FanDuel World Cup Daily Fantasy Helper: Thursday 12/1/22

The World Cup is the biggest sporting event on the planet, and FanDuel is offering daily fantasy contests throughout the tournament.

For the final round of the group stage, main slates will feature all four of the day’s matches, which are scheduled to start at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. EST.

All World Cup odds come from FanDuel Sportsbook and FoxBet, and they may change after the article is published.

Slate Overview

Croatia (+170) vs. Belgium (+165)
Over 2.5 Goals: +106 | Most Likely to Score: Lukaku (+185)

Morocco (+110) vs. Canada (+270)
Over 2.5 Goals: +112 | Most Likely to Score: En-Nesyri (+200)

Spain (-260) vs. Japan (+750)
Over 2.5 Goals: -130 | Most Likely to Score: Morata (+110)

Germany (-1000) vs. Costa Rica (+1800)
Over 2.5 Goals: -310 | Most Likely to Score: Fullkrug (-115)

Positional Breakdown
Forwards/Midfielders

Priced at -1000 to win, Germany are out on their own on this slate, and they should smash Costa Rica. The Germans are an eye-popping -714 to go over 1.5 goals, and their -213 odds to go over 2.5 goals are the same odds that Spain -- the slate's other sizable favorite -- have to go over 1.5 goals. In short, you need exposure to Germany, and given the makeup of the slate, you can justify dedicating three forward/midfield slots to German attackers.

Despite scoring only two goals thus far, Germany have amassed 4.3 expected goals (xG), per FBRef. That ranked as the second-most of any side through two matches, and one of Germany's outings came against Spain, one of the best teams in the field.

Germany offer a plethora of options, and anyone who starts in an attacking spot for them will be worth a look. If Niclas Fullkrug ($21; -115) starts, he's a fantastic pick and carries team-best goal odds. He scored as a sub last time out and gave Germany something different in attack. It wouldn't be surprising to see him crack the starting XI. Depending on who starts, Leroy Sane ($18; +105), Serge Gnabry ($19; +100), Jamal Musiala ($22; +135), Ilkay Gundogan ($17; +185), Thomas Muller ($18; +130) and Joshua Kimmich ($16; +430) are all plenty viable. Kimmich's goal odds are blah, but he's -110 to score or assist, making him a sweet stacking piece.

Spain are the other big favorite, listed at -210 to beat Japan. They're -213 to score at least two goals.

Alvaro Morata ($20; +110) is similar to Fullkrug in that he's a striker on a team that doesn't mind playing without a striker, but he scored off the bench last time out and could get a start on Thursday. While Morata has his flaws, he's a quality player who would likely find himself on the end of a few chances if he starts. Ferran Torres ($20; +165) owns Spain's best goal odds after Morata, and Dani Olmo ($19; +200) has been active in attacking areas.

The other two matches -- both morning fixtures -- are much more evenly balanced, and neither match looks like it'll see many goals. I will be light on all four of these sides when it comes to forwards/midfielders. I'll get all four of my attackers from Germany and Spain in a good chunk of my lineups. With that said, there are talented players in the two morning games, and they could go overlooked.

Belgium's Kevin De Bruyne ($16; +340) and Romelu Lukaku ($17; +190) -- the latter of whom may be ready to make his first start of the tourney -- are at the top of that list. Public sentiment is pretty low on Belgium, and they haven't been good (xG goal differential of -2.2). Plus, Croatia are a difficult opponent. All of that should keep the masses away from this Belgian duo, and they're capable of delivering in a match Belgium really need to win.

The Morocco-Canada bout is an interesting one. Morocco has been solid through two games and need just a tie to advance. That could turn this into a slog, especially if Morocco score first. At the same time, Canada have been eliminated and have nothing to lose, which could result in them playing a pretty open game. Morocco's Youssef En-Nesyri ($14; +220) has the match's best goal odds. Jonathan David ($13; +250) holds the top goal odds for Canada. Both offer valuable salary savings.

Defenders

Thilo Kehrer ($10) and David Raum ($12) get you exposure to high-powered Germany. Raum is +125 to score or assist. Kehrer is +210 to score/assist. In a match in which Germany will see a lot of the ball, these two should spend gobs of time in attacking areas. They fit perfectly in Germany stacks, and their salaries are easy to like.

Jordi Alba ($14) has turned back the clock for Spain through two rounds. Not getting much game time at Barcelona, Alba has been an integral piece for Spain, tallying an assist in each game while racking up four shot-creating actions in both outings.

Costa Rica is going be put under wave after wave of attacks from Germany, so their defenders offer high floors. Oscar Duarte ($9) and Kendall Waston ($10) are listed as probable starters, per WhoScored. They're averaging 11.6 and 12.3 FanDuel points per game, respectively. The salary savings are awfully handy.

Goalies

Find the coin for Manuel Neuer ($14) if you covet great win (-1000) and clean-sheet (-175) odds. We project Costa Rica to finish with just 0.31 goals, the fewest on the slate. The negative with Neuer -- outside of his lofty salary -- is that he offers very little save volume, but he can score 17.0 FanDuel points via a clean-sheet win.

Unai Simon ($13) also has solid win (-260) and clean-sheet (-118) chances. Japan figure to be more threatening than Costa Rica, which could work both ways for Spain's keeper. It lessens Simon's clean-sheet odds while also giving him a chance to make a few saves. A multi-save clean-sheet win is on the table, and that's about a best-case scenario for goalies in DFS.

Morocco have the next-best clean-sheet odds, priced at +150 to blank Canada, so Bono ($11) needs a mention.

Belgium's Thibaut Courtois ($10) is a fun bet-on-talent play. Real Madrid's star goalie is one of the world's best, and as was the case with De Bruyne and Lukaku, he's capable of coming up large in a crucial spot. He is, however, just +210 to get a clean sheet versus Croatia.