All right, it’s that time again. Yes, after a slight pandemic-enforced delay, Euro 2020 is finally set to happen a year later. And that means international tournament fantasy football – the best kind of fantasy football – is back. There are of course millions of purists who love the longer game of a full league season when it comes to fantasy. But I’m sure there are many of you out there like me who get pretty fed up after a terrible start to each new season, and pack it all in after a few weeks. That’s why World Cups and European Championships are perfect – four weeks to put together a killer squad and show all your friends and colleagues who is the best, while not overtaxing our short attention spans. So, with kick-off 10 days away, it’s time to start assembling your teams on Uefa’s official Euro 2020 fantasy football game. And if you’re not sure who to bring in, the Post will have you covered in the build-up to June 12 – and throughout the tournament, with updates each game week. But first, it’s time for that crucial first step of getting off to a good start. Here are our tips for which forwards to pick for your front line, with midfielders, defenders and goalkeepers to come later this week. You will need to select three forwards with your €100 million budget, and many don’t come cheap, so choose wisely. SAFE BETS Of course, Harry Kane (€11.5 million) is the No 1 forward pick among fantasy players this summer, with a huge 45 per cent of users having selected him in their squads despite his hefty price tag. England’s captain almost promises you fantasy points, with 28 goals and 16 assists at club level for Tottenham this season, in a struggling team that finished seventh after the departure of Jose Mourinho in April. The 27-year-old is firmly in his prime, Kane showed he is the man for the big occasion on the international stage at the 2018 World Cup, taking home the Golden Boot with six goals during England’s run to fourth place – tying Gary Lineker’s 1986 record. He is also adept at dropping deep to set up his teammates, as we saw in his fruitful link-up play with Son Heung-min for Spurs this season. Three of those Russia 2018 goals were penalties, too, showing his reliability from the spot, and England have winnable games in Group D against Croatia, Scotland and the Czech Republic. Things could get tougher from there for England, which could put you off signing Kane. If they top their group, they are likely to face the runner up from a Group F featuring Portugal, France and Germany – the defending European champions, and winners of the last two World Cups, no less – in the last 16. Just behind Kane in the list of most picked forwards is Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku (€11m) , who has reminded everyone of his prowess in front of goal this season in a title-winning campaign with Inter Milan in Serie A, with 30 goals and seven assists across all competitions at club level. The 28-year-old also has a serious international coring pedigree – 59 goals and 14 assists in 91 games, to be precise, with four goals at the 2018 World Cup during Belgium’s run to third place in Russia. The Red Devils have an easy time of it on paper in Group B against Denmark, Finland and Russia, and Lukaku will be on spot-kick duties for Roberto Martinez’s side. Belgium will also land one of the third-placed sides if they finish top, which could see Lukaku further fill his boots. And how can we ignore Cristiano Ronaldo (€12m) ? Portugal’s captain is the most expensive player in the game, along with Kylian Mbappe and Robert Lewandowski, but is usually worth every penny when it comes to fantasy. The fourth-most selected forward among users (25 per cent), the 36-year-old is showing age is just a number after another prolific club season with 36 goals and five assists despite Juventus’ struggles. A “group of death” with France and Germany may be putting some players off, but Ronaldo is only six goals off tying the all-time international scoring record (109) – and an opening game against Hungary could provide him with a chance to get a few of those. Robert Lewandowski (€12m) needs no introduction, and comes into the tournament with Poland after breaking the all-time scoring record in the Bundesliga – which had stood for 49 years – with his 41st league goal in the final minute of the season. Bayern Munich’s star man would have landed the 2020 Ballon d’Or had it not been cancelled amid the pandemic, after his 47 goals in 44 games for club and country. Poland have a winnable first fixture against Slovakia, but whether they can get out of a tough Group E featuring Spain and Sweden is another matter, though 16 per cent of fantasy users fancy their chances. Bayern this team is not, though – Poland sit 21st in the Fifa rankings, and Lewandowski will not have the stellar service he enjoys in Germany, where his club teammates are capable of serving up goals on a plate. Kylian Mbappe (€12m) is another safe bet, after his breakout international tournament at the World Cup three years ago. This season the 22-year-old signalled the start of a new era in football, along with Borussia Dortmund’s Erling Haaland, after his hat-trick in the Champions League last 16 for Paris Saint-Germain. The French giants’ season ultimately tailed off, but not after Mbappe cored 42 goals in 47 goals in all competitions. That dreaded “group of death” could put some fantasy managers off, but he is the third-most selected forward (33 per cent) and will terrify any defence with his pace. RISKY BUSINESS Karim Benzema (€10m) showed he is ageing like a fine wine this season, almost dragging Real Madrid to an unlikely La Liga triumph, and helping them reach the semi-finals of the Champions League, with 30 goals in 46 games. The 33-year-old’s exile from the French national team – over his alleged involvement in a sex tape blackmail case against former international teammate Mathieu Valbuena – was surprisingly ended by Didier Deschamps last week, so good is his form. But can he do it for Les Bleus after a five-and-a-half year absence? France have an extremely tough group to navigate, and Deschamps has used Olivier Giroud as his main striker in recent years. But the Chelsea man has struggled to get a look in under Thomas Tuchel, and Benzema could be in pole position to start. Managing the budget is an integral part of any fantasy campaign, and Benzema is slightly cheaper than the other big guns here – though only seven per cent of users are selecting him off the bat, showing there is plenty of risk. Another big name coming back into the international fold is Thomas Muller (€9m) , after being made one of the scapegoats for Germany’s group-stage exit at the 2018 World Cup. Muller shrugged off the disappointment and has since produced some of the best form of his career for Bayern, leading the way for assists in Europe’s top five leagues again with 18 in 32 games this season. The 31-year-old is handy in front of goal, too, scoring 15 times for club and country in the latest campaign, though only two per cent of fantasy managers are gambling on him for the Euros, perhaps down because of his price tag. Muller’s international teammate Timo Werner (€8.5m) is also tempting, with six per cent of users selecting him. The formerly ruthless 25-year-old’s gaffes in front of goal for Chelsea since leaving RB Leipzig – where he enjoyed a prolific spell – are well documented, including a couple of early howlers in last weekend’s Champions League final victory against Manchester City. Luckily for him, Kai Havertz spared his blushes and the Blues went on to win their second European Cup, but Werner’s pedigree is undoubted and he contributed 10 assists for his club this season either way. BARGAIN PICKS Spain’s Gerard Moreno (€6.5m) has clearly caught the eye with 32 goals over 50 appearances for club and country in a season which was capped by Villarreal’s stunning Europa League final triumph against Manchester United. His 23 goals in La Liga were second only to Lionel Messi, and the 29-year-old’s form could see him oust Alvaro Morata in Luis Enrique’s starting line-up, having only made his international debut in 2019. Moreno is certainly doing something right – he is the seventh-most selected forward on the game (nine per cent) and is certainly a great option at his price. Burak Yilmaz (€8m) ’s run to Ligue 1 glory with Lille was the fairy-tale story of the season, but whether the 35-year-old can do it for Turkey is another question. His 16 goals in 28 league games secured the unlikeliest of title triumphs ahead of PSG, though a tough group awaits for Turkey and their captain, with games against Italy, Wales and Switzerland. Yilmaz did bag a hat-trick in a 4-2 win against the Netherlands in March, though, and he is the sixth most-picked forward with 14 per cent of managers going for him. Another solid shout if you want to save some money is Luuk de Jong (€7.5m) . The Sevilla striker did not enjoy a prolific campaign in La Liga, but has been key for the Netherlands in their rebuild under Frank de Boer. The 30-year-old has scored in the last three World Cup qualifiers for the Dutch, and could fancy his chances in a favourable Group C against Austria, North Macedonia and Ukraine. A cheaper option than his teammate Memphis Depay (€10m) , for sure, though 13 per cent of users are going for the Lyon forward, who looks set for a big move to Barcelona this summer after reviving his career in France. With Zlatan Ibrahimovic missing out for Sweden, Alexander Isak (€8m) could give managers food for thought. The 21-year-old, 6ft 4in striker scored 21 goals for Real Sociedad this season, with Sweden likely to fancy their chances of progressing from Group E. Another cheap shout is Croatia’s Ante Rebic (€7m) , who scored six times in his last eight games for AC Milan. After ending England’s World Cup dreams at the semi-finals in Russia, Croatia will be unfazed by their opening Group D game, and will be confident of progression.