World Cup 2018 Fantasy: OMAC

My first category, and the one you should look at first, is OMAC: One Man Army Corps. These are the players around whom their national teams are established. These are the rare few players who coaches construct systems around and who will be expected, indeed needed, to lead their teams. Needless to say, these players will be the most expensive, but still the most heavily owned players in the game.

• Cristiano Ronaldo
• Lionel Messi
• Neymar
• Christen Eriksen

Probably no surprises here. Eriksen is interesting. He's the only one on the list classified as a midfielder, and by far the cheapest of the lot. As such, I think he's a must own. If you want to squeeze one of the big fish into your team, I would suggest Neymar. Hopefully he's fit. He's definitely rested. I think Brasil are the most balanced team of the three (Brasil, Argentina, and Portugal) and there seems to be an enthusiasm in that side that the others are lacking.

Mohamed Salah might have made the cut were he healthy, and maybe he is. We just can't take the chance in round one. I would have also considered James Rodriguez, Sadio Mane, Robert Lewandowski, and Antoine Griezmann. Griezmann especially has a Golden Boot ceiling, and would have made the list if I thought Deschamps was a little more committed to him. 

Messi!

Thanks to 101GreatGoals for the clips.

Update: The comparisons come easy. Watch the first goal in this collection and tell me who did it better?

Arsenalona to Africa via Argentina

Messi's master-class in last night's demolition of (an admittedly under-strength) Arsenal side, and their semi-final match-up with Inter, had me thinking about the fast-approaching World Cup. Well, I'm thinking about the World Cup a lot for other reasons, but more on that soon. [ed. note: We're published in the World Soccer Unofficial Guide to the 2010 World Cup!]

Certainly Maradona's focus - or what of it he has remaining - should be tuned in to that match as five, possibly six, of his players could feature. Samuel, Zanetti, Cambiasso and Milito (Diego) for Inter and Milito (Gabriel) and Messi for Barca. Throw in Lopez and Delgado from Lyon who will likely progress today and there is a strong Argentine representation in this year's premier European tournament.

Is that the strongest contingent from outside the club's home countries? France has two teams involved today, but also heavy representation at Arsenal, Henry at Barca, and even Evra and Ribery who meet in today's other match. Oddly the Brazilian representation is focused on the defensive side of the pitch with Cris, Maicon and Lucio coming to mind.

All this is probably apropos of nothing, but an excuse to post Messi's highlights and a chance to share my building anticipation of the World's Greatest Sporting Event™ presented in glorious high-definition by the World Leader™.