Captaincy options for Dream Team Euros Matchday 1 – gaffers backing Kylian Mbappe to start strong

DREAM TEAM EUROS bosses have until 7pm to lock in their captain and vice-captain for Matchday 1.

Remember, your captain will have their points doubled by the armband and your vice-captain will have their points doubled if your first-choice selection doesn’t play for any reason.

Let’s analyse the most appealing options for the first round of group games.

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Dream TeamWho else?[/caption]

Kylian Mbappe (£7.5m)

It should come as no surprise that France’s captain is the popular choice.

The 2022 World Cup Golden Boot winner skipped training on Thursday with a flu bug disrupting Les Bleus’ preparations but, at this stage, the superstar forward is expected to start against Austria on Monday night.

With goals worth six points in Dream Team Euros, it’s hard to argue against Mbappe for captain.

Gaffers looking to take him on might be encouraged by the sickness in the French camp, which could possibly hamper Didier Deschamps’ side.

Plus, Austria are no mugs – they’ve beaten Croatia, Italy and Germany under Ralf Rangnick.

All things considered, Mbappe is a safe and sound selection for captain but there’s scope for alternatives if you’re that way inclined.

Cristiano Ronaldo (£6m)

GettyThose who bet against Ronaldo often lose[/caption]

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner looked in fine form against Republic of Ireland in Portugal’s final pre-tournament friendly and no player, not even Mbappe, heads to Germany with a better reputation for scoring goals.

Some gaffers may be hesitant to back a 39-year-old who spent the domestic season in the Saudi Pro League but Ronaldo has never adhered to normal expectations.

The legendary No7 rattled along at a rate of a goal a game for Al-Nasser in 2023/24 and with the likes of Bruno Fernandes (£6m) and Bernardo Silva (£4.5m) in the supply line, he will fancy his chances of extending his record of 14 goals in European Championships when he faces Czechia on Tuesday.

Fernandes is also in the captaincy conversation given his form in 2024.

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GettyTalent to burn[/caption]

Jamal Musiala (£4.5m)

According to our friends at Betfair, Germany are heaviest favourites to win their opening fixture among all 24 teams at the tournament.

The hosts take on Scotland this evening and the home fans will hope their No10 displays the full extent of his undeniable talent.

Musiala is one of the most natural dribblers in world football, an attribute which should help him collect his fair share of bonus points this summer.

The 21-year-old’s Bundesliga campaign with Bayerm Munich was partially interrupted by injuries but the fact is he averaged a goal or assist every 110.4 minutes.

If you like the idea of getting ahead of the game from the very first fixture then selecting Musiala as captain might be the way to do just that.

Romelu Lukaku (£5.5m)

GettyLukaku’s record is not to be underestimated[/caption]

Belgium’s hulking target man broke the record for most goals in a European Championship qualifying campaign when he bagged 14 in just eight outings to book his side’s place in Germany.

More broadly, he’s scored 85 goals in 115 caps at international level.

If you’re somebody who considers Lukaku a flat-track bully then that shouldn’t have too much of an impact on the striker’s viability for Matchday 1 as the Red Devils are set to face Slovakia, one of tournament’s biggest underdogs.

The 31-year-old boasts an excellent record for Belgium but when things go wrong for him they go really wrong – remember those misses against Croatia at the World Cup? – so it might be wise to wait for a look at his form before rushing to stick the armband on him.

But if you feel confident in Lukaku’s ability to punish Slovakia then crack on – he’s got Kevin De Bruyne (£7m) feeding him after all.