The Best World Cup Fantasy MD3 Wildcard Draft: 1st Draft

Now naturally, given there are a few more days left of MD2, there are still plenty of things that can change. Such as injuries, suspensions, Scouting Bonus Ownerships etc. However, it is never too early to start thinking about it.

MD3 is and always has been the best opportunity for Wildcard use, so make sure you check out our Best Times to Play your Boosters article to make sure you are armed with the optimum strategy. Given managers receive unlimited transfers ahead of the Round of 32, we are essentially treating MD3 as a Free Hit. As a result, it makes the selection process very simple.

Meaning his team is constructed purely around:

• MD3 Fixture Difficulty
• Scouting Bonus

Naturally, a lot of these players will find themselves rising to or above the 5% ownership threshold. However, we will be keeping tabs and do have some great alternatives lined up in advance. So covering these alterations shouldn’t be too difficult.

Anyway, without further ado, let’s get stuck into the team.

 

Goalkeepers

 

Bart Verbruggen – (NED) – $4.7m

Fixture: vs Tunisia

Ownership %: 3.1%

We kick things off with the Goalkeeper behind one of the best defences in the tournament. After a shaky opening game, the Netherlands looked straight back to their traditional winning ways, and defensively looked a lot more assured. They now take on a Tunisia side in MD3 who have lost 5-1 and 4-0 in their two opening games.

A bad attack vs a great defence is normally a recipe for success, and with Verbruggen’s MD selection only at 3.1%, there is every chance he maintains his Scouting Bonus heading into MD3. A Netherlands triple up against a Tunisia side that looks more than checked out will definitely be a good route to pursue for all managers, and Verburggen is a great starting block.

 

Yassine Bounou – (MOR) – $4.7m

Fixture: vs Haiti

Ownership %: 4.8%

Now Bounou is a player who is straying much closer to the Scouting Bonus threshold line, so he will inevitably be one to keep an eye on. However, Morocco have already demonstrated a solid and well organised defensive against two far superior sides. As a result, a clean sheet should be more than on the cards against a substantially worse Haiti side.

If Bounou does rise, there are plenty of other solid goalkeeping match ups to exploit the Scouting Bonus with.

 

Defence

 

Serginio Dest – (USA) – $4.3m

Fixture: vs Turkiye

Ownership: 4%

The USA have come out the blocks absolutely swinging, and Dest has been one of the main contributors. He has lined up not only along the backline, but also at RW in Pulisic’s absence. With the USA already qualified, there s every chance they will not want to risk Pulisic, and we see Dest get another start at right wing.

Turkiye looked truly dreadful despite dominating possession and chances in both games. With their campaign now over, and no motivation, the USA and indeed Dest have a strong opportunity for points at either end of the pitch.

His 4% ownership should also hold until MD3.

 

Douglas Santos – (BRA) – $4.3m

Fixture: vs Scotland

Ownership: 1.4%

A Brazilian full back, starting against Scotland, with only 1.4% ownership. What’s not to like? Given a draw will see Scotland qualify, there is every opportunity we see them set up in their typical defensive system. Meaning targeting a Brazilian defender is never a bad route to go down.

Douglas Santos now has two 90min stints under his belt and appears to be Ancelotti’s first choice left-back. With only one goal conceded so far, and Brazil chasing the top spot in their group, he is likely to not want to change to much either.

 

Wilfried Singo – (CIV) – $4.4m

Fixture: vs Curacao

Ownership: 1.1%

The swashbuckling Ivorian Wilfred Singo is up next. I have personally been very impressed with Ivory Coast’s performances so far, and they were super unfortunate not to come away with at least a point against Germany. Singo in particular has been bombing forward and every opportunity, and picked out a great ball to find Amad to break the deadlock against Ecuador.

Despite a stubborn performance against Ecuador, Ivory Coast’s attack talent is just a notch above Ecuador’s, meaning there is every chance we see some potential attacking returns for Singo, on top of what should already be a very likely clean sheet.

 

UPDATE: With Singo projected to miss the remaining tournament with a hamstring injury, we will be bringing in Guela Doue for $3.9m as a like for like swap for Singo. Another very attacking fullback who even grabbed a goal in Ivory Coast’s victory over France.

 

Ezri Konsa – (ENG) – $4.8m

Fixture: vs Panama

Ownership: 1%

One of the best teams in the tournament against one of the worst? At only 1% MD selection? Yes Please. Tuchel seems to really love Konsa, and he will likely be keen to finish the group strongly. There is every chance we see some rotation however, not least if England dispatch Ghana. However, given Konsa is a favourite of Tuchel’s he may still retain his spot. Nonethless, we will likely hear about potential rotations ahead of the final game and have time to react.

In the meantime however, an England defender with Scouting Bonus against Panama seems like a great start.

 

UPDATE: With England likely to rotate, we are leaning towards a Djed Spence type over Konsa. Especially if England beat Ghana.

 

Facundo Medina – (ARG) – $4.0m

Fixture: vs Jordan

Ownership: 1.5%

Argentina were able to register a very solid defensive performance in their opening game of the tournament against Algeria. So it is hard to see Scaloni changing things around. With Medina receiving a full 90. Given the match is against Jordan, there will also be some opportunity for the fullback to get forward.

Tagliafico will likely not be fully fit for Argentina’s final group game having only managed an 8 min cameo, meaning we will likely see Medina get the nod again.

 

Midfield

 

Ismael Saibari – (MOR) – $6.8m

Fixture: vs Haiti

Ownership: 4.5%

Another potentially dangerous ownership percentage which could definitely reach the 5% threshold before MD3 closes. However, in the meantime, Saibari is an excellent option for MD3. Not only does he currently have Scouting Bonus, but he also has both of Morocco’s goals so far this tournament.

He is the spearhead of their attack and has some fantastic creators in the form of Diaz and Hakimi behind him. Given the current state of their group, Morocco will have it all to play for on the final day, even against a very weak Haiti side, so Saibari should not be in any danger of being benched.

 

Michael Olise (FRA) – $9.5m

Fixture: vs Norway

Ownership: 35.9%

Yeh, yeh I get it. But Norway are good. This is a vibes pick. France seem like they have the potential to just explode at any time and so I wanted to cover at least a piece of their attack at all times. With midfield being where I had some availability.

Olise is the main creator in this France team, and honestly looks like he could score or unlock a defence every time he touches the ball. Despite scoring 4, Norway also looked surprisingly vulnerable against a relatively weak Iraq attack. Giving up 11 shots and plenty of good chances throughout the game. As well as conceding 2 to Senegal.

If France can be even slightly more clinical than Iraq or Senegal, they could easily hit Norway for 3 or 4, and they definitely have the personnel to do so. With top in the group still to play for, expect France to maintain a strong lineup.

 

Marcus Rashford (ENG) – $7.5m

Fixture: vs Panama

Ownership: 2.5%

Honestly, I think their is a pretty strong potential that Rashford starts against Panama. Especially if England beat Ghana and wrap up the group stage.

Even if they do not beat Ghana, Rashford for Gordon would seem like one of the more obvious switches to make ahead of the final group game. As a result, I just feel like he has a very strong chance of starting either way, not least given his performance against Croatia.

 

Crysencio Summerville – (NED) – $5.3m

Fixture: vs Tunisia

Ownership: 3%

2/3rds of our Dutch Triple-Up now in the books. Summerville has been absolutely flying to start the World Cup. With a goal against Japan and a goal and assist against Sweden. It is now very hard to picture a world where he isn’t their locked in starter moving forward. Especially with Japan’s win over Tunisia meaning the top spot in Group F is still all to play for.

As mentioned before they now take on the team with the worst record in the entire tournament. Fresh off his team absolutely rolling and some great individual performances, Summerville could easily grab a serious haul here.

 

Mo Salah – (EGY) – $10.0m

Fixture: vs Iran

Ownership: 4.9%

Egypt are currently top of their group and have looked very strong in their opening few games. Salah in particular has proved very effective, registering 3 G/A across their opening 2 games. He now takes on an Iranian side who have enjoyed a mixed beginning to the tournament.

All the momentum is with Egypt right now however, and with top in their group in their sites and Salah on all set-pieces, we could definitely see a few returns from the Liverpool man in their final game. Especially if New Zealand were able to stick 2 passed them.

 

Forwards

 

Harry Kane (ENG) – $10.5m

Fixture: vs Panama

Ownership: 38.6%

I love a Scouting Bonus as much as anyone but I’m not going without Kane against Panama. Even if England wrap up the group by defeating Ghana, Kane is chasing records and is the captain. With history showing us that he will always be pushing to start even if the game is not that significant in the grand scheme.

Panama are no doubt one of the weaker teams at the tournament, and honestly, with the way England are playing, this one could get really messy. Kane has to start.

 

Cody Gakpo (NED) – $7.7

Fixture: vs Tunisia

Ownership: 4.2%

Like a lot of Liverpool players this tournament, Gakpo seems to have put a subpar performance in the league behind them and hit the ground running at the World Cup. Registering 2 goals and an assist against Sweden. Meaning he gets the nod to round out our Dutch Triple-Up.

He now takes on arguably the worst team at the tournament so far in Tunisia, meaning he will have ample opportunity for more returns. As mentioned with Summerville, Japan’s win over Tunisia means there is still every thing to play for as far as topping the group goes. So expect Gakpo to not be rotated out.

 

Lionel Messi (ARG) – $10.0m

Fixture: vs Jordan

Ownership: 25.9%

Speaking of players who will not be rotated out, Messi rounds out our team. He is now chasing history and looking to separate himself from Klose who is also joint 1st with Messi on 16 World Cup goals. With Jordan being the perfect fixture to achieve such a remarkable feat, Argentina will be doing their best to get him the ball, and we could see an even greedier Messi than usual, given the ease of fixture and context of the game.

Beyond the record chasing, he is also in sparkling form, kicking off his tournament with a hat-trick already.

 

UPDATE: With Messi announcing he is ‘tired’ we are leaning towards Julian Alvarez instead.

 

Full Team

As mentioned before, this team is built mainly around fixtures and Scouting Bonus, with the exceptions of Kane, Olise and Alvarez, which should be pretty self explanatory as inclusions. The context of all groups and players should see nearly all of these players get a start, however we will be paying close attention to results and team news and updating the article accordingly.

We will be doing the same for Scouting Bonus, so make sure you bookmark this article and check in closer to the deadline for updates.

 

Check out our World Cup section for more Fantasy World Cup tips.