Hello and welcome to my Euro 2020 MD1 analysis and evaluation of the numerous captaincy options for the upcoming Euro 2020 Fantasy game. While we have been blessed with a plethora of extremely enticing matchups, this may create a feeling of uncertainty amongst avid FPL players who are used to having to choose a single captain for each match week. However, with the rules involved in Euro 2020 Fantasy, you mustn’t worry: for those of you who are not aware, for each day within each ‘Matchday’ – meaning a round of fixtures for each team, we fantasy managers are able to change our captain during what is called a substitution window, should we not be happy with our current one’s performance. This means that for MD1, we are able to select up to 5 different captains! In this piece, I will be assessing what I feel are the best options for each of the said game days.
Euro 2020 Matchday One Captaincy Analysis
Gameday 1 Fixture & Captaincy Picks
Turkey vs Italy
The opening Gameday in this highly anticipated tournament will be Turkey against Italy. Roberto Mancini’s men are unbeaten in over 25 matches and are boasting incredible defensive form, having only conceded 1 goal in the last 10 matches while maintaining an impressive attacking record. Many – including myself, are backing the Azzurri to be victorious, and I am subsequently only considering such assets for the armband in this fixture.
Due to the aforementioned defensive record, it may be tempting to gamble on a defender, yet I still feel that the Turkish attack is not one which should be underestimated, as they have scored in 8 of their last 9 matches, the only blank being against Hungary in which their gaffer deployed an extremely rotated side. Moreover, as an Italian myself, I can assure you that I am not expecting a much-attacking threat from our backline, hence you would largely be relying on a shutout which would likely only net you 6 points.
The asset which I would recommend is Lorenzo Insigne. Despite being classified as a midfielder – thus being eligible to net a clean sheet point and an additional goal point, he plays as a wide forward and is at the heart of the Italian attack. He is rated extremely highly by the Italian manager and offers a plethora of avenues to accruing points for your fantasy teams: not only is he tasked with several set-pieces, but he has also been in electric form in the Serie A this season, amassing 26 goal contributions in just 33 starts.
He also performed extremely well in a recent friendly against the Czech Republic, in which he netted one goal and created another, all whilst putting in a world-class performance. At his relatively budget-friendly price (compared to his attacking counterpart Immobile, who, despite undoubtedly being a great option, is simply too pricey), the Napoli ace also ensures that you have enough to load up on other great premium captaincy options should he disappoint.
Gameday 2 Fixtures and Captaincy Picks:
- Wales vs Switzerland
- Denmark vs Finland
- Belgium vs Russia
The second Gameday has some very interesting fixtures, especially when it comes to selecting potential captaincy options. I have immediately eliminated Wales vs Switzerland matchup from my thoughts here, and this is because when I look at this fixture, I see two quite evenly matched out sides. Not only that, but the side that I do think will be victorious – Switzerland does not truly have a talisman who can be relied upon for points. The second matchup has piqued my interest, however, as I do believe that there is a clear standout winner in this matchup – being Denmark, a side which I feel can be a true dark horse in this tournament.
However, since the start of the Qualifiers, Finland have kept a respectable 10 clean sheets, hence they are not the pushovers that some have been making them out to be. Yet I think that the matchup to target is Belgium vs Russia. In my opinion, Roberto Martinez’s men have a real chance at winning this tournament and are basically guaranteed to score in every game – having found the back of the net in their last 29 games in a row. Furthermore, they have averaged 2.5 goals scored in their last 10 games, suggesting that selecting a Belgian captain on Gameday 2 has the real potential of netting you well over 15 points.
The asset which is simply miles above all in my thoughts is Romelu Lukaku. Not only does he have the highest odds of scoring amongst all players on this Gameday – 48%, but he has also been in electric form throughout the entirety of the season for Inter, amassing 30+ goals. He is obviously nailed to play, and has an incredible scoring record for his country – 60 goals scored in less than 100 games. As he leads the line in a free-scoring Belgium side, we can count on him to find the net not only in the opening game but throughout the tournament. He’s been involved in 5 goals in his last 5 matches, and he offers numerous avenues to points. With Eden Hazard deemed unlikely to start, he is on spot-kick duties and also offers great assist potential, having created 11 for his teammates in the Serie A this season. In the two matches against upcoming opponents Russia, Belgium scored 7 goals, and I would not be surprised to see 3+ goals being scored once again – big Rom will undoubtedly be involved.
Gameday 3 Fixtures and Captaincy Picks:
- England vs Croatia
- Austria vs North Macedonia
- Netherlands vs Ukraine
The fixture that I would advise you to target for captaincy on Gameday 3 is Netherlands vs Ukraine. I am yet to be impressed by England and Gareth Southgate’s decision to not allow his first 11 to play together in the recent friendlies puts me off captaincy on Harry Kane. This decision is also influenced by the fact that the Spurs star faces a respectable Croatian side who flourished in the most recent notable tournament, not only beating England along the way, but keeping their aces quiet throughout the match.
Moving on, while Austria are undoubtedly heavy favorites in their fixture against North Macedonia, there appears to be a degree of uncertainty not only regarding who starts, but which attacking asset is nailed to play 90 minutes. Granted, there has been a lot of outrage regarding Dutch boss de Boer’s attempt to deploy a 5-3-2, but even in this system, there have been several key players who are still delivering nonetheless. The Netherlands have also been a very free-scoring side in spite of the apparent tactical woes, scoring 16 goals in their most recent 5 matches. This, coupled with the fact that they are facing a Ukraine side which is largely inexperienced when it comes to playing at the highest level, leads me to believe that should we need to, a Dutch asset is the best option for captaincy on this Gameday.
We simply cannot overlook the potential of Memphis Depay. The Lyon star has been involved in 9 goals in his last 5 outings and has been very consistent throughout the entirety of this season. It is also incredibly important to note that even when his national team is struggling, he regularly manages to deliver, as evidenced by his contributions in the final 2 friendlies before the Euros. He currently is deemed to have a 38% chance of scoring against Ukraine, yet he offers a plethora of avenues to points – including corners, free kicks, and penalties – which ultimately ensures that he will always be in great contention to secure you a haul for the whole 90 minutes. In a side with a bucketful of talent, he has proven to be the talismanic figure which I believe will propel his side to success on Gameday 2, hence he is a great option to have for captaincy in case you are not satisfied with your previous 2 skippers’ returns.
Gameday 4 Fixtures and Captaincy Picks:
- Scotland vs Czech Republic
- Poland vs Slovakia
- Spain vs Sweden
Gameday 4 consists of various matches involving teams with the most passionate fans, and every game should prove to be an enjoyable watch for all. When it comes to captaincy, however, I cannot look past Poland vs Slovakia fixture. I have indeed seen many have the more budget-friendly Scottish and Czech options in their fantasy teams, yet I simply feel that this match is too unpredictable to select an option that can be relied upon for points. More controversially, perhaps, I am also advising you to steer away from Spain vs Sweden fixture.
This is not only because I feel that this game has the potential to be a very even one, but I believe that Spain – the side that people appear to be most interested in captaincy, do not have a true talisman, nor do any true captaincy candidates seem to be completely nailed. This is all without mentioning the current covid crisis which forced the U21s to play the final friendly. For that reason, I am backing a respectable Poland side to deliver against a fairly weak Slovakia lineup, and while I think it is fairly obvious who I am going to be selecting – and for good reason, he needs no introduction – I will still provide you with information that will make you feel very optimistic of a solid haul.
Robert Lewandowski has just completed a Bundesliga season in which he scored 41 goals and created 7 in 28 starts. That should be enough to convince most of you to trust him with the armband, yet I do understand the skepticism amongst others. Several have pointed out his lack of form when playing in major tournaments with his country, and this has undoubtedly put them off. However, Lewandowski currently has the highest odds to score on matchday 4 by a landslide at 53%, and he has scored an impressive 66 goals for his country – which has only gotten stronger in recent years. This man is nailed to play as long as he can run, is on penalty duties, and will without a doubt have the Ballon d’Or in the back of his mind this summer. Granted, he does come at an extremely premium price, yet a player of his pedigree, coming up against a team which has struggled against weaker oppositions such as Malta and Bulgaria, simply cannot be overlooked.
Gameday 5 Fixtures and Captaincy Picks:
- Hungary vs Portugal
- France vs Germany
The final Gameday involved the 4 teams which make up this tournament’s group of death. France v Germany will without a doubt have one of the highest viewership numbers of the summer, while Hungary v Portugal (a game which I luckily managed to secure tickets to) will also be an entertaining battle, as the home side will be playing at home in front of a 100% capacity stadium.
To be completely honest with you all, this is the Gameday that I have struggled the most with when it comes to choosing captaincy. Moreover, I truly hope that by Gameday 5, you will already be satisfied with the returns of one of the captaincy options which I have outlined for you in this piece. In fact, I truly believe that there is absolutely no chance that by following the recommendations I have made, you will have secured a decent return from your skipper. For said reason, I am treating this Gameday as a bit of a free hit, in which you can gamble to maximize your haul as well as have a bit of fun. Nevertheless, listed below are the standout captaincy options for your fantasy teams:
Cristiano Ronaldo (56% chance of scoring), Diogo Jota (40% chance of scoring), and Kylian Mbappé – a fixture-proof beast who is a certified bagsman and terrorizer of any opposition’s defense, as we have seen in Ligue 1, the Champions League, and World Cup 2018.
Euro 2020 Fantasy captaincy matchday one analysis conclusion:
Thank you all for taking the time to read this article – personally, I have thoroughly enjoyed producing it! I hope that this was of help, and I eagerly await your feedback and opinions about the piece.
Incase you missed our Euro Group A, B, and C Analysis⬇️
Euro Fantasy Football | Group – D~ Review, Analysis, and Top Fantasy Assets
Euro Fantasy Football | Group – C~ Review, Analysis, and Top Fantasy Assets
Euro Fantasy Football | Group – A~ Review, Analysis and Top Fantasy Assets
Euro Fantasy Football | Group – B ~ Review, Analysis, and Top Fantasy Assets
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Further reads, resources from ALLABOUTFPL on Euro Fantasy Football and FPL
Euro Fantasy – Imaginary Limitless side for Matchday 1
Euro Fantasy Football | Group – D~ Review, Analysis, and Top Fantasy Assets
Euro Fantasy MD1 Differentials: Players Who Could Cause Havoc
How Belgium Fantasy Assets Fared vs Croatia | Expected MD1 Line-Up
Euro Fantasy Football ~ Best Forwards to Target in your MD1 Team
FanTeam €1000K Euro Fantasy Tournament | Register Now
EURO 2020 Friendlies Round-Up | Takeaways for Euro Fantasy Managers
Euro Fantasy Football ~ Best Match Day 1 Picks and Team Reveal
Belgium Watch EP. 3 – How Fantasy Assets Fared During the First Friendly
Euro Fantasy Football ~ Best Midfielders to Target in your MD1 Team
Euro Fantasy Football ~ Best Defenders to Target in your MD1 Team
Euro Fantasy Football | Group – C~ Review, Analysis, and Top Fantasy Assets
Belgium Euro Fantasy Watch EP. 2 -Attacking Options & Injury Updates
BELGIUM Euro Fantasy Watch EP. 1 – Looking Forward and ‘In my Defense’
Euro Fantasy Football | Group – B ~ Review, Analysis, and Top Fantasy Assets
EURO Fantasy Chip Strategy: What to do with the Elusive Boosts?
Beginner’s Guide to EURO Fantasy: How to Play, Rules, Scoring and Tips
Euro Fantasy Football | Group – A~ Review, Analysis and Top Fantasy Assets
Euro Fantasy Football – The Best Budget Enablers in Each Position
Euro Fantasy Football Captaincy ~ Changes and MD1 Captain Options
Euros Predicted lineups, Win and CS% Stats
Player odds, Cleansheet odds, Articles, Picks and much more Euro 2020 info on Drafthound
FPL History: Highest Scoring FPL Players Each Year Since The First FPL Season in 2002/03
Highest scoring FPL goalkeepers each year since the first FPL season in 2002/03
All that you need to know about FPL cup
History Of Fantasy Football And Origin Of FPL
FPL Tools Overview, Comparison, and Feature Analysis
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Giacomo Zamboni
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- Euro 2020 Fantasy | Matchday 1 Captaincy Picks and Analysis - June 10, 2021
