Beyond scrutinising a smattering of Premier League transfers, Fantasy enthusiasts have been resigned to twiddling their thumbs since the 2014/15 campaign shut up shop. That’s set to change with the imminent U21 European Championship and its associated McDonald’s game, presenting a perfect stop-gap before next season’s player lists are unveiled and the first drafts begin in earnest.

Our first article on the tournament focuses on the rule set before we cast an eye over the player price list in the coming days.

This year’s iteration of the youth tournament kicks off on Wednesday June 17 and runs until June 30, with eight teams duking it out across four venues. The most popular player in the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) last term, Harry Kane, will spearhead England’s assault on the crown, highlighting the tournament’s scouting appeal. For those keen on sharpening their Fantasy skills over the close season, here’s a rundown of what to expect.

SQUAD SELECTION

Akin to the rules regarding squad composition in the FPL, 15-man squads are comprised of two goalkeepers, five defenders, five midfielders and three forwards. In the group stages, just three players per team can be selected, but this figure increases to six (semi-finals) and then nine (final) as the tournament progresses.

A budget of €100 million is afforded to each manager at the offset, with an additional €5 million added to the kitty after the group stages. Like in the FPL, player prices change in response to the scale of their ownerships, ensuring management of funds is crucial to extracting the most value. The total number of formations you can employ (eight) is limited by the fact that a minimum of three defenders must be fielded.

SUBSTITUTIONS

Substitutions come in two distinct flavours: manager or automatic. The latter relies on the “priority” system that the FPL practices, whereas manager substitutions allow you to be proactive and tinker with your squad while the Matchday is still in progress.

With the first three Matchdays (group stages) split into two fixtures on each day, unlimited manager substitutions are permitted upon the completion of the first day. Save for players that were shown a red card, you can replace anyone with a benched player that’s scheduled to feature the following afternoon. Ultimately, this system appears to promote stocking your bench with players involved in the second batch of fixtures, thus diversifying your options.

This same principle applies to captaincy (a nominated player that earns double points), engendering an added layer of nuance.

For example, if we select a skipper from the teams that play in Matchday 1 on the opening day of the tournament (Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany and Serbia) and they deliver a paltry points tally, we could shift the armband duty to another potential big-hitter that plays for a side in action on the second day (Italy, Sweden, England and Portugal). You’ll want to source captaincy candidates from both groups, then, doubling your chances of landing a top scorer.

SCORING POINTS

For those familiar with the principles that underpin the FPL game, this scoring system will feel second nature.

Points for goals are awarded in an identical fashion, with goalkeepers and defenders receiving six, midfielders earning five and forwards bagging four. A single point is awarded to any player who makes the pitch, while an additional point is reserved for those players that clock over 60 minutes in a match. Clean sheet points are also tallied in the same way, with goalkeepers and defenders carding four points for not conceding after playing at least 60 minutes, and midfielders registering a solitary point. To pore over the full rules breakdown, click here.

There are a few subtle deviations from its domestic cousin, however, with the awarding of assists being chief among them. Assists are also worth three points, yet a player who wins a free-kick or penalty that is eventually converted won’t be attributed one, as outlined by the rules:

A player will be credited with a ‘goal assist’ when he delivers/plays the final pass, cross, header or shot, which leads to the goal being scored. This will also apply to set plays (i.e. corner, free kick, throw-in etc.). In addition, An attempt, which rebounds from the goal frame, the goalkeeper or a defender, can be considered as an assist, if it leads directly to a goal. When a pass, shot or cross by an attacker contributes to an own goal, an assist can be awarded to the attacker. Only one player can be credited with an assist per goal scored. No assist is awarded to a player winning a penalty or a free kick. No assist is given to a player who creates his own goalscoring opportunity (i.e. solo run/dribble).

Among the other key differences from the FPL, one point is awarded when a player wins a penalty, and one point is deducted from the player that concedes the penalty – regardless of whether the spot-kick is scored. Points continue to be calculated during extra time, yet saves and goals during penalty shoot-outs are not included.

TRANSFERS

Managers are equipped with two free transfers prior to Matchday 2 and 3, with any further transfers deducting two points of your overall score. In appreciation of the halved pool of players in each subsequent Matchday, six free transfers are on offer prior to the semi-final and finals. As with the FPL, one free transfer rolls over to the next round if you don’t take advantage of your full quota. There are no price rises or falls, however; player valuations remain static over the entirety of the tournament, regardless of changes in ownership.

Notwithstanding the bite-sized nature of the tournament, each Fantasy manger enjoys the luxury of a wildcard, which grants unlimited transfers without points deductions prior to one Matchday. In terms of optimum strategies, most will want to activate it during the group stages, given the large number of free transfers available in the knockout rounds. Composing a team specifically intended to score big on Matchday 1 – with a view to activating the wildcard immediately after – has its merits; yet some might prefer to hold off until the landscape is clearer in the wake of Matchday 1, particularly when all but the most ardent football fans will have had limited exposure to the majority of the starlets on show.

SCOUT LEAGUE

We’ve set up an official FFScout league for those looking to get involved – the code is 2370146-686520.

This code and link to the game is also available in the middle column of the homepage.