This article is part of our FanDuel Fantasy Soccer series.
MATCHES (EDT)
10:00 a.m: France v. Argentina
2:00 p.m: Uruguay v. Portugal
FORWARDS
Cristiano Ronaldo, POR v. URU ($13,500): Ronaldo has started to separate himself from Lionel Messi in the battle between two of the greatest of all time. It has been Ronaldo's year, and I believe he has a good chance of putting an average Portugal side on his back and leading them to victory Saturday. Argentina has lacked fluidity and chemistry in its offensive buildup, and because you can only realistically fit one of them due to their salaries, Ronaldo gets the call because he has a better chance to score. Ronaldo is not a must-play due to Uruguay's strong defensive unit, but he will certainly be a chalk pick.
Luis Suarez, URU v. POR ($12,000): Suarez is a bit pricey for this one, but he always has a great chance of scoring more than one goal. He registered 11 shots, including four on goal, in the group stage, with two goals in his last two games. Edinson Cavani ($11,000) and Antoine Griezmann ($11,000) are also worth consideration, and I believe most fantasy owners will stick within the elite group. The key to success is getting goals at the forward position, and I believe that the value lies primarily in the three I have listed. It is hard seeing Cavani outscoring Suarez, as there are plenty of games when Suarez scores and his partner doesn't, like what we saw against Saudi Arabia.
Kylian Mbappe, FRA v. ARG ($9,500): I would also take the discount with Mbappe over Griezmann. He was heavily involved in the attack in his two starts during the group stage, and he scored a goal in his World Cup debut. All three of his shots in the tournament have been on goal, and he will certainly be the main threat for Les Bleus on Saturday, as Griezmann has struggled to have his usual influence on the game during this tournament.
MIDFIELDERS
Paul Pogba, FRA v. ARG ($9,000): Pogba will be key to France's success Saturday, and while he does not have a goal or assist in the tournament, Pogba has helped create two of France's three goals. His influence in the attack through the middle of the field will be vital against Argentina, and he is the primary reason why I believe Les Bleus will advance to the next stage.
Ever Banega, ARG v. FRA ($8,000): Banega is another box-to-box midfielder who is very important to his team's success. He takes some of Argentina's set pieces, and he provides enough defensive stats to get him into double digits on most occasions. He provided an assist last game, and he has two shots, with one on goal, in the tournament.
N'Golo Kante, FRA v. ARG ($7,000): I believe that Kante is France's single most important player on the field at all times. He breaks up most plays in the midfield, and he distributes the ball with patience and security, which makes France a more organized side than in previous years. He occasionally gets involved in the attack, and he found himself far up the field several times last game. It will be difficult to find value at the midfield position Saturday, so I would elect to get cheap players who produce stats in several categories.
DEFENDERS
Djibril Sidibe, FRA v. ARG ($4,500): It is uncertain whether Sidibe will start, as he is just returning to fitness following an injury, but he looked good in his start in the third round. Benjamin Pavard has struggled in the France lineup, and though he has provided solid fantasy stats, his performance in the run of play has been mediocre. He has made too many poor touches and bad passes to hold Sidibe out of the lineup for good. Sidibe must be seen as the long-term starter, but it is unclear if he can recover in time to play after going the full 90 on Tuesday.
Raphael Guerreiro, POR v. URU ($4,500): Guerreiro is a bit of an ace in the hole at this price. Although he has struggled to put up big numbers this tournament, he is very cheap, and his teammate, Cedric Soares, is $1,000 more. Not much separates these two players in quality, and I tend to select cheap fullbacks to fill my defender position, so I'll go with Guerreiro.
Martin Caceres, URU v. POR ($4,500): Here's another fullback starter for cheap. He has produced two double-digit performances this tournament, and though he is not certain to far surpass his value, he has a chance of doing do. Even if he starts at a centerback he could be considered while trying to slow down Ronaldo.
GOALKEEPER
Hugo Lloris, FRA v. ARG ($5,500): Not much separates Lloris from the best goalkeepers in the world. France is the top favorite on the slate, and rightfully so, as France's backline is world class along with the center of midfield, and Argentina has struggled to produce a fluid attack this tournament. Lloris should make a few saves from shots that don't pose much of a threat, as Argentina should struggle greatly with France's defensive pressure.
