Here’s our review of Day 13 which consisted of Costa Rica v England, Italy v Uruguay, Greece v Ivory Coast and Japan v Colombia. We’ll look at lineups, key player performance, match comment and Sun Dream Team scoring. I won’t be reviewing teams and players that are now out of the tournament. We’ll also preview Day 14 looking at the key players to consider for transfer in the TFF format. The games are Bosnia v Iran, Nigeria v Argentina, Ecuador v France and Honduras v Switzerland
World Cup fantasy football 2014 tips – Day 13 review Day 14 preview
Costa Rica 0 England 0
Lineups (lineups and ratings from the Daily Mail)
Costa Rica (3-5-2): Navas 7, Duarte 6, Gonzalez 6.5, Miller 6, Gamboa 6, Borges 7 (Barrantes 78), Diaz 6, Tejeda 6, Ruiz 7, Brenes 5 (Bolanos 59, 6), Campbell 6
(Urena 66, 6).
Subs: Pemberton, Acosta, Umana, Myrie, Francis, Granados, Calvo, Cubero, Cambronero.
Booked: Gonzalez.
England (4-3-1-2): Foster 7, Jones 6,
Cahill 6.5, Smalling 6, Shaw 6.5, Lampard 7.5, Wilshere 6.5 (Gerrard 73, 5), Milner 7
(Rooney 76), Lallana 6 (Sterling 62, 5)
Barkley 6.5, Sturridge 6.
Subs: Hart, Johnson, Jagielka, Welbeck, Henderson, Lambert, Baines, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Forster.
Booked: Barkley, Lallana.
Lineup comment:
Costa Rica: Made 2 changes, midfielder Bolanos and CB Umana were benched for FWD Brenes and defender Miller
Match comment:
As an England fan it was disappointing that an England team with players in it with everything to prove were held to a 0-0 draw by a team that had effectively won the Group. At best Costa Rica played for a 0-0 draw. Long spells of them passing in their own half tended to show that. Costa Rica also played a deep back 5 rather than the pressing they did especially against Italy. At worst Costa Rica saw it as a training exercise with the main motivation of not getting injured. To be fair though if Sturridge had been his ususal clinical premier league self then perhaps it could have been different. England had the most of possession and the most shots but apart from Sturridges chances it was disappointing.
Player comment:
Costa Rica have won the Group and with the next game against Greece could even progress to the quarter Finals. There are 3 players in my mind for Costa Rica that are worth looking at from an attacking point of view. Those being Ruiz, Campbell and Borges.
Ruiz
The creative force in the team. Very quiet against England but has to be looked at in the context of what Costa Rica were trying to acheive. Unfortunately a forward in Fox Sports but a cheap midfielder for TFF and Sun Dream Team
Borges
No goal or assist yet but Costa Rica’s set piece taker and with regular penalty taker Saborio injured could even fill that gap. Not in Sun Dream Team but a cheap midfielder in TFF and Sun. Hit the bar yesterday but otherwise quiet.
Campbell
Personally there are too may good forwards to consider for me but Campbell is cheap in all formats. A quiet game yesterday but has a goal and assist so far in the tournament from the first game
The Costa Rica defence
Incredible to believe they acheived 2 clean sheets. The only goal conceded was a pretty dubious penalty to say the least. Duarte is the budget option but also has the best attacking record. Navas is a cheap GK option. Gamboa and Navas are the only options in Sun Dream Team
Sun Dream Team scoring:
Costa Rica: Gamboa, Gonzalez, Diaz, Duarte and Ruiz got 7’s for Costa
Italy 0 Uruguay 1
Goals: Godin Assists: Ramirez
Lineups (lineups and ratings are from the Daily Mail)
Italy: (3-4-1-2) Buffon 7; Barzagli 6, Bonucci 6, Chiellini 5.5; Darmian 6, Verratti 5 (Motta 75mins 5), Marchisio 6, De Sciglio 6.5; Pirlo 5.5; Immobile 5 (Cassano 71mins 5.5), Balotelli 3 (Parolo 45mins 5)
Booked: De Sciglio, Balotelli
Uruguay: (4-3-1-2) Muslera 6; Caceres 6, Giminez 5, Godin 7, A Periera 5.5 (Stuani 63mins 5); Gonzalez 6, Arevalo 6, Rodriguez 5.5 (Ramirez 78mins 6); Lodeiro 6 (Pereira 45mins 6); Suarez 5, Cavani 5.5
Goals: Godin 81
Booked: Muslera, Arevalo
Lineup comments:
Uruguay: The same team was played as against England
Match comments:
With Italy only needing a draw they set up defensively. It started as a game where both sides cancelled each other out. Uruguay stepped it up in the 2nd half and had the chance to take the initiative completely when Marchiso was sent off. Godin continued his incredible scoring run in big matches with the crucial winning goal.
Player comments:
There are 3 attacking players in my mind worth considering in Uruguay although the last 16 game against Colombia could be the end of the road for them. Suarez who’s one of those could also be banned for the tournament.
Suarez
Hard to see him not being banned here but otherwise he’s always an optiion. Fitness needs monitoring.
Cavani
Played slightly more forward as a pair with Suarez than against England. Still did the job of dropping on Pirlo though. Has the talent and if he becomes the furtherest forward player should have more goal scoring opportunities.
Rodriguez
No goal or assists so far but has a good international record. Quite expensive in all formats.
Sun Dream Team scoring:
Uruguay: Godin was rightly the Star Man with 8. Gimenez, Caceres, Arevalo and Cavani all got 7’s
Japan 1 Colombia 4
Goals: Okazaki/ Martinez 2, Rodriguez, Cuadrado pen Assists: Rodriguez 2 Ramos 2
Lineups (lineups and ratings from the Daily Mail):
Japan: Kawashima 5, Uchida 6, Yoshida 6, Konno 6, Nagatomo 6, Aoyama 5 (Yamaguchi 62), Hasebe 6, Kagawa 6 (Kiyotake 85 6), Honda 7, Okazaki 6 (Kakitani 69 5), Okubo 6
Colombia: Ospina 7 (Mondragon 85), Arias 6, Valdes 6, Balanta 7, Armero 6, Cuadrado 7 (Carbonero 45 6), Mejia 7, Guarin 7, Quintero 5 (Rodriguez 45 8), Martinez 7, Ramos 6.
Lineup comment:
Colombia: 8 changes as they were pretty certain to win the Group
Match comment:
A game where it was more even than the score and Japan had a number of chances. However Colombia even with a reserve team were ruthless on the counter and especially so when Rodriguez came on. Rodriguez changed the game when he came on at half time and provided 2 assists and a fantastic finish for his goal.
Player comments:
Colombia are through and will play Uruguay in the last 16. A tough game but they should be playing without Suarez. There are 2 attacking players for me in Rodriguez and Cuadrado. The striking position is unclear with Martinez and Gutierrez to fight it out.
Rodriguez
The star of the team and 3 goals and 2 assists makes him a top selection. Was incredible in half a game here.
Cuadrado
A cheapie star in Fox and Sun although not cheap in TFF. Has been one of the finds of the tournament.
Sun Dream Team scoring:
Ospina, Guarin and Cuadrado got 7’s. Rodriguez and Martinez got 8’s with Martinez getting the Star Man award.
Greece 2 Ivory Coast 1
Goals: Samaris Samaras/ Bony Assists: Samaras/ Gervinho
Lineups:
Greece: Karnezis (Glykos 24), Maniatis, Manolas, Samaras, Kone (Samaris 12), Karagounis (Gekas 78), Salpingidis, Torosidis, Lazaros, Sokratis, Cholevas
Goal: Samaris 42, Samaras pen 90
Ivory Coast: Barry, Boka, K Toure, Kalou, Tiote (Bony 62), Gervinho (Sio 83), Drogba (Diomande 79), Aurier, Y Toure, Serey, Bamba
Lineup comment:
Greece: Karagounis and Lazaros came in for Katsouranis and Mitroglou
Match comment:
A game of great drama where Greece sat back for periods but pressed high up the pitch spasmodically unlike we have seen before in this World Cup. The pressing was more frequent and higher than ususal and they got the first goal from that. They ended up winning through an injury time penalty from Samaras
Player comment:
Greece have gone through to play the Costa Rica which in theory is a good draw. You have to give Greece a chance but for me there’s no real player from an attacking point of view. Defensively you have to give them some chance of a clean sheet and the back 4 should be Torosidis, Cholebas, Papastathopoulas and Manolas in attacking order.
Sun Dream Team scoring:
Greece: Manolas, Papastathopoulos, Torosidis, Salpingidis, Samaras and sub Samaris got 7. Holebas got 8 and the Star Man award.
Key players for Day 14
Honduras v Switzerland
Switzerland should go through here. Shaqiri in midfield is a possible TFF option but he’s not cheap by any stretch. Despite the France beating the Swiss have a good defensive record and Rodriguez is a good attacking option.
Ecuador v France
France are through effectively. So check the lineups for rested players. Benzema is defeintely an option if he starts. Mids Valbuena and Matuidi are quite expensive in TFF for what they are but are options
Bosnia v Iran
Bosnia are out but Iran could make it which may make them more attacking. Bosnia assets won’t see you through the 2nd round though so Dzeko who is a reasonable chance to score would be a one off.
Nigeria v Argentina
Messi is obvious and a must. Aguero depending on your patience. Aguero is low ownership so not too much risk of hurting your ranking. A clean sheet is a good prospect and Rojo is my best bet here.
Enjoy the Day and good luck.
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World Cup fantasy football 2014 tips
World Cup fantasy football 2014 tips
