Dream Team

DREAM TEAM EUROS managers would do well to remember there are eight teams still active in Germany.Friday’s glamour quarter-final fixtures featuring Spain, Germany, France and Portugal are mouthwatering match-ups and there will always be heavy focus on England, set to take on Switzerland on Saturday.But Netherlands v Turkey should not be an afterthought in Matchday 5.Gakpo is in contention for the Golden BootCredit: Dream TeamIn fact, our sponsors Betfair reckon the Oranje are the only team odds-on to progress to the semi-finals.Vincenzo Montella’s side are not to be underestimated of course, they play with a high intensity and have some real gems in the squad such as Arda Guler (£2.5m), Hakan Calhanoglu (£3m) and Ferdi Kadioglu (£2.5m).However, while Turkey pack a punch, the stats suggest they’re vulnerable at the back.They’re yet to keep a clean sheet at Euro 2024 and only three teams (Georgia, Romania and Slovenia) have allowed their opponents more shots at the tournament to date.Furthermore, Georgia are the only team that have conceded more expected goals (xG) than Turkey.SHOTS CONCEDED AMONG QUARTER-FINALISTS:Turkey – 59Swizterland – 47Netherlands – 41England – 39Spain – 33Portugal – 32France – 28Germany – 27Most read in FootballXG CONCEDED AMONG QUARTER-FINALISTS:Turkey – 7.5Switzerland – 4.2Netherlands – 3.9Portugal – 3.4England – 3.3Spain – 3Germany – 3France – 2.6Turkey pack a punch in attack but their defence is relatively vulnerableCredit: ReutersThe numbers clearly suggest that it might be wise for Dream Team Euros bosses to back the Netherlands’ most-prominent attack-minded assets in Matchday 5.And who better than Cody Gakpo (£4m)?The Liverpool forward is currently the outright top performer in Dream Team Euros by a considerable margin after his 16-point haul against Romania.The 25-year-old scored one goal and brilliantly assisted another as Ronald Koeman’s side produced their most-convincing performance of the tournament to end up 3-0 winners.Gakpo now has a whopping 48 points to his name, nine more than his closest rival, Jamal Musiala (£4.5m).In midfield, Xavi Simons (£4m) became the leading assist-provider at the tournament when he set up two goals in the round of 16.The talented 21-year-old has the technically ability to exploit the potential weaknesses in Turkey’s team if they approach the game in the same gung-ho manner as they have the other games this summer.Malen scored twice against Romania in the last 16Credit: APElsewhere, it will be interesting to see if Donyell Malen (£3.5m) comes back into the starting line-up after his brace against Romania.The Borussia Dortmund forward pocketed 15 points in just 45 minutes and would be a tempting differential option if he was assured of a start against Turkey – he currently features in just 0.5% of teams.Banking of a Dutch clean sheet is a less appealing strategy as Turkey tend to create plenty of chances but Denzel Dumfries (£4.5m) is semi-viable as he’s not shy of getting forward – he was a regular assist provider in qualifying.READ MORE SUN STORIESThat being said, Nathan Ake (£4m) is currently joint-fifth among all defenders on 27 points and so many gaffers will view him as a transfer target ahead of the quarter-finals.Managers who prefer star quality will obviously be drawn to the likes of Spain, Germany and France, an understandable inclination, but those want to target a match-up should seriously consider Netherlands assets.Watch Declan Rice go ‘full Ben Stokes’ as he bowls out Harry Kane as England stars play CRICKET in training More

THE team budget in Dream Team Euros has increased to £53million for all managers!This injection of an additional £3million coincides with Matchday 5, where the tournament really ramps up.Gaffers have been able to target certain one-sided match-ups to date but the remaining fixtures from the quarter-finals onwards are set to be hotly contested.Spain v Germany promises to be an entertaining watchCredit: RexNothing underlines this more than Friday’s blockbuster fixtures of Spain v Germany and Portugal v France – juicy!The unpredictable, high-profile nature of these clashes is the exact reason Dream Team Euros bosses now have some extra cash to play with – as was always planned per the Game Rules.It stands to reason that most of the regular starters among the top teams come at a significant cost.This budget increases ensures gaffers can still select a fully active XI at the back end of the tournament when the number of viable bargains is limited.That’s not to say there aren’t still some affordable assets knocking about.The lop-sided nature of the draw means that one of Turkey, Austria, Romania or Netherlands are guaranteed to make the semi-finals, where they’ll meet either England or Switzerland. Today’s results will give a clearer indication of how things might play out in the bottom half of the draw.Most read in FootballWorth the investment?Credit: Dream TeamManagers are not obligated to spend the full £53million but it certainly opens up other options at a helpful juncture.At the time of writing, Theo Hernandez (£5m) is the top defender in the game having taken his overall tally to 35 points with an 11-point return against Belgium.France’s left-back has been a great option from the get-go but the fact he’s the joint-most expensive player in his position will have put many gaffers off.However, it’s now much easier to fit the 26-year-old into a balanced XI thanks to the budget increase.Given that Les Bleus are yet to concede a goal from open play and Portugal failed to breach Slovenia’s defence over 120 minutes last time out, Hernandez is likely to be a popular recruit ahead of Matchday 5.Kane has 25 points to show for his efforts despite some sluggish performancesCredit: GettyElsewhere, Kylian Mbappe (£7.5m) and Harry Kane (£7.5m) are the joint most-expensive players in the game overall and some gaffers will now believe it’s possible to combine the pair.The England captain has looked well below his best but he’s been on hand with two opportunistic finishes and, as a result, only four strikers have notched more points than his tally of 25 at present.More generally, Gareth Southgate’s side have desperately struggled for attacking inspiration but if you offered them a quarter-final against Switzerland (a well-organised side it has to be said) in the more favourable half of the draw three weeks ago, the nation would have gladly accepted.France’s No10 has scored just once (from the penalty spot) but he’s amassed 31 points thanks in no small part to his unmatched total of 11 bonus points – only Jeremy Doku (£5m) has completed more successful dribbles at the tournament.READ MORE SUN STORIESCombining Kane and Mbappe may not be as appealing now as it might have seemed prior to Matchday 1 but this strategy is more viable following the budget increase for those who think the two pre-tournament favourites will come good in the quarters.Whatever you decide, remember to lock in your transfers for Matchday 5 by 4pm on Friday.Netherlands fans take over Munich with crazy pre-match scenes ahead of last 16 clash with Romania More

Portugal’s round of 16 game against Slovenia quickly turned into ‘The Cristiano Ronaldo Show’ but not in the way the five-time Ballon d’Or would have liked.The 39-year-old happily adopted the the role of the game’s central protagonist on Monday night, a narrative amplified by commentators, pundits and social media users.Ronaldo endured an emotional roller coaster against SloveniaCredit: Dream TeamRonaldo let fly with a whopping eight shots in a barrage that included a succession of direct free-kick attempts of varying quality, accompanied by increasingly dramatic facial expressions.Matjaz Kek’s side defended resolutely but their resistance appeared to be at an end in extra time when Diogo Jota (£4.5m) won a penalty.Ronaldo stepped up and it appeared for all the world that his one-man play would end happily.But Jan Oblak (£3m) had other ideas.The Atletico Madrid stalwart saved the spot-kick, an act that brought Ronaldo to tears on the pitch in a dramatic scene – the BBC’s decision to dub him ‘Misstiano Penaldo’ prompted plenty of backlash.Ronaldo was emotional after his penalty miss in extra timeCredit: PAHowever, there was another twist still to come.Slovenia held firm and took Portugal to a shootout but quickly discovered that Diogo Costa (£4m) was in no mood for fairy tales.The Porto goalkeeper saved all three spot-kicks he faced to send Roberto Martinez’s side through to the quarter-finals.Most read in FootballAnd of course, Ronaldo scored his penalty in the shootout; a precise finish into the bottom corner well out of Oblak’s reach.Portugal will now meet France in the last eight where Real Madrid’s all-time top scorer will come face-to-face with Los Blancos’ newest Galactico, Kylian Mbappe (£7.5m).The whole situation is steeped in narrative but what’s the Dream Team Euros angle?Ronaldo attempted multiple free-kicksCredit: ReutersDespite playing a central role on the night, the fact is Ronaldo added just three points to his tally when all was said and done.Naturally, his returns were severely limited because of his extra-time penalty miss, which resulted in minus three points.And of course, actions that occur during penalty shootouts don’t count towards Dream Team Euros.At the time of writing, Ronaldo appears in just under 20% of teams which makes him the sixth most-popular striker in the game.He’s started every game at the tournament so far but his return of 18 points has to considered disappointing for an asset worth £6m.Gaffers are able to make up to five transfers before Matchday 5 and almost a fifth of them have a big decision to make regarding Ronaldo.Diogo Costa was Portugal’s hero on the nightCredit: GettyIt would be typical of the legendary No7 to save his best form for a massive knockout game against France but he will be up against it versus Dayot Upamecano (£4m) and William Saliba (£4.5m) on current form.Didier Deschamps’ side are yet to concede a goal from open play in Germany while Ronaldo is still waiting for his first goal at the tournament.Logically, Dream Team Euros bosses should probably seek a replacement ahead of the quarter-finals but it’s also true that betting against Ronaldo can backfire in spectacular fashion, such is his big-match pedigree.READ MORE SUN STORIESEven if Portugal get past France then they’ll meet the winner of Spain v Germany in the semi-finals – the top half of the draw is ultra competitive.Gaffers should wait until all the Matchday 5 fixtures are confirmed but it might be worth taking a punt on some attacking assets from the bottom half of the draw.Why Cristiano Ronaldo cried at Euro 2024 More

DREAM TEAM EUROS is set to reach another level in Matchday 5.Arguably the two strongest teams at the tournament so far are set to meet in the first quarter-final when Spain take on Germany in Stuttgart on Friday.Jamal Musiala and Fabian Ruiz have been excellent but only one will reach the semi-finalsCredit: Dream TeamThis fixture is set to divide gaffers as many will feel they have to choose one side or the other if they are to earn plentiful points from the tantalising match-up.But doing so would mean ditching some of the best players on display at the tournament to date.For example, there’s no point in having multiple Spain defenders in combination with several Germany attackers as the two units will be in direct competition – if one succeeds the other fails.Of course, it’s entirely possible the fixture will be a competitive high-scoring affair, in which case attack-minded assets from both sides could thrive.And some Dream Team Euros bosses may envisage a goalless deadlock, in which case an XI containing defenders from both teams would provide healthy returns.Whatever the pattern of the game, a winner will be decided one way or the other and so an XI stacked with both Julian Nagelsmann and Luis de la Fuente’s favourites would require replacements ahead of the semi-finals.All gaffers will be able to make up to five transfers before Matchday 5 and the same again for Matchday 6.Nagelsmann has a big job on his hands preparing his side to face SpainCredit: GettyThe magnitude of this fixture can’t be understated as both teams feature many of the best performers in Dream Team Euros.Most read in FootballJoshua Kimmich (£5m) is currently the best defender in the game having amassed 27 points.Jamal Musiala (£4.5m) is the outright top performer on 39 points and the joint top scorer having bagged his third goal of the tournament against Denmark.The only forward with more points than Kai Havertz (£4.5m) at present is Georgia’s Georges Mikautadze, who has now been eliminated.It’s worth noting that David Raum (£3.5m) replaced Max Mittelstadt (£3.5m) at left-back for Die Mannschaft in the round of 16 and returned 12 points via an assist and clean sheet.The former features in just 0.4% of teams at the time of writing.Havertz banked 12 points against DenmarkCredit: RexAs for Spain, Dani Carvajal (£4m) and Marc Cucurella (£3m) complete the podium of defenders, just two and three points behind Kimmich respectively.Fabian Ruiz (£3.5m) is Musiala’s closest rival, just one point shy of Germany’s No10 having added 15 points to his total with another impressive performance in Matchday 4.The PSG midfielder has two goals and two assists to his name and averages a whopping 12.7 points-per-game!Nico Williams (£4m) and Lamine Yamal (£4m) have both looked extremely lively on the wings and have perhaps been a tad unlucky not to have earned more points – although their combined tally of 46 is more than respectable.READ MORE SUN STORIESSpain’s exciting wingersCredit: GettySince this barnstorming fixture is the first of Matchday 5, Dream Team Euros bosses will probably be afforded the luxury of a glimpse at the starting line-ups just prior to Friday’s 4pm deadline.This will at least allow gaffers to avoid selecting non-starters, a welcome helping hand in what is an otherwise difficult match-up to gauge.Viral Euros-Inspired Haircut: England Fan Steals the Spotlight More

ENGLAND continue to confound Dream Team Euros managers worldwide.Gareth Southgate’s side were seconds away from elimination at the hands of Slovakia on Sunday but Jude Bellingham’s (£6m) 95th-minute overhead kick changed the complexion of the round of 16 tie in Gelsenkirchen.Bellingham provided a moment of magic to spare England’s blushesCredit: Dream TeamBuoyed by this rare moment of inspiration, Harry Kane (£7.5m) then scored an opportunistic header early on in extra time, which proved to be the winner.Both goals were huge moments of joy for the Three Lions but the nature of the overall performance was desperately underwhelming once again.Had England been dumped out, Dream Team Euros bosses would have no other choice than to replace the likes of Bellingham and company but now they have a big decision to make – stick or twist?Real Madrid’s 21-year-old superstar is now ranks third among all midfielders having taken his overall tally to 33 points.His average of 8.3 points-per-game is undeniably impressive and yet he hasn’t been at his most effective at this tournament.However, Bellingham is clearly capable of providing a blockbuster moment – a useful trait.Bellingham and Kane have scored four goals between them at Euro 2024 despite not being at their bestCredit: GettyIt’s similar story for England’s captain.Kane has looked a sluggish this summer and he’s been guilty of too many heavy touches but he remains natural goalscorer.Most read in FootballThe 30-year-old striker has now scored two goals at Euro 2024.On current form, many neutrals will fancy Switzerland to knock off England in Saturday’s first quarter-final as Murat Yakin’s men produced a convincing performance to beat Italy 2-0 in the last 16.Dream Team Euros gaffers will have to weigh up the points provided by England’s most-popular assets so far with their capacity to register healthy returns going forward, based on the performances.Does a second of genuine magic compensate for a lacklustre overview?Guehi won’t feature against SwitzerlandCredit: ReutersOne player who definitely needs to be replaced is Marc Guehi (£3m).The Crystal Palace centre-back has been one of the better performers in the squad but he’s suspended for Matchday 5 having picked up his second booking.Plus, Kieran Trippier (£4.5m) may be injured as he was forced off midway through the second half – it remains to be seen whether he’s available for the next game.Whatever the case, England’s status as unconvincing quarter-finalists is a real spanner in the works for Dream Team Euros managers.Ian Wright and Gary Neville go wild after Bellingham’s England equaliser… as eagle-eyed fans spot Roy Keane’s reaction More

WITH Dream Team Euros briefly in limbo as the group stage becomes the knockout phase, it’s the perfect time to analyse which players are leading the way in the key statistics.To what extent this information guides your strategy ahead of Matchday 4 is up to you but it’s always helpful to be across the numbers that make up our beloved fantasy game.Spoiler: Georgia reign supremeLet’s start with the metric that matters most…POINTS34 pts – Georges Mikautadze (£2m)32 pts – Cody Gakpo (£4m) 27 pts – Jamal Musiala (£4.5m)26 pts – Kylian Mbappe (£7.5m)24 pts – Theo Hernandez (£5m) 24 pts – Koen Casteels (£3.5m)Georgia have won plenty of hearts and minds at this tournament and the fact their No22 leads the way in terms of total points in Dream Team Euros at this stage is truly remarkable.The names that follow Mikautadze are more familiar and it’s worth noting Mbappe’s high ranking as he missed Matchday 2 because of a broken nose – France’s No10 averages 13 points-per-game right now.Musiala, Hernandez and Casteels are the top midfielder, top defender and top goalkeeper in the game respectively.GOALS3 – Georges Mikautadze (£2m)2 – Niclas Fullkrug (£4m) 2 – Cody Gakpo (£4m) 2 – Jamal Musiala (£4.5m) 2 – Ivan Schranz (£1.5m) 2 – Razvan Marin (£1.5m) Most read in FootballNaturally, there’s fair amount of crossover between goals and points but it’s worth marvelling at Mikautadze as Golden Boot leader, at least for the time being.It will be interesting to see whether Julian Nagelsmann keeps faith in Kai Havertz (£4.5m) or gives Fullkrug a start against Denmark as the Borussia Dortmund target man has looked sharper in front of goal.In terms of assists, there’s no front runner but the following nine players are level on two each: Nathan Ake (£4m), Ilkay Gundogan (£4m), Ante Budimir (£3m), Remo Freuler (£2.5m), Nuno Mendes (£4m), Juraj Kucka (£2m), Orkun Kokcu (£2.5m), Dennis Man (£1.5m) and Alexander Prass (£2m).Musiala is currently the most-selected player in Dream Team EurosCredit: GettyBONUS POINTS9 pts – Josip Sutalo (£3m)8 pts – Kylian Mbappe (£7.5m)7 pts – Jude Bellingham (£6m)Croatia didn’t make it to the last 16 and so their 24-year-old centre-back won’t be adding to his impressive tally – the secret to his success is revealed further down.Not only did Mbappe score on his return to action in Matchday 3, he earned the maximum of five bonus points thanks in no small part to the fact he completed six successful dribbles against Poland.Bellingham’s lofty ranking here may surprise some gaffers, especially after his lethargic showing against Slovenia, but England’s No10 completed his fair share of dribbles and won more than a few free-kicks in his first two outings.SHOTS ON TARGET7 – Romelu Lukaku (£5.5m)6 – Kylian Mbappe (£7.5m)5 – Kai Havertz (£4.5m)5 – Cristiano Ronaldo (£6m)How Belgium’s striker didn’t score in the group stage remains a mystery.A combination of narrow offsides, controversial VAR decisions and imprecise finishes meant the Red Devils’ all-time top scorer was left frustrated, as were his backers.There he is again, Mbappe, despite the fact he’s played just twice – he’s a serious asset in this game.Eight players are currently on four shots on target, including Kevin De Bruyne (£7m), Cody Gakpo (£4m) and Alvaro Morata (£5.5m).Lukaku suffered across the first three MatchdaysCredit: GettyBIG CHANCES CREATED4 – Roland Sallai (£2.5m)3 – Lamine Yamal (£4m)3 – Dominik Szoboszlai (£3.5m)3 – Ante Budimir (£3m)Hungary didn’t make it out of Group A but it evidently wasn’t due to a lack of creativity – Sallai and Szoboszlai created seven big chances between them!Spain’s teenage sensation will fancy his chances of creating some gilt-edged opportunities for his team-mates against Georgia in Matchday 4.Yamal is the only asset in this list still active in Germany.TACKLES13 – Nicolas Seiwald (£2m)11 – Strahinja Pavlovic (£2.5m)10 – Robert Andrich (£3.5m)10 – Giovanni Di Lorenzo (£4.5m)10 – Stefan Posch (£2.5m)10 – Josip Stanisic (£3.5m)10 – Oleksandr Tymchyk (£2m)Austria’s intense pressing has been a feature of their impressive performances under Ralf Rangnick and so it’s no surprise to see one of their industrious midfielders leading the way in this metric.Seiwald will probably have to make a few more against Turkey in what could be an end-to-end thrill ride if both teams go for it in their customary style.Austria’s tackle machineCredit: GettySAVES21 – Giorgi Mamardashvili (£2m)13 – Florin Nita (£1.5m)13 – Thomas Strakosha (£1.5m)12 – Martin Dubravka (£1.5m)12 – Bart Verbruggen (£3.5m)12 – Angus Gunn (£2m)Another Georgian hero tops the pile!The Valencia goalkeeper has been fantastic between the sticks, as evidenced by the fact he’s well and truly in a league of his own for saves.Interestingly, Nita and Verbruggen are set to meet in the round of 16 when Romania take on Netherlands – will that match-up come down to which keeper maintains their high standards?SUCCESSFUL DRIBBLES13 – Jeremy Doku (£5m)9 – Kylian Mbappe (£7.5m)9 – Jamal Musiala (£4.5m)8 – Ousmane Dembele (£4.5m)8 – Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (£3m)8 – Lamine Yamal (£4m)Dream Team Euros assets don’t earn points for successful dribbles directly but this avenue is one of the best ways to reach bonus points.This list is essentially a breakdown of the continent’s most-natural dribblers but Belgium’s rapid winger is in a bracket of his own – although his end product will have to improve if his side are to edge out France in Matchday 4.Catch him if you canCredit: GettyACCURATE CROSSES10 – Christian Eriksen (£3m)7 – Lukas Haraslin (£2m)6 – Andrija Zivkovic (£2.5m)Denmark’s set-piece specialist has been well ahead since Matchday 1 when he registered a whopping seven accurate crosses against Slovenia.Memphis Depay (£3.5m), Toni Kroos (£3.5m) and Nico WIlliams (£4m) are among the six players on five accurate crosses.INTERCEPTIONS13 – Josip Sutalo (£3m)7 – Fabian Schar (£3m)7 – Samet Akaydin (£2m)7 – Mario Mitaj (£1.5m)No wonder Sutalo was such a keen bonus point hoarder during his time in Germany!The Ajax defender notched almost twice as many interceptions as his closest rival – clearly he’s expert reader of the game.Sutalo was deceptively effective despite Croatia’s issuesCredit: GettyFOULS WON10 – Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (£3m)9 – Max Mittelstadt (£3.5m)9 – Roland Sallai (£2.5m)9 – John McGinn (£2.5m)8 – Harry Kane (£7.5m)Georgia deserve a trophy of some kind, don’t they?This time it’s their talismanic forward who tops the ranking thanks to his quick feet and, let’s face it, his willingness to hit the deck.READ MORE SUN STORIESGermany’s left-back is something of an outlier here as the only defender – he’s currently the fifth most-popular player in his position.Remember, you can check out all the relevant numbers through Dream Team’s Stats Centre at any time.SunSport’s Tom Barclay gives an update on Phil Foden’s return to England’s euro 2024 camp More

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 GeorgiaGermany v DenmarkPortugal v SloveniaFrance v BelgiumRomania v NetherlandsAustria v TurkeyEngland v SlovakiaSwitzerland v ItalyTeenage kicksCredit: Dream TeamGeorgia 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!Most read in FootballPortugal are heavy favourites to beat SloveniaCredit: GettyOf 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.Go Dutch!Credit: GettyEngland 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.The most transferred-in player for Matchday 4Credit: PALastly, 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.READ MORE SUN STORIESGranted, 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. More

DREAM TEAM EUROS managers essentially have a clean slate ahead of Matchday 4 with unlimited transfers available to all before the round of 16.Once gaffers have forged their ideal XI, they will have to decide which player to captain (and vice captain) with a view to maximising their returns.With that in mind, let’s analyse some of the most tempting captaincy options for Matchday 4.The obvious choice?Credit: GettyKylian Mbappe (£7.5m)France’s No10 is likely to be the most-selected skipper come Saturday’s 4pm deadline.Les Bleus will arguably be part of the most-difficult fixture to predict when they take on Belgium but some players are immune to the schedule’s fluctuations and Mbappe comfortably qualifies. The prolific forward underlined his pedigree in Matchday 3 when he plundered 18 points against Poland via a goal, five shots on target and five bonus points – the best haul among all assets so far.In fact, Mbappe averages 13 points-per-game this summer, the highest rate in Dream Team Euros.Didier Deschamps’ side have only mustered two goals in Germany to date but their underlying numbers suggests they’re problem is chance conversion, rather than chance creation.No team generated more xG across the first three Matchdays and they registered the same number of shots (47) as Spain.Most read in FootballSimply put, France could easily jump up a level or two and who better to capitalise than Mbappe?Alvaro Morata (£5.5m)Spain look strong this summerCredit: GettySpain have been the pick of the teams at the tournament having dominated their group (a tough one at that with Italy, Croatia and Albania for company) without conceding a goal.This record coupled with a favourable last 16 match-up, with all due respect to Georgia, means La Roja assets are immensely appealing ahead of Matchday 4.Morata has a reputation as a striker who blows hot and cold but he’s looked sharp enough so far – he took Croatia and Italy for 19 points across the first two Matchdays.Spain’s captain has the luxury of being flanked by Lamine Yamal (£4m) and Nico Williams (£4m), two exciting young wingers who endeavour to put the ball into the box at every opportunity.Morata is not everyone’s cup of tea but he leads the line for the best team at the tournament on current form and so he’s clearly a captaincy candidate.Jamal Musiala (£4.5m)King among midfieldersCredit: GettyGermany’s No10 is currently the most-popular player in Dream Team Euros with a massive ownership of 56.4%.The 21-year-old was more subdued against Switzerland but he dazzled against Scotland and Hungary with a goal against each among some mesmeric dribbles.Musiala has 27 points to his name at present, four more than the next-best midfielder, and his ability to earn bonus points on top of his goal/assist threat puts him in the captaincy conversation.The hosts will meet Denmark in the last 16 and there’s a chance Christian Eriksen (£3m) and company will be caught cold against a dynamic opponent having slugged it out in a comparatively slow Group C alongside England, Serbia and Slovenia.See also: Ilkay Gundogan (£4m)Cody Gakpo (£4m)32 points and countingCredit: AFPNetherlands finished third in Group D but they won’t be complaining about a last 16 meeting with Romania on the more favourable side of the draw.Ronald Koeman has problems to solve but Gakpo has been a shining left on the left flank, as evidenced his total of 32 points.Goals against Poland and Austria only tell half the story; he earned the maximum of five bonus points against the former and has picked up tackle points in all three outings.Whether the Oranje have the makings of a team capable of going deep at this tournament remains to be seen but Dream Team Euros bosses should only concern themselves with individual returns and Gakpo has delivered in spades across the first three Matchdays.Ronaldo has been a popular captain so farCredit: GettyElsewhere, many gaffers will be stirred by the idea of Cristiano Ronaldo (£6m) against Slovenia in a knockout environment but the five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s failure to score from three starts in the group stage is a slight concern.READ MORE SUN STORIESThose keen on Portugal might be better off backing Bruno Fernandes (£6m) or targeting a clean sheet through Joao Cancelo (£4.5m), who often occupies advanced positions.Good luck to those captaining either Harry Kane (£7.5m) or Jude Bellingham (£6m) – you might need it if England’s last outing is anything to go by.England star Anthony Gordon trains with gruesome cuts after falling off his bike in camp More