World Cup Fantasy top picks for Matchday 5
Here we will cover the World Cup Fantasy top picks for Matchday 5. We will use stats, team and player form to shortlist some of the best assets in the game for fantasy managers looking to build their squads.
The World Cup is progressing! Fantasy managers do not have long to get their squads ready for Matchday 5. Looking at the top picks for Matchday 5 can help focus on assets we think could do well rather than worry about the massive pool of players available to us.
Goalkeepers – Andries Noppert
Netherlands have had a very strong campaign so far and although the biggest contributing factor towards that is in their attack, their defensive assets could also be worth investment. Netherlands have managed two clean sheets so far, an indicator they are capable of keeping clean sheets.
Andries Noppert has impressed during his performances so far and has pulled off some huge saves in the process. Noppert faces Argentina in Matchday 5 and could rack up plenty of save points during the match. The goalkeeper also costs £4.5m in the game so could help enable the pricier assets within our fantasy teams.
Diogo Costa
Portugal have been an exciting watch and that is mostly due to their offensive ability. However, they face Morocco in Matchday 5. The African side have been fantastic so far but part of their game can lack sometimes.
Morocco have shown a bluntness to their game against the bigger nations and that lack of goal threat could be enough to invest in the Portugal defence. One of the cheapest ways into the defence could be Diogo Costa (£5m). Costa has shown brilliant form for club in the Champions League and his relentless ability to save penalties could be an additional factor when investing.
Alisson
Brazil aren’t short of options in World Cup Fantasy. The South American’s look strong all over the pitch and many could want to invest in a goalkeeper who has a great chance of progressing all of the way to the final.
We have seen that Brazil are full capable of keeping clean sheets and this is just another factor as to why their defensive assets are appealing. For those looking for a long term option with money to spend, they could select Alisson (£6m).
Defenders – Luke Shaw
The quarter finals could be difficult to navigate for World Cup Fantasy players and there may be a lack of clean sheets. England have shown defensive strength, keeping three clean sheets in the four matches they have played so far but they face France in Matchday 5.
Because England play France, the clean sheet feels on a knife edge but some of England’s defensive assets offer more than clean sheet potential. One of those assets is Luke Shaw (£5m). His creativity has been clear and Shaw also takes some set pieces which adds to his overall potential. Luke Shaw makes the top picks for Matchday 5.
Theo Hernandez
France face England in Matchday 5. Although the chances of a clean sheet could be equal, France, like England, have a very creative left back. Theo Hernandez has been a joy to watch so far and a lot of that is due to his relentless creativity.
Hernandez has racked up key passes and France have converted some of the chances he has created. The defender has already picked up two assists so far and that could increase. With some fantastic assist potential and costing just £5m, Theo Hernandez walks into the top picks for Matchday 5.
Denzel Dumfries
Netherlands play with a wing back system which allows their defenders to bomb forward and get them selves into some incredibly advanced positions. This increases the likelihood of an attacking return in any given match.
The standout wingback for the Netherlands is Denzel Dumfries (£6m). Although Dumfries failed to reward his owners with an offensive return in the group stages, his double-digit haul in Matchday 4 made up for it. Dumfries created two assists and one goal against the USA, a stark reminder of his potential. Dumfries makes his way into the top picks for Matchday 5, even with a meeting against Argentina next.
Raphael Guerreiro
We have already covered the fact that Portugal are in great form. We have already seen that Morocco can lack goals at times. For that reason, investing in the Portuguese defence could be beneficial for World Cup Fantasy managers.
Raphael Guerreiro (£5m) comes in at the same price as Diogo Costa. Guerreiro offers more than just clean sheet potential. The left back managed to create an assist and score a goal in his match against Switzerland. If starting, Raphael Guerreiro could have huge potential in Matchday 5.
Achraf Hakimi
Morocco have been one of, if not the strongest defence in the World Cup, stopping the likes of Belgium, Croatia and Spain scoring. For that reason, it could be difficult to avoid investing in their defensive assets, especially someone with attacking potential.
One player World Cup Fantasy managers could be interested in is Achraf Hakimi (£5m). Hakimi became a fantastic fantasy asset in his recent African Cup of Nations tournament and that has continued into the World Cup. Hakimi has already managed three clean sheets and one assist, totalling to four returns in four matches. Even with a game against Portugal next, Hakimi has haul potential and eases his way into the top picks for Matchday 5.
Midfielders – Phil Foden
England have become one of the highest scoring countries in the competition. Although they face a tough match against France, the French are yet to play against a team scoring plenty of goals. One of the ways into the England attack is Phil Foden (£8.5m).
Foden has been in top form for domestic club Manchester City but his England performances are really catching the eye. The midfielder has already bagged two assists and one goal in his campaign so far and he will be looking to extend that against France.
Bukayo Saka
We stay with England and their attack with a focus on the fourth highest scoring player in World Cup Fantasy. Bukayo Saka (£8m) has been brilliant for England so far and that can be reflected in the fact hes already collected three goals.
Saka is in top form and will be without a doubt, one of the most selected midfielders in the game going into Matchday 5. He could have plenty of potential and could utilise the space left behind by France defender Theo Hernandez when he advances.
Bruno Fernandes
Portugal look strong and only recently put six goals past Switzerland in the round of 16. An integral part of the Portuguese attack has been Bruno Fernandes (£9.5m). The midfielder has been ever consistent in World Cup Fantasy.
The fact that Bruno is the second highest scorer in the game is enough to be convinced. After four matches, he has managed an impressive two goals and three assists. Providing multipe routes to points and taking penalties when Cristiano Ronaldo isn’t on the pitch makes him an easy inclusion amongst the top picks for Matchday 5.
Hakim Ziyech
Portugal may be strong offensively, but they have shown fragilities at the back in several of their matches. Morocco have lacked goals in some of their matches but when they do score Hakim Ziyech (£7m) is likely to be involved.
Ziyech has scored and provided one assist already and that could increase. The Moroccan takes set pieces and one of Morocco’s strengths is in set pieces. Teammate Sofiane Boufal tends to take penalties but he is often replaced early, which could give Ziyech the opportunity to step forward.
Ivan Perisic
Croatia face a meeting against tournament favourites Brazil in Matchday 5. Although their opponents are very strong, Croatia have a knack for getting results against bigger teams and their tournament experience has the potential to course an upset.
One of the standout options in the Croatia attack and someone who has had a fantastic campaign so far is Ivan Perisic (£7.5m). Perisic has proved he can punish teams that attack Croatia and Brazil will do exactly that. The midfielder has picked up one goal and two assists already and has proven crucial to the Croatian’s offensive line.
Forwards – Kylian Mbappe
France progressed after their convincing win over Poland in the round of 16. However, although convincing, One man who France have become heavily reliant on is Kylian Mbappe (£11.5m). The striker sits as the highest scoring player in World Cup Fantasy.
Kylian Mbappe’s 38 points consist of five goals and two assists, totalling to seven goal contributions in four matches played. The PSG striker has 67% ownership in the game so excluding him in our fantasy teams, even against England, could be detrimental to rank.
Lionel Messi
Another team to be reliant on the performances of one player is Argentina. The South Americans’ have looked strong but most of their goals have been created by striker Lionel Messi (£10.5m). Messi has been fantastic throughout the tournament so far.
In the four matches he has played, Messi has bagged three goals and one assist. Not just this, but he also sits as the most owned player in the game, so similar to Mbappe, excluding him from our teams could be detrimental to rank.
Richarlison
Brazil have plenty of attacking options, primarily, to many managers disappointment, in the forward category. The Brazil strikers are costly but the cheapest way into their ruthless attack is Richarlison (£7m), who is the focal point to their attack.
Richarlison has become a key player for Brazil in their chase for success. The striker has already racked up three goals in three matches played whilst also earning a penalty that was converted by teammate Neymar.
Neymar
The Brazil attack is so good that many World Cup Fantasy managers could be looking to double up on it. Even if that wasn’t the case, Neymar (£10.5m) is still a fantastic option for the round ahead. Neymar is now fully fit after recovering from his recent injury.
Neymar has picked up a goal and an assist in his two starts so far. He also takes his teams penalties, which is an additional route to points for fantasy managers. Neymar looked back to his best against South Korea and has to be considered amongst the top picks for Matchday 5.
Are you looking for some budget players to help enable your World Cup Fantasy teams? Check out our article here.
