After rolling out our guide to the FIFA McDonald’s World Cup 2018 Fantasy game late last week, we then kicked off an assessment of the player list with a look at the budget defensive options.
Next up, we turn our attentions to attack, seeking out the value picks for our midfields and forward lines.
Certainly, with 20 midfielders priced at £8.5 or over, and the likes of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar offering big-hitting armband options at £12.0m apiece, the need to balance our squads with cut-price picks is obvious.
With that in mind, we’ve limited our ceiling at £6.5m for both attacking positions, looking at the secure picks and in-form punts across the eight groups.
Budget Attackers
There’s no doubt that hosts Russia have struggled for a cutting edge ahead of the tournament.
However, given that Thursday’s Group A opener against Saudi Arabia is the only fixture in that Matchday, opting for an early punt could pay off.
Priced at £6.5m, midfielder Aleksey Miranchuk was fielded up front in showdowns with Spain and France in recent fixtures, bagging a goal and assist against the former in a 3-3 draw back in November.
Granted, he’s a bit of a punt, having started just three of their last seven friendlies. But we’ll get the teamsheets in advance of the deadline and he can be easily changed if not in the XI.
Priced at £5.5m, Saudi Arabia’s Taiseer Al Jassam has impressed in recent friendlies.
The central midfielder found the net in Friday’s 2-1 loss to Germany, suggesting he can be a handy enabler for clashes with Russia, Uruguay and Egypt.
Al Jassam is his nation’s number one for set-pieces and produced more shots and key passes than any team-mate.
Giorgian de Arrascaeta has made a late claim for inclusion in the Uruguay first XI.
After starting just one of their qualifying matches, he has been named on the teamsheet in two of their last three friendlies and has a fair share of dead-ball duties. That could be key, as Uruguay scored more goals (11) from set-pieces in qualifying than any other side.
Priced at just £5.5m, De Arrascaeta netted the opener against Uzbekistan last week though, on the downside, he plays as a winger and is listed as a forward in the FIFA game.
Morocco’s Younes Belhanda (£5.5m) arrives at the tournament in fine form.
The central midfielder has found the net in each of their two friendlies against Slovakia and Estonia over the last week, also supplying an assist in the latter fixture.
An opening fixture against Iran, in particular, could bring in the points before testing Group B encounters with Portugal and Spain.
The same can be said for his team-mate Khalid Boutaib (£6.5m), who is likely to lead the line and fired four goals in as many starts during qualifying.
Setting you back just £6.0m, Peru’s Christian Cueva has both set-piece and penalty duties in his favour.
Two of the left winger’s four goals during qualifying arrived via the spot, while he created at least double the number of chances than any team-mate.
Up against Denmark, France and Australia in Group C, the South Americans also have the £5.5m-priced Yoshimar Yotun as a cheaper option. The central midfielder was their top player for assists (four) on the way to Russia.
For the Danes, Pione Sisto and Yussuf Poulsen both cost £6.5m and have scored a goal apiece in the last four friendlies.
However, both are listed as forwards and are likely to play on the flanks.
For Australia, Mile Jedinak (£6.0m) is another player with penalties and set-piece duties to boost his appeal.
Matthew Leckie is identically priced but is listed as a forward, despite being fielded on the flank. He supplied three goals and five assists over qualifying and bagged a brace against Czech Republic last week.
Target man Tomi Juric (£6.5m) matched Jedinak’s tally of six goals as Australia’s joint-top forward in qualifying and looks set to lead the line.
Moving on to Group D, Giovani Lo Celso (£6.0m) has made a big impact on the Argentina set-up in the last few months.
The PSG central midfielder has started five of their recent friendlies, supplying more assists (three) than any team-mate in that run.
He can offer a viable double-up option with one of their big-hitters against Iceland, Croatia and Nigeria.
Nigeria’s Alex Iwobi comes in at £6.0m and is listed as a forward in the FIFA game.
The Arsenal man has played in central midfield, out wide and up front over the last year for his country, scoring twice against Argentina and firing a recent consolation in a 2-1 loss to England.
Croatia’s Ante Rebic is another reverse out of position option for those prepared to take a punt. Priced at £5.5m, he has started each of their last three friendlies on the flank.
Iceland midfield pair Birkir Bjarnason (£6.5m) and Johann Berg Gudmundsson (£6.0m) are also reasonably priced.
The Burnley man – who shares corner kicks with Gylfi Sigurdsson – was their number one for chances created in qualifying and found the net twice.
Alfred Finnbogason is an alternative up front. He was second to Sigurdsson for goals (three) on the way to Russia and has scored in each of their last two friendlies in June.
Switzerland’s Breel Embolo (£6.0m) has started three of their last four friendlies out wide, scoring in a win over Panama in March. Yet again, he is another who is listed as a forward.
For Serbia, midfielders Adem Ljajic (£6.5m) and Filip Kostic (£6.0m) provide mid-price solutions in the attacking midfield roles.
Stationed on the left flank, the latter produced two goals and five assists in qualifying.
Torino’s Ljajic has started the last four in a central support role in a 4-2-3-1 and served up a goal and two assists in a 5-1 weekend win over Bolivia.
The versatile Miguel Layun has featured in central midfield and in a support role during recent friendlies, scoring twice against Iceland back in March.
No Mexico player recorded more assists (three) during qualification (three), with two of those arriving via his share of corner-kick duties.
At £5.5m, he offers a secure starting option for Group F encounters with Germany, South Korea and Sweden.
South Korea captain Ki Sung Yeung (£6.5m) was joint-top scorer in qualification, with the Swansea man netting two goals.
Belgium’s Yannick Carrasco comes in at a reasonable £6.5m but with many will understandably opt for his fellow wing-back Thomas Meunier, who is listed as a defender.
Nonetheless, Carrasco supplied three goals and four assists in qualifying and was runner-up to Romelu Lukaku for shots on goal for Roberto Martinez’s side.
Group G clashes with Tunisia and Panama precede a showdown with England, handing the Red Devils a chance to make the knockout stages with a match to spare.
Anice Badri (£5.5m) arrives in Russia on the back of goals against Portugal and Turkey in two of Tunisia’s last three friendlies. A Round 3 match against Panama, in particular, could prove the in-form midfielder.
With Sadio Mane set for a role up front, Mbaye Niang (£5.5m) and Ismaila Sarr (£5.0m) are expected to take up the flank roles for Senegal.
Both, however, are listed as forwards in FIFA, though they could still appeal as a punt, given that the Group H teams all play in the final Matchday of the three opening Rounds.
Sarr scored against Croatia last Friday, though Niang leads the way for shots and key passes among all team-mates in recent friendlies.
For Colombia, Mateus Uribe has started the last three friendlies on the flank and comes in as a £5.5m midfielder. Carlos Sanchez (£4.5m) started more qualifying matches than any outfield player but the defensive midfielder looks no more than a squad filler, having failed to register any attacking returns.
Midfielders Keisuke Honda and Genki Haraguchi both come in at £6.0m and have started each of Japan’s last three friendlies.
Although Yuya Osako (£6.5m) has started the last two, his country have failed to find the net in either. A clash against Paraguay tomorrow should allow us to get a better indication of Japan’s starting XI for the tournament.
