Which players are most likely to take penalties at the 2018 World Cup finals?

With many of the squads for the 2018 World Cup finals now being finalised, fantasy football managers will be eager to begin the process of putting together those all-important line-ups.

Including recognised first-choice penalty takers is a tactic that has stood the test of time so why not get up to speed with all of the designated spot-kick specialists for each of the 32 nations taking part and put yourself one step ahead of rival managers?

Some squads still need to be trimmed down but here’s our provisional list of penalty takers for the finals in Russia, with Poland’s Robert Lewandowski arguably the pick of the bunch, having scored 6 times from the spot during World Cup qualification.

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No player scored more penalties than Luka Milivojević (7) during the course of the 2017/18 Premier League season, with the Serbian international proving a real hit for FPL managers that took the plunge on the budget midfielder.

The Crystal Palace midfielder also offers a threat from direct free-kicks, a fact that is highlighted in his WhoScored profile.

The three leading contenders for the 2018 Ballon d’Or trophy are also expected to assume penalty kick taking responsibility for their respective countries. Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are tied on 5 titles each but Mo Salah cannot be ruled out of the reckoning having showed nerves of steal to secure Egypt’s place at the finals from the spot.

The Liverpool attacker was only 2 goals behind Messi in Europe’s ‘Golden Shoe’ standings but his participation in the finals now hangs under a cloud following that controversial tussle with Sergio Ramos in the Champions League final which resulted in him picking up a shoulder injury.

Elsewhere, the likes of Andreas Granqvist, Ricardo Rodriguez and Sergio Ramos also make plenty of appeal. Being classified as a defender is a real bonus when you are on spot-kick duties although Ramos may have to play second fiddle to David Silva if the Manchester City schemer is selected as a starter.

World Cup 2018 – Fantasy Football Cheatsheet