The tournament’s top goal scorer said: “Against Portugal, it’s 50-50, anything can happen in a final, it’s a one-off game”.
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We are down to two at Euro 2016 as Portugal take on France in the final and Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson is back with one last prediction.
Pepe is set to return to the Portugal starting line-up for the European Championships final against France at the Stade the France on Sunday after taking a full part in the squad’s final training session on Saturday and showing no signs of any problem with the thigh strain that sidelined him for the game against Wales.
Penalties beckoned at the Stade Velodrome when Michel Platini appeared to score a 119th-minute victor to send France through to a final against Spain where they lifted the Henri Delaunay trophy for the first time.
“So much sadness, frustration and disappointment”. The hosts have arguably produced the best football and have received the bulk of the media attention from start to finish. “They deserved to win the match and the Euro”.
The Euro 2016 final is what everyone is looking forward to this weekend and we know it’s going to be electrifying!
Sunday’s final will be Clattenburg’s fourth appointment at the finals following Belgium vs. Italy, Czech Republic vs. Croatia and Switzerland vs. Poland.
“I’ve played against Griezmann several times in Spain”, Pepe said through a translator.
“It was hard because it was the end”.
“We’ve yet to win anything but it’s the final”.
“And we believe that we can play well”.
As well as reaching that Euro 2004 final, they also lost out in the World Cup semi-final in 2006, the quarter-finals at Euro 2008 and the semi-finals at Euro 2012.
Ronaldo trudged off the field in tears that night. Portugal will face France in a Euro 2016 final soccer match in Saint Denis on Sunday, July 10, 2016. Ronaldo scored the decisive penalty in a shootout after a 1-1 draw, and Griezmann missed a spot-kick when Atletico trailed 1-0 in the second half. France have the better players but if Ronaldo is inspired then they will do well to contain him.
“They carry the confidence of dumping Germany, while Portugal have had an additional day of rest, with time to think about the blue wave about to test their defence”. We respect France a lot.
He wrote: “Like France thinking of containing CR7, Portugal will be wary of AG7”.
But Joao Mario added: “Probability doesn’t win matches”.
“My fingers are crossed because I believe, my colleagues believe, all of Portugal believes and the Portuguese community in France believe too”.
Portugal are putting great faith in their captain and three time world player of the year Cristiano Ronaldo. Portugal have never lifted the trophy, losing to Greece in the Euro 2004 final on home soil in Lisbon.
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Griezmann was even more impressive in France’s semifinal win over world champion Germany, scoring both goals in a 2-0 victory to give the host nation its first win over the Germans in a competitive match in 58 years.
