It’s borderline scandalous that the next Euro 2020 game isn’t until Saturday.
However, the mini-break does allow Dream Team Euros gaffers some time to take stock and plot their strategy for the knockout stages.
With that in mind, we’ve identified the ten best differential players at this stage – by that we mean, the individuals with the most points from those with an ownership below 5%.
- Ivan Perisic (£3.5m) – 4.4% ownership – 28 points
No need to linger on Croatia’s tournament specialist as we wrote a separate article about him yesterday, detailing his stealthy approach to becoming the best midfielder in the game.
Essentially, Star Man performances against Czech Republic and Scotland catapulted him up the rankings after a blank against England.
2. Patrik Schick (£2.5m) – 1.2% ownership – 26 points
Another Group D player who didn’t do much against England but cashed in elsewhere.
Czech Republic face a tough test in the round of 16 against a free-scoring Netherlands side but Schick should get a chance or two in response if Frank de Boer continues with his ambitious tactics.
3. Emil Forsberg (£2.0m) – 1.1% ownership – 26 points
A key contributor to RB Leipzig’s rise up the ladder in recent years, the 29-year-old has scored three goals at Euro 2020 so far – which is doubly impressive when you consider how passive Sweden played in their first two games.
Forsberg has a cultured pair of feet and will hope to extend his golden summer with a goal against Ukraine in what must be considered a favourable round of 16 match-up.
4. Tyrone Mings (£2.5m) – 2.7% ownership – 21 points
England and Italy are the only two teams yet to concede a goal at Euro 2020 and Aston Villa’s no-nonsense centre-back has featured in all three clean sheets for the Three Lions.
However, those thinking of transferring Mings into their XI would be wise to think twice. Harry Maguire and John Stones will be Gareth Southgate’s preferred partnership at the heart of defence now the former has regained fitness.
Plus, we’ve got Germany next…
5. Stefan Lainer (£1.5m) – 0.5% ownership – 19 points
Austria’s energetic right-back is statistically the best presser of the tournament so far having clocked more pressures than any other player.
Add in a fantastic goal against North Macedonia and a clean sheet against Ukraine and you’ve got a cheap defender punching well above his weight.
Lainer and co face Italy in the round of 16 and will have to play the game of their lives to deny the tournament’s most in-form tea at Wembley.
6. Andriy Yarmolenko (£2.5m) – 2.2% ownership – 18 points
Don’t let him cut in on his left, don’t let him cut in on his left, don’t let him… ah, goal.
7. Xherdan Shaqiri (£2.5m) – 0.7% ownership – 18 points
The Swiss playmaker always seems to have at least one fantastic game at a major tournament and this summer it was Turkey who suffered the consequences.
Despite a lively showing in his last outing, Shaqiri’s ownership is unlikely to increase with France up next for Switzerland.
8. Roman Yaremchuk (£1.5m) – 0.5% ownership – 18 points
The Yin to Yarmolenko’s Yang.
Yaremchuk scored 23 goals in all competitions for Gent in 2020/21 and has carried his good form into this tournament, scoring against North Macedonia and Netherlands.
9. Pablo Sarabia (£2.5m) – 0.2% ownership – 17 points
All of Spain’s frustrations in front of goal were released against Slovakia as La Roja scored five goals despite Alvaro Morata’s penalty miss.
Sarabia was chosen to start in the must-win fixture and delivered with a goal and an assist in a Star Man display which produced a 17-point haul for the tiny fraction of managers who bravely backed him.
The PSG technician will surely keep his place as Luis Enrqiue’s side take on Croatia in the knockouts.
10. Robin Olsen (£1.5m) – 0.9% ownership – 17 points
Sweden’s aforementioned caution against Spain and Slovakia allowed their keeper to mix it with the likes of Gianluigi Donnarumma and Jordan Pickford at the top of the rankings.
Olsen is an absolute steal at £1.5m and his very few owners will have their selection justified twice over if he can repel Ukraine in the round of 16.