Dugout Discussion

Defence proves popular in Russia v Saudia Arabia

World Cup Fantasy managers have a first chance to see their players in action as Russia take on Saudi Arabia in the opening fixture.

The showdown takes place in the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, the venue which will host next month’s final.

Despite both sides combining for just five clean sheets in 22 matches, defensive assets have proved the most popular for the encounter.

Goalkeeper Abdullah Al-Mayouf (£4.0m) comes into the opener with five percent ownership on McDonald’s FIFA World Cup Fantasy, more than any other in the match.

Meanwhile, Russian counterpart Igor Akinfeev (£5.0m) and Mohamed Alburayk (£4.0m) both have a three percent share of worldwide managers.

Alexandr Samedov (£7.5m) is the most likely to do well this afternoon, having been involved in 11 goals in the nation’s last 20 matches. Despite that, Samedov has between zero and one percent ownership.

STARTING LINE-UPS

4-2-3-1: Akinfeev; Fernandes, Kutepov, Ignashevich, Zhirkov; Gazinskiy, Zobnin, Golovin, Dzagoev, Samedov; Smolov.

4-5-1: Al-Maiouf; Alburayk, Os.Hawsawi, Om.Hawsawi, Al-Shahrani; Otayf, Al-Dawsari, Al-Faraj, Al-Jassam, Al-Shehri, Al-Sahlawi

970 Comments Post a Comment
  1. iCon
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    6 years, 1 day ago

    Lol; only got him in as was sure he’d start

    1. iCon
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 1 day ago

      Sorry I didn’t give him the C but thought more chance he’d be sent off than score

      1. OPTA FPL
        • 12 Years
        6 years, 1 day ago

        same idea

      2. Tinydancer
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 1 day ago

        Yea same ... But its alot more fun to not have your captain go crazy game 1 😛 you get to get exited for a few more matches this way

    2. OPTA FPL
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 1 day ago

      just did Sanchez to him at deadline here ))

    3. Balls of Steel
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 1 day ago

      So did I for Inui 5 minutes before deadline 🙂

      1. Camzy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        6 years, 1 day ago

        Same. Looks like genius right now. Great start for us.

    4. Aurora Borealis?
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 1 day ago

      Same transferred him in 1min before deadline. Nobody in the office likes me know

      1. Aurora Borealis?
        • 12 Years
        6 years, 1 day ago

        now

  2. Now I'm Panicking
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 1 day ago

    The ref obviously wants to see his kids again.

    1. Meinhoff
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 1 day ago

      Lol

  3. ★Kuntheman★
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 1 day ago

    To think I picked Dawsari over Gazinski because he was more attacking

  4. Jack Frost
    • 13 Years
    6 years, 1 day ago

    Unreal, I downgraded to 4.5 Gaz, just as fodder from 5.0 Zobnin when I saw the lineup.

  5. Sebbo29
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 1 day ago

    Haha Putin shaking hands with the Sheikh. All pre-arranged

  6. FER FUSCH AKE
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 1 day ago

    how does one view one's rivals' squads?

    1. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 1 day ago

      Was it the last World Cup where 3 weeks down the line you still couldn't do this?

      1. FER FUSCH AKE
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 1 day ago

        first time playing this game

        1. Epic Fail
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          6 years, 1 day ago

          Yeah sorry I was more just putting my thoughts into words, not actually asking you. 😀

          I'm pretty sure the site was crap like this last time. Someone with a better memory may remember.

    2. Old Schoolᴼˢ “disa…
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 1 day ago

      Wot wot wot wot

    3. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 1 day ago

      I'm not sure you can lol

    4. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 1 day ago

      Screenshot

  7. Krafty Werks
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 1 day ago

    Gazinsky golden boot gtd.

  8. Tony Warner Fan Club
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 1 day ago

    Got Saudi Arabia in a worst team sweepstake.

    It begins...

  9. Taking the Mkhitaryan
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 1 day ago

    Saudi defence is AWFUL
    Literally much worse than an over 35's Sunday league defence

    1. The Cherry Picker
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 1 day ago

      Honestly, no ones defence is THAT bad.

  10. Sebbo29
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 1 day ago

    Al-down

  11. Ógie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 1 day ago

    How the hell was that not flagged for off side?

    These officials might be dodgy.

    1. HamezMace
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 1 day ago

      Free fuel for life

  12. Horlicks esq.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    6 years, 1 day ago

    Now I feel like Im really gonna miss Cavani / Salah / Suarez.

    Russia and KSA are total pap.

    1. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 1 day ago

      You can get them though.

    2. Krafty Werks
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 1 day ago

      This^...hence i have triple Uruguay 😉

  13. NUFCAndrew
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 1 day ago

    Al-Dawsari red card please

    1. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 1 day ago

      If he gets a red card he'll go down in FFS infamy. Would love it.

    2. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 1 day ago

      the lol at those who have captained him.

    3. The Cherry Picker
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 1 day ago

      This

  14. FDMS All Starz
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 1 day ago

    Can you change your subs order?

  15. Richd
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 1 day ago

    When can we see rivals teams ?

  16. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 1 day ago

    I want salah now

    1. Red Dagger ✪
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 1 day ago

      Just thinking that.

  17. ♤TeddyBear♤
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 1 day ago

    Is there bonus points in the Mcdonalds fantasy?

    1. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 1 day ago

      Deadline passed and only now you want to know the rules?

      1. UNDERSCORE
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 1 day ago

        haha

      2. ♤TeddyBear♤
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 1 day ago

        I have other things to do 🙂 and its not gonna change who i pick.......

    2. The Cherry Picker
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 1 day ago

      I want to know this...

  18. FPL ZB
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 1 day ago

    Threw a £10 free bet on a goal in the first 15 minutes. Happy days!

    1. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 1 day ago

      Odds? about 2/1?

      1. FPL ZB
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 1 day ago

        3/1

        1. Now I'm Panicking
          • 9 Years
          6 years, 1 day ago

          Nice 🙂

  19. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 1 day ago

    People thought South Korea's run was dodgy... Wait till Russia beat Spain, Argentina, Germany & Brazil to win the World Cup!

  20. The Cherry Picker
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 1 day ago

    Assist for Golovin.

  21. bitm2007
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 1 day ago

    36% of players have captained Naymar or Messi, and Ronaldo at 3% is the highest selected captaining playing in the first two day. Don't people realize that you can have a different captain every day ?

    1. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 1 day ago

      Doesn't really matter until tomorrow when we'll see if lots of people have picked someone else.

      1. bitm2007
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 1 day ago

        Still means that nobody in this game is being captained by more than 2% of players (and it may be lower than that)

  22. FadeEye
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 1 day ago

    Any Leagues in FIFA World cup i can join.

    1. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 1 day ago

      HEWJPVYR

  23. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 1 day ago

    Al-close

  24. Ógie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 1 day ago

    Al-Quite on the eastern front.

  25. puddingbrood
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 1 day ago

    Anyone suddenly craving some Salami?

    1. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 1 day ago

      Wrong site

  26. 420king
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 1 day ago

    Dzagoev injured.

  27. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 14 Years
    6 years, 1 day ago

    Hammy

  28. Taking the Mkhitaryan
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 1 day ago

    Sniper in the stands

    1. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 1 day ago

      Those darn Ukrainians

    2. HamezMace
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 1 day ago

      Highly likely to be honest

  29. FER FUSCH AKE
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 1 day ago

    should ha e gotten golovin

  30. FER FUSCH AKE
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 1 day ago

    should have gotten golovin