10 best striker options in Euro 2020 Fantasy Football
Strikers to pick in your Euro 2020 Fantasy Football team
Euro 2020 is of course now right around the corner.
As well as bringing you action-packed games of football on a daily basis for several weeks, the Euros also means the return of fantasy football.
Fantasy Premier League has continued to grow rapidly in recent years, with this year’s Euro Fantasy Football no doubt set to prove hugely popular.
And at 101, we are aiming to bring you an extensive, detailed analysis of Euro 2020 Fantasy Football over the coming weeks.
EFF is slightly different to your regular FPL. So, to acquaint yourself with the rules, check out this piece here.
Another vital step in your Fantasy Football journey is of course picking your team’s name. And we have put together a list of the 101 best names for your Fantasy Football side in a list here.
Now, on to the most important area, picking your side. 101 are going to be providing you with the top picks for each position of your Fantasy Football side, with this article set to highlight 10 of the top forward options.
These players are as follows:
- Harry Kane
- Romelu Lukaku
- Luuk de Jong
- Ciro Immobile
- Kylian Mbappe
- Karim Benzema
- Cristiano Ronaldo
- Alvaro Morata
- Burak Yilmaz
- Robert Lewandowski
England’s striker Harry Kane is presented with his Golden Boot award for being the top goal-scorer at the 2018 World Cup in Russia ahead of the UEFA Nations League football match between England and Spain at Wembley Stadium in London on September 8, 2018. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) / NOT FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING USE / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo credit should read GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
1) Harry Kane, England (11.5m)
The first forward you should look to sign for your side is Harry Kane.
Granted at 11.5m he is one of the more expensive picks. But he is also arguably one of the top three strikes at the Euros this summer.
England have been drawn in Group D along with Croatia, Scotland and the Czech Republic.
On paper, this should be a fairly easy group for England to top and given how crucial Kane is to Gareth Southgate’s side, he is sure to be amongst the goals during the opening weeks.
If England do top their group, they have been handed a rather tough draw, which would see them face 2nd place in Group F. Group F is of course this year’s ‘group of death’, with England likely facing one of France, Portugal or Germany in the round of 16.
This may put you off signing Kane as it is hard to see England making it past that stage. However, it is worth noting that Kane managed to net five of his six goals at the 2018 World Cup (enough to win him the Golden Boot) before getting out of the group.
He is also England’s penalty taker and has the ability to drop slightly deeper and provide assists as well. Making him a pretty solid option for your side this year.
One point to consider, however: Kane has never scored a goal for England at a European Championship.
MILAN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 22: (BILD ZEITUNG OUT) Romelu Lukaku of FC Internazionale scores his team’s third goal during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Torino FC at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on November 22, 2020 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Sportinfoto/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
2) Romelu Lukaku, Belgium (11m)
Like Kane, Romelu Lukaku was one of the top scorers at the 2018 World Cup and he is expected to be up there again this summer.
The Belgian is coming into the tournament on the back of a sensational domestic campaign, which saw Inter Milan clinch their first Serie A title in 10 years.
Lukaku – who is the Red Devils’ penalty taker – also has a sensational record for his country, scoring 59 and assisting 14 in 91 outings so far.
As for Belgium’s opponents at the Euros, their group should be pretty easy for them to win.
Roberto Martinez’s side will face Denmark, Finland and Russia in Group B, with the latter two of those three sides likely set to ship a number of goals to Belgium, which Lukaku will almost certainly be involved in.
And if they top their group, which is expected, Belgium will then take on one of the 3rd-place teams in the round of 16, which should prove another fairly easy tie for Lukaku to earn more points in.
3) Luuk de Jong, Netherlands (7.5m)
This next option is unlikely to be as prolific as Kane and Lukaku, but if you are putting expensive stars in your side, you do balance them against some more budget forwards.
At 7.5m, Luuk de Jong should represent just that.
Despite being 30 and not having the best season with Sevilla, Luuk de Jong has been a key cog in the Dutch squad in recent times and has managed to find the net in the Netherlands’ last three World Cup qualifiers.
The Oranje have been undergoing something of a rebuilding period over recent years. And after failing to qualify for the previous Euros and World Cup, the Netherlands look to be remerging as a top side, with a mix of young, exciting talent complementing some of the more experienced players like Georginio Wijnaldum and de Jong.
Now, we’re not expecting de Jong to have the same output as Memphis Depay (10m), for example. However, when you consider that de Jong is the target man in the Dutch attack, he should definitely be considered in your Euro 2020 Fantasy Football team.
Also, the Netherlands have also been handed a pretty decent group, which consists of Austria – likely their toughest test – North Macedonia and Ukraine.
Lazio’s Italian forward Ciro Immobile celebrates after scoring during the Serie A football match Lazio vs Brescia at the Olympic Stadium in Rome on July 29, 2020. (Photo by Filippo MONTEFORTE / AFP) (Photo by FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP via Getty Images)
4) Ciro Immobile, Italy (10m)
Italy have become a much more impressive side in recent years and should be set for a decent Euros.
Roberto Mancini’s men have been drawn in Group A along with Switzerland, Wales and Turkey – all of whom the Italians should be able to pick up points against.
And, ahead of the Euros, Ciro Immobile looks set to be Italy’s main striker and one of their potential penalty takers.
Immobile had another fine domestic campaign with Lazio and has scored two in his last three for Italy.
And at 10m, Immobile represents a slightly cheaper alternative to players such as Kane, Lukaku and Kylian Mbappe.
KAZAN, RUSSIA – JUNE 30: Kylian Mbappe of France celebrates after scoring his team’s third goal during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Round of 16 match between France and Argentina at Kazan Arena on June 30, 2018 in Kazan, Russia. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
5) Kylian Mbappe, France (12m)
Now 22, will this be Kylian Mbappe’s Euros?
The lightning-fast PSG forward comes into the competition after scoring 42 goals in 47 games in all competitions.
Moreover, Mbappe ended the season on fire. He scored nine goals in the last eight PSG games.
Mbappe finished with 11 more goals than last season.
Yet, while there’s no doubting Mbappe’s quality, Euro 2020 Fantasy Football managers may be concerned about the striker’s opponents in the group stage: Germany, Portugal and Hungary.
27 October 2020, North Rhine-Westphalia, Mönchengladbach: Football: Champions League, Group stage, Group B, 2nd matchday, Borussia Mönchengladbach – Real Madrid at the stadium in Borussia-Park. Karim Benzema (r) of Madrid cheers after his goal for the 2:1. Photo: Marius Becker/dpa (Photo by Marius Becker/picture alliance via Getty Images)
6) Karim Benzema, France (10m)
Staying with the French, could Karim Benzema end up being the star of the show for Les Blues?
Benzema, before this year, had not featured for France since all the way back in 2015.
However, Didier Deschamps has now finally recalled Benzema to the national set-up, on the back of a superb season which saw him score 30 goals in 46 outings for Real Madrid.
Yes, Olivier Giroud has been France’s main striker in recent years, so there may be some risk that Deschamps gives him a fair few minutes as well.
But if he was not going to play Benzema, why would he recall him the in first place?
It is also worth noting that Giroud really struggled for game time over the last few months with Chelsea, meaning Benzema is likely to be in much better form and fitness.
And though France do have a hard group to navigate, they are one of the favourites for the tournament and should still be able to do so.
Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal with the Nations League trophy during the UEFA Nations League final match between Portugal and The Netherlands at Estadio do Dragao on June 09, 2019 in Porto, Portugal(Photo by VI Images via Getty Images)
7) Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal (12m)
There are lots of reason to not pick Cristiano Ronaldo in your Euro 2020 Fantasy Football team.
Ronaldo is 36 and he’s playing in the same group as France and Germany.
However, anyone who thinks Ronaldo is finished will likely end up eating humble pie.
Cristiano is six goals away from tying Ali Daei’s all-time 109-goals international scoring record.
Also, Portugal start their European Championship title defence against Hungary: surely Ronaldo is going to score a bagful against the minnows in Group F, right?
LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 12: Alvaro Morata of Chelsea makes his way onto the pitch during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Burnley at Stamford Bridge on August 12, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
8) Alvaro Morata, Spain (9m)
Chelsea fans may still have nightmares about Alvaro Morata and offside flags.
However, Morata will arrive at Euro 2020 as the main striker for La Roja.
Spain have been drawn in a favourable group against Sweden, Slovakia and Poland.
Morata has never been the most reliable goalscorer: he scored 11 goals in 32 Serie A matches last season.
Yet, Morata’s international goal record isn’t bad, averaging a goal every other game at senior level.
One extra concern for Morata is Gerard Moreno (6.5m). The Villarreal striker scored 23 La Liga goals in a remarkable season, and the 29-year-old could push Morata for a starting berth in the XI.
9) Burak Yilmaz, Turkey (8m)
If Euro 2020 Fantasy Football managers want to jump on a fairytale story, then 35-year-old Turkish striker Burak Yilmaz could be your man.
Yilmaz has enjoyed the best year of his footballing life, outperforming the likes of Neymar and Kylian Mbappe in leading Lille to a remarkable Ligue 1 title.
Turkish captain Yilmaz bagged 16 goals in 28 league appearances.
Back in March, Yilmaz also bagged a hat-trick for his national team in a 4-2 win against Holland.
Yilmaz will begin Euro 2020 against Italy, but after that he’s facing Wales and Switzerland.
MUNICH, GERMANY – DECEMBER 16: (BILD ZEITUNG OUT) Robert Lewandowski of Bayern Muenchen gestures during the Bundesliga match between FC Bayern Muenchen and VfL Wolfsburg at Allianz Arena on December 15, 2020 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Harry Langer/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
10) Robert Lewandowski, Poland (12m)
It’s difficult to argue that Robert Lewandowski isn’t the best striker in world football.
Bayern’s lethal marksman, Lewandowski, should have won the cancelled 2020 Ballon d’Or after he scored 47 goals in 44 matches for club and country.
This season, Lewandowski has been equally devastating in front of goal. Indeed, he arrives at the Euros on an amazing scoring run of 22 goals in his last 14 matches for club and country.
Lewandowski and Poland begin their campaign against Slovakia. After that they face Spain and Sweden.
This article was edited by
Benjamin Newman.
