As you are well aware, the 2022 World Cup is kicking off in a little over two weeks with the official opening game between hosts Qatar and Ecuador. FanTeam would not be Fanteam if they had not prepared yet another exciting fantasy game with unrivalled prices, so that’s exactly what they did. Just last week, the FanTeam World Cup 2022 Full Tournament was launched with both a single entry per person option (£50,000 guaranteed prize pool) as well as a multi entry option (guaranteed prize pool of £100,000), which means that you still have over 2 weeks to prepare. A budget of 90M, eleven team spots to fill, and 32 nations to choose from; get started on your own World Cup squad today. As always, do carefully go through all of the game’s rules and conditions before getting involved (min age 18).
We will be publishing a mini-series of articles featuring a selection of fantasy picks for the FanTeam World Cup 2022 Full Tournament that we feel could deliver big over at least the first rounds of the group stages. Like that, we hope to get you in your way with the selection of your own squad within the limits of the provided 90M budget. The first part looked at World Cup Goalkeepers and Defenders. In our second part of the previews, we’re taking a look at the best midfielders and forwards in the game which might also help you if you’re taking part in esports betting australia.
MIDFIELDER
Lionel MESSI (Argentina)
Our first one on this list is not exactly a differential gem to help you surprise your rivals, but he is very likely to shine during the group stages. Argentina’s Lionel Messi (12.0M) is considered one of the very best footballers in history, a ball-playing wizard who has won everything there is to win in world football. Everything, apart from the World Cup that is. Argentina came incredibly close in 2014, when a 113th-minute half-volley by Mario Götze decided the World Cup final in Germany’s favour, and this year is very likely Messi’s last chance to add the Jules Rimet trophy to his extensive collection of titles and cups. The Argentinian captain is in form as he has already scored 12 goals and provided 14 assists in 18 games across all competitions for his club Paris Saint-Germain, including 4 goals and 4 assists in 5 Champions League games, and will be kicking off the Argentinian quest for World Cup glory against Saudi Arabia, who on paper are one of the weakest sides in the tournament. After that, it’s Mexico and Poland for La Albiceleste, two more games they could and should win rather comfortably. Messi will be the heart and soul of Argentina during the World Cup, and we can see that translating to FanTeam World Cup 2022 Full Tournament points quite easily.
MIDFIELDER
Kevin DE BRUYNE (Belgium)
Whether or not Belgium’s golden generation can still deliver one more time at the upcoming World Cup remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure: whatever they do and whatever they plan, Kevin de Bruyne (10.5M) will be at the centre of it. Widely considered as one of the best attacking midfielders and indeed all-round midfielders of his generation, the Manchester City playmaker is once again on fire this season. In 18 games for his club, KDB scored 3 goals and gave an impressive 13 assists, while for his country, he’s managed 2 goals and 1 assist from 5 games in 2022. The Red Devils were drawn into Group F at the World Cup, together with Canada, Croatia and Morocco. While the Croatians are joint favourites to win this group with the Belgians, the two European sides only face each other in the final group game. Considering the difference in quality between those two teams and the remaining two, it’s not crazy to assume that both Belgium and Croatia will already have qualified for the knock-out stages by then. Against Morocco and Canada though, Belgium might run riot and that’s why we’ve included De Bruyne in this list. On top of that, he’s a whole 1.5M less expensive than Messi, though 10.0M does not exactly say “bargain pick” either.
MIDFIELDER
The Budget Pick – Steven BERGHUIS (Netherlands)
Steven Berghuis (9.0M) is not exactly a budget “budget” fantasy pick, but the Dutch playmaker does cost a whole 3.0M less than Messi and 1.5M less than KDB, while offering similar or possibly even better upsides. The Netherlands have drawn one of the easiest groups on paper with Ecuador, Qatar and Senegal, and it looks like they could qualify for the knock-out stages in overwhelming fashion. Like at his club Ajax Amsterdam, Berghuis forms an integral part of coach Louis van Gaal’s plans, usually playing on the right wing from where he can cut inside and fire with his excellent left foot. He featured in 4 out of 6 Nations League games this year, providing 1 assist, and has 19 club games on his name already (7 goals, 6 assists), including 2 goals and 2 assists in 6 Champions League encounters. In Qatar, he will be given considerable freedom in attack to play his game and it’s useful, from a fantasy football perspective, that he’s on many set-pieces as well. We would not be surprised to see a couple of returns from Berghuis before the knock-out stages get going.
FORWARD
Harry KANE (England)
Did we really have any other choice to start our forwards fantasy picks with? Harry Kane (12.0M) is expensive, yes, but he is also in great form, the main man for England and facing three relatively easy opponents in Group B. The Golden Boot from the previous World Cup in Russia has already scored 12 goals in 20 games for Spurs this season, while also providing 3 assists. One of those goals and two of those assists came in the Champions League, thus playing a major role in the club’s qualification for the Round of 16. As for the Three Lions go this year, Kane has featured in eight games and scored 3 goals in the process. Apart from the home game in the Nations League against Italy and the friendly against Ivory Coast, in which he was subbed on with respectively 25 and 28 minutes to go, he also wore the captain’s armband. What we’re trying to say here is that, when it comes to strikers at the upcoming World Cup, few will provide as many “guarantees” as Kane does. He’s amongst the priciest attackers in the FanTeam World Cup 2022 Full Tournament game, but with Iran, the United States and Wales as opponents in the group, we’re thinking he’ll be paying back that investment in full.
FORWARD
Robert LEWANDOWSKI (Poland)
It’s a bit strange to see Robert Lewandowski (9.0M), one of the very best strikers of his generation, to not be featured amongst the most expensive attacking assets in FanTeam’s World Cup 2022 Full Tournament, but the fact that he represents Poland has everything to do with it. While not a bad side at all, the Bialo-czerwoni will need a considerable effort to pass a group with Argentina, Mexico and Saudi Arabia. The Argentinians seem out of reach on paper and Mexico’s quality is similar to that of Poland, while Saudi Arabia should be three points in the bag for them. The good thing about Group C’s schedule, for Poland at least, is that Argentina will be faced on the final matchday of the group stage, meaning that Mexico is up first, followed by Saudi Arabia, and those are two teams who will not be looking forward to facing Lewandowski. The Barcelona forward has got off to a flying start in Spain this season, scoring 18 goals and providing 4 assists in his first 19 games for the Catalans. He also captained Poland for every single Nations League game this year bar one when he was injured, scoring a goal and giving 2 assists. At 9.0M, you probably don’t want to miss out on Lewandowski for the group stages this World Cup.
FORWARD
The Budget Pick – Eric Maxim CHOUPO-MOTING (Cameroon)
Cameroon won’t be heading into the 2022 World Cup thinking they are favourites to pass the group stage, seeing as the Indomitable Lions are facing Brazil, Serbia and Switzerland in Group G, but that’s OK. They’ve got a decent squad that might just cause an upset or two and from a fantasy perspective, the strength of the group has resulted in a few interesting budget fantasy picks, including Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (6.0M). At the age of 33, the forward is going through one of the best spells in his rich career at Bayern Munich at the moment. Injuries to Leroy Sané (in October) and now Sadio Mané have turned Choupo into the main man for the German record champion, and he has not disappointed so far. He is sitting on 10 goals and 3 assists from 15 games so far, featuring from the start in 8 of those games. For Cameroon, Choupo-Moting tends to perform best when playing centrally up top, which is where coach Aliou Cissé wants to use him in tandem with his captain Vincent Aboubakar. The risk is that he might be moved to the wings when Cameroon decide to play a 4-3-3 variation, which has a notable detrimental effect on his performances. Nevertheless, you’re getting a tried and tested international forward at a bargain price of just 6.0M. He might be in your squad for just three games, but if you need a budget enabler with some upside, the Bayern man is your man.
For further tips and disccusion about FanTeam’s Fantasy World Cup game have a look at this fiso forum topic.