Members

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. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Inui close again!

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

    Inui nearly

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

    James coming on!

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

      Quintano subbed off.

    2. Lone Wolf FPL
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      goal imminent

  4. Lone Wolf FPL
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    BSilva or Siggy? Go!

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

      Siggy for me

  5. rivercityransom
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    quintero bandwagon derailed

  6. 007 [RoboKlopp]
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Come on James and Inui!!

  7. studge15
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Of course James comes on when I decide not to sub him on. Expecting a hat-trick from him now knowing my luck.

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

    James on

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

    James!

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

    Quintero rested

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

    Here comes the saviour!

  12. Siva Mohan
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Jamesssssssssss

  13. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    ok then looks like a mistake then to not play james

    1. Chandler Bing
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      Yeah -_-

      1. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 11 months ago

        lets see if he hauls.Still difficult with 10 men though

  14. dark91
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    WTF!! , everyone was saying James will miss today's game that is why I subbed him out

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

    Aguero or Cavani? Is Aguero just a nostalgia pick?

    1. Kolarov Fpl Legend
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      Cavani

  16. shotgunnufc - MANIAC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    what is the likelihood of Pavard playing again? just deciding whether to gamble on a hit to replace him with nacho

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

      I wouldn't take a hit to sell a 4.5m French defender. Especially when you can sub him out whether he plays or not.

      1. shotgunnufc - MANIAC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 11 months ago

        thanks, I needed someone to tell me that

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

    Rod on

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

      Ooh er

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

    Best Rodriguez replacement? (have eriksen and coutinho)

    Modric, Isco, Shaq, Siggy, Forsberg??

    Thanks

    1. Kolarov Fpl Legend
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      Isco

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

        Thanks

  19. Kolarov Fpl Legend
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Cr7 or Suarez for C?

    1. Lone Wolf FPL
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      if no CR that not worth keeping him

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

      captain chip

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

    Well played to everyone who gambled by bringing James in.

    What are the chance that a game that allows us to see the line ups and make changes before kick off would ultimately still find a way to screw us over.

    1. studge15
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      At this point? 100%

    2. I Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      Well played? Currently on for a 1 pointer. The gamble hasn't paid off yet.

      1. Norman Conquest
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 11 months ago

        same

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

        I didn't think he'd play at all...until the red card...but too late by then.

    3. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      lets see after 30 mins

  21. FER FUSCH AKE
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Costa or suarez

    1. Kolarov Fpl Legend
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      Suarez just

  22. Pete Campbell
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Wat do you think is the better duo for gw2 onwards?

    A) Messi & Golovin

    B) Suarez & Forsberg

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

      a by miles, but neymar instead if hes fit

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

        Thanks!

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

    If i not wildcard now and not use a FT, i will have 2 FTs for Round 3 right and WC available ?
    But if i use WC now, how many transfers i will have after 3rd round ?

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

      FTs do not carry over

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

        aha, ok, and how many tranfers we have after 3rd round ? is it like wc or we have 4-5 FTs ?

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

      One transfer per group round.

      Use it or lose it.

    3. Kolarov Fpl Legend
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      You will not have 2 ft, and you will have 1 ft after wc.

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

      You don't carry FT forward.

      Use or lose

  24. Richd
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    I’ve benched James. Well hopefully he blanks. Although might have to keep now.

    1. studge15
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      Still fancy Isco. Easier fixtures in a team playing well.

  25. johnnybeefcake
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    carvajal a good wildcard option?? Is he fit?

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

    If Uruguay smash Saudi then surely it’s Suarez and Cavani grabbing all the goals?

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

      And Varela...

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

      Godin triple header hattrick

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

      I've gone with Suarez Cavani Varela on WC

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

        Who’s your other striker?

  27. Nando7
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    Ronaldo OR Costa ?

    1. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      3 mil gap between both lol

  28. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 11 months ago

    inui must have for wildcarders.JUst got him in for halfredson

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

    Thoughts on this WC team?

    Ochoa - Uzoho

    Guerreiro - Nacho - Maguire - Varela - Akanji

    Coutinho - Isco - Cheryshev - Kagawa - Layun

    Ronaldo - Lukaku - Costa

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

      Akanji !?
      Serbia will trash Switzerland 4-0

    2. Reggie Nainggolan
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      Solid

    3. shotgunnufc - MANIAC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 11 months ago

      you’re round 1 score is going to be massive

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

      I'd get an Uruguayan attacker. Much better options than Chernyshev and Kagawa around as well.