In this article, we look at the key penalty takers, free-kick takers and corner takers to know for World Cup Fantasy.
Set pieces are important because they give players extra ways to return points. A penalty taker has a direct chance to score. A corner taker or free-kick taker has extra assist potential.
The full list is on the World Cup set-piece takers page. Use this article for the main fantasy names to consider before making transfers.
Best Penalty Takers To Target
| Player | Team | Price/role | Fantasy note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kylian Mbappe | France | Primary penalty taker | One of the best captain options whenever France have a good fixture. |
| Harry Kane | England | Primary penalty taker | Reliable minutes, penalty duty and strong MD2 projected points. |
| Cristiano Ronaldo | Portugal | Primary penalty taker | Lower-owned premium captain option with penalty appeal. |
| Raphinha | Brazil | Primary penalty taker | Penalties, corners and free kicks. One to check if he starts against Haiti. |
| Kai Havertz | Germany | Primary penalty taker | Scored twice in MD1 and played 90 minutes. |
| Mikel Oyarzabal | Spain | Primary penalty taker | Spain have Saudi Arabia next, so he is worth checking in the planner. |
Penalty Takers On The Watchlist
| Player | Team | Why he matters |
|---|---|---|
| Breel Embolo | Switzerland | Took Switzerland's MD1 penalty and played the full match. |
| Jonathan David | Canada | Canada's penalty taker. His appeal depends on Canada creating enough chances. |
| Raul Jimenez | Mexico | Mexico's main penalty taker, but open-play threat is the question. |
| Bruno Fernandes | Portugal | Second for penalties, but still strong because of corners and free kicks. |
Best Corner And Free-Kick Takers
| Player | Team | Set-piece role | Fantasy note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joshua Kimmich | Germany | Some corners/free kicks | Defender with assist potential and strong creative numbers. |
| Bruno Fernandes | Portugal | Corners and free kicks | Still a strong midfield pick even with Ronaldo first on penalties. |
| Raphinha | Brazil | Penalties, corners and free kicks | Very strong role if he starts in MD2. |
| Lamine Yamal | Spain | Corners and free kicks | Creative Spain option with a strong fixture against Saudi Arabia. |
| Michael Olise | France | Corners and free kicks | Good France midfield pick with Iraq next. |
| Stephen Eustaquio | Canada | Corners and free kicks | Cheap midfielder with a useful role. |
| Brian Gutierrez | Mexico | Corners and free kicks | Deep differential if he starts. |
Best Set-Piece Picks For MD2
| Type | Players | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Best captains | Kane, Mbappe, Ronaldo | Penalties, minutes and good fixtures. |
| Best Brazil picks | Raphinha, Vinicius, Cunha | Brazil play Haiti in MD2. |
| Best defender | Kimmich | Creative defender with some set-piece involvement. |
| Best value names | Balogun, Eustaquio, Embolo | Good price, low ownership or set-piece role. |
| Wait for more minutes | Reyna, Larin | They scored, but minutes are still a concern. |
Set pieces should move a player up your shortlist, but they should not be the only reason to buy him. Always check minutes, fixture and projected points as well.
How To Use This For Transfers
- Check the player's set-piece role.
- Check his next fixture in the World Cup Planner.
- Compare projected points on the xPts page.
- Check minutes and shots on the live stats page.
- Only make the transfer if he is likely to start.
Final Thoughts
The standout set-piece names right now are Kane, Mbappe, Ronaldo, Raphinha, Havertz and Kimmich. Bruno is still useful for corners and free kicks, while Embolo, David, Eustaquio and Gutierrez are good players to monitor depending on fixtures and minutes.