11 World Cup 2018 Fantasy Football Bargains
The World Cup provides football fans with another chance to put their manager’s cap on and try and earn some glory of their own this summer.
Notoriously difficult to do well, the World Cup fantasy football will be as tricky as ever this year. However, we have dug out 11 bargain picks that could well make the difference for you in beating your mates.
Gk - Pedro Gallese – Peru
The Peruvian number one has been a big part of his side’s success that has seen them reach their first World Cup since 1982.
Peru have not lost for 15 games and much of that is based on a solid defence. Gallese kept clean sheets in both legs against New Zealand in the Intercontinental Play-off to reach the World Cup. He also kept out the fearsome Argentinian attack in Buenos Aires during qualification.
With the blunt forward lines of Australia and Denmark in their group, Peru could do well and Gallese can pick up a couple of clean sheets in the process.
DF – Gary Cahill - England
Having looked very unlikely to make the England squad just a few months ago, things have turned around for Gary Cahill and he now looks likely to start for the Three Lions in Russia.
Assured performances in the two pre-tournament friendlies, including a goal against Nigeria have put Cahill ahead of his centre-back competition. Belgium will be tough for England, but clean sheets against Tunisia and Panama should be guaranteed points for the Chelsea man.
DF – Ahmed Hegazi – Egypt
Egypt can really spoil the party for the host nation and dump Russia out at the group stage this summer. They are a solid outfit that should see off Saudi Arabia and can very realistically beat Russia to take second place in Group A behind Uruguay.
Hegazi is a big part of the Egyptian defence, and as he showed for West Brom this season, can be a threat from set-pieces as well. The giant centre-back could easily pick up some useful points in the group stage at a very small price.
DF – Maya Yoshida – Japan
Not a great deal is expected of Japan at the World Cup this year, but if you are looking for a cheap defender who will actually play then Maya Yoshida might be your option.
The centre-back has 10 international goals to his name so is clearly a threat and against the likes of Senegal and Colombia, he could just spring a surprise and pick up a valuable clean sheet, or more.
A sensible choice as a substitute defender for the group stages.
MF - Christian Cueva – Peru
A goal threat from midfield for Peru, but more so an assist-provider who will be setting up the chances for the likes of Paolo Guerrero and Jefferson Farfan.
Cueva has eight international goals to his name and has been known to take penalties for his country in the past, which is always a handy bonus in fantasy football. He is coming into his prime at 26-years-old and is vastly experienced with 44 caps. Peru can expect to do well against the Aussies and Danes this tournament and Cueva could play a big part.
MF - Koo Ja-cheol – South Korea
This is not the strongest South Korean side ever, but they certainly have a chance to do well against Mexico and Sweden in Group F (Germany will probably be a step too far for them).
One of their major goal threats is midfielder Koo Ja-cheol who has 19 international goals to his name. The 29-year-old has a Bundesliga hat-trick to his name and will be crucial to South Korea if they are going to achieve anything going forward.
He is going to play every game and looks a great makeweight for more expensive options in the midfield.
MF – Christian Rodriguez – Uruguay
The veteran midfielder now has 105 international caps in his possession, scoring 11 times in that time and he is still a big part of the Uruguay side. The goal-scoring in that side will largely be handled by Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani, but with contests against Russia, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, there should be plenty of goals to go round.
Rodriguez is still only 32-years-old and his experience will be vital and should see him play a big part in, what should be, three wins for Uruguay in Group A.
MF – Sergej Milinkovic Savic – Serbia
The Lazio star has been continually linked with a big move this summer, most notably to Manchester United, and this World Cup will be his chance to show just why.
He is only 23-years-old and has just four international caps, but there is always at least one bright young star that shines brightly on the biggest stage of them all and it could well be SMS this year.
He scored 15 goals for Lazio this season from midfield so will be a major piece of Serbia’s arsenal when they take on Costa Rica and Switzerland in Group E.
ST – Jose Paolo Guerrero – Peru
Peru’s captain and all-time leading goal scorer is back in the team after a doping ban and can lead his team to something special this summer. He announced his return after seven months out with two goals in a friendly against Saudi Arabia and he will seriously fancy his chances against Australia and Denmark in Group C.
This may be his first World Cup but he is widely experience at 34-years-old and will be hugely motivated to do well after the campaign to see his ban lifted was successful.
ST- Ayoub El Kaabi – Morocco
Rarely will you find a player who has made such an immediate impact on international football as Ayoub El Kaabi. The 24-year-old made his debut for Morocco in this year’s African Nations Championship and finished the tournament as the top scorer with nine goals – four more than anyone in history had managed.
El Kaabi continued this good form with goals in friendly wins over Uzbekistan and Slovakia to take his total to 11 international goals in just 10 games.
ST - Ahmed Musa – Nigeria
He might not have lit up the Premier League with Leicester City, but Ahmed Musa may have a better chance of performing well in the World Cup than in England. No one in Nigeria’s squad has scored more international goals than Musa (13) and he comes into the competition in good form, having scored six goals in just 10 league games for CSKA Moscow last season.
Musa made his name with the Moscow club so will be very comfortable performing in Russia. With Croatia, Iceland and a shaky Argentina in Nigeria’s group, there should be plenty of opportunities for him.