Players From the Lesser Nations to Consider for Euro 2020 Fantasy Football

Making their first-ever appearance in a major tournament, not much is expected from North Macedonia at Euro 2020, yet Napoli midfielder, Elif Elmas will be looking to shine.

A combative midfielder capable of winning the ball back deep and carrying it forward to start attacking moves, Elmas has featured heavily for the Serie A club and after playing 33 times for a Napoli side that finished fifth in the league, much of North Macedonia’s hopes of success will rest on the shoulders of the 21-year-old.

They are drawn against the Netherlands, Ukraine and Austria, so it is unlikely Igor Angelovski’s men will last long in the competition. They’re 2/7 to be eliminated at the group stage, but with the added benefit of four best third-placed sides making it to the knockouts, a shock progression into the round of 16 is priced at 10/3.

Whilst veteran captain, Goran Pandev, will be North Macedonia’s biggest threat in front of goal, Elmas did net the dramatic winning goal in their recent victory against three-time European champions, Germany.

Finland, another major tournament debutant did impress in qualification, finishing as runners up to an unbeaten Italy. Much was made of the performances of Norwich City striker, Teemu Pukki, whose 10 goals made up over half of Finland’s total during qualifying. Yet, Pukki isn’t the only star amongst the Finnish ranks and Marcus Forss will be amongst the Suomi players hoping to cause a shock.

As a fellow former Championship turned Premier League star to Pukki, Forss is one of Finland’s brightest stars and the Brentford winger should feature heavily for the tournament debutants. Playing 50 times in the Bees’ successful promotion campaign, Forss scored 10 times for Thomas Frank’s men, including the third in Brentford’s 3-2 aggregate win over Bournemouth in the play-off semi-final.

Likely to feature as a second striker in Finland’s three-at-the-back formation, Forss is second behind Pukki at 8/1 to score the most goals for Markku Kanerva’s men. Finland themselves have high hopes at this tournament and will expect to compete against Russia and Denmark for the second spot in the group behind Belgium. A healthy 2/1 to progress into the knockout stages, don’t be surprised to see Forss impress this summer.

Qualifying for the knockouts in their second major tournament as an independent nation, Slovakia head into Euro 2020 dreaming of another decent tournament. Making two appearances at Euro 2016 was the then Sampdoria defender, Milan Škriniar, who returns to the Euros an integral part of the Slovakian side. Now, without much in the way of attacking talents, Slovakia will be hoping Škriniar can continue his strong 2020/21 season, having just won Serie A with Inter Milan.

Playing 32 times and scoring on three occasions, the 26-year-old centre-back shone in Antonio Conte’s structured side. He will head a Slovakian defence who are 10/3 to concede between 3-4 goals.

Underdogs in a group containing World Cup semi-finalists from 2018, England and Croatia, the Czech Republic will turn to Bayer Leverkusen forward, Patrik Schick for a source of inspiration this summer.

Without a win at Euro 2016, the Czechs are 9/2 to go the entire tournament without picking up a point and are priced at 8/11 to be eliminated at the group stage. It’s expected both England and Croatia will be too strong for Jaroslav Šilhavý’s side and with their other opponent in Group D Scotland enjoying the added benefit of home support and actually in great form ahead of the tournament, it could be another difficult European Championships for the Czech Republic.

Part of the RB Leipzig side that reached the Champions League semi-finals in 2019/20, Schick secured a move to fellow Bundesliga side, Leverkusen at the start of this season. Already a regular source of goals for his country, the ex-Roma winger is best placed at 5/2 to be Czech Republic’s top scorer at Euro 2020, but Schick may be looking to go one better and become just the second player from the country to win the overall Golden Boot award.

Netting five times in Czech Republic’s emphatic run to the semi-finals at Euro 2004, ex-Liverpool and Aston Villa striker Milan Baros defied the odds to top the scorer charts at the tournament, with Schick an outside 100/1 shot to emulate his countryman.

Wales may have made the semi-finals at Euro 2016, but not much is expected of Robert Page’s men in their first-ever back-to-back European Championship appearance. Outsiders in a group containing Italy, Turkey and Switzerland, Liverpool forward, Harry Wilson will be one of the standout attacking talents Wales look to for success.

Despite never having made an appearance under Jurgen Klopp, the Wrexham born winger has enjoyed a stellar season on loan at Championship side Cardiff City and is 4/1 to score anytime in Wales’ tournament opener against Switzerland. With seven goals and 11 assists already this season, the 24-year-old is priced at 7/2 behind their talisman Gareth Bale to top the scorer charts in the Welsh squad.

Just like they were at Euro 2016, Wales aren’t tipped to progress out of the group and will start the tournament at EVENS to qualify this year. However, with the majority of the same squad that shocked the continent five years ago returning this summer, another shock may be on the cards and money could be made with the 8/1 shot for Wales to win Group A.