Dugout Discussion
20 June 2026 81 comments
TopMarx TopMarx
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Both Turkey and Paraguay will be looking to bounce back from defeats to keep their World Cup hopes alive.

Earlier on, the USA’s win over Australia ensures Mauricio Pochettino’s team will top Group D, given the new head-to-head rule for separating teams who finish level on points.

Kick-off in San Francisco is at 04:00 BST.

  1. READ MOREFantasy FIFA World Cup 2026: How to make a substitution
  2. READ MOREFantasy FIFA World Cup 2026 captaincy: How + when to change

TEAM NEWS

Arda Güler ($7.0m), found in 7.5 per cent of World Cup Fantasy teams, is the only player who doesn’t qualify for Scouting bonus.

The Real Madrid midfielder, who mustered eight shots in the surprise 2-0 reverse against Australia in round 1, poses the greatest attacking threat.

Brighton’s versatile defender Ferdi Kadioglu ($4.3m) starts alongside him.

He’ll be facing a former team-mate in Julio Enciso ($6.6m) and a current team-mate in Diego Gómez ($6.8m), who both start for the Paraguayans.

Sunderland’s Omar Alderete ($4.1m) retains his place at centre-back while former Newcastle United winger Miguel Almiron ($6.0m) starts again in midfield.

Fabian Balbuena ($4.0m), once of West Ham, and Nottingham Forest’s ex-player Ramon Sosa ($5.3m), warm the bench.

LINE-UPS

Turkey XI: Uğurcan Çakır, Mert Müldür, Merih Demiral, Abdülkerim Bardakcı, Ferdi Kadıoğlu, İsmail Yüksek, Hakan Çalhanoğlu, Yunus Akgün, Arda Güler, Kenan Yıldız, Kerem Aktürkoğlu

Subs: M. Gunok, A. Bayindir, Z. Celik, C. Soyuncu, S. Ozcan, O. Kokcu, D. Gul, E. Elmali, O. Kabak, I. Kahveci, B. Yilmaz, K. Ayhan, O. Aydin, S. Akaydin, C. Uzun

Paraguay XI: Orlando Gill, Juan José Cáceres, Gustavo Gómez, Omar Alderete, Júnior Alonso, Diego Gómez, Andrés Cubas, Matías Galarza Fonda, Miguel Almirón, Isidro Pitta, Julio Enciso

Subs: G. Fernandez, G. Olveira, G. Velazquez, F. Balbuena, R. Sosa, A. Sanabria, P. Mauricio, J. Canale, D. Bobadilla, A. Romero, A. Arce, B. Ojeda, G. Avalos, G. Caballero, A. Maidana


TopMarx Fan of Fantasy Football and Monty Python. "Archimedes out to Socrates, Socrates back to Archimedes, Archimedes out to Heraclitus, he beats Hegel. Heraclitus a little flick, here he comes on the far post, Socrates is there, Socrates heads it in! Socrates has scored! The Greeks are going mad, the Greeks are going mad! Socrates scores, got a beautiful cross from Archimedes. The Germans are disputing it. Hegel is arguing that the reality is merely an a priori adjunct of non-naturalistic ethics, Kant via the categorical imperative is holding that ontologically it exists only in the imagination, and Marx is claiming it was offside. Follow them on Twitter

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  1. FOREST FOREVER 2
    • 1 Year
    1 month, 22 days ago

    Turkish Delight for Paraguay.

    1. panda07
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      1 month, 22 days ago

      There's going to be red cards in this one.

      1. panda07
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        1 month, 22 days ago

        ....and there we go....

  2. Kroenius
    1 month, 22 days ago

    And I predicted Turkey to win that group and have Kadioglu in my Fantasy team. That didn't age well at all

    1. The Mentaculus
      • 5 Years
      1 month, 21 days ago

      I picked Türkiye ahead of USA in a team draft game 😡

  3. FOREST FOREVER 2
    • 1 Year
    1 month, 22 days ago

    This corner gvien fro delaying goal kick is new to me. what about Free Kicks, corenrs or Throw ins. Will these be reveresed in case of dealys ?

  4. AAAFootball
    • 1 Year
    1 month, 22 days ago

    Wow turkey out

    1. PartyTime
      • 5 Years
      1 month, 22 days ago

      Turkey stuffed

  5. fenixri
    • 10 Years
    1 month, 22 days ago

    Early WC3 team

    Bouno Courtuis
    Meunier Singo Kolasinac VVd Hakimi
    Saibari KDB Vini Yamal Eze/Rogers/Rash
    Jackson Malen Diomande

    Gives good C options for every day. Still too early but it was made with prediction that all popular players qualified in MD2.

    1. The Mentaculus
      • 5 Years
      1 month, 21 days ago

      Anyone but Malen... rest looks alright

  6. GreennRed
    • 14 Years
    1 month, 22 days ago

    https://www.fifa.com/en/tournaments/mens/worldcup/canadamexicousa2026/articles/groups-how-teams-qualify-tie-breakers

    Tie-breaking criteria for World Cup groups:

    If two or more teams in the same group are equal on points after the completion of the group stage, the following criteria, in the order below, shall be applied to determine the ranking:

    Step one-
    greatest number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned
    superior goal difference resulting from the group matches between the teams concerned
    greatest number of goals scored in all group matches between the teams concerned
    If no decision can be made through this procedure, the criteria below shall apply as follows to the two or more teams still equal on points:

    Step two-
    superior goal difference in all group matches
    greatest number of goals scored in all group matches
    highest team conduct score (players and team officials) relating to the number of yellow and red cards obtained
    If no decision can be made through the procedures of step one and two above, the following shall apply:

    Step three-
    the two or more teams still equal on points shall be ranked according to the most recent published edition of the FIFA/Coca‑Cola Men’s World Ranking

    1. PartyTime
      • 5 Years
      1 month, 22 days ago

      Could be useful for Ireland next tournament

  7. circusmonkey
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    1 month, 22 days ago

    Miggy Almiron, naughty boy. I recall that hot streak he had and looked it up. He was Premier League player of the month in October 2022.

  8. Assisting the assister
    • 10 Years
    1 month, 22 days ago

    Stick with Vini on 12 or twist to Valencia/Mbappe/Kane later on?

  9. SpaceCadet
    • 12 Years
    1 month, 22 days ago

    Decent day in wc fantasy with bounou, santos, saibari and vini.

    Vini cap stick or twist? Tempted to twist with Oyarzabal, kdb, neto, mbappe, kane still to play.

    1. Holmes
      • 12 Years
      1 month, 22 days ago

      I'm twisting with Mbappe, Messi and Kane still left.

      1. SpaceCadet
        • 12 Years
        1 month, 22 days ago

        Makes sense, cheers. And hope for a Davidesque return.

      2. PartyTime
        • 5 Years
        1 month, 22 days ago

        Raphinha, Elvedi & Coufal have killed me

    2. PartyTime
      • 5 Years
      1 month, 22 days ago

      Rubbish wildcard for me. Already hate this game!

      1. SpaceCadet
        • 12 Years
        1 month, 22 days ago

        Who are your flops so far?

        1. PartyTime
          • 5 Years
          1 month, 22 days ago

          Elvedi, Raphinha, Coufal. I have Rice on the bench which looks like a safe 2 pts when I should have Saibari or Diaz. Paid little attention to the scouting bonus & getting punished for it. Heck! I need another wildcard

          1. SpaceCadet
            • 12 Years
            1 month, 22 days ago

            Elvedi and raphina were good picks, just bad luck.

            1. PartyTime
              • 5 Years
              1 month, 22 days ago

              The latter wasn't 100% fit & I was skeptical in case he gets subbed off early. Decided to stick with the plan because Haiti pose little to no threat. Pain!!!

    3. Mozumbus
      • 4 Years
      1 month, 21 days ago

      Good for you
      I got Bounou as well for Rachet this round, but preferred to stick with Rangel
      Disaster elsewhere so far including Raphinha
      All hopes now on Messi, Haaland, and 12th man Mbappe

    4. Mozumbus
      • 4 Years
      1 month, 21 days ago

      And I'd stick

  10. Supernova
    • 16 Years
    1 month, 22 days ago

    Stick with Dest(c) on 24 points? Have Wirtz > Enner Valencia > Yamal > Mbappe > Haaland > Bruno still to go so I'm thinking no..

    1. Mozumbus
      • 4 Years
      1 month, 22 days ago

      Stick

    2. Kroenius
      1 month, 22 days ago

      I've switched with Messi,Mbappe,Kane,Bruno,Luis Diaz behind. 12 points is right on the line though but I'm expecting at least 2 goal contributions for Mbappe.

    3. The real Chief
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      1 month, 22 days ago

      I'm sat with 24 from Vini with Wirtz/Kimmich - Olise/Mbappe - Enner Valencia - Oyarzabal - Bruno still to play. Had Raphinia or Elvedi or Coufal came good, or even close to good, I wouldn't think twice and would stick. Trouble is I have 30 points and 24 have come from Vini. Move the captaincy on and I'm sat on 18 which drops me well down my mini league. Still thinking about moving it but what a change from Round 1 - took forever to get a trawl from Mbappe which I thought was a real pain. This round getting a haul early hasn't made it any easier. Oh well, given my track record with this world cup whatever choice I make will be the wrong one. Good luck.

      1. Kroenius
        1 month, 21 days ago

        I you switch do it right now and captain everybody in between Mbappe and now. Maybe somebody random goes off (like Dest and I had Xhaka captain first and was doubting that all ready)

  11. TheBiffas
    • 5 Years
    1 month, 21 days ago

    Wow Raphinha over Vini has been disastrous

    1. Holmes
      • 12 Years
      1 month, 21 days ago

      It was double up or just Vini

      1. JBG
        • 8 Years
        1 month, 21 days ago

        This, went Vini and Alisson(got 8pts from him)

  12. FC Hakkebøf
    • 9 Years
    1 month, 21 days ago

    Stick or twist on Viinnie (C)?

    1. JBG
      • 8 Years
      1 month, 21 days ago

      Wondering that myself with players like Mbappe. Kane and Messi left

      1. FC Hakkebøf
        • 9 Years
        1 month, 21 days ago

        One of them has to score two goals … not sure if the odds are in your favour. Same goes for me with Oyarzal, Mbappe and Bruno as my captain options.

      2. Kroenius
        1 month, 21 days ago

        I've switched (from Dest but he had the same amount of points)

    2. Mozumbus
      • 4 Years
      1 month, 21 days ago

      I'd stick

    3. Miro
      • 15 Years
      1 month, 21 days ago

      Im sticking

    4. z13
      • 1 Year
      1 month, 21 days ago

      Stick but the upside is there, Spain vs Saudi and needing something, France vs Iraq and Portugal also needing something against Uzbekistan.

  13. JBG
    • 8 Years
    1 month, 21 days ago

    Yet again Turkiyes issues infront of goal came back to haunt them. They have no proper goalscorer, haven't had one since Hakan Sukur probably and that's like 20+ years ago. All their "strikers" are actually wingers. Shame they crashed out in a imo, embarrassing way, cause they have some proper good and exciting players.

    1. The Knights Template
      • 12 Years
      1 month, 21 days ago

      I went to SUBWAY today and ordered a turkey sandwich!

    2. Mozumbus
      • 4 Years
      1 month, 21 days ago

      Yes, they're now almost out of the worldcup
      It was a decent team overall and should have done better

    3. Holmes
      • 12 Years
      1 month, 21 days ago

      would be fun if they can beat USA by 6-0 or something

      1. JBG
        • 8 Years
        1 month, 21 days ago

        Agree for both Turkiyes sake and just for the world's sake 😛

      2. Mozumbus
        • 4 Years
        1 month, 21 days ago

        Yes

    4. x.jim.x
      • 11 Years
      1 month, 21 days ago

      Swear they get pegged as “dark horses” every tournament, then go on to do sod all

      1. The Knights Template
        • 12 Years
        1 month, 21 days ago

        Where does that term come from I wonder?

        1. x.jim.x
          • 11 Years
          1 month, 21 days ago

          Katy Perry

          1. The Knights Template
            • 12 Years
            1 month, 21 days ago

            I don’t think you should know this, x.Jim.x!

      2. Kroenius
        1 month, 21 days ago

        Yeah happened twice now,with Euro's 2021 and now. The actual tournament they're good,the expectations were lower

        1. x.jim.x
          • 11 Years
          1 month, 21 days ago

          I only remember them scoring bangers at the last Euros too, but what can you do when you’ve got Cenk Tosun up top

      3. JBG
        • 8 Years
        1 month, 21 days ago

        It's so silly imo. Because they never are "dark horses" in my head, because they don't have the mentality or discipline for it. They get way too big for their boots far too easily and that just fcks it up for themselves. Not to mention having no goalscorer.

  14. The Knights Template
    • 12 Years
    1 month, 21 days ago

    What sort of sandwiches do they eat in Paraguay?

    1. The Knights Template
      • 12 Years
      1 month, 21 days ago

      They eat lomito TKT, a loaded steak sandwich!

  15. The Knights Template
    • 12 Years
    1 month, 21 days ago

    Miguel ‘Eyebrow’ Almiron will not be able to play against the mighty Subway Socceroos come next match! Woohoo!

  16. FPL Sanky
    • 2 Years
    1 month, 21 days ago

    How is this WC team looking? The one in caps are scouting bonus pics

    Courtois VASILJ
    MAZRAOUI AGBADOU KIM DIOUF O'Reilly
    Vinious SAIBARI SUMMERVILLE Kdb Doku
    JACKSON Alvarez DIOMONDE

    1. Kroenius
      1 month, 21 days ago

      I'd rather have Seol than Kim from Korea's defence,cheaper & more attacking. It's Diomande btw and him Saibari,Diomande & Summerville won't be under 5% owned when it's M3 cuz those are obvious wildcard picks

    2. lewisbigwcffs
      1 month, 21 days ago

      Looks solid to me. I’d probably keep Courtois and the KDB/Doku/Vini core, but I’d be slightly nervous doubling too much on Kim/Diouf if chasing scouting bonus; Mazraoui plus one of the cheaper attacking defenders feels the safer balance.

  17. CoracAld2831
    • 5 Years
    1 month, 21 days ago

    Wow... Just seen Turkey could not beat and not even score vs a 10 men Paraguay. Pretty pathetic i'd say.

    1. CoracAld2831
      • 5 Years
      1 month, 21 days ago

      And i do not see them beating even a heavy rotated US team.

    2. PartyTime
      • 5 Years
      1 month, 21 days ago

      Osimhen couldn't even score for Turkey. Such an overrated striker

  18. The real Chief
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    1 month, 21 days ago

    It is about time Scout removed all the old articles fro the site. Trying to find anythis relevant is vitually impossible without scrolling through loads of what is now old news. Will def not be renewing my subscription if this continues.

    1. Skonto Rigga
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 9 Years
      1 month, 21 days ago

      Which old articles?

      1. Skonto Rigga
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 9 Years
        1 month, 21 days ago

        And what are you trying to find?

  19. PartyTime
    • 5 Years
    1 month, 21 days ago

    Captain Wirtz or Havertz? I'm trying not to be biased, but honestly can't see cote d'ivoire stopping my country. Think it ends 4-1. 🙂

    1. The Polymath
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      1 month, 21 days ago

      Tough choice, Havertz seems on form but could be Wirtz's turn

    2. Assisting the assister
      • 10 Years
      1 month, 21 days ago

      Havertz for form

    3. Holmes
      • 12 Years
      1 month, 21 days ago

      Havertz. Writz wasn't as involved against Curacao.

    4. PartyTime
      • 5 Years
      1 month, 21 days ago

      Thanks guys

  20. The Polymath
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    1 month, 21 days ago

    Stick with Vinícius Júnior Captain or swap with Mbappe?

    1. Assisting the assister
      • 10 Years
      1 month, 21 days ago

      Same dilemma - probably twist in the end

  21. lewisbigwcffs
    1 month, 21 days ago

    @PartyTime I’d probably captain Wirtz if you want the higher involvement floor; Havertz is fine if you’re chasing goals, but 4-1 feels a bit hot. The model page I checked has Germany as the lean, with 1-1 still the top exact-score path — useful reminder not to overrate one scoreline: https://www.seeles.ai/features/tools/world-cup-match-predictor?utm_campaign=world_cup_prediction_2026&utm_source=ffs&utm_medium=community_reply&utm_term=germany-cote-divoire&utm_content=soft_link_20260620_ffs_germany_civ_captaincy

    1. PartyTime
      • 5 Years
      1 month, 21 days ago

      Thank you

  22. lewisbigwcffs
    1 month, 20 days ago

    That Uruguay mistake is the kind of swing that makes this format feel so harsh. One moment you are hoping for clean-sheet control, the next you are just looking for minutes, bonus crumbs and avoiding a panic captaincy move.

  23. bso
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    1 month, 20 days ago

    Stick with 20 pts from Cucurella or go for Kane, Mbappe, Bruno, Diaz later?
    Had the worst round ever, so would hate to totally bomb out.
    Thanks guys

  24. bso
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    1 month, 20 days ago

    Stick with 20 pts from Cucurella or go for Kane, Mbappe, Bruno, Diaz later?
    Had the worst round ever, so would hate to totally bomb out.
    Thanks guys!

  25. SpaceCadet
    • 12 Years
    1 month, 20 days ago

    Oyarzabal > mbappe cap stick or twist? Have Kane as back up cap.

  26. Holmes
    • 12 Years
    1 month, 20 days ago

    Kane stuck on bench if Olise, Mbappe and Messi dont blank, whoops! And the overall score is pretty mediocre as compared to others.

    1. SpaceCadet
      • 12 Years
      1 month, 20 days ago

      I have no such issues with kdb in the team.

  27. bso
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    1 month, 19 days ago

    Aargh...no Hernandez...no luck lol.