Hey guys. Welcome to my first official EFF (Euro Fantasy Football) article although I have already produced a lot of content in the form of Twitter threads pinned to the top of my page. Those threads are broken down into 3 parts and show you how to download the game and set up, game plan with chips (wildcard and limitless), the importance of captaincy and substitutes, how to find your own players to build your draft, and much more.
Euro Fantasy Football Basics:
Firstly if your having trouble downloading or setting the game up check my first thread out
Secondly if you need advice on a game plan , captaincy and substitutes check out Part 2:
Finally if you want to find your own exciting players check out my 3rd and final thread:
In this first article, you’ll see some of the best players for your first Match day (1st round of fixtures). You’ll see why I think the players we look at should be in your first draft based on a mixture of stats, game time, reliability, in-game player cost, captaincy, etc. Finally, you’ll see my complete first draft going into match day 1.
Game plan for Euro Fantasy
It’s important firstly that you decide what your game plan is with your chips because it’s vital in choosing your team. My game plan is after match day 1 I will use limitless in matchday 2 and probably wildcarding in matchday 3 before the unlimited transfers we receive a week later in the last round of 16.
This gives me a full change of team during the group stages which in my opinion maximises your points and is the best to gain rank.
Going with that game plan it gives me the leeway to not have to worry about long term player picks in my team and so for that reason will be targeting match-day 1 with my draft team entirely.
My Euro Fantasy 1st draft:
Here we go. A list of players I think need to be in your team for match-day 1:
Formation: 3-4-3
Note: The players on my bench are on my bench not because they have less quality than the first 11 but because they play later, giving the option to substitute on if the players that play earlier in the matchday (game week) don’t perform so make sure you arrange your bench in a similar way.
Goalkeepers
Lukas Hradecky (Finland)
Cost: 4 million
Position: Goal Keeper
Lukas is one the cheapest first-team players in the tournament making him a perfect asset if looking to go cheap at the back. During Euro qualification, Hradecky claimed 6 clean sheets out of the 9 matches he played for Finland which is impressive already. The first match against Denmark gives a very reasonable chance of clean sheet points and if not substitute him out for your backup goalkeeper to give yourself another shot at points. At 4 million pounds for me is a steal especially when you need funds elsewhere.
David Marshall (Scotland)
Substitute
Position: Goal Keeper
Cost- 4.5 million
Firstly it’s important that David Marshall is not only playing a couple of days after Hradecky (to swap if he doesn’t perform) but he is also another one of the cheapest starting goal keepers in the game 4.5 million.
Scotland are very inconsistent and so are their opponents at the Czech Republic and believe that if Hradecky doesn’t keep a clean sheet then David Marshall has a good chance of keeping one.
Further Read: Euro Fantasy Football ~ Best Midfielders to Target in your MD1 Team
Defenders
Simon Kjaer (Denmark)
Cost – 4.5 million
Position – Defender (Centre back)
You’ll already see that Kjaer is a budget defender at 4.5 million. Another very good value enabler to allow for more funds up in the attack.
Simon Kjaer plays at centre back for Denmark in playing 10/10 in previous games guaranteeing his reliability to play. In those same 10 games accumulating 7 clean sheets which is fantastic.
Although the attacking threat with Kjaer is uncommon the quality of the danish defense shows and playing against Finland in his first match suggests there could be a high chance of a clean sheet.
For me Simon Kjaer is a great value asset and a must in building your first draft especially with the recent Denmark defensive form.
Jason Denayer (Belgium)
Cost – 4.5 Million
Position: Defender (centre back)
Initially the cost is fantastic, another great defensive enabler to power up that attack.
Denayer had played 10 out of 10 games in recent times for Belgium in competitive competitions guaranteeing his reliability in-game time.
Within that time came away with 3 clean sheets and a goal showing he also shows some attacking threat.
With the further knowledge that Belgium have a great group and a fantastic first game against Russia who lack consistency in front of goal and his great value price tag, Denayer makes the cut.
Owen Wijndal (Netherlands)
Cost: 4.5 million
Position: Defender (Left wing back/left back)
Another 4.5 million asset in defence further enabling funds for firepower.
An attacking left back that has played that last 5/5 matches for Netherlands showing reliability in minutes for the euros.
2 clean sheets and 2 assists in his last 6 games for Netherlands showing a major attacking threat and combined with clean sheets could be a huge defensive asset.
Below is his heat map Az Almaar reflecting his attacking intent
Taking 6 assists , 1 goal and 10 clean sheets accumulating to 17 returns in 34 matches for his club
All that combined with the addition of his price , along with the fact he plays in a strong team with Netherlands against Ukraine in match-day 1 reflects why he’s a must for your first drafts.
Further Read: Euro Fantasy Football ~ Best Defenders to Target in your MD1 Team
Midfielders
Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium)
Cost: 10.5 Million
Position: Midfielder
Firstly Belgium have not failed to score a goal since 2018. 30 matches ago which straight away is fantastic.
4 goals and 7 assists in the qualifying stage, creating 11 goals in 6 games.
More recently for Belgium 4 assists in 2 goals following the 4 games he played in after Euro qualification
So within both periods combined 6 goals and 11 assists in 10 matches working out at 17 goal contributions for Belgium in the last 10 matches he has started which is incredible.
Russia (Belgium’s first opponent) with a poor recent defensive record conceding 12 goals in their last 5 matches averaging conceding 2 matches per game.
It’s also interesting that in both of the last head to heads between Russia and Belgium, Belgium have scored 7 goals past them.
For me, Kevin de Bruyne fully justifies his price tag contributing more goals than the number of games he’s played in for Belgium and playing a fantastic fixture in Russia so perfect for your first draft in match day 1. Although a recent injury could keep him out of the opener but a high chance he just wears a facial protective mask.
Chiesa (Italy)
Cost: 7 Million
Position: Midfielder (Attacking)
A very attacking player in a big side, Italy only failing to score once in their last 20 matches shows that a country that was once stereotyped on just having a good defense now known for scoring plenty.
Chiesa featured in 6/10 euro qualifying matches for Italy he got 1 goal and 3 assist.
This season however for juventus chiesa has truly grown as a player maturing and developing his talents at just 23 years old.
As you can see Chiesa has amazing versatility on the pitch which is a managers dream. You can also see from the heat map he’s highly used in both wing positions as a playmaker.
33 starts this season for Juventus showing he could become a reliable attacker for the national team creating 9 goals and 9 assists this season for his club.
In match-day 1 playing against turkey who are in scoring form but very poor defensively because of the space they leave at the back. Only 1 clean sheet in their last 10 and conceding 19 goals within that time averaging nearly 2 goals conceded per game.
Chiesa is at a nice price against a defensively weak opponent and his versatility makes him a fantastic option with a big chance of both goals and assists.
Gini Wijnaldum (Netherlands)
Cost: 8 million
Position: Midfielder
Wijnaldum has played a vital part in the Netherlands recent form. Playing 6 in their last 6 games. Scoring 4 goals and creating 2 assists within that time.
Wijnaldum is one of the Netherlands highest shooting players with an average of 4.1 shots per game during the euro qualifying round and although has sat back during his time at Liverpool has a much more threatening position for Netherlands.
You’ll see below position for Netherlands from the heat map below:
In match day 1 the Netherlands face a Ukraine side that have only won 1 of their last 10 matches. Furthermore conceding 21 goals during that period averaging 2 goals conceded per game.
At 8 million taking up an attacking role, playing a poor Ukraine team defensively, in scoring form, 4% owned making him a differential and averaging 4 shots per game could be a steal in matchday 1 becoming a great option.
David Alaba (Austria)
Cost: 5,5 million
Position: Defender in game (Actually plays midfield)
Already you can see that 5.5 million Alaba is cheap. Similar to the benefits of the other great value players in my team listed he creates money to use elsewhere.
Like all of my enablers provides potential points. Firstly you may associate as a defender for Bayern Munich over the years so this may be a surprise but takes up a completely different position for Austria. Take a look below.
Bayern heat map:
Austria heat map:
Austria plays North Macedonia in matchday 1, who have been inconsistent in results. In fact, they were both in the same group in the qualifying round. Austria winning both head to heads against North Macedonia 2-1 and 4-1 scoring 6 goals against them and interestingly David Alaba scoring in one of the games.
With a great price tag and limited enablers in midfield, Alaba looks to be a great pick. In a great attacking position with a great fixture and already scoring past the team, he plays in matchday 1 in the qualifying round.
Further Read: Euro Fantasy Football | Group – C~ Review, Analysis, and Top Fantasy Assets
Forwards
Romelu Lukaku (Belgium)
Cost: 11 Million
Position: Striker
For his club, this season inter who he helped regain the Serie A title he played 36 matches and within those games scored 24 goals and created 11 assists accumulating to 35 goal contributions in 36 games which is amazing.
For Belgium 13 goals and 2 assists accumulating to 15 goal contributions in his last 10 matches. Again a hugely impressive record for Lukaku.
Belgium play Russia in matchday 1 who have conceded 17 goals in their last 10. Where Belgium have scored 29 goals in their last 10 matches and scored a huge 40 goals during the qualifying round. Interestingly Belgium and Russia were in this same qualifying group and Belgium scored 7 goals against the Russians with Lukaku only playing 1/2 of those games and still scored and assisted.
Lukaku’ss high price tag really is deserving based on both his club and county record. Russia are inconsistent and for me are their to be attacked. Lukaku has to come into that first draft.
Memphis Depay (Netherlands)
Cost: 10 million
Position: Striker
Depay has had a fantastic season for Lyon playing 37 games this season scoring 20 goals and creating 12 assists combining to a total of 32 goal contributions in 37 matches which is great.
6 goals and 2 assists for Depay in his last 11 for the Netherlands but during the qualify round scored 3 goals and created 4 assists in the 8 games he played.
Ukraine winning one match in their last 10 games conceding 21 goals as shown in gini wijnaldums description and conceding 2 goals per match provides depay with massive opportunity to return.
Depay justifies his big price tag for both club and country similar to lukaku. His match day fixture against Ukraine is too good to ignore and the Netherlands are proven goal scorers making depay a great option.
Teemu Pukki (Finland)
Cost: 7 million
Position: Striker
Firstly we have already discussed how strong Denmark are defensively in recent form so this could be contradictory but we have substitutes for a reason, right?
Pukki is arguably the best budget striker in the game costing just 7 million and a cheap way into goals. You could argue other options (Wind, Arnautovic) as alternatives but both have questions around their minutes (wind) and fitness (Arnautovic).
Playing a huge 41 matches in the English championship and being promoted back up to the premier league Pukki has scored 26 goals and created 4 assists making that 30 goal contributions in 41 games.
8 Goals and 2 Assist for Finland in his last 10 starts for Finland with Finland only failing to score twice in their last 11 matches. Both Pukki and Finland are in scoring form and it’s interesting that the only game in Finland’s last 20 they haven’t scored in was a game Pukki had no involvement in whatsoever in terms of minutes played.
With needing a budget striker for 7 million to fit in the rest of your team Pukki could be a fantastic option, firing for both club and country.
Joao Cancelo (Portugal)
Substitute
Cost: 6 million
Position: Defender
Playing 9 out of the last 10 competitive games for Portugal Cancelo has now cemented himself at the back alongside his club teammate Ruben Dias.
5 clean sheets, 2 assists, and 1 goal in Cancelo last 10 matches in which he’s started combining to 8 returns in his last 10 reflects his large price tag, and rightly so.
Cancelo loves to attack playing for his club Man City and carries that way of playing into his national side , the heat map below shows the positions he took up during the euro qualifying round.
With a first matchday 1 game against Hungary, Cancelo has both the potential for a clean sheet and attacking returns especially with Portugal keeping 7 clean sheets in their last 10 matches.
Cancelo is a premium defender in relation to his price there’s no doubt about that and for me, the price is justified. Cancelo had shown for club and country he can keep a clean sheet and if he doesn’t still has great attacking potential to return you points.
Vladimir Coufal (Czech Republic)
Cost: 5 million
Position: Defender
Coufal had a fantastic season with West Ham claiming Europa league football. Coufal fantastic in both areas of his game defensively and offensively with a huge 7 assists in the premier league this season, along with 9 clean sheets totaling 16 returns in 34 games played is impressive.
Czech Republic are an inconsistent team playing against another inconsistent team, they score goals and concede goals with their opponent on matchday 1 Scotland only averaging 1.2 goals per game showing a lack of being able to score lots of goals.
Coufal at 5 million is a fantastic price. Coufal can create goals and keep clean sheets giving you 2 routes to points and playing against an inconsistent Scotland there’s huge potential of one if not both routes to points.
Ferran Torres (Spain)
Cost: 8 million
Position: Midfielder
During Euro qualification, Spain scored 32 goals in 10 games averaging 3.2 goals a game showing they can put plenty of goals away when they play which is fantastic in terms of looking for players for your team.
With a fantastic 5 goals in his last 5 games for Spain Ferran Torres shows both reliability for minutes and his ability to score plenty of goals as a midfielder and one of the best goal threats amongst all midfielders in the game over the last 5 for their national teams.
Spain are playing Sweden in their opening match of matchday 1 who in the European qualifiers conceded 9 goals nearly one every game and against weaker opposition showing although they qualified they also conceded goals against teams they maybe shouldn’t have.
This is also relevant because during a period of 8 games after the euro qualifying Sweden hit a run of tough games and lost 6/8 matches conceding 16 goals with Lingard that period which they averaged a goal of conceding 2 goals per game.
Spain looking to get back to their best in international competitions with a red hit in form Ferran Torres against a Sweden side that folds against the bigger sides could be perfect for points and so for me makes the side.
Backups to update my Euro Fantasy MD1 draft in case of injuries
We all know a lot can happen between now and the Euros so I’ve also put together a short list of back up players that you can easily switch to if something goes wrong eg (injuries , fitness etc).
Maehle (Denmark)
Cost: 4.5 million
Position: Left Back
Maehle already you can see is a budget defender and potentially a great one at that and has to make your backup list or maybe even your first team if you prefer him over his teammate Kjaer who we have already put in.
We have already seen that Denmark have kept 7 clean sheets in their last 11 matches which again is impressive.
With 2 goals and 5 clean sheets in the last 9 matches in which he’s started or featured he offers both the opportunity to take away attacking points and clean sheet points.
With Finland as their first opponents Denmark could well come away with a clean sheet.
Maehle doesn’t offer as much reliability as Kjaer in terms of minutes but has started and featured heavily for Denmark as of late and for the cost and threat going forward could be a fantastic asset.
Jota (Portugal)
Cost: 8 million
Position: Midfielder
Portugal scoring 21 goals in their last 10 matches and averaging 2.1 goals per game of exciting and a team full of some of the best players in the world from defense to attack make Portugal a great team to target for bringing in players.
Hits featuring in 4/5 of Portugal’s recent matches and scoring 3 goals creating an assists aswell gives him 4 attacking returns in 4 games , impressive.
There’s some question over rotating but with Felix and Bernardo Silva being rotated or benched more often that jota suggests that jota could be a mainstay in that team if fit and if so could be a hugely cheaper way into the outrageous attack that Portugal have considering both Bruno and Ronaldo are 10-12 million.
Jota not only offers explosiveness but again a cheap way into a very expensive Portugal attack and for me well worth the 8.5 million value.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Cost: 12 million
Position: Forward
So Ronaldo makes the backup list because of his cost. Again 12 million is a lot of money within the game so if you can afford him in your plans you probably should bring him in. For me, he doesn’t fit in but plans can change.
33 games played in Serie A this year scoring a huge 29 goals and 3 assists making that 32 goal contributions in 33 games in a tough league is amazing.
Taking penalties for Portugal amongst some of the best players in the world including himself and playing ahead of one of the most creative players in Europe this season in Bruno Fernandes bodes well for some big returns.
Wind (Denmark)
Cost: 6 million
Position: Striker
At 22 years old and bags of quality Jonas Wind could be a huge value forward choice.
For his club Copenhagen he played 28 matches and amongst them scored 15 goals and created 8 assists totaling 23 goal contributions in 28 matches.
Wind playing 4 of the last 5 for Denmark and scoring 2 goals and creating 1 assist is short-term form but at a young age after a fantastic season with club and good short-term form with country should be nailed to play or feature in most games.
Conceding 12 in their last 6 matches averaging letting in 2 goals per game Denmark’s first opponent Finland doesn’t look great at the back and Wind has the pit tips to do well.
Considering form for club and country and at a fantastic price Wind surely becomes an option if looking to spread some funds somewhere else.
Euro Fantasy Team Reveal
There you have it. My full 15 with some back up players to cover any injuries going forward.
EFF Reaction Podcast
Check out my page for updates on the brand new Euros Fantasy Football Podcast for more content and even special guests to help you with your exciting new Euros campaign.
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Incase you missed our Euro Group A B, and C Analysis⬇️
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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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?
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Louis Roberts
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