Scout Notes – Euro 2016 Friendlies

Marcus Rashford and Wayne Rooney both find the net as England get the better of Australia. Shane Long and Kyle Lafferty are amongst the goals for the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland respectively, whilst Slovakia’s Adam Nemec nets twice in a 3-1 win over Georgia.

Croatia 1 Moldova 0

Despite the slim nature of victory, Croatia were far more dominant than the scoreline suggests here – they fired 17 efforts inside the box, yet mustered a trio of shots on target and hit the woodwork on three occasions.

Manager Ante Cacic was without key figures such as Luka Modric, Mario Mandzukic, Darijo Srna and Ivan Rakitic for last night’s win, though started the likes of Danijel Subasic, Vedran Corluka and Dmoagoi Vida (the latter is 5.0 in Uefa) at the back.

Top scorer in qualifying, Ivan Perisic – 7.5 in Uefa – teed up Andrej Kramaric’s match-winner before both were replaced at the break along with four other players. Kramaric produced three efforts in the area – that’s more than fellow forward Nikola Kalinic (two) managed over the 90 – as he attempts to claim a place alongside Mandzukic in Cacic’s plans.

Croatia XI: Subasic; Vrsaljko, Corluka, Vida (Schildenfeld 46), Strinic; Brozovic (Coric 46), Badelj (Antolic 46); Pjaca (Halilovic 46), Kramaric (Rog 46), Perisic (Cop 46); Kalinic.

Czech Republic 6 Malta 0

Pavel Vrba’s team ran riot with a comprehensive 6-0 win over Malta last night.

The Czech Republic boss looked to ensure many of his squad were afforded pitch time last night and made nine second-half alterations. Tomas Rosicky made a welcome return from injury and started in the central support role in a 4-2-3-1, whilst regulars such as Petr Cech and full-back pair Pavel Kaderabek and David Limbersky were also named in the XI as the Czechs chalked up a rare clean sheet – incredibly, Vrba’s side failed to produce a single shut-out over the qualifiers. In saying that, the Maltese made matters somewhat straightforward by failing to register a single attempt on target.

Right-back Kaderabek – who is the priciest Czech defender on offer in Uefa at 5.5 after scoring twice in the qualifiers – served notice of his attacking potential by firing three attempts inside the box in a 66-minute appearance.

In the centre of the park, Bordeaux’s Jaroslav Plasil grabbed a goal and assist in just 45 minutes. Priced at just 5.5 in Uefa, the veteran only played a part in five of the ten group matches, though, suggesting he’s not quite nailed on. Indeed, his half-time replacement last night, the 6.5-priced Vladimir Darida – who featured in every group game – showed why he’s a regular under Vrba by creating five chances in the second-half.

Four forwards – Milan Skoda, David Lafata, Tomas Necid and debutant Patrik Schick (who also earned an assist in just 26 minutes) – all threw their hat in the ring for the lone striker role by bagging a goal apiece, though it’s the 6.5-priced Lafata, with seven appearances over the qualifiers, who remains favourite to lead the line.

Czech Republic XI: Cech (Koubek 46); Kaderabek (Marcek 66), Sivok, Hubnik, Limbersky (Gebre Selassie 46); Plasil (Darida 46), Pavelka (Kolar 65), Sural (Lafata 46), Rosicky (Schick 66), Krejci (Skalak 46); Skoda (Necid 46).

England 2 Australia 1

Manchester United pair Marcus Rashford and Wayne Rooney both found the net as England won for the fourth time in five attempts courtesy of a 2-1 triumph over Australia at the Stadium of Light.

Keen to assess his options, Roy Hodgson retained just three players – John Stones, Jack Wilshere and Raheem Sterling – from the XI that beat Turkey by the same scoreline last week, with the latter boosting his chances of a start by grabbing an assist.

With the likes of Jamie Vardy and Harry Kane rested and Daniel Sturridge nursing an injury, Hodgson started with a midfield diamond set-up, which saw Rashford and Sterling lead the line, supported by Liverpool’s Adam Lallana. The latter’s half-time withdrawal triggered a change of formation, as England switched to a 4-3-3, with Rashford and Sterling moved to the flanks as Rooney climbed off the bench to claim the lone striker role.

Although Rashford hogged the headlines with a debut strike, it was Jordan Henderson – one of only five players to play from start to finish – who carried the greatest goal threat and fired four attempts over the 90 minutes.

Hodgson rang the changes over the second period and handed minutes to all those available players that hadn’t featured against Turkey last time out. Tottenham’s Eric Dier hardly covered himself in glory, though, by emerging from the bench to place a diving header into his own net, meaning that Hodgson’s side now have just a single clean sheet in their last six fixtures.

England XI: Forster (Heaton 87); Clyne, Smalling (Dier 73), Stones, Bertrand; Wilshere (Milner 46), Drinkwater; Henderson, Lallana (Rooney 46), Sterling (Townsend 76); Rashford (Barkley 63).

Northern Ireland 3 Belarus 0

Northern Ireland extended their unbeaten run to 11 matches thanks to a comfortable 3-0 win over Belarus at Windsor Park.

Michael O’Neill’s men lined up in a 3-5-2 formation, which saw Kyle Lafferty and Conor Washington lead the line, with skipper Steven Davis stationed as the most advanced central midfielder. Both frontmen bagged a goal apiece, whilst substitute Will Grigg emerged from the bench to fire the third after replacing Lafferty just after the hour-mark. As the top scorer in qualifying with seven strikes to his name, Lafferty looks the man most likely for O’Neill’s side at a price of 7.0 in Uefa.

Sub Jamie Ward was the only player attributed with an assist, though Olivier Norwood led the way for both crosses and key passes after replacing Davis at the break.

Last night’s result means that Ireland have now conceded just once in their last four matches – promising news for Uefa Fantasy managers, then, given that O’Neill started three defenders – Craig Cathcart, Paddy McNair and Chris Baird – who are priced at 4.5.

Northern Ireland XI: Carroll (Mannus 46); Cathcart, Baird, J Evans; McLaughlin, C Evans (McGinn 74), McNair, Davis (Norwood 46), Dallas (Hughes 74); Lafferty (Grigg 61), Washington (Ward 61).

Republic of Ireland 1 Holland 1

A 1-1 against Holland means that Martin O’Neill’s men have now lost just one of their last 13 matches.

O’Neill started many of his regulars last night and trialled a midfield diamond formation last night, with Shane Long and Jon Walters leading the line and David McGoldrick in a central support berth. Priced at 6.5, Long looks to have nailed down a starting berth and grabbed the opener, tapping home after a John O’Shea header was saved at close-range.

Yet to be added to the Uefa game, centre-half Shane Duffy posed problems and fired two efforts inside the box – he was the only Ireland player to manage more than a single attempt over the 90 minutes. Robbie Brady was another to impress. The Norwich wide man dominated dead-ball duties and produced more key passes than any team-mate – he also finished first for crosses, successful tackles and interceptions, heightening his potential in the Draft Kings game. Frustratingly for Fantasy managers, Brady – who was stationed at left-back last night – is listed as a midfielder in the Uefa offering.

Republic of Ireland XI: Randolph; Coleman, Duffy, O’Shea, Brady; Arter (O’Kane 83), Quinn (Hendrick 67), Whelan (Gibson 67), McGoldrick (Hoolahan 67); Long (McClean 67), Walters.

Slovakia 3 Georgia 1

Slovakia stretched their unbeaten run to six matches with a 3-1 win over Georgia last night. The scoreline somewhat flatter the victors, though, considering they fired just six attempts to Georgia’s 15 and netted with all but one of their efforts on target.

Lining up in their usual 4-2-3-1 formation, the Group B outfit handed a number of squad players the chance to impress – Fantasy managers were limited in their scouting for this one after key men such as Marek Hamsik, Martin Skrtel, Vladimir Weiss and Juraj Kucka were all afforded the night off.

Adam Nemec – available for 6.5 in the Uefa game – strengthened his claim for the lone striker role in Jan Kozak’s XI by bagging a brace, whilst winger Adam Zrelak, who was handed a start in Weiss’ absence, also found the net. Fringe players Matus Bero and Lukas Tesak were attributed with two and one assists respectively, though neither is likely to find a way into the starting line-up when the tournament gets underway.

Slovakia XI: Mucha (Novota 63); Gyomber, Salata, Skriniar, Tesak; Gregus (Svento 87), Pecovsky; Sabo (Sestak 66), Bero (Hrosovsky 79), Zrekak; Nemec (Duris 70).