The first week of a major tournament is always the most revealing.
During the build-up, international managers generally keep their cards close to their chest amid rampant speculation regarding possible starting line-ups, formations, etc.
Now Euro 2020 is underway, the best-laid plans of Europe’s best are being revealed on a daily basis. And Dream Team Euros gaffers need to react.
For example, it wasn’t clear whether Roberto Martinez would select Thomas Meunier or Timothy Castagne as his right wing-back until Belgium’s team to play Russia was revealed an hour before kick-off.
Dream Team Euros bosses were split too with both men featuring in the top 20 most-popular defenders.
Leicester’s rampaging asset got the nod but was forced off after 27 minutes having suffered a fractured eye socket – a similar injury to the one his compatriot Kevin De Bruyne is recovering from – and is now expected to miss the rest of the tournament.
The enforced substitution actually benefited Belgium because Meunier – who was a striker well into his teenage years – exploited Russia’s passiveness, frequently taking up a position at the back post.
The Borussia Dortmund man was virtually playing alongside Romelu Lukaku at times and was in the right place at the right time to sweep home Belgium’s second goal.
He then compounded his effective introduction by assisting the Red Devils’ hulking No9 for the third goal, bagging 15 points in the process.
At the time of writing, Meunier is the highest-scoring defender in Dream Team Euros – not bad for someone who started on the bench!
The premature end to Castagne’s participation at Euro 2020 is unfortunate and you’ve got to feel for the player himself but the simplification of the situation may help Dream Team Euros managers as Meunier is now likely to play almost every minute remaining of Belgium’s tournament.
He’s already shown his unnaturally composed finishing for a defender and the Red Devils will be hopeful of clean sheets against Denmark and Finland.
At £2.5m Castagne is cheaper than Meunier (£3.0m) so you may have to find a slither of extra budget from somewhere else to make the straight swap but it seems like a logical move.