This article is part of our DraftKings Fantasy Soccer series.
MATCHES (EDT)
7:00 p.m: French Guiana
9:00 p.m: Honduras v. Costa Rica
PLAYER RECOMMENDATIONS
GOALKEEPER
Milan Borjan, CAN v. FGU ($5,600): It's safest to go with the chalk play on the opening day of the tournament. It's hard to know what to expect of the Costa Rica-Honduras match due to the even nature of the contest, but Canada is the clear favorite against French Guiana. This is the first time French Guiana has qualified for the Gold Cup, and it would be quite a story if the side earned anything out of this match. If there is one strength of Canada, it is its defensive organization, which French Guiana should struggle to break down.
DEFENDER
Marcel de Jong, CAN v. FGY ($5,900): de Jong gets heavily involved in the Canada attack. He comes up to take corners on occasions, and he even stands over some set pieces from time to time. He is constantly streaking up the right side of the field and swinging in crosses to star center forward Cyle Larin. In the opening match against the weakest team in the group, de Jong has a great chance to hit value.
Bryan Oviedo, CRC v. HON ($5,300): Like de Jong, Oviedo occasionally takes corners and set pieces, and his involvement in the run of play is constant all match. It should be a very tight match, which often requires fullbacks to get into the attack to create an extra man. Oviedo is a top quality player who has played for Everton and now plays for Sunderland.
Cristian Gamboa, CRC v. HON ($4,800): Gamboa is another Costa Rican fullback who has played in the English Premier League. He played many years as a right back for West Bromwich Albion, and he currently plays for Celtic in Scotland. Costa Rica lines up with two wing backs and Gamboa will be on the right, with Oviedo on the left.
MIDFIELDER
Scott Arfield, CAN v. FGU ($6,500): Arfield, another player from the Premier League, takes corners and sometimes starts out wide on the left where he can rack up crosses in the run of play. For Canada, he has played just seven games after making his debut in 2016, but he has four assists in seven games with the national team.
Johan Venegas, CRC v. HON ($6,400): Venegas has been in somewhat of a funk for Minnesota United, which should make him excited to return to the national team for which has he has eight goals in 32 games. If he starts up top, he will be knocking on the door for a goal all game. Listed as a midfielder, he is a good way to get more than three forwards into your lineup.
Florent Malouda, FGU v. CAN ($5,600): Malouda played many years for Chelsea and the French national team, but now he is a member of French Guiana. He was an attack-minded player in his days in the Premier League, but at 37, he may be more withdrawn into a defensive position. He is, however, a class above the rest of his teammates and most of the Canada side.
FORWARD
Bryan Ruiz, CRC v. HON ($7,900): Ruiz, who plays for Sporting Lisbon, is the main man for the Ticos. He is the captain, takes penalties and has come up with a lot of big goals for his country in the past. He has scored 22 goals in 95 games and his distributing ability is top class. He plays center attacking mid, so the attack goes through him.
Romell Quioto, HON v. CRC ($6,700): Quioto has been fighting injuries for the past month, but it seems that he is just beginning to get his feet under him again. He has played more than 45 minutes in each of the past two games, and he even scored a goal for Honduras in a friendly just under a month ago. He is the special player in the Honduras attack, but it is just not totally clear whether he has fully recovered from the injuries that have been nagging him for the past several weeks.
Raheem Edwards, CAN v. FGU ($6,300): Edwards plays left wing-back when he starts for Toronto FC, but he plays as an all-out left winger for Canada. As an affordable attacker in an attack facing the weakest team in the group, Edwards makes for a solid value play. He scored eight goals in 41 games for Toronto FC II, but he hasn't been put in positions to score with the first team this year.
