Supercoach World Cup Final Word | Round 6 trades, skippers and strategy

Shocking week. Anti-podding England was not the play.

I missed out on Jude’s 29 and Kane’s 16, backing Vini (7, didn’t take either penalty) and Bruno G (0, missed a penalty) instead, and both are now out of the tournament.

That call gutted my rank, sliding from 239 to 781.

I’m now sitting on six eliminated players plus an injured Saibari, so this week is about putting the team back together.

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Fixtures

The country cap loosens again. You can load up to four players per team now, and that stays the rule for the rest of the tournament.

Worth a warning on that one. I went triple Brazil last round, and it wrecked my week when they all dropped together.

It could have been far worse if Argentina had gone out too.

Decide now whether you’re playing it safe or loading the boat on one team.

Four games this round, let’s get into them.

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France vs Morocco

Goals: France 1.92, Morocco 0.89.

Clean sheet odds: France 42%, Morocco 13%.

The numbers say France is the best clean sheet bet in the competition, but I’m not sure I want to double up here. Morocco can give them a real game.

If you own Hakimi or Diaz, hold and play them on the bench this week. Saibari has to go regardless of the injury, and I’d cut Bounou too if you’ve got the luxury.

One defender or keeper plus Olise and Mbappe is the right allocation for me. Upamecano is picking up the highest base stats of the French defenders, and the fullbacks haven’t shown much assist threat.

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Spain vs Belgium

Goals: Spain 2.02, Belgium 1.00.

Clean sheet odds: Spain 38%, Belgium 12%.

Anyone who started the tournament with Simon is drowning in points, with five clean sheets from five. The data says Belgium will test him more than most.

Porro has the third-highest xG per 90 in the Spanish squad (0.25) and the highest chances created per 90. He’s a lock for me if he starts, and I don’t mind doubling up with another Spain defender alongside him. Check teamsheets before you lock it in though.

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Yamal’s attacking data isn’t close to Oyarzabal’s, but I still can’t pick him either.

If you need a mid, I’m now leaning toward Olmo over Baena. Baena’s more likely to get subbed off early for Torres, and I’d rather have the player who plays the full 90.

Does Belgium look better without KDB and Doku? Gutted I missed the teamsheets and got stuck with KDB last week. If you can trade him, do it. I’ll be looping him from the bench.

Trossard has three straight attacking returns, but I still wouldn’t back him as a forward.

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Norway vs England

Goals: Norway 1.25, England 1.94.

Clean sheet odds: Norway 14%, England 30%.

Haaland vs Kane, most teams will only have room for one. The markets say Kane, but Haaland just looks so good. Both defences have been leaky, hence the high predicted goals. I’m leaning Kane, I expect England to win this.

Bellingham, I got this wrong last week. He’s an incredible player on a good team and a must-pick even with the tougher fixture. Bad call on my part to trade him out.

I don’t mind Odegaard here either. He and Haaland are on the same wavelength, and I can see him scoring well in this fixture. Just an option, though, one you might need to trade straight back out.

I wouldn’t grab a defender out of this game. There’ll be goals (watch it finish 0-0 now).

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Argentina vs Switzerland

Goals: Argentina 1.73, Switzerland 0.85.

Clean sheet odds: Argentina 44%, Switzerland 16%.

Should Argentina even still be in this tournament?

Messi isn’t going anywhere.

They keep conceding, which makes their defenders tough to trust, but one or two always seem to pop up for an attacking return. Romero has the goal threat, Martinez the assist threat.

De Paul is my favourite of the Argentina mids for his assist potential, but he’s less likely to play the full game. Enzo is my preferred option because of that. None of them are putting up strong base stats, though.

The markets don’t rate Switzerland’s attack here, which feels harsh watching this Argentina defence. Keep an eye on Manzambi’s injury news; he’s my preferred pick over Vargas.

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Trade Plans

Trading out anyone who’s eliminated is the easy part this week, straight into the outs pile without a second thought.

The harder calls are the ins. I’m correcting last week’s mistake and bringing in Kane and Bellingham, backing both to deliver against Norway.

Porro is a lock for me if he starts, third highest xG per 90 in the Spain squad and creating more chances than anyone else there.

For the last two spots, I’m now leaning toward Olmo over Baena, since Baena’s more likely to get subbed early for Torres.

Same logic in Argentina: De Paul’s my favourite on ability, but Enzo’s the safer pick given he’s more likely to see out the full game.

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My planned moves

• Gabriel > Porro
• Bruno G > Enzo
• Saibari > Bellingham
• Pulisic > Olmo
• Vini > Kane

Loophole Strategy

What I learned last round: loops were good to me, banked Maignan’s score off the bench, and dodged both Gabriel and Saibari going backwards.

Well, until Saibari came on anyway because KDB didn’t play a minute.

My plan this round: squads are stretched thin, so loops matter more than usual. I like Morocco and Belgium players sitting on my bench this week.

Clean sheets look tough to come by across the board, but midfielders are underperforming too, so a 3-4-3 feels like the play again.

Worth weighing up both before you lock in.

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Captains

Feels boring going Mbappe into Messi again, but they’re still the standout plays this week.

Ownership of Kane and Haaland will likely be lower, though, so there’s more upside on the table if you pick the right one and put the VC on them.

VC: Mbappe

C: Messi

Other options:

Kane, Haaland