In this article, Tony from Dream Team Tonic takes a look at his Dream Team World Cup best players and budget enablers to help you get your teams set up on the best possible footing.

Ultimate Guide to Dream Team World Cup 2022 and members’ prize mini-league details

With the Premier League format taking a mid-season break for the World Cup, I’m going to switch my attention over to the World Cup Dream Team format and have a run through some of my top picks and some budget enablers who could help lead you to glory and the £25k first prize.

First up, let’s have a look who the bookies have down as favourites to win the tournament;

Brazil – 4/1
France – 6/1
Argentina – 13/2
England – 7/1
Spain – 8/1
Germany – 10/1
Netherlands – 12/1
Portugal – 16/1
Belgium – 16/1

Tournament front runners

The obvious front runner for the trophy, Brazil, also have possibly the easiest group to progress from.

Their squad is once again packed with some serious talent. They have only lost two games since 2019, with both those defeats coming to rivals Argentina.

Neymar (£7.0m), is currently in great scoring form for PSG and is their standout player. He will be the first name in a lot of teams for the tournament and rightly so. Eight goals and eight assists during the qualifying campaign speaks for itself and justifies the huge price tag.

Keeping seven clean sheets in their last 10 games shows how strong Brazil are defensively. Thiago Silva (£5.5m) and Marquinhos (£5.5m) are both standout options.

Silva, even at 37 years old, is still one of the best centre-halves in the world and is scoring well on the WhoScored matrix so far this season.

Marquinhos grabbed himself a couple of goals and assists during Brazil’s qualification campaign, so could prove fruitful at both ends of the pitch for your team.

Neymar Jr. Picture by Getty Images.

Netherlands in fantastic form

Another team going into the tournament in great form are the Netherlands. Losing only twice since 2020, they are a side very much on the up.

The Dutch have a very winnable group and like Brazil, I expect goals and clean sheets from them.

They had a very strong Nations League campaign, beating a talented Belgium side twice and going unbeaten, winning the group. They do have some worries over their big hitter Memphis Depay (£5.5m) not having had much game time after suffering an injury.

He hasn’t played since September, which is a worry. If fit and firing though, this is a man you want in your team. His fitness could have a
lot of bearing on how well the Dutch perform in Qatar.

A big favourite from the Euro 2020 tournament, Denzel Dumfries (£4.5m), is sure to be a hit again this year. A very attacking full back, he is another who could grab you points at both ends of the pitch.

Scoring two and assisting two at the Euros, he is a good option.

Memphis Depay. Picture by Getty Images

Argentina about more than just Messi

Another big-hitting team with one of the easier groups on paper is Argentina. I don’t need to tell anybody about Lionel Messi (£7.5m) being a great option, so I will jump straight over to his attacking teammate Lautaro Martinez (£5.5m), who is coming into the tournament off the back of some fine form for club and country.

He could have a massive tournament and is someone I will be watching very closely. He got himself seven goals and three assists during the qualification rounds.

At the back for Argentina, they have a couple of familiar faces in Cristian Romero (£4.0m) and in goal Emiliano Martinez (£4.0m)

Again I can see some strong performances both going forward and a few shut outs for the Argentinians. Group rivals Mexico, Poland and Saudi Arabia shouldn’t prove too much trouble for them.

Ronaldo swansong?

Portugal have a decent looking group. They have Ghana – beaten by Qatar recently – South Korea – humbled by Brazil and the UAE this year – – and Uruguay.

They had an up-and-down Nations League campaign on the back of having to qualify for the World Cup through the play-offs. There is no doubting their quality though and they have a knack of performing on the big stage.

I will be looking at a Dream Team favourite in Joao Cancelo (£6.0m), who offers an attacking threat as well as hopefully grabbing a few clean sheets in the group. He managed two goals and an assist in his five Nation League matches.

Cristiano Ronaldo (£7.0m) – is this his final tournament? Surely. It wouldn’t surprise me to see one of the greatest players ever go out with a bang.

Cristiano Ronaldo. Picture by Getty Images.

England and France in questionable form

I’m not too sure how England will perform in Qatar. They haven’t looked great going into the tournament and there is a lot to be said about Gareth Southgate and his tactics.

Antonio Conte’s recent comments on Harry Kane (7.5m) being extremely tired and fatigued don’t ignite much confidence in him having a great tournament.

A man who is absolutely flying this season in Dream Team and should get the nod at right-back is Kieran Trippier (£4.5m) An absolute darling on the WhoScored scoring matrix and taking a lot of set pieces, if England do perform, this guy could be one who racks up the points.

Another who should have a huge tournament (if England perform) is Phil Foden (£5.0m) An amazing talent who can frustrate Dream Team managers with his susceptibility to Pep Roulette, if he starts, we know what he offers, a massive goal threat and Star Man potential.

Another side coming into the tournament on the back of a sticky patch is France. A squad packed with undoubted talent, they are struggling to click at the moment. But is leaving the likes of Kylian Mbappe (£7.5m) and Karim Benzema (£7.0m) out of your team a wise move?

They face Denmark, who beat them home and away in the Nations League, Australia and Tunisia.

They should qualify given their talented squad but they must improve if they want to trouble the big hitters in this tournament.

Gareth Southgate talking to Phil Foden. Picture by Getty Images.

A big tournament for Musiala?

Germany are joined in their group by Spain, Costa Rica and Japan. Everyone will fancy the two European sides to progress from this group.

I believe It’s going to be a huge tournament for 19-year-old Jamal Musiala (£3.5m). Now a regular starter for Bayern Munich, he is an
extremely talented player.

Nine goals and six assists so far in the Bundesliga in 14 appearances this season shows exactly what he is about. Hopefully he can force his way into the starting 11 and prove to be a nice differential pick.

My second Germany pick is his club teammate Leroy Sane (£6.0m) who has just returned from injury after being in great form prior to that. He can provide and score goals, so is sure to be a popular choice among managers.

Spain short of a prolific goalscorer

Over to Spain, who I always feel are just a goalscorer short of been world beaters. Impressive at the Euros, they fell just short of the final.

Could Alvaro Morata (£5.0m) finally score the goals to fire Spain to World Cup glory?

I have an eye on two players who impressed for Spain at the Euros. Pablo Sarabia (£3.5m) isn’t getting much game time at PSG at the moment but he is on my watchlist alongside Dani Olmo (£3.5).

They both scored a couple of goals during qualifying and dependant on the Spain lineups could find their way into my team.

At the back Jordi Alba (£4.0m) is an assist machine and will likely be a popular choice among managers.

Dani Olmo. Picture by Getty Images

Dream Team World Cup best players: Budget enablers

Looking for some players to enable you to have a few more of the big hitters in your side?

These budget enablers should help you out, while also tick over with a few points of their own.

Breel Embolo (£3.5m) of Switzerland could be a man to include in your forward line.

He scored three and assisted three in qualifying and is having a productive campaign for Monaco so far this season, with seven goals in 14 games.

Those front three spaces are pretty premium though and I would only be including him in a team that was going very heavy at the back and
needed a cheaper option up top.

Another Swiss player who is a fantasy tournament favourite is Ricardo Rodriguez (£3.0m). Everyone loves a penalty taker, right? And if the Swiss can keep a couple of clean ones too he will prove good value for money.

And how about Granit Xhaka (3.0m)? Flying at Arsenal this season In a more advanced role, could he take that form into the tournament?

Mikkel Damsgaard of Denmark. Picture by Getty Images

A player who has impressed me each time I’ve seen him is Mikel Damsgaard (£2.8m). With two goals and four assists in qualifying, he looks a great price if he is in the starting 11 for the Danes.

His team mate Joakim Maehle (£3.5m) is also a great pick. He got two goals and one assist at the last Euros and managed five goals in the World cup qualifying campaign.

Defensive solidity

Anybody considered Ecuador? No? Now hear me out… Ecuador are in the group with Qatar, Netherlands and Senegal. The last six internationals, they have played they have not conceded a goal.

Earlier this year they drew with both Argentina and Brazil 1-1. They are a tough nut to crack and I expect that to prove the case here.

Pervis Estupinan (2.0m), Piero Hincapie (£2.0m) and Robert Arboleda (£1.5m) if he starts could prove massive value for money if the Ecuadorians can take their solidity into the World Cup.

Ecuador open the tournament against Qatar, so we can also see how they set out their backline and goalkeeper before cementing our teams.

It wouldn’t surpise me if the opening game finished 0-0. A Qatar block could also prove popular for managers trying to jump ahead early doors with a block clean sheet.

Leon Goretzka (£4.0m) notched an impressive six assists during their World Cup qualifying campaign. He could prove an astute pick, but it remains to be seen whether he grabs a starting berth in the Germany side.

Leed’s man Brenden Aaronson (£2.5m) of the USA could have a good tournament. He has had a bright start to life after making the move from Salzburg to Leeds.

Another of the USA squad, Christian Pulisic (£3.0m) could make an impact at the tournament. He is their talisman and also takes penalties.

Davy Klaassen (£3.0m) could be a good midfield option from the Netherlands squad if he gets game time. He scored four goals and assisted another four during their World Cup qualifying campaign, playing 10 games.

Jude Bellingham (4.0m) could be worth a place in midfield. We don’t know how the all-action man will score on the Dream Team’s rating algorithm but I’m guessing pretty well.

We know he has an eye for a goal too, so he could prove some good value.

Luka Modric (£4.5m) doesn’t really belong on a budget list at his price but I felt he deserved a mention. At the grand old age of 37, he is still pulling the strings for Real Madrid and Croatia.

The talisman is also on penalties and after an impressive nations league campaign for Croatia he is one we shouldn’t overlook for a midfield berth.

Someone who could have a huge tournament is Gabriel Martinelli (£3.0m). If he can get a few starts in this tournament in a very talented Brazil side, he could be worth a punt.

And what about James Maddison (£3.0m)? Is there an English player in better form going into the World Cup? He should be starting in my view, and if he is, his price point is an absolute steal.

That is all for from me for now. There will be plenty of players I haven’t mentioned, some big names and some rough diamonds but I will be back with a team reveal from myself and Ben as we try to pick the right 11 to get our hands on that huge cash prize.

If you haven’t already, drop me a follow on Twitter @DTT_Tony and the Main account @Dreamteamtonic

Check out more World Cup and Premier League fantasy coverage

As well as the official FIFA World Cup Fantasy game Ultimate Guide, we’ve got coverage on Sky Sports Fantasy Football World Cup, Dream Team World Cup and Telegraph Fantasy Football World Cup too.

And either side of the World Cup, we have FPL, Sky, Sun and Telegraph covered in-depth on a weekly basis.

Coupled with all our other cool features, including our multi-functional My Team tool, Opta stats, predicted points, live rank and more, Fantasy Football Hub is the place to be if you want to win your mini-leagues.

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