EURO 2020 Fantasy Football: What the numbers say for the final

Predicting which Fantasy players are going to perform on any given matchday is a difficult task. Through crunching the numbers, a projected points total for each player has been calculated. Goals, assists, clean sheets and the likelihood of playing are the main parameters used in our projections.

UEFA.com outlines the top five projected players from both Italy and England ahead of the final at Wembley.

ITALY

Aside from the impressive Leonardo Spinazzola before injury struck the left-back, there has not really been one standout Fantasy performer for Italy at EURO 2020. Instead, the points have been spread out fairly evenly among a handful of players. Having said that, Lorenzo Insigne has scored more Fantasy points than any other Italian outfield player with 25, goals on both Matchday 1 and Matchday 5 illustrating his potential. The algorithm recognises this and has installed the Napoli man as the top projected Azzurri asset for the final.

Coming in just behind Insigne is Federico Chiesa, who has likewise struck twice at EURO 2020 but in fewer minutes than Immobile. His pitch time has been limited by stiff competition from Domenico Berardi on the right-hand side of the front three, but he has been effective when on the field and looks the likelier starter on Sunday.

The Italian defence has been breached in all three of their knockout games, yet a clean sheet would still not be a surprise in the final. Centre-back Leonardo Bonucci and goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma are the key defensive assets according to the projections. The former will be integral to the Italians' rearguard success and carries a threat in the opposition box from set pieces, while the latter kept three clean sheets in the group stage and has made nine saves throughout the tournament.

Fifth place is taken by striker Ciro Immobile, who started EURO 2020 with a goal in the first two games but has not recorded an attacking return since Matchday 2. However, it seems likely that head coach Roberto Mancini will keep faith with the Lazio striker, who will need no extra motivation to rediscover his scoring touch.

ENGLAND

Raheem Sterling has been outstanding throughout England's path to the final and Fantasy managers are clearly well aware, given that his ownership is rising steeply in the run-up to the final deadline. Whether it be through scoring, assisting or winning a penalty, the Manchester City winger has logged some form of attacking return in five of England's six games at EURO 2020, hence the fact he tops the projected players for the final.

From a defensive perspective, Gareth Southgate's men have also been superb, having conceded just one goal – to Denmark in the semi-finals – throughout the tournament. Luke Shaw has been the leading light from a Fantasy perspective, with only Sterling having accumulated more Fantasy points. The left-back has accounted for four clean sheets and three assists.

Shaw is joined in the projections by the ever-present John Stones, whose run of six-point returns finally came to an end in the semi-finals. Jordan Pickford, despite having a lower ownership than his opposite number in the Italian goal, has amassed eight more Fantasy points over the last month.

With four goals in his last three games, Harry Kane is now the most-owned player in EURO 2020 Fantasy Football and the projections are confident that he can continue his scoring run in Sunday's showdown. Since striking options are limited, Kane is as essential as it gets for Fantasy managers looking to end their campaign on a high note.