World Cup Fantasy top picks for the last 16
Here we will cover the World Cup Fantasy top picks for the last 16. 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 the last 16. Looking at the top picks for last 16 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 are through to the last 16. They face a match against USA. Although USA have scored two goals, they have failed to look convincing offensively and also failed to score in their Matchday 2 game against England.
USA could struggle to score against stronger defences and Netherlands have already racked up two clean sheets in their first three matches. Andries Noppert (£4.5) will allow funds elsewhere within our fantasy teams and has plenty of clean sheet potential. Andries Noppert joins the top picks for the last 16.
Emiliano Martinez
Argentina have also progressed into the last 16. They will face a meeting against Australia in the the next round. Although Australia have been squeaking goals, the attack looks far from convincing and against a better defence, could struggle.
Argentina may have slipped up in their loss to Saudia Arabi, but they looked very strong against both Poland and Mexico. In fact, they kept clean sheets against both. Emiliano Martinez (£5.5m) could be a safe bet moving forward.
Jordan Pickford
England maintained one of the best defences in the last Euros. Although they slipped up in Matchday 1, that experienced defence has started to grow into its usual high standard. England kept clean sheets against both USA and Wales in the group stages.
The English face Senegal in the last 16. Although the African side scored against Qatar and Ecuador, there seems to be no focal point and do lack natural goal scorers. For those reasons, it could be wise to invest in Jordan Pickford (£5.5m).
Defenders – Denzel Dumfries
The Netherlands defence could be worth investment in the last 16. Not only could USA struggle to score but the Dutch play with a wing back system that allows their wingbacks to advance forward. Wing backs are so advanced that they have a much better chance of creating a goal contribution than the average fullback or centre back.
Denzel Dumfries (£6m) became one of the most appealing assets in World Cup Fantasy ahead of the tournament. Although his offensive ability has been somewhat missing so far, Dumfries has still bagged two clean sheets in his current campaign. Managers should not deter away from Dumfries. The wing back has proven deadly in recent times, so it could be just a matter of time before we see that explosiveness.
Theo Hernanandez
France did struggle with injuries during the group stage, and it had a direct knock-on effect to the backline. Although France failed to keep a clean sheet in their group stage matches, they do face a Poland side who failed to score in two of their three matches so far.
Poland do lack creativity but one player who does not is Theo Hernandez (£5m). The left back has already managed two assists in the two matches he has started whilst also becoming one of France’s most creative players. Theo Hernandez, at his price, has to be considered amongst the top picks for the last 16.
Luke Shaw
England face Senegal and that could be enough for managers alone. However, not only is the clean sheet potential there, but offensive potential too. England are strong in the air and on set pieces and left back Luke Shaw (£5m) could benefit from that.
Luke Shaw takes some set pieces and loves to cross into the box from deep. This boosts his already attractive appeal and let’s not forget, Shaw has returned in every single match of the World Cup he has played so far. Luke Shaw makes the top picks for the last 16.
Borna Sosa
Another team who have impressed defensively is Croatia. The Croatian’s face Japan in the last 16. Japan did beat Spain and Germany so should not be underestimated. However, they are playing against a team who focus on their defensive game.
Japan failed to score against Costa Rica, because their opponents did not allow them much space. Croatia have already collected two clean sheets from their first three games. Those clean sheets came against Morocco and Belgium. At £3.5m, Borna Sosa could be a steal. Sosa is creative and that can be seen in his recent matches. Sosa could be a fantastic option and has to make the top picks for the last 16.
Jordo Alba
Spain face a meeting against an in-form Morocco in the last 16. Although the Spanish have kept just one clean sheet in their World Cup campaign so far, they have a left back who can pick up points without the clean sheet.
Spain could be tough for Morocco to break down so there is clean sheet potential there. Jordi Alba (£6m), at the time of writing, is the joint second highest scoring defender in the game. It is also worth mentioning he only started two of the three matches Spain have played so far. Alba’s 12-point haul is a great reflection of his potential and walks into the top picks for the last 16.
Midfielders – Davy Klassen
Finding cheap midfielders to enable funds elsewhere within our teams in the last 16 could be a difficult task. Fortunately, Netherlands have one. Netherlands face USA in the next round and many managers may want to invest money in easier fixtures, especially offensively.
Davy Klaassen (£6m) has had a fantastic tournament so far. The midfielder is finding himself in lots of attacking positions. Klaassen has already bagged two assists and one goal and became one of Netherland’s key creators in the group stage. At just £6m, it could be hard to exclude him.
Angel Di Maria
One of the best ways into the Argentina offensive line other than the Lionel Messi, who everyone will own, is Angel Di Maria (£8.5m). Argentina have scored in every match they have played so far, scoring two in two out of three of their games.
Angel Di Maria has had a slightly disappointing start to his World Cup Fantasy campaign but has still managed to create an assist and maintain two key passes per game in the group stages. Argentina face a side who conceded four goals against France and for those reasons, Angel Di Maria has to be considered amongst the top picks for the last 16.
Phil Foden
England play Senegal in the last 16, a team that failed to keep a single clean sheet in their group stage. The English offensive line looks formidable and that can be reflected in their nine goals scored in their group matches.
One issue could be rotation, but after Phil Foden’s (£8.5m) fantastic performance against Wales, it could be difficult for Gareth Southgate to leave him out. Foden managed an assist and a goal in Matchday 3, showing just how explosive he can be.
Ivan Perisic
Croatia play against Japan in the last 16. Although good offensively, Japan failed to keep a single clean sheet in the group stages. This could indicate investing in the Croatia attack a good idea for World Cup Fantasy managers.
Ivan Perisic (£7.5m) has proven to have solid potential in the group stages. Although Croatia failed to score in two of their three group stage matches, they were against good defences. Perisic managed two assists in his match against Canada, highlighting his attacking capabilities.
Mohammed Kudus
At the time of writing. Ghana are yet to progress to the last 16, but their chances are good. The African side have already managed five goals in their two matches and against teams like Portugal and South Korea.
Mohammed Kudus (£6m) stands out at as the player with the most potential in the Ghana attack. Kudus has shown fantastic attacking output in his recent Champions League campaign with Ajax. That great form has been reflected in the World Cup as Kudus has already picked up one assist and two goals. At such a cheap price it could be difficult to leave him out if he progresses.
Forwards – Lionel Messi
Argentina have massive potential going into their last 16 match against Australia. For that reason, it could be absolutely vital to invest in their attacking players. The standout option going into the next round is Lionel Messi (£10.5m).
Lionel Messi has been detrimental for Argentina. The striker has collected two goals and one assist, averaging a return in every game and maintaining some fantastic offensive stats. Messi can be deemed as essential going into the last 16 and will be key for captaincy.
Kylian Mbappe
France stormed their way to six points in the group stages after just two matches. During that period, they also managed to score a huge six goals. The biggest contributor to those goals, was without a doubt, Kylian Mbappe (£11.5m).
Not only is Mbappe, at the time of writing, the joint highest scoring player in World Cup Fantasy, but he’s already bagged three goals and one assist in the two matches he did start in. Mbappe, similar to Messi, could be seen as essential. Do not exclude Mbappe from your last 16 squads.
Richarlison
Brazil had one of the best scoring averages ahead of the World Cup and that has been reflected in the fact they have scored in both of the games they have played so far. Brazil are yet to find out their opponent, at the time of writing.
The focal point to the Brazil attack is in none other than Richarlison (£7.5m). Richarison alerted World Cup Fantasy managers to his international quality after scoring two goals in Matchday 1. The potential is there and with a fantastic price-tag, it could be tough to refuse his place within our teams.
Looking to get ahead of the competition? We highlight some of the best World Cup Fantasy differentials in our article here.
