France boss Didier Deschamps has admitted that his side face a tough task trying to deal with the threat posed by Portugal ace Cristiano Ronaldo in Sunday evening’s Euro 2016 final. You are on another planet… The fate of the match weighs largely on Antoine Griezmann, who has bounced back from that disappointment, scoring six goals, a feat no player had achieved at one tournament since France former player Michel Platini hit a record nine at the 1984 finals.
Advertisement
Griezmann, 25, came through the ranks in Spain with Real Sociedad after failing to make the grade in France, but he has proven to be Les Bleus’ main man at Euro 2016 with six goals and two assists.
Asked how he transmitted his winning mentality to his players, he said: “It’s the quality of the players, above all, and the team spirit”.
His elusive movement and the free rein that France coach Didier Deschamps gave the Atletico Madrid forward to roam seemingly where the mood took him tied Germany in knots at times.
Ronaldo is now 31 and Ferdinand reckons this could be his last opportunity to win silverware in a Portugal shirt.
From possible Euro 2016 opponents, only Turkish and Italian people come close to rivalling the Portuguese in France-particularly in Paris-and even then, the gap between them is still substantial.
“Antoine Griezmann plays in a position that he is familiar with because it’s the position he operates in [with Atletico]”.
At just 29 Messi has given up the ghost on that elusive hunt for a major global title, having suffered another disappointment following Argentina’s 1-0 loss to Germany in the 2014 World Cup final. Portugal are a compact side who remind me of Antonio Conte’s Italy and upfront have a player who can turn the game at any moment.
Juventus midfielder Pogba has been given more freedom to operate up front when Deschamps has deployed Moussa Sissoko in his three-man attacking midfield.
In many ways, France meeting Portugal is the flawless European Championship final as far as the host nation-particularly its capital city-is concerned. You need to make the most of that.
It was also Germany who dashed England’s dreams at Wembley in the semi-finals of Euro ’96 – the last time Germany won the European Championship – in a nail-biting penalty shootout.
Portugal have featured in the final of a major event only once before, when they lost 1-0 to Greece in the title match of the 2004 European Championship on home soil, with a 19-year-old Ronaldo in their team.
Portugal had already secured their place in the final on Wednesday night with a 2-0 victory against Wales. We are one team.
Having once condemned its football team, the nation now seems to be depending on it.
Portugal trails as +350 underdogs on the three-way betting line for Sunday’s matchup, and sport long +185 odds in Euro 2016 futures betting, while France is perched as -225 chalk.
Deschamps, 47, captained France to glory at the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 and is seeking to add a third major title to his worldwide trophy collection. We were deserved winners and we are in the final.
Advertisement
“He has now taken over the leadership of our attack and has become indispensable for us”.
