World Cup Fantasy: Confidence in Brazil and support for Bologna, Mbappe and Olisse - Matchday 2 prelude

The opening round of the World Cup tournament has given fantasy managers plenty of ideas. Some top teams performed as expected, some disappointed, and some shortstops actually became World Cup fantasy favorites by Match Day 2. Now is the perfect time to review the various occasions and find out where the best value and progress is available, with the 2nd round of group games starting at 5pm UK time (12pm ET) on Thursday.

Team USA made a big speech in the first game. They showed unparalleled performance in the subsequent process in a 4-1 win against Paraguay. They face a tough match against Australia in the 2nd match. Although the Socceroos won their opener, the Americans will be hoping to create more chances in the match again.

For fantasy managers, some USMNT players simply cannot be ignored. Midfielder Christian Pulisic ($7.0m) is the main option, limited by the team, who takes the Chad points. He had an assist against Paraguay but was taken off at half-time with a minor foot injury, so keep an eye out for fitness updates.

Palogun ($6.0m) is the best value. That lead was solid in the 1st match, with a stunning double goal that netted 15 points. Also, the three target objectives got a point and two points.

A must-see is Sergino Test ($4.3m). He was listed as a defender in the game, but against Paraguay he operated as a winger and attacked up the flank. That situation is also very valuable in fantasy, offering clean roster opportunity and offensive returns. Both Test and Balogan were less than 5% at the time of writing, so they deserve two points.

Brazil did not perform as well as expected in a 1-1 draw with Morocco, but the situation must be understood. Credit is often given to Morocco, who were one of the better teams in the 1st tournament. They were organized in defence, lively in midfield and careful in attack, making life very difficult for them. In contrast to Brazil's lackluster performance, they are set to meet Heidi in the 2nd match, one of the most important matches of the group stage. The gap in quality between these two teams is huge and Brazil are expected to produce more goals against the Caribbean nation. In fantasy terms, Carlo Ancelotti's attacking players are not the right week to be excluded as they get one less function as a role. According to market estimates, Brazil are expected to score more goals in the 2nd match.

Vinicius Jr ($10.0m) is your best bet. Brazil's goal scored a beautiful moment for Real Madrid leading against Morocco, who will head into the 2nd round. He will start if healthy and play more time in Philadelphia on Friday (Saturday morning for UK readers). Robinia ($8.2m) is another top choice. He and Vinicius June played the full 90 minutes against Morocco, which shows how much Ancelotti respects them. Rapinya mostly takes Chad points and is also awesome. There may be a temptation to look elsewhere, but keeping a Brazilian attacker or more is still a good idea, depending on the next match and the overall quality of the team.

Ecuador failed to score in the series against Ivory Coast, 1-0. They created chances throughout the match and came up short. The good news for fantasy managers is that they now face Curacao in what looks set to be one of the best matchups of the 2nd round. Ecuador is primed for a win in Kansas City, expected to score multiple goals and have a clean sheet. Market estimates suggest that they score three or more goals and have the lead (68%) to get a clean sheet in the 2nd match.

Enner Valencia ($5.9m) is their first passing No. 9 and Chad takes over. The 36-year-old veteran forward failed to score against Ivory Coast, who was Ecuador's biggest threat on the ball. Because of that match, Valencia is one of the best front picks for match 2. He was below 1% at the time of writing and exceeding the test point threshold for 5% is highly unlikely.

Piero Hincapie ($4.7m) and Joel Ortonez ($3.9m) provide the best defensive targets. Both offer strong clean roster prospects, are solid starters at available positions, and are great value. Like Valencia, both are below 5% own, so they qualify for the test point and make real progress. However, with caution, watching the Ecuadorians is only recommended if you're planning to bid for the 3rd match, as they play Germany in their final group match.

France opened their World Cup campaign with a 3-1 win over Senegal. That result puts them in good stead for another huge tournament debutant in the 2nd tournament. France, the front-runners to win the trophy, now have the best chance to take control of the group stage. Kylian Mbappe ($10.5m) scored a stunning double in that win, which is not something many people see coming. The Real Madrid forward is at the heart of almost every French attack, with Chad taking the point and starting if injury barred. Next up is Iraq, who is almost an essential pick. Michel Olisse ($9.5m) is another player managers should buy this week. The Bayern Munich winger was brilliant in the second half on Tuesday and helped Mbappe score the first goal. He continues to deliver a great mix.

England, however, produced an excellent attacking performance in the 1st match, beating Croatia 4–2 in what was considered their toughest match in the group stage. Allowing two goals raises some safety concerns, but fantasy managers will focus on another result. England now face Ghana and Panama in their final two group matches to get past their fiercest foes. Both matches will be very soft in outlook and will provide opportunities for more attacking returns. Harry Kane ($10.5m) was the only one to deliver the best level of activity. The England captain was in fierce form from the start, scoring two goals. More importantly, the underlying numbers are very encouraging. Kane has a total of seven goals and three goals, which shows how he is involved in England's attacking play. Pounder is the third, central to his attack, and whenever England score, Kane is more likely to be involved. With the next two very welcome games, he becomes a great leader in the group stage.

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