If you’re after some differential options for your Fantasy side on Matchday 5, then look no further as UEFA.com outline a few under-the-radar picks.
Pick your Fantasy side for the quarter-finals
GOALKEEPERS
Whilst Spain conceded three goals in their thrilling 5-3 victory against Croatia in the round of 16, in the group stage they showed themselves to be defensively fairly strong. Goalkeeper Unai Simón (€5.2m) kept two clean sheets from three group matches and he managed to atone for his first-half error in the round of 16 by making four saves across the match, including an outstanding stop early on in extra time. He has accrued 16 Fantasy points so far but is still in just 6% of squads so, with Spain likely to tighten up significantly from a defensive perspective against Switzerland in the quarter-finals, Simón looks to be a solid differential prospect for those looking for a goalkeeper.
The cheapest goalkeeper expected to start on Matchday 5 is Ukraine’s Georgiy Bushchan (€4.9m), who could prove an ideal enabler for anyone needing to budget carefully with the intent of spending more money in other positions. Whilst Bushchan has failed to keep a clean sheet after four matches so far, explaining the fact he features in 1% of Fantasy sides, the Ukrainian No1 boasts the highest number of saves (13) made by any goalkeeper still available for selection. Bushchan also has a penalty save to his name, and his save tally is likely to increase on Matchday 5 with Ukraine facing a strong England side. Whilst his prospects of a clean sheet may not be particularly strong, Bushchan’s shot-stopping abilities represents another valid route towards a healthy points score.
DEFENDERS
Oleksandr Zinchenko (€5.5m) ventured forward at every opportunity in Ukraine’s round of 16 win over Sweden and reaped the rewards by not only scoring the opening goal, but supplying the cross that led to Artem Dovbyk’s winner. If Ukraine are to topple England in the quarter-finals, Zinchenko is likely to play an important role and at 6% ownership, that makes him a viable differential candidate for Fantasy squads.
However, Ukraine will be up against an England outfit who are the only country yet to concede a goal at EURO 2020, with four clean sheets in as many matches. Several of their defenders should therefore be considered, but centre-back Harry Maguire (€5.5m) is perhaps the most eye-catching due to his attractively low ownership of 4% compared to team-mates John Stones and Luke Shaw. After missing England’s opening two games through injury, Maguire has started the last two, accumulating two clean sheets and 11 Fantasy points.
After Italy conceded their first goal of the tournament during extra time in their 2-1 triumph against Austria in the round of 16, Roberto Mancini’s side will be determined for normal service at the back to resume against Belgium. Defender Giovanni Di Lorenzo (€5.2m) looks to be a viable Fantasy option for those managers looking to either bring in an additional Azzurri defenders or a lesser-owned asset. With only1% ownership and Alessandro Florenzi still an injury doubt, full-back Di Lorenzo is likely to keep his place in Mancini’s starting line-up, although be sure to track of any team news leading up to the Matchday 5 deadline.
MIDFIELDERS
After an outstanding cameo off the substitutes’ bench on Matchday 4, Federico Chiesa (€7.0m) may have done enough to convince Italy head coach Roberto Mancini of a starting spot in the quarter-finals. If the winger, who recorded 15 goals and 11 assists in all competitions for Juventus in 2020/21, did make his second start of the tournament on Matchday 5, it would almost certainly be as part of a front three so, at 7% ownership, he represents a gamble with potentially high rewards.
With the Matchday 5 deadline set for kick-off in the first quarter-final between Switzerland and Spain, Fantasy managers will benefit from knowing the starting line-ups of both teams whilst transfers can still be made. This should particularly help those looking to bring in any Spanish midfielders, with head coach Luis Enrique having tinkered with his starting line-up over the course of the tournament.
Spain have racked up ten goals across their last two games and with Enrique having utilised a front three throughout the competition, the expectation is that two of Ferran Torres (€8.1m), Dani Olmo (€7.0m) and Pablo Sarabia (€6.7m) will start against with the other likely to come on as a substitute. At 1% ownership, Olmo is comfortably the least popular in Fantasy circles but came off the bench to set up two goals and help Spain overcome Croatia in the round of 16. Olmo has started two of Spain’s four fixtures so far and should he return to the side, may prove an ideal late transfer.
Whilst he has been fielded as left wing-back for Belgium in the competition so far, Thorgan Hazard (€8.1m) has still managed to make a splash from an attacking perspective. Regularly getting into advanced positions, Hazard bagged his second goal of the tournament in the last 16, conjuring up a wonderful strike from distance which turned out to be the winner against Portugal. With brother Eden potentially missing the quarter-final due to injury, Thorgan could be just the asset to not only provide Fantasy managers with midfield cover in a strong Belgium side, but also to help them leapfrog their mini-league rivals.
FORWARDS
An intriguing selection of differential forwards were among the goals in the round of 16. Haris Seferović (€8.7m) scored twice for Switzerland in their stunning elimination of France, picking up ten Fantasy points in the process. Despite his excellent form, with three goals and 17 points from his last two matches, he is still in just 3% of Fantasy teams.
Another striker fresh from two last-16 goals is Denmark’s Kasper Dolberg (€7m), who made an immediate impact in his first start of the tournament by racking up 11 Fantasy points from their 4-0 defeat of Wales. The Danes have scored four times in each of their last two games and will be looking to carry that momentum into their quarter-final with the Czech Republic. After his excellent showing against Wales, Dolberg could well be afforded a second straight start and with ownership of just 2%, represents excellent value for money.
Álvaro Morata (€9.1m) has not had things all his own way at UEFA EURO 2020, but a fine goal against Croatia in the round of 16 was his second of the tournament. His 9% ownership can take heart from the fact quarter-final opponents Switzerland have conceded eight goals across their four games so far, the most of any country still involved.
