We delve into the Player List and recommend defensive linchpins

Many of the world’s top defenders can be found in Group B.

However, since that group also contains some of the most compelling attacking propositions to grace the Euros, it might well be sensible to look elsewhere when filling your fantasy football back line this summer.

Sergei Ignashevich - £9m

Russia come into the tournament on the back of a 14-game unbeaten run, which culminated in a 3-0 victory over Italy last week.

They won their qualifying group with a respectable goal difference of +13 and, to top it all off, they came third at Euro 2008 so know how to go far in competitions of this size.

It is Russia's defence that forms the solid bedrock of the team.

Having conceded only four in qualifying, the CSKA Moscow central defensive pairing of Sergei Ignashevich and Aleksei Berezutskiy would both be astute fantasy football picks for the tournament.

However, for his slightly superior scoring prowess, we recommend you include Ignashevich.

Physically imposing and as sturdy as they come, he marshals his men as well as anyone and will be dangerous from set-pieces, having scored five goals in 75 appearances for his country.

At £9m, he could be worth every penny if Russia fulfil their potential and reach the latter stages.

Giorgio Chiellini - £9.5m

If anyone in Group C can keep the reigning World and European champions out, it’s the Italians, who conceded just 0.2 goals per game in qualifying.

Their star centre-back, Giorgio Chiellini, is valued at £9.5m.

That’s less than any Spanish starting XI defender and two Dutchmen as well, all of whom have worse defensive qualifying records.

Added to this is the confidence he’ll take into the tournament from having just helped Juventus to their first title in nine years.

With their record, you would imagine the Azzurri should take at least two clean sheets from the group stage, which would be a tidy six points for Chiellini.

Lukasz Piszczek - £8m

Traditionally, home teams perform beyond expectations at international tournaments, and the Polish are drawn in what looks to be a low-scoring Group A.

The versatile Polish right-back Lukasz Piszczek, £8m, has secured back-to-back Bundesliga titles with Borussia Dortmund.

He started life as an attacking winger but has flourished since moving back into defence.

He’s still happy to get forward though, overlapping with the pacey Jakub Blaszczykowski ahead of him and providing crosses for the deadly Robert Lewandowski, both of whom he plays with domestically.

Nor has he lost his own striking touch, scoring 4 goals in 32 appearances for the German champions this season.

The match-up with bitter historical rivals Russia on June 12th could provide some fireworks, and Piszczek might just be the player to stand out.

Joleon Lescott - £8m

Group D is a hard one to read.

Both England and the Ukraine have new managers, while France have been hugely unpredictable since conquering the world in 1998.

Again, great value may be found with a little gamble on Joleon Lescott at £8m.

He scored 44 fantasy football points in 30 appearances for Premier League champions Manchester City last season and has continued to impress on the international stage since earning his debut in 2007.

With the England centre-back partnership yet to be decided, his dominant performance against Norway recently may prove decisive.

Adil Rami - £9.0m

Alternatively, you could bet against England in the opener and include Adil Rami in your fantasy football line-up.

The Frenchman has emerged as one of the best defenders in Spain, where he plies his trade for Valencia.

The imposing physicality and surprisingly deft passing touch of the centre-back has caught the attention of some of the biggest clubs in Europe, so the Euros could be an opportunity for him to break out and really shine.

Towering in the air and a calming presence at the back, he can also score the odd goal, popping up in France’s first warm-up game against Iceland to thump home a resounding winner in the final few minutes.

At £9.0m, he could be fantastic value against the questionable attacking attributes of the other teams in Group D.