RADIO
Happy Match Day 22, RotoBallers! It's the final weekend of the 2022 World Cup, and what a tournament it has been. Today is the third-place playoff between Croatia and Morocco. Both sides were outclassed in the semi-finals by Argentina and France, respectively, but had fantastic runs to make it as far as they did. It will be interesting to see how veteran-laden Croatia attacks this game, as it's mostly seen as a consolation. So don't forget to check the starting lineups before the match kicks off.
In Showdown slates, you roster one Captain and five FLEX spots. The Captain costs 1.5 times his regular salary, but he also gains 1.5 times the number of points. If you've been playing Showdown slates during the World Cup, you know how vital it is to grab goal scorers and set-piece takers as your Captain. You must also roster a player from both sides to avoid an insane six-player stack for one country.
The DraftKings World Cup DFS Soccer contests lock at 10:00 AM ET for the 12/17/22 slate. Make sure to get your lineups in early. Also, don't forget to check out the rest of our World Cup coverage on Rotoballer with team and match previews, along with our betting and DFS advice. If you have any further questions or want to chat about the World Cup, feel free to reach out to me on Twitter @EuanOrYouOut.
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World Cup DraftKings DFS Captain Options
Hakim Ziyech - $14,400
As previously mentioned, the third-place game at the World Cup can, at times, be viewed as a consolation game. However, that's not how Morocco will treat it as they try to complete their tournament as the highest-placed African team at a World Cup. Hakim Ziyech doesn't get much playing time for his club, Chelsea, and is a safe bet to play most of the game. One of the biggest keys to this showdown is identifying who will play the most minutes.
Also powering Ziyech's selection as a captain pick is his overall play in Qatar. Across Morocco's six games, the 29-year-old has a goal, an assist, eight shots, 25 crosses, and averages 10.8 FPPG. The Atlas Lions will be roaring from the start, and their intensity will be challenging for a downtrodden Croatia to match.
Marko Livaja - $13,800
Throughout Croatia's run in Qatar, Marko Livaja has been a super sub for his country. His 2.56 shots per 90 minutes leads both sides, and the 29-year-old could be in line for a start if Croatia decides to rest their regular starting lineup. However, this limits Livaja to tournament consideration because even if he starts, he won't play the full 90 minutes.
Others To Consider (Cash/GPP): Ivan Perisic ($16,200), Josip Juranovic ($11,400), Youssef En-Nesyri ($10,500)
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World Cup DraftKings DFS FLEX Options
Youssef En-Nesyri - $7,000
In games where Youssef En-Nesyri has been in my showdown lineups, he averages 0.9 DK points. And when I don't roster him, he's scoring 15.7 DK PPG. So as my gift to all of you for reading Rotoballer's DFS coverage throughout the tournament, I'll keep En-Nesyri off my Showdown card.
The Sevilla forward was an incredibly cheap DFS asset at this World Cup, and it would be great for him to bag his third goal of the tournament after his header sent Portugal on a plane home in the quarterfinals.
MOROCCO TAKES THE LEAD VS PORTUGAL 🔥🇲🇦 pic.twitter.com/X9qbiJeCBP
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 10, 2022
Croatia concedes 17.67 crosses per game, opening the door for the 25-year-old to leave his mark on Morocco's magical run one last time. Unfortunately, he's at a strange price point for this slate, and it moves him into the tournament consideration more than cash games. Still, he's got the second-best goal-scoring odds in the game and deserves consideration for your lineups.
Dominik Livakovic - $6,800
Not even Dominik Livakovic could overcome the Argentinian attack in the semi-finals, but he'll have a chance at redemption versus Morocco. The Dinamo Zagreb keeper averaged 10.43 DK points throughout the knockout rounds, thanks to excellent shot-stopping ability. Croatia concedes 12.5 shots per match in Qatar and creates some easy save points for Livakovic. Morocco isn't as deadly as Brazil or Argentina, so several saves and a clean sheet are in play for the 27-year-old.
Mateo Kovacic - $4,200
Once again, this selection comes down to the Croatian starting lineup. If manager Zlatko Dalic decides to rest his veterans, Mateo Kovacic may be asked to take the Ivan Perisic role in the chequered attack. The 28-year-old has assisted shots, drawn fouls, and won tackles throughout the World Cup, but a more prominent place in Croatia's attack is precisely what we want at a bargain price. Even if Perisic plays, Kovacic is a salary-relief option with some upside against this Moroccan side.
Others To Consider (Cash/GPP): Luka Modric ($10,000), Achraf Hakimi ($8,600), Yassine Bounou ($5,200)
