World Cup Fantasy: Captaincy Explained & Best Options for MD1

Welcome to Insanely Football‘s first World Cup Fantasy Captaincy blog for the tournament.

World Cup Fantasy is about to begin, and with that comes fascinating times when we must choose the best captaincy option for Matchday 1. In this blog, we will cover captaincy in detail. We will discuss how captaincy works in World Cup Fantasy, some key strategies to keep in mind and the best captaincy options for MD1.

Let’s get into it, then!

Link to all our FIFA World Cup Fantasy blogs in one place including team previews, group previews, tips and rules guide, differentials, chip strategy, best drafts with pros and cons and more. Completely free to access as well!

How does captaincy work in World Cup Fantasy?

Picking the right captain will play a significant role in achieving World Cup Fantasy success.

Every time you save your team for any matchday, you must pick a captain from your starting XI. Putting captaincy on a player would mean double points for that player on that particular Matchday.

Changing the captaincy between ‘Unlocked’ Players

(Unlocked means the players’ team hasn’t played yet)

You can change your captain an unlimited number of times between unlocked players (i.e. between two players who have not played in the current Matchday).

Changing your captain after he is ‘Locked’

(Locked means his team has played their match)

You have one opportunity each Matchday to change your captain after that player has played their match. However, in this situation, you can only change your captain to a player who has not yet played in the Matchday (i.e. an unlocked player).

Note: Once you have confirmed this change, you will not be able to change your captain again during the current Matchday.

Do keep in mind:

• If you are unsatisfied with your second captain’s score on a matchday, you won’t be able to change it again.
• You can’t select a captain from your team who has already played on the Matchday.
• If you change your previous captain, you will lose their double points, and your new captain will score double instead.
• You will not be able to change your captain while the player’s team is currently playing (live). Before making the captain change, you must wait for their fixture to get over and switch captaincy to a different player.

I know this sounds a bit overwhelming. Let me help you with an example!

Example: Let us say you select Messi as your captain. He plays and scores 10 points during Matchday 1, hence becoming locked. As captain, these points will double to 20. However, you change your captain to Neymar (who has not played yet). Once this change has been saved, Messi’s points will return to 10. 

Now, even though Neymar has not played yet, you will no longer be allowed to switch captain to another player who hasn’t played yet, as you have already made a captain change involving a locked player.

Best Strategies around Captaincy in World Cup Fantasy

1) Have at least two captaincy options for every Matchday

Picking the right captains can make or break your World Cup Fantasy rank. That’s why you have to choose your captains wisely.

As we can change our captaincy during the Matchday to a player who is yet to play, always have at least two good captaincy picks in your squad. 

Remember that you will lose double points from your first captaincy pick when you switch the armband to somebody else. You should do it only if the first captain does not score a decent number of points.

2) Understanding when to switch captaincy

It is essential to understand when to switch captaincy to a different option.

Before the next day’s fixtures of each Matchday, check if you have a reliable player in your World Cup Fantasy team that can easily outscore the original captain. If you believe there is, then go for the switch.

8-9 points is a safe benchmark to keep the captaincy on your selected option. There is no right or wrong answer here, and the criteria might differ for different fantasy managers. See how much risk you want to take, then go for the stick or twist decision.

3) Plan for captaincy long term

It is always wise to plan your captaincy options for upcoming matchdays. Ensure you have a fair idea of the best captaincy picks for forthcoming fixtures. Make a plan to get the best captaincy picks on your team with chips/free transfers. 

It is okay to switch premium options based on fixtures depending on whosoever has the best fixture on that particular Matchday.

While there is some upside in going risky and targeting differentials in captaincy, you should manage risk carefully. I always look at premium players having the best fixtures and go for them accordingly.

Best Captaincy Options for World Cup Fantasy Matchday 1

1) Lionel Messi vs Saudi Arabia

Messi is the standout captaincy option for Matchday 1. He is the leader and engine of the Argentina attack. His form for PSG has also been impressive, with 7G+10A from 13 games. He looked sharp in the game against UAE, scoring the 91st goal for his country. Argentina looks too strong against Saudi Arabia, and there is substantial attacking haul potential in Messi.

I won’t recommend other options over him for captaincy in the Argentina attack. Still, in case you don’t own him or want to do things a bit differently, Di Maria and Martinez are potential replacements. 

2) Kylian Mbappe vs Australia

The second best option is Kylian Mbappe from France. He is the second most owned forward after Messi and has great goal-scoring odds against the Australian defence. Talking about his form, he got seven attacking returns (5G+2A) from five appearances in the World Cup qualifiers, and he looks set to add to that tally in the main tournament. 

One thing to note is that France has only won one of the last six International games. Though the opposition’s quality in Matchday 1 is very different, I prefer the latter when the comparison is against Messi. 

3) Neymar vs Serbia

Not the most straightforward fixture on paper as Serbia is a decent defence but Neymar, like his PSG counterparts, is in great form this season. He has 7G+6A in the last ten games, plus he will also be on set pieces and penalties. There are high chances that Neymar will be involved if Brazil gets something in attack. He is an option if players like Messi and KDB don’t give enough points. 

Suppose you don’t have Neymar and are going with Richarlison instead. In that case, he can be your captaincy pick from the Brazilian attack. He is the preferred striker over Jesus and will likely start in MD1. 

Alternate options – Harry Kane vs Iran

Harry Kane is last time’s ‘Golden Boot’ winner and has an excellent fixture to start things off. Kane’s form will be crucial if England aims to progress in the tournament’s latter stages. Kane has been in great form in the Premier League this season. He has 15 attacking returns (12G+3A) in 15 games and looks to be England’s leading man in attack. 

Interestingly, he will cost you more than players like Messi and Neymar, which means he will be slightly less popular than other premium options. Right now, he is the 4th most-owned forward in the game after Messi, Mbappe and Neymar. Kane is undoubtedly a great option if you have him in your team for MD1.

Kevin De Bruyne vs Canada

KDB has to be the best attacking option from Belgium right now. He is the most expensive midfielder in the game, and there is a good reason for that. He has registered eight attacking returns in his last nine games for Belgium. His Premier League form has also been great this season. (3G+10A)

Do let me know who is your captain for MD1.

All the best for Matchday 1, and I will see you all very soon!

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Check out my World Cup Fantasy Beginners Guide

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Further Reads from AAFPL ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Fantasy Season?

Basics of World Cup Fantasy:
Beginner’s Guide to 2022 World Cup Fantasy: Rules, Strategy, Tips
List of Good & Creative 2022 World Cup Fantasy Team Names
World Cup Fantasy 2022 Comparison to FPL, UCL & Euro Fantasy
List of Free to Join World Cup Fantasy Mini Leagues | Mini League
2022 World Cup Fantasy Ultimate Guide: Tips, Best drafts, Strategy
World Cup 2022: Expected Goals (xG) Group Wise for All Teams
World Cup Fantasy: Captaincy Explained & Best Options for MD1

Must Read Articles for World Cup Fantasy:
Best Budget Picks And Enablers For FIFA World Cup Fantasy 2022
World Cup Fantasy- Scout Picks Matchday 1
2022 World Cup Fantasy Matchday 1 Draft & Chip Strategy
2022 FIFA World Cup- Penalty & Set Piece Takers Country Wise
Best 2022 FIFA World Cup Fantasy MD1 Drafts With Pros/Cons
2022 World Cup Fantasy: Predicted Lineups of All 32 Teams
Best 2022 World Cup Fantasy Differentials to Consider for MD1
2022 World Cup Fantasy: Fixture Difficulty Rating (FDR) Overall and Group Wise

Position Wise Analysis:
Best Goalkeepers To Target In World Cup Fantasy | Price Point Wise
Best Defenders to Target in World Cup Fantasy | Price Point Wise
Best Midfielders To Target In World Cup Fantasy | Price Point Wise
Best Forwards to Target in World Cup Fantasy | Price Point Wise

Group Wise Team Previews- Best Fantasy Assets & Predicted Lineups:
World Cup Fantasy | Group – A & B Preview, Key Players & More
World Cup Fantasy | Group – C & D Preview, Key Players & More
World Cup Fantasy | Group – E & F Preview, Key Players & More
World Cup Fantasy | Group – G & H Preview, Key Players & More

Link to all our FIFA World Cup Fantasy blogs in one place including team previews, group previews, tips and rules guide, differentials, chip strategy, best drafts with pros and cons and more. Completely free to access as well!

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What’s next from ALLABOUTFPL ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Fantasy Season?

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