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The aim is to build the best possible combination of 15 players for the quarterfinals and beyond.
goalkeepers
Often an overlooked position, goalkeeper is in one of the only spots where you can take full advantage of the substitutions feature in the game. Having a rotation of 2 goalkeepers each playing on different days provides you the flexibility to make changes in case one doesn’t perform.
Gianluigi Donnarumma
Of the goalkeepers playing on day 1, it was a pick’em between Courtois and Donnarumma. Courtois although priced higher than Donnarumma at €6.2m offers much less value. The Italian and Belgian defences both rank in the top 3 in terms of goals conceded but, given that the nature of the fixture is inclined towards allowing Italy to sit back and defend. This will certainly give Donnanruma more to do and hence potentially more points to score through saves. It certainly is a risk, but one worth taking.
Jordan Pickford
If the Donnarumma pick doesn’t work out, there isn’t a better number 2 option than Jordan Pickford. Pickford has only had 7 shots directed towards him and he has saved them all, boasting a 100% clean sheet record. A Pickford clean sheet is as close as you’ll come to a guarantee in fantasy football.
Defenders
There has been some great point scorers in this years tournament from defence, however most of them either did not make it to the Knockout stages or have since been eliminated. Here’s the best 5 man combination of those who remain.
Harry Maguire
Maguire missed the first 2 games due to injury, but completed the full 90 mins in the previous 2. England have the best defence at the Euros, and their side of the bracket is also favourable from a defensive stand-point. Maguire’s ability in the air, and threat from set-pieces also gives him the edge over teammate John Stones who is also priced at €5.5m. His ownership is also fairly low, and any sort of attacking return will undoubtedly result in a sizeable jump in rank.
Luke Shaw
Dropped in favour of Trippier in the opener against Croatia, Shaw found has himself back in a starting spot at LB since. He is arguably the more attacking of the 2 English fullbacks. Often joining the attack to overlap with Raheem Sterling, Shaw has shown his attacking potential with a great performance, that was capped off with an assist against Germany.
Cesar Azpilicueta
Azpilicueta also plays a role in the Spanish attack which has found its groove in the last 2 games scoring 10 goals, including one from Azpilicueta himself. With many, overlooking the Spanish defence after a late-collapse against Croatia, Azpilicueta can provide some great value in defence priced at only €5.1m.
Thomas Meunier
Much like the goalkeepers, it was between Spinazzola and Meunier for a spot in defence. But the argument is somewhat flipped this time. If Italy willingly cede space like Portugal did, the Belgian full-backs will take full advantage of it. Although it was Thorgan Hazard who got the plaudits in the last game, Meunier has the advantage over him gaining extra points for clean sheets and attacking returns as Hazard is classified as a midfielder in the game. Meunier is the joint top-scoring fantasy player that is still playing, and his next attacking return doesn’t look that far away.
Joakim Maehle
,Maehle has great attacking potential, but what makes him a great asset is his attacking prowess coupled with his price. Available at just €4.7m Maehle is a great enabler, that allows managers to get much more expensive defenders (ie Meunier and Shaw) into their team. Denmark face the Czech Republic and with Schick being the focal point of the Czech attack, if the Danes can hold him down, a semi-final berth and a clean-sheet is on the cards for Maehle.
Midfielders
Paulo Sarabia
Sarabia provides a cut-price way into the a potent Spanish attack. After not starting the first 2 games, Sarabia seems to have won the trust of Luis Enrique playing 90 minutes both times in the previous 2 games. Sarabia has also shown his value in attack, by having a hand in 4 of 10 goals Spain have scored in their previous 2 games. Priced at just €6.7m he is a great asset to own in a favourable fixture for Spain.
Andriy Yarmolenko
Yarmolenko is Ukraines go-to guy and has certainly stepped up for his country. Scoring 2 and assisting a further 2 at the tournament, Yarmolenko is in great form. He will be the focus of much of Englands defensive plans, but owning him is a smart way to hedge your bets incase of another upset in the knockout Stages. Priced at €8.7m and owned by just 9% of managers, he is a good pickup in midfield.
Lorenzo Insigne
Insigne is perhaps Italy’s most skilful player and in this particular game against Belgium likely their most dangerous one too. He will look to attack the bags of space left behind whenever Meunier bombs forward from the right. Expect Insigne to find himself getting to run at the weaker side of the Belgian defence, and exploiting the Red Devils’ lack of pace at the back. Priced at €8.6m this will be a favourable matchup for Insigne and he will look to take advantage of it.
Tomas Holes
Another enabler pick priced at just €4.5m, Holes has started all 4 games for Czech Republic. Apart from his price, his next best asset is the fact that he has some goal threat as seen in their previous game against Holland. Holes bagged himself 11 points getting a goal and assist. Holes is cheap and low-owned, which allows him to be a great pick off the bench all the while having some potential for points returns.
Raheem Sterling
Gareth Southgate has chopped and changed his attack every game, but Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling have been mainstays in the team. Priced cheaper to Kane at €9.7m and Sterling has been in the form of his life at this tournament, scoring three goals in four games. He’s starting consistently and we know from the Premier League how much of a form player he is, gaining in confidence every game.
Strikers
Most of the good striker options were eliminated before the Quarter Finals, but where the knockouts taketh’ they also giveth’.
Kasper Dolberg
Uptill the 3rd Day of the Round of 16, there was no way that anything or anyone was going to be a bigger story than Dolberg’s brace against Wales. Although that wasn’t the case, but it is still pretty impressive. A change of heart non-withstanding, Dolberg also looks set to start the quarterfinal against the Czech Republic. A team much like Wales not known for their defending. Dolberg is priced at just €7.0m and owned by just 3% of managers, Dolberg is a no-brainer pick up top.
Romelu Lukaku
Lukaku is Belgium’s man in form. He has been the only constant in a Belgian attack that has seen may changes due to injuries to De Bruyne and Hazard. Unfazed by the lack of those around him, Lukaku has found the net 3 times and has played exceptionally well with his back to goal. With De Bruyne and Hazard doubts for the Italy game, Belgian hopes will rest on Lukaku to carry the lion share of the attacking load.
Alavaro Morata
Perhaps another pick’em between Quarterfinal opponents, the choice between Seferovic and Morata is a tough one. However, Enrique has constantly reiterated his faith in Morata and it seems like its finally starting to pay off. Morata has scored twice and is top of the non-penalty xG leaderboards ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo. If he can sort his feet out, Spain will create more than enough chances for him to score and even a broken clock is right twice a day.
Full Team
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