Euro 2016 Fantasy Football Intro, Rules and Fixtures
Bonjour and good moaning, welcome to this summer’s European fantasy odyssey – this year’s tournament has seen a revamp since the all conquering Spanish team won it back in 2012 so now there’ll be twenty four teams instead of the usual sixteen fighting it out to be crowned European Champions in France this July.
The teams will be spread into six groups with the top two qualifying automatically for the knock out stage along with the four teams who have the best record who finish in third place, so at this stage it looks like it could be harder to get eliminated rather than qualify but thankfully it looks nigh on impossible for Roy and his men to be eliminated after only two games this time around. It’s also worth noting that in the three previous tournaments in which this format has been used (World cups of 86, 90 and 94) no team that has finished third with at least a win and a draw has ever been eliminated.
The game is now up and running and the link to the site and our league codes are just below for signing up with but I’ll point out straight away that very few final 23-man squads have been announced so far so if you’ve just auto filled your team you might want to be careful that you don’t leave the likes of Theo Walcott/Leighton Baines in there come kick off time as word to the wise, they’ll be having this summer off.
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Join our Leagues:
eurofantasy.uefa.com/en/fantasy16/leagues
FF247 league code – 02049WBX
Potty’s league code – 011427DN
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Le Rules
I was going to do an in-depth column on the rules but then I remembered that this is a McDonalds ran competition and I thought what’s the point, they’re only going to change them somewhere along the lines anyway so let’s try to keep this as brief as possible for now and then we’ll see later on how the cards pan out, it’s all going to be very similar to this seasons FPL game so we’re off to a good start on that front for the time being.
We’ll have €100mln to construct our squads which must consist of :-
2 Goalkeepers
5 Defenders
5 Midfielders
3 Forwards
From that squad we’ll be able to select a Captain (For the double points) and a playing formation which for fantasy games is nominally the 3-5-2 or 3-4-3 but for those radicals still amongst us you could still select the 4-4-2 or even the 5-4-1 if you so wished because yeah that might work (it won’t). Despite the rule page reading, at best, ambiguous, we have spoken to the offical support team and they have confirmed that we can make changes during each Matchday.
Matchdays will be broken down into gamedays allowing us the opportunity to tinker with our lineups over the course of the matchday so it may just be prudent to try and fill out your squad with as many starters as possible rather than just selecting three or four budget players.
You can also change your captain throughout a Matchday, but only to a player who is yet to play.
There will be seven different matchdays over the course of the tournament which we will be allowed to make transfers for and these are all as follows :-
[table width=”100%” colalign=”left|left|left|left|left”]
Matchday,Date,Transfers
Matchday 1,10 June 21.00,Unlimited transfers (Group phase)
Matchday 2,15 June 15.00,One free transfer (Group phase)
Matchday 3,19 June 21.00,One free transfer (Group phase)
Matchday 4,25 June 15.00,Unlimited transfers (Round of sixteen)
Matchday 5,30 June 21.00,Four Free transfers (Quarter-finals)
Matchday 6,06 June 21.00,Six Free transfers (Semi-finals)
Matchday 7,10 June 21.00,Six Free transfers (Final)
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A wild card is also going to be available to every team which can be played at any time allowing us the option to make whole scale changes to our team without having to take a points hit for going over the free transfer limit, another thing to watch for regarding transfers is that a price change will be applied after the group phase which will be performance driven so if you think Lewandowski is expensive now imagine the price tag on him after he plays Northern Ireland.
The point scoring system is very similar to the EPL game with the main differences between being that you’ll automatically be given 2 points for winning a penalty and no assist will be given to a player who wins a penalty or a free kick which is then scored from, the bonus point system is also not going to be used in this tournament.
As always we’ll try and keep everyone as updated as much as possible regarding any future rules changes and fingers crossed we’ll be able to pick out some diamonds in the rough from the pre-tournament friendlies which will be taking place shortly, till then though here’s a fixture ticker which will cover the first three matchdays of the tournament and is always helpful when selecting that first squad.
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Pre tournament friendly games
[table caption=”Group A” width=”100%” colalign=”left|left|left|left|left”]
Albania,France,Romania,Switzerland
Qatar 29/05,Cameroon 30/05,Congo DR 25/05,Belgium 28/05
Ukraine 03/06,Scotland 04/06,Ukraine 29/05,Moldova 03/06
,,Georgia 03/06,
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[table caption=”Group B” width=”100%” colalign=”left|left|left|left|left”]
England,Russia,Slovakia,Wales
Turkey 22/05,Czech Rep 01/04,Georgia 27/05,Sweden 05/06
Australia 27/05,Serbia 04/06,Germany 29/05,
Portugal 02/06,,Northern Ireland 04/06,
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[table caption=”Group C” width=”100%” colalign=”left|left|left|left|left”]
Germany,Northern Ireland,Poland,Ukraine
Slovakia 29/05,Belarus 27/05,Netherlands 01/06,Romania 29/05
Hungary 04/06,Slovakia 04/06,Lithuania 06/06,Albania 03/06
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[table caption=”Group D” width=”100%” colalign=”left|left|left|left|left”]
Croatia,Czech Republic,Spain,Turkey
Moldova 27/05,Malta 27/05,Bosnia 29/05,England 22/05
Iran 29/05,Russia 01/06,Korean republic 01/06,Montenegro 29/05
San Marino 03/06,korean republic 05/06,Georgia 07/06,Slovenia 05/06
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[table caption=”Group E” width=”100%” colalign=”left|left|left|left|left”]
Belgium,Italy,Republic of Ireland,Sweden
Switzerland 28/05,Scotland 29/05,Netherlands 27/05,Slovenia 30/05
Finland 01/06,Finland 06/06,Belarus 31/05,Wales 05/06
Norway 05/06,,,
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[table caption=”Group F” width=”100%” colalign=”left|left|left|left|left”]
Austria,Hungary,Iceland,Portugal
Malta 31/05,Ivory Coast 20/05,Norway 01/06,Norway 29/05
Netherlands 04/06,Germany 04/06,Liechtenstein 06/06,England 02/05
,,,Estonia 08/06
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Courtesy of Jamie @fplbet
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Thanks for reading Euro 2016 Fantasy Football – Intro, Rules and Fixtures. This article was written by Andy
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Anyone around
Seems real quiet on here
I am Biggy, but it does go quiet when the season ends.
Hey elle
Yea I know but we got the euros just around the corner…
I thought they’d be more RMTs and banter
But hey ho..
How’s you doing matey
Done your Euro team yet?
Here’s mine so far
Tell me what you think,
Haven’t gone as far as who plays on what match day so may need to re-jig things.
Biggy, haven’t done a full squad yet, only put in players i probably want then pressed the auto for the rest. So far i’ve got :-
Lloris, Rui.
Vert, Juanfran, Hector.
Alli.
Lew, Shaqri, Ladyboy.
Don’t think i will be able to keep the 2 big hitters up top, one may have to go.
Strong first 11 here big really good in fact but we need suds to come in though the match days plus players prices go up down after the group stage so players that don’t play will go down.
Although we could use are WC just before.
Euro draft 1. Pretty happy with it I must say. Thoughts?
Evening NIN. It’s not the worst team mate but I’m unsure about your midfield. Not sure if Payet will start, Siggy is good but I think there are better options for 7.5 or 7 Mil. I don’t really know who Barnetta is so I can’t give much there.
Cheers. Payet is first choice for sure. I wanted set piece takers in the midfield so hence going with this four. Could be wrong on Barnetta but with this e first two games for the Swiss he may do okay anyway. Long way to go I suppose, most of it is open for change.
Would Payet really be first choice? I thought the front three would be Martial, Greizmann and Giroud. Didn’t know Barnetta was on set pieces just assumed it would have been ShaqirI. I’m kind of the same have some players that will be chopped and changed.
Matt – I believe Payet is nailed on; not sure If on a front 3 slot of a 4-3-3 formation. But he’s still unvaluable here and I’ve got him In my team. Regardeless where he plays, he delivers.
My French guru says Payet is a starter, but will likely share game time with Martial if Deschamps continues with Giroud or Gignac as the central striker.
Hey NIN
Interesting choice
You’ve got some great individuals however they play for not so good international teams…
I.e
Bale
Lew
Siggy
Rakitic
Great for there clubs with better players around them.
Evening all some good teams being put up I’m trying to put a bit of strength in depth so haven’t got any big hitters in my team so far.
I don’t see Poland going to far so Lew is a none starter for me. Ron is a great player but Portugal have found it hard to score even with Ron in the side.
I see Spain , France, Germany Beligum doing well.
Hey NIN I see your just playing with 1 GK don’t thk Barn & Rent boy are starters & believe it are not Payet isn’t always a starters mad I know.
I like the rest of your team though. 😉
I like the double Swiss defenders move for the Albania game, I’m pondering the same sort of move for the Poland/Northern Ireland match, might be able to get some decent starters for only the 5m against teams who look unlikely to score leaving more Euro’s available for the big hitters upfront. Hell I might even be looking at a 4-3-3 type formation depending on what mids I can fund after the Lewadowski/Ronaldo partnership.
Andy, i like the look of a Lew/Ladyboy partnership also. Can we build a decent enough squad with the dosh left ?
It’s going to be tough Elle, might need to have 1 or 2 non players in your squad to manage it, I don’t think we’ll be finding lots of starters for less than 5m in this game.
That’s my preferred front pair too Andy but I’m just unsure on Ronnie. Lot of money for someone who’s a one man team from the looks of it. Not sure if that’s a good or bad thing, probably bad.
This is my team at present 1m in bank to put Kane in
Looks like you’ve plenty of players who will start Silvers so plenty of opportunity’s with rotation, don’t think Pogba’s managed a goal for the frogs since the last WC so i’d probably go for Payet ahead of him.
Has LVG been officially sacked yet ?
Yes mate, it’s done. And he’s issued a statement since. And full respect to him for it as well. Turns out both Manc clubs were managed by gentlemen this season. Next year may be a bit different!
http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Football-News/2016/May/Louis-van-Gaal-releases-statement-after-leaving-manchester-united.aspx?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=ManUtd
I presume Jose will be announced tomorrow ?
You’d have to think that’s inevitable. Probably trying to push the Zlatan deal over the line to announce both at the same time.
Will be a crazy season all round – just the managers coming in is superb, fancy the league will have some exciting new players too!
Early prediction for next season – Anti Top Four will have a top season – Chelsea, United and Liverpool players to choose from – add in the Hammers and some Saints. Chelsea and Liverpool with no European committments could be the ultimate winners.
Ok I have had another tinker have a look
Hey Silvers, you really want an England defender?!
To be fair Cookie I have got my eye on a couple of other player but Dier should start & has an eye for goal thk this is my best effort yet I’m sure it will change again. How you getting on
I agree Dier should start, just not sure I trust our defence. Well, saying that, I am sure that I don’t trust it!!
Oh mine changes by the day Silvers – to be honest I should probably just not log in and leave it be until the friendlies are done and dusted and we have a rough idea of who will and who won’t start!
Having on players who have played or do play (or who sign up to play) in the Premier Legaue is limiting my options, which probably helps me!
Silvers, this is what I have so far. Limited to those who play or have played in the Premier League:
Hennessey, DDG
Boateng, Kos, Fuchs, Corluka, Carvalho
Ozil, Payet. Pogba. Alli, Siggy
Arnie, Vardy, Pedro.
Much will undoubtedly change as final squads get announced and friendlies played, giving us a better idea of managers preferences.
yes Cookie some good players in there especially your MF fairly strong Def don’t know much about Corluka but he will start I thk its your Fwd line here that is weak , but as you have said things will change.
I’m fairy happy with my line up I what some big hitters up front as we have more options to change are GK & Def and to a lesser extent are MF.
When we get nearer I’m sure a lot of teams will be posted then & I will change my mind but not sure it will look to different. 😉
Cheers Silvers – yes much will change, for me anyway.
I do wonder if defenders may prove better value than some of the bigger and more established names.
Not sure on this one Cookie it would be good to have some of the bigger & more est def but that’s not easy I thk because we can sub out/in its not as critical , although saying that you if players increase it will be even harder to get them.