Japan 0 Costa Rica 1
Spain 1 Germany 1
GROUP F
Belgium 0 Morocco 2
Croatia 4 Canada 1
| ROBERT ALLEN- 195.6 TOTAL SCORE DAILY SELECTIONS: Shuichi Gonda, JPN (5.7) / Michy Batshuayi, BEL (6.0) / Dejan Lovren, CRO (6.7) / Marco Asensio, ESP (6.5) It was an ugly day across the entirety of the Pick One Challenge, yet Robert still emerged with the same lead he entered the second day of Groups E & F action with. Japan's fall-flat outing against Costa Rica left keeper Shuichi Gonda with the joint worst score of the day. Michy Batshuayi's ineffectiveness in his movement was a vital part of Belgium's neutering by Morocco. Even with a yellow card, the always erratic Dejan Lovren was our game leader's top scorer for the day. That was because Spain's false nine experiment continued to flounder with those that came in to replace their starting forwards performing markedly better than said starters, including Marco Asensio in the middle of it. |
| LENNY MALAGRINO- 194.7 TOTAL SCORE DAILY SELECTIONS: Takuma Asano, JPN (6.7) / Eden Hazard, BEL (6.4) / Jonathan David, CAN (6.6) / Serge Gnabry, GER (6.5) Another indication of how bad of a day the scoring was in the Challenge was the fact that Lenny didn't break 7.0 in any of his selections and GAINED significant ground in the standings. His best scorer was Takuma Asano who was one of two Japanese substitutes taken on the day as the Samurai chased an equalizer against Costa Rica. Eden Hazard's redemption tour took another disappointing pit stop against Morocco. Jonathan David was the only Canadian forward to get a shot on target but it was tame. Gnabry felt underutilized against Spain but didn't seem to determined to rectify that issue. |
| TREVOR UTLEY- 193.6 TOTAL SCORE DAILY SELECTIONS: Wataru Endo, JPN (5.7) / Thibaut Courtois, BEL (5.7) / Luka Modric, CRO (7.2) / Ferran Torres, ESP (6.3) There was little positive to talk about Trevor's trek through this day of the World Cup Pick One. The two lowest scores of the day in the AM kickoffs wasn't ideal by any means. Luka Modric saved the day as best he could being the pillar of Croatia's midfield while his linemates went forward and poured in four goals. But all of that good will came crashing back down to Earth in the last match of the day as not even dating the boss' daughter could save Ferran Torres from a 54th minute hooking after a dreadful showing against Germany. |
| SCOTT SERVIDIO- 193.5 TOTAL SCORE DAILY SELECTIONS: Junya Ito, JPN (6.6) / Michy Batshuayi, BEL (6.0) / Jonathan David, CAN (6.6) / Gavi, ESP (6.8) Ito was the second Japanese substitute used and it ended up being a sound strategy given how the game unfolded. Scott combined the pair of underwhelming strikers from our top two scorers with Batshuayi and David, both of who tasted defeat. The Spanish midfield as a whole were dragged down ratings-wise with their inability to have that cutting edge, but Gavi was the best of the bunch and ended up being Scott's top scorer for the day. |
| MARTIN DUNNING- 192.2 TOTAL SCORE DAILY SELECTIONS: Joel Campbell, CRC (7.0) / Thibaut Courtois, BEL (5.7) / Alphonso Davies, CAN (6.6) / Joshua Kimmich, GER (6.9) Looking at this roster, it definitely had "one of these things is not like the other vibes." But in the end, it was the player that was in zero discussions for a World XI that ended up being Martin's biggest contributor. Joel Campbell was key in seeing the game out for Costa Rica drawing five fouls and making five tackles. He too was suckered in by Courtois' performance against Canada only to get blitzed by Morocco. Ending his day was two Bayern players, Canada's Alphonso Davies and Germany's Joshua Kimmich. Davies scored early for Canada but was subsequently neutralized. |
| ANDREW SANFORD- 191.5 TOTAL SCORE DAILY SELECTIONS: Keylor Navas, CRC (7.5) / Romelu Lukaku, BEL (6.3) / Lovro Majer, CRO (7.3) / Nico Schlotterbeck, GER (6.9) Andrew let fate take the wheel for the majority of the time, but his one true selection ended up being the best of all for the day. Keylor Navas bounced back as well as a keeper can keeping a clean sheet against Japan. It was all about the Last Man In from there with varying degrees of success. Romelu Lukaku flopped off the bench for the Belgians. Lovro Majer scored Croatia's fourth in 11 minutes of action against Canada to earn the daily silver medal. Nico Schlotterbeck was thrown into a tense final ten minutes against Spain and didn't play a ball wrong. |
Image Credits: Player Photos (Sofascore)