A dramatic Matchday 5 saw stories aplenty in the World Cup quarter-finals. Dramatic exits for the likes of Brazil at the hands of Croatia and Portugal against Morocco, both via penalty shootouts meant that World Cup fantasy assets such as Neymar, Bruno Fernandes and Alisson have all been rendered obsolete going forwards. Argentina though, won their penalty shootout to make the semi-finals after seeing a two-goal lead cancelled out in dramatic fashion by Netherlands in a bad-tempered affair. Morocco became the first African nation to reach the semi-finals, whilst France narrowly overcame England 2-1 in the battle of the European heavyweights.
With only four countries remaining heading into Matchday 6, we’ve opted for a change in format when it comes to this World Cup fantasy captain picks article. This time, rather than naming three premium options and a differential selection, we’ve highlighted in our opinion the most enticing captain pick from each team, giving our reasons why below.
ARGENTINA
Lionel Messi ($10.5m) vs Croatia (December 13th)
What an unbelievable World Cup this man is having. We’re sounding like a broken record, but Lionel Messi ($10.5m) really is just that when it comes to carrying Argentina in this competition from an attacking perspective. Messi added a goal and an assist to his collection in his side’s quarter-final tie with Netherlands on Matchday 5, meaning that he has now gained an attacking return in six of Argentina’s eight goals scored across the tournament so far.
Argentina meet 2018 World Cup finalists Croatia in the semi-finals and Messi comes into the game owned by over three quarters of the World Cup fantasy player-base. It’s hardly a surprise when considering that the 35-year-old has recorded either a goal or an assist in all but one of his country’s five matches played to reach this stage. He also stands a real chance of winning the golden boot with only one player having scored more goals than him over the course of the World Cup ahead of Matchday 6. Not captaining him, is nigh on unthinkable
CROATIA
Ivan Perisic ($7.5m) vs Argentina (December 13th)
Although goals have been hard to come by for Croatia across the tournament so far, Ivan Perisic ($7.5m) has remained arguably their biggest offensive threat throughout. Usually fielded on the left-side of a front three, Perisic has been afforded license to drive at opposition defenders, shooting whenever there is an opportunity and his aerial threat in the box has also proven to be a huge weapon in his goal-scoring armoury, as shown against Japan in the round of 16.
Whilst Croatia have scored just once in their last three World Cup games, Perisic was the goal-scorer and he also has two assists to his name, both against Canada. Zlatko Dalic’s men take on an Argentina side who are yet to keep a clean sheet across the knockout stage, conceding three goals just far and Perisic could well be afforded opportunities to add to his tally. That makes him at least worthy of consideration for the Matchday 6 armband, however Messi will understandably get the nod for many.
FRANCE
Kylian Mbappe ($11.5m) vs Morocco (December 14th)
Believe it or not, it was a fairly quiet affair for Kylian Mbappe ($11.5m) in Matchday 5, with the French superstar failing to accrue an attacking return for the first time when starting for Les Bleus in the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Instead, it was Antoine Griezmann who did the damage against England, setting up both of France’s goals as they edged past Gareth Southgate’s side. Griezmann himself represents an extremely viable captaincy option against Morocco in the semi-finals.
Having said that, Mbappe still gets our backing as Matchday 6 captain, although he has a huge test ahead of him against a Moroccan defence who have conceded just one goal across entire World Cup so far, already shutting out the likes of Belgium, Spain and Portugal. Mbappe though, has five goals and two assists to his name and remains in pole position to win the golden boot (however, that may not be the case come kickoff in Al Khor). When also factoring in his over 70% ownership, it makes naming him skipper a huge gamble for World Cup fantasy managers.
MOROCCO
Achraf Hakimi ($5.0m) vs France (December 14th)
When it comes to World Cup fantasy, Achraf Hakimi ($5.0m) has been ‘Mr Consistent’ in regards to his returns. Of Morocco’s five matches played thus far, four of them have seen the PSG star register 6 fantasy points, all of them due to clean sheets. The Atlas Lions have established themselves as one of the best defensive teams in the tournament and breaking them down will prove huge challenge for France in the semi-finals.
Clean sheet bonuses aren’t Hakimi’s only potential source of fantasy points though! His attacking capabilities from right-back are notorious and in the one game in which Morocco did not shut out their opponents, Hakimi acquired an assist against Canada. Those multiple avenues towards Hakimi potentially gaining another healthy fantasy score on Matchday 6 is why he appears the most attractive captain pick among the Moroccan side.
