Dugout Discussion

Penalty specialists Kane and Granqvist are the Fantasy favourites again

With five converted World Cup penalties and 65 points between them, Harry Kane (£11.2m) and Andreas Granqvist (£5.4m) are being backed to continue their fine form in this afternoon’s quarter-final in Samara.

Kane is the tournament’s current leading goalscorer on six goals and is the second-most bought Fantasy asset of this round, having been drafted in by over 250,000 McDonald’s FIFA managers.

The Tottenham Hotspur striker now features in 43% of Fantasy squads and is the most popular pick in attack.

Kane has been particularly ruthless with his opportunities, scoring his half-dozen goals from just nine shots.

Jesse Lingard‘s (£7.5m) ownership has now passed 20%, while there has also been plenty of Fantasy money for John Stones (£5.9m) and penalty shoot-out hero Jordan Pickford (£5.5m) – despite England not keeping a clean sheet in their four World Cup 2018 matches thus far.

Harry Maguire (£4.9m) looks like an intriguing budget differential: the Leicester City centre-back is in just 5.8% of McDonald’s FIFA squads despite having more penalty box touches than any other defender at the World Cup.

Kieran Trippier (£5.5m), creator of more chances than any other defender at the tournament, features in 13.4% of our sides.

No player has offered better value for money than Granqvist, meanwhile: the Swedish centre-half has returned 5.9 points per million spent.

Sweden’s captain has had six attempts on goal so far, scoring twice from the spot while also keeping three clean sheets.

Viktor Claesson (£5.7m), who delivered attacking returns in all three of his group stage appearances, features in 13.2% of Fantasy squads and is Sweden’s next most-owned player.

Goalkeeper Robin Olsen (£5.2m), who like Granqvist has kept three shut-outs this summer, is included in 9.8% of McDonald’s FIFA teams.

Mikael Lustig (£5.6m) misses out today through suspension.

England XI (3-5-2): Pickford; Walker, Stones, Maguire; Trippier, Young, Lingard, Henderson, Dele; Kane, Sterling

Sweden XI (4-4-2): Olsen; Lindelof, Granqvist, Augustinsson, Krafth; Larsson, Ekdal, Forsberg, Claesson; Berg, Toivonen

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, 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 detailing the World Cup content below…

McDonald’s FIFA World Cup Fantasy

Join our McDonald’s FIFA World Cup Fantasy league ‘FantasyFootballScout’ using the code: HEWJPVYR

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.

839 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    7-0 Sturridge!

  2. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Russia - England Semi-Final Confirmed

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

      Croatia will hammer the shite out of Russia and England for that matter.

      Those Croats are a real team and will put 5 past the Russians.

      1. GREEN IS GOOD
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Russia will beat the **** out of Croatia.

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

    Get the f in

  4. tm245
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Ashley Young's alter ego is Max Captain, nice.

  5. Les Bleus
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    How the heck are there friendlies scheduled at the same time as the World Cup

    1. Fred54
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Liverpool do not believe in England.

      Please create protest T-shirts.

    2. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Haters.

    3. Dr Van Nostrand
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      They were booked awhile ago

      1. Les Bleus
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        So was the World Cup 😉

  6. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Easy game. Hope the next game is just as easy.

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

    Waited all season for a Maguire goal + CS and he finally delivers, with the armband on too 😎

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

    Wow! Into the semi-finals. Can't quite believe it.

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

    Kane, Pickford and Maguire with no Swedish. Oh yes!

  10. Dr Van Nostrand
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    We'll done England now the real test begins

    1. GREEN IS GOOD
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Colombia and Sweden weren't real tests? Ok whatever.

      1. Dr Van Nostrand
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Not really esp when James was out. England were clear faves

  11. Norman Conquest
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    so proud of our boys well done

  12. Camzy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    In great shape this week. Griezmann and Maguire with max cap. Now for Modric and Rakitic to cap it off!

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

      Same. 52pts with Modric, Lovren and Golovin left!

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

      cap 2 players huh, knew i was playing the wrong game

  13. Limited & Mediocre Mana…
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    FOOTBALL'S COMING HOME

  14. Deulofail
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Semi finals for the first time since I was half a year old. Doesn't have the same ring as Final for the first time in my life. It's coming home!!!

    1. Norman Conquest
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      it was on my 21st birthday when gazza cried i still get goosebumps when i hear nessun dorma this summer could eclipse all those memories

  15. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    The golden generation! 😮

  16. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    The cameraman has a fixation on that Swedish lass

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

    Even down 2-0 with a minute remaining Sweden still had 4 back defending, they just don't know any other way.
    Those poor Swedish lasses, time to get the tissues
    Oh and one more thing, It's f*** coming home lads!

  18. the axolotl
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    @JeremyJHardy
    Boys, if it’s Russia in the semis, don’t eat anything for the next few days.

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

      Novichok'd training bibs.

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

      Because all the food is laced with performance-enhancing drugs....right???

  19. super zlatan
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    🙁

    1. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      😀

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

      Hard lines Zlat.

      1. super zlatan
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Better team won.
        Well done England.

  20. Deulofail
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    33 points from that game. Could have been 42 if I captained the right player! Onwards and upwords...

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

      Keep forgetting Granqvist. 34* 43*

  21. Piggs Boson
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    High praise from Klinsmann.

    Both Croatia and the hosts will be challenging opponents, but my word... England are one step away from the World Cup Final 😯

    Is this real?!

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

      It does feel a bit surreal. Can vaguely remember the Italia '90 semi. Feels great! 🙂

  22. Pranav Santhosh
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    kane lingard trippire maguire pickford in fantasy 🙂

    1. Sim Simma
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Kane was a failure in fantasy terms

      1. Pranav Santhosh
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        True but it felt dirty naming only the players that got returns lol

  23. the axolotl
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    well played england. thoroughly deserved. still haven't looked great for me, but it doesn't matter at this stage

    1. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      No need to get out of first gear yet. THIS IS ENGLAND!!!11!!one!!11

  24. Fred54
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Kane finally spotted.

  25. Azathoth
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Lamela FPL essential!!!!!!

  26. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    RIP Spurs!

  27. Deulofail
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    @BoringMilner - 21m21 minutes ago

    I’ve just text Jordan Henderson saying Guess what? He’s not replied yet but when he does I’m going to reply saying It’s Coming Home

    @BoringMilner - 1m1 minute ago

    Hopefully he’ll reply soon.

  28. Dr Van Nostrand
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Harry and the Henderson MOTMs

  29. bitm2007
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Don't take the semi for granted guys, our Euro 2008 qualifies draw looked good but Croatia and Russia were the two teams that reached the finals at Englands expense.

    1. Norman Conquest
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      different team different mindset

      it's coming home

      1. bitm2007
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        true, but the team they knocked out was England's so called golden generation.

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

      Russian's love British football. They'll do what's necessary do give Sterling some confidence 😀