World Cup fantasy football – Day 11 review Day 12 preview

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world-cup-2014

Here’s our review of Day 11 which consisted of Belgium v Russia, Korea v Algeria, and USA v Portugal.  We’ll look at lineups, key player performance, match comment and Sun Dream Team scoring.  We’ll also peview the first Day of the 3rd round games ie Day 11 which consists of Cameroon v Brazil, Croatia v Mexico, Australia v Spain and Holland v Chile.  For the preview we’ll concentrate on key players as transfer options for those primarily playing TFF.

World Cup fantasy football – Day 11 review Day 12 preview

Belgium 1 Russia 0

Goal:  Origi  Assist:  Hazard

Lineups (lineups and ratings from the Daily Mail):

Belgium 4-3-2-1: Courtois 7.5; Alderwiereld 6.5, Van Buyten 6, Kompany 6.5, Vermaelen 5 (Vertonghen 30mins, 5.5); Witsel 6, Fellaini 5, Mertens 8 (Mirallas 75mins, 6.5); De Bruyne 6.5, Hazard 6; Lukaku 3.5 (Origi 55mins, 7)

Russia 4-1-1-3-1: Akinfeev 7.5; Kozlov 5.5 (Eshchenko 65mins, 6), Berezutskiy 6.5, Ignashevich 5.5, Kombarov 6; Glushakov 7; Fayzulin 6.5; Samedov 5 (Kerzhak 90mins), Kanunnikov 6, Shatov 5 (Dzagoev 83mins); Kokorin 6

Lineup comment:

Belgium:  Vermaelen, Fellaini and Mertens came in for Vertonghen, Chadli and Dembele.  Interestingly all Spurs players.  Vermaelen was subbed after 30 minutes for reasons I’m unsure of

Russia:  Kozlov came in for Eschenko. Kanunnikov came in for Zhirkov

Match comments: 

If there ever was Deja Vu for a previous match this was it.  Belgiums slow passing, lack of movement from Lukaku, sitting deep unecessarily it was the Algeria game all over again.  As was the narrow win.

Belgium only looked the part in the last 10 miutes after Russia had a good spell and pressed forward themselves.  Russia then lost the double team on Hazard and he had a 10 minute spell that was fantastic.   His assist for Origi won the game.  Belgium have alot to do if they’re going to progress any distance in the tournament.  At the moment the dark horses look light grey at best.

Player comment:

Lukaku

Terrible again and subbed again.  Could really lose his place for the next game.  Couldn’t hold the ball up, his movement was poor and really never looked like making a contribution.  His replacement Origi scored the winner and could easily start the next game

Mertens

Was the liveliest player in the first half although disappeared in the 2nd and was subbed for the reasonably lively Mirallas.

De Bruyne

Again had a very good first half but faded 2nd half.  Won the ball high up the pitch and led a few counter attacks.

Hazard

Struggled with alot of early attention from Russia but was brilliant in the last 10 minutes when Russia failed to double team him.  Excellent assist for the winner

The Belgian defence

Reasonably good performance.  Choose any of Kompany, Van Buyten Alderwiereld and GK Courtois depending on budget.  I’ve put them in a rough attacking order.

Kokorin

Another terrible performance from the Russian striker.  Missed a sitter and could not hold the ball up.  Made Lukaku’s day look good.

Sun Dream Team scoring:

Belgium:  Courtouis, De Bruyne, Kompany, Mertens and Van Buyten of the starting line up got 7’s.  Of the subs Vertonghen got a 7 and Origi was the Star Man with 8.

Russia:  Akinfeev, Samedov and Kanunnikov got 7’s

 

S Korea 2 Algeria 4

Goals:  HM Son JC Koo/Halliche Brahimi Djabou Slimani  Assists:  SY Ki, KH Lee/  Medjani Djabou Feghouli Slimani

Lineups:

South Korea: Jung, Yong Lee, Hong, Young-Gwon Kim, Yun, Han, Chung-Yong Lee, Ki, Chu-Young Park, Koo, Son. Subs: Seung-Gyu Kim, Chang-Soo Kim, Kwak, Hwang, Bo-Kyung Kim, Ha, Keun-Ho Lee, Jong-Woo Park, Shin-Wook Kim, Ji, Joo-Ho Park, Beom-Young Lee.
Algeria: M’Bolhi, Mandi, Medjani, Bougherra, Halliche, Mesbah, Feghouli, Brahimi, Djabou, Bentaleb, Slimani. Subs: Si Mohamed, Ghoulam, Belkalem, Yebda, Lacen, Ghilas, Soudani, Cadamuro, Taider, Mahrez, Mostefa, Zemmamouche.

Lineup comment

S Korea:  Sorry can’t give you the changes here.

Algeria:  5 changes.  Mandi, Mesbah, Brahimi Djabou and Slimani coming in for Mostefa Ghoulam Taider  Soudhani and Mahrez

Match comment:

After 2 previous games where neither side showed any interest in attacking this was an incredible game of attacking football. Bizzarely, somehow the game turned into a long ball game that Pulis and Big Sam would have been proud of.  An incredible game of 2 halves with Algeria dominating the first and Korea coming back in the 2nd.

Player comment

South Korea are for all intents and purposes out and their last game is against Belgium so I wont dwell on their assets.  Algeria have a good chance of qualifying so I’ll concentrate on them.  5 changes makes selection a tricky question for the next game.   For TFF when you can see the lineups then it’s not too bad but difficult for Fox Sports.

Slimani

Surprised he didn’t start the first game as he was the top scorer in qualifying.  Goal and an assist and was excellent.

Feghouli

Penalty taker and an excellent attacking midfielder.  Good qualifying goal record although just an assist here.

Sun Dream Team scoring:

South Korea:  Only the goal scorers Koo and Son got 7’s

Algeria:  M’Bolhi, Halliche, Bentaleb, Feghouli and Slimani got 7’s.  The Star Man was Brahimi with 8.

USA 2 Portugal 2

Goals:  Jones Dempsey/Nani Varela  Assists:  Zusi/Ronaldo

Lineups (lineups and ratings from the Daily Mail)

USA (4-2-3-1): Howard 7; Johnson 8, Cameron 6, Besler 7, Beasley 6.5; Beckerman 6.5, Jones 7; Bedoya 6.5 (Yedlin 72mins 6), Bradley 7.5, Zusi 6 Gonzales 90mins 6) ; Dempsey 6
Subs not used: Guzan, Brooks, Johannsson, Diskerud, Davis, Green, Chandler, Rimando.

Booked: Jones
PORTUGAL (4-3-3): Beto 7; Pereira 6.5, Costa 6, Alves 6, Almeida 5 (Carvalho 45mins 5); Moutinho 6, Veloso 5.5, Meireles 5.5 (Varela 68mins 6); Ronaldo 6, Postiga 5 (Eder 15mins 5), Nani 6
Subs not used: Eduardo, Vieirinha, Luis Neto, Rafa, Ruben Amorim, Rui Patricio.

Lineup comment:

USA:  Zusi came in for the injured Altidore was the only change from the win over Ghana

Portugal:  Costa came in for the suspended Pepe.  Postiga came in for the injured Coentrao

Match comment:

Another excellent match.  The first half saw the USA sitting back too much and allowing Portugal to dictate the game with only some spasmodic pressing.  I’m assuming they sat so deep due to the perceived threat of Ronaldo getting behind the defence.  This left Dempsey isolated and out of the game.  However the one threat that the USA did have was space on the right through Johnson.  Although USA did get pinned back somewhat in the 2nd half they ended up scoring with a Jones wonder strike.  They then went ahead after Alves was slow to get up and played Dempsey on side for his stomach finish.  In the end Portugal equalised after a Ronaldo cross (probably the only good thing he did).  It’s worth noting that Stokes Cameron was at fault for both goals.

Player comment:

Difficult to predict who will go through here with Germany but the USA are probably slight favourites due to Portugals poor goal difference.

Ronaldo

Apart from one sensational trick and the cross that led to the equaliser had an absoulte stinker.  Just can’t be anything like fit.  Shooting and heading were especially poor.  Constantly complaining about team mates which was especially rich  given the game he had.   By the way it may not sound it but I’m a massive fan.

Dempsey

As I said very isolated in the first half but scored when he had the chance.  2 goals in 2 games can’t be ignored

Sun Dream Team scoring:

USA:  Howard, Johnson, Jones and Bradley got7’s.  Dempsey was Star Man with 8.

Portugal:  Beto Costa and Nani got 7’s

 

Key players for Day 12

Cameroon v Brazil

Neymar

With Brazil needing to win you can expect total committment.  The star of the team with all set pieces including pens.  YC means if Brazil are coasting could be subbed is a risk

Oscar

Effectiveness reduced due to some game time wide but the only realistic goal scoring midfield option and Cameroon are good opposition from a Brazil perspective

The Brazil defence 

Great clean sheet prospect.  Defence should be Alves Marcelo Silva and Luiz.  I’ve rated them by attacking potential but it’s pretty subjective.

Croatia v Mexico

Mandzukic

By far the best scoring option for Croatia.  Mexico defended well though against Brazil

Peralta

The best scoring option for Mexico

Australia v Spain

Costa

If he starts which is questionable due to his injury then he’s a good goal scoring chance against an attacking Australian team

Pedro

Still in my view the most direct midfield goal scorer if he starts.  Also his speed should suit the counter if Australia attack like they have in the early 2 games.

Holland v Chile

Robben

Playing in an advanced role the best midfield scoring prospect for Holland.

Sanchez

The best attacking threat for Chile against a Dutch side that does concede

Enjoy the day and good luck

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World Cup fantasy football

World Cup fantasy football

World Cup fantasy football

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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