choice is an easy one

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

            Yeah true, I won't have much backup so hopefully he gets a couple so I don't need it.

  6. BigRomelu66
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Help with this WC team

    Ochoa - Uzoho

    Hummels - Nacho - Guerrerio - Varela - Akanji

    Coutinho - Isco - Golovin - Layun - Inui

    Ronaldo - Lukaku - Costa

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

    A) jRod => Isco
    B) Mbappé => Costa
    C) both (-4)
    D) other

    Pickford (Uzoho)
    Meunier Pavard Tagliafico Varela (Mojico)
    Coutinho jRod Eriksen (Meza Nandez)
    Cavani Lukaku Mbappe

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

      A

  8. bitm2007
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    James and Honda to Isco and Golovin for a hit ?.

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

      Just James to Isco for free

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

    Sorry bottomed...
    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!!

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

      Get Uzoho.

      Then B. Surprised you want Messi. I'd rather have Kane.

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

        Yeah but I fancy Messi to step up after a terrible first game. He can bag a hat trick any dany

  10. Trippier Hazard
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Gutted, didn't realise that you couldn't keep a wildcard active and change players in and out even after confirming. It seems once you confirm your WC is spent and any further transfers are outside of the WC in the same round. Is this a well known fact?

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

      What do you mean by that?

      Did you WC after taking a points hit? Or just not confirm your WC?

      1. Trippier Hazard
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 11 months ago

        I confirmed WC and thought I could make tweaks to team before deadline after confirming. Unlike FPL confirmation is final

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

        He took wild card, made changes then confirmed. It won’t let him go in again and make more changes as part of the wild card

        1. Funkyav
          • 14 Years
          5 years, 11 months ago

          you can make unlimited changes on a wc

          1. Trippier Hazard
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 11 months ago

            I think it's a limitation of the phone app which said 'wildcard played (I'd attach a screenshot if I could), it actually let's me continue with WC on browser, so a fault of the app. Sorry for the concern.

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

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

  12. barracuda
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Why I can't get to like Phil Neville?

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

      Don't worry, nobody can.

      1. barracuda
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 11 months ago

        Can't really exactly pinpoint what it is..That's well unlike me.

    2. Funkyav
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      because he is a useless pundit

      loves a lazy cliche

      along with Keown. The BBC have some real duds for this tournament.

      Dont really see what upson adds either.

      1. barracuda
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 11 months ago

        Yeah, another flop.

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

    A) Inui
    B) Sassi

    1. Buck The Trent
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      A

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

    WC TEAM
    Cavani, D. Costa, Salah
    Erickson, Isco, Coutinho, Layan, £5M
    Varela, Dalsgaard, R. Rodriguez, Meunier, Ramos
    Ochoa, Uzoho

    Great to get your opinions. Struggling on a £5m Midfielder.

    1. Buck The Trent
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      Rod to Akanji, and get Meza

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

    Nice to see Valderama still looking fit and well. #worldcuplegend

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

      Is it Valderrama, or Des Lynam in a comedy wig?

  16. Paramaribo
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    For round 2 only (as I will WC for R3)
    A) Messi -> Ronaldo
    B) James Rodriguez -> Isco
    C) Kvist -> a playing 4.5 midfielder
    ?

    1. UshFPL
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      B

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

      B

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

    Would you dump J.Rodrigez for -4 to:

    1. Coutinho
    2. Isco
    3.

    1. Buck The Trent
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      1

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

    What do you think of my team? Thinking of saving wc and bb for round 3.

    Pickford Uzoho
    Meunier Kimmich Danilo Varela Pavard
    Paulinho Willian Samedov Nandez C.Sanchez
    Lukaku Suarez Mbappe

  19. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    WC and bench boost active.

    Schmeichel Uzoho
    Danilo Meunier Rodriguez Varela
    Isco Coutinho Layun Inui Gazinsky
    Ronaldo Cavani Kane

    Thoughts? 1.0ITB

  20. UshFPL
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Worth a hit to sell anyone here?

    Schmeichel Uzohu
    Meunier Danilo Varela Pavard Mojica
    Muller Eriksen Rodriguez Belhanda Ndiaye
    Costa Cavani Lukaku

  21. Horlicks esq.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Last Q from me. Tunisia wont be easy for Belgium, Lukaku more likely to get rested than Kane i would say in RD3?

    a. Kane and Danilo

    or

    b. Lukaku and Marcelo

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

      A

  22. Aditya K
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Guys, should. I WC this team or not!?

    Kajoui, Uzoho
    Danilo, Munier, Varela, Advincula, Salary
    James, Eriksen, Ziyech, Grosicki, Al Dawsari
    Cavani, Griezmann, Lukaku.

    I'm considering:
    Ziyech to Cout and Grosicki to Cherryshev..thoughts??

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

      No. Do James > Isco and stick. It's what I did. Transferring Ziyech not smart when he's on penalties and there are so many given this year.

      1. Aditya K
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 11 months ago

        Thanks much Camzy..so stick with this team?? Just the one change?

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

      No, good team, I like those moves.

      1. Aditya K
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 11 months ago

        Seriously considering as I'll have cappo option on day 3

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

    Jesus > Cavani (-4)?

    I made my free transfer of James > Isco already.

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

      Neymar is probably injured which means firmino and jesus will both play

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

        Yeah I know he's very likely to play. But is he gonna score more than Cavani over the next two weeks?

    2. Buck The Trent
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      yes

    3. Aditya K
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      Cavani easy..should bang in at least 1..that cancels 4 Jesus might be benched for Firm

  24. Deulofail
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Never thought I'd be celebarating every point that James loses and doesn't get this week. 2 points earned leaving him on the bench, and excited to have him raring to go in the next round 🙂

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

    A. Muller Costa salcido
    B. Isco Costa Hummels
    C. Isco Lukaku Salcido
    D. J. Rod Costa Nacho

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

    Fantasy McDo
    what to do with this mess:

    El Kajoui, Uzoho
    Pavard, Tagliafico, Danilo, Varela, Meunier
    James, Ziyach, Meza, Inui, Willian
    Messi, Cavani, Lukau?

    0 itb

  27. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Carlos Sanchez (Colombia) had over 15% ownership in Round One. Hope lots of people didn't start him / sub him in.....

    1. barracuda
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      Probably close to 100% of that percentage.

  28. Rains of Castamere
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Just checking, can you make unlimited transfers until 7pm tonight if playing your wildcard?

    1. Rains of Castamere
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      What I mean is, if I confirm it now, can I make further changes later if necessary?

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

        A few posts up suggests not

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

    Different game only 16 substitutions for the whole cup

    Should I use 3 changes at this point to do this:

    Meunier>Layun
    Falcao>Cavani
    Ziyach>Bentancur/Nandez/ C.Sanchez (Uruguay)

  30. DeeGee
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Round 2 transfers:

    Muslera,Uzoho
    Meunier, Kimmich, Danilo, Dalsgaard, Mojica
    Eriksen, JRod, Ljajic, Belhanda, Kvist*
    Lukaku, Cavani, Jesus

    i) JRod -> Isco/Siggy
    ii) Ljajic -> Golovin

    Currently trailing in my ML. Don't want to take hits. Please suggest.
    0.5 itb.