Hungary might have 60K fans back for the home opener but defending champs Portugal are still the heavy favourites for the game and their players occupy a high spot in our Euro 2020 Fantasy player rankings for matchday 1.
Legend
| Symbol | Context |
|---|---|
| vs | Home game |
| @ | Away game |
| - | Game is hosted at a neutral venue |
| (D) | Differential captain |
Note: You can make substitutions and change your captains throughout the matchday.
Forwards
| Rank | Name | Team | Opponent | Value | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cristiano Ronaldo | POR | @HUN | €12M | Bruno might've been the star of the show in the last match against Israel but could play deeper as a #8 this time and Ronaldo will be the center-piece of the attack again with most of the team's offensive efforts revolving around him. CR7 strikes me as the player who could get double returns in the first matchday and also offers the best captaincy option for the final day. |
| 2 | Romelu Lukaku | BEL | @RUS | €11M | An away game against Russia might seem daunting but even without KDB, this Belgian attack that hasn't been shut since 2018 possess enough fire-power with players such as the Hazard brothers and Lukaku who has 15 goals and 6 assists in his last 18 appearances for the NT to do enough damage. |
| 3 | Memphis Depay | NED | vs UKR | €10M | Depay does it all for the Netherlands and if they score then it is more likely than not that he is involved. He is on every set-piece and had a direct hand in 47% of the team's last 21 goals. |
| 4 | Robert Lewandowski | POL | -SVK | €11.5M | The service he gets at Bayern Munich is vastly different from the one he gets with the NT, but if you are one of the world’s most clinical finishers, you don't need too many chances to score. |
| 5 | Ciro Immobile | ITA | vs TUR | €10M | The Turkish defense is susceptible to conceding lots of shots and this is the one game that could be a two-way goal fest with the attacking talent that both the team's possess. So I wouldn't be surprised to see an Immobile goal or penalty in there. |
| 6 | Harry Kane | ENG | vs CRO | €11.5M | This England team is a big question mark for me considering how the coach still isn't sure about his best XI so no one can predict how this game will go so I will wait and watch England since this is the toughest group stage game for them. |
| 7 | Antoine Griezmann | FRA | @GER | €11M | The Griezmann playing for France is a different beast than the one playing for Barcelona but I would still prefer him as a second striker where he is more consistent than as a #10 in a tough away game. |
| 8 | Burak Yılmaz | TUR | @ITA | €8M | The Turkish players are certainly no pushovers and with an attacking trio consisting of players with 10+ G+A each domestically, I expect them to fight fire with fire. Yılmaz in particular is the main threat here and had an incredible season with Lille in the Ligue 1 leading them to their first title in a decade with 16 goals and 5 assists in just 28 games at 35 years of age. |
| 9 | Marko Arnautović | AUT | -MKD | €7M | A boom or bust pick considering how Austria have failed to score a single goal in their last three games while North Macedonia have had some great results heading into the tournament and look like they could punch above their weight. |
| 10 | Gerard Moreno | ESP | vs SWE | €6.5M | Although he isn't nailed in the XI, Moreno offers a good budget option at just €6.5M in a game in which they are heavy favourites. |
Midfielders
| Rank | Name | Team | Opponent | Value | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lorenzo Insigne | ITA | vs TUR | €8.5M | He has a higher fantasy potential than the cheaper Berardi and offers a great captaincy option from the early game. |
| 2 | Christian Eriksen | DEN | vs FIN | €9M | A ceiling pick for the week as he is on all set-pieces against one of the weakest teams in the tournament. |
| 3 | Yannick Carrasco | BEL | @RUS | €7M | The biggest beneficiary from KDB's absence and Eden Hazard's lack of fitness, Carrasco could be a hidden gem as the primary creator that is also on free-kicks and corner-kicks for the most dangerous team in the tournament. Do keep an eye out for Mertens possibly making a surprise appearance over him. |
| 4 | Diogo Jota | POR | @HUN | €8.5M | Plays in a more advanced position compared to Bruno and costs 2M less. Jota is the more likely goal-scorer while Bernardo Silva is more likely to assist. |
| 5 | Georginio Wijnaldum | NED | vs UKR | €8M | Wijnaldum might strike you as a defensive player due to his role for Liverpool but he is a lot more attacking for the NT and it is evident with the eight goals and three assists that he had in eight games of the Euro qualifiers including a hattrick against Estonia. |
| 6 | Serge Gnabry | GER | vs FRA | €9.5M | Even though he didn't have his best season domestically, Gnabry has always been a force for the NT with 16 goals and 6 assists in just 22 games and could be a good differential since he is expected to play OOP as a striker. |
| 7 | Ferran Torres | ESP | vs SWE | €8M | Torres has proved his mettle at the international level with a hattrick against Germany and could be an alternate captain option for the games on 14th June against covid-affected Sweden but bad news could come from either camp so he is a risky pick. |
| 8 | Mason Mount | ENG | vs CRO | €7M | Gareth Southgate's preferred choice in midfield so he is the one player that is guaranteed game time and will also be on free-kicks. |
| 9 | Marcel Sabitzer | AUT | -MKD | €8M | Loves a goal from outside the box which has an extra bonus point and could be a good value as a #10. |
| 10 | Piotr Zieliński | POL | -SVK | €7M | Tasked with creating opportunities for Lewandowski and he is also on corner-kicks to support him but at that price point you might look for someone who is more consistently involved in goals. |
Defenders
| Rank | Name | Team | Opponent | Value | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | João Cancelo | POR | @HUN | €6M | This Portugal team is about more than just one player and Cancelo's recent contributions in attack is proof of that. He might be the only defender worth the premium and has the best clean sheet odds this week to go along with a potential goal/assist against a toothless Hungary team without their best player Szoboszlai. |
| 2 | Simon Kjær | DEN | vs FIN | €4.5M | It is a huge first game for Finland in the Euros but it might be too big of a task to score against a Denmark defense that has kept a clean sheet in 7 out of their last 10 games. A Danish defense double-up is a real option here but just for this week. |
| 3 | Pau Torres | ESP | vs SWE | €4.5M | If Sweden loses more key players to covid then this game might quickly become one-sided. |
| 4 | Jason Denayer | BEL | @RUS | €4.5M | The #1 ranked team has been placed in what many consider the easiest group and the Belgian Red Devils have good odds to keep a clean sheet in almost every group stage game. |
| 5 | Leonardo Spinazzola | ITA | vs TUR | €5.5M | Italy has the stats to back up the fact that they have the best defense in the world. They have just conceded once in their last 10 games but be wary of how good the Turkey attack is. |
| 6 | Owen Wijndal | NED | vs UKR | €4.5M | No team managed by Frank De Boer is immune to conceding goals but Wijndal gets a pass because of his price, the easy group, the home game against Ukraine and the return of De Ligt from an injury scare should be a big boost to the Oranje defense. |
| 7 | Luke Shaw | ENG | vs CRO | €6M | If England goes with five defenders at the back then Southgate might be more than happy to settle for a draw here so a clean sheet is on the cards for Shaw who should also share corner-kicks with Phil Foden. |
| 8 | Andrew Robertson | SCO | vs CZE | €5.5M | An attacking wing-back on corner-kicks against a Czechia team that still doesn't have a reliable goal-scorer. |
| 9 | Martin Hinteregger | AUT | -MKD | €4.5M | The reality is that MKD are in better form here but either team could keep a clean sheet with Austria being the more likely side to do so and Hinteregger will be a big threat from set-pieces. |
| 10 | Ezgjan Alioski | MKD | -AUT | €4.5M | A defender on penalties and corner-kicks feels too good to pass up just for the bench at €4.5M even though I doubt they keep a single clean sheet. |
Goalkeepers
| Rank | Name | Team | Opponent | Value | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rui Patrício | POR | @HUN | €5.5M | The best clean sheet odds for this week. |
| 2 | Kasper Schmeichel | DEN | vs FIN | €5M | A big bargain for this matchday considering the matchup at just 5M. |
| 3 | Thibaut Courtois | BEL | @RUS | €6M | This Belgium squad is one of the best teams in the world - both offensively and defensively - but I am not sure that Courtois is worth the premium when everyone is so cash-strapped. |
| 4 | Unai Simón | ESP | vs SWE | €5M | Another value pick but could be replaced by Sánchez at any time. |
| 5 | Gianluigi Donnarumma | ITA | vs TUR | €5.5M | The best defense but not the best fixture. However, he plays early so you can sub him out for another keeper if he doesn't keep a clean sheet. |
Value Picks
Forwards and midfielders within €8M and defenders and keepers within €5M.
| Rank | Name | Team | Opponent | Value | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Domenico Berardi | ITA | vs TUR | €6M | Probably the best value for money midfielder at just €6M, Berardi has a goal in each of his last four starts for the NT and is also coming off a stellar domestic season with 17 goals and 4 assists in 30 games for Sassuolo and is pretty much a must-have if he starts. |
| 2 | Ruslan Malinovskiy | UKR | @NED | €7M | The Malinovskiy hype train is in full steam and rightly so given his 8 goals and 12 assists for Atalanta this season. |
| 3 | Yusuf Yazıcı | TUR | @ITA | €5.5M | It is either him or Alaba at 5.5M and I prefer the man in the more attacking role on a team that is considered more attacking. |
| 4 | Yussuf Poulsen | DEN | vs FIN | €8M | Eriksen needs someone to assist up top against Finland. |
| 5 | Olivier Giroud | FRA | @GER | €8M | He might not start often but when he does, it feels almost inevitable that he will score. |
| 6 | Maarten Stekelenburg | NED | vs UKR | €4.5M | Pro: Likely to keep a clean sheet. Con: He doesn't rotate with Bachmann as they play on the same day. |
| 7 | David Alaba | AUT | -MKD | €5.5M | Alaba is another player who is playing in a more advanced position and enjoys more attacking freedom for the NT but mainly stands out due to his free-kick and corner-kick responsibilities. Not to forget the matchday one fixture against the lowest-ranked team in the tournament. |
| 8 | Daniel Bachmann | AUT | -MKD | €4.5M | |
| 9 | Tymoteusz Puchacz | POL | -SVK | €4M | Rybus replacement that might ply as a midfielder instead of a defender and costs just €4M. |
| 10 | Jakub Świerczok | POL | -SVK | €5.5M | Świerczok is the highest-scoring forward domestically at his price with 15 goals and 3 assists in 23 Ekstraklasa games and will partner Lewandowski up top in a game that should see some goals. |
Euro 2020 Fantasy Captain Picks
| No | Day | Name | Matchup | Value | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11th June | Lorenzo Insigne | ITA vs TUR | €8.5M | The best option from the first game of the matchday, Insigne is in stellar form returning with a goal or assist in each of his last five games for the country and could extend the streak against Turkey. |
| Ciro Immobile (D) | ITA | €10M | When you are surrounded by some of the best attacking talent in the world, you have a good chance at scoring goals. | ||
| 2 | 12th June | Romelu Lukaku | BEL at RUS | €11M | The most obvious captain choice for this day, Lukaku has been one of the most consistent goal-scorers this season for both club and NT. |
| Christian Eriksen (D) | DEN vs FIN | €11M | Take a chance on Eriksen if you believe that he could get double returns against Finland's leaky defense. | ||
| 3 | 13th June | Memphis Depay | NED vs UKR | €10M | Not the most exciting captain pick there is but he is the most reliable player on this list in terms of form. |
| Harry Kane (D) | ENG vs CRO | €11.5M | Few own Kane and few will captain him but given his recent form, he is more than capable of delivering the goods in a big home opener against Croatia. | ||
| 4 | 14th June | Robert Lewandowski | POL vs SVK (-) | €11.5M | In the current format, every game is a must-win and I don't expect Lewandowski and co to take this lightly so they won't expect anything less than three points in a group in which they are expected to qualify. |
| Jordi Alba (D) | ESP vs SWE | €6M | The Swedish defense can be resilient so a Spanish defender could be a good floor option if all your captains have failed at this point. | ||
| 5 | 15th June | Cristiano Ronaldo | POR at HUN | €12M | Ronaldo is just five goals away from breaking the record for the most international goals ever and if he has to put in a big performance it has to be in this ceiling game. |
| Antoine Griezmann (D) | FRA at GER | €11M | It is no secret that the German NT's defense has been unstable as they have conceded in each of their last three games against Latvia, Denmark and North Macedonia. Red-hot Griezmann who has four goals and an assist in his last five games could capitalize on that by utilizing the amount of space that their fullbacks give up. |
You can find additional Euro 2020 Fantasy tips here.
The creator of the website.