Euro 2020 Fantasy Football: FIVE players to transfer in your dream team, plus best bargains, top tips and how to play

As we enter the last 16 of Euro 2020, have a look at who we recommend as your must buys, bargains and top tips for the knockout stage of the tournament.
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Who doesn’t love a fantasy football league between mates ahead of a major international tournament?

UEFA Euro 2020 is well underway and fantasy football squads, with various weird and wonderful team names, are being altered across the country ahead of the knockout stages as your family and friends get set face off for the title of Euro 2020 fantasy league winner.

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With the knockout stage only days away, UEFA Euro 2020’s official fantasy football league is letting players make unlimited transfers in a bid to add to some flavour to the proceedings.

Is Dutch skipper Georginio Wijnaldum a must buy for your Euro 2020 fantasy team? (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group)Is Dutch skipper Georginio Wijnaldum a must buy for your Euro 2020 fantasy team? (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group)
Is Dutch skipper Georginio Wijnaldum a must buy for your Euro 2020 fantasy team? (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group)

How do I play?

Easy. Head to the official Euro 2020 fantasy football site, pick and manage your own dream team all the way to tournament glory, and you’ll receive points based on your players' real-life performances throughout the tournament.

What is my budget and how do I pick my squad?

To get started, you’ll need to pick a squad of 15 players, with a total budget of €100 million. However, when the competition reaches the knockout stages, your budget will increase to €105 million.

Harry Kane (right), pictured with Dominic Calvert-Lewin, takes penalties for England - they're nailed on for a couple (Photo by IAN WALTON/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)Harry Kane (right), pictured with Dominic Calvert-Lewin, takes penalties for England - they're nailed on for a couple (Photo by IAN WALTON/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Harry Kane (right), pictured with Dominic Calvert-Lewin, takes penalties for England - they're nailed on for a couple (Photo by IAN WALTON/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

You can pick two goalkeepers, five defenders, five midfielders and three forwards then, on match day, you must pick a starting XI in any formation, from your squad of 15.

A comprehensive list of the rules are available here.

Which players are a ‘must pick’ for your side?

Thibaut Courtois – Goalkeeper, Belgium (€6m)

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His Real Madrid side may not have had the best tournament but the former Chelsea number one is still a must pick for your side. Belgium should sail through their group without much trouble and are likely to keep plenty clean sheets with Courtois in goal and a watertight defence in front of him. The top ranked side in the tournament had the most clean sheets in qualifying, and have followed it up with three clean sheets in their opening three games.

Leonardo Spinazzola – Defender, Italy (€5.6m)

The Italians looked a different gravy in their 3-0 opening game win over Turkey and following it up with clean sheets against Switzerland and Wales. While much of the talk was about their slick attacking play, defensively they are impeccable. This guy will be at the heart of it. Get him in.

Romelu Lukaku – Striker, Belgium (€11.2m)

The pundits and bookies alike are tipping Belgium’s golden generation to finally win a major tournament and, if they do, the Inter Milan looks the most likely to play a major role in it. Belgium have waltzed through their group, with Lukaku firing them into the knockout stages.

We expect the Inter Milan striker to make a play for the golden boot.

Cristiano Ronaldo – Striker, Portugal (€12.2m)

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‘But he’s 36, costs €12 million and is in a group with the likes of Germany and France’ I hear you cry, alas, you should never write off one of the greatest players of all time. He’s broken record upon record and he is now just four goals away from Ali Daei’s all-time international scoring record after hitting three goals already. Cristiano likes to break records, so get him in that starting line up.

Georginio Wijnaldum – Midfielder, Holland (€8.1m)

The Dutch have perhaps the easiest group in the tournament and the recently departed Liverpool midfielder was one of the top goalscorers in the qualifying stages of the tournament, with eight goals. He isn’t the cheapest option, but with Holland the clear favourites in Group C, expect the former PSV Eindhoven midfielder to be in amongst the goals and assists.

Who are our top tips and bargains?

Gianluigi Donnarumma – Goalkeeper, Italy (€5.6m)

An absolute bargain at that price, considering him form in the tournament already.

The soon-to-be Paris Saint Germain stopper has yet to concede a goal in the tournament, with his nation not conceding a goal since October 2020. He is currently the highest scoring fantasy football goalie at the tournament and, with Italy facing Austria in the last 16, we’d bank on him adding another clean sheet to his impressive tally.

Yussuf Poulsen – Striker, Denmark (€8.2m)

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The Danes gave us the performance of the tournament, as their secured a last 16 place with a 4-1 demolition of Russia. In short, Denmark will go flying into their lat 16 tie and will be confident they can overcome Wales to progress to the quarter final.

RB Leipzig striker Poulsen already has two goals and will be the key to them breaking into the quarter finals.

Jason Denayer – Defender, Belgium (€4.5m)

An absolute bargain considering the form his country are in and he assurance over a starting berth.

Dropped for Belgium’s opening game win over Russia, the former Celtic defender has came back into a Belgian back three that has only conceded one goal all tournament.

Leon Goretzka – Midfielder, Germany (€6.4m)

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It is very rare to see any German squad struggle on the world stage, so perhaps their outstanding performance against Portugal should have came as no surprise.

Bayern Munich midfielder Goretzka is second only to star man Serge Gnabry when it comes to goals scored in qualifying and comes in significantly cheaper. Expect him to get more game time in the knockout stages as he builds back to his top form. Bargain.

This article first appeared on our sister site The Scotsman.

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