Dugout Discussion
18 July 2026 287 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
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The third-place play-off of the World Cup may be pretty meaningless in ‘real’ football terms but for Fantasy managers, it has the potential to deliver some much-needed points.

It’s not just the fact that the ‘bronze medal match’ traditionally brings goals; it’s also the knowledge that Scouting Bonus picks suddenly abound in this fixture – something that won’t be true in the final tomorrow.

Kick-off between France and England is at 22:00 BST.

TEAM NEWS

The expected rotation has materialised as both managers make seven changes for what is a glorified friendly.

Marc Guehi ($5.1m), Djed Spence ($4.3m), Morgan Rogers ($7.2m) and Declan Rice ($7.0m) are the only four survivors for England.

That means Harry Kane ($10.5m) and Jude Bellingham ($8.3m), amongst others, are demoted to substitute duty.

The only France players keeping their places are Mike Maignan ($5.0m), Adrian Rabiot ($6.4m), Michael Olise ($9.5m) and Golden Boot-chasing Kylian Mbappe ($10.5m).

LINE-UPS

France XI: Maignan; T. Hernández, Lacroix, Konate, Gusto; Rabiot, Zaïre-Emery; Doue, Cherki, Olise, Mbappe.

Subs: Akliouche, Barcola, Dembele, Digne, L. Hernandez, Kante, Kone, Kounde, Mateta, Risser, Saliba, Samba, Tchouameni, Thuram, Upamecano.

England XI: D. Henderson; Quansah, Konsa, Guehi, Spence; Rice, Eze; Saka, Rogers, Rashford; Toney.

Subs: Pickford, O’Reilly, Stones, Anderson, Kane, Bellingham, Chalobah, J. Henderson, Burn, Gordon, Watkins, Madueke, Trafford, James.


287 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Gizzachance
    • 11 Years
    1 hour, 11 mins ago

    Who to bring in for Cherki?

    A cubarsi
    B barns

    1. Gizzachance
      • 11 Years
      1 hour, 11 mins ago

      Baena*

    2. ChelseaGuy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      1 hour, 5 mins ago

      Bro what transfer are you gonna do now

      1. ChelseaGuy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        1 hour, 4 mins ago

        Ohh realized it's for the sub, Baena then, higher ceiling

  2. ChelseaGuy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    1 hour, 10 mins ago

    Of all the hat tricks I've seen, that's gotta be one of the poorest now

    1. ChelseaGuy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      50 mins ago

      Not saying he played bad, it was good performance, but not hat trick worthy

      1. karam94
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        48 mins ago

        I mean, you're a Chelsea fan. Obviously you're going to think the Arsenal player is rubbish.

        1. ChelseaGuy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          46 mins ago

          Nah Saka is world class, but this one ain't anywhere near his top 10 performances

          1. jacob1989
            • 4 Years
            44 mins ago

            He has got a world cup hattrick.. i think the 1st since g hurst in 1966?

            1. The Bandit
              • 15 Years
              42 mins ago

              Didn’t Lineker get one v Poland?

              1. x.jim.x
                • 11 Years
                17 mins ago

                Yes first halfer too

            2. panda07
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 13 Years
              30 mins ago

              Kane vs Panama 2018

              1. jacob1989
                • 4 Years
                19 mins ago

                Yeah correct. Forgot this

          2. GreennRed
            • 14 Years
            27 mins ago

            You'd put him in a world 11 or say he'd start for any club side in the world?

    2. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      46 mins ago

      What a miserable and pointless comment.

  3. BUZZBOMB ♡
    • 11 Years
    1 hour, 7 mins ago

    Enjoyed the game tonight. 2nd best programme Ive watched set there. #1 OFAH Miami Twice.

  4. Mozumbus
    • 4 Years
    1 hour, 1 min ago

    Great match to watch
    Worth, 4 am here now

  5. x.jim.x
    • 11 Years
    58 mins ago

    People really earnestly said this was a serious fixture hahaha

    Very entertaining though, always a laugh when teams don’t really care and just go for it.

    Generational stinker from Konate, should be thankful Madrid already signed the contract.

    1. x.jim.x
      • 11 Years
      36 mins ago

      Tuchel still needs the sack btw

      1. GreennRed
        • 14 Years
        30 mins ago

        Who do you want to get the job? Tuchel won't be stuck for club offers and the England contract paid off will be a tidy few quid.

        1. panda07
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          25 mins ago

          Big Sam should get another chance, he was unfairly treated the last time.

        2. karam94
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          16 mins ago

          If Pep doesn't take it, given that Jose & Klopp are not available then it has to be Eddie Howe if English or Pochettino if foreign for me.

          Poch has clearly done a good job for the USA & he knows English football well.

      2. jacob1989
        • 4 Years
        20 mins ago

        If Southgate lasted that long, tuchel definitely deserves more time and chance. Still sf or 3rd place a quiet good achievement.

  6. The Polymath
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    47 mins ago

    How does the Qualification Booster work in the final, all the players of the winning team get 2 points? What are they qualifying for? Ridiculous booster

    1. GreennRed
      • 14 Years
      26 mins ago

      You answered your own question.

      1. The Polymath
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        21 mins ago

        Didn't like the answer. 🙂 Should only make sense up to the semi-final stage and not after

        1. GreennRed
          • 14 Years
          11 mins ago

          I know. It's a trap. The cleansheet bonus was a bit bogey too.

    2. jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      22 mins ago

      Well should have already played it. In round of 32 preferably. Where 16 teams were qualifying for next round

      1. The Polymath
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        20 mins ago

        I did, my rival has played it in the final round and I have max captain

        1. jacob1989
          • 4 Years
          18 mins ago

          He probably didn't know whar it means

    3. Lucky Z
      • 8 Years
      22 mins ago

      It is written in the rules.