This article is part of our Daily Fantasy Soccer Cheat Sheet series.
The Netherlands were surprisingly poor in their opening World Cup match, beating New Zealand 1-0 after going scoreless for 91 minutes until substitute Jill Roord saved them the embarrassment of a draw. Despite failing to get on the scoresheet, star Lieke Martens was still solid, putting one of three shots on target while creating four chances and sending in five crosses. Sherida Spitse expectedly took their corners, helping her to six crosses and two chances created while adding one shot, one foul drawn, one interception and one tackle won. In addition to the expected role, Spitse's fantasy scores were basically expected, as she's a holding midfielder who happens to take set pieces. No. 10 Danielle van de Donk wasn't overly impressive, finishing with just one chance created and one shot, while striker Vivianne Miedema was at least more active in the attacking front, putting one of five shots on target while creating two chances. The Dutch managed 70 percent possession while out-shooting New Zealand 16 to five and out-crossing them 29 to four, but the finishing was just not there. However, it's expected to be there against Cameroon, as the Netherlands are -800 to win, with the over-2.5 goals sitting at -152. Additionally, Miedema has the best anytime goal scorer odds on the slate at -127 on DraftKings Sportsbook, with Martens at +100 and Spitse and Van de Donk +175.
Cameroon were hardly impressive in their first match in France, losing 1-0 to Canada, who had 73 percent possession and
The Netherlands were surprisingly poor in their opening World Cup match, beating New Zealand 1-0 after going scoreless for 91 minutes until substitute Jill Roord saved them the embarrassment of a draw. Despite failing to get on the scoresheet, star Lieke Martens was still solid, putting one of three shots on target while creating four chances and sending in five crosses. Sherida Spitse expectedly took their corners, helping her to six crosses and two chances created while adding one shot, one foul drawn, one interception and one tackle won. In addition to the expected role, Spitse's fantasy scores were basically expected, as she's a holding midfielder who happens to take set pieces. No. 10 Danielle van de Donk wasn't overly impressive, finishing with just one chance created and one shot, while striker Vivianne Miedema was at least more active in the attacking front, putting one of five shots on target while creating two chances. The Dutch managed 70 percent possession while out-shooting New Zealand 16 to five and out-crossing them 29 to four, but the finishing was just not there. However, it's expected to be there against Cameroon, as the Netherlands are -800 to win, with the over-2.5 goals sitting at -152. Additionally, Miedema has the best anytime goal scorer odds on the slate at -127 on DraftKings Sportsbook, with Martens at +100 and Spitse and Van de Donk +175.
Cameroon were hardly impressive in their first match in France, losing 1-0 to Canada, who had 73 percent possession and out-shot Cameroon 16 to four. A similar statistical situation seems likely against the Netherlands, so while Gabrielle Onguene took two of three corners, helping her to three crosses and Ajara Nchout crossed her only corner, there's little reason to think they will have some explosion of opportunities Saturday. Theoretically, they can always surprise people on the counter, but a low possession game really doesn't do much for them on DraftKings, while their center-backs seems viable on FanDuel, including Estelle Johnson ($14), the most expensive of the three (Christine Manie is $12 and Aurelle Awona is $10). Given Cameroon's short odds, it's likely none of their players are owned that much in cash games, even on a two-game slate, while there could be plenty of Dutch stacks.
Canada come in looking to bounce back from their somewhat muted performance against Cameroon, at least when it came to the score. Leading the disappointment in that match was striker Christine Sinclair, who failed to put any of her six shots on target, eventually finishing with 9.25 fantasy points on DraftKings and 6.90 on FanDuel. Nevertheless, she has the best anytime goal scorer odds in the match at -115 on FanDuel Sportsbook, with Jordyn Huitema next at +170 and Janine Beckie at +185. Huitema didn't play in the opening match, and she's not expected to start Saturday, but Beckie was absolutely awesome, assisting their lone goal while putting two of five shots on goal, creating five chances and sending in 13 crosses thanks to her 10 corners. Canada probably won't get quite as many of those opportunities against New Zealand, but there's also little reason to think Beckie will be low owned on a two-game slate. Nichelle Prince was pretty active with two shots and four crosses, though being a $6,500 forward on DraftKings almost makes her unplayable. If you're in that price range, you're probably better off going with Jessie Fleming, who had 7.00 fantasy points because of a variety of attacking and defensive stats, though she didn't have a single cross or shot, which was easier to stomach at $4,200 than Saturday's price of $6,800.
Meanwhile, Canada, who are -270 favorites, will face off against New Zealand (+700), who hit the woodwork once against the Netherlands but were pretty much dominated in all other aspects of the match. Defender Catherine Bott was their highest scorer on DraftKings, finishing with 6.25 fantasy points because of three tackles won, two fouls drawn, one interception and one cross while striker Sarah Gregorius and defenders Ria Percival and Rebekah Stott each had 6.00. Stott won four tackles, Percival drew two fouls and Gregorius put both of her shots on target and won two fouls, all stat ranges that could be reached again, or not. Similar to their match against the Netherlands, it's tough to get overly excited about New Zealand, particularly in cash games, andwhile Bott at $4,100 isn't bad, it's not as good as Percival at $3,300 since she started in the defensive midfield and took their lone corner. Gregorius is where you go if you're thinking they score since she has the best odds to find the back of the net, though at +400 it's unlikely it happens.
