Scout Notes – Euro 2016 Friendlies

Nolito and Alvaro Morata bag a brace apiece as Spain sweep aside South Korea. A goal and assist from Tomas Necid helps Czech Republic overcome Russia, Gylfi Sigurdsson scores from the spot as Iceland fall to defeat, whilst Romelu Lukaku comes to the rescue as Belgium spurn numerous chances before salvaging a draw against Finland.

Spain 6 South Korea 1

Alvaro Morata and Nolito both staked a claim for a place in Vincent del Bosque’s first-team plans by scoring twice in a 6-1 romp over South Korea yesterday afternoon.

Stationed on the left of a 4-3-3, Nolito – who fired four shots inside the box – has now notched two goals in each of Spain’s last two matches and started three friendlies on the spin. Coming in at a kind 6.0 in the Uefa game, the downside is his classification as a forward.

Available for 8.5 in Uefa, Morata also bagged an assist and seems to have won his battle with Aritz Aduriz for the central striker role. Del Bosque, though, certainly has enough options to consider a “false nine” system – that’s highlighted by the fact that both Cesc Fabregas (7.0) and David Silva (10.0) were also in the goals yesterday. At 6.0 in Uefa, Thiago Alcantara – one of six second-half subs – chipped in with an assist.

In defence, full-backs Hector Bellerin and Cesar Azpilicueta also earned an assist apiece. Whilst the latter will play second fiddle to Jordi Alba at left-back, it remains to be seen whether Bellerin – at just 5.0 – can barge past Juanfran for the right-back berth; next Tuesday’s final friendly against Georgia may give us a better idea.

Spain XI: Casillas (Rico 74); Bellerin, Pique (Aduriz 59), Bartra, Azpilicueta (Alba 46); Fabregas (Busquets 46), Bruno, Iniesta (Thiago 46); Silva (Pedro 46), Morata, Nolito

Russia 1 Czech Republic 2

Tomas Necid emerged from the bench to inspire Czech Republic to a second straight victory last night.

Replacing David Lafata at the break, the Bursaspor striker bagged a goal and assist in the 2-1 win to strengthen his claim for the lone striker role in Pevel Vrba’s 4-2-3-1 set-up. At a price of 7.0 in Uefa, Necid has now netted in back-to-back matches ahead of the weekend’s final friendly against South Korea.

Captain Tomas Rosicky found the net in his second successive start since recovering from injury. Available for just 6.0 in Uefa, the free agent – who was afforded the role in “the hole” behind the lone striker – also created three scoring chances, more than any team-mate. Elsewhere in the Czech Republic midfield, Ladislav Krejci (6.5) earned an assist and fired four shots from inside the box, whilst Vladimir Darida also registered four attempts on goal and also led the way for successful tackles – the latter continues to look an option for the Draft Kings.

Despite taking the lead early on through Aleksandar Kokorin, Russia fell to defeat for the third time in four matches.

Leonid Slutsky’s main men failed to impress at either end of the pitch, with only one player, Igor Denisov (two), managing more than a single shot on goal. Coming in at 7.0 in Uefa and listed as a forward, Kokorin has now scored in each of his nation’s last two matches but is being utilised on the right flank by Slutsky, with Artem Dzyuba – who was replaced at the break – the preferred option as the lone striker. Handed a central support role, Oleg Ivanov (4.5) grabbed the assist for Kokorin’s strike but is expected to drop to the bench as back-up for Roman Shirokov.

Russia XI: Lodygin (Marinato 46); Smolnikov, Berezutski (Neustadter 64), Ignashevich, Torbinski; Denisov, Ivanov (Golovin 64), Shatov; Smolov, Dzyuba (Mamaev 46), Kokorin (Samedov 64)

Czech Republic XI: Cech; Gabre Selassie, Hubnik (Sivok 46), Kadlec, Limbersky (Kaderabek 64); Darida, Pavelka (Plasil 46); Dockal (Skalak 41), Rosicky (Kolar 85), Krejcl; Lafata (Necid 46)

Norway 3 Iceland 2

It’s four defeats in five now for Iceland after a 3-2 loss to fellow Scandinavians Norway in Oslo.

Gylfi Sigurdsson was the visitors’ main goal threat. Fielded in central midfield in a 4-4-2, the Swansea playmaker produced five attempts and bagged a late spot-kick – at a pricey 8.0 in Uefa, he currently sits in 4% of sides. Elsewhere in midfield, Johan Gudmundsson bagged an assist and produced three attempts on goal for Lars Lagerback’s outfit – the Charlton winger is another reverse out of position option, though, and is classified as a forward (6.0) by the Uefa game.

In defence, Sverrir Ingi Ingason could be one to monitor. Priced at 4.5 in Uefa, the centre-half has started each of the last two friendlies and found the net on both occasions, though Iceland’s rearguard record is far from encouraging – Lagerback’s men have now conceded at least twice in each of their previous five matches.

Iceland XI: Kristinsson (Jonsson 46); Hauksson (Bjarnason 62), R Sigurdsson, Ingason, Magnusson; Gudmundsson, Gunnarsson (Sigurjonsson 82), G Sigurdsson, Hallfredsson (Bjarnason 46); Bodvarsson (Gudjohnsen 46), Finnbogason (Sigborsson 62)

Poland 1 Holland 2

Poland’s run of five successive victories came to an end with a 2-1 home loss at the hands of Holland.

Adam Nawalka rolled out his first-choice front four of Robert Lewandowski, Arkadiusz Milik, Jakub Blaszczykowski and Kamil Grosicki, though the hosts clearly lacked the presence of Grzegorz Krychowiak in the centre of the park. The Sevilla man – who was an unused sub last night – was top for interceptions and joint-top for successful tackles in qualifying.

Priced at 7.5 in the Uefa game, Milik took up his customary central support role and produced more attempts (four) than any team-mate, with Lewandowski managing three unsuccessful efforts. Also handed a share of corners with Grosicki, Milik created three chances and bagged an assist. Grosicki was top creator for the Poles, with four key passes to his name, though the Rennes wide man (7.0 in Uefa) failed to fire a single shot on goal.

At the back, Kamil Glik (5.0) was handed his fifth straight start by Lagerback and highlighted his appeal in the Draft Kings game by producing more interceptions than any team-mate. Meanwhile, Artur Jedrzejczyk will be hoping to have cemented a starting role for the tournament at left-back. With first-choice option Maciej Rybus ruled out of through injury, the former notched his nation’s only goal and comes in at a price of just 4.5 in the Uefa game.

Poland XI: Szczesny; Piszczek (Cionek 46), Glik, Pazdan, Jedrzejczyk; Maczynski (Jodlowiec 80), Zielinski; Blaszczykowski (Kapustka 46), Milik (Stepinski 87), Grosicki (Peszko 76), Lewandowski (Linetty 67)

Belgium 1 Finland 1

Romelu Lukaku emerged from the bench to score for the third successive friendly and salvage a late 1-1 draw at home to Finland.

It’s fair to say that Marc Wilmots’ men were somewhat unlucky last night, though – the hosts produced 35 attempts on goal to Finland’s four, with 26 shots inside the box.

Surprisingly, Kevin de Bruyne (10.0 in Uefa) and Eden Hazard (9.5) managed just a couple of attempts apiece despite playing from start to finish, though De Bruyne created an incredible 13 scoring opportunities, whilst Hazard chipped in with five key passes.

Liverpool’s Divock Origi was stationed on the right of a 4-2-3-1, with Michy Batshuayi handed the chance to lead the line, though the duo failed to take their chance. Christian Benteke and Dries Mertens produced six and five efforts respectively as second-half subs, with the latter expected to take up the right flank berth when the tournament gets underway. Lukaku’s late leveler also looks set to cement a starting berth up top for the 9.0-priced Everton man.

At the back, Wilmots opted for the expected first-choice defence, with Jason Denayer lining up alongside Thomas Vermaelen, Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen. Whilst Denayer’s 4.5 price tag in Uefa is garnering interest, it’s worth noting that neither he or Vermaelen produced a single attempt on goal last night. Spurs duo Vertonghen and Alderweireld, on the other hand, registered five and four attempts respectively and also supplied a couple of key passes apiece.

Belgium XI: Courtois; Alderweireld, Denayer, Vermaelen, Vertonghen; Witsel, Fellaini (Lukaku 79); Origi (Mertens 578), De Bruyne, Hazard; Batshuayi (Benteke 57)