After an exciting group phase, it is back to the drawing board in Euro 2020 Fantasy with the Round of 16 starting on Saturday 26th of June. Managers are provided with unlimited transfers between the group phase and the round of 16 and crucially, the budget for our teams has increased from €100 million to €105 million.
So far, I have scored 223 points in the group phase and today I am taking you through my team selection for the Round of 16.
GOALKEEPERS
In goal, I have opted for the combination of Martin Stekelenburg (€4.7m) and Unai Simon (€5.1m). Both Spain and the Netherlands have been excellent defensively in the group stages, conceding only 1.8 Expected Goals each so far in the tournament and are expected to go through to the quarter-finals.
DEFENCE
With the Netherlands playing the Czech Republic – the team that has recorded the fewest big chances out of those who qualified – I have doubled up on their defence and selected Dutch right wing-back Denzel Dumfries (€5.6m). Dumfries is also incredibly attacking and has already scored 2 goals so far in the tournament and racked up an impressive 1.9 xG.
Alongside Dumfries is Italy’s Leonardo Spinazzola (€5.6m). An Italian defender is a must for all fantasy managers with their perfect record so far in the tournament and the AS Roma left-back is the best option due to his attacking threat. Given that France are the second favourites to keep a clean-sheet this week according to the bookmakers, I have also selected Presnel Kimbepe (€5.6m) for their game against Switzerland.
And finally, the two budget defenders in my squad are Pau Torres (€4.6m) and Joakim Maehle (€4.5m). Both Denmark and Spain have good defensive metrics which make Torres and Maehle excellent value options at their price. The Danish right-back also offers a significant attacking threat as seen by his goal against Russia on matchday 3.
MIDFIELD
The one premium pick I have opted for in midfield is Kevin De Bruyne (€10.6m). Despite playing only 1.5 games in the group stages, De Bruyne has already created the most chances in the tournament and faces a Portugal side that has conceded 6 goals so far. Alongside him is the highest-scoring midfielder in the game – Gini Wijnaldum (€8.1m) – for Holland’s excellent fixture against the Czech Republic.
I have also taken two Italian midfielders in my squad for their favourable fixture against Austria in the round of 16. Domenico Berardi (€6.2m) offers great value at his price and is a great budget enabler for the rest of the squad while Lorenzo Insigne (€8.6m) has a substantial goal threat and takes a lot of set-pieces for the Azzuri.
Dejan Kulusevski (€7m) is listed as a midfielder in the game but plays upfront for Sweden and registered two assists in their final match against Poland, making him a good differential option for their round of 16 fixture against Ukraine.
FORWARDS
My trio in the attack includes Karim Benzema, Memphis Depay and Ciro Immobile. Immobile (€10.1m) has scored in both games that he has started in the tournament and is a great captaincy option for Matchday 1 against Austria while Memphis Depay (€10.1m) has 2 goals and 2 assists so far and is the bookies favourite to score in the Round of 16.
Finally, to round up my team, I have selected Karim Benzema (€10m) ahead of Kylian Mbappe (€12m) as my French attacker, since Benzema is €2 million cheaper and is also on penalties.
Shivaan Shah