In this article, we will look at the best defenders to pick for your Fantasy World Cup team in the Final – Matchday 7.
We look at each price bracket: budget defenders, midpriced picks, and premium options for MD7.
Clean sheets are really unpredictable at this World Cup, you should try to diversify your defense across multiple teams.
This World Cup is unpredictable, so be careful when tripling up on some defenses. Try to diversify your defence across all 4 remaining teams.
Budget defenders for Matchday 7 (Final)
Borna Sosa (3.5m, Croatia)
- we thought he was a rotation risk before the tournament started, but he was not. Started 5/6 for Croatia (and missed one game due to illness)
- 5 assists for Stuttgart this season, 1G + 8A previous seasaon
- Croatia with very good defensive display at this tournament
- Croatia very solid defensively in previous competitions as well (Nation League, World Cup Qualifiers)
- excellent enabler, you can use funds to upgrade players in midfield or attack
- 26 % probability of keeping a clean sheet against Morocco, but we saw how unpredictable clean sheets are the World Cup 2022
Yahya Attiat-Allah (3.5m, Morocco)
- Mazraoui had some injury issues, so if he is not fit again, Attiat-Allah should start
- registered an assist in his only start on Matchday 5 against Portugal
- Morocco with excellent defense at this World Cup (most clean sheets of all teams)
Jawad El Yamiq (3.5, Morocco)
- 3 key defenders in the Morocco backline are currently injured.
- So if Aguerd is out again, Yamiq should replace him in starting lineup
Acuna (4.5m, Argentina)
- back from suspension, and should be back in starting lineup again
- 31 % clean sheet odds
- Can be potentially subbed out early again, and bank a clean sheet early
Mid-priced defenders for Matchday 7 (Final)
Otamendi (5.0m, Argentina)
- attacking threat, can score from headers after corners, set pieces
- Nailed in Argentina defense, started 6/6
- 31 % probability of keeping a clean sheet
Hakimi (5.0m, Morocco)
- on set pieces
- attacking threat
- Morocco with solid defence
- we just cannot predict where clean sheets happen
- 3rd place game against Croatia could be high-scoring and he could potentially register an attacking return
Theo Hernandez (5.0m, France)
- superb attacking performance for France so far
- 2 assists and 1 goal so far
- plays very advance
Premium defenders for Matchday 7 (Final)
Molina (5.5m, Argentina)
- if you are willing to pay a bit extra for an Argentinian defender
- with one goal and one assist so far at World Cup
- 7G + 2A last season for Udinese, however this season 0 attacking returns for Atletico Madrid
How to pick the best defenders in Fantasy World Cup
Also, let’s dive into come criteria when picking the best defenders for your World Cup fantasy squad. When selecting a defender into your team you should consider:
- Whether a defender that you pick has a good chance of a clean sheet. Our World Cup Clean Sheet Odds will help you with that. This is the most important criterium you should consider, as clean sheets are the most important source of fantasy points for defenders. And in Fantasy World Cup, defenders are awarded 5 points for clean sheets (not 4 as we are used to) which magnifies the importance of this.
- Whether a defender has attacking potential: Can he score goals after free kicks and corners? Does he play in an advanced position so he could register a few assists? Is he playing OOP – Out of position? For example, some players might be classified as defenders in the World Cup Fantasy game, but in reality, they might play in the midfield
- Defenders are awarded 7 points for a goQW (not 6 as we are used to from other fantasy games) but only 3 points for an assist, so prioritize defenders who have a high chance of scoring a goal (DEF on set pieces, penalties, centre back that can score after corners).
- Also in Fantasy World Cup, defenders are awarded -1 point for each additional goal conceded (apart from the first one), so try to pick defenders from nations that have a rock-solid defense – that even if they concede they concede one goal max so your team is not awarded minus fantasy points. It is a different rule from FPL or UCL Fantasy where we are used to minus point being awarded after every 2 goals conceded. And without balls recovered, we might see a lot of zero-pointers in the defense, so pay special attention to this
- If you are unsure how are defenders scoring points in World Cup 2022 Fantasy, visit our article: How are points awarded in World Cup Fantasy?
- Have 5 playing defenders in your team. Due to the substitutions, the formation of your team does not matter, so if some of your defenders fail to deliver, you can replace him with another player who is yet to play (respecting formation constraints).
Further resources
Looking for players to pick for your World Cup Fantasy team from different positions? Check our following articles:
- Best goalkeepers to pick in World Cup Fantasy
- Best midfielders to pick in World Cup Fantasy
- Best forwards to pick in World Cup Fantasy
Who might start and who might be benched?
- Check our World Cup Predicted Lineups
Defenders to pick in Fantasy World Cup Group Stage
We have many budget defenders in the game. However, only a few of them offer points potential that is higher than just appearance points.
Due to the different pricing, there are many 3 or 3.5m million defenders, but are they really worth it? You can get 5 points for a clean sheet and 7 for a goal if your defenders can achieve that. But those cheap enablers likely cannot, so it feels like wasting one of your precious defenders’ spot, if you decide to buy 3 or 3.5million defenders.
Khoukhi (3m, Qatar)
Well, if you really decide to go for a very very cheap defender in your team to enable upgrades elsewhere, Khouki is the one to look at. He has 7 appearances and 1 goal for Qatar this season and is predicted to start at the back.
For Qatar, it is all about the first two fixtures, so if they are going to keep a clean sheet, it is likely going to be in one of those two matches. According to bookies odds, Qatar is expected to keep 0.5 clean sheets in the first two matchdays. So, with Khoukhi, you have 50 % chance of one clean sheet in first two matches, which is not that bad, especially if you aim to use your wildcard in MD3.
The problem with 3.0 million defenders is, that if you decide to sell them, you cannot downgrade them, so you would likely have to use 2 transfers just to get rid of your poorly-performed defender.
Araujo (3.5m, Uruguay)
The bargain, but still in the race to be fit for Matchday 1. Araujo already trained with the Uruguay squad and progressed in his fitness, but Ortega said that he will not take any risk if there are concerns about his fitness (source). But if we get some news that he might be starting, he would be the best budget enabler for our Fantasy World Cup teams. Uruguay has a solid defense and is predicted to keep 1.08 clean sheets in the group stage. Unless we get some news, Araujo is probably not a good pick for Matchday 1 as we are unsure about his fitness.
But if we see him starting in MD1 or MD2, he is definitely one to consider for MD3 (because of good fixture), especially for those on Wildcard.
Other defenders pick at 3.5m:
- Bronn (Tunisia) – solid defensive display in MD for Tunisia, but do not expect much from their defenders
Aguerd (4.0m, Morocco)
- perfect enabler
- Morocco with only one goal conceded at this World Cup
- unfortunately, he is injury doubt for QF
Robinson (4.0m, USA)
- a cheap route into USA defense in the good fixture against Iran (although Iran showed their attacking strength against England and Wales as well)
- 39 % probability of a clean sheet according to bookies odds
- but only if you really need a 4.0m defender in your Matchday 3 team, otherwise try to upgrade to a defender from our 4.5m picks
Sabaly (4.0m, Senegal)
- solid budget enabler
- Senegal top for clean sheet probabilities in Matchday 2
- Diallo also option at this price bracket if he will be fit to start
Matty Cash (4.0m, Poland)
- We know from FPL how attacking Matty Cash is (4 goals and 3 assists in the last Premier League season).
- He could be a good option, Poland yet to concede at this tournament, but tough fixture in MD3
- His teammate Glik is an option as well
Nikola Milenkovič (4.0m, Serbia)
- could be a great enabler if you want to go big in attack on your Wildcard
- Serbia’s fixture improve after MD1
Defenders pick at 4m:
- Kristensen (Denmark) – attacking full back, had 7 goals and 3 assists for Salzburg last season
Joakim Maehle (4.5m, Denmark)
- If you played EURO 2020 Fantasy, we do not need to introduce you attacking Denmark fullback Joakim Maehle
- He was superb at the EUROs and in the World Cup 2022 Qualifications as well, where he end up as Denmark top scorer with 5 goals (alongside Skov Olsen)
- Denmark needs a win against Australia
- 48 % probability of keeping a clean sheet in Matchday 3
David Raum (4.5m, Germany)
- attacking fullback, 3 goals and 11 assists for Hoffenheim last season (but only 1 assist for Leipzig this season)
- Germany needs a big win in Matchday 3
- Germany 2nd for clean sheet probability in Matchday 3 (59 %)
- Costa Rica with zero shots against Spain, but bit improved performance against poor Japan (but still only 4 shots and 1 shot on target)
Alex Telles (4.5m, Brazil)
- with Danilo out, he should potentially start as a right-back for Brazil
- Brazil with 57 % probability of keeping a clean sheet against Cameroon
- you will need Brazil’s defensive coverage in Matchday 3
- you could save one free transfer for the end of Matchday 3 and if he doesn’t not start, you will replace him with another Brazil DEF
Other picks at 4.5m:
- Estupinan (Ecuador) – 3 goals and 1 assist for Ecuador in 2022
- Neco Williams (Wales) – attacking threat, 1G + 1A in World Cup qualification, but Wales do not score many goals
- Yoshida (Japan) – attacking threat after set pieces, should be safe pick from Japanese defenders
Trippier (5.0m, England)
- on set pieces
- amazing form in Premier League
- England has solid defense, very high chance of clean sheet in almost every match
- rested in the last match of Group Stage, should return to the starting lineup
- 54 % probability of keeping a clean sheet against Senegal
Alex Sandro (5.0m, Brazil)
- Brazil have solid defence and can keep clean sheet against anyone
- Already 2 celan sheets in 2 matches
Alphonso Davies (5.0m, Canada)
- Bayern Munich star playing OOP (out of position, on the wing) for Canada
- he is on penalties as well
- 5 goals and 5 assists for Canada in World Cup qualification
- the best fixture for Canada in a tough Group F
- but still only 26 % probability of a clean sheet against Morocco, so it is more about attacking return than a clean sheet
Shaw (5.0m, England)
- with Trippier/Walker rotation, it is probably the safest way to go for Shaw
- England has a solid defense, but a tough match
- England with the most clean sheets at World Cup 2022
- 25 % probability of keeping a clean sheet against France
Blind (5.0m, Netherlands)
- an alternative to Dumfries, if you need to downgrade him and use funds elsewhere
- attacking threat
- excellent performance and big haul in Matchday 4, 1G + 1A against USA
- but only 27 % probability of keeping a clean sheet
Militao (5.0m, Brazil)
- an alternative to Silva or Danilo, if you need extra 0.5m or 1m to use elsewhere
- Militao will likely start again, as it looks that Alex Sandro is still out
Raphael Guerreiro (5.0m, Portugal)
- Nuno Mendez will likely miss the rest of the World Cup, so Guerreiro should start for Portugal
- He did very well for Dortmund in the Champions League, 2 goals
- OK form in Bundesliga as well: 1G + 2A
- Guerreiro is a solid alternative to much expensive Cancelo, you can use spared 1m elswhere
- But do not expect many clean sheets from Portugal
- so far 1G + 2A at World Cup
- owned by 4% of managers so far
- Portugal with the second best fixture in Quarterfinals after Brazil
Other picks at 5.0m:
- Shaw (England) – if you decide to double op on England defence
- Pavard (France) – cheap route into France defense with very high chance of a clean sheet in every match – France are top for expected clean sheets in the group stage
Danilo (5.5m, Brazil)
- If you consider doubling up on Brazil defense, Alisson + Danilo could be the way to go
- he is back from injury
- Danilo with 2 assists for Juventus this season
- Brazil top for clean sheets odds in Matchday 5
Other good defenders at 5.5m:
- Romero (Argentina) – should be nailed as well in the Argentina backline
- Mendes (Portugal) – an alternative to Cancelo, 1G + 4A for PSG this season
- Blind (Netherlands) – if he starts for Netherland
Other interesting premium picks:
- Van Dijk (Netherlands) – could score after corners, solid clean sheet probabilities
- Carvajal (Spain) – very good pick solely for MD1 or MD3, attacking, high chance of clean sheet, great pick for those who want to play wildcard in MD2
Cancelo (6.0m, Portugal)
- Before the group stage, he looked like a no-brainer for our squads
- However, does not look at his best form at World Cup
- Portugal defence also looks a bit shaky, so do not expect many clean sheets
- But still top selected defenders in the game
Jordi Alba (6.0m, Portugal)
- It has been some time since we considered Alba in our fantasy teams in other fantasy competitions (UCL Fantasy)
- But he performs very well at this World Cup, with 3 assists so far
- A solid fixture against Morocco for a clean sheet
Dumfries (6.0m, Netherlands)
- Finally delivered in Matchday 4, brilliant attacking performance with 1G + 2A
- Almost must have based on the very narrow range of remaining defenders
- Has 2 goals and an assist in Nations League this season
- Dumfries was an excellent fantasy asset to own during EURO Fantasy as well
- Netherlands with 27% probability of a clean sheet against Argentina
