Sky Sports - World Cup

Sky Sports World Cup Fantasy team reveal: Double Argentina attack

Long-time Scout contributor Joe reveals the players and transfers he is looking at for the first round of the Sky Sports World Cup Fantasy game, where there is a first prize of £10,000 on offer.

If you want to know more about how to play the free-to-enter game, check out our beginner’s guide.

Our captaincy calendar has more tips on who to select for your daily armband choice, meanwhile.

ENTER A SKY FANTASY TEAM HERE


As a regular player of Sky Sports Fantasy Football, I’m used to the game’s captain-a-day format, limited transfers and a bonus system, which rewards slick passing, tough tackling and shot-happy players.

But there are some new tweaks for the World Cup version, such as having just three transfers for each early round. The full rules can be viewed in our guide here.

With this in mind here are my initial picks for Matchday 1.

Goalkeeper

Last year Canada enjoyed their biggest-ever win, scoring 11 against the Cayman Islands. Their first World Cup opponents Belgium will be an extremely different proposition.

I’m banking on a clean sheet for the Red Devils on Wednesday, which propels 96-cap keeper Thibaut Courtois (£7.8m) into my side.

Defenders

Brighton’s Ecuadorian left-back Pervis Estupinan (£6.5m) will be my first captain as I look to target a victory for The Tricolors against minnow hosts Qatar on Sunday 20 November.

With 28 caps and 17 starts during World Cup qualification, he looks like a shoo-in for a starting role for his country in the same position. His three goals for Gustavo Alfaro’s troops, some set-piece duties and the strong chance of a clean sheet, makes him a very solid armband pick.

Another attack-minded full-back to take a place in my initial draft is Holland’s right-back Denzel Dumfries (£8.9m), who has found the net five times since he earned the first of 37 caps four years ago. I like the look of him for the duration of the early rounds, with Senegal, Ecuador and Qatar as his opponents.

I’m bullish in Belgium keeping Canada at bay with my selection of a second of their defensive assets, Thomas Meunier (£8.8m). Should The Maple Leafs breach their back line I’m hoping the Borussia Dortmund right-back can earn me attacking returns at least.

I anticipate Australia will struggle to score against France. This earns their right-0back, Benjamin Parvard (£8.7m) the nod in my side. With Denmark and Tunisia up next he has the prospect of returns at both ends of the pitch throughout the early rounds and could be another ‘glue player’ for me that I do not need to remove.

Midfielders

Five of the USA captain Christian Pulisic’s (£7.9m) 21 international goals arrived during World Cup qualification to put him in my side. His kind price tag is also appealing as is his dominance of set pieces. The Pennsylvanian talisman could do well off the wing during these early rounds, particularly against Wales, when he has the chance of being my captain on Monday 21 November

Another strong captaincy shout on Monday 21 November is Bukayo Saka (£9.4m), who faces Iran in England’s opening game. He looks a good alternative if Harry Kane doesn’t make my initial team.

Paying attention to bonus tiers is crucial in Sky, with extra points to be earned from tackling. This makes strong defensive midfielders gold dust and Brazil’s midfield maestro Casemiro (£7.8m) is no exception. The Manchester United man earned tackle bonus in five of his seven matches as a starting regular and looks set to do the same in the World Cup version of Sky Fantasy Football.

Forwards

Argentina are one of the favourites to win the tournament after a strong qualification campaign, where they were runners-up to Brazil. Their attack looks like the team to target, scoring three or more goals in five out of their eight matches.

Their legendary attacker Lionel Messi (£11m) is a lock for me, on set pieces and finding the net eight times for his country this year from the wing. He looks like a great captain on Tuesday 22 November when Saudi Arabia are his next victims.

I’ll also be pairing him with Argentina’s first-choice central striker Lautaro Martinez (£9.7m), with four goals this year for La Albiceleste.

Will France succumb to the Champions curse and falter early on next time around? I’m hoping not as I’m backing their forward Kylian Mbappe (£10.8m) to prosper early on against Australia and add to his four goals for Les Bleus so far this year. 

Transfers

Monday’s captain Estupinan to England right back Kieran Trippier (£7.8m) looks certain for my first transfer. England being the first match on Tuesday means I can switch to another of Gareth Southgate’s back line should the Newcastle man be benched.

Next up, Mbappe will make way after this Tuesday match for a strong captain, with Kevin De Bruyne (£10.5m) looking a great armband shout for Wednesday 23rd November against Canada with 71 attacking returns in his 93 international appearances.

Brazil are another tournament favourite and I’ll want Neymar (£10.9m), who dominates set pieces, for my Thursday 24 November captain. Martinez will likely make way.

ENTER YOUR OWN SKY FANTASY TEAM AHEAD OF SUNDAY

Haaland Foden


J0E Podcaster and writer. Tweets stats and stuff via @FFScout_Joe Follow them on Twitter

24 Comments Post a Comment
  1. boc610
    • 12 Years
    1 year, 5 months ago

    "Ivan Toney -Ivan Toney! he's put his house on -you- to- score!"

  2. Mozumbus
    • 2 Years
    1 year, 5 months ago

    A. Musiala Dumfries
    B. Same Pavard

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 5 months ago

      B but with different Pavard

    2. Joey Jo-Jo Junior Shabadoo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      1 year, 5 months ago

      B

    3. DavvaMC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      1 year, 5 months ago

      I have gone for both.

  3. Fernandito
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    1 year, 5 months ago

    Have Messi & Neymar, how would be your 3rd striker?

    A Memphis
    B Nuñez
    C L Martinez (Alvarez played yesterday)

    1. Joey Jo-Jo Junior Shabadoo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      1 year, 5 months ago

      CBA but if Depay is cleared to start game 1 I would say ACB. Would not be concerned with Martinez not starting that friendly yesterday, and Nunez could be the kind of differential you need to get ahead. Greed is good in the official game.

    2. Eze Really?
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 5 months ago

      All 3 viable if fit and ready. wait for more news.

    3. Jonesfromthere
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 5 months ago

      Anyone know why Martinez didn’t start?

      1. Joey Jo-Jo Junior Shabadoo
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 3 Years
        1 year, 5 months ago

        Played 84 mins in a hard-fought game against Atalanta as recently as Sunday. Probably just needed a breather.

  4. Eze Really?
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 5 months ago

    Danish keeper anyone?

    1. Brehmeren
      • 13 Years
      1 year, 5 months ago

      Schmeichel

      1. theplayer
        • 10 Years
        1 year, 5 months ago

        Yeh the one that FIFA have decided to not add to the game

  5. Jonesfromthere
    • 11 Years
    1 year, 5 months ago

    I’m locked in, thoughts on my final team:

    Pickford | Rochet
    Dumfries | Cancelo | Maehle | Shaw | Sosa
    KDB | Eriksen | Bergwijn | Kamada | De Paul
    Messi | Neymar | Lauturo
    Mbappe (12th man)

    If Dumfries is out of MD1 I will do Dumfries to A.Davies and De Paul to Kostic

    1. Joey Jo-Jo Junior Shabadoo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      1 year, 5 months ago

      Looks good - nice spread of captains too.

    2. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      1 year, 5 months ago

      It's decent.

      I like Di Maria now at 8.5m. There aren't that many good mids to pick whereas FWD is stacked so I'd rather go Di Maria.

      Musiala is the first name on my team sheet at 8m. He's going to be pivotal to Germany imo.

      1. DavvaMC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 3 Years
        1 year, 5 months ago

        I have Musiala but do you think he starts, a few predicted line-ups I have seen don't have him as starting?

  6. OPTA FPL
    • 12 Years
    1 year, 5 months ago

    Yan Sommert, Schar, Lamptey all start!

  7. trinzoo
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 5 months ago

    Is Estupinian worth it? 4.5, captain for day 1, CS + assist and you can keep C on him.

    1. OPTA FPL
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 5 months ago

      yes

    2. Joey Jo-Jo Junior Shabadoo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      1 year, 5 months ago

      Yes. I would be looking for maybe cs+1g(+1a) or cs+2a to justify not moving captaincy but stranger things have happened.

  8. Moxon
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 5 months ago

    Best GK combination for World Cup?

    1. trinzoo
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 5 months ago

      Martinez / Rochet for me + double EN def.

  9. zon
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 5 months ago

    Any enlightening knowledge on Uruguay defence? Potential bargains there in Rochet and Godin but seems uncertain who will start.