Fantasy Focus: Gakpo goes off

the emerged following the rearguard stars starred yesterday midway point of Phase 2 in the FIFA World Cup Fantasy, powered by Aramco fixture saw the going frontman stars effort back. Both Japan frontman Ayase Ueda ($7m) and Netherlands counterpart Cody Gakpo ($7.7m) plundered a brace, as well as an setup, with Gakpo just pipping things to top the day with 19 points, after pocketing two bonus points for having four attempts on target.

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Netherlands 5-1 Sweden

Meanwhile, what a roller-coaster competition this has been for Sweden. Opening-up 5-1 winners against Tunisia, they then lost by the same find the net-line to a rampant Netherlands side in Houston. Dutch frontmen Brian Brobbey ($5.7m) and Cody Gakpo ($7.7m) had a field-day both in Fantasy, as well as real-life terms, with the latter turning in one of the highest-finding the net outings in the competition so far.

Star Stars

FWD Cody Gakpo (Netherlands) | $7.7m | 19 points FWD Brian Brobbey (Netherlands) | $5.7m | 15 points MID Crysencio Summerville (Netherlands) | $5.3m | 12 points

Low Returns

Furthermore, dEF Gabriel Gudmundsson (Sweden) | $4.2m | -3 points DEF Victor Lindelof (Sweden) | $4m | -2 points MID Yasin Ayari (Sweden) | $5.3m | 1 point

Germany 2-1 Côte d'Ivoire

It took Germany until the fourth minute of subsequent-period stoppage-time to see off an impressive Côte d'Ivoire in Toronto. The come-from-behind victory was orchestrated by Deniz Undav ($6.6m), who only came on in the 60th minute but managed to grab both of Germany's strikes, as well as a fixture-high 14-point Fantasy comeback.

Star Stars

FWD Deniz Undav (Germany) | $6.6m | 14 points MID Franck Kessie (Côte d'Ivoire) | $5.9m | 10 points MID Felix Nmecha (Germany) | $5.6m | 10 points

Low Returns

MID Florian Wirtz (Germany) | $7.5m | 2 points DEF Joshua Kimmich (Germany) | $5.5m | 2 points DEF Nico Schlotterbeck (Germany) | $5.3m | 1 point

Ecuador 0-0 Curaçao

Building on that, this emerged following Cabo Verde held Spain last week result was right up there as one of the more sensational results in recent World Cup history books. Coming off a 7-1 humbling against Germany in their competition debut, Curaçao responded in outstanding fashion. The scoreless draw saw plenty of strong rearguard returns from those who took a punt on this clash, held the advantage by Curaçao custodian Eloy Room ($3.9m) and well-backed Ecuadorian rearguard pair Piero Hincapie ($4.7m) and Willian Pacho ($4.4m).

Star Stars

GK Eloy Room (Curaçao) | $3.9m | 14 points DEF Piero Hincapie (Ecuador) | $4.7m | 9 points DEF Willian Pacho (Ecuador) | $4.4m | 9 points

Low Returns

FWD Enner Valencia (Ecuador) | $5.9m | 4 points MID Moises Caicedo (Ecuador) | $6.8m | 3 points FWD Jeremy Antonisse (Curaçao) | $4m | 1 point

Tunisia 0-4 Japan

Having dropped points to the Dutch in their opener, Japan bounced back in some style in what was the 1000th contest at the FIFA World Cup. The subsequent star to get two strikes, as well as an setup was Japan frontman Ayase Ueda ($7m), who pocketed an 18-point comeback as a result.

Star Stars

FWD Ayase Ueda (Japan) | $7m | 18 points DEF Ko Itakura (Japan) | $4.5m | 12 points MID Junya Ito (Japan) | $5m | 11 points

Low Returns

GK Abdelmouhib Chamakh (Tunisia) | $4.1m | -2 points DEF Ali Abdi (Tunisia) | $4.1m | -1 point MID Daizen Maeda (Japan) | $5m | 2 points

Up next

21 June

Spain v Saudi Arabia Belgium v IR Iran Uruguay v Cabo Verde New Zealand v Egypt

Furthermore, stick or twist: Matchday 11

The subsequent batch of opening phase fixtures are well underway, but Fantasy managers still have the option of switching up their captains, as well as making the most of the substitutes in their squads.

Plenty will have Spanish stars available for such moves, although with ongoing fitness questions over starlet Lamine Yamal ($10m) and Belgian midfield man Jeremy Doku ($7.5m) already ruled out, maybe Spain frontman Mikel Oyarzabal ($8.1m) could be the smart play.