World Cup Daily Plays: June 21st, 2014
Saturday’s trinity of World Cup group matches look, on the surface to be stack specials. Choose the right stack, and cash games will be yours, and GPP riches are within your grasp. Our partner StatClash is offering a $25 dollar contest with a $2,000 prize pool that is using a player pool for both Saturday and Sunday, while running single day games for the former. DraftStreet is running its normal slate on Saturday.
Games on Saturday:
Argentina vs. Iran, 12:00PM EST
Germany vs. Ghana, 3:00PM EST
Nigeria vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina, 6:00pm EST
Goalkeeper
There’s a glaring clean sheet opportunity, but over the last few days what seems to be the certain pick has been overshadowed by the cheap play—who even if they don’t get a clean sheet like Costa Rica’s Keylor Navas—see enough action to get more points than their more feted counterparts. I’m looking at you, Lloris. There’s a wide range of choices at your disposal Saturday—but I can’t see using either Alireza Haghighi or Adam Kwarasey because of their opponents.
Sergio Romero (ARG) – On the surface, Romero’s the leading play-and the most costly. Not Carlo Costly, though. Tops on both DraftStreet and StatClash, you’re going with him to chase the clean sheet and win bonus. Romero’s unlikely to see much action and won’t see much point accumulation via saves. I wouldn’t go with Romero solely on your gameplay, and definitely not in GPP.
Manuel Neuer (GER) – Just a step under Romero is Neuer. The immense German is behind the best team on Saturday, but Ghana’s attack is two to three tiers above Iran’s. Ghana will, in theory, definitely keep Neuer busy—especially on the counter, using their speed to try and outpace Germany’s potential quartet of central defenders in the backline. Germany is likely to win, but the lack of a clean sheet could be offset by a number of saves.
VALUE PLAYS
Asmir Begovic (BIH) – Begovic seems to be the best combination of all things Saturday: the opportunity for win and clean sheet bonus paired with save total potential and cost value. The Canadian-born, Stoke City keeper goes against a Nigerian attack that failed to do anything versus Iran.
Vincent Enyeama (NIG) – More expensive than Begovic on DS (but lesser on SC), Enyeama is the contrarian play to Begovic if you want to pay for other positions.
Defenders
Philipp Lahm (GER) – If you’re willing to pay over 9K on DraftStreet for a defender, Lahm’s your man. Especially in a central midfield position, which German head coach Jogi Loew confirmed he will continue in. On StatClash, he’s a midfielder and a mid-level alternative to fill out your lineup.
Ezequiel Garay (ARG) – Garay’s pretty solid on the ball, Argentina should get a clean sheet against an outmatched Iran, and his price tag is pretty solid.
VALUE PLAYS
Marcus Rojo (ARG) – Iran’s going to play in a desperate defensive shell against Argentina, so the outside backs are likely to get numerous chances to get forward. Rojo’s relatively inexpensive and could pick up an assist or two.
*Sead Kolasinac (BIH) * – Unsexy, but an outside back pair with the potential of a Bosnian clean sheet could allow Kolasinac or any of their Bosnian backline to fill in your defense spots at an inexpensive price tag, especially on DraftStreet.
Shkodran Mustafi (GER) – If Mats Hummels does miss out due to injury, Mustafi could get the start in central defense for Germany at a very low cost. Keep an eye out for lineup reports in the morning; it’s a risk but one likely worth taking.
Midfield
Money will be lost and won by choices in midfield. See Friday’s slate: those with names like Valbuena and Matuidi allowed you to roster Benzema and Eder Valencia.
Miralem Pjanic (BIH) – I’m going with Pjanic again; he had a solid, unspectatular match versus Argentina in Bosnia’s opener, but against Nigeria Pjanic should see a lot more opportunity in the final third. His price tag won’t hurt you, either.
Toni Kroos (GER) – Kross has the passing ability to garner assists, the ability to fire from long distance, and he should be able to outclass Ghana’s central midfielders like Sulley Muntari on a physical basis.
VALUE PLAYS
Fernando Gago (ARG) – Argentina has the early game, so you’ll be able to confirm the starting 11 Alejandro Sabella will put out. If he starts, Gago is at an excellent price.
Kwadwo Asamoah (GHA) – If Ghana has any chance against Germany, they’ll need their stars to be front and center. Asamoah was used at left back against the United States, but likely he’ll be used in midfield and will be depended upon to stay in the tournament.
Forwards
In the end, choose well with your forwards and you’ll better your chances to win money in any game type. Choose Mario Balotelli on Friday, and, well…
But the best do not come cheap. Tiers are in full effect, especially on DraftStreet.
Thomas Muller (GER) – Argentina may have the better matchup, but there’s a lot of mouths to feed. For Deutchland, it’s Mr. Muller. The spear of the attack for Germany, Muller should get his chances against a Ghanian defense that just did not see consistent, constant pressure against the United States. Lionel Messi is just too expensive to build a remainder of your roster wthout going bargain basement elsewhere, but his teammate…
Gonzalo Higuain (ARG) -Messi has constantly lobbied for a 4-3-3 formation to be used by Argentina, including Higuain and Sergio Aguero. Sabella started with a 5-3-2, leaving Higuain on the bench until the second half began. Higuain is expected to start versus Iran; check the lineup, and if he does, the relative value in his salary on DraftStreet and StatClash will be difficult not to include.
VALUE PLAYS
Edin Dzeko (BIH) – Dzeko had a quiet 90 versus Argentina in Bosnia’s first game; it’s doubtful NIgeria marks him off the scoresheet Saturday.
Kevin Prince-Boateng (GHA) – A perfect storm of intangibles for Boateng in this one; a possible start when he didn’t against the USA. Playing against his half-brother Jerome. He could have been playing for Germany. A depressed price tag on both sites. It’s not a certainity he will start, and a Ghanian starting 11 prior to roster freeze is unlikely. But if you’re feeling lucky…
*Mario Gotze (GER) – Another option in that tier below Messi/Muller/Aguero, Gotze gives you the option alongside perhaps Dzeko and another mid-range striker for balance instead of going real bargain shopping. He’ll have his chances in an open game against Ghana.