Portugal will be out to spoil the French party by claiming a first major tournament trophy after their most recent final appearance ended in a bitter loss to Greece as hosts of Euro 2004.
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Griezmann is the clearest danger to Portugal, with his six-goal tally at Euro 2016 double that of any player, including Cristiano Ronaldo, who has three.
France’s improvement on and off the pitch and its rise through the ranks under the 1998 captain Deschamps have reconciled the fans with Les Bleus, and this bond also helps them overcome the tragedy from November when the Stade de France was also under attack while the team was playing Germany in a friendly. Portugal’s best finish was when the team reached the final in 2004.
And maybe it can be said that Portugal might be coming good at the right time, as their display in the semi-final win over Wales was their most convincing thus far.
France, coached by shrewd Didier Deschamps, know they can’t allow Ronaldo space or early breakthrough if they want to win their second major football trophy in the last 20 years. It’s all been about recovering from that match, but I’m confident my players will be ready for this huge game.
Pepe faces a race against time to be fit, but on the whole Portugal have tightened up defensively during the knockout stages and here they must contemplate the task of containing the tournament’s top scorer.
“Obviously, we had a hard time this year, whether by this dramatic event or non-sport stories”.
“Limiting his influence will be key for us”, Deschamps said ahead of the final.
Paul Pogba went into the tournament as the heir apparent to Michel Platini and Zinedine Zidane.
“He is a talented and clinical player and that is important for the team”.
Three goals and as many assists isn’t a bad record and if Ronaldo can lead this group to European glory it will surely be one of his finest hours.
An 18-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo broke down in tears at the final whistle that night, and he has the chance to finally make up for that heartbreak this evening.
He scored twice in the second half, found the net again in the 5-2 last 16 defeat of Iceland and downed Germany nearly single-handedly in Marseille on Thursday.
“In the 4-2-3-1 formation, Griezmann is in a position that he often occupies in Atletico Madrid”.
Pepe sat out this week’s 2-0 semi-final win over Wales in Lyon due to a thigh complaint but, after training on Saturday, he was happy to confirm his availability sat alongside head coach Fernando Santos at a pre-match news conference.
“I’ve got nearly nothing left for France” said Anas Elfatoukh a salesman at NSH Football.
Major global finals are seldom high-scoring affairs, and yet past results between these two teams suggest goals could be in the offing.
“My fingers are crossed because I believe, my colleagues believe, all of Portugal believes and the Portuguese community in France believe too”. History is not on our side, we haven’t beaten the French since 1975, but I would like to add our last two wins took place in Paris.
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There was no rousing comeback from the Portuguese, who came closest through Luis Figo and Deco – with the former heading over after Fabian Barthez had pushed a Cristiano Ronaldo free-kick straight back into play.
