As Euro 2008 gets serious, so does the Fantasy competition. Need some help picking your team? You've come to the right place.

First of all, lose anyone whose team is out, unless you simply need a £1m corpse to decompose on your bench.

So get rid of anyone from Czech Republic, Switzerland, Poland, Austria, France, Romania, Sweden and Greece.

GOALKEEPERS

Choose 'em

Stipe Pletikosa (7m) looks like the pick of the bunch going up against a Turkish side that would have picked up one point in the group stage if football matches lasted 85 minutes.

Rustu Recber (2m) and his face paint come in for Turkey in the same match, and if you're struggling for funds you could do a lot worse.

Lose 'em

Gianluigi Buffon (22m) is very expensive and finds himself up against two of the best strikers around in David Villa and Fernando Torres.

Steer clear of Igor Akinfeev (6m) when the flimsy Russian defence takes on the mighty Dutch, and you'd probably be better off away from Jens Lehmann (10m)

DEFENDERS

Choose 'em

Nobody knows why Clemens Fritz (9m) is classed as a defender, but let's not ask too many questions. Just pick him.

Fabio Grosso (9m) was one of the steals of the round last time out against France and will attract plenty of interest going up against Spain's kamikaze right-back Sergio Ramos.

Croatia's Darijo Srna (10m) is another midfielder who gets credit for his defence's work. Has already scored once in the tournament and loves to supply crosses from the right.

Lose 'em

The aforementioned Sergio Ramos (17m) always has a mistake in him and looks expensive against an Italian side coming ominously into form.

Make sure you get rid of Turkey's Mehmet Aurelio (5m) - he is suspended.

Giovanni van Brockhorst (8m) looks tempting given his fine performances to date, but Russia are no mugs going forward and could test the Dutch backline to the full.

MIDFIELDERS

Choose 'em

Wesley Sneijder (24m) has been arguably the player of the tournament so far, and you have to fancy him to continue his scoring run against the Russians.

Turkey winger Arda Turan (7m) has been brilliant so far and is a great signing at a low, low price.

Want to know a secret? The enigmatic L. Almeida da Cunha (1m) is actually Nani (don't believe the photo) and is the perfect man for your bench.

Lose 'em

Italy duo Andrea Pirlo (26m) and Gennaro Gattuso (13m) are both suspended against Spain.

Signing Michael Ballack seems like a curious way to spend 28m, while Deco (22m) is similarly expensive.

STRIKERS

Choose 'em

This is where your big money goes. Cristiano Ronaldo (35m), Ruud van Nistelrooy (35m) and David Villa (30m)? That'll do nicely.

If you're a stingy so-and-so, Andrei Arshavin (7m) and Nihat Kahveci (12m) could be your men.

Lose 'em

Even if you have a bargepole you shouldn't touch Germany's Mario Gomez (16m), while Luca Toni (32m) is in equally poor form for Italy.

Ivica Olic (9m) has done very well for Croatia so far, but his overall scoring record for his country is not great and there are better options.

Alex Chick / Eurosport