Fantasy World Cup Preview Group D

Fantasy World Cup Preview Group D

GROUP: D ENGLAND, URUGUAY, ITALY, COSTA RICA
Our World Cup previews continue at a pace and we would like to extend a very warm welcome and thank you to Milk and Busquets as he gives us his take on Group D, the teams involved, which players you should pick and who is likely to progress.

Some of you will have registered already but if not the site that we are using for this years game is Mcdonalds Fantasy World Cup, you can register here. You can register now and you can begin to pick your squad from June 8th ahead of the big kick-off on June 12th. We will publish the FF247 league codes as soon as the league option is open on there. In the meantime we encourage you to plan ahead and as such here’s Group D for you all…

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England
Overview
The Three Lions are always an interesting prospect at any football World Cup. They have been perennial underachievers on the international scene ever since winning it in 1966, but when they qualify they do at least tend to qualify from the group stage. However, the English face a colossal challenge at Brazil 2014. Will they make it to the knockouts this time round?
England are in good form, as winners of their qualifying group, with 6 victories and 4 draws in their 10 matches. They were the only undefeated team in their group, scoring a mammoth 31 goals and conceding only 4. However, their confidence will have been tainted by recent defeats in friendlies against Germany and Chile.

Fantasy Player Perspective
Captain Fantastic leading from the front has to be Steven Gerrard. The Liverpool and England captain will be guaranteed a starting berth and a share of the set-pieces, with 13 goals and 15 assists in the Premier League, the talisman looks like a good fantasy prospect. A bit further up field is another Liverpool player, Daniel Sturridge. The man with the funny dance missed almost a quarter of the domestic season, but was still able to bag 22 goals and 8 assists. Worth remembering – Wayne Rooney has never scored a World Cup goal and will need to step up in a big way for the English to advance.
We would stay away from their defence, but if you were to twist our arm for a recommendation it would be Toffee Leighton Baines. The left-back will most likely have some of the set-pieces for England. With 5 goals and 5 assists this season, he is the only real prospect from the English backline.
The options of Raheem Sterling and Ross Barkley could prove to be great, cheap alternatives. The former bagged himself 9 goals and 7 assists, while Barkley accumulated 6 goals and 4 assists in an Everton team that was subjected to heavy rotation.

Fixtures
England’s first game against Italy seems to lean towards the Azzurri. The two sides have faced one another five times in World Cup matches and qualifiers, with England managing just a single victory to Italy’s three. Added to that, Italy were the Euro 2012 runners-up, too. From a fantasy perspective: An English midfielder will work in the game, additionally there might not be a clean sheet for England.
England’s second game is even worse – Uruguay. A combination of Luis Suarez, Edinson Cavani, and Diego Forlan would strike fear into the hearts of most. However, defensively Uruguay’s central defenders are vulnerable against pace and rely on their reading of the game instead. From a fantasy perspective: Transfer every English defender you have out. Bag a pacey English winger, or even a striker to feed off the delivery from said winger.
Finally, some light at the end of tunnel, England’s game against Costa Rica. It will be a tough day to break down five at the back and an in-form keeper, but this is the game that England will need maximum points – going in with a midfielder and striker as well could prove beneficial.

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Uruguay
Overview
Los Charrúas are the reigning Copa America 2012 champions, and are likely to qualify from the group of death. The majority of the squad is coming off the success of a semi-final in South Africa 2010 and the victory in the Copa America, so they know how to perform at big international tournaments. The team seems to ride on a wave of spirit, and their form might dip and rise, but one can never rule against them. If omens speak for themselves, Uruguay won the last World Cup on Brazilian soil.

Fantasy Player Perspective
Do we really have to say it? Is it not that obvious? One player to have, for the entire tournament, regardless of form, fixture, location or dentist is Luis Suarez. El Pistolero bagged a ridiculous 30 goals and 25 assists in the season, despite missing the opening five games. His strike partner Edinson Cavani cannot be neglected either. The PSG-based striker bagged 25 goals in a season that saw him pick up a thigh injury quite early – although this is of no now concern since El Matador is back and raring to go.
The veteran defensive pairing of Lugano and Diego Godin offer up stable and consistent options at the back. Lugano played seven times in the Premier League for West Bromwich Albion and bagged himself a goal, while Godin has played the season for Atletico Madrid, helping them to win La Liga and make the Champions League final with four goals and an assist.

Fixtures
Uruguay kick off Group D with arguably their easiest game of the World Cup, against Costa Rica. Although Costa Rica’s defence has been resolute in qualification, Suarez and Co. have shown that no matter how good the defence is, they’ll find a way through it. Fantasy recommendations are thus no surprise as we recommend: A Uruguayan striker and defender, with the former a must-have.
Their next game is against England. Possibly one of the biggest talking points for the World Cup will be how the English defence holds out against Suarez after his demolition of almost every team in the Premier League this season. Although England were undefeated through the qualifiers, the recommendations are still of an offensive nature: A Uruguayan striker. However, as England are expected to pack their midfield in an attempt to nullify Uruguay’s attacking threat, one striker will be enough. The pace of England’s potential attacking options makes us believe that they’ll exploit Uruguay’s slow centre backs, and thus transfer out any defenders you might have.
Uruguay end their group stage with an encounter with the Azzurri. The Italians are known for their defensive strength, but once again, you cannot bet against a Uruguayan striker. The game would appear to be a decider between who qualifies, or even who finishes top of the group, so expect a tense encounter that will result in a tight game with few chances.

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Italy
Overview
The Italians are coming into the World Cup in good form, having finished runners up at Euro 2012 and finishing top of their qualifying group with 6 victories and 4 draws, going undefeated throughout. Italy are known as defensive juggernauts, with the art of possession play. The team will be looking to maintain their strong backline, while their maestros in midfield provide opportunities for strikers that can produce greatness in the blink of an eye.

Fantasy Football Perspective
Andrea Barzagli and Gianlugi Buffon have been defensive stalwarts at Juventus this season. Juve had a record breaking season, and these two were brilliant throughout. Barzagli has been described as “the finest defender on the peninsula”, and we all know about Buffon. These are the two defensive ‘almost must haves’!
Two other options, one of which is quite expected: Andrea Pirlo, and Ciro Immobile. Pirlo needs no introduction, while Immobile might. The Torino striker ended the Serie A season as top goal scorer with 22 goals, and no doubt will be a differential pick.
Mario Balotelli is no surprise to feature on this list. He found the net five times in five appearances during World Cup qualifiers. The maverick striker has the potential for superstardom, but also the potential to flounder. If you’re a risky fantasy football manager, Super Mario might be for you.

Fixtures
Italy seem to enjoy playing against the English. That being their first game, and with Costa Rica as their second, fantasy football managers can plan ahead. Their first game will be a tight contest. So recommendations would feature an Italian defender (or goalkeeper) as a must, with a midfielder or striker to take them through into their second game.
Against Costa Rica, the defender should remain as an easy pick, while the South Americans are a good defensive unit, it would be a potentially strong move to bank on Italy netting a few goals.
Their final group game against Uruguay could be the group decider. In this game, an Italian striker with speed will be a good bet, and an ever present midfielder who’s on free-kicks around the box is a good idea. Transfer out any defenders against Suarez, Cavani and Co.

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Costa Rica
Overview
Runners up in the qualifiers behind the United States, Los Ticos will be in good spirits coming into the World Cup. They were formidable at home, but struggled on their travels – this might be the case in Brazil. No matter what way you look at it the Costa Ricans appear to be the whipping boys for the Group of Death!

Fantasy Football Perspective
It is hard to pick a player from this team in the Group of Death that will be a safe bet for fantasy football points. Levante goalkeeper Keylor Navas was a star in La Liga, and he was the first goalkeeper to 100 saves in the season. With the plethora of attacking talent that will be on display in Group D against Costa Rica, one has to bank on the goalkeeper racking up save points.
Brian Ruiz is an attacking midfielder that can dismantle any defence with his speed and dribbling skills. He is also equipped with a powerful long-range shot, so the Costa Rican midfielder is a potential differential.

Fixtures
What can we say about their fixtures against the three colossuses in this group? They can almost be lumped together. Costa Rica face Uruguay first, followed by Italy, and end with England. With all due respect, they probably won’t win any of the games. Los Ticos could turn to their defensive strategy and play for draws throughout the tournament, and hope for a counter-attacking goal. If you’re going for any of their defensive players, we would suggest getting them in after Uruguay. If you plan on a differential attacking player, you’re gutsy, so you might as well get them in for the Uruguay game, as their game against fellow South Americans will be an electrifying one!

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Group Summary
The winner of Group D will play the runner-up of Group C, and conversely the runner-up of Group D will play the winner of Group C. This will mean having to face one of Colombia, Greece, Ivory Coast or Japan so we imagine that the teams that progress will not be too fussed either way!

Thanks for reading Fantasy World Cup Preview Group D this article was written by Milk and Busquets