Portugal’s team is hoping to win the game of their lives on Sunday’s Euro 2016 final against hosts France.
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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.
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”.
It’s fair to say that even in the knock-out stages, the Seleccao never really hit their stride until the semi-final win over Wales as below-par performances against Croatia and Poland saw them through only in Extra Time against Vatreni and on penalties against the White Eagles.
“So much sadness, frustration and disappointment”.
“You have to accept things when that’s not the case but before accepting that you have to do everything to try and win matches”.
If form and history were the only determining factors in deciding the outcome of the Euro 2016 final, Portugal wouldn’t stand a chance. He scored a brilliant backheel against Hungary, fired Portugal in front with a superb header against Wales and a scuffed shot from the Real marksman was enough for Nani to get his leg to the ball and double Portugal’s lead.
A new champion of Europe will be crowned Sunday.
“It was hard because it was the end”.
“Yes, because I’m representing my people, my country”.
Portuguese defender Pepe returned to the group training of his national team on Saturday and may appear in Sunday’s European football championship final against France.
Ronaldo trudged off the field in tears that night.
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. Their last victory against them came in 1975 and since then, they have failed to taste victory. “It had been a long time since they had beaten Germany and they did it”, admitted Portugal midfielder Joao Mario on Friday.
France also beat Portugal in a friendly in Lisbon as recently as last September and won 2-1 with goals from Karim Benzema and Paul Pogba in a friendly at the Stade de France in October 2014.
But Joao Mario added: “Probability doesn’t win matches”.
“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”.
France are the bookmakers’ favourites for the final but few would argue that the best player taking to the turf will be Portugal forward Ronaldo.
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The 33-year-old collected his second Champions League title with Real Madrid in May but believes the chance to claim Portugal’s first major worldwide honour outstrips anything he has experienced during a decorated career.
