Euro 2020 fantasy football tips – which defenders should I pick? Safe bets, bargains and gambles

We’re just over three days out from the big kick-off at Euro 2020, and that means you’re running out of time to nail down your fantasy football squad. By now, you should have a good idea of roughly how you want to spend your 100 million budget, with a four-week feast of football set to get under way on Friday, June 11. The Post has already brought you our tips for which forwards and midfielders to pick, and now it’s time to turn our attentions to that backline – the bedrock of any international tournament success. Here are our picks for some safe bets, bargains and gambles: It’s no surprise that Ruben Dias (€6 million) leads the way in ownership, with a whopping 41 per cent of fantasy managers having picked him in their squads. The Manchester City centre back has just enjoyed a stellar debut campaign in England, picking up the official Premier League player of the season award after 15 clean sheets in 32 appearances. He also showed his eye for goal with two strikes in six games during Portugal’s Uefa Nations League campaign. His side face a “group of death” including France and Germany, though Hungary on match day one gives the defending champions a good chance to get off to a hot start. You may want to look further along Portugal’s backline, though, and opt for Joao Cancelo (€6m), who is the fourth-most selected defender with 23 per cent ownership. Dias’ City teammate picked up 138 points in Fantasy Premier League this season, despite Pep Guardiola often rotating his full-backs, and he should be a certain starter for his country. Portugal kept five clean sheets in qualifying, conceding just seven times in 10 games, and the 27-year-old’s extra attacking threat could make him a better option than Dias at the same price. Keeping things Manchester City-themed, Oleksandr Zinchenko (€5.5m) could be another great bet. He normally plays left back for Guardiola, but Ukraine use him further forward as a winger or second striker – though he is still listed as a defender on Uefa’s fantasy game. That could spell potential assists and goals, coupled with clean sheets, and Ukraine have winnable fixtures against North Macedonia and then Austria after a tough opener against the Netherlands in group C. With just 8 per cent ownership, Zinchenko – who scored from the spot in last weekend’s friendly against Cyprus – could also help you get out ahead early on. We all know Italians like to defend, and with the Azzurri favourites to top group A over Turkey, Switzerland and Wales, it could be wise to pick one of their back four. Leonardo Bonucci (€5.5m) is probably your best bet – the Juventus veteran will be a certain starter, and Italy are getting back to their defensive best under Robert Mancini’s rebuild. And he is a little bit cheaper than right-back Alessandro Florenzi (€6m), though the right-back might provide more returns in an attacking sense. Italy haven’t conceded a goal in their last seven games, and haven’t conceded more than one goal in a match since June 2018 against France in a pre-World Cup friendly. That should mean clean sheets aplenty, which is what we like to hear. Similarly, you should probably bank on the Netherlands topping their group with few goals conceded, which means a Dutch defender would not go amiss. Juventus centre-back Mathijs de Ligt (€5.5) is the second-most picked defender on the game with 38 per cent ownership, and showed his aerial threat from set pieces during Ajax’s run to the 2019 Champions League final. But Denzel Dumfries (€5.5m) might be a better attacking threat at right-back, collecting four goals and nine assists last season for PSV Eindhoven – plus he is flying much lower under the radar with 1 per cent ownership. Belgium look nailed on to top group B ahead of Denmark, Finland and Russia, and clean sheets aren’t out of the question, so Thomas Meunier (€5.5m) could be a good bet. The Borussia Dortmund wingback has had two assists in his last two games for the Red Devils. But if you’re looking for a more budget option when it comes to Belgium, Jason Denayer (€4.5m) may be your man. Roberto Martinez’s system goes for three centre-backs, and Lyon’s Denayer has nailed down his spot – a cheaper option if you’re still banking on Belgium getting some clean sheets. Another cheap option is Simon Kjaer (€4.5m) – though it’s no secret, with Denmark’s captain the third-most picked defender with 25 per cent ownership. The AC Milan centre-back could provide good fantasy returns – Denmark have conceded just four goals in their last 12 matches. If they can navigate that tricky test against Belgium, you’d expect them to be in with a shout of finishing at least as runners-up in group B. Barcelona’s Jordi Alba (€6m) is perhaps pricey but usually worth it, and with 12 per cent ownership it seems plenty of you agree. The 32-year-old left-back did not feature for Spain throughout 2020, but is back in the fold and has three assists from his last two games for Spain. The 2008 and 2012 European champions have been rebuilding nicely under Luis Enrique and should comfortably top group E, with games against Sweden, Poland and Slovakia. You might be wise as well to pick an England defender – not necessarily because they keep clean sheets, but because most of their goals at the 2018 World Cup came from set pieces. Manchester City centre-back John Stones (€5.5m) scored five goals for his club this season, and looks like a certain starter with Harry Maguire struggling to be fit for the tournament. At 11 per cent ownership, he could help you get out in front early on too, especially if England can hold it together at the back, though Croatia are likely to test them in their opener before games against Scotland and the Czech Republic.