“France are at home, they’re in the final and they have a lot of potential. Now we have one more step to take. but we’re preparing well for battle against a formidable opponent”, Lloris said yesterday.
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Speaking to the media, Ronaldo said: “France is a bit more the favourites than us, but I think Portugal will win”.
Griezmann has already had a tearful tournament exit, having cried on the pitch at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana after France lost to Germany in the 2014 World Cup quarter-finals. “Limiting his influence will be key for us”, Deschamps said ahead of the final.
Security forces have three key venues to protect: The Stade de France stadium hosting the final – outside of which three suicide bombers blew themselves up previous year, the 92,000-capacity fan zone in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, and the Champs-Elysees boulevard, which will likely be swamped with fans after the match. France’s major final record at the venue was 5 Wins – 1 Dual with a tie against Italy during the World cup in 1998. The host nation named an unchanged team in consecutive games for the first time in their European Championship history in the semi-final, and Deschamps could name the same eleven again tonight.
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. The sole victim at the stadium was a chauffeur, who was born in Portugal.
Even France are unbeaten in the tournament and barring the goalless draw against Switzerland, they have won all their fixtures.
“Of course we’ve had some very tough times this year with those tragic events”, the Tottenham goalkeeper said.
Portugal have only ever made one appearance in a Euro final, which they lost 1-0 to Greece on home soil in 2004.
Their down-to-earth coach, Fernando Santos, said the tournament was not a style contest and only victory mattered. They’ll certainly be going all out to spoil the French soirée. “He had a very busy season which ended with the Champions League final for his club against Real Madrid”.
When Ronaldo and Pepe played at the 2010 World Cup, Fonte was preparing for another season in the third tier of English football with Southampton.
Tournament top scorer Griezmann will likely play in a deep role behind striker Olivier Giroud again, as in the past two games. “Superstars like him relish these situations – the pressure that goes with it brings the best out of him, when other players falter”.
“It was a very important game for us”. They ultimately fell to England, the hosts, before settling for victory in the third-place match.
Elite Player: Cristiano Ronaldo – The Real Madrid star is the heartbeat of this Portugal side.
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“There is some uncertainty, it’s not science, and you may not win, but you have to do everything it takes to win and that is the state of mind we’re in”.
