FIFA 20 Ultimate Team: Predicting Serie A's Team of the Season
By Max Cooper
Now that football is almost completely cancelled, what on earth do we do with our weekends?! Well, I imagine plenty of us dusted down the old FIFA 20 disc, blew the cobwebs off our controllers and settled in for some spirit-breaking hours of frustration and despair.
And then we got to thinking - "Hey, what is the FIFA Team of the Season going to look like this year?" More specifically, the Serie A Team of the Season.
Everyone knows that Serie A is the real place to be! I mean, there's Cristiano Ronaldo, for crying out loud. And here's a sneak preview to get you hooked... he may have made it into our TOTS. Maybe.
At this moment in time, it's pretty tough to predict what the finished squad will be, given that there should be plenty more games for our superstars to turn themselves into heroes or villains.
But we thrive on a challenge here at 90min, and so we've had a crack at predicting a full Serie A Team of the Season. Just for you.
Goalkeeper
Wojciech Szczęsny (GK) - The Polish international has already bagged one in-form card this season, and his Juventus side are currently sitting top of the table. The TOTS gloves look set to be his this year.
Predicted Rating: 95
Defenders
Hans Hateboer (RB) - Hateboer has already earned an 86-rated ShapeShifter card this season, and given the lack of competition at right-back, FIFA may turn to the Dutch defender to occupy that spot.
Predicted Rating: 93
Stefan de Vrij (CB) - Inter's standout defender this season, De Vrij has already been picked in two Team of the Weeks, and with 70 pace on his 87-rated card, he will be an exciting prospect in the TOTS squad.
Predicted Rating: 95
Matthijs de Ligt (CB) - He may not have made a great start to life in Serie A, but De Ligt has grown to prove himself as one of the best defenders in the league. And EA Sports absolutely love him.
Predicted Rating: 95
Aleksandar Kolarov (LB) - There's only one man to fill our left-back spot. Beginning life as an 82-rated defender with 69 pace, Kolarov has received four upgrades in that time, and is a shoe-in to be Serie A's TOTS full-back. Those free-kicks, though.
Predicted Rating: 96
Midfielders
Radja Nainggolan (CM) - FIFA love giving Nainggolan the big-money cards, and his early season form may have been enough to secure him a place in the TOTS midfield. Prepare yourselves for the return of the best all-round midfielder on the game.
Predicted Rating: 94
Luis Alberto (CM) - The Lazio midfielder has been in blistering form this season, which has been reflected in the four upgrades he has pocketed thus far. Already an owner of a 90-rated card, he's bound to make an appearance in TOTS.
Predicted Rating: 96
Alejandro Gomez (CAM) - Another stellar season for the Atalanta star. Gomez has earned four in-form upgrades this campaign, and his blistering pace makes him a much-fancied card for FIFA players.
Predicted Rating: 96
Forwards
Josip Ilicic (RW) - The star of Serie A thus far. Ilicic has been scoring for fun this year, and he has risen from an 84 starting card to a 90-rated Headliner. The Slovenian has played predominantly on the right-wing, but he has collected all of his in-forms as a striker, so it'll be interesting to see what position FIFA chooses to give him.
Predicted Rating: 96
Ciro Immobile (ST) - Serie A's top scorer. Averaging more than a goal a game this year, Immobile walks into the FIFA 20 TOTS. Four in-forms this year, and he's not finished yet...
Predicted Rating: 96
Cristiano Ronaldo (LW) - It wouldn't be a FIFA TOTS without this guy, would it? Ronaldo's form was average at the start of the season, but his 21 goals in 22 games will see him cruise into the prestigious team.
Predicted Rating: 99
Bench
Gianluigi Donnarumma (GK) - The Milan goalkeeper has already picked up two in-forms this season, and he may be a cheaper alternative to the first-choice shot-stopper.
Predicted Rating: 93
Chris Smalling (CB) - A dark horse candidate here. Smalling has already benefitted from the winter Headliners upgrades, but once upon a time he was the most overpowered player on the game. Will FIFA take us on a trip down memory lane with the Roma centre-back?
Predicted Rating: 94
Theo Hernandez (LB) - FIFA won't be able to resist giving Hernandez a TOTS card. The full-back has been brilliant this season for Milan, and already possesses one of the most exciting cards on the game for a defender.
Predicted Rating: 90
Fabian Ruiz (CM) - Napoli's Spanish sensation Fabian Ruiz has not had his most memorable of campaigns, but he has certainly impressed in flashes for I Partenopei. A potential wildcard in the TOTS.
Predicted Rating: 91
Federico Chiesa (RW) - It's not been a particularly memorable season for Chiesa this year, but the Italian also tends to be rewarded with a TOTS card at the end of each season. He may have just done enough this time round.
Predicted Rating: 88
Romelu Lukaku (ST) - It's a toss-up between Lukaku and Lautaro Martinez for a place in this side, but the big Belgian just about shades it for his consistent goalscoring over the campaign.
Predicted Rating: 94
Lorenzo Insigne (LW) - It's not been a great year for Napoli this season, but Insigne has stepped up to the plate as their captain.
Predicted Rating: 93
Reserves
Nicolas Nkoulou (CB) - The Torino defender has earned two special cards this campaign, and his decent pace could make him an excellent cheaper TOTS card to test out.
Predicted Rating: 92
Manuel Lazzari (RM) - An unsung hero in a Lazio team gunning for title success, Lazzari has been a consistent star on their right flank.
Predicted Rating: 88
Lucas Leiva (CDM) - Another top performer for Lazio this term, Leiva has gone about his business at the centre of the pitch very quietly. He may not be a popular card because of his lack of pace, but he deserves the recognition.
Predicted Rating: 88
Fabio Quagliarella (ST) - This old man loves to score goals. He may not have the speed that you crave, but boy, does he know how to finish.
Predicted Rating: 91
Francesco Caputo (LW) - The striker has been in great form for Sassuolo this year, picking up two in-forms over the course of the campaign. He can also play on the left, so FIFA may opt to choose Caputo as their low-budget winger.
Predicted Rating: 87