Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, right, and Ricardo Quaresma smile during a training session in Marcoussis, near Paris, France, Saturday, July 9, 2016.
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The Euro 2016 final will be played in the Stade de France, in Paris, on Sunday evening (3pm EST/USA).
Disappointing in France’s opening 2-1 win over Romania, Griezmann came off the bench to head in a crucial late goal in the 2-0 defeat of Albania. Many feel – with some justification – that Portugal are extremely fortunate to have made it this far.
France coach Didier Deschamps has said Cristiano Ronaldo will pose a major challenge for his players in the Euro 2016 final against Portugal.
The two now hold the keys to Sunday’s final, in which France will chase a third European title after 1984 and 2000 and a third triumph on home soil after Euro 1984 and the 1998 World Cup.
Portugal have been criticised, including by the French media, for their style of play.
The stadium hosting Sunday’s final was the very first target of the November 13 attacks which killed 130 people in and around Paris.
France also sealed a 2-0 win in the second semi-final against Germany.
“The fact that we have managed to respond on the pitch gives us a bit more pride”. His presence ensures that France can not take this one totally for granted, and they should also watch out for prodigious teenager Renato Sanches, who is playing without fear. “They’ve been wonderful supporters”.
Greece picked hosts Portugal’s pocket 1-0 courtesy of organised, defensive football in the European competition’s 2004 finale.
Their down-to-earth coach, Fernando Santos, said the tournament was not a style contest and only victory mattered.
“We want to write our names down in history and we believe that we can play well”.
The ESPN FC crew debate who will win the Euro 2016 final between France and Portugal. Ronaldo is desperate to win an global accolade.
Ronaldo carried his nation’s hopes and, as team talisman, led Portugal to the final, trying to claim one of the few prizes missing from his glittering trophy cabinet: an global tournament win.
Even if there’s little he can do to stifle Ronaldo, France’s 47-year-old boss has been praised by captain Hugo Lloris as “the architect” of their run to the final.
Griezmann was just a teenager starting out his professional career at Real Sociedad when French football experienced one of its lowest points at the 2010 World Cup.
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Ronaldo will be more than happy for the stubborn Portuguese to do exactly the same to the flair-filled French some 12 years on. “Superstars like him relish these situations – the pressure that goes with it brings the best out of him, when other players falter”. “Six years on, we are getting closer”, said Sagna. We’ve done a great deal of work to get into a final six years later. “We want to put a smile on the faces of the French people”.
