EURO 2024 Fantasy Football: Scout notes as Italy, Switzerland, Germany and Denmark start knockout rounds

From team news to advice on substitutions and captain changes, the daily notes offer a helping hand throughout UEFA EURO 2024 for managers on EURO Fantasy Football, presented by Visit Qatar.

Fantasy managers will be looking to for a positive start to the knockout stage, with players from Germany and Italy in particularly high demand.

Fantasy decisions

• There are unlimited transfers ahead of the round of 16, and these can be made until the ties kick off.

• That first match is Switzerland vs Italy at 18:00 CET on Saturday, so Fantasy managers have until then to shape their squads for the knockout stages.

• The transfer budget has been increased to €105m and four players from the same country can now be selected.

• There will be multiple opportunities to select a high-scoring captain, with the round of 16 taking place over four days.

• As always, ensure that the players on your bench are those who are in action towards the latter end of the matchday, so you can substitute them in if required.

SWITZERLAND VS ITALY (18:00 CET)

Switzerland

Predicted starting line-up: Sommer; Schär, Akanji, Rodríguez; Stergiou, Xhaka, Freuler, Aebischer; Ndoye, Embolo, Vargas

There will be at least one enforced change due to Silvan Widmer's suspension. Leonidas Stergiou could deputise, while Ruben Vargas may return to the starting line-up after coming off the bench against Germany last time out.

Key Fantasy players

Granit Xhaka (€6.0m) was one of four players to win two Player of the Match awards in the group stage.

Manuel Akanji (€5.0m) leads his team for ball recoveries, his total of 23 earning an additional seven Fantasy points.

Michel Aebischer (€5.0m) also picked up ball recovery points in all three group games having scored one goal and set up another against Hungary on Matchday 1.

Italy

Predicted starting line-up: Donnarumma; Darmian, Mancini, Bastoni; Di Lorenzo, Barella, Jorginho, Cristante, Dimarco; Scamacca, Chiesa

Defender Riccardo Calafiori is suspended, with Gianluca Mancini a possible replacement. Federico Chiesa and Gianluca Scamacca will be hoping for recalls up front.

Key Fantasy players

Nicolò Barella (€7.0m) was on target against Albania on Matchday 1, and has added a further three points to his tally via ball recoveries.

Alessandro Bastoni (€5.5m) came close to scoring his second EURO 2024 goal on Matchday 3, and is Italy's top Fantasy scorer on 19 points.

Federico Dimarco (€5.0m) was fielded further forward on Matchday 3 and offers significant attacking threat down the left wing.

GERMANY VS DENMARK (21:00 CET)

Germany

Predicted starting line-up: Neuer; Kimmich, Rüdiger, Schlotterbeck, Mittelstädt; Andrich, Kroos; Musiala, Gündoğan, Wirtz; Havertz

Nico Schlotterbeck is expected to replace the suspended Jonathan Tah in defence. While there were initial concerns over Antonio Rüdiger's fitness after the Matchday 3 draw with Switzerland, the centre-back returned to training on Friday.

Key Fantasy players

Jamal Musiala (€8.5m) has scored more Fantasy points (23) than any other midfielder at EURO 2024.

İlkay Gündoğan (€7.0m) is just two points behind Musiala having scored, provided an assist, won a penalty and been named Player of the Match in the group stage.

Maximilian Mittelstädt (€4.0m) has a Fantasy ownership of 22% – more than any other defender in his price bracket.

Denmark

Predicted starting line-up: Schmeichel; Andersen, Vestergaard, Christensen; Kristiansen, Nørgaard, Eriksen, Højbjerg, Bah; Højlund, Poulsen

Kasper Hjulmand may turn to Christian Nørgaard in midfield with Morten Hjulmand suspended while Yussuf Poulsen, who came off the bench in all three group games, could start.

Key Fantasy players

Rasmus Højlund (€7.5m) is yet to score at EURO 2024 but did hit seven goals in his eight qualifying appearances.

Christian Eriksen (€7.0m) scored against Slovenia on Matchday 1 and has been named Player of the Match twice so far.

Jannik Verstergaard (€4.5m) was Denmark's highest points scorer on Matchday 3, his ten ball recoveries and clean sheet against Serbia taking him to 15 overall.