EURO 2020 Fantasy Football: Limitless differential squad for the final

For Fantasy managers hoping to overtake their mini-league rivals on the final day of EURO 2020, it may be wise to go against the grain and select a squad of lesser-owned assets. With that in mind, using the Limitless Wildcard chip to bring in differential assets may prove the smart move for those who still have that option.

Fantasy substitutions are no longer a factor at this stage of the competition, so UEFA.com now runs down its recommended Limitless starting line-up, followed by the four substitutes used to fill out the squad.

Goalkeeper

Boasting eight more Fantasy points than his Italian opposite number Gianluigi Donnarumma, combined with a lower ownership percentage, England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford (€5.9m) gets the nod to start in goal. The Three Lions No1 is the third-highest points scorer of the players remaining in the competition, having kept five clean sheets from six games at EURO 2020, conceding just once. Pickford also has two more saves than Donnarumma, with 11 compared to the Italian's nine.

Defenders

There is a possibility that England boss Gareth Southgate opts for three central defenders and two wing-backs on Matchday 7, and if that is the case then Kieran Trippier (€5.4m) – who boasts excellent set-piece prowess – could well make his third start of the tournament.

Another England defender with high attacking potential is centre-back Harry Maguire (€5.7m), lesser-owned than team-mate John Stone. Maguire found the net against Ukraine on Matchday 5 by heading in a free-kick, and his aerial threat in the opposition penalty box should create further opportunities to score in the final.

Two Italian defenders form the rest of the Limitless starting defence. Those aiming to make up points on their opponents will be looking for low-owned defenders set to play in the decider, and captain Giorgio Chiellini (€6.0m) and left-back Emerson (€5.5m) both fall into that bracket.

With the Limitless chip activated, Chiellini's premium price is not a factor. Although his central defensive partner Leonardo Bonucci commands a far more significant ownership, the 36-year-old skipper provides just as much points potential both from a clean sheet and attacking perspective.

As for Emerson, he is coming off the back of a clean sheet and six Fantasy points in the semi-finals after being taken off past the 60-minute mark with Italy 1-0 up against Spain. The Chelsea player has accrued six points in both his starts at the tournament so far.

Midfielders

Following two goals in his last three appearances, there's a place for Federico Chiesa (€7.4m) in the team, and the winger is likely to start on the right of the Azzurri front three in the final.

Alongside him, instead of the widely popular Lorenzo Insigne it is Nicolò Barella (€7.5m) who gets the nod. Despite being owned by less than a quarter of Fantasy managers, Barella has accumulated two attacking returns over the course of the tournament, the same amount as both Insigne and Chiesa, and after finding the net against extremely strong quarter-final opponents in Belgium, there is every chance of him repeating that feat against England.

While Raheem Sterling will no doubt find himself in the vast majority of Fantasy managers' squads, the Limitless team has gone down a different avenue. Mason Mount (€7.3m) and Bukayo Saka (€6.6m) both find a place, with the latter having scored five Fantasy points on Matchday 6, one point more than Sterling, after getting the assist for England's equaliser against Denmark.

Mount, meanwhile, has found himself in promising attacking positions when on the pitch for the Three Lions and has also taken regular command of set pieces. It was his corner that was nodded in by Jordan Henderson in the quarter-finals, Mount's first attacking return of EURO 2020. Although neither are certain starters in the final, they are both capable of making an impact off the bench.

Forwards

Although he is the highest-owned Fantasy asset remaining in the competition and so offers no differential value, it would be negligent not to have Harry Kane (€11.7m) in the Limitless squad. The England captain has scored four goals across the last three matchdays and the stage could be set for Kane to shine for his country in the final.

Completing the Limitless starting line-up is Italian forward Andrea Belotti (€7.9m). Team-mate Ciro Immobile is owned by over half the Fantasy player base and is expected to start, but the Lazio striker has failed to register an attacking return since Matchday 2. Belotti came off the bench in normal time during Italy's semi-final against Spain and played an extra 30 minutes of extra time. Given the distinct possibility of extra time between Italy and England, Belotti could turn out to be a shrewd differential selections for those playing the Limitless chip.

On the bench

With goalkeeper Jordan Pickford in the starting line-up, his opposite number Gianluigi Donnarumma (€5.8m) is on the bench. As the only other starting keeper available, this decision is straightforward. Meanwhile, the highly owned Luke Shaw (€6.3m) provides defensive cover should any of the differential options not feature.

Similarly, Raheem Sterling (€9.9m) also sits on the bench despite being the top points scorer heading into the final, with his selection in the starting line-up less enticing for those looking to make up ground on their fellow Fantasy managers. Rounding off the Limitless squad is Ciro Immobile (€10.2m), who could be worth selecting as your first substitute in case Belotti fails to get on the pitch.