Scout Notes – Euro 2016 Friendlies

Marek Hamsik is amongst the goals as in-form Slovakia come from behind to see off Germany. Yevhen Konoplyanka and Andriy Yarmolenko produce a goal and assist apiece as Ukraine edge Romania in a seven-goal thriller, whilst Kevin de Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku both find the net as Belgium get the better of Switzerland.

Albania 3 Qatar 1

Injured duo Taulant Xhaka and Amir Abrashi were amongst a number of key players that failed to feature as the Group A underdogs came from behind to register a 3-1 win over Qatar.

At the back, regulars Etrit Berisha, Elseid Hysaj and Mergim Mavraj – all 4.5 in the Uefa game – were all handed starting berths, whilst the 4.0-priced centre-half Arlind Ajeti was amongst the goals.

In midfield, Ermir Lenjani – the only Albania player to have a hand in more than one goal in qualifying – again impressed. Priced at 5.5 in Uefa, the left winger found the net before making way at the break. Sub Armando Sadiku emerged from the bench to notch, whilst Lorik Cana and Migien Basha earned an assist apiece.

Albania XI: Berisha; Hysaj, Ajeti, Mavraj, Aliji (Agolli 66); Lila, Basha (Cana 61); Roshi (Shalah 71), Gashi (Sadiku 48), Lenjani (Balaj 46); Cikalleshi (Rashica 46).

Germany 1 Slovakia 3

Joachim Lowe handed four players their first senior start as a much-changed Germany were beaten 3-1 by Slovakia.

With Thomas Muller amongst a number of rested regulars, Mario Gomez (8.0 in Uefa) was afforded a rare start up front and opened the scoring from the spot after Mario Gotze had been brought down in the box. Indeed, Gotze carried the greatest threat for the hosts, with three efforts inside the box and a couple of key passes.

In defence, Jonas Hector and Sebastian Rudy were afforded the full-back berths as Lowe’s side turned in another abject defensive display. Although Hector is garnering some attention at a price of 5.5 in the Uefa game, the Germans have now gone eight matches without keeping a clean sheet and have lost three of their last four.

Slovakia, on the other hand, are now unbeaten in seven fixtures and have scored at least twice on six of those occasions.

Rested for Friday’s clash with Georgia, key man Marek Hamsek, Juraj Kucka, Martin Skrtel and Vladimir Weiss were all handed recalls. The former two – who were first and second for attempts on goal over the qualifiers – both found the net for Jan Kozak’s side, whilst Weiss – who produced more assists than any player on the road to France – teed up yet another goal. Ondrej Duda and Patrik Hrosovsky also bagged an assist apiece.

At 7.5 in Uefa, Hamsik is showing just why he’s the priciest route into Slovakia’s squad, though Kucka (6.0) continues to look a viable option for the Draft Kings game.

Michal Duris (6.5) staked a claim for the role up front by also finding the net. Considering that the similarly-priced Adam Nemec netted twice on Friday, Kozak’s quandary for the lone striker merely strengthens the appeal of the above-mentioned trio of in-form midfielders.

Germany XI: Leno (Ter Stegen 46); Rudy, Boateng (Howedes 64), Rudiger, Hector; Kimmich (Schurrle 75), Khedira (Weigl 46); Sane, Gotze, Draxler; Gomez (Brandt 46).

Slovakia XI: Kozacik; Pekarik, Skrtel, Durica, Svento; Hrosovsky (Skriniar 78), Kucka (Pecovsky 81); Duda (Stoch 61), Hamsik (Gregus 85), Weiss; Duris (Sestak 68).

Italy 1 Scotland 0

Antonio Conte opted for a 3-5-2 formation as Italy sneaked a 1-0 win over Scotland thanks to Graziano Pelle.

United’s Matteo Darmian and Lazio’s Antonio Candreva were handed he wing-back berths, with the former – classified as a defender in the Uefa game and priced at 5.5 – offering Fantasy manager an out of position option. Candreva’s (7.5 in Uefa) dominance of crossed balls may be one to monitor for Draft Kings, though, whilst he also produced more attempts on goal than any team-mate last night.

Emanuele Giaccherini was afforded a central midfield role and managed more key passes and shots inside the box than any Italy player, suggesting he may yet force his way into Conte’s plans. Priced at a mere 5.0, he’s classified as a defender in the Uefa game, though it’s fair to say that the Azzurri have failed to impress in recent matches – last night’s result was their first clean sheet in seven attempts, with Scotland failing to produce a single attempt on target over the match.

Up top, Pelle showed why he’s the priciest Italy player in Uefa (8.5) by bagging the winner courtesy of an assist from strike partner Eder (6.5). The Southampton man finished as top scorer in qualifying with just three goals, underlining the Italians’ lack of cutting edge in the final third.

Italy XI: Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Candreva (Parolo 62), Florenzi, De Rossi (Jorginho 67), Giaccherini (Bonaventura 80), Darmian (Bernardeschi 60); Pelle (Zaza 67), Eder (Insigne 59)

Portugal 3 Norway 0

Front pair Ricardo Quaresma and Eder were amongst the goals as Portugal swept aside Norway 3-0 last night.

Key players such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Pepe, Nani and Bruno Alves all missed out as Fernando Santos’ side chalked up a third win in four attempts. Cut-price defender Raphael Guerreiro (4.0 in Uefa) highlighted his dead-ball ability by finding the net but it remains to be seen if he can oust Benfica’s Eliseu as the first-choice left-back. Similarly, Cedric Soares (4.5) led the way for crosses but faces a battle with Vierinha for the right-back role.

Eder (three) was top when it came to attempts on goal for the victors, though may well drop to the bench once Santos has all his squad available to choose from. Elsewhere, William Carvalho’s all-round display looks promising for Draft Kings, – the central midfielder lead the way for successful tackles for Portugal, with his tally of four at least double the number of any team-mate.

Portugal XI: Lopes; Soares, Fonte, R Carvalho (Pereira 60), Guerreiro (Eliseu 79); Mario (Sanches 72), W Carvalho, Moutinho (A Silva 55), Gomes (Vierinha 79); Eder, Quaresma (R Silva 60).

Romania 3 Ukraine 4

Romania’s 15-match unbeaten run came to an end in a seven-goal thriller at home to Ukraine.

After conceding just twice over their ten qualifying matches, Anghel Iordanescu’s men turned in a far from convincing backline display – first-choice keeper Ciprian Tatarasanu and central defensive maintstays Vlad Chiriches and Dragas Grigore all started last night’s loss, whilst Alexandru Matel (4.0 in Uefa) was stationed at right-back.

Gabriel Torje (6.0 in Uefa), who was top for shots and efforts on target over the qualifiers, highlighted his goal threat by bagging the opener, whilst Denis Alibec and Nicolae Stanciu both emerged from the bench to find the net. Alexandru Maxim and Evgen Seleznyov picked up an assist apiece as Iordanescu made six changes over the course of the 90 minutes.

Despite the loss, Mihai Pintilii (5.0 in Uefa) looks one to consider in the Draft Kings game – his all-action style in the centre of the park saw him produce five successful tackles and as many interceptions for the home side.

Ukraine, meanwhile, have now won four and drawn one of their last five fixtures after last night’s triumph.

In defence, Mykhaylo Fomenko named what looks like his first-choice picks, with Artem Fedetskiy and Yaroslav Rakitskiy the cheapest of the bunch at 5.0 apiece.

Further up the field, both Yevhen Konoplyanka and Andriy Yarmolenko highlighted just why they are regarded as Ukraine’s main men for the tournament by registering a goal and assist apiece in the 4-3 victory. Priced at 7.5 and listed as a midfielder, Konoplyanka – who also led the way for crosses and took most of his side’s corners – continues to look the best option in the Draft Kings game, with Andriy Yarmolenko’s classification in Uefa diminishing his appeal.

Alexander Zinchenko and Roman Zozulya also found the net, with the latter looking to nail down the lone striker role at a price of 6.5 in Uefa.

Romania XI: Tatarasanu; Matel, Chiriches, Grigore, Filip (Rat 46); Prepelita (Hoban 60), Pintilli; Torje (Popa 69), Sanmartean (Maxim 57), Stancu (Stanciu 84); Keseru (Alibec 57).

Ukraine XI: Pyatov; Fedetskiy (Butko 46(, Khacheridi (Kucher 46), Rakitskiy, Shevchuk (Karavaev 71); Rybalka (Zinchenko 46), Stepanenko; Yarmolenko, Sydorchuk (Rotan 67), Konoplyanka; Zozulya (Seleznyov 46).

Spain 3 Bosnia 1

Vicente del Bosque took the opportunity to hand eight players their debuts as Spain chalked up a 3-1 over Bosnia last night.

Celta Vigo’s Nolito was the star of the show – stationed on the left flank, he produced four attempts on goal and bagged a brace as the defending champions extended their unbeaten streak to ten matches. The likes of David Silva, Cesar Azpilicueta and Cesc Fabregas were all handed starts and the latter earned an assist before making way on the hour-mark, whilst Chelsea team-mate Pedro emerged from the bench to score the third.

Arsenal’s Hector Bellerin played from start to finish at right-back and could be set to clinch a place in the final 23 if Real’s Daniel Carvajal fails to recover from an injury sustained in the weekend Champions League final.

Spain XI: Asenjo; Bellerin, Jose (Fornals 83), Bartra, Azpilicueat; Fabregas (Llorente 60), Bruno, Asensio (Williams 60); Silva (Pedro 46), Aduriz (Suarez 46), Nolito (Oyarzabal 60).

Switzerland 1 Belgium 2

On Saturday afternoon, Belgium came from behind to clinch a 2-1 triumph over Switzerland.

Kevin de Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku grabbed the Red Devils’ goals, with the latter’s brother, Jordan, and Dries Mertens claiming the assists. Mark Wilmots named a strong side for the weekend win, with backline regulars such as Thibaut Courtois, Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen, named in the XI, whilst former Arsenal man Thomas Vermaelan – at 5.0 in the Uefa game – stationed at left-back.

Wilmots trialled midfielder Axel Witsel at right-back, though has already gone on record to confirm his plans to start Jason Denayer at centre-half, with Alderweireld set to take up the right-back berth. Priced at 4.5 in the Uefa game, Denayer was amongst four unused subs against the Swiss.

In the final third, Eden Hazard and Mertens took up the flank roles in a 4-2-3-1 but, despite producing four key passes apiece, the pair face a fight to usurp De Bruyne in our Fantasy thinking. Coming in at 10.0 in the Uefa game, the City man – who was fielded in the central support role – produced more shots on goal than any team-mate and also created four scoring opportunities. De Bruyne was also top for crossing and took all 11 of Belgium’s corners, highlighting his potential in the Draft Kings game.

Switzerland also handed a number of key players a start, with the likes of Ricardo Rodriguez, Xherdan Shaqiri and Granit Xhaka all named in the XI as Vladimir Petkovic opted for a 4-3-3 formation.

Johan Djourou (5.0) looked increasingly likely to retain his role at centre-half, whilst in midfield, Blerim Dzmaili looks one to monitor. Priced at 5.5, the Genoa man opened the scoring and fired four attempts on goal – only Shaqiri (five) managed more. In terms of Draft Kings targets, Valon Behrami finished in the top two for both successful tackles and interceptions, suggesting he could benefit from the scoring system that rewards defensive actions.

Belgium XI: Courtois; Witsel, Alderweireld, Vermaelen (J Lukaku 67), Vertonghen; Fellaini (Benteke 85), Dembele (Ciman 55); Mertens (Origi 67), De Bruyne, Hazard; R Lukaku (Batshuayi 56).

Switzerland XI: Sommer; Lang (Widmer 63), Senderos (Elvedi 63), Djourou (Fernandes 85), Rodriguez; Behrami, Dzemaili (Zakaria 78), Xhaka; Shaqiri, Derdiyok (Seferovic 41), Mehmedi (Tarashaj 63).

Turkey 1 Montenegro 0

A late goal from centre-half Mehmet Topal earned Turkey a 1-0 win over Montenegro last night as the hosts took their record to seven wins and a draw in the last nine matches.

Frustratingly for Fantasy managers, Topal who fired four attempts on goal, all inside the box, is classified as a midfielder in the Uefa game, which somewhat negates his appeal. Sener Ozbayrakli (priced at 4.5) made more successful tackles than any team-mate but it remains to be seen whether he can retain the right-back berth, having featured just four times in the qualifiers.

Arda Turan’s importance to the Turkey cause was more than apparent last night. Priced at a somewhat lofty 8.0 in Uefa, the Barcelona made created seven scoring opportunities for Fatih Terim’s team – put into perspective, no other player registered more than a single key pass in the match. Up front, the similarly-priced Burak Yilmaz made his eagerly-anticipated return from a thigh injury. Afforded just over 30 minutes off the bench, the former Galatasaray striker’s availability could prove vital to Turkey’s chances of progressing beyond the group stages.

Turkey XI: Babacan; Ozbayraki, Calik, Topal, Erkin (Koybasi 72); Tufan (Potuk 83), Ozyakup (Sahin 46); Sen (Mor 46), Calhanoglu (Yilmaz 58), Turan; Tosun (Malli 70).