Scout Notes
2 July 2018 221 comments
DavidMunday815 DavidMunday815
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Croatia players may fill the void in Fantasy teams left by Spain, as they prepare for a World Cup quarter-final with Russia.

Zlatko Dalic’s side remain one of the favourites from their side of the draw to reach the final and offer plenty of value with their assets.

We’ve got all the goals, assists and Fantasy talking points from Sunday’s second last sixteen match.

To read the report on Spain vs Russia, CLICK HERE.

CROATIA 1-1 DENMARK (3-2 on penalties)

TOP-SCORING PLAYERS

  • Kasper Schmeichel (£5.1m) – 9 points
  • Mario Mandzukic (£8.9m) – 6 points
  • Mathias Jorgensen (£4.9m) – 6 points
  • Thomas Delaney (£7m) – 5 points
  • Ante Rebic (£5.5m) – 4 points

Kasper Schmeichel (£5.1m) was the Fantasy star on Sunday evening, although his success was short-lived as Denmark crashed out of the World Cup on penalties.

The Danish goalkeeper emerged as the top-scoring player from the match after he made a crucial penalty save from Luka Modric (£9.1m) in the dying embers of extra-time.

He went on to make two further saves in the shoot-out but his opposite number Danijel Subasic (£5.6m) made three to send Croatia through to a quarter-final match with Russia.

Denmark took the lead in just the second minute when a Jonas Knudsen (£4.0m) long-throw was flicked on by Thomas Delaney (£7.0m) and bundled into the net by Mathias Jorgensen (£4.9m). It was the first goal conceded by Croatia’s first-choice back-four and goalkeeper at this World Cup.

There was a quick response, though as a poor clearance came off Andreas Christensen (£5.0m) and was turned into the net by Mario Mandzukic (£8.9m).

After such an electric start, the match fizzled out and ended up going to extra-time. In final moments of the additional 30 minutes, Ante Rebic (£5.5m) was sent clean through, skilfully took it round Schmeichel and was about to slot into an empty net when Jorgensen brought him down.

The Huddersfield defender was shown a yellow card instead of a red for his genuine attempt to play the ball, but a penalty was still awarded.

Modric took it but it was well-saved by Schmeichel, sending the match to a second penalty shoot-out of the day.

Modric managed to net his in the shoot-out after Christian Eriksen (£9.1m) had seen his saved by Subasic.

After two Schmeichel saves and three from Subasic, it was Ivan Rakitic (£8.5m) who scored the winning kick to send Croatia through to face Russia.

There will be keen interest in Croatian assets for the later knockout rounds, especially now that managers are looking to offload Spanish players.

Subasic and his defensive colleagues may prove popular. At this tournament so far, Russia have not scored a goal in open play against any nation higher than 45th on the FIFA World Rankings.

CROATIA XI (4-1-4-1): Subasic; Strinic (Pivaric 81’), Vida, Lovren, Vrsaljko; Brozovic (Kovacic 71’); Perisic (Kramaric 97’), Rakitic, Modric, Rebic; Mandzukic (Badelj 108’).

DENMARK XI (4-4-1-1): Schmeichel; Knudsen, M Jorgensen, Kjaer, Dalsgaard; Braithwaite (Sisto 105’), Delaney (Krohn-Dehli 98’), Christensen (Schone 45’), Poulsen; Eriksen; Cornelius (N Jorgensen 66’).

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, 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.

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221 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Maddi Son
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 14 days ago

    Anyone else fancy Belgium to destroy Japan? Still feel confident going with both Hazard & Lukaku.

    1. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
      • 17 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      I don't know what to think any more. Someone tore the script up. I own both and on Kaku C . So let's hope so

    2. GREEN IS GOOD
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      Nothing is certain in this WC but with Belgium's form you'd hope they'd score 4 -5.

      1. tm370
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        8 years, 14 days ago

        Belgium will not score 4 or 5 - Japan are a decent side. They are not Tunisia or Panama.

        I reckon Belgium will win by a couple of goals.

        1. Ask Yourself
          • 10 Years
          8 years, 14 days ago

          I agree

    3. Ask Yourself
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      Own both but more confident in (N)eymar

    4. Maddi Son
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      I know what you guys are saying but obviously every game is different. I have a mate who has a bet on Japan and Mexico (lol) just because of how this world cup has gone so far.

      Just because a few underdogs have beaten big teams, doesn't make it more likely to happen again. It reminds me of when everyone backed promoted teams to win the Prem, the season after Leicester won it. Bookies love these people.

  2. SpaceCadet
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 14 days ago

    Who is on set pieces for Belgium? kdb?

    1. Dr. Ante Pavlovic
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      On free kicks yes

      1. SpaceCadet
        • 12 Years
        8 years, 14 days ago

        cheers

  3. Richd
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 14 days ago

    If England win tomorrow then Saturday is gonna be mayhem throughout the country.

    Lock up your daughters.

    Sort out the gas shortage.

    It’s coming home, and if not the country will be destroyed

    1. Bragazeti
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      Load up the beer crates

    2. UNDERSCORE
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      pls remove the part about daughters; that kind of talk is going to take u nowhere

    3. Maddi Son
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      Tuesday night is gonna be too much either way. Can't take any team for granted but the route to the final will never be easier. Colombia will be thinking the exact same thing.

      Avoiding social media / forums for at least a few days if the dreaded happens.

    4. Cok3y5murf
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      Damn, that's sad.

    5. _Make
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      Brexit mate. Already screwed.

  4. Atimis
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 14 days ago

    C Lukaku or Hazard??

    Guys from my ML had Mbappe and now are 10 points ahead, they also have Lukaku but no Hazard.

    1. UNDERSCORE
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      if you are going to lose sleep then don’t risk....just go with lukaku capt and close the gap a bit

    2. Chilli Heatwave
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      Haz

  5. AnfieldLad
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 14 days ago

    Captain Neymar or Lukaku?

    Heart says Neymar, head says Lukaku

    1. yakirh
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      Follow your.. head, yes.

    2. Ask Yourself
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      My head says Neymar

  6. rjcv177
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 14 days ago

    A different question.
    If somehow you haven't lost any players for QF, what would u do to those 3trf?

    Would u sell excess players from one team just to prepare for the semis? (Selling 1 or 2 croatian for russian players)

    upgrade some players u think will go through selling the ones who play against them?

  7. mcrayeps
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 14 days ago

    42 points jumped my rank from 10k to 1k.. whats the average score for top10k?

    1. mir
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      I'm 9231 on 190 points if that answers your question.

      1. mcrayeps
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 14 days ago

        I mean for this Round16

  8. CaTriEm
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 14 days ago

    Nervous about Meunier. In my mind it makes no sense for him to be left out of the team just because he's on a yellow, no point on saving him for Brazil when you need to put your best team on the pitch in the knockouts even if it's "just" Japan.

    But Martinez is easily arrogant enough to do it.

    1. jia you
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      Paranoia at ya mate, he's sure to start 😉

    2. tm370
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      He wont rest Munier against Japan. I think people on here, despite all the shocks we've witnessed, are absurdly assuming Belgium will easy beat Japan. They could do, but the most likely result is a tight Belgium win and they definitely wont be resting anyone for it.

    3. Differential C (Mark)
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      Nah, you can't really rest any player in the KO rounds, except the 3rd place game. Every team there deserves to be there, one way or the other. No way Martinez is that inept.

      1. CaTriEm
        • 13 Years
        8 years, 14 days ago

        He's pretty inept. You guys are right though surely he can't be THAT stupid.

  9. The Yorkshire Pirlo
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 14 days ago

    Captain Hazard or Lukaku?

  10. Paul
    • 16 Years
    8 years, 14 days ago

    On Messi Captain...Should I twist for either of

    Coutinho or Lukaku??

    1. Ask Yourself
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      Kaku could do 10

      1. Ask Yourself
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 14 days ago

        Key word is could though

        1. FPL ZB
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 9 Years
          8 years, 14 days ago

          Can I ask, why the Lenin name?

    2. Legomané
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      I'd stick. See also HT.

  11. Ask Yourself
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 14 days ago

    Barring anymore upsets. This is the transfer plan:
    Isco, Carvajal + Kaku/Haz > Rakitic, Pavard, Kane.
    Happy that it works perfectly I can only rate Rakitic out of all the premium mids left really.

    1. Klopptomist Scott Jelly
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      I have something very similar with Ramos, Costa, Isco

  12. Bury94
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 14 days ago

    When did they start releasing the prices of 1 player per team last year?

    1. Legomané
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      I'll be surprised if they release any nuggets before the WC is over.

  13. Taegugk Warrior
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 14 days ago

    Considering using 2 bench fodder (1GK+1Def)... nail or not...?

  14. dunas_dog
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 14 days ago

    What are any Telegraph players who went all out block Spanish defence doing? I brought in 2 Croatia defenders which is ok as through to next round but still have 3 Spain?

    1. Flying Nugget
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      did costa to neymar and isco to hazard.

  15. jia you
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 14 days ago

    Should be delighted with Cavani's 10 but it takes the fun out of the captaincy twists 😉
    On another note I lost 300 to my wife last night who put up 100 on Russia at HT! I was only delighted to take her up on the bet: If Spain win she gives me 100, if Russia win I have to give her 300 🙁
    Predictions for today's games gents?
    I'll go:
    Brazil 2-1 Mexico
    Belgium 4-2 Japan

    1. Totalfootball
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      Brazil 3-0 Mexico
      Belgium 2-0 Japan

    2. jia you
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      RMB that was not pounds haha, we're not that nuts 😉

    3. yakirh
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      I think its time for a first clean sheet today.

      Brazil 2-0 Mexico
      Belgium 3-0 Japan

      1. jia you
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 14 days ago

        Maybe but neither team are overly solid defensively really. Can see both Mexico and Japan scoring!

    4. Bury94
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      Brazil 2-1 Mexico
      Belgium 3-0 Japan

      1. jia you
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 14 days ago

        Could happen mate, think a lot of people are underestimating Japan though, they're not that bad. But Belgium are now real contenders I do feel and should win and possibly beat Brazil!.

    5. WE GO FOR IT
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      2-0
      4-0

    6. kinghenry14
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      2-0
      4-1

    7. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      1-0 Brazil
      3-1 Belgium

  16. kinghenry14
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 14 days ago

    captain
    A) neymar
    B) coutinho
    C) hazard

    currently on haz

    1. WE GO FOR IT
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      Haz

  17. WE GO FOR IT
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 14 days ago

    Seleção Brasileira (@BrazilStat)

    OFFICIAL XI vs Mexico:

    Alisson;
    Fágner, Silva, Miranda, Filipe;
    Paulinho, Casemiro, Coutinho;
    Willian, Gabriel Jesus, Neymar.

    3/3 Start for me. Hoping there is no upset tonight.

    1. Bury94
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      Some team that!

      1. jia you
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 14 days ago

        FBs are a bit of a weak link though!

      2. Meinhoff
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 14 days ago

        Meh, a beatable team

        1. Bury94
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          8 years, 14 days ago

          Beatable by the teams that have been knocked out though haha

        2. jia you
          • 9 Years
          8 years, 14 days ago

          kind of agree with you, cant see them win it!

  18. el polako
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 14 days ago

    Guys Hazard needs to be a C choice of the day here is why:
    - he is on pens
    - ref is from Senegal
    - Senegal was knocked out of the tournament after embaressing unfair display from Japs and Poland where 1-0 for Poland was giving Japanesse qualificiation and for the last 10 minutes of the game nothing(literally) happened on the pitch

    You do the maths...

    1. willl
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      You mean the ref is going to be biased?

      In Russia?

      Working for Fifa?

      Can't see it personally.

  19. tanser11
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 14 days ago

    Suarez on 10 Points.
    Should I change my captain to Kaku and loose those 5 points?
    If Kaku blanks I can change to Kane tomorrow

    What do you think boys?!

    1. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      Obviously. 5 points is nothing.

    2. WE GO FOR IT
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      Sure

    3. kinghenry14
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      change imo

  20. Ten Season Wonder
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 14 days ago

    Who shall I stick the armband on today?

    A. Lukaku
    B. Meunier
    C. Couts

    1. WE GO FOR IT
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      Lukaku

    2. kinghenry14
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      kaku imo

  21. Paddy Gooner
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 14 days ago

    I know it's not until tomorrow, but should I sub Modric for Maguire or Quintero?

    1. _Make
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      I think Columbia will struggle to score, so Maguire.

    2. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      Maguire

    3. DantheManinaPan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      Well you're gonna be bringing both on anyway... Surely it's irrelevant? Unless somehow you've managed to get 10 scorers...

      1. Paddy Gooner
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 14 days ago

        Not sure yet - already subbed Varela for Grandqvist. See what happens next 2 daze I guess.

  22. WE GO FOR IT
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 14 days ago

    #MEX XI vs. #BRA: Ochoa; Alvarez, Salcedo, Ayala, Gallardo; Marquez; Vela, Hector Herrera, Guardado, Lozano; Hernandez.

  23. Atimis
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 14 days ago

    Is owning Hazard punty enough and go with Kaku C?

    1. WE GO FOR IT
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      Depends on how much are you chasing.

      1. Atimis
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 14 days ago

        10points, leader has C Mbappe and owns Kaku

        1. WE GO FOR IT
          • 10 Years
          8 years, 14 days ago

          Owning Hazard is enough. He won't change his captain. So you have Lukaku + Hazard. That should be enough.

          1. Atimis
            • 9 Years
            8 years, 14 days ago

            Thought same, thanks !

    2. Cok3y5murf
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      How is Hazard a punt?

      1. Atimis
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 14 days ago

        Comparing to Costa Kane Kaku

    3. Speédy
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      Kaku for C imo.

  24. Legomané
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 14 days ago

    Shearer's BBC column is a bit confusing today...some contradictory soundbites 😆

    "Before the World Cup started, I saw the quarter-finals as a realistic aim"

    "With our record at major tournaments, how on earth can we be so arrogant to look ahead like that, or think we will roll anyone over?"

    "I don't feel as if we have much to fear from Colombia"

    1. Funkyav
      • 17 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      he really doesnt offer much as a pundit

  25. FPL ZB
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 14 days ago

    This is the most even world cup I can remember, the good teams look poor and the poor teams look better than usual

    1. lilmessipran
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      Does it really matter? coz it's coming home

    2. MITHRRANDIRR
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      Similar to 2002.

  26. Andreaus
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 14 days ago

    Lukaku or Neymar for captain today?

  27. boc610
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 14 days ago

    scandalous that bobby isn't in that Brazil team. every time he comes on they improve.

    1. Piggs Boson
      • 14 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      Brazil struggle, then Firmino comes on and they win.

      We know how this goes...

  28. MITHRRANDIRR
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 14 days ago

    Just found out my mistake, have both Allison and Olsen. Allison or Olsen?

    1. Mysterion
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 14 days ago

      Why is it a mistake? Olsen plays tomorrow

      1. MITHRRANDIRR
        • 13 Years
        8 years, 14 days ago

        There's another mistake.. 🙄 Thanks !

        1. Mysterion
          • 8 Years
          8 years, 14 days ago

          Haha np you had me goin for a minute, I have him too!

  29. DantheManinaPan
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 14 days ago

    Anyone else got Mertens?