Dugout Discussion

Money for the “other Harry” but Modric remains most-owned

England and Croatia meet in Moscow this evening in the second World Cup semi-final, with France having already progressed to the final last night.

It is 20 years since Croatia last featured in a World Cup semi-final, while the wait for England has been even longer: Italia ’90 was, as the country has been continually reminded, the Three Lions’ previous appearance in the last four.

Zlatko Dalic’s side comes into this tie off the back of two gruelling knockout round matches in which they were taken all the way to penalties by Denmark and hosts Russia.

England had a relatively comfortable quarter-final win over Sweden, meanwhile, though of course were indebted to Jordan Pickford’s shootout heroics in the round of 16 victory over Colombia.

With two goals and an assist to his name in the tournament already, Luka Modric (£9.1m) is the most-owned player on show this evening and indeed in the McDonald’s FIFA game overall. Over 50% of Fantasy squads now feature the Real Madrid playmaker.

Ivan Rakitic (£8.5m), who has actually had more attempts on goal than spot-kick taker and set-piece specialist Modric this summer, features in 19.7% of Fantasy sides.

Dejan Lovren (£5.0m) is the most popular Croatian defensive option in the McDonald’s FIFA game, with just under a quarter of Fantasy managers putting their faith in the Liverpool centre-back.

Defender Sime Vrsaljko (£5.5m) and goalkeeper Danijel Subasic (£5.5m) have been passed fit to play despite picking up injuries in the win over Russia.

Harry Kane (£11.2m) remains the most popular Fantasy asset in the England squad, but it’s the Three Lions’ “other Harry” who has seen the second-biggest ownership surge since the quarter-finals. Harry Maguire (£5.0m) was bought by around 340,000 new Fantasy managers ahead of Friday evening’s deadline – only Kevin De Bruyne proved a more popular buy – and the Leicester City defender’s ownership has shot up from 5.8% to 24.6% as a result.

Maguire, who scored and kept a clean sheet in the 2-0 win over Sweden, has had more penalty box touches than any other defender at this summer’s World Cup.

John Stones (£5.9m) and Jordan Pickford (£5.5m) are still the most popular routes into the England backline, however.

Jesse Lingard (£7.5m), who has had more attempts on goal than Kane in Russia, sits in 37.8% of McDonald’s FIFA squads.

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

Croatia XI (4-2-3-1): Subasic; Vrsaljko, Lovren, Vida, Strinic; Rakitic, Modric; Brozovic, Perisic, Rebic; Mandzukic

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.

1,464 Comments Post a Comment
  1. FER FUSCH AKE
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    if only the English fans were a bit less noisy on social media. Sometimes you bring the hate to yourselves. Life humbles everyone.

    1. Twelve years a slave
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Was proud of the fans at the start, very level headed, expectations sensible, but then we beat Sweden and they trashing Ikea and its all coming home, it just got real stupid, real quick

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

      There are old men and women on my street who don't have a clue what social media is that went mad when Croatia scored.

      Social media is only part of the issue, the Scottish hatred of England is the main problem.

      1. Twelve years a slave
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        Try living in New Zealand, the media and rugby boys been dying to poke fun at England. It a national pastime

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

    So for final 2 games how does this look for -4. Will of course wait for line up on Saturday

    Lloris
    Varane Pavard TAA Meunier
    Pogba Rakitic Modric
    Griezmann Mbappe Batshuyai

  3. DJDave1979
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Roy Keane talking about World Cups... Thinks nobody remembers 2002.

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

      Luv Keano no mercy tells it like it is

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

      When Mick McCarthy sent him home for being a gobshite?

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

        He anything but

    3. Je suis le chat
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Every one of those English players showed more patriotism than Keane (still bitter Irish supporter).

  4. Shels
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    I thought Croatia would tire too but they simply outplayed a simple england team from the 2 half onwards...

    1. Norman Conquest
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      nobody cares what you think

    2. the snazzy viking
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      as much as I respect two sides to an argument, these posts are starting to annoy me

  5. Tasty Jerk
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Disappointing. Oh well, gutted but back to club football now, preseason and watching Crystal Palace in the sun tomorrow with a cold beer, could be worse. Just thinking if Gareth had selected Zaha what could of been 🙁

  6. Costa Nostra
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Really wish fpl would adopt the updating system of the Mickey D’s game. Scores updated as well as rank in less than 30 minutes.

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

      Much larger playerbase.

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

        It’s all done by computer though. Shouldn’t take much longer...scoring isn’t bad..but rank takes hours

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

          They wait an hour or so to apply bonus points and any changes, then have to sort around 3 times the number of players.

          I can see why it takes as long as it does.

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

            I get it...just wishing!!

  7. Shels
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    I'll canter away my banter so... Too tight in here for me now..

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

      very strange definition of banter

  8. Les Bleus
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Ian Wright and Roy Keane having a go at each other