This article is part of our FanDuel Fantasy Soccer series.
MATCHES (EDT)
11:00 a.m: Belgium v. Panama
2:00 p.m: England v. Tunisia
FORWARDS
Romelu Lukaku, BEL v. PAN ($11,000): Lukaku is a better GPP play in that he could score a hat trick, but he's worth using in cash with Harry Kane ($12,000) surprisingly more expensive. Belgium are the bigger favorite in a match with more expected goals and that makes Lukaku the play. He rolled through qualification with 16 goals in 12 appearances, and while some of those came against bottom-tier countries, Panama are one of the worst teams in the World Cup. Expect plenty of shots from Lukaku, if not a goal, or two or three.
Dries Mertens, BEL v. PAN ($9,000): On a two-match slate, it makes sense to go with the biggest favorite. Belgium will dominate possession against Panama and Mertens is another player who comes in slightly cheaper than he should be. Eden Hazard ($10,500) is the more popular player for Chelsea, but Mertens (Napoli) produces just as much at the national level (six goals, seven assists in qualifying) and creates his chances from the wing.
Anice Badri, TUN v. ENG ($5,500): If you want to save money, Tunisia are the way to go since Panama will struggle to hold possession. Wahbi Khazri ($7,500) is a bit too expensive in this spot, especially since he probably won't play 90 minutes. Badri played on the wing in a recent friendly against Spain and if that's the case, he should see enough action to
MATCHES (EDT)
11:00 a.m: Belgium v. Panama
2:00 p.m: England v. Tunisia
FORWARDS
Romelu Lukaku, BEL v. PAN ($11,000): Lukaku is a better GPP play in that he could score a hat trick, but he's worth using in cash with Harry Kane ($12,000) surprisingly more expensive. Belgium are the bigger favorite in a match with more expected goals and that makes Lukaku the play. He rolled through qualification with 16 goals in 12 appearances, and while some of those came against bottom-tier countries, Panama are one of the worst teams in the World Cup. Expect plenty of shots from Lukaku, if not a goal, or two or three.
Dries Mertens, BEL v. PAN ($9,000): On a two-match slate, it makes sense to go with the biggest favorite. Belgium will dominate possession against Panama and Mertens is another player who comes in slightly cheaper than he should be. Eden Hazard ($10,500) is the more popular player for Chelsea, but Mertens (Napoli) produces just as much at the national level (six goals, seven assists in qualifying) and creates his chances from the wing.
Anice Badri, TUN v. ENG ($5,500): If you want to save money, Tunisia are the way to go since Panama will struggle to hold possession. Wahbi Khazri ($7,500) is a bit too expensive in this spot, especially since he probably won't play 90 minutes. Badri played on the wing in a recent friendly against Spain and if that's the case, he should see enough action to make value. He only started four matches in qualifying, so that's a main reason he's cheaper, but he's been a regular in the last four friendlies and scored against Portugal and Turkey.
MIDFIELDERS
Kevin De Bruyne, BEL v. PAN ($10,000): It's a wonder how many rosters will have Hazard ($10,500), especially with him costing more than De Bruyne. Hazard plays more of an attacking role, but De Bruyne will be all over the pitch and have more of the ball, which should lead to more chances created in addition to goal and assist potential. The only other high-priced midfielders are Dele Alli ($8,500) and Jesse Lingard ($8,000) and those two don't compare with De Bruyne, as they sit further back and have less movement within England.
Dele Alli, ENG v. TUN ($8,500): Kane and Raheem Sterling ($9,500) could both score for England, but I'd rather spend more on the cheaper, heavily-favored Belgians up front. There aren't a ton of mid-range midfielders, and you can only pick four players from a team, so Yannick Carrasco ($8,000) is out of the question, as he plays a similar position to defender Thomas Meunier ($5,000). Choosing between Alli and Lingard is a toss-up, though Alli is more likely to play a full 90 after close to doubling Lingard's minutes in qualifying. Neither of them should be expected to make the score sheet, but Alli produces more at the club level with nine goals and 10 assists this past season, and that can factor in some even if he's in a more defensive position with England.
Naim Sliti, TUN v. ENG ($5,500): Sliti has been used in recent friendlies as the lone forward or winger, and that's all you need from a low-priced midfielder. He played in a similar spot with Dijon this past season, accruing seven goals and six assists with 2.31 chances created per 90 minutes. Tunisia are an underdog, but as we've seen in the early matches, any side that is at least competent can compete and strike with counters.
DEFENDERS
Thomas Meunier, BEL v. PAN ($5,000): It almost feels like a trick with how cheap Meunier is compared to Carrasco, who is listed as a midfielder yet plays in almost the same position. Meunier racked up a lot of his numbers against poor teams in qualification, but five goals and seven assists are hard to ignore, especially against another side Belgium are expected to control.
Ashley Young, ENG v. TUN ($5,000): If you don't need to save money, Kieran Trippier ($6,500) is the better option, as he'll also be on corners. Young is England's cheapest starting defender and should get up the field a good amount as a wing-back. He played in this role four times at Manchester United last season and scored a brace in one of them. He may not get a ton of tackles or clearances, but he'll create multiple chances to go with good odds for a clean sheet.
Hamdi Nagguez, TUN v. ENG ($3,500): If you have to go even cheaper, Nagguez is the cheapest of the expected starting players. Conveniently, he serves as a full-back and had 30 crosses in seven qualifying matches. Nagguez may not get forward much in this match, but that's also why he doesn't cost anything. If he doesn't start, any other Tunisia defender can be looked at along with Panama's Eric Davis ($4,500) or Belgium's Dedryck Boyata ($4,000).
GOALKEEPER
Jordan Pickford, ENG v. TUN ($5,500): A lot of people will try and make it work with Thibaut Courtois ($5,500), but it may be better to go Pickford in the end. He's the same price and also allows you to go big on Belgium field players, who are expected to score more than England. Pickford may have lower odds to win and get a clean sheet, but he is still a large favorite and only allowed three goals in qualifying.
