Dugout Discussion

De Bruyne’s Fantasy popularity surges ahead of World Cup semi-final

The first 2018 World Cup semi-final takes place on Tuesday evening as France and Belgium meet in Saint Petersburg.

The pool of players available to Fantasy managers is now at its lowest, although up to six assets from any of the four semi-finalists are allowed in our squads from this point.

Kevin De Bruyne (£9.8m) appears to have picked up many of Philippe Coutinho’s former owners and is the most-bought player of this round in the McDonald’s FIFA game. Just over 450,000 managers had transferred in the Manchester City midfielder, who scored in Belgium’s quarter-final win over Brazil, at the time of writing and De Bruyne now sits in over 37% of Fantasy squads.

Despite not scoring since the second round of group matches, Romelu Lukaku (£10.0m) is still the most-owned Belgian asset at this point, a nose ahead of De Bruyne. No player has been presented with more “big chances” than Lukaku at this World Cup.

Eden Hazard (£10.1m) is another Belgian forward who hasn’t scored since the 5-2 win over Tunisia, despite having more penalty box touches than any player who plays for one of the four semi-finalists. The Chelsea man features in just under a fifth of McDonald’s FIFA squads.

Thibaut Courtois (£6.0m), who racked up nine saves in the 2-1 win over Brazil, features in 30.4% of Fantasy sides.

Belgium will be without the services of Thomas Meunier (£6.0m), who is suspended after collecting two bookings.

With three goals apiece at the tournament, Kylian Mbappe (£9.1m) and Antoine Griezmann (£10.0m) feature in 35.4% and 26.5% of McDonald’s FIFA teams respectively.

France have registered more clean sheets than the other three nations who have made it to the last four and Raphael Varane (£6.0m), who was on target in the quarter-final victory over Uruguay, is now the most-owned defender in the McDonald’s FIFA game: just over a third of Fantasy managers have selected the Real Madrid centre-back.

Benjamin Pavard remains excellent value at £4.5m and was the third-most bought player in McDonald’s FIFA ahead of tonight’s semi-final.

Blaise Matuidi (£7.2m) replaces Corentin Tolisso (£7.3m) in Didier Deschamps’ starting XI this evening.

France XI (4-2-3-1): Lloris; Pavard, Varane, Umtiti, Hernandez; Pogba, Kante; Matuidi, Mbappe, Griezmann; Giroud

Belgium XI (3-5-2): Courtois; Alderweireld, Kompany, Vertonghen; Chadli, Fellaini, Dembele, Witsel, De Bruyne; Hazard, Lukaku

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.

913 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    How does the WC game work for 3rd 4th playoff? Is it same ‘gameweek’ as final?

    1. Top Lad Dakes.
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Bruh two top posts in a row oops

    2. Mo Mané Mo Problems
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Same match day.

  2. Syd.
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    I have 2 teams in the sweep

    France & Croatia 🙂

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Congrats 🙂

    2. THFC4LIFE
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Unlucky. It’s coming home

  3. FPL ZB
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Leaving the armband on Griezmann. If england win I’ll be too busy celebrating to care anyway

    1. OldBenKenobi
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Think I’m going to do the same tbh

    2. willl
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Yeah, not gonna twist either unless my rival has him capped too and switches to Kane.

  4. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Mahrez or Silva? Thinking Silva should be more nailed, as mahrez more likely to rotate with sterling / Bernardo / sane?

    Got bottomed, soz

    1. St. Joseph
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      I'll stick with Silva. It needs time to get along with Pep's system.

  5. Mo Mané Mo Problems
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    List of price changes in WC Ff?

    1. Ógie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Must be concussed again.

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

      Love how the free kick taker didn't even try to put it past him 😆

  6. Scotty B
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Who will win the golden boot? 🙂

    1. Mo Mané Mo Problems
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Alli

      Back to back hat tricks.

    2. Ógie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      If i had a dolor for every time you asked that question.......

      1. Scotty B
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        Answer it then!!!

        1. Gnu
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          5 years, 8 months ago

          Whoooosh.

        2. Ógie
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 8 months ago

          Go back through your history i must have answered you about 10 times.

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

      Your just trolling now

  7. Stupendous
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Currently own Otamendi, Silva, Mahrez and Aguero!

    Boom!!!

    1. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Good luck not making any more transfers 🙂

      Do you think Aguero is sure to start?

      1. Stupendous
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        It will be fun for two weeks or so!

        Yes why wouldn't he? He is no.1

  8. Louis_Sans_Balls
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Kante once again France's workhorse, does most of the work and gets very little of the credit. Back to back EPL champ and most casuals probably don't even know he exists

    1. Stupendous
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      This

      1. @sund1ata
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        True.