With the final 23 man squads for Euro 2012 revealed on Wednesday, Fantasy managers can now focus on the pool of players available from each of the 16 participants. Building a squad is now key and picking the right budget options, or finding that obscure auction gem, is ever-crucial. Taking some of the recent friendly line-ups into consideration, we’ve narrowed down a list of cut-price players to consider prior to the big kick-off next Friday…
Running through the options, we’ve set the bar at different prices in accordance with each player’s position. For keepers and defenders, we’ve looked at those with a price tag no greater than 4.5 in the McDonald’s game, while midfielders and forwards costing 6.0 and less come under the microscope. Some are obvious, others are a punt, while one or two can be classed as a definite gamble – hopefully something for everyone, then…
Goalkeepers
Although the draw has been anything but kind to the Republic of Ireland, Shay Given offers the security of starts that few cut-price alternatives can currently guarantee. Coming in at 4.5 in the McDonald’s game, the Villa stopper can expect to be busy in his upcoming Group C clashes against Croatia, Spain and Italy, with plenty of save points looking certain, regardless of whether Giovanni Trapattoni’s side progress to the knock-out stages.
Owned by 9.7% of Fantasy managers, Given offers a cheaper rout into the Ireland backline than the likes of 5.0 priced Richard Dunne and a look at his nation’s defensive record in qualifying demonstrates the resilience under Trapattoni. Ireland returned six clean sheets over their total of 12 games and conceded more than a single goal on just one occasion. Fantasy managers will be keenly awaiting the team sheet for Monday’s friendly with Hungary, though – Trapattoni has insisted Given must fully recover from a knee problem and play some part in order to prove his fitness for the opener against Croatia the following Sunday.
Sweden’s Andreas Isaksson also comes in at 4.5 and is perhaps the only other nailed-on budget starter between the posts. At the back, Sweden were less impressive in qualifying than Ireland with just four clean sheets and 11 goals conceded, and the PSV Eindhoven man is likely to be tested time and again over his three Group D matches, with showdowns against co-hosts Ukraine, England and France to follow. With a couple of cheaper defensive alternatives in the Swedish backline, however, Isaksson has just 3.4% ownership and having conceded two goals against Iceland in Wednesday’s friendly, the problems at the back have yet to subside for Eric Hamren’s men.
While other keepers may well prove to be better value, there are less guarantees over their game time – taking a punt could either prove profitable or hugely frustrating for Fantasy managers. Anders Lindegaard may be favourite for the number one spot for Denmark in light of Thomas Sorensen’s withdrawal but has admitted he is not yet 100% after being sidelined for the last couple of months of the recent Premier League season. Konstantinos Chalkias also comes in at 4.0 and started Greece’s last friendly – bearing in mind his side conceded just five goals in qualifying, Fantasy managers will be keen to find a route into the Greek backline but, once again, he is not nailed-on.
The goalkeeper position is tricky then – it could well be one spot which deserves significant outlay, whether that be in the McDonalds game, or in your auction bidding.
Defenders
Poland centre-half Damian Perquis underlined his potential by grabbing the only goal in the recent friendly win over Slovakia. The co-hosts have maintained their strong defensive showings in recent matches and have now recorded four back-to-back clean sheets, against Bosnia, Portugal, Latvia and Slovakia, suggesting they could offer strong value over the group stages.
Up against Greece, Russia and the Czech Republic, Franciszek Smuda’s side have been arguably placed in the weakest of the four groups and the co-hosts will be confident of progressing to the final eight. Perquis, priced at just 4.5, has now fully recovered from an arm problem and looks nailed-on in the heart of defence – with a mere 0.8% ownership, he could be a strong differential and is likely to benefit from the recovered ball rule should clean sheets go amiss.
Theodor Gebre Selassie is priced at 4.5 and offers a cheaper option into the Czech Republic backline than most of his compatriots. While 8.2% owned Michal Kadlec has proven to be a popular choice due to his spot-kick duties, Gebre Selassie is a full 1.0 less in the McDonald’s game and although he played just four games in qualifying, seems to have made the right-back position his own in recent months.
The Czechs recorded five clean sheets over a total of ten qualifying games and with Group A showdowns against Russia, Greece and Poland on the agenda, are handed a decent opportunity to further demonstrate their defensive resilience. Gebre Selassie seems to have sneaked under the radar – he has a mere 0.5% ownership at present and, given their upcoming opponents, looks to have a strong chance of progressing beyond the group stages.
An injury to first-choice centre-half Daniel Majstorovic looks set to boost the Fantasy prospects of Sweden’s Jonas Olsson. The West Brom man is set to feature alongside Olof Mellberg in the heart of defence for Erik Hamren’s side and is available to Fantasy managers for a budget-friendly 4.0, though with a couple of goals conceded in the recent friendly win over Iceland, the Swedes are struggling to impress at the back.
If Olsson can replicate the strong defensive form he displayed for the Baggies in the Premier League season gone by, though, he should benefit from the recovered balls rule, with plenty of clearances and tackles likely to be needed over his trio of Group D matches. Up against Ukraine, England and France, his contribution at the back will be key if the Swedes are to stand any chance of progressing beyond the group stages.
Jose Holebas failed to play in any of Greece’s qualifying games but, as the friendlies go by, he’s looking an increasingly reliable pick at left-back for Fernando Santos’ side. He comes in at 4.5 in the McDonald’s game – the same as Kyriakos Papadopoulos – but has less competition for a starting role than the Schalke centre-half and may well be a safer option, though the latter does offer greater goal potential.
As mentioned above, Greece conceded just five goals in qualifying and with five clean sheets returned, there is plenty of faith in their ability to keep out the likes of Poland, Czech Republic and Russia over their three Group A games. Papadopoulos, in particular, has proven to be a popular pick, with 16% of McDonald’s Fantasy managers already snapping up his services but Holebas has a mere 0.3% ownership, highlighting his potential as a differential.
Finally, Croatia’s Ivan Strinic is another to consider. Handed a measly 4.0 price tag by McDonald’s, the Dnipro player looks likely to start at left-back for Slaven Bilic’s side. Croatia returned just four clean sheets over their 10 qualifiers and have clashes with Italy and Spain to follow their opener against the Republic of Ireland but Strinic’s attack-minded game and regular supply from the flank has already acquired almost 20% ownership. Playing on the third day of each round means he’s easy to sub out if he fails to pick up the points.
Midfielders
Priced at 6.0, Russia’s Roman Shirokov plays as the most advanced of the midfield three and looks strong value. Shirokov demonstrated his eye for goal by netting five times in last season’s Champions League campaign for Zenit St Petersburg and grabbed goals in recent friendlies against Greece and Denmark. With games against the Czech Republic, Poland and Greece, he’s been handed a decent run of games to prosper and has picked up just over 7% of ownership thus far.
Mario Mandzukic is likely to afford Fantasy managers an out-of-position prospect for Croatia’s Group C clashes with Republic of Ireland, Italy and Spain. Classified as a midfielder but set to start up front for Slaven Bilic’s side, Mandzukic grabbed 12 goals and eight assists in the previous Bundesliga season with Wolfsburg and netted three times in Croatia’s qualifying campaign. Costing just 6.0, he has a mere 1.4% ownership and, with Fantasy managers overlooking his potential and turning to the likes of Nikica Jelavic and Darijo Srna instead, could be a decent differential and auction bargain.
Michael Krohn-Deli is another who comes in at 6.0 and is likely to play in attack. The Brondby man scored twice in qualifying and played seven of his nation’s eight games on the left of a front three. With fellow wide man Dennis Rommedahl classified as a forward, Kronh-Deli offers a cheap route into the Danes’ frontline, though with clashes against Holland, Portugal and Germany to follow, it’s perhaps understandable he’s been acquired by just 0.3% of Fantasy managers to date.
Giorgos Karagounis brings a touch of class and creativity to Greece’s play. One of only two players to feature in all his nation’s qualifiers, the veteran lines up on the left of the midfield three and is likely to monopolise set-pieces for Fernando Santos’ side. With Greece likely to provide stubborn resistance at the back, his craft may well prove crucial to unlocking opponents’ backlines. Alternatively, Sotiris Ninis potentially offers an out-of-position prospect. Priced at 5.5, he missed the qualifiers through injury but has now fully recovered – Santos has hinted that he may be utilised as an attacking option on the right of the front three, though his starts are a little less secure than Karagounis’ ahead of the games against Poland, Czech Republic and Russia.
For Fantasy managers looking for nothing more than cut-price squad fillers, Poland’s Eugene Polanski is the most popular in the McDonald’s game. Priced at just 4.0, he guarantees starts and has a decent chance of making it beyond the group stages, too – hence the reason over 34% have already picked him up. Keith Andrews is also priced at 4.0 and has picked up 13% of Fantasy suitors. A near-certain starter for the Republic of Ireland, the West Brom man offers a greater attacking threat than the likes of Polanski, having scored in the 4-0 play-off win over Estonia and provided an assist in the recent friendly draw with Denmark.
Forwards
With a price tag of just 5.0, Nikica Jelavic has proven to be a popular pick amongst Fantasy managers – so far, almost 33% have acquired his services, in spite of games against Spain and Italy on the agenda. Jelavic seems set to start the opener against the Republic of Ireland ahead of Ivica Olic and looks a viable captaincy option before Croatia’s schedule toughens considerably: his budget-friendly price affords plenty scope for filling those two remaining places with more costly forward options. Whether he can make it past the groups stages is another matter entirely but with a wildcard available during the group stages, many are choosing to hand him a place in their squads before reassessing their options prior to Round 2.
Theofanis Gekas is favourite to lead the line for Greece in the Group A games against Poland, Czech Republic and Russia. Coming in at just 5.5, he arrives in strong form, having provided eight goals and a couple of assists for Samsunspor since moving to the Turkish club in January. With spot-kicks also in the bag, he’s one to consider, though with just 14 goals in 10 group games, his nation have hardly been the most prolific in front of goal.
Sweden’s Ola Toivonen is a punt that could well pay off. While 8.0 priced Zlatan Ibrahimovic is the most popular forward for Erik Hamren’s side, Toivonen costs just 5.5 in comparison and appeared in nine of his nation’s 10 qualifiers, grabbing a couple of goals. Hamren trialled Ibrahimovic in a free role in the midweek win over and fielded the PSV star on the left flank but Toivonen served a reminder of his potential with a goal in the 3-2 triumph. With just 0.7% ownership, he’s flown far under the radar, though there’s no doubt his acquisition is a definite gamble ahead of Group D clashes with Ukraine, England and France.
Jan Rezek is another reverse out-of-position prospect but, playing on the flank in the Czech Republic’s 4-2-3-1, he still demonstrated an eye for goal during qualifying. Rezek grabbed two goals in just five appearances, with his lightning-quick acceleration likely to trouble the rearguards of Russia, Greece and Poland over the group stages. While 7.0 priced Milan Baros has proven to be a more popular choice, Rezek is more budget friendly at 6.0 and, with a mere 0.3% ownership, could appeal to those Fantasy managers prepared to take a punt on a real differential.
