Here’s a review of Day 6 which included Belgium v Algeria, Brazil v Mexico and Russia v South Korea. We’ll look at lineups, match comment, key player performance and Sun Dream Team scoring. We’ll also preview Day 7 which involves Australia v Holland, Spain v Chile and Cameroon v Croatia.
World Cup fantasy football tips – Day 6 review Day 7 preview
Belgium 2 Algeria 1
Goals: Fellaini Mertens/Feghouli Assists: De Bruyne Hazard
Line ups (lineups and ratings from the Daily Mail)
Belgium (4-3-2-1): Courtois 6; Alderweireld 6, Van Buyten 6, Kompany 7, Vertonghen 5; Witsel 6, De Bruyne 7, Dembele 6 (Fellaini 65 7.5); Chadli 5 (Mertens 46 7), Hazard 7; Lukaku 5 (Origi 58 7).
Subs not used: Mignolet, Vermaelen, Mirallas, Defour, Lombaerts, Januzaj, Vanden Borre, Ciman, Bossut.
Booked: Vertonghen
Algeria (4-3-2-1): Mbolhi 7; Mostefa 6, Bouguerra 6, Halliche 6, Ghoulam 6; Taider 5, Medjani 6 (Ghilas 6), Bentaleb 6; Feghouli 6, Mahrez 5 (Lacen 71 6); Soudani 7 (Slimani 66 6).
Subs not used: Si Mohamed, Belkalem, Mesbah, Yebda, Lacen, Ghilas, Brahimi, Cadamuro, Djabou, Mandi, Zemmamouche.
Lineup comment
Belgium: Chadli instead of Mertens and Van Buyten instead of Vermaelen were the surprises. Otherwise as expected
Algeria: Mesbah instead of Mostefa. Halliche instead of Yebda. Mahrez instead of Slimani. Otherwise as expected.
Match comment:
The first half must have made the Belgium manager tear his hair out. Although they had lots of possession the passing was slow and mainly sidewards or backwards. The 2 CBs were very culpable often passing between each other or to their FBs. This suited Algeria as they wanted to sit deep and rely on a counter or set piece. Belgiums ponderous passing gave them the time to sit deep and set up as they would have liked. The 2nd half started better for Belgium with them passing quicker and De Bruyne getting closer to Lukaku. Fellaini coming on allowed Belgium to be far more direct and the Fellaini goal brought back those days at Everton when he played close to the striker. Eventually Belgium go the winner but there will be alot of food for thought for future games
Player comment
Hazard
Got an assist and had the odd occaison when he got into 1 on 1 situations but Belgium didn’t use him effectively and too often he had 2 or 3 players on him straight away as he didn’t get the ball until Algeria were well set.
Lukaku
Probably the worst effected by the slow build up. Didn’t hold the play up at all and constantly lost possession. No surprise when subbed
The Belgium defence
Were fairly comfortable the whole game but clean sheet undone by an unsurprising (for me at least) rush of blood by Vertonghen for the pen.
Feghouli
Attacking midfielder who took the pen and was reasonably lively. Fairly cheap at £3.0m in TFF but a striker in Fox Sports unfortunately
Sun Dream Team scoring
Belgium: Only De Bruyne of the starters got a 7. Both subs scored well with Mertens a 7 and Fellaini the Star Man with 8.
Algeria: 7’s fro M’Bolhi, Bougherra, Taider and Feghouli
Brazil 0 Mexico 0
Line ups(line ups and ratings from the Daily Mail)
Brazil: (4-2-3-1): J Cesar 6; Alves 6.5, T.Silva 6, Luiz 6.5, Marcelo 5.5; Paulinho 6, Gustavo 6; Ramires 6 (Bernard 45min, 6), Neymar 7, Oscar 6.5 (Willian 84); Fred 5 (Jo 67, 5) Subs: Jefferson, Fernandinho, Hulk, Dante, Maxwell, Henrique, Hernanes, Maicon, Victor.
Booked: Ramires, Silva.
Mexico (3-2-3-2): Ochoa 8; Rodriguez 6.5, Marquez 6, Moreno 5.5; Aguilar 6, Layun 6.5; Vasquez 5.5, Herrera 6 (Fabian 76), Guardado 6; Dos Santos 6.5 (Jiminez 74min, 6), Peralta 6 (Hernandez 74min, 6). Subs: Corona, Salcido, Reyes, Pulido, Ponce, Brizuela, Aquino, Pena, Talavera.
Line up comment:
Brazil: As for the last game except Ramires came in for Hulk.
Mexico: Unchanged from the Cameroon game.
Match comment:
The game started with Neymar staying central and Oscar wide. Mexico started with 2 up front so there was space for Brazil but they didn’t use it effectively not looking particularly creative or moving the ball at any pace. In fact it was quite a negative eye opening performance in terms of lack of creativity and passing pace from Brazil. The 2nd half saw Oscar move centrally and Neymar left. However it was Mexico who had the better of the early second half but were limited to long shots. The pace of Brazils attack greatly improved when Jo came on which says alot for their performance but Mexico could just as easily have won it.
Player comment:
Neymar
Looked Brazils only dangerous player. Tried hard to make something happen but too often tried to do it all alone. Last game is Cameroon though so a brave man will sell here
Oscar
Didn’t have anything like the great first game. Worked hard but created little and had little chances himself.
The Brazil defence
Looked far more solid than against Croatia. Silva had the best attacking chance although Marcelo was often forward on the left hand side.
Peralta
Didn’t really have that many chances but still Mexico’s most dangerous player
The Mexico defence
2 clean sheets from 2 games but whether they can get a clean sheet against Croatia is another question. The GK was excellent.
Sun Dream Team scoring
Brazil: Silva, Neymar and Cesar got 7’s. Incredibly Alves got 8.
Mexico: Ochoa got the Star Man award deservedly. Everyone got 7’s except Aguilar Layun and Moreno. Guardado got 8.
Russia 1 South Korea 1
Goals: Kerzhakov/KH Lee Assists: Shatov
Lineups:
Russia (4-3-3): Akinfeev 3; Eshchenko 5, Berezutskiy 5, Ignashevich 6, Kombarov 6; Fayzulin 6, Shatov 5 (Dzagoev 60’ 6.5), Glushakov 5 (Denisov 72’ 5); Samedov 5, Kokorin 5, Zhirkov 5 (Kerzhakov 6.5).
Subs not used: Kozlov, Schennikov, Semenov, Kanunnikov, Lodygin, Granat, Mogilevets, Ryzhikov, Ionov.
Booked: Shatov.
South Korea (4-4-2): S R Jung 4.5; Y Lee 5, J H Hong 6 (S H Hwang 72’ 5), Y G Kim 6, S Y Yun 6; C Y Lee 6, K Y Han 6, J C Koo 6, S Y Ki 7; H M Son 6.5 (B K Kim 84’), C Y Park 5.5 (K H Lee 56’ 5)
Subs not used: Kim Chang-soo, Kwak Tae-hwi, Ha Dae-sung, Park Jong-woo, Kim Shin-wook, Ji Dong-won, Kim Seung-gyu, Park Joo-ho,
Lee Bum-young.
Booked: Son, Ki, Koo
Line up comment:
Russia: Glushakov started instead of Samedov. Otherwise as expected.
South Korea: I’m afraid I can’t comment on the South Korea line up.
Match comment:
Another game where 1 team sat back and the other just didn’t show enough invention or passing pace to open them up. Russia also didn’t get players forward to support lone striker Kokorin which didn’t help the situation. After the break South Korea came into the game and a goal keeping error saw them go ahead. The addition of sub Kerzhakov improved Russia greatly and he scored soon after coming on. Russia then threw the kitchen sink at South Korea but could not add to the score
Player comment:
Kokorin
Isolated but deeply disappointing and will do well to hold his place even with Kerzhakovs age. The best outcome is that he becomes a pair.
Faizulin
Another disappointment. 1 shot and 1 chance created against South Korea is hardly a recommendation. Belgium next wont be any easier.
Zhirkov
A great out of position option in theory but not involved in the game at all and no surprise he was subbed. Will do well to hold his place.
The Russia defence
Apart from the GK they looked reasonably solid. Thats a big negative though. Goal was an awful mistake by him.
Son HM
The Bayer Leverkusen didn’t have a great qualifying campaign but was excellent last night. Whether South Korea will score enough goals is another matter. Not cheap in TFF or Fox Sports either
Key Players for Day 7
Australia v Holland
RVP
Chile absolutely ripped Australias defence apart and it’s frightening to think of what RVP and co can do. Will have pens. Australia didn’t look to park the bus and it will be interesting to see if they repeat that. If they do play attacking football as they did against Chile then anything is possible.
Robben
Similar comments after his performance against Spain.
The Holland defence
Australia were much better offensively than I expected. Blind was excellent against Spain though and a clean sheet looks a good prospect.
Spain v Chile
Difficult to know who will line up for Spain after the disaster against Holland. There was also very little positive to take from it so it’s difficult to recommend players. However the Chile defence didn’t look strong in it’s first game against Australia
Pedro
If he starts his pace and finishing ability could see returns
Costa
Will be motivated to put right the first game and has the ability. If selected.
Sanchez
Undoubtedly the star performer for Chile against Australia. Knows the back 5 for Spain well and won’t be intimidated
Cameroon v Croatia
Eto’o
Looks likely to miss the game through injury
Mandzukic
After being suspended he will be motivated to start his World Cup positively. The Mexico draw yesterday makes this a must win game. Croatias most dangerous player.
Thats it. Enjoy the games and good luck.
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World Cup fantasy football tips
World Cup fantasy football tips
World Cup fantasy football tips
