Dugout Discussion
15 July 2018 1453 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
Share:

Sixty-three matches down, one to go. Over a month after the World Cup started, the tournament comes to a close on Sunday afternoon as France and Croatia meet at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.

France will be making their third World Cup final appearance following their victory over Brazil in 1998 and loss to Italy in 2006. This is, however, unchartered territory for Croatia, who had not previously reached the final of a major international tournament since becoming an independent nation in 1991.

Luka Modric (£9.1m) has averaged only 2.5 points per game in his last four fixtures but remains the most popular Fantasy asset ahead of the final: more than 50% of McDonald’s FIFA managers own the Real Madrid midfielder.

All the money since the semi-finals has been for France players, however. Five of Didier Deschamps’ players now have ownership over 30%: Raphael Varane (£6.1m), Benjamin Pavard (£4.6m), N’Golo Kante (£6.0m), Kylian Mbappe (£9.2m) and Antoine Griezmann (£10.1m).

Pavard is the best value-for-money player left in the competition (scoring at a rate of 5.6 points per million spent) and France’s excellent defensive record (four clean sheets in six matches) has led to sizeable investment in Hugo Lloris (£5.9m) and Samuel Umtiti (£5.9m), too. Lucas Hernandez (£5.0m) is the only member of the regular French back four who has yet to score in this tournament.

The sustained interest in Kante continues to bemuse, with the Chelsea midfielder – who is admittedly available at a relatively cheap price – by far the most popular Fantasy option in the French midfield. Kante, without a goal or assist to his name this summer, hasn’t had one touch in the opposition penalty area or shot on target to date.

Aside from Modric (who had played more minutes than any other outfielder at this World Cup prior to the weekend’s matches), there isn’t a single Croatian player with an ownership over 30%. Following his goal-and-assist return in the semi-final win over England, Ivan Perisic (£8.5m) is now the most popular Croatia asset in attack.

Dejan Lovren (£5.0m) features in around a quarter of McDonald’s FIFA squads, meanwhile.

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.

Just to stress, this World Cup offering comes packaged with the regular Fantasy Football Scout membership.

Check out this new trailer detailing 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. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    7 years, 6 months ago

    Max Captain only earns me only 1 more point

    1. squ1rrel
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      when i played it it got me 18 hehe

  2. Ógie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 6 months ago

    The pitch invasion on the 51st minute was by a Russian feminist protest punk rock group based in Moscow who's name can not be published here.

    Fair play to them,i think the cause is a noble one.They were sent to jail for a long time for noting before hopefully they do not come down too hard on them this time.

    1. Andy_Social
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      P***y Riot? Nice.

    2. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      I tried but seems you´re right

    3. Epic Fail
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      All pitch invaders should be punished harshly. Doesn't matter what their cause is.

      1. Dr Van Nostrand
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 6 months ago

        You can still punish them harshly and recognise a worthy cause or does only football matter? God forbid we are all inconvenienced for 2 mins. I hope pitch invasions run amok at Qatar 2022 since its the shamiest tourney ever

        1. Epic Fail
          • 15 Years
          7 years, 6 months ago

          Aye I'm not saying don't recognise their cause, just that the punishment can't be based on their cause.

          1. Dr Van Nostrand
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            7 years, 6 months ago

            Yes need to be consistent but tis a shame the punishers never seem to get punished

    4. LSK
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      Back to prison for them

    5. Dr Van Nostrand
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      Yes I thought it may have been a protest and they are notorious. Good for them they have a worthy anti-Putin agenda

    6. F4L
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      time and a place though

  3. Fred54
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 6 months ago

    Croatia still think there's ET. Bless them.

  4. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    7 years, 6 months ago

    Let the RMT fest begin 😀

    1. Yankee Toffee
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      Ward - Steele
      Robertson - Coleman - Cedric - Tomkins - Peltier
      Salah - Siggy - Ramsey - Deulofeu - Chalobah
      Aguero - Auba - Tosun

      1. squ1rrel
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 6 months ago

        ward and steele??

  5. Louis_Sans_Balls
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 6 months ago

    Giroud goes home without scoring a single goal 🙂
    And goes home as champ, the Football Gods are not a fair bunch are they

    1. Rainer
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      For the role he played, its perfectly fair!

      1. Louis_Sans_Balls
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 6 months ago

        What role did he play? A muppet?

    2. squ1rrel
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      he didn't even get a single shot on target...and took about 15 shots.

  6. Feloh
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 6 months ago

    lovren in tears

    1. Louis_Sans_Balls
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      He still has his best defender in the world award as consolation, no?

  7. The EJJ
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 6 months ago

    No Griezmann assist for the mandzukic OG? disappointing

    1. Epic Fail
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      No.

  8. Fred54
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 6 months ago

    Has Alan Shearer been banned from speeding or caught in an under cover sting operation?

    Never has a man hated cameras so much.

  9. Rainer
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 6 months ago

    Was that Pele or Gazza there?

  10. Piggs Boson
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 6 months ago

    Winning the world cup at 19 years old. Mbappe is surely the most valuable player in football at the moment. £500m?

    1. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      Hi Kylian

    2. Differential C (Mark)
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      Wouldnt be surprised. Real to get him, whether this summer or the next

    3. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      Aye, but where does he go from here...
      Winning the CL would be obvious target.

    4. Fred54
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      What about Scotty B and his winnings?

    5. Paul Psychic Octopus
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      Man U won't be able to afford that

      1. Piggs Boson
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 6 months ago

        PSG won't be selling unless Mbappe hands in a transfer request. Can't see him moving soon.

        But United are the richest club in the world. If anyone can, it's them.

        1. Davido989
          • 15 Years
          7 years, 6 months ago

          Yet they're not willing to meet Alex Sandro's valuation 😉

        2. Dr Van Nostrand
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          7 years, 6 months ago

          They are but other clubs have richer owners. PSG's owners are a bloody country you can't beat that unless financial fair play comes after them

    6. Eden Wizard
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      Neymar had £1bn clause so, north of that I’d suspect!

  11. Differential C (Mark)
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 6 months ago

    Wondering if Kalinic will recieve a silver medal. . . .

    1. Rainer
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      There will be one there for him.

      1. Differential C (Mark)
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 6 months ago

        Undeserved if he gets it.

  12. Ghost Gooner
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 6 months ago

    Lovren been on the losing team for Europa CL and WC. Must be rough 😥

    1. Davido989
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      Hahaha

    2. Ógie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      Looks like he has lost his crown as the best defender in the world to Varane.

    3. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      It slipped away from him so to speak

      1. Ghost Gooner
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 6 months ago

        Was he there for that Liverpool season? 😯

        1. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
          • 12 Years
          7 years, 6 months ago

          Ity´s in their dna 😉

  13. Pranav Santhosh
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 6 months ago

    Who's the guy in the middle between shearer and rio?

    1. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      😯

    2. Fred54
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      Bad guy from Die Hard with Avengence.

    3. Davido989
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      jurgen

  14. Fred54
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 6 months ago

    Billic and Giggs look like a pair of trendy Youtube vloggers invited to the ITV coverage.

    1. Piggs Boson
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      I'm surprised you're not watching adverts right now.

  15. Patch
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 6 months ago

    "Croatia do not have enough class to be deemed world class"

    Ouch some folks are even harsher, no mincing of words!!!

    Said by the dude standing next to Giggs...

  16. Rainer
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 6 months ago

    Presentation delayed as it actually went home with England today.

  17. Eden Wizard
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 6 months ago

    Bring on the game where assists exist!

  18. the snazzy viking
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 6 months ago

    £32 in the bag 😎

    thanks France

    1. Business Cat
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      Me too

      Formidablé!

  19. Andy_Social
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 6 months ago

    Why is Pogba acting like an out-of-control robot?

    1. Davido989
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      Tbf, now's the time for his dances and what not

  20. borat
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 6 months ago

    Finally a team from Africa wins a world cup.

    1. Hooky
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      98 team has a few half decent North Africans

    2. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      🙂 Oh dear...

    3. Dr Van Nostrand
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      Oh Borat keep it classy lol. Many of their parents are the player's aren't

    4. Piggs Boson
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      ?

  21. Ógie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 6 months ago

    The people in fpl towers should bid to do the McFifa game next time.
    Although it was a bit of fun it was badly designed in so many aspects.

  22. Garlana
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 6 months ago

    Kane wins golden boot thanks to Panama!!

  23. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    7 years, 6 months ago

    Mbappe ignored his President

  24. Rainer
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 6 months ago

    Luka 🙂

  25. Differential C (Mark)
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 6 months ago

    Modric gets Golden Ball. Lovely

  26. Fred54
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 6 months ago

    Modric... well maybe.

  27. Dr Van Nostrand
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 6 months ago

    Kane and Courtois couldn't even be arsed to stick around 1 more day to claim the golden boot what arseholes

  28. Andy_Social
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 6 months ago

    Harry Kane - missed again.

  29. Ógie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 6 months ago

    Future team mates Modric and Mbappe?
    Frightening prospect for opponents.

  30. Red Dagger ✪
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 6 months ago

    Ironically the Golden Ball is silver.

    1. Red Dagger ✪
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      oh never mind...

    2. Business Cat
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 6 months ago

      Modric's was golden. The silver one is the young player, Mbappe got that

      1. Red Dagger ✪
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 6 months ago

        Yup.