The U21 European Championship is here. While most of us start searching in the dark for players, slowly a lot of the Fantasy Football Scout community have already begun sharing vital team news and line-up information. Based on this and my own research I’ve taken a detailed look at the likely starting XIs as well as key players from each group. The first in this two-article series will look at Group A’s notable players and hidden talent.
Serbia
Likely XI:
———————————-Dmitrovic (5.0)
–Petrovic (c) (5.0)——-Pantic (5.0)———Spajic (5.0)———Petkovic (3.5)
——————-Mijalovic (6.0)—————–Causic (6.5)
—Jojic (7.0)————————Duricic (7.5)——————-Srnic (FWD, 7.0)
—————————————Pesic(7.5)
Key Points
- The centre-back pairing is untested, but at 3.5 Red Star Belgrade defender Marko Petkovic looks nailed on and could be a real bargain.
- The only one worth considering from the midfield is Milos Jojic, who is on set-pieces with most of the stalwarts out. Slavoljub Srnic has had a good season as well and could be considered.
- DO NOT touch the striker as Alexsandar Pesic is likely to rotate with Luka Milunovic, plus both have had abysmal seasons.
CONCLUSION: Petkovic and Jojic aside, this is a team you can mostly ignore.
Denmark
Likely XI:
—————————-Busk Jensen (4.0)
–Durmisi (5.5)—Verstergaard (5.5)—-Sorensen (4.0)——Knudsen (5.0)
————————–A Christensen(DEF, 5.5)
———-Hojbjerg(8.5)—————————-LV Christensen (7.5)
—Sisto (9.0)—————-Fischer (9.0)—————Thomsen (MID, 7.5)
Key Points
- Jakob Busk Jensen could be a bargain indeed, a decent keeper in a decent team for 4.0. However, he is not 100 per cent nailed on and still faces competition from the higher priced David Jensen, according to the Danish manager.
- Frederik Sorensen looks to be first-choice centre-back with Jores Okore out, and is another bargain. Also, Andreas Christensen drops back sometimes, resulting in three at the back, so full-backs are marauding and could potentially pick up attacking points. Alexander Scholz is another to watch out for here. Priced at 4.0, he has started the last four U21 games.
- Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg is your main man – a top player with set pieces in his locker. Don’t have the money? Then Lasse Vigen Christensen could be worth it as well.
- Up top, Viktor Fischer is the only nailed-on starter, with Pione Sisto competing with Mikkel Beck, while Nikolaj Thomsen faces stiff competition from Yussef Poulsen, who has played for the senior side.
CONCLUSION: Busk, Sorensen, the full- backs, Hojbjerg, LV Christensen and Fischer are all good options. This is a good team as well, with strong potential to progress.
Germany
Likely XI:
—————————Ter Stegen
—-Korb (4.5)—Knoche (6.0)——Ginter (5.5)——-Schulz (5.5)
————-Geis (8.5)—————Leitner (7.0)
Bittencourt (8.5)———Meyer (9.5)—————–Volland (FWD, 12.0)
————————-Hoffmann (11.0)
Key points
- Great odds to keep clean sheet in a relatively easy group. If you spend the money on Marc Andre Ter Stegen, he will deliver.
- Don’t be fooled by Julian Korb’s price. He has been talked up to get a senior team call-up and is the only right-back in the side as well. Emre Can said he will “likely play in the midfield”.
- Nico Schulz is the only rotation worry in defence, Christian Gunter could take his place.
- The midfield is indeed a minefield, as many of you can see. Maximillion Arnold, Serge Gnabry, Can and Amin Younes are all worthy of starting places. Max Meyer and Moritz Leitner look nailed on, with the latter on set pieces as well.
- The striker options are not straightforward. Philipp Hoffmann had a great qualifying campaign, but had a so-so season – Kevin Volland will surely play, and if Germany want to accommodate one of their many talented wingers, Volland is likely to go up top.
CONCLUSION: Korb, Leitner and Meyer are great options. Volland for an extra 1.0 could be worth it since you’d want to have a German striker. Over the course of the tourney, players like Bittencourt and Younes could emerge as big differentials.
Czech Republic
Likely XI:
——————————Koubek/Pavlenka (both 4.0)
—Kaderabek(4.5)—-Kalas (4.5)*————–Brabec (4.5)———Hybs(4.0)
——————Petrak (5.0)———————Zmrhal(5.5)
—Prikryl (5.5)—————-Travnik (5.0)——————Krejci (5.5)*
———————————Kadlec (6.5)*
*Vaclav Kadlec and Tomas Kalas are suspended for first game. The likely replacemen for Kalas is Jan Baranek (4.5), while Kadlec deputies could include wingers Jan Kliment (5.0) or Ladislav Krejci.
Key Points
- Michal Koubek is more likely to start in goal , according to the manager’s comments. However, Jin Pavlenka cannot be ruled out.
- Matej Hybs has competition at left-back from Matej Hanousek, while the other three are first choice.
- Ondrej Petrak and Jaromir Zmrhal are very defensively minded midfielders so poor options in this Fantasy game. The more attack-minded Tomas Prikryl and Krejci could be interesting.
- Kadlec should be a strong option from the second game.
CONCLUSION: Prikryl could be a good option. But on the whole this looks a team to avoid with other teams offering far better value and chances of points.
