John Stones, Mason Mount and Harry Kane have underlined their credentials but should Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Lewis Dunk have been included as England starters at Euro 2020?
Friday 28 May 2021 16:55, UK
Sky Sports Fantasy Football brings you the England starting line-up for their first game of Euro 2021, in accordance with the points they accrued during the season.
There is mass debate around who should and who shouldn't go to the Euros, as Gareth Southgate reveals his revised 26-man squad on Tuesday.
With Sky Sports Fantasy Football, there are no such issues, just facts. The statistics determine who lines up in the England XI for their clash with Croatia on Sunday June 13.
Have any of these players been mainstays in your Fantasy Football teams throughout the year?
Keep your eyes peeled for Super 6 and Super 6 Extra rounds throughout the tournament, a free chance to win thousands of pounds during the summer.
Unfortunately, injury has actually scuppered Nick Pope's chances of attaining a Euro 2021 spot with England, having picked up a knee problem which he later had to undergo surgery on. Saying that, he has been the best English goalkeeper in Sky Sports Fantasy Football this campaign, recording 11 clean sheets and 178 points.
Sam Johnstone missed out by just three points, but due to Pope keeping almost double the clean sheets, he takes his place in the starting XI. He has the resolute defence, managed by Sean Dyche, to thank for the narrow victory.
Controversial. Trent Alexander-Arnold has been the star of the show since being dropped from the England setup in March. His Fantasy Football record has been pretty incredible too, with his points-per-game not dipping below the five mark in any of his last nine Premier League matches.
During this period, Trent accrued 71 points, averaging just under eight per game. This came from the right-back contributing to six goals (one goal, five assists), and helping his side to four clean sheets on Liverpool's way to third spot and the all-important Champions League finish, going 10 games unbeaten in the run-in.
What a revelation of a season it has been for John Stones. Doubted by many, written off by most. Stones now finds himself in the prime position to be starting in a back four or five for England, largely down to his success at Manchester City partnering Ruben Dias at the back.
A whole 14 clean sheets later, Stones has wrapped up the Premier League and Carabao Cup and reached a Champions League final. He poses a threat going forwards too, scoring four times this season. Back in the 2018 World Cup, Stones scored twice from corners, so watch this space.
It was another solid season for Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who helped his side to 13 clean sheets, finding the net twice during the campaign. It was his tackles which really aided him, collating 88 in total.
Six tier one tackle bonus points and five tier two allowed the right back to pick up an additional 27 Fantasy Football points and take his place in the England starting XI.
One of the first surprise inclusions is Lewis Dunk of Brighton. When you look at the stats behind the madness, it is clear to see why Dunk has potentially been undervalued as part of Southgate's plans.
Dunk has posted 11 clean sheets and scored on five occasions, only bettered by Stuart Dallas in the way of Premier League defenders. He made tier two passing bonus points (70+) 11 times, as Brighton have often seen a lot of the ball in their matches this term.
Whatever your thoughts are on James Ward-Prowse, he has had an incredibly impressive season with Southampton, and he actually finished as the second-highest scoring midfielder in Sky Sports Fantasy Football with 193 points, behind none other than Bruno Fernandes.
With eight goals and seven assists making up his 15 goal contributions for this campaign, the Southampton skipper has done amazingly well to place him right in contention to make the 26-man squad. Dare to mention his dead-ball skills and specialities? Those aside, Ward-Prowse netted his first England goal in their 5-0 win over San Marino.
Whether it was Frank Lampard or Thomas Tuchel in charge, Mason Mount has proven that he is a key cog in the Chelsea machine. He helped his side to fourth spot and a Champions League place, a Champions League final and FA Cup defeat, earning six Man-of-the-Match awards in the process.
With six goals and seven assists for the season, Mount could be looking at another price increase for next year (currently £8.6m), but with his attention turned solely towards Euro 2021, his creativity will be paramount for supplying Harry Kane and Co.
Perhaps another surprise inclusion to the England starting XI is Jack Harrison. With the abundance of talent England have in midfield and on the wings, Harrison's statistics have gone under the radar in quite dramatic fashion.
Contributing to 17 goals through his eight strikes and nine assists, Harrison has provided the perfect service for teammate Patrick Bamford. Could he have even been in with a shout to make the provisional 33-man squad? His stats imply that it would not have been out of the question.
The England captain and the highest scorer in Sky Sports Fantasy Football 2020/21. The Premier League Golden Boot winner (23) for the third time in his career and the Playmaker award (14 assists) for seventh-placed Tottenham. Need I go on?
Southgate and fans of England will be hoping there are no transfer distractions during the Euros, but saying that, a move to Manchester City would have to make him the most expensive player in Fantasy Football next season. Look out for shots, shots and more shots on target from the skipper during the tournament.
What a remarkable season it has been for the Leeds number nine Patrick Bamford, with many thinking that it was remarkably surprising not to see the frontman included in the provisional squad. He has proven all of his doubters wrong with 17 goals and 10 assists for Marcelo Bielsa's men.
Aside from goals and assists, Bamford presses from the front and does so relentlessly, while digging in to link-up play when needed, adding to his all-round attributes. Leeds will be thankful for the rest, so he can come back and play in the Premier League with a smile on his face once again.
It has been quite the debut season for Ollie Watkins, scoring 14 goals and creating eight for Aston Villa, as they finished well above their position of last year. Having scored on his England debut too, it was just a case of retaining his domestic form throughout the run-in to ensure he was in the England squad come the beginning of June.
By this, I mean from the last international break in March, where Watkins contributed to six goals (four strikes, two assists) in his last 10 games, accruing 50 Fantasy Football points in this period and averaging five per match. Will Watkins confirm his place in the 26-man squad on Tuesday? Stay tuned.
You can get involved with our free-to-play games during Euro 2021 too. Keep your eyes peeled for Super 6 and Super 6 Extra round which will be open by the end of this week, a free chance to win thousands of pounds during the summer.
