The World Cup of 2022 has sprung to life with the RO16 providing us with plenty of goals and a plethora of talking points. In fact, the 28 goals scored are the most since the reintroduction of RO16 in the 1986 tournament in Mexico.
Let us have a look at the players who rose to the occasion and some who left much to be desired!
FORWARDS
The HITS
Would it be too boring to start off with a certain Lionel Messi? We think not, since he headlined the first day of the RO16 fixtures with a goal against Australia which saw him rack up 117.6 points.
Messi’s tally was topped only by Portugal’s Goncalo Ramos (11.3 Credit) among forwards, whose 3 goals and an assist meant he returned with a cool 214 points in his first start at the tournament.
Elsewhere, England’s troika of forwards — Harry Kane, Phil Foden, and Bukayo Saka — all scored north of 85 points, with each directly involved in at least 1 goal.
This section will not be complete without the mention of Brazil’s man up front — Richarlison. The Tottenham Hotspur forward got on the scoresheet for the 10th time in his last 9 Brazil appearances.
The MISSES
With goals in each of the 3 group stage games, Krida Fans users would have been forgiven to put their faith in The Netherlands’ striker Cody Gakpo. The PSV man could manage only 1 shot all game, albeit in a decent overall display.
Similar was the story with Morocco’s talisman Hakim Ziyech who came into the RO16 with goal involvement in each of the last 2 fixtures. He had a forgettable game — his 34.6 points bearing witness to the fact that there was little to write home about from his performance.
England’s Marcus Rashford, fresh from a brace vs Wales in the 3rd group stage game, was unexpectedly benched by Gareth Southgate, in what must have been a body blow for his 10% ownership among Krida Fans users.
MIDFIELDERS
The HITS
Krida Fans users would have been handsomely rewarded for sticking with the usual suspects when it came to midfielders.
Kylian Mbappe showed exactly why he’s been at the center stage of the football world in the last few years. He set up his strike partner Olivier Giroud for the opener before scoring twice to seal a comfortable France win — his efforts rewarding his owners with 187 points.
Neymar Jr marked his return from an ankle injury with a fine display in Brazil’s 4–1 win. His goal from the penalty spot saw him return with 132.4 points for his owners and a Man of the Match award for himself!
His exploits were complimented well by his teammate Vinicius Jr, who got on the scoresheet and even turned provider for Paqueta’s goal which saw him rack up 122.8 points.
Denzel Dumfries (8.3 Credit) went a step further in the goal involvements — his assist for Memphis Depay’s opener seeing him directly involved in all 3 of Oranje’s goals.
The MISSES
France’s creator-in-chief Antoine Griezmann (10.5 Credit) is having a fine World Cup but failed to be directly involved in any of Les Blues’ 3 goals — meaning he could only return with 51.2 points for his 30.45% ownership.
Griezmann’s teammate Adrien Rabiot (9 Credit) is also having a good World Cup but his owners — a staggering 45% of Krida Fans users — would have wished for more in terms of goal involvement.
Croatia’s talisman and winner of the Golden Ball at the 2018 edition — Luka Modric — will have another chance in a tricky quarterfinal fixture vs Brazil to add some gloss to his numbers, which have been absent at this tournament until now.
DEFENDERS
The HITS
Raphaël Guerreiro and veteran Pepe got on the scoresheet with the former assisting the sixth and final goal late on. Portugal’s other full-back Diogo Dalot (7.5 Credit) also had an assist in a fine display that saw him net 68.6 points on the night.
Argentina’s Nicolas Otamendi assisted Lionel Messi’s goal and returned with 70.6 points for his owners.
Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi (7.3 Credit) and England’s Harry Maguire (7.3 Credit) had fine displays in their RO16 outings — scoring 53.8 and 55.2 points respectively.
The MISSES
France cruised past Poland without breaking much sweat and so Krida Fans users would have expected more than just 42.4 points from left-back Theo Hernández (7.4 Credit). The AC Milan man is the most selected among all defenders in the game with his current ownership standing at 33%.
A limping Romain Saïss held his own against wave after wave of Spain pressure but that was hardly reflected in his meager return of 20.4 points. The Moroccan captain is in 23% of Krida Fans users’ teams and they will be wanting more in his quarterfinal matchup against Portugal.
GOALKEEPERS
The HITS
Surprisingly it was Andries Noppert (5.4 Credit) and Alisson Becker (5.3 Credit) who returned with the most points among goalkeepers in the RO16. Both the goalkeepers saved 5 shots but it was Noppert’s 46.6 points that proved to be ever so slightly better than Alisson’s tally of 44 points for the round.
The MISSES
Argentina’s Emiliano Martínez — the most selected among goalkeepers advancing to the quarterfinals of the World Cup — had a relatively quiet outing against the Socceroos. He was called upon to make just 1 save, which meant he amassed a lowly return of 21.8 points.
France captain Hugo Lloris was the only winning goalkeeper with a points tally worse than Emiliano Martínez’s — his 21.2 points bringing little joy to his Krida Fans owners!
What Next?
With the quarterfinals beginning on Friday evening, Krida Fans users will have to re-evaluate their team selection as star men like Neymar and Kylian Mbappe are sure to be some of the most sought-after.
We are also here to help you with our upcoming Preview to Quarter-Final article.
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