Best Budget Gems for EURO Fantasy Matchday 1

Our coverage of the summer tournament continues as we take a look through some of the best budget gems for EURO Fantasy Matchday 1. To do this we head over to the Fantasy Football Scout members area and check out their underlying stats.

Knowing who the best budget gems for EURO Fantasy Matchday 1 are could be super helpful for fantasy managers. Budget players are crucial when it comes down to building a team and selecting as many premium players as you would like. So, let’s dive in.

Giorgi Chakvetadze

The lack of depth in the €5m+ bracket makes it even easier to back our first pick. Georgia play Türkiye in their opener and although impressive during Qualifying they have failed to get anywhere near that form in their last four friendlies.

With the above in mind we welcome in Giorgi Chakvetadze (€4.5m), not just the cheapest playing midfielder in the game but one that could very much do well. Giorgi Chakvetadze has shown attacking potential for both club side Watford and country, picking up a goal and three assists for Watford last season and matching that in the EURO Qualifying matches.

Maximilian Mittelstädt

As hosts Germany come into the competition as one of several favourites to win. Although ropey defensively they come up against Scotland in their opening fixture which could be a great opportunity for both defensive and attacking returns.

One player who fits the above is Maximilian Mittelstädt (€4m) who after an excellent campaign at Bundesliga club Stuttgart now looks to have cemented his place in the starting XI. Mittelstädt scored two goals and created four assists for club last season. That attacking threat seems to have translated into his international form after scoring in one of his most recent friendly matches against Netherlands.

Maxim De Cuyper & Wout Faes

Belgium were extremely poor in their most recent World Cup, exiting in the Group Stage. However, after topping their Qualifying Group the bounce back appears to be on.

It wasn’t just their goal scoring rate in the Qualifiers that caught the eye but also the fact they banked five clean sheets in eight matches. The fixture ahead against Slovakia looks like a good one from a defensive perspective so it could be wise to back a Belgian defender.

Fortunately Belgium have two brilliantly priced options. One of those options is the cheaper Wout Faes (€4m) who looks cemented in the backline. Although lacking in threat compared to his teammate he still picked up an assist in Qualifiers and an assist in his most recent friendly. For €0.5m more you can bring in full-back Maxim De Cuyper (€4.5m). Cuyper bagged a huge three goals and 10 assists for domestic side Club Brugge last season.

Bart Verbruggen

Convincing in recent tournaments Netherlands seem to be heading in the right direction. Offensively they have been brilliant but defensively they have been solid. Five clean sheets in eight Qualifiers and three clean sheets in their last four friendly matches are two examples of that.

Finding a cheap goalkeeper playing for a top side is something fantasy managers are always on the hunt for and that is where we go with our next pick. Bart Verbruggen (€4.5m) battled his way past his competition for the number one spot and looks set to start. He is also the cheapest and most reliable route into a Netherlands defence who faces a Poland side without their star striker in Matchday 1.

Other great budget picks

Those looking for an alternative €4m defender could opt for Ádám Lang. As well as maintaining 5.8 ball recoveries in the Qualifiers Lang found the net in one of his latest matches for Hungary.

A more secure route to a clean sheet this week could be centre-back Marc Guehi (€4.5m). The injury to Harry Maguire means Guehi gets a spot at centre-back for England.

Horațiu Moldovan (€4m) could be one of the best budget gems for EURO Fantasy Matchday 1. The Romanian number one between the sticks faces Ukraine up next and could be the cheapest and most nailed €4m goalkeeper in the game.

Georges Mikautadze (€5m) could be another great enabler for Georgia up front. Mikautadze managed 14 goals and four assists for club last season.