IT’S frankly unacceptable that there are no more Euro 2024 games until Saturday but this unwelcome break does allow us time to reflect on the action so far.
Dream Team Euros managers were bored into submission by some teams during the group stage – *cough* England *cough* – and thrilled by others but the main focus should be points.
Here we’ve assembled the best possible XI as determined by total points after three Matchdays – useful information given all gaffers have access to unlimited transfers ahead of the round of 16.
GOALKEEPER: KOEN CASTEELS (£3.5m)
We tipped Belgium’s first-choice goalkeeper several times before the tournament got underway and he’s repaid our faith with 24 points.
The Red Devils may have stumbled into a round of 16 meeting with France by finishing second in Group E but clean sheets against Romania and Ukraine ensured healthy returns for Casteels.
Amazingly, the 32-year-old notched an assist in Matchday 2 when his long hoof upfield fell was poked home by Kevin De Bruyne (£7.5m).
Casteels has also earned five points through saves – who needs Thibaut Courtois, eh?
DEFENDERS: THEO HERNANDEZ (£5m), DANI CARVAJAL (£4m), ERIK JANZA (£1.5m)
France are yet to concede a goal from open play with Robert Lewandowski’s (£5m) retaken penalty the only blemish on their defensive record.
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And so it stands to reason that their dynamic left-back has justified his price tag with an unmatched return of 24 points among defenders, a tally supplemented by five bonus points.
Hernandez is the most likely of Les Bleus’ defenders to provide an attacking return – he was a tad unlucky not to register an assist against Austria.
Spain have kept three consecutive clean sheets but Luis de la Fuente rotated almost his entire team in Matchday 3 and so Carvajal missed out to some degree but his return of 22 points from two outings has made him a hugely popular recruit ahead of the knockout stage.
The experienced right-back scored a rare goal (his only one at senior international level) against Croatia as part of a 16-point haul – the highest achieved by any defender to date.
Slovenia’s streetwise left-back benefited from England’s insipid showing in Cologne to finish the group stage with 21 points to his name.
Janza scored against Denmark in Matchday 1 and also banked three bonus points for his industrious all-round display.
His team-mate, Zan Karninik (£1.5m), also has 21 points but misses out purely because he features in fewer teams – them’s the breaks!
MIDFIELDERS: JAMAL MUSIALA (£4.5m), RAZVAN MARIN (£1.5m), FABIAN RUIZ (£3.5m), JUDE BELLINGHAM (£6m)
It’s no surprise to see Germany’s No10 leading the way in the middle of the park as he sparkled in the hosts’ first two outings.
A mesmerising dribbler, Musiala scored against Scotland and Hungary before a more subdued showing against an organised Swizterland outfit.
The talented 21-year-old has earned 27 points and is currently the most-popular player in Dream Team Euros with an ownership of 55.4%.
In stark contrast, Romania’s Marin features in just 0.6% of teams at the time of writing.
Primarily a defensive midfielder, the 28-year-old has been deployed in a more advanced role at this tournament with surprisingly effective results.
Marin scored against Slovakia and Ukraine and has been good value for his 23 points – the round of 16 might be a step too far but he deserves full credit for his efforts so far.
Spain have undoubtedly played the best football in Germany and Ruiz has been a key contributor.
The PSG playmaker may not have a reputation equal to Rodri (£4m) or Pedri (£4m) but he’s comfortably outscored his team-mates in Dream Team Euros to this point – he’s level with Marin on 23 points.
Ruiz produced three minutes of magic against Croatia that featured a pleasing assist plus a skilful goal and he was fully deserving of his nine-point haul for his classy performance against Italy.
Rested in Matchday 3, La Roja’s No8 will surely start against Georgia in what looks the most one-sided match-up in the last 16 on paper.
Perhaps surprisingly, Bellingham makes the cut having mustered 22 points.
Kevin De Bruyne (£7.5m), Christian Eriksen (£3m), Ilkay Gundogan (£4m) and Marcel Sabizter (£3m) all boast the same total but the England man edges them out on ownership.
The Real Madrid star looked fatigued and bereft of inspiration against Slovenia but his first half display against Serbia in Matchday 1 remains the brightest spark in an England shirt this summer.
Bellingham has a habit of drawing fouls and his control in tight areas means he completes his fair share of successful dribbles too – hence how he’s accumulated seven bonus points despite his increasingly lethargic performances.
Gareth Southgate will be hoping the 20-year-old rediscovers his form ahead of Matchday 4 – as will 47.3% of Dream Team Euros gaffers!
FORWARDS: GEORGES MIKAUTADZE (£2m), CODY GAKPO (£4m), KYLIAN MBAPPE (£7.5m)
Who would have predicted that a Georgia forward would be leading the Golden Boot race after all the groups were decided?
Mikautadze scored against Turkey, Czechia and Portugal (plus an assist against the latter) to book his nation’s place in the round of 16.
He’ll have to produce something truly magical to get past Spain in Matchday 4 but the Metz striker deserves his flowers for amassing 34 points from his first three outings – he’s the outright top performer in Dream Team Euros right now!
Gakpo has provided a potent threat from the left flank for the Netherlands, as evidenced by his return of 32 points.
The Liverpool forward scored against Poland and Austria but that only tells half the story – he bagged the maximum of five bonus points against the former and has earned tackle points in all three outings.
Ronald Koeman’s side are set to face Romania in the round of 16 so Gakpo owners will be hopeful of further returns with the Oranje on the more favourable side of the draw.
Last but by no means least, France’s superstar captain has racked up 26 points despite the fact he missed a game due to a broken nose.
Mbappe didn’t appear to be hindered by his mask at all against Poland as he pocketed 18 points in one fell swoop via a goal, five shots on target, and five bonus points for the biggest Matchday haul among all assets so far.
Real Madrid’s new Galactico probably should be the outright top performer in Dream Team Euros as he missed a gilt-edged one-on-one chance versus Austria.
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France v Belgium may appear to be the most-competitive last 16 match-up but some players are essentially immune to the schedule and Mbappe falls into that exclusive category.
Remember to lock in your transfers, captain and any Boosters you wish to play for Matchday 4 before Saturday’s 4pm deadline.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
