World cup game 26

[Jimmy1987]

Can just about get through this round without using a wildcard, for what that's worth

I look at the match ups and think it's not that inconceivable a lot of faves with be KO'd.

I dont have many wildcards left but still have it in my best team. I can get a decent 11 with transfers but won't have any bench. I'm thinking about going for the wildcard to attack the last of the easy fixtures before it tightens up a bit in the quarters. I would imagine most teams will be very similar from the quarters onwards aswell so this might be the last chance to make some ground up on the leaders. I'm pretty happy with the wildcard team I picked before just can't decide between Dembele and Vini Jr

[aurora]

don't quote me on it, but I think maybe Vinicius would be the best option even if odds wise the bookies are making France a shoe-in which generally means more goals for the fave, however it just seems to me that Paraguay from what I've seen will be ultra defensive whereas Brazil-Norway has much more of an open game feel to it, I'd go for Vinicius in that situation myself.

54 of the top 100 have used their wildcard.

[12345678]

well personally i have backed france to go goal crazy, will seriously damage my current returns if i am wrong!

GL everyone

[grizzler]

I captained Saibiri and went off got injured after 20 mins! I'm cursed. I give up.

[12345678]

this ref in the france paraguay game is easily the worst this world cup having been pretty good with the help of VAR so far.

[aurora]

he's given about 10 yellow cards less than what he should have done, will be his last game at the World Cup.

[aurora]

and should have given another 2 since I last posted, seems very dodgy to me!

[BLOCKHEAD]

Coming up against a stubborn Paraguay defence in 38C heat in Philadelphia put me off going all-in on France attack, Brazil attackers were more priority transfers in for me. I see more goals in the Brazil vs Norway game.

[aurora]

that's what I mentioned earlier on, felt like more open game with Brazil v Norway, though didn't think of the heat in this match, just how defensive Paraguay would be.

and the ref now books Olise for not doing much, player went down easily, worst ref I have ever seen at such a high level.

[12345678]

that ref should be locked in a yellow and red room and made to watch every single foul made by the paraguay team over and over again lol. galarza was a known scumbag before this game and has done everything within his power to enhance his reputation!

[12345678]

so it would seem trump has been on the phone to his fellow infant and got the balogun suspension overturned.

it's sad to see the spectre of politics enter football via fifa.

[12345678]

well if spain dont go through today i think almost all/all of my wildcards go up in smoke even if egypt pull off a shock!

france vs morocco will be big too if wc still in place as any toward the top with a wc likely stuck with at least 1x morocco.

hoping for some form to stick

looks likely spence will make 90 mins if england make it through the next couple of rounds the good news is he may well get nusa & almada rather than the teams star player.

[aurora]

James could be back for the Norway game.

[12345678]

James could be back for the Norway game.

maybe, let's hope so but hammy's are dodgy for recurring if rushed back too fast. i would personally wait until the next game unless the medical staff are very confident (in as much as you can be with hammy's) of no great risk of reinjury

[raoul]

my best team is for once in the money for now, with Messi left to come today (surely true for most teams though).

QF planning is tricky.

I have 6 obvious to keep in place, but 3 Moroccans on top of that.

And all 3 Moroccans were injured before or during the previous game.

And from here on in, cheap desirable defenders (and forwards) are not in abundance...

Is it me, or is it now all about finding the value MIDs likely to progress?

Rabiot and Rice anyone?

[bloggie]

I found I needed someone like Anderson as cheapest viable forward looks like Embolo if he goes through and cheap defenders have diminished.

[raoul]

I found I needed someone like Anderson as cheapest viable forward looks like Embolo if he goes through and cheap defenders have diminished.

Yep, I have reached the Anderson point as well.

I have cheap Moroccan defence and might have to keep at least one.

And much as I want 3 big gun forwards, I think 5 starting mids is the more viable option.

Unless of course Egypt do the unthinkable today...

[raoul]

I found I needed someone like Anderson as cheapest viable forward looks like Embolo if he goes through and cheap defenders have diminished.

Yep, I have reached the Anderson point as well.

I have cheap Moroccan defence and might have to keep at least one.

And much as I want 3 big gun forwards, I think 5 starting mids is the more viable option.

Unless of course Egypt do the unthinkable today...

In happier news, my replacement cheap auto sub defender is a certain Mr Ibrahim of Egypt.

Inside the top 300 for the first time.

[bloggie]

I've the 2nd goalscorer Zico on the bench in best team. Unlikely to get on. Went with USA defenders instead of Morocco having missed their group points. Somewhat regrettable in retrospect as their results were temporary form.

[BLOCKHEAD]

I'm going to need another wildcard if Argentina get eliminated by Egypt.

[bloggie]

Zico gets subbed on as Manzambi not in squad because of a knee injury.

[Rick]

Nice, I have Dest with -0.30 coming on for him in all three of my teams which have him.

[bloggie]

Destiny. Still regretting taking a punt on USA defence this round especially as Belgium were finding their usual form.

[12345678]

lots of luck in a short run, not saying i have been unlucky, just you need a bit more luck to be bang there.

the £10 i'll just make a bit of profit without getting into the argument late on and should drift up a bit (will depend if there is a turnover to some extent in the quarters/semis)

the £100 looks a little better with most of the leaderboard now outta shape and some with the wildcard already gone. some luck might push me up fair bit.

[llama]

Still have a bit of interest here.

Best £10 team is 348th. My £100 team is 112th. Not used a wildcard yet.

Have a feeling all the wildcard teams are going to look the same. Captaincy will be hugely important now.

[aurora]

Imagine if Belgium, Morocco , the Swiss and Norway progressed, or even two from those 4 which is not that incomprehensible, you'd be needing a wildcard for the semis!

[llama]

It would be carnage.

You'd think at least one of those teams goes through.

[Jimmy1987]

My best team is 126th in the £10 game but I might have to take a -4 to free up some budget. It's the strikers I'm struggling with, need to replace Suarez and Cunha and I don't really like any of the cheap strikers. De Ketelaere looks best out of the cheap strikers but I'm not convinced by him vs a Spain defence that hasn't conceded yet.

[llama]

Thought Barcola would start.

Just had to tear up all my teams.

Brilliant.

[raoul]

Still have a bit of interest here.

Best £10 team is 348th. My £100 team is 112th. Not used a wildcard yet.

Have a feeling all the wildcard teams are going to look the same. Captaincy will be hugely important now.

I found wildcard extremely limited. Pretty much forced into 5 at the back, or 4 if you start flexing where you don't really want to flex.

My non wildcard was easier as I was forced to keep cheaper Moroccan defenders to fight other fires.

I think my best bet is a shock or two. Moroccan preferably.