DREAM TEAM EUROS managers are spoiled for choice right now.
All gaffers have access to unlimited transfers ahead of Matchday 4 meaning they can essentially build a fresh team from scratch if they wish.
Before we put forward some players for consideration, here’s a reminder of the upcoming fixtures in the round of 16.
- Spain v Georgia
- Germany v Denmark
- Portugal v Slovenia
- France v Belgium
- Romania v Netherlands
- Austria v Turkey
- England v Slovakia
- Switzerland v Italy
Georgia are the lowest ranked team left in the competition and while they proved the strength of their character in the group stage, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (£3m) and company are well and truly up against it in the last 16.
Spain boast a 100% record in Germany this summer and they’re also the only side yet to concede a goal.
That last statistic makes the likes of Unai Simon (£4m), Dani Carvajal (£4m) and Marc Cucurella (£3m) immensely appealing options in Matchday 4.
In the attacking positions, the entire front three of Alvaro Morata (£5.5m), Nico Williams (£4m) and Lamine Yamal (£4m) are all viable – the latter may be just 16 years old but he’s super talented.
Playmaker Fabian Ruiz (£3.5m) is currently the third most-popular recruit ahead of Saturday’s 4pm deadline having banked 23 points in just two outings – he was rested against Albania last time out.
Simply put, La Roja are the team to back for Dream Team Euros bosses who like to target one-sided match-ups – our sponsors Betfair have Georgia at a massive 14/1 to win in normal time!
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Of the 16 teams still active, only Slovakia and England mustered fewer expected goals (xG) than Slovenia across the first three Matchdays.
Matjaz Kek’s side are set to meet Portugal on Monday and, given only Germany have conceded fewer shots than Roberto Martinez’s mob to date, targeting a clean sheet seems perfectly logical.
Joao Cancelo (£4.5m) occupies advanced positions, even playing as an auxiliary midfielder at times, but Nuno Mendes (£4m) is the Portugal defender with two assists to name at present.
Ruben Dias (£4m) is always a popular choice but some gaffers might feel it’s wise to back Pepe (£3.5m) instead as the 41-year-old veteran is a fraction cheaper.
Gaffers should be wary of over-committing to the top half of the draw.
The temptation to build an XI made up exclusively of Spain, Germany, Portugal and France stars is strong but while such a ploy may result in plentiful points in Matchday 4, there could be problems in Matchday 5 if those four teams make up the quarter-finals in the top half of the draw.
All we’re saying is it might be beneficial in the long run to take a punt on some players from the other side of the draw.
England have been uninspiring in attack but their defensive numbers are encouraging and so it’s possible Jordan Pickford (£4m) and the starting defenders could deliver a third clean sheet of the tournament against Slovakia on Sunday.
Elsewhere, Cody Gakpo (£4m) has delivered healthy returns across his first three outings.
Netherlands may have finished third in their group but the Liverpool forward has provided a persistent threat from the left flank – he scored against Poland and Austria.
In fact, Gakpo has amassed 32 points, the second-highest tally among all assets.
The Oranje have problems to solve but Ronald Koeman won’t be too annoyed to find his side against Romania in the last 16 on the more favourable side of the draw.
In midfield, Austria’s Marcel Sabitzer (£3m), who has 22 points to his name, is an affordable differential option worthy of consideration.
Ralf Rangnick’s troops play on the front foot and are coming off a back-and-forth 3-2 win over Netherlands ahead of their meeting with Turkey in Matchday 4 – that could easily be an end-to-end thriller.
Lastly, we shouldn’t need to explain why Kylian Mbappe (£7.5m) is strong option.
France’s captain banked 18 points in one fell swoop versus Poland via a goal, five shots on target and five bonus points.
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Granted, Les Bleus v Belgium seems like one of the more difficult Matchday 4 fixtures to predict but Mbappe, mask or no mask, is one of those players who is capable of a double-digit haul no matter the opponent – he scored a hat-trick in the World Cup final after all.
Confirm your transfers for Matchday 4 before Saturday’s 4pm deadline.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
