Scout Notes

Lukaku and Lewandowski net braces in final friendlies

Romelu Lukaku and Robert Lewandowski furthered their cases for inclusion in World Cup Fantasy squads with braces in their final warm-up matches.

Elsewhere, Japan’s modestly-priced differentials finally got a win under their new manager ahead of competing in Group H.

We’ve got all the goals and assists from the latest and final international matches before the World Cup begins.

BELGIUM 4-1 COSTA RICA

Romelu Lukaku scored twice and registered an assist as a strong Belgium team came from behind to thrash Costa Rica.

The Manchester United forward put the home side in front after Bryan Ruiz had netted Costa Rica’s opener and Dries Mertens had equalised. Eden Hazard provided the assist for Merten’s strike.

Mertens then became the provider in the 42nd minute when Lukaku scored his first of the night. Substitute Nacer Chadli registered the assist for his second.

Lukaku capped off his performance by assisting Michy Batshuauyi’s strike just after the hour.

BELGIUM XI (3-4-2-1): Courtois; Vertonghen, Boyata (Dendoncker 66’), Alderweireld; Carrasco, Witsel, De Bruyne (Tielemans 71’), Meunier (Chadli 46’); E Hazard (Dembele 70’), Mertens (Batshuayi 52’); Lukaku (T Hazard 65’).

COSTA RICA XI (3-4-2-1): Navas; Duarte, Gonzalez, Acosta; Oviedo (Calvo 46’), Tejeda, Borges (Azofeifa 76’), Gamboa (Smith 66’); Bolanos (Guzman 62’), Ruiz (Campbell 66’); Urena (Venegas 46’).

POLAND 4-0 LITHUNIA

Robert Lewandowski scored a brace in Poland’s thrashing of Lithuania to take his record to 37 goals in 37 games under national manager Adam Nawalka.

He fired in the opener after 19 minutes after a cross from defender Maciej Rybus before doubling the leading in the 32nd with a free-kick which hit the bar on its way in.

The Bayern Munich forward was substituted at half-time, replaced by Lukasz Teodorczyk, but Poland did not lose any potency going forward.

21-year-old Dawid Kownachi made it 3-0 in the 71st minute with his first international goal since earning a call-up to the senior team.

Jakub Blaszczykowski rounded off the rout in the 82nd minute converting a penalty in the absence of Lewandowski.

Lukasz Fabianski started the game in goal but was replaced by Wojciech Szczesny at half-time.

POLAND XI (4-4-1-1): Fabianski (Szczesny 46’); Rybus (Blaszczykowski 70’), Cionek, Bednarek (Pazdan 53’), Jedrzejczyk (Piszczek 46’); Kownacki, Goralski, Krychowiak (Zielinski 77’), Bereszynski; Milik; Lewandowski (Teodorczyk 46’).

JAPAN 4-2 PARAGUAY

Shinji Kagawa was the star of the show as Japan got their first win under new manager Akira Nishino.

The midfielder started his first match in any competition since February.

Paraguay took the lead when Oscar Romero converted Antonio Bareiro’s pass in the 32nd minute and went into half-time still in the lead.

A 12-minute brace from Takashi Inui got things back on track for Japan, with former Manchester United man Kagawa providing the assist for both goals.

The Samurai Blue extended their lead in the 77th minute when Gaku Shibasaki’s corner was deflected into the net by Federico Santander.

Richard Ortiz pulled one back for the visitors in the 90th minute but Kagawa got his deserved goal in stoppage time to round the scoring off.

Shinji Okazaki enjoyed a rare start and played 74 minutes while regular at the back Maya Yoshida was an unused substitute.

Elsewhere left-back Hiroki Sakai, who has three assists in the build-up to the World Cup, missed out on a starting place again but did feature as a second-half substitute.

JAPAN XI (4-2-3-1): Higashiguchi (Nakamura 46’); G Sakai, Shoji, Ueda, Endo (H Sakai 46’); Yamaguchi, Shibashaki; Inui (Usami 79’), Kagawa, Muto (Osaka 64’); Okazaki (Haraguchi 74’).

SENEGAL 2-0 SOUTH KOREA

Moussa Konate’s second-half penalty sealed Senegal’s first win since their World Cup qualification campaign ended in November.

The defeat was Korea’s third in their last five matches, having also only won just once since booking a place in Russia.

Senegal took the lead in the 67th minute after Kim Young-gwon turned into his own net.

Both Sadio Mane and Son Heung-min started the match for their respective nations and both lasted the full 90 minutes.

SENEGAL XI (4-4-2): K N’Diaye; Koulibaly, Sabaly, Sane, Wague; Sakho, Kouyate, A N’Diaye, Sarr; Mane, Niang (Konate 46’).

SOUTH KOREA XI (4-4-2): Cho; Jang, Kim Y-G, Kim M-W, Lee Y; Son, Koo, Ki, Lee J-S; Lee S-W, Kim S-W.

Further Analysis

Our comprehensive World Cup guide can be found here.

Group A Egypt, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay

Group BIran, Morocco, Portugal, Spain

Group CAustralia, Peru, France, Denmark

Group DArgentina, Iceland, Croatia, Nigeria

Group EBrazil, Costa Rica, Switzerland, Serbia

Group FMexico, Germany, Sweden, South Korea

Group GBelgium, Panama, Tunisia, England

Our editor’s Fantasy World Cup tips as told to Proper Sport

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.

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, which begins on June 14 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 previewing the World Cup content below…

1,230 Comments Post a Comment
  1. AceKn1ght
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Hi all, how’s this looking for a GW1 BB?

    Schmiechel, Navas

    Trippier, Advincula, Grandqvist, Godin, Hakimi

    De Bruyne, Ziyech, Cuadrado, Bolanos, Al Jassam

    Lukaku, Werner, Jesus

    Thanks!

    1. Maddi Son
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Instead of Schmiechel and Advincula, you might aswell go with Gallese and Dalsgaard instead. Basically the same thing for 0.5 less

      1. AceKn1ght
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Fair point! Thanks!

        1. Maddi Son
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          Love the Bolanos pick btw. Nice to see a fairly unique team

          1. AceKn1ght
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 9 months ago

            Ha, thanks! Yeah, I’ve tried to make it that little bit different... Built quite a bit towards GW1, so will WC for GW2!

    2. Lovefootball
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Nice and balanced team!

      I would maybe downgrade De Bruyne and upgrade either Bolanos or Al Jassam, but on the other hand relatively few have chosen De Bruyne compared to Muller, Eriksen, J Rod etc., so could be a good differential.

      1. AceKn1ght
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Cheers!

        Yeah, with KDB, I think I’m going to go for the punt... Quality player in a free-scoring Belgium team, playing Panama!

    3. Al
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      De Bruyne is a 10 million holding midfielder for Belgium.

      1. AceKn1ght
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Fair enough, but I still think he’s worth a punt.. Free-scoring Belgium against Panama...

      2. Critical Observer
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        His role is very similar to the one he plays for City.

        1. Sune
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          0+3 in 7 games in the qualifiers.

  2. samidace
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Have eriksen, jrod, coutinho, plan to bring isco in for R2 (vs iran)

    Swap out :
    A. eriksen (vs aus)
    B. jrod (vs poland)
    C. coutinho (vs costa rica)
    D. let it be, no isco

    with D i can use free transfer mojica to dalsgaard (good chance for CS vs aus)

    1. Lovefootball
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      B

  3. ludaslol
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    If money no factor

    A) Werner
    B) Giroud

    1. samidace
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      A

    2. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Werner imo

      1. ludaslol
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Would mean no France cover but guess they might spread goals anyway

    3. Lovefootball
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Definitely A. Not sure Giroud will start

      1. ludaslol
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Thanks, I’ll prolly ditch France then

  4. Whats the Mata?
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Seeing Varela in many teams. Is he first choice?

    1. yakirh
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      He is first choice.
      But I am worried about fitness, did not play last preparation game due to injury
      Would be nice if we could get anything more official

  5. Prison Mike
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Sorry for the RP.

    Any changes needed? Or Good to go?

    Muselra Uzoho
    Meunier Trippier Danilo Mendy Pavard
    Eriksen Rodriguez Aldawsari C.Sanchez A.N’dye
    Neymar Lukaku Cavani

    1. HurriKane
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      gtg is mendy nailed on btw?

      1. Prison Mike
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Cheers and I think he should be

  6. Ask Yourself
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Jesus or Cavani?

    1. WE GO FOR IT
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Jesus

    2. samidace
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      both, but cavani imo, considering jesus's minutes play

  7. NUFCAndrew
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Looking likely Pavard will start:

    https://twitter.com/gffn/status/1006857002742665216?s=21

    1. dewebster1
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      What did it say, tweet has been deleted?

      1. NUFCAndrew
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Early indications from France training today as to what the starting XI vs Australia will be is as follows: Lloris - Pavard, Varane, Umtiti, Hernandez - Pogba, Kanté, Tolisso - Dembélé, Griezmann, Mbappé. (L'Équipe)

        1. Bring the Cavalry
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          Mapped back in training then after the injury?

  8. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Anyone wc'ing gw 2. Are you going with KDB for the craic?

    1. Christina.
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      nah.

      Kane+Lukaku+Cr7/Suarez

      1. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Intresting kane

      2. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        One of the French strikers too

  9. ludaslol
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    A) Trippier
    B) Careces (double Uruguay D)
    C) Mendy

    For whole group stage, no transfers, no bench. Who would you pick?

  10. Salah'd n Sauce
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    After some tinkering and some great advice I've landed on this

    Lloris
    Godin Hummels Marcelo Meunier Sakai
    Isco Banega Coutinho c.sanchez Carrasco
    Lewan... Griezmann Iwobi

    1. Salah'd n Sauce
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Oops. Szczesny is 2nd keeper

    2. el polako
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Not decided yet between Szczesny and Fabianski, the latter looked better in latest games.
      Spain just sacked their manager, Isco might be expensive risk.

      1. Salah'd n Sauce
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        True. And given I think France have the easiest group (only IMO) I may have Lloris in most of the time initially.

        Might be worth going to a cheaper GK and spreading the love a bit.

  11. FCSB
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    what is the best strategy for BB and wildcard??

    thanks

    1. PompeyUpNorth!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Theres a a few options, check out the hot topics bit for more details...
      In a nutshell I'm thinking BB knockout round 1, so last 16 as extra time could yield more points? but group states could be as good if you are happy with your 15 starting?
      Wildcard- group stages, round 3 probably to cover rotation from teams already qualified etc..

      1. FCSB
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        thanks dude

  12. AYEW KI-EDEN MEE
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Equipe reported XI based on training session -

    Lloris; Pavard, Varane, Umtiti, Hernandez; Tolisso, Kante, Pogba; Mbappe, Griezmann, Dembele

    No Mendy, Sidibe, Matuidi or Giroud.

    1. noquarternt
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Surely not Pavard and Hernandez... hrm guess I'll have to just go with Varane.

    2. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      dembele and mbappe interesting picks

    3. noquarternt
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      How do they know? Hopefully not a bib ‘theory’.

  13. Differential C (Mark)
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    If I already have Coutinho and have no French cover...

    A)Jesus
    B)Mbappe

    1. Firmino
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Mbappe

  14. AusieAllTheWay
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    He guys, id really appreciate some feedback 🙂
    GK: Muslera
    Def: Meunier, Mendy, Godin, Trippier
    Mid: Isco, Milinkovic-Savic, Paulinho, Carrasco
    Attack: Jesus, Cavani
    Bench: Matt Ryan, Granqvist, Cueva, Guerrero

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

      Mili-Savic playing quite deep, not sold on Guerrero too.

  15. trinzoo
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Muslera / Uzoho
    Meunier / Danilo / varela / Dalsgaard / Mojica
    JRod / Eriksen / Meza / Belhanda / Aldawsari
    Neymar / Lukaku / Cavani

    RMWCT

    1. Totalfootball
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      I want Varela but not sure if he starts both the games.
      You certain he will start ?!

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

        He's training so why not?

  16. deyell
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    It looks like Pavard will start vs AUS. Will Sidibe miss at least 2 games?

  17. Totalfootball
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Hegazy or Dalsgard ?

  18. InvertedWinger
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Alright what combo would you think is best?

    1) Jesus
    2) Werner

    A)Muller
    B) Coutinho
    D) Eriksen

    1. InvertedWinger
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Sorry missed C because I had C Rodriguez but then feel he's kind of nailed for my team in my eyes.

    2. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      1D

    3. Lovefootball
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      2D

  19. Where dahoud at
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Need help big time down to my 3 strikers, pick 1 please

    A. Lukaku, cavani, messi

    B. Lukaku, suarez, neymar

    1. dbeck
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      b

    2. Aurora Borealis?
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      B

  20. Aurora Borealis?
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Posted on the previous article. quick A or B

    a) Suarez and Griezmann

    B)Kane and Lewandowski/Cavani?

    1. dbeck
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      a

  21. BananaMan
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Did a bit of tinkering last night (Basically changed my whole team!)

    With the plan currently being to WCard for round 2:

    Gallese - El Kajoui
    Godin - Kimmich - Meunier - Varela - Akanji
    Di Maria - Eriksen - Mueller - Belhanda - Aljassam
    Lukaku - Cavani - Embolo

    What do you think?
    Thanks

  22. raoulduke71
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Rate my team pls !

    .........................Kasper.......................
    ...Marcelo Godin Kimmich Munier...
    .........James Coutinho Carrasco ........
    ......Cavani Lewandowski Lukaku .......

    Almaiouf/Sanchez/Hamed/Sakai

    1. PompeyUpNorth!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Looking good imo

    2. dbeck
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Godin to Varlea and use the 1m to upgrade Sanchez

  23. PompeyUpNorth!
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    First draft, feedback required please esp on goalie situation and how to improve if required?..Not sure if Almuaiouf will play?

    Almuaiouf (Uzoho)

    Granqvist Idowu Danilo Arnason Hegazy

    Erik Sigs JRod Cout (C Sanchez)

    Jesus Calvani Kaku(C)

    Cheers!

    1. PompeyUpNorth!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Would be nice to get at least 1 response...Am I on the right track or not?

      1. Witty Pun: Not good at this…
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        I think you have to give up on one or two of Coutinho and Sigurddson to boost that defence (Couts especially looks redundant when you already have Jesus). Nice frontline.

        1. PompeyUpNorth!
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          Cheers.. Was thinking Jesus to Mbappe would probably make it more balanced, but see your point about defence... OR downgrade Cout and upgrade defence probably..At least I am getting somewhere now......
          Nightmare...

  24. GreennRed
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Will Canada, U.S. and Mexico all get byes into WC 2026?

    1. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      With 48 teams, I imagine so.

      1. GreennRed
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Fecksake. Only one of them a football country. Loads of countries getting pipped in qualification and these lads get it on a plate.

        1. Now I'm Panicking
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          CONCACAF already had agreed their number of qualifiers for a 48 team tournament would go from 3.5 to 6 - Mexico and USA definitely would have qualified anyway if they weren't hosting - Canada would have been borderline admittedly.

    2. noquarternt
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Yeah their bid included all 3 playing their opening matches on the first day.

  25. J0E
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    World Cup Scoutcast getting underway at 1pm.

    Watch live here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fiXETvcTz0

    1. Whats the Mata?
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Looking forward to it 🙂

    2. Moore FPL
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Great 🙂

  26. Whats the Mata?
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Best 4.5m defenders? Except Varela?

    1. Prison Mike
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Pavard seems popular and likely to start

    2. Sune
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Mojica, Hakimi, Hegazy, Dalsgaard seem to be the most popular ones on here.

    3. Differential C (Mark)
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Pavard, Hakimi, Dalsgaard, among others.

    4. DantheManinaPan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Akanji as well as those already mentioned

  27. Moore FPL
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Best mid-price mid? Say 7M and under...

    1. L'Aeroplanino
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Ziyech

  28. pedjaaaa
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    What do you guys think?

    Cavani - Jesus - Lukaku
    JRod - Meza - Mueller - Carrasco
    Danilo - Varela - Kimmich
    Muslera
    ---------------------
    Uhozo - Meunier - Sanchez - Mojica

  29. samaael
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    ALEXEY
    MIRANCHUK

    1. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Isn't that the nerve agent used in Salisbury?

  30. jackx13
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    So, Pogs a decent shout?