The Real Madrid defender now seems fit for the final.
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France President Francois Hollande has been a regular visitor, wearing his team scarf, in the VIP seats at Euro 2016.
Hollande and Prime Minister Manuel Valls head the French government delegation on UEFA’s published list of guests expected at Stade de France.
Portugal President Marcelo Rebelo da Sousa and Prime Minister Antonio Costa should lead its government delegation.
Other government leaders scheduled to attend are South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma and Viktor Orban, the prime minister of Hungary.
Barcelona linchpin Messi retired from global football in huge frustration after Argentina’s defeat to Chile in the Copa America final on June 27. He’s got great athletic attributes in the air.
Santos was very expressive in the prematch news conference, from laughing at the suggestion that this is not the final neutrals wanted to downplaying suggestions officiating could be a problem.
“It’s not just that he can get up high, but he can hang there as well”. “There’s been no dissent, no mobbing of the referee”.
Portugal – It begins and ends with Cristiano Ronaldo.
This would be the first time Portugal would win the global title, 12 years after losing 1-0 at home, to Greece, in their only major final.
France are the obvious favourites and if history is anything to go by, then the hosts are going to lift the trophy as they have won a FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro that was hosted in France.
France have twice beaten Portugal en route to uro success, Michel Platini and Zinedine Zidane netting extra-time winners in the semi-finals of the 1984 and 2000 tournaments.
France have won 10 of their last meetings between the two sides since Portugal won a friendly way back in 1975.
France, on the other hand, can not be taken lightly having shown the exit to Germany, the world champions, in the semi-final. It’s going to be a tough game for both of us.
France, with tournament leading scorer Antoine Griezmann, start the game as favourites.
“The players are obviously competitors, it is fabulous to play a European Championship and they’re doing so in France”, he said.
France acknowledge they will have to limit the Portuguese star as much as possible.
These are the top 10 goals of the UEFA Euro 2016 based on votes as per Skysports.
The average goal tally at the past three tournaments was consistently between 2.45 and 2.48 per game.
Bruno Alves is on standby to deputise again, while defensive midfielder William Carvalho will return from suspension in a match expected to attract a global television audience of 300 million. Previously, their six finals ended in draws over 90 minutes with 5 in the competition plus a 0-0 against Spain.
UEFA believes 2 billion different viewers are among a cumulative live audience of more than 6 billion for the 51-match tournament.
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More heartache followed in 2006, when the team that had stumbled at the final hurdle of Euro 2004 on home soil lost in the last four of the World Cup.
