Here’s our review of Day 9 which consisted of Costa Rica v Italy, France v Switzerland and Honduras v Ecuador. We’ll look at line ups, match comments, key player performance and Sun Dream Team scoring. We’ll also preview the key players in the Day 10 games of Argentina v Iran, Nigeria v Bosnia and Germany v Ghana.
World Cup fantasy football tips – Day 9 review Day 10 preview
Italy 0 Costa Rica 1
Lineups (lineups and ratings from the Daily Mail):
ITALY (4-3-3): Buffon 6; Abate 5, Barzagli 5.5, Chiellini 4, Darmian 4.5; Motta 5 (Cassano 45mins 6), Pirlo 6.5, De Rossi 5.5; Candreva 6 (Insigne 56mins 6), Balotelli 4.5, Marchisio 5 (Cerci 69mins 6) .
BOOKED: Balotelli
COSTA RICA (3-4-3): Navas 7.5; Duarte 7.5, Gonzalez 7, Umana 6.5; Gamboa 7, Borges 7, Tejeda 7 (Cubero 67mins 6.5), Diaz 7; Ruiz 7.5 (Brenes 81mins 6) , Campbell 7.5 (Urena 74mins 6.5), Bolanos 8.
Lineup comment:
Italy: Veratti was benched with Motta coming in. Otherwise the same team as the win over England
Costa Rica: Put out the same team as the one that beat Uruguay
Match comment:
This game should be known in the future as the “offside game”. Costa Rica played a high line offside trap and pressing game which Italy never got to grips with. Italy constantly tried to play balls over the top and they were caught offside far too many times. It was quite ridiculous. Costa Rica also got to Pirlo early with their pressing and especially in the 2nd half he was unable to impose himself. Italy could have gone ahead with a couple of good chances to Ballotelli but they didn’t and paid the price.
Player comment:
Italy and Uruguay will play a winner takes all qualification game while Costa Rica are through. Costa Rica could give cheap options for the games ahead. Alot of uncertainty surround Italy for any transfers in.
Ballotelli
Had 2 good chances in the first half but 2nd half switched off second half and basically just stood there expecting a goal on a plate.
Pirlo
Not really a fantasy player as tends to play the pass before the assist. Here was well and truly jumped on by the pressing of Costa Rica everytime he got the ball. A quiet game.
Joel Campbell
Arsenal striker on loan in Greece who has impressed during the tournament with a goal in the Uruguay game. Was a little quieter in this but an option if you want to invest further in other areas
Ruiz
The creative force in the Costa Rica game. Excellent goal and game against Italy. A forward in Fox Sports unfortunately. A cheap mid in Sun Dream Team but questionable how much tournament longevity they have.
Duarte
Very cheap defender in Fox and TFF who has come from no where to have impressive performances and a goal in the Uruguay game.
Sun Dream Team scoring
Italy: Only Pirlo got a 7 which seems fairly generous
Costa Rica: Duarte got the Star Man and 8 rating. Ruiz also got an 8 rating. Navas, Gonzalez and Bolanos got 7’s.
France 5 Switzerland 2
Goals: Matuidi Sissoko Benzema Giroud Valbuena/ Dzemaili Xhaka Assists: Pogba Valbuena Benzema 2 Giroud
Lineups(lineups and ratings from the Daily Mail):
France 4-3-3: Lloris 6.5; Debuchy 6.5, Varane 6.5, Sakho 6.5 (Koscielny 66’ 5), Evra 6.5; Sissoko 7, Cabaye 7.5, Matuidi 7.5; Valbuena 7.5 (Griezmann 82’), Giroud 8 (Pogba 63’ 6.5), Benzema 8.5
Switzerland 4-2-3-1: Benaglio 5.5; Lichtsteiner 4.5, Djourou 4, Von Bergen 5 (Senderos 8’ 4), Rodriguez 5; Inler 5, Behrami 4 (Dzemaili 46’); Mehmedi 5.5, Xhaka 6, Shaqiri 5.5; Seferovic 5 (Drmic 69’ 5)
Lineup comment:
France: Sissoko came in Pogba. Giroud came in for Griezmann. Both were tactical. Otherwise same as game 1.
Switzerland: Mehmedi came in for Stocker. FWD Seferovic came in for Drimic. CB Von Bergen went off early for an injury (currently no return date) and was replaced by Senderos.
Match comment:
After such a strong defensive record in qualifying it’s hard to imagine how it fell apart so badly for Switzerland. Having Senderos on the team certainly didn’t help. France were fantastic but Switzerland assisted them greatly with a number of errors.
Player comment:
Benzema
Missed a pen but still walked away with a goal and 2 assists. Looked deadly everytime he touched the ball. Virtually guaranteed a knockout game and with Ecudaor next he looks a good choice for a transfer
Pogba
Surprisingly left on the bench. Did have some chances but may find it difficult to get back after this performance from France.
Matuidi
A great player for getting into the box and scoring. Showed that against the Swiss
Valbuena
Had the front 3 position and a good share of the set pieces. Another good bet for the next round at better value
Shaqiri
Their Star Man was very disappointing for Switzerland. They still should qualify though.
Sun Dream Team scoring:
France: Evra got a 6. Lloris and Debuchy got 7. The rest got 8 (including Pogba as a sub) with Benzema the Star Man
Switzerland: No one got a 7.
Honduras 1 Ecuador 2
Goals: Costly/ E Valencia 2 Assists: Beckeles/Ayovi
Lineups:
Honduras: Valladares, Figueroa, Bernardez, Izaguirre (Garcia 46), Bengtson, Costly, Garcia (Chavez 83), Espinoza, Garrido (Martinez 71), Claros, Beckeles.
Booked: Bernardez, Bengtson.
Ecuador: Dominguez, Guagua, Erazo, Paredes, Noboa, Montero (Achilier 90), Ayovi, Caicedo (Mendez 82), E. Valencia, Minda (Gruezo 83), A. Valencia.
Lineup comment:
Honduras: Palacios was suspended. Midfielder Najar was dropped. In came Claros and Garcia.
Ecuador: Minda came in for Gruezo.
Match and player comment
I haven’t seen this game so can’t comment. Neither are likely to progress despite Switzerlands drubbing as Ecudaor play France and Switzerland play Honduras.
Sun Dream Team scoring
Honduras: Only Costly got a 7.
Ecuador: E Valencia was the Star Man with 8. No one else got even a 7
Day 10 Key Player preview
Argentina v Iran
Messi
If you don’t own him and play in a format that you can add him then you should get him in. Could do major damage to your ranking without.
Aguero and Higuain
2 other players likely to score. Aguero was disappointing in game 1 so will be keen to put that right.
Di Maria
Still the best midfield option.
The Argentinian defence
A definite time to get some representation. Zabaleta is the premium option. Rojo has been the budget. Check lineups though as questionable whether there will be a back 5 here as there was in the previous game.
Germany v Ghana
Germany look certain to progress so any transfers look good going forward
Muller
Hat trick in the last game including the penalty. Played in the central striking position although there was some rotation
Gotze
Looked a real threat on the left if selected.
The German defence
Ive gone for Mertesacker due to his attacking potential. Hummells scored though in the first game and looked strong. He is an injury doubt though. Howedes is the budget option but check the lineups.
Nigeria v Bosnia
Bosnia are likely to progress in my mind and have Iran as their next opposition so a tranfer is a good option.
Dzeko
Was ordinary against Argentina but now the 2 easier teams are coming up. The best goal scoring chance in the team
Ibisevic
Another good option if Bosnia revert to 2 up front.
Misimovic
Good cheap attacking midfield option
The Bosnian defence
Wasn’t their strong point coming into the tournamnet thats for sure. 2 games with good clean sheet potential though. Bicakcic or Kolasinac look the best options but check the lineups.
Thats it. Enjoy and good luck for Day 10
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World Cup fantasy football tips
World Cup fantasy football tips
World Cup fantasy football tips
