Hollande and Prime Minister Manuel Valls head the French government delegation on UEFA’s published list of guests expected at Stade de France. “Fortunately we have the majestic midfield duo of Matuidi and Pogba, and in attack a certain Antoine Griezmann”.
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Sports leaders include FIFA’s president and secretary general, Gianni Infantino and Fatma Samoura, and International Olympic Committee member Prince Albert of Monaco.
The opponents in Euro 2016 though are Portugal. “Feeling all of the French public behind us, feeling the joy shared between the players and the fans strengthens our bond”.
“I think this referee may be among the best two or three referees in the world”, Pepe said. “There’s been no dissent, no mobbing of the referee”.
His side will start as favourites, but although Portugal’s win over Wales was their first inside 90 minutes since their arrival in France, they are wily and risky. We don’t claim to have the power to solve all the problems of the French people. Griezmann is the first player to score six goals at a Euro since Platini, who netted nine times when France triumphed as hosts of the 1984 tournament.
The Stade de France will still be a sea of Bleu and when La Marseillaise rings out, it’s hard not to be inspired and I expect the national team to unite France tonight, just as they did in 1984 and 1998 on home soil. “We have the chance to become a part of French (football) history and it’s a unique chance”.
After uninspiring draws against Iceland and Austria, Cristiano Ronaldo sprang into life with a brace that clinched a point against Hungary and their place in the knockout stages. Seeing France, the host nation, here is entirely unsurprising.
Players should get bonuses totaling several millions from the prize money.
Euro 2016 surprise teams Wales and Iceland go home with, respectively, 18 million euros ($19.9 million) and 14 million euros ($15.5 million).
Meticulous security preparations began long before the tournament and included an exercise in March in which officials simulated an attack involving a chemical bomb at an open-air screening of a match, with thousands of spectators.
From France’s match with Germany, Santos will have noted that Didier Deschamps’ team has a weakness on its flanks, in particular on the left with Patrice Evra. Not this Portugal side, at least.
Both goals in France’s semifinal victory over World Cup holder Germany were scored by Griezmann, who managed to convert a penalty to ease the pain of missing one in the Champions League final in May.
This European Championship has been the lowest scoring for 20 years with just 107 goals in 50 games so far. “They deserved to win the match and the Euro”. In fact, had Dimitri Payet not considered a fraught 2-1 win over Romania akin to his own personal showboating session at West Ham’s training ground, this strident Les Bleus adventure might have remained rooted to the spot.
Still, the expanded group stage dragged down the average with just 69 goals in 36 games – an average of 1.92.
Ronaldo started the tournament in subdued fashion, much like his team, but has improved, culminating in a match winning display against Wales in the quarterfinal, where he scored the first and made the second in a blistering three minute spell that knocked Wales out.
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“But, to be fair, France were better than us”.
