Euro 2012

Captain Poll – Matchday Three – Day Four

Three of the top four in the Matchday Three, Day Three Captain Poll picked up attacking returns this evening but, with six points the most Antonio Cassano, Andrea Pirlo and Andres Iniesta could muster, many Fantasy managers may well be willing to twist.

With Spain and Italy now through to the last eight, tomorrow brings the final matches of the group stages. France, England, and Ukraine are all still in with a shout of progressing, while Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Sweden have the small matter of pride to play for.

England need just a draw against tournament co-hosts Ukraine to progress to the final eight and will be boosted by the return of Wayne Rooney – Roy Hodgson confirmed earlier that the United man will start tomorrow, now that his two-match suspension has been served. Danny Welbeck and Andy Carroll are set to tussle for the remaining forward slot after both found the net against Sweden, while Ashley Young’s contribution could be vital from out wide. Steven Gerrard also comes into contention after returning a pair of assists for his Fantasy owners thus far and Theo Walcott’s goal and assist display against the Swedes could earn him a start, after Hodgson revealed he is over his hamstring scare.

Oleg Blokhin’s side are still sweating on the fitness of Andriy Shevchenko. The former Milan and Chelsea man is rated as 50-50 due to a knee problem, though seems the man most likely to breach the English rearguard. Yevhen Konoplyanka and Andriy Yarmolenko must step up their games from the wide positions if Blokhin’s side are to prosper – the duo have produced just one assist between them thus far. Marko Devic is favourite to step in if Shevchenko fails to make it, lining up as the lone frontman with Andriy Voronin tucked in behind.

A change of system against Ukraine saw Jeremy Menez come into consideration for France. With Laurent Blanc changing to a 4-2-3-1, the winger grabbed a goal and outperformed the likes of Samir Nasri and Franck Ribery in the 2-0 win – if he can maintain a role in Blanc’s first XI, Menez could prosper against a Sweden side that have lost both their opening matches. Karim Benzema saved the day for many Fantasy managers last time out by picking up a pair of assists – he has yet to find the net but, with plenty of creators surrounding him, tomorrow night could be the time to break his scoring duck.

For Erik Hamren’s side, Zlatan Ibrahimovic is always the lead contender. The Sweden boss has already ruled out Johan Elmander and Rasmus Elm, meaning Markus Rosenberg is likely to lead the line, with Ola Toivonen on the left – both could be decent differentials, though whether they can breach a French backline that has conceded just a single goal thus far is another matter entirely. Seb Larsson and Kim Kallstrom’s creativity were crucial in the qualifiers and both have provided an assist apiece already.

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1,020 Comments Post a Comment
  1. BOOM XHAKALACA
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 9 months ago

    It's RMQFT time 🙂

    Rui Patricio / Tzorvas
    Hummels / Alba / Maniatis / Limbersky / Granqvist
    Schwein / Pirlo / Alonso / Nasri / Pilar
    Torres / CR7 / Gomez

    Any suggestions?

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    1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGeniusâ…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 9 months ago

      A small one. I think you might get one better defender, and swap out one of those mids for a 4.0 model ... 🙂

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      1. BOOM XHAKALACA
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 9 months ago

        Do you think there will be many clean sheets? I have Portugal, Spain and Germany covered.

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        1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGeniusâ…
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 9 months ago

          Well, not from Portugal ... 😀

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    2. Coldplay
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 9 months ago

      Wait until all the matches have been played. You have Granquist who is already knocked out, so its better to wait.

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      1. BOOM XHAKALACA
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 9 months ago

        He's only there because of his price 🙂

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        1. jaredmason
          • 11 Years
          11 years, 9 months ago

          There are people that cheap who are still in

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  2. Coldplay
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 9 months ago

    Lille boss Garcia confirms Newcastle made €5m offer for France right-back Debuchy. LOSC have dismissed it for being too small.

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    1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGeniusâ…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 9 months ago

      ... and so the search goes on. I rather like Raylor, poor chap. 😉

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      1. Coldplay
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 9 months ago

        Get on the Raylor bandwagon just like last season 😉

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        1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGeniusâ…
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          11 years, 9 months ago

          Well, yes - but I actually like him as a player. Would love him at West Ham ... 🙂

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          1. Coldplay
            • 12 Years
            11 years, 9 months ago

            He was immense in fantasy terms, but he was not much of a defender, was he?

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            1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGeniusâ…
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 14 Years
              11 years, 9 months ago

              Don't agree. I think he is quite good.

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              1. GreenWindmill
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 12 Years
                11 years, 9 months ago

                Raylor is barely Premier League standard as a defender imo. He played surprisingly well for much of last season and he gives his all but if we're to have any hope of getting close to last season's performance we need to improve in that area. Debuchy has been a target for a while now, was slightly concerned his good performances at the Euros might attract others to outbid us though.

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    2. Sarnab
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 9 months ago

      So maybe no Simpson next season.. had him throughout last season.

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      1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGeniusâ…
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 9 months ago

        You have to wonder ...

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        1. Sarnab
          • 12 Years
          11 years, 9 months ago

          I know i have to.

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      2. GreenWindmill
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 9 months ago

        The sensible money is on our fullbacks being Santon + a new signing next year.

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    3. heco87
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 9 months ago

      I think we made that offer a while ago and now know that it'll be 8m euros which seals the deal. Cabaye playing for us is in our favour, fingers crossed we'll get him.

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      1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGeniusâ…
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 9 months ago

        Just bid for the French National Squad ... 😉

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        1. heco87
          • 13 Years
          11 years, 9 months ago

          I'd cerainly have Menez 🙂

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  3. Sarnab
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 9 months ago

    Zhirkov (3 points) to mexes ??

    yay or nay ?

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    1. Coldplay
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 9 months ago

      Don't you have any 2 pointers? I would make the change anyway.

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      1. Sarnab
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 9 months ago

        no

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    2. PanTanti
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 9 months ago

      id say yay!!

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  4. AA
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 9 months ago

    Any thoughts/suggestions on this WC team ? Ozil + Nani a better option than Gomez + Meireles ?

    Casillas | 4.0M Keeper

    Boateng | Limbersky | Hummels | Debuchy | Joao Pereira

    Nasri | Pirlo | Pilar | Meireles | Fortounis

    Gomez | Torres | Ronaldo

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    1. heco87
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 9 months ago

      Yeah, I'd say so, given that you also have Ronaldo - I don't think you need Ronaldo & Nani up top.

      Decent team

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  5. Les Bleus
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 9 months ago

    I would appreciate some thoughts about this QF team 🙂

    Rui Patricio

    Boateng Alba Hummels Selassie

    Iniesta Nasri Pirlo

    Benzema Gomez CR7

    random 4.0 GK/Maniatis/Fortounis/Random 4.0 mid

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    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 9 months ago

      Great beside the keeper, but I guess you don't have cash

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      1. Les Bleus
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 9 months ago

        Thanks for the advice!
        Nope, no cash :p. You don't think Portugal will keep a CS against Czech?

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    2. Sarnab
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 9 months ago

      Benzema > Silva
      Iniesta > gerrard

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      1. Les Bleus
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 9 months ago

        I was thinking of having Gerrard, but I didn't think that England will do well against Spain (if they play them). If not, I will probably make this change. Thanks 🙂

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  6. Fernando Torres
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 9 months ago

    RMWQFT
    Neuer Lastuvka
    Debuchy Lescott Alba Boateng Selassie
    Pilar Busquets Nasri Schweinsteiger Cabaye
    Torres Gomez Benzema

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  7. Fernando Torres
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 9 months ago

    RMWQFT
    Neuer Lastuvka
    Debuchy Lescott Alba Boateng Selassie
    Pilar Busquets Nasri Schweinsteiger Cabaye
    Torres Gomez Benzema

    What do people think?

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    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 9 months ago

      Loving the defense beside Lescott. Similar to mine team

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    2. Willis.
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 9 months ago

      Why did you repost?

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      1. Fernando Torres
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 9 months ago

        Didn't mean to, my bad.

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  8. mikess
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 9 months ago

    Sifakis Rui Patrício
    Limberský Boateng Hummels Maniatis Jordi Alba
    Schweinsteiger Busquets Pirlo PilaÅ™ João Moutinho
    Torres Cristiano Ronaldo Gomez

    Appreciate any advice

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    1. Willis.
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 9 months ago

      Why do you have 19 players?

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      1. Sarnab
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 9 months ago

        😀

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      2. PanTanti
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 9 months ago

        LOL

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      3. mikess
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 9 months ago

        good one

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  9. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 9 months ago

    Anyone considering Nani as alternative to CR7? 2.5m cheaper and only 1 pt behind him. The cash difference would help for the rest of the team

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    1. heco87
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 9 months ago

      I would be, if I hadn't captained him this round - hard to then give him the chop.

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    2. Willis.
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 9 months ago

      Yeah why not.

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    3. AA
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 9 months ago

      But then Ronaldo averages 7 shots per game ? I'd like to consider both in my team.

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    4. Bubbles
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 9 months ago

      The amount of chances Ronaldo gets he'd be worth an extra £2.5m, I'd say.

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  10. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 9 months ago

    Any early team news? England lineup perhaps. Or prediction? If I was Woy btw

    Hart
    GJ Terry Lescott Cashley
    Walcott Parker Gerrard Milner
    Young
    Rooney

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    1. Coldplay
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 9 months ago

      Milner out, Young at his place and Welbeck behind Rooney.

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      1. AA
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 9 months ago

        Young out IMO . Rooney behind Welbeck.

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      2. Wild Rover
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 9 months ago

        *Rooney behind Wellbeck

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    2. Scroobius Mac
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 9 months ago

      Dropping Welbeck and Carroll, both of who did well?

      I'd probably drop Carroll for Rooney and then use Theo late on again.

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      1. FPL Daniel
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 9 months ago

        I am dropping Welbeck beacuse they are playing against Ukraine. They need one extra man in mid

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        1. Scroobius Mac
          • 13 Years
          11 years, 9 months ago

          Do they? Why?
          And Rooney is perfectly adept at dropping into the midfield if we did need that anyway.

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  11. lions
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 9 months ago

    Anyone doing the Sky Sports Euro Fantasy?

    Tricky with only 10 transfers for the knock out phase.

    What tactics would you employ?

    Mine are (I think!)

    A) Stuff team with players from 2 teams you think will make the final

    B) Make sure (if I don't think Portugal / Germany will make final) that I have Ronaldo, Gomez, Ozil et al as they play in the first 2 QF. I can then simply use up a transfer on Torres / Iniesta.

    C) One thing I'm considering, is it worth having one or two cheap players (Ie Greek gk, and someone who may be use off the bench_Nevas . Walcott) so can maximise as many expensive players as possible? Ok Greece could go out but is it really that important to have GK playing?

    Think the trickiest part is how many tranfers to use in the QF.

    Any advice?!

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  12. deejay
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 9 months ago

    3rd striker( i have gomez and CR7) ---- rooney/benzema/torres/nani/silva

    i am concerned about torres indifferent form

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  13. Grippa
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 9 months ago

    Entry is now open for our auction style game based upon the Premier League.

    To register, go to http://www.myffpro.co.uk and join league ID 300021. I will then email you a full copy of the rules.

    We are a non-commercial operation, going into our fourth season, and growing year on year. So join the revolution…

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  14. phattrax786
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 9 months ago

    Stick with Iniesta as captin for Change to Benzema????? Hhhaaaaaaa

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  15. Chris77
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 9 months ago

    Is Shevchenko out of the game tonight? You think he'll come out in the second half?

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