Dream Team

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

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)Safe handsCredit: GettyWe 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)An asset at the back and a threat in attackCredit: GettyFrance are yet to concede a goal from open play with Robert Lewandowski’s (£5m) retaken penalty the only blemish on their defensive record.Most read in FootballAnd 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)Catch him if you canCredit: ReutersIt’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 second most-popular recruit ahead of Matchday 4Credit: GettyThe 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)Georgia’s hero!Credit: Dream TeamWho 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.Masked avengerCredit: GettyLast 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.READ MORE SUN STORIESFrance 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. More

FRANCE failed to convert their supremacy against Poland on Tuesday afternoon into what would have been a massively helpful win.Les Bleus registered 19 shots, eight of them on target, but Kylian Mbappe’s (£7.5m) penalty was ultimately cancelled out by Robert Lewandowski’s (£5m) spot-kick (at the second time of asking) for a 1-1 draw.This result meant Didier Deschamps’ side finished second in Group D which has placed them in what appears to be the difficult side of the knockout draw, alongside Spain, Germany and Portugal.Back with a bangCredit: Dream TeamWhile that misstep is likely to have ramifications in the world of Dream Team Euros, gaffers should be enthused by Mbappe’s performance in Matchday 3.Seemingly unhindered by the mask, France’s No10 banked 18 points in one fell swoop – the biggest haul of the tournament to date.The prolific 25-year-old registered a whopping five shots on target (one being his goal) and he earned the maximum of five bonus points, thanks in no small part to fact he completed six successful dribbles.Naturally, many Dream Team Euros managers were uncertain of Mbappe’s availability prior to the Matchday 3 deadline as his broken nose forced him to miss the game against Netherlands in Matchday 2, but his popularity will surely surge now he’s back in action.With unlimited transfers available before the round of 16 and popular England stars under-performing, such as Harry Kane (£7.5m) and Jude Bellingham (£6m), Mbappe may well end up as the most-recruited player this week – he’s currently third.Mbappe returned 18 points despite his broken noseCredit: GettyThat being said, the World Cup runners-up undoubtedly slipped up by finishing second in their group instead of first.Dream Team Euros bosses will understandably be keen on assets from France, Portugal, Spain and Germany but if those four teams end up meeting each other in the quarter-finals, many gaffers will end up with conflicted XIs.Most read in Dream TeamFor example, a team with multiple France defenders and attack-minded Portugal players might look good in isolation but if Cristiano Ronaldo (£6m) and Bruno Fernandes (£6m) have to take on Theo Hernandez (£5m) and William Saliba (£4.5m) in Matchday 5 then it’s highly unlikely both pairs will deliver satisfactory returns.Some players have such a high ceiling that they are immune to the schedule and Mbappe very much falls into that category but the potential for these blockbuster quarter-finals is something to bear in mind.Deschamps would have preferred the other side of the drawCredit: APSome pundits have drawn comparisons between England and France’s struggles as both teams earned five points in their respective groups via just two goals scored.However, the underlying numbers tell a different story.Deschamps’ troops have generated more xG than any other team at the tournament so far while Gareth Southgate’s side rank 19th on the list – three of the teams below the Three Lions also have a game in hand.France have let fly with 47 shots overall, a tally only bettered by Germany, whereas England have recorded just 29 – only Georgia, Slovenia, Serbia and Scotland have averaged fewer shots per 90 minutes at the time of writing.There’s no doubt France have been under par so far but they were in a tough group and the stats suggest they have been several steps above England in terms of chance creation.Mbappe will be a popular captain in Matchday 4.Who England will play next in last 16 at Euro 2024 More

DREAM TEAM EUROS managers have access to unlimited transfers before Matchday 4 and many will use this time to ditch their underwhelming England assets.Gareth Southgate’s side produced another insipid display against Slovenia on Tuesday night and the while the 0-0 draw ultimately earned them top spot in Group C and a place on the favourable side of the knockout draw, their performances suggest the Three Lions’ days in Germany are numbered.Southgate has yet to solve many of England’s problemsCredit: Dream TeamHarry Kane (£7.5m), Bukayo Saka (£6.5m), Phil Foden (£6.5m) and Jude Bellingham (£6m) mustered just ten points between them in Matchday 3, a pitiful return given their collective cost and popularity.Both the former and the latter have been the most-selected player in Dream Team Euros at one stage but their popularity should decrease dramatically ahead of the round of 16.Bellingham played well in the first half against Serbia but has looked increasingly fatigued and ineffective as the tournament has progressed.Kane scored a typical poacher’s effort against Denmark but he too lacks his usual sharpness.More broadly, England’s uninspiring and ponderous build-up play has severely limited their attacking threat.Somehow they have topped their group despite scoring just two goals in three outings – Germany have scored eight goals in the same time frame, for comparison. Bellingham desperately struggled against SloveniaCredit: GettyThere is a case for remaining loyal to Jordan Pickford (£4m) and the starting defenders as the lifeless nature of England’s games has also inflicted their opponents thus far.Everton’s No1 has conceded just one goal – only Spain boast a better defensive record – and is currently joint-second in the Dream Team Euros rankings among assets in his position on 19 points.Most read in Dream TeamThe concern is that teams with more attacking pedigree than Serbia, Denmark and Slovenia may be able to capitalise on England’s lethargy in a knockout environment.Whatever the verdict on Pickford and company at the back, surely only the most patriotic gaffers will continue to stand by the likes of Kane and Bellingham when Spain, Germany and Portugal (and others) offer considerably more appealing options?Dream Team Euros bosses are finding replacements for Kane ahead of Matchday 4Credit: AlamyThe stats reinforce what fans have observed.Among all the teams to have played three games at the tournament, only Scotland and Serbia have generated fewer expected goals (xG) than Southgate’s side.Similarly, only Scotland, Serbia and Slovenia have registered fewer shots.It’s no wonder Kane and Bellingham are currently the most transferred-out players ahead of Matchday 4.Charlie Wyett slams ‘massively disappointing’ England after drab 0-0 draw with Slovenia in final Euro 2024 group game More

KAI HAVERTZ (£4.5m) is currently the fourth most-popular player in Dream Team Euros.The 25-year-old’s ownership of 34.9% also makes him the second most-selected striker in the game at present.However, the Arsenal star faces serious pressure from Niclas Fullkrug (£4m) for a place in Germany’s starting line-up ahead of Matchday 4.There is a clamour in Germany for Fullkrug to start over HavertzCredit: Dream TeamDie Mannschaft confirmed top spot in Group A thanks to the Borussia Dortmund target man’s stoppage-time equaliser against Switzerland on Sunday night.Fullkrug’s emphatic header came in stark contrast to Havertz’s efforts at goal in the match, which caused Yann Sommer (£3m) few problems.The latter played well against Scotland to bank 13 points in Matchday 1 but he’s been less effective in his two most recent outings.Whereas Fullkrug has looked threatening in three consecutive substitute appearances – he’s scored two goals in just 73 minutes of playing time at the tournament so far.As a result, there is now a loud clamour for the Champions League finalist to start ahead of Havertz in the round of 16.In fact, a poll of 138,000 German fans conducted by Bild found that 90% of supporters want Fullkrug to start up top in the hosts’ next game.Fullkrug has been an effective super sub so farCredit: ReutersAfter the 1-1 with Swizterland, Julian Nagelsmann told Bild: “Fulle [Fullkrug] has a chance to start, but Kai has the same chances. Most read in Dream Team”Kai had three good chances, and he was annoyed that he didn’t take two.  He headed the ball onto his own shoulder. He still played a good game.”When asked about the possibility of Fullkrug starting, Die Mannschaft’s head coach said: “‘He provides arguments for both things. To continue to act as a substitute because he does it really well, he scores his second substitute goal.”Or to play from the start. It is both a joy and a sorrow for him that he fulfils the role well.”Nagelsmann named the exact same starting line-up for all three group games and clearly has faith in Havertz’s ability but his loyalty will be tested when the knockouts begin on Saturday.Not only has Fullkrug made a compelling case for himself at the tournament, his record at international level more broadly is highly impressive – the 31-year-old has scored 13 goals in 19 caps at a rate of one every 57.7 minutes.Nagelsmann has a big decision to make ahead of the round of 16Credit: GettyDream Team Euros managers have unlimited transfers available to them ahead of Matchday 4 so those who now feel uncertain about Havertz’s place in the pecking order can easily find an alternative if they wish.Unfortunately, the deadline falls at 4pm on Saturday (June 29th) which is an hour before Swizterland take on Italy but four hours before Germany kick-off in the evening.This means gaffers won’t know the hosts’ starting line-up prior to the deadline and will therefore have to second-guess Nagelsmann’s selection.READ MORE SUN STORIESSuch is the nature of international tournaments, there may be an indication from another source in the coming days of whether Havertz or Fullkrug will start and Dream Team Euros bosses should seek out as many clues as possible.At the time of writing, Havertz is currently the most transferred-out player ahead of Matchday 4… More

DREAM TEAM EUROS managers need to be aware that the deadline for Matchday is 7pm on Sunday (June 23rd).You must confirm your transfers, captain and any Boosters you wish to play before the cut-off time.Spain have been a class above in Group BCredit: GettyOne thing you should consider when devising your strategy for Matchday 3 is the potential for rotation.Games come thick and fast in major tournaments at the end of a gruelling domestic campaign and so managers afforded the luxury of a stress-free final group fixture may opt to rest key players before the knockout stages.Take for example, Germany and Spain, both sitting pretty at the top of their respective groups after back-to-back wins.Both the hosts and Luis de la Fuente’s side have impressed and gaffers will naturally be keen to recruit their in-form assets but it wouldn’t be all that surprising if their top performers were held back to some extent in Matchday 3.Naturally, Germany and Spain will want to keep their momentum going and earn favourable round of 16 fixtures by topping their respective groups, so several key players will probably get substantial minutes while others are rested.This is the tightrope you will have to walk in Matchday 3.Havertz might make way for Fullkrug in Matchday 3Credit: RexDepending on your Sunday plans, you may be able to partially negotiate this conundrum by waiting for the Group A starting line-ups, which should be announced a few minutes before the 7pm deadline.Germany are set to take on Switzerland and a glimpse at Julian Nagelsmann’s line-up could be very helpful.Most read in FootballIf Niclas Fullkrug (£4m) is selected to lead the line over Kai Havertz (£4.5m), for example, then the Borussia Dortmund target man would suddenly look like a strong option for Matchday 3.Havertz, Jamal Musiala (£4.5m), Florian Wirtz (£4.5m), Antonio Rudiger (£4.5m), Ilkay Gundogan (£4m), Max Mittelstadt (£3.5m), Joshua Kimmich (£5m) and Manuel Neuer (£4.5m) all feature in more than 10% of teams at present and so confirmation of Die Mannschaft’s starters against Switzerland should prove useful just before the deadline.Of course, this little trick only applies to the teams playing on Sunday night (Scotland v Hungary kicks off at the same time) and so you’ll have to predict the line-ups for Spain, France, Portugal, etc.England produced a disjointed performance against DenmarkCredit: RexEngland currently lead Group C but their lacklustre draw against Denmark means they’ll have to beat Slovenia to guarantee top spot.If Gareth Southgate makes changes it will be in an attempt to get a better tune out of the Three Lions, not to rest his most-important players.However, based on their two performances at the tournament to date, are you suitably confident in England’s ability to provide healthy returns?It remains to be seen whether Kylian Mbappe (£7.5m) will feature against Netherlands this evening but, either way, there should be a clearer indication of his availability for Matchday 3.But again, if France have six points to their name then Didier Deschamps is unlikely to take an unnecessary risk with his star player ahead of the round of 16.Cancelo almost played as a No10 at times against CzechiaCredit: Dream TeamElsewhere, Joao Cancelo’s (£4.5m) role in Portugal’s opening fixture was particularly intriguing.Categorised as a defender in Dream Team Euros, the 30-year-old essentially played as an additional midfielder against Czechia, sometimes even occupying similar spaces to Bruno Fernandes (£6m) and Bernardo Silva (£4.5m).Pundits and fans alike were divided on whether Roberto Martinez’s interesting tactical approach helped or hindered his talented players and Cancelo only returned two points in Matchday 1 but defenders with the capacity to provide attacking returns can be worth their weight in gold in Dream Team Euros.Helpfully, you’ll be able to scout him out when Portugal take on Turkey on Saturday before making a decision on his Matchday 3 viability, when Cristiano Ronaldo (£6m) and company will take on Georgia.READ MORE SUN STORIESYou will have a clearer picture of Matchday 3 once Matchday 2 is complete so be patient (transfers can be reversed if needed) but make sure you don’t get caught out by the Sunday night deadline.And remember, you will be able to make unlimited transfers before Matchday 4 so there’s no need to worry about long-term viability when deciding upon your latest recruits – their Matchday 3 prospects should be your only concern. More

DREAM TEAM EUROS Matchday 1 contained a whopping 34 goals at an average of 2.8 per game.Amid all the excitement, several top stars justified their popularity but there were also plenty of unexpected names among the performers.Here’s an XI of the top Dream Team Euros point-scorers from Matchday 1.GOALKEEPER: Unai Simon (£4m)That’s one way of doing itCredit: GettySpain’s custodian manufactured his return of 12 points in a rather unusual way.Simon kept a clean sheet against Croatia in Berlin but he walked the tightrope as it was his error that led to La Roja conceding a second-half penalty.The Athletic Bilbao keeper saved the resultant spot-kick and had his blushes spared for a second time when Bruno Petkovic’s follow-up was disallowed for encroachment.Simon’s error should have led to his clean sheet being wiped out but his recovery meant he banked a dozen points when all was said and done.DEFENDERS: Dani Carvajal (£4m), Erik Janza (£1.5m), Mert Mulder (£2m)Naturally, Spain’s streetwise right-back also benefited from his side’s clean sheet and he supplemented that with two tackles, a bonus point and a goal.Most read in FootballCarvajal latched on to Lamine Yamal’s inviting cross to put his side 3-0 up just before half-time.The Real Madrid defender therefore finished with 16 points, the joint-highest tally among all assets in Matchday 1.Carvajal combined a clean sheet with an unexpected goalCredit: EPAJanza was Slovenia’s unlikely hero as it was his firm strike from outside the box that was deflected past Kasper Schmeichel to earn Matjaz Kek’s side a point against Denmark.The industrious left-back also created a big chance and earned three bonus points for his efforts to bank 13 in total.Muldur completes the three-man defence having scored one of the goals of the tournament so far.Turkey’s right-back produced a sensational volley from distance to open the scoring in what proved to be a breathless encounter with Georgia in Group F.The 25-year-old pocketed 11 points once the dust had settled in Dortmund.MIDFIELDERS: Christian Eriksen (£3m), Fabian Ruiz (£3.5m), Jude Bellingham (£6m), Jamal Musiala (£4.5m), Michel Aebischer (£2m)Eriksen has a great record for DenmarkCredit: AFPDenmark’s talisman endured an ineffectual season with Manchester United but he once again stepped up at international level in Matchday 1.Not only did Eriksen score, he was one of just two players who earned the maximum of five bonus points, helping him return 14 overall.This was mostly due to the fact he provided seven accurate crosses – for comparison, nobody else at the tournament has registered more than three currently.Ruiz was the only player to both score and assist a goal in Matchday 1.The PSG playmaker put Alvaro Morata through one-on-one for the opening goal against Croatia and then three minutes later he displayed neat footwork on the edge of the box to double Spain’s lead.Like Eriksen, Ruiz also bagged 14 points.Bellingham got the job done for England against SerbiaCredit: GettyEngland mustered just five shots against Serbia in what was a relatively uninspiring performance but, crucially, they claimed the three points thanks to Bellingham’s emphatic header.The Real Madrid wonderkid was head and shoulders above everyone else on the pitch in the first half and he earned three bonus points for his contributions outside of the game’s only goal.It feels a long time ago now but Musiala lit up the tournament’s opening fixture as he inspired Germany to a 5-1 thrashing of Scotland.The hosts’ No10 completed the same number of successful dribbles as all the other players on the pitch combined, not to mention his rasping goal.Many pundits tipped Hungary as potential dark horses but they succumbed to Swizterland in Group A, thanks in no small part to Aebischer.The Bologna midfielder didn’t register any goals or assists in his first 20 caps at international level but he provided one of each in Cologne to deliver three points for Murat Yakin’s sideBellingham, Musiala and Aebischer all earned 13 points each.STRIKERS: Cody Gakpo (£4m), Kai Havertz (£4.5m)16 points and countingCredit: Dream TeamNetherlands’ No11 earned more player performance marks (14), which ultimately determine bonus points, than any other player in Matchday 1.Predominately playing from the left, Gakpo produced an impressive all-round performance, including a goal, to help the Oranje beat Poland 2-1 in what is expected to be a competitive group.The Liverpool forward matched Carvajal’s tally of 16 points and sits joint-top of the rankings at present.Havertz only played 63 minutes of Germany’s convincing win but he did plenty of damage in that time, providing the assist for Musiala’s goal before converting a penalty.The Arsenal man is competing with Niclas Fullkrug (£4m) at centre-forward but his smart showing against Scotland should see him keep his place.READ MORE SUN STORIESHavertz claimed 13 points in Matchday 1.Bring on Matchday 2!Jack Wilshere, Gordon Strachan and Jurgen Klinsmann answer quickfire questions ahead of Euro 2024 More

DREAM TEAM EUROS managers should be aware that the deadline for Matchday 2 is 1pm on Wednesday (June 19th).Therefore all transfers for the second round of group games need to be locked before that cut-off time.In terms of what changes to make, Matchday 2 features an intriguing set of fixtures that could be difficult for gaffers to navigate.Germany stars are popular ahead of Matchday 2Credit: GettyFirstly, it goes without saying that many of players we tipped prior to the tournament getting underway are still excellent options; individuals such as Jamal Musiala (£4.5m), Jude Bellingham (£6m) and Theo Hernandez (£5m) are even more viable after double-digit hauls in Matchday 1.Germany’s swaggering 5-1 victory over Scotland to get proceedings underway has certainly made a strong impression of Dream Team Euros bosses as Musiala, Kai Havertz (£4.5m) and Florian Wirtz (£4.5m) are all currently among the most transferred-in players ahead of the deadline.The hosts are set to take on Hungary, who disappointed against Switzerland in their first game.In fact, Group A might the one to target because, as impressive as Germany were in Munich, Steve Clarke’s troops looked disorganised, toothless and vulnerable.Andy Robertson (£3m) and company could conceivably rally against Switzerland but the contrasting fortunes of the two teams in Matchday 1 suggests the latter might contain some potentially savvy differentials.MAKE TRANSFERS FOR MATCHDAY 2 BEFORE WEDNESDAY’S 1PM DEADLINESwizterland will fancy their chances against Scotland based on Matchday 1’s resultsCredit: Dream TeamMichel Aebischer (£2m) was the unlikely hero for the Swiss against Hungary with a 13-point return via a goal and an assist.Most read in Dream TeamHowever, it should be noted that the Bologna midfielder hasn’t provided any goal contributions in any of his other 20 caps at international level.With that in mind, it might be wiser to back one of Swizterland’s reliable defenders instead with a view to targeting a clean sheet – Fabian Schar (£3m) and Manuel Akanji (£3.5m) being the leading candidates.Granit Xhaka (£3m) returned a modest four points against Hungary but he played very well and a similar performance again could easily result a decent haul.Gakpo enjoyed himself against Poland but France will provide a sterner testCredit: GettyOne of the problems facing Dream Team Euros bosses is that many of the best performers from Matchday 1 now face a difficult fixture in Matchday 2.Dani Carvajal (£4m) and Cody Gakpo (£4m) currently top the rankings having banked 16 points each but they are set to meet Italy and France respectively this week.Christian Eriksen (£3m) is joint-third overall but Denmark take on England on Thursday.Additionally, some fixtures that seemed favourable on paper suddenly look less appealing, such as Belgium v Romania.The Red Devils succumbed to Slovakia while Edward Iordanescu’s side produced an excellent performance to beat Ukraine 3-0, changing the outlook of Group E entirely.So what other transfer options are open to gaffers?England are one of just four teams to have kept a clean sheet at the time of writingCredit: GettyMany of the question marks surrounding England only grew bolder in the wake of their partially disjointed win over Serbia but the Three Lions’ defence held firm.Marc Guehi (£3m) in particularly looked solid at centre-back and the Crystal Palace fan favourite is considerably cheaper than the other starting defenders.If Gareth Southgate is going to persist with a risk-adverse approach it might be better off targeting England clean sheets in the remaining group games rather than copious attacking returns.READ MORE SUN STORIESFinally, Kylian Mbappe’s (£7.5m) broken nose is a significant factor as France’s superstar No10 is now considered a major doubt for Matchday 2.Many gaffers will be hoping an emphatic Portugal performance this evening eases some selection headaches.Former England and Arsenal star Jack Wilshere makes some BIG Dream Team Euros decisions More