I have been writing about the Scorum Fantasy Draft, and I will be writing some players to watch out for the round of 16. The group stage is over and now we move forward to Round of 16. If you haven't registered your team for Freeroll Last 16, it is open now, and the deadline is before the start of the match between France and Argentina. 100 SCR is up for grab and will be shared among top 12 participants, the winner gets the major share of 28.5 SCR. Here is the link for joining Freeroll Last 16:

https://draft.scorum.com/rooms/60

Source: Scorum

Fixtures:

Players to watch:

Goalkeepers:

  1. Thibaut Courtois | VS Japan | Price: 6.5M
    Premium goalkeeper with the easiest of the fixture, I can see Belgium managing clean sheet against Japan but you never know what will happen at the end of the day. Courtois started all three matches in the group stage and managed 2 clean sheets conceding twice against Tunisia. But he won't get many save points against Japan. 
  2. Danijel Subasic | VS Denmark | Price 5.5 M
    Subasic is a little bit cheaper than Courtois, and comes at a price of 5.5M. He is the cheapest of the goalkeeper, and Croatia is in great form. He started twice in the group stage and managed to collect the clean sheets in both of them. He also managed to shut Argentine team lead by Messi.

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Defenders:

  1. Yerry Mina | vs England | 5.5M
    The Colombian center back is in great goal-scoring form for Colombia. He averages 12 in Scorum draft. He started twice for Colombia in the group stage and managed to score and collect clean sheets in both of them. Colombia is playing against England, and it should be a tough test for him. 
  2. Andreas Granqvist | VS Switzerland |5.5 M
    Swedish defender is just 5.5M in prices but has already proven to be the most valuable player in this world cup. He is another defender in great goalscoring form. In 3 matches he started for Sweden, he managed 2 goals and 2 clean sheets. Sweden will play against Switzerland in the round of 16 matches. Switzerland has scored in all of their group stage matches, and it will be tough for Granqvist to stop Switzerland.

  3. Gerard Pique | vs Morocco | 6M 
    Spain backline had very bad performance in their group stage matches, only managing one clean sheet against Iran and conceding 5 goals. If they want to move further in the world cup, they need to improve their defense. I can see improvements in defense line up in their match of a round of 16. They were very poor against Morocco. Pique is one of the cheapest option in Spanish defense line up. They will play against Russia, who are in great form too. 

  4. Jose Gimenez| VS Portugal |6M  :
    Uruguayan defender Gimenez now has 2 clean-sheets and a goal in as many as 2 matches. He now averages 9 points per matches. Uruguay hasn't conceded any goal in this world cup and will play Portugal in their round of 16. It is going to be tight matches, and probably be a stalemate. Portugal struggled to score against Iran and Morocco in previous fixtures.


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Midfielders:

  1. Philippe Coutinho  | vs Mexico | 9M

    Remember the name, Coutinho who is doing great in this world cup. He has already scored two wonderful goals, an assist and is in great form. He should continue this streak against Mexico and one of the players to look out in this round.

  2. Denis Cheryshev| vs Spain | 6.5M 
    Russia is playing great in their home. They were expected to be one of the worst sides to host the world cup ever with very bad form, but they have proven everyone wrongs except the game against Uruguay. They came into world cup as the lowest ranked nation and was expected to be knocked out early, but now they have progressed to next round. And Denis Cheryshev had been key to their success. Now he has 3 goals from 2 matches and unfortunately 1 own goal.  He should play an important role against Spain for Russia to have any chance.

  3. Luka Modric | vs Denmark| 8M :
    He is a magician, and Croatia is doing magic in this world cup. Croatia had a magical display in group stages winning all 3 games, including a 3-0 win against Argentina. Modric scored 2 goals in as many as 3 games and is the pivotal member of Croatian attack. Modric plays as up in midfield and should get plenty of attacking returns, and will play Denmark next in round of 16.

  4.  Xherdan Shaqiri | vs Sweden| 7M 
    Shaqiri is doing great in Russia, and already have a goal and an assist to his name. He had a good game against Costa Rica too but didn't manage any attacking returns.  Shaqiri play Sweden next, and I am hopeful he will return something to the Fantasy Manager

  5. Christian Eriksen | VS Croatia | 8M :
    Another great player and I regret not having in my team. Eriksen is big game player and will face Croatia in their round of 16 matches. Eriksen already had a goal and an assist in his previous fixtures.


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Forwards:

  1. Diego Costa | vs Russia |9.5M 
    Costa was not at his best against Morocco, but he did have a great return for his fantasy managers at his price range. He scored 3 goals in group stages, and will face Russia next. The good sign for Costa has Russia conceded 3 goals against Uruguay one of top team they faced in the round of 16 matches. Costa should be one of the favorite pick for your team considering his price and his opponent. 

  2. Romelo Lukaku| vs Japan | 10M
    Lukaku scored 4 goals in his previous 2 fixtures and didn't feature against England. He is in great form, and have the easiest of an opponent in the form of Japan. I can see Belgium dominating Japan in this fixtures, and Lukaku will have a major contribution in Belgium attacking returns. He also comes cheap compared to premium strikers who comes above 12M. 

  3. Neymar | VS Mexico | 12.5M
    Neymar had a goal and an assist during group stages, players are in good form. Mexico should be a good fixture for Brazil but again you never know. I can see Neymar doing good against Mexico, and Neymar is a big game player too. 

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    Did you enter your team for Freeroll Last 16? If you haven't pease do it fast. You still have 11 more hours to participate, and the deadline is before the start of the match between France and Argentina. Who is your favorite pick for a round of 16?
    See you in Freeroll Last 16. 

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    A small concern from my side, the Scorum team should increase the budget to 105M considering the fact that there is mostly premium player from the premium team to make your draft. Its very hard to make team with 100M, and I hope that it will be considered into next round.