In this article, we look at the main World Cup Fantasy lessons from the opening Matchday 1 games so far.
MD1 is not finished yet, but we already have useful information on minutes, goals, xG, set pieces and players who could be worth targeting for MD2.
Further read: World Cup Fantasy Matchday 2 Picks.
Underlying Numbers From MD1 So Far
| Player | Team | Mins | Goals | xG | Key note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Folarin Balogun | USA | 72 | 2 | 0.53 | Five shots and three on target. Proper striker involvement. |
| Kai Havertz | Germany | 90 | 2 | 1.09 | Full game, two goals and took the penalty. |
| Joshua Kimmich | Germany | 83 | 0 | - | Two assists and five key passes from defence. |
| Breel Embolo | Switzerland | 90 | 1 | 1.04 | Took the penalty and had five key passes. |
| Giovanni Reyna | USA | 8 | 1 | - | Goal noted, but minutes are the concern. |
Do Not Chase Every Goal
Goals are useful, but minutes are just as important. Reyna scoring in eight minutes is good to note, but it is not the same as Balogun playing 72 minutes and taking five shots.
Before making a transfer, check minutes, position, next fixture, ownership and projected points. The live stats page helps with minutes and underlying numbers, while the planner helps with MD2 and MD3 fixtures.
- Did he start?
- Did he play enough minutes?
- Was he central to the attack?
- Does the next fixture look good?
- Is his ownership still low enough for scouting bonus?
Folarin Balogun - USA
Balogun is one of the standout early names. USA looked energetic and direct in their opener, and Balogun was heavily involved in central areas.
He scored twice, had five shots, three shots on target and played 72 minutes. At 6.0m and 0.9% ownership, he is exactly the kind of forward fantasy managers should be checking before MD2.
The ownership is a big part of the appeal. If he stays below 5%, he has a chance of the extra 2-point scouting bonus, which is massive if you are trying to climb rank. Even if he rises above 5%, he can still work as a cheap forward who frees cash for upgrades elsewhere.
USA play Australia next, then Turkiye. That is enough to put Balogun on the transfer list, but still check the planner before locking him in.
Kai Havertz and Joshua Kimmich - Germany
Germany gave us two different fantasy options. Havertz is the forward with goals and penalty duty. Kimmich is the defender who showed up in the final third.
Havertz played 90 minutes, scored twice and took the penalty. That confirms him on spot kicks. Exactly what you want from a forward. He does not need to be spectacular if Germany keep creating chances around him.
Kimmich is different. Two assists and five key passes from a defender is serious attacking involvement. He also had some set-piece share, so the appeal is creativity first rather than pretending Germany banked a clean sheet.
Breel Embolo - Switzerland
The important Switzerland note is not the late dropped points. It is Embolo taking the penalty. He played 90 minutes, scored from the spot and posted 1.04 xG.
Xhaka is still important to the team, but Embolo is the fantasy name if penalties remain his. He is not an automatic buy, but he is firmly on the watch list.
Canada Set-Piece Watch
Canada have a clean set-piece structure: Jonathan David on penalties and Stephen Eustaquio on corners and free kicks.
Eustaquio played 90 minutes and made three key passes. That is the kind of quiet role that can become useful in fantasy, especially if Canada get better fixtures.
Larin scored, but he only played 14 minutes. That is why checking minutes matters before chasing goals.
Brazil Attackers Ahead Of Haiti
Brazil were not explosive in MD1, but MD2 against Haiti is the fixture fantasy managers will look at.
Vinicius is the obvious attacking pick. Raphinha has the set-piece and penalty appeal. Matheus Cunha is the more aggressive punt if he starts.
The warning is rotation. Brazil have enough attackers to hurt us. Check likely lineups and minutes before picking too many of them.
MD2 Transfer Checklist
- Check minutes on the live stats page.
- Check the next fixture in the World Cup Planner.
- Compare projected points on the xPts page.
- Check set-piece roles on the set-piece page.
- Check ownership before chasing scouting bonus.
- Make the transfer only if the next game still looks good.
Final Thoughts
Balogun, Havertz, Kimmich, Embolo, Eustaquio and the Brazil attackers are the main names to check so far. Some are transfer options. Some are just watch-list players. The difference is minutes and the next fixture.