Wednesday signals the start of the second round of Euro 16 group matches and, for DraftKings managers, that could well herald a switch in emphasis to a bigger squad spend in attacking areas.
There’s no question that some nations are already put in a “must-win” scenario as a result of setbacks in their opening matches.
Romania were unfortunate to fall victim of Dimitri Payet’s brilliance in Friday’s tournament opener and will now be forced to go on the attack against Switzerland. The Swiss earned three points but failed to impress against 10-man Albania and, while they’ll be content to earn a point, they will know that their defence will come under severe pressure from the determined and talented Romanians.
Equally, over in Group B, Slovakia will need to prioritise attack against Russia following their late defeat to Wales. The Russians rode their luck against England and will likely attempt to hold out against Slovakia who will surely go all out for a victory.
As for France, with three points in the bank, they could now cut loose against an Albanian side who will be forced onto the front foot by their unfortunate defeat to the Swiss. Albania earned a shock 1-0 win the last time the two nations met in 2015; that will ensure that there’s little room for complacency in Didier Deschamp’s ranks.
These factors should result in a swing towards more attacking football which, for DraftKings managers, will mean putting greater emphasis on match winners in those sides with the greatest motivation to score goals.
We’ve selected five targets that we’re expecting to shine, providing a solid spine to any eight-man DraftKings squad set up for Wednesday’s contests.
Marek Hamsik – Slovakia, – $8800
The Napoli midfielder waltzed through a Welsh defence to strike an opening blow in Saturday’s clash, only to be denied by a last ditch block from Ben Davies. Hamsik’s attacking threat was largely nullified from that point on but he still fetched decent returns via five tackles won. With his nation seeking a vital victory, the scene is set for Hamsik to lead the charge after topping the Slovakian ranks for shots and notching five goals in qualifying.
Dimitri Payet – France, – $10300
Payet’s performance on Friday elevated him to a new status on the international stage, ensuring that few DraftKings managers can afford to ignore him from this point on. Quite simply, his game is designed to fetch strong base returns due to his seemingly relentless delivery of crossed balls from both open play and set-pieces. Payet created eight chances for team-mates via 12 crosses whilst scoring that early contender for goal of the tournament; Albania seem unlikely to have an answer to his flourishing talents.
Patrice Evra – France, – $5000
While Albania posed an attacking threat against the Swiss, their record in qualifying, with just seven goals scored, would suggest that they will struggle to make an impression on the French rearguard. Evra was at fault for Romania’s goal on Friday and the former skipper will be looking to atone for his error. He played far further up the pitch than Bacary Sagna on the right and provided three crosses with two tackles won. With Payet possibly deployed on the left but drawn inside, Evra’s frequent raids on the overlap could be a feature of Wednesday’s clash.
Nicolae Stanciu – Romania, – $5100
Stanciu’s delivery from dead-balls was a key weapon in Romania’ armoury against a hesitant French defence. The 23-year-old crafted three opportunities for team-mates via four crossed balls and it was his purposeful run that drew the foul from Evra for Bogdan Stancu’s converted spot-kick. Stanciu’s contribution to the Romanian effort looks likely to be key against the Swiss.
Christian Sapunaru – Romania, – $3900
Another player to emerge from Friday’s French reverse with great credit, the experienced full-back was a willing outlet down the right flank. Sapunaru saw plenty of the ball going forward, receiving more passes in the attacking third than any of his team-mates. It translated to three crosses, whilst his defensive efforts earned an interception and two tackles won. We’re expecting Sapunaru’s forays down the right to feature heavily in Romania’s bid to overhaul the Swiss backline.
DraftKings contests for Wednesday’s matches are now available, including a $3 entry “Striker” with a $9k prize pot.
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