Thread by @FPL_Calle

Group A analysis in EURO 2021 (Thread)

Italy 🇮🇹
Switzerland 🇨🇭
Turkey 🇹🇷
Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Here is a deep dive into group A with general info, predicted lineups, predictions and fantasy assets to look towards and ones to avoid ⤵️

ITALY - @_Muftak

General info:
Since Mancini took over after our disastrous WC qualifiers, our team's performance has improved drastically. We only lost once excluding friendlies. While our defence conceded only 4 goals during the Euro qualifiers and not even one in the WC...

qualifiers, I wouldn't say we're a defensive team: we usually try to keep possession as much as possible and control the game, thanks to a midfield that's probably our strongest asset. The defensive department as a whole works pretty well, with Donnarumma as the main star.

Formation: 4-3-3

As mentioned, Donnarumma is the star of that defense. He could be a great fantasy option since our defence relies on his saves and often prefers to force opposing players to shoot from difficult positions rather than outright tackling them.

Bonucci's long passes can also be a good attacking resource. Our fullbacks often find themselves in attacking positions, especially Spinazzola, who's young and fast but will share his minutes with Emerson. Florenzi should play on the right but is a worse fantasy option.

In midfield, Barella should start every game, just like Jorginho, who's crucial to control the rhythm of our games and is our penalty taker. The third spot belongs to Verratti who will share it with Lorenzo Pellegrini and Locatelli, three great players with offensive presence.

Our attack is the trickiest part to write about. Full of talented players, but no one has confirmed himself as the main goalscorer of the team. Immobile has always been a different player with the national team than with Lazio. He's still our best forward and should start and...

will surely grab a few goals. Our most promising winger is Chiesa, in my opinion, who looks for the goal more often than the assist. On the left we'll probably see Insigne most times. Berardi and Bernardeschi will maybe rotate with them.

Underpriced:

Chiesa is a player who I believe to be underpriced at 7.0. This year he's been Juve's main attacking option (with CR7 obviously) and with the Azzurri he'll play even further forward as a right winger. He showed great form whenever he played in the qualifiers.

Overpriced:

Immobile is overpriced at 10.0 in my opinion: he will score some goals but he's simply never shown the form to justify his price in the National team.

Recommendation:

A player that I would recommend is Donnarumma at 5.5. Like Martinez in FPL, he always grabs a few saves and our defence will get some clean sheets.

Prediction:

I believe a quarter final to be an achievable result, I wouldn't be surprised if we went further, a little disappointed if we were stopped earlier.

SWITZERLAND - @fpl_crouch

General info:
In general, Switzerland are quite an attacking team that does focus on scoring goals rather than defending. In the qualifiers we finished top of our group ahead of Denmark and Ireland with 19 goals scored and 6 coals conceded.

Formation: 3-4-1-2

Underpriced:

I think Shaqiri could be a decent shout at 7.0 since he will almost certainly start every game, will take the free kicks and we know how he has done in previous tournaments. I don’t think his lack of playing time this season will have a massive impact.

Overpriced:

Seferovic at 8.5 is our most expensive player in the game and also our most overpriced player in my opinion. He can sometimes go missing in games and for that hefty price tag, I just believe that there are so many better options out there.

Recommendation:

If I were to recommend a player it would also be Shaqiri just because he will be involved in everything and because I don’t really fancy any of our defensive options since I don’t think we will keep a single clean sheet in this tournament.

Prediction:

Realistically I think we should finish 2nd in our group, even though Turkey played some great football in their last few games. Quarterfinals are a realistic target in my opinion.

TURKEY - @canturkmen22

General infor:
From my past experiences of my national team, we always used to play so aggressively and very far away from a patient football style. Turkey’s team manager Senol Gunes, created a different play style when he arrived in 2019. Opposite of...

our recent tournament performances, we play stricter and more patient football than ever. In my opinion, this will help us a lot in this tournament. I know we don’t really have any superstars, but the team chemistry is very high right now.

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Underpriced:

Soyuncu at 5.0 will be nailed on in defence and Turkey will play a strict and patient style this tournament. I expect the team to not concede a lot of goals and he has the most potential from set pieces as well. I can say the same for Cakir at 4.5 that will...

likely be part of a strong defense. Yazici at 5.5 has had a great season for Lille and is classed as a midfielder in Euro Fantasy. He will be the second, maybe 3rd best threat for opponents after Yilmaz and Calhanoglu.

Overpriced:

Calhanoglu at 8.5 feels very overpriced compared to other midfielders in the game in the same price range. Yes, Hakan is a freekick specialist and he will be taking them and corner kicks but I don’t expect too many goals from Turkey this tournament.

Recommendations:

My recommendations are Cakir (4.5), Soyuncu (5.0), and potentially Kabak at 4.5 if Demiral is still injured just because of our defensive stability as I talked about earlier.

Prediction:

Turkey’s best performance would be the quarter final but I think we will reach the round of 16.

WALES - @CORF_FPL

General info:
Since reaching the semi-finals of Euro 2016 a lot has changed in the Welsh camp, most notably the managerial changes. Chris Coleman left his post and was replaced by Ryan Giggs who guided the team to a second consecutive European...

Championships on the bounce, however due to an ongoing court trial Giggs has been suspended and replaced by Robert Page.

One of the most notable changes to the Wales setup under Page has seen Giggs’ favoured target man Kieffer Moore dropped to the bench.

Formation: 4-3-3

Underpriced:

Danny Ward (4.5) – Wales won’t be the best defensive team at the tournament by any stretch, but I expect us to always put up a fight and keep things quite tight. In recent matches Page has started with Danny Ward over Wayne Hennessey, at £4.5 he could be great.

Overpriced:

Hal Robson-Kanu (6.5) – I’d be very surprised to see him on the pitch at all in the tournament, certainly can’t see another moment like that Cruyff turn against Belgium in 2016 the summer.

Recommendation:

For me it’s probably Bale or Ramsey, the two genuine world class assets in the camp. Bale is priced as a 9.5 midfielder but will likely play as a rotating centre forward/right winger with Harry Wilson, if given a chance he has the quality to fire home.

Prediction:

I’m just delighted to see Wales at yet another European Championships. I’m sure that we’ll give it a good go but I have no expectations for us to even get out of the group stage, we just don’t have the quality and squad depth.