EURO 2024 Fantasy Football: Potential differentials for the round of 16

Ahead of the start of the UEFA EURO 2024 knockout rounds, UEFA.com picks out a selection of players in all positions who offer potential differential appeal in the round of 16 for managers on EURO Fantasy, presented by Visit Qatar.

GOALKEEPERS

Although Belgium face formidable round of 16 opponents in France, they have a goalkeeper in excellent form. Koen Casteels (€5.0m) comes into Matchday 4 on the back of consecutive clean sheets, nine saves and 17 Fantasy points from his last two appearances and even produced an assist against Romania on Matchday 2. Despite that, his ownership remains at 4%.

No goalkeeper made more saves in the group stage than Giorgi Mamardashvili (€4.5m), the Georgia No1 recording a minimum of five per matchday and 20 overall. Ten saves came against Czechia on Matchday 2, when he was named Player of the Match, before a clean sheet in Georgia's memorable 2-0 victory against Portugal. Owned by just 2% of Fantasy managers, another shut-out against Spain might be a tall order but further save points are a distinct possibility.

Available at the same price as Mamardashvili is Netherlands' Bart Verbruggen (€4.5m), who also has one clean sheet against strong opposition – in his case France. The Netherlands next face Romania, who have one goal in their last two games.

DEFENDERS

Only one defender has a higher Fantasy score than Marc Guéhi (€4.5m), whose 26 ball recoveries are the most of any player in his position. Part of an England team who have conceded just one goal and with an ownership of just 12%, he could be a smart investment for the tie against Slovakia.

France pair Jules Koundé (€5.0m) and Dayot Upamecano (€5.0m) both started all three group games, conceding just one goal and each registering 19 Fantasy points. While Koundé is in 14% of Fantasy teams at present, just 3% of managers have selected Upamecano, so both offer a differential route into the France defence

Also worthy of note is Žan Karničnik (€5.0m), who continues to defy his low Fantasy ownership of 2%. The Slovenia full-back has scored five or more points in every game with a goal, a clean sheet, 23 ball recoveries and a Player of the Match award to his name thus far, although a substantial increase on that total might be a tall order against Group F winners Portugal.

MIDFIELDERS

A number of midfielders with low Fantasy ownerships make a case for inclusion in on Matchday 4, including Austria's Marcel Sabitzer (€6.5m) and Christoph Baumgartner (€6.5m). Each has a Player of the Match award and have contributed a combined three attacking returns at EURO 2024, scoring 18 and 16 points respectively.

Sabitzer and Baumgartner line up in the round of 16 against another differential, Türkiye's Arda Güler (€6.0m). Although the Real Madrid midfielder has not yet built on his sensational strike against Georgia on Matchday 1, adding just two points to his initial 12-point Fantasy total, his 8% ownership makes him an attractive prospect against opponents who have conceded in all three games in Germany.

After being rested on Matchday 3, Fabián Ruiz (€6.5m) is expected to return for Spain's game against Georgia. The joint-fourth highest-scoring midfielder with 19 Fantasy points, the 28-year-old's popularity has risen significantly since Matchday 1, although at 11% he remains on the lower scale of ownership percentages.

FORWARDS

The only player to find the net in all three group games, Georges Mikautadze (€5.0m) goes into the round of 16 as EURO 2024's top scorer, his 21 Fantasy points the most of any forward and the joint-third highest score in all positions. His ownership is still just 2%, although that should grow before the Matchday 4 deadline.

Having scored twice as a substitute, Germany's Niclas Füllkrug (€7.0m) is making a strong case to start against Denmark. While transferring in Füllkrug comes at a risk for Fantasy managers, the 31-year-old has proved his ability to make an impact the bench and could gain a healthy number of points in either scenario.

Netherlands' Memphis Depay (€7.5m) heads into the knockout stage after scoring against Austria. Depay has started every game so far for Netherlands and is a useful differential with most Fantasy attention on team-mate Cody Gakpo.