Saturday sees the start of this European Championship’s knockout stage and team news has arrived from the Round of 16 clash between Germany and Denmark. It kicks off at 20:00 BST in Dortmund.
This rematch of the 1992 final almost didn’t happen. Hosts Germany were initially fairly comfortable but needed a stoppage-time Niclas Fullkrug (€7.0m) equaliser against Switzerland to keep top spot.
However, despite strong rumours that the forward would be rewarded with a start, he remains on the sidelines. Good news for Kai Havertz (€7.5m) owners, although popular duo Florian Wirtz (€7.5m) and Maximilian Mittelstadt (€4.1m) have been demoted to the bench. Leroy Sane (€6.9m) and David Raum (€5.0m) replace this duo.
Their third change has Nico Schlotterbeck (€4.4m) step in for suspended Jonathan Tah (€4.5m).
Euro Fantasy’s top-scoring midfielders Jamal Musiala (€8.5m) and Ilkay Gundogan (€7.1m) begin proceedings, just like Antonio Rudiger (€5.5m) and Manuel Neuer (€6.0m).
Meanwhile, Denmark were joint with Slovenia on many tie-breakers. They only grabbed second because the latter’s assistant coach got booked in Matchday 1.
Similarly to Tah, it’s a one-match ban for midfielder Morten Hjulmand (€5.6m). It’s why Thomas Delaney (€5.4m) is one of two changes, the other being Andreas Skov Olsen (€6.4m) for Jonas Wind (€6.9m).
Furthermore, it’s Rasmus Hojlund (€7.5m) up front and Christian Eriksen (€7.0m) as playmaker. The latter enters Matchday 4 in joint-second for overall shots (10) and the best for chances created (13), even though he’s yet to set up a big chance.
Whoever wins will face either Spain or Georgia in the quarter-finals.
MATCHDAY 4 TEAM NEWS
Germany XI – Neuer; Kimmich, Rudiger, Schlotterbeck, Raum; Andrich, Kroos; Musiala, Gundogan, Sane; Havertz
Denmark XI – Schmeichel; Andersen, Vestergaard, Christensen; Bah, Delaney, Hojbjerg, Maehle; Skov Olsen, Eriksen; Hojlund
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