World Cup

World Cup 2018 Predicted Line-ups and Team News

After weeks of research, we’ve predicted the starting line-up for every team’s opening fixture at this summer’s World Cup.

We’ve put these together using information gathered from qualifying matches, international friendlies and team news information from managers.

Some of them are more set in stone than others and ultimately they are predictions based on the interpretation of the data by our team of writers.

Hopefully it will help World Cup Fantasy managers pick their teams.

GROUP A

RUSSIA

3-4-2-1: Igor Akinfeev; Fedor Kudryashov, Ilya Kutepov, Vladimir Granat; Yuri Zhirkov, Alexandr Golovin, Roman Zobnin, Alexandr Samedov; Aleksei Miranchuk, Alan Dzagoev; Fedor Smolov

SAUDI ARABIA

4-2-3-1: Abdullah Al-Maiouf; Mansour Al-Harbi, Omar Hawsawi, Osama Hawsawi, Yasir Al-Shahrani; Abdullah Otayf, Salman Al-Faraj; Salem Al-Dawsari, Tassir Al-Jassim, Yahya Al-Shehri; Mohammed Al-Sahlawi.

EGYPT

4-2-3-1: Mohamed El-Shenawy; Mohamed Abdel Shafy, Ahmed Hegazi, Ali Gabr, Ahmed Fathy; Tarek Hamed, Mohamed Elneny; Ramadan Sobhi, Abdallah Said, Mohamed Salah; Marwan Mohsen.

URUGUAY

4-4-2: Fernando Muslera; Diego Laxalt, Diego Godin, Jose Gimenez, Guillermo Varela; Giorgian De Arrascaeta, Rodrigo Bentancur, Matias Vecino, Nahitan Nandez; Luis Suarez, Edinson Cavani

GROUP B

PORTUGAL

4-4-2: Rui Patricio; Raphael Guerreiro, Pepe, Jose Fonte, Cedric Soares; Joao Mario, William Carvalho, Joao Moutinho, Bernardo Silva; Andre Silva, Cristiano Ronaldo

SPAIN

4-2-3-1: David de Gea; Jordi Alba, Sergio Ramos, Gerard Pique, Dani Carvajal; Thiago Alcantara, Sergio Busquets; Andres Iniesta, Isco, David Silva; Diego Costa

MOROCCO

4-1-4-1: Munir Mohamedi; Achraf Hakimi, Medhi Benatia, Romain Saiss, Nabil Dirar*; Karim El Ahmadi; Noureddine Amrabat, Mbark Boussoufa, Younes Belhanda, Hakim Ziyech; Khalid Boutaib

*Dirar is a fitness concern for Morocco’s opening group fixture.

IRAN

4-5-1: Alireza Beiranvand; Milad Mohammadi, Morteza Pouraliganji, Rouzbeh Cheshmi, Ramin Rezaeian; Mehdi Taremi, Ehsan Hajsafi, Masoud Shojaei, Omid Ebrahimi*, Alireza Jahanbakhsh; Sardar Azmoun

*Saeid Ezatolahi is suspended for Iran’s first game, but will possibly replace Ebrahimi upon becoming available for selection.

GROUP C

FRANCE

4-3-1-2: Hugo Lloris; Benjamin Pavard, Raphael Varane, Samuel Umtiti, Lucas Hernandez; Blaise Matuidi, Paul Pogba, N’Golo Kante; Antoine Griezmann; Olivier Giroud, Kylian Mbappe

AUSTRALIA

4-2-3-1: Mat Ryan; Aziz Behich, Mark Milligan, Trent Sainsbury, Joshua Risdon; Mile Jedinak, Aaron Mooy; Robbie Kruse, Tom Rogic, Mathew Leckie; Andrew Nabbout

PERU

4-2-3-1: Pedro Gallese; Miguel Trauco, Alberto Rodriguez, Christian Ramos, Luis Advincula; Yoshimar Yotun, Renato Tapia; Christian Cueva, Jefferson Farfan, Andre Carrillo; Paulo Guerrero.

DENMARK

4-2-3-1: Kasper Schmeichel; Jens Larsen, Andreas Christensen, Simon Kjaer, Henrik Dalsgaard; Thomas Delaney, William Kvist; Pione Sisto, Christian Eriksen, Yussuf Poulsen; Nicolai Jorgensen.

GROUP D

ARGENTINA

4-2-3-1: Willy Caballero; Nicolas Tagliafico, Federico Fazio, Nicolas Otamendi, Fabricio Bustos; Giovani Lo Celso, Lucas Biglia*; Angel Di Maria, Lionel Messi, Maximiliano Meza; Sergio Aguero

*Ever Banega, another option in central midfield, is a fitness concern ahead of Argentina’s first group match.

ICELAND

4-4-2: Hannes Thor Halldorsson; Hordur Magnusson, Ragnar Sigurdsson, Kari Arnason, Birkir Saevarsson; Birkir Bjarnason, Aron Gunnarsson, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Johann Berg Gudmundsson; Bjorn Bergmann Sigurdarson, Alfred Finnbogason

CROATIA

4-2-3-1: Danijel Subasic; Ivan Strinic, Dejan Lovren, Vedran Corluka, Sime Vrsaljko; Ivan Rakitic, Milan Dadelj; Ivan Perisic, Luka Modric, Ante Rebic; Mario Mandzukic.

NIGERIA

3-5-2: Francis Uzoho; John Ogu, Leon Balogun, William Troost-Ekong; Brian Idowu, John Obi Mikel, Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi, Shehu Abdullahi; Victor Moses, Odion Ighalo

GROUP E

BRAZIL

4-3-3: Alisson; Marcelo, Joao Miranda, Thiago Silva, Danilo; Philippe Coutinho, Casemiro, Paulinho; Neymar, Gabriel Jesus, Willian.

SWITZERLAND

4-2-3-1: Yann Sommer; Ricardo Rodriguez, Manuel Akanji, Fabian Schar, Stephen Lichsteiner; Granit Xhaka, Valon Behrami; Steven Zuber, Blerim Dzemaili, Xherdan Shaqiri; Haris Seferovic

COSTA RICA

3-4-2-1: Keylor Navas; Oscar Duarte, Geancarlo Gonzalez, Johnny Acosta; Bryan Oviedo, David Guzman, Celso Borges, Christian Gamboa; Joel Campbell, Bryan Ruiz; Marco Urena

SERBIA

4-2-3-1: Vladimir Stojkovic; Aleksandr Kolarov, Dusko Tosic, Nikola Milenkovic, Antonio Rukavina; Luka Milivojevic, Nemanja Matic; Filip Kostic, Adam Ljajic, Dusan Tadic; Aleksandr Mitrovic

GROUP F

GERMANY

4-2-3-1: Manuel Neuer; Jonas Hector, Mats Hummels, Jerome Boateng, Joshua Kimmich; Toni Kroos, Sami Khedira; Marco Reus, Mesut Ozil, Thomas Muller; Timo Werner.

MEXICO

4-3-3: Guillermo Ochoa; Carlos Salcedo, Hector Moreno, Hugo Ayala, Jesus Gallardo; Hector Herrera, Miguel Layun, Andres Guardado; Hirving Lozano, Carlos Vela, Javier Hernandez

SWEDEN

4-4-2: Robin Olsen; Ludwig Augustinsson, Andreas Granqvist, Victor Lindelof, Mikael Lustig; Emil Forsberg, Albin Ekdal, Sebastian Larsson, Viktor Claesson; Marcus Berg, Ola Toivonen

SOUTH KOREA

4-4-2: Kim Seung-gyu; Kim Min-woo, Kim Young-Gwon, Jang Hyun-soo, Lee Yong; Lee Sung-woo, Jung Woo-Young, Ki Sung-yeung, Lee Jae-Sung Il; Son Heung-min, Hwang He-chan.

GROUP G

BELGIUM

3-4-2-1: Thibaut Courtois; Toby Alderweireld, Derdryck Boyata*, Jan Vertonghen; Thomas Meunier, Kevin De Bruyne, Axel Witsel, Yannick Carrasco; Dries Mertens, Eden Hazard; Romelu Lukaku

*Vincent Kompany should start if he is passed fit.

PANAMA

4-5-1: Jaime Penedo; Luis Ovalle, Roman Torres, Fidel Escobar, Adolfo Machado; Jose Rodriguez, Anibal Godoy, Gabriel Gomez, Armando Cooper, Edgar Barcenas; Blas Perez

TUNISIA

4-3-3: Aymen Mathlouthi; Dylan Bronn, Syam Ben Youssef, Yassine Meriah, Ali Maaloul; Ellyes Skhiri, Ferjani Sassi, Saif-Eddine Khaoui; Anice Badri, Naim Sliti, Fakhreddine Ben Youssef

ENGLAND

3-5-2: Jordan Pickford; Gary Cahill, John Stones, Kyle Walker; Kieran Trippier, Dele Alli, Jordan Henderson, Jesse Lingard, Danny Rose; Raheem Sterling Harry Kane

GROUP H

COLOMBIA

4-2-3-1: David Ospina; Johan Mojica, Davinson Sanchez, Yerry Mina, Santiago Arias; Carlos Sanchez, Abel Aguilar; Mateus Uribe, James Rodriguez, Juan Cuadrado; Radamel Falcao.

POLAND

3-4-3: Lukasz Fabianski; Michal Pazdan, Jan Bednarek*, Lukasz Piszczek; Jakub Blaszczykowski, Grzegorz Krychowiak, Karol Linetty, Maciej Rebus; Piotr Zielinski, Kamil Grosicki, Robert Lewandowski

*Kamil Glik, first choice centre-half for Poland, is injured for his country’s first two group matches.

SENEGAL

4-2-3-1: Abdoulaye Diallo; Lamine Gassama, Kalidou Koulibaly, Salif Sane, Youssouf Sabaly; Idrissa Gueye, Cheikhou Kouyate; Ismaila Sarr, Sadio Mane, M’Baye Niang; Diafra Sakho

JAPAN

4-2-3-1: Eiji Kawashima; Yuto Nagatomo, Yomoaki Makino, Maya Yoshida, Gotoku Sakai; Makoto Hasebe, Hotaru Yamaguchi; Keisuke Honda, Shinji Kagawa, Genki Haraguchi; Yuya Osako.

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

Group HSenegal, Japan, Poland, Colombia

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…

3,555 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Kasper the ghost keeper
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Le Celso or Cueva?

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

      Cueva

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

      Cueva

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

      Cueva.

  2. migas2k7
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Open the world cup 1st gw with maximum captain worth?

    My plan is 1st game max capt,
    2nd game maybe wild card & benchboost
    3rd game wildcard if not spent on 2nd game

    Why benchboost and max capt in early games? Easy 3rd game might have rotation... and after group stage everything gets harder so first two games seems the best for maximum points.

    what do you think?

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

    Cahill likely to start?

  4. CaptainHaddock
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Preview for Germany's match against Mexico: https://bulinews.com/news/249/preview-germany-mexico

    Still not sure if Reus will start... Do you guys think it's worth a gamble?

    1. TEKKERS FC
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      If he was a mid year, too many good fwds

  5. Ahh! Sister Assumpta!
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    RMWCT
    Cab / Uzoho
    Mendy / Danilo / Kimmich / Meunier / Sabaly
    Willian / Carrasco / Sanchez / Nandez / Meza
    Cavani (C) / Jesus / Werner

    2.5mil in the bank :/ 😀

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

      Not too shabby but I don't even know who three of your midfielders are.

      Mine is:
      Olsen / Gallese
      Godin / Kimmich / Miranda / Sabaly / H. Sakai
      Samedov / Cueva / Eriksen / Mueller / Willian
      Suarez (c) / Jesus / Sarr

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

      Use that 2.5 on upgrading your midfield, Sanchez no chance of attacking points, Nandez too probably.

  6. TEKKERS FC
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Grosicki on set pieces yeah?

  7. lilmessipran
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Dam so many players, I haven't even heard some names in most people's teams..fpl is so much easier

  8. Taegugk Warrior
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    A. D. Arrascaetan + James Rodriguez
    B. G. Jesus + (Meza/Miranchuk)

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

    Please RMT.

    Pickford, Willy
    Meunier, Trippier, Pavard, Varela, Ignashevic
    James, Rakitic, Lingard, Ziyach, Meza
    Lukaku, Lewandowsky, Mitrovic

    Playing BB Round 1 and will obviously wildcard this bunch Round 2.

    1. TEKKERS FC
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Rakitic interesting is he on set pieces?

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

        See comment below, I'm dropping him.

    2. CRO KLOPP
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Rakitic plays DM in CRO,don't get him,share setpieces

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

        Thanks

    3. Kante Touch This
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Debating between Mitrovic and Guerrero upfront

  10. TEKKERS FC
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Is there an article of the teams set piece takers?

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

      Granqvist, Modrić, Cueva, Moor, James, (I hope),

      1. TEKKERS FC
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Cheers mate

  11. Taegugk Warrior
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Belhanda or Meza...? Or another 5.5 price..?

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

      Badri 🙂

  12. dummyr
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    can u switch formation within round ?

    meaning if I start today with 4-4-2 can I switch on Sunday to 3-4-3 ?

    Also, Corluka will not start for Croatia.

    my team

    Sommer
    Granquist-R.Rodriguez-Meunier
    Cueva-Isco-James-Coutinho
    Jesus-Lukaku-Guerrero
    Subs: Uzoho-Lovren-Kjaer

  13. The Royal Robin
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    A) Granqvist & Trippier
    B) Pavard & Kimmich/Walker

    ?

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

      Granqvist.
      Kimmich

      1. The Royal Robin
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        No can do.

  14. Mr. Tiedemann
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Bench Boost and Wild Card - when is best and why?

  15. jonasloc
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    a) Neymar & Milincovic-Savic
    b) Cavani & James Rodriquez

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

      B

  16. FDMS All Starz
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    When are people playing their WCs and chips?

  17. Merc with a goalmouth
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Think I'm almost there - thoughts?

    Cavani - Jesus - Lukaku
    Mueller - Rodriquez - Isco - Meza - (Sanchez)
    Meunier - Trippier - Dalsgaard - (Hegazy) - (Sabaly)
    Loris - (Uzoho)

  18. duperball
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Please RMT.

    Muslera/Uzoho

    Pavard/Varela/Kimmich/Trippier/Meunier
    Casemiro/Isco/Mueller/C.Sanchez/S.Sane
    Mpape/Neymar/Lukaku

    Thanks

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

      Casemiro defensive midfielder + gets booked a lot.

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

        Is meza can replace?

  19. BelgiumFTW
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    A) Griezman + grosicki
    B) Mbappé + Paulinho
    C) Mbappé + isco
    D) other 9m striker + other 8,5M mid (name them)

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

      Jesus for example, but will he play? or share play-time with Firmino?

    2. TEKKERS FC
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      is grosicki on set pieces?

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

        Curious about that too.

      2. Krafty Werks
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        If Lewa not on pitch then will take direct free kicks, takes odd corner indirect free kick occasionally along with Blasz & Milik.

  20. TEKKERS FC
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Smolov worth a shout? On pens got easy first fixture

  21. Krafty Werks
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Which 5.0 mid for Uruguay is the better pick? Who is more nailed or plays most advanced? Thanks.

    A - Bentancur
    B - Nandez

  22. Eden Wizard
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    PANIC

  23. Maddamotha
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Rodriguez or Mertens?

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

    1) James Rod. & Lewandowski

    2) Greizmann & Willian

    ???

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

      1) i have them both!

  25. Grand Thibauto
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    How's this looking?

    Caballero Uzoho
    Danilo Meunier Pavard Varela Mojica
    Eriksen James Willian Meza Inui
    Lukaku Cavani Griezmann

  26. argentina62
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Is it sure that Meza will be starting lineup?

    Thanks for help!

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

      I hope so, he's on my team

  27. Grand Thibauto
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    How's this looking?

    Caballero El Maiouf
    Danilo Meunier Pavard Varela Mojica
    Eriksen James Willian Meza Inui
    Lukaku Cavani Griezmann

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

    Mandzukic or Giroud?

  29. ToyBlader
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Ospina or Courtois?

    Mandzukic or Giroud?? Please help!

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

      Either GK is good and oppty for clean sheets depends what you'll spend the money on but Courtois is better with easier group

      Neither, you only get 3 forwards don't go cheap there

  30. Big P
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    ho are the nailed 4m defenders?