World Fantasy: Group F analysis
All there is to know about Group F of the World Cup and how the reigning champions will fare.
The reigning world champions, Germany, were the Pot 1 to be drawn for Group F. Pot 2 is represented by the strongest CONCACAF team, Mexico, while Pot 3 and 4 resulted in Sweden and South Korea, respectively.
The first round opposes the higher ranked teams in the group, Germany and Mexico. In Gameweek 2, there is a Germany-Sweden. With these tricky games right from the start, you may get upset if you bet on three German players. In a group where balanced games and few goals are expected, it is risky to overload on the German side bet or players of the other teams.
The biggest favourite to take 1st place is, of course, Germany: title holders and current leaders of the FIFA ranking, with more or less struggle they should achieve that goal. Theoretically, Mexico, occupying place #15 in the FIFA ranking, and Sweden, 23rd, are the strongest bets to join the Mannschaft in the knockout rounds. South Korea, despite being only 61st for FIFA, still is a quality side and can certainly upset Sweden early to become the surprise of the group when facing Mexico.
Germany
In the European Qualifiers, Germany was placed in a rather accessible group, eventually winning all their 10 games with an average of 4.3 goals per game and only 4 goals conceded in total. In 2017, they won the Confederations Cup, with a team made out of second lines and rising prospects, another sign of the work put into improving German football since 2006. However, their recent friendly form has very poor not winning a single match until receiving Saudi Arabia at home, before departing to Russia.
The individual talent is so vast that a player like Leroy Sane was left out by choice. Kimmich (7.0M) had 2 goals and 9 assists in the qualifying stage and Jonas Hector (6.5M) had 2 goals and 4 assists, a strong showing from the fullback duo of Germany. In the middle of the park, Toni Kroos (6.0M) is the users’ favorite, a nice budget pick, but Özil (10.0M) and Draxler (7.5M) are the ones expected to carry the burden of offensive returns. Upfront, Muller (9.0M) who, despite being able to wing it on the right flank, is aiming to become the all-time scorer in World Cup history and Timo Werner (7.5), who had 21 goals and 10 assists for Leipzig this season.
Germany has all-around quality and a very strong collective game, making them not only favourites to win Group F but also to raise the Cup in Moscow in July.
Mexico
Juan Carlos Osorio’s Mexico had an uneventful qualifying stage, losing only the last game, when they had already guaranteed the ticket to Russia, with 21 points out of 30. Since then, they participated in the Confederations Cup, in 2017, finishing 4th, after losing to Group F opponent Germany in the semi-finals by 4–1. Their most recent preparation games for WC2018 account for a goalless draw against Wales and a 1–0 win over Scotland.
Forward Hirving Lozano (5.5M) seems to be the Aztec’s great hope for the World Cup. He was their top-scorer in the qualifiers, with 4 goals, and had 19 goals and 11 assists this season for PSV. Porto’s Héctor Herrera (6.5M) is one of Osorio’s undisputed and a safe bet for a midfielder with attacking returns. Still in the doubt, who will be the striker up front, with Javier Hernández (8.0M) and Raúl Jiménez (6.0M) the candidates.
Historically, the Mexicans have always managed to get out of the group stage, before falling in the round of 16. It’s a wall they intend to overcome in Russia.
Sweden
Sweden managed the historical feat of placing Italy off the World Cup, taking a nil-nil in Italy after a 1–0 win in Stockholm. The defensive wall they built in San Siro remains in our memories. In the group stage that led to that playoff, they were 2nd, behind France, getting ahead of the Netherlands, although with the same 19 points. In their most recent friendly, Sweden tied neighbour Denmark.
This Swedish side is no longer one that carries the star-power of the likes of Ibrahimovic or the 90’s generation. But there are some interesting players, like Forsberg (7.0M), providing play-making, passing quality and decent crossing and the team’s scorer, Marcus Berg (7.0M), who scored eight goals during the qualifiers. However, their best fantasy options are at the back, where solidity is the key to the general team effort: goalkeeper Robin Olsen (5.0M), back-line boss Granqvist (5.5M), who also takes penalty kicks, and fullback Augustinsson (4.5M).
Sweden’s main objective is getting out of the group stage and much of their future relies on the first match. Any result other than a victory over Korea, should condemn the Swedes to an early elimination.
South Korea
The South Koreans finished 2nd place in their qualifying group, behind Iran, getting only 15 points out of 30. Looking at their latest friendlies, the scenario is not encouraging, having lost every match against tougher competition.
We can say that this team is Heung-Min Son (7.5M) and the other 22. The striker comes off a very good season at Tottenham, where he had 18 goals and 11 assists. In the qualifying stage he was the top Korean scorer, with 7 goals. Su-Yeung Ki (5.5M) and Ja-Cheol Koo (6.0M) are the highest-valued midfielders for this South Korea’s team. There’s also a rising prospect in the offensive line: Hee-Chan Hwang (5.5M). Since they’re placed in a strong and balanced group, we suggest you stay away from any Korean defender.
Looking at their rivals in Group F, expectations are that the Koreans don’t get out of the group stage. This allows for South Korea to play without pressure, which may end up playing into their hands.
