THE WORLD CUP is off and running with action on the pitch overshadowing most things off it. The United States starts its campaign with a match that pretty much everyone agrees is as close to a must-win contest as any first World Cup match can be.

You can win too, with DraftStreet’s Fantasy World Cup competition providing you, the educated American Soccer Now reader, with a chance to prove your expertise with two different games. To review, the first option is a salary cap game, where you assemble an eight-man team staying under a budget. The second is a tiered pick-em in which DraftStreet puts a handful of players in eight tiers. You choose the player you think will perform best from each group and reap the reward.

While we’re sure you know your stuff, we’re here to provide some helpful tips as well.

With USA-Ghana on tap, it’s important to remember to pick with your head and not just your heart. With that said, there are some U.S. players who look like they could be good buys.

Do Jozy Altidore’s two goals against Nigeria have the forward feeling confident like he was in the Hex? He’s a pretty good value, as is Fabian Johnson, who could get you points for defensive accolades and get forward to assist or perhaps even score.

The first level of the tiered game has goalkeepers Tim Howard and Germany’s Manuel Neuer alongside attacking dynamos Cristiano Ronaldo, Mesut Ozil and Thomas Muller. If you think either keeper will keep a clean sheet, then they’re probably the right picks with a win worth two points and a shut out worth another two, plus a point for each save. However, if you think there will be scoring involved, then it’s probably a savvier move to go with one of the attacker—though Ronaldo’s fitness concerns mean you might want to steer clear from the risk of a goose egg.

The second level gives you a decision to make. Clint Dempsey is on the same level as Ghana forward—and U.S. nemesis—Asamoah Gyan. You can go neutral and pick Portugal’s Nani or Rui Patricio, but think about setting Deuce loose.

Attacking defenders can bring the highest-reward, so give Fabian Johnson a look in Tier 7.

Outside of the Group G matches, Nigeria-Iran is the only other game on offer today. Iran is known for a stout defense but was pretty poor in qualifying. Peter Odemwinge or Emmanuel Emenike could be a solid pick-up in either game with the Super Eagles forwards looking to get group play off to a flying start.

Hopefully your fantasy campaign will do the same with an excellent lineup that rakes you in some dough.

Remember: It's DraftStreet, and if you didn't, or couldn't get in on today's action, there's a whole new slate of contests tomorrow and continuing throughout the World Cup.