Portugal defender Pepe has declared himself fit for the biggest game of his life against hosts France in the final of Euro 2016.
Advertisement
Managers of NSH Football, a sportswear shop in Paris told Reuters that the new kit used by the host nation for the ongoing tournament is selling real fast ahead of Sunday’s finals. France’s Dimitri Payet, center, heads a ball during a training session at the stadium in Clairefontaine, France, Saturday, July 9, 2016.
Anthony Lopes and three other Portugal plays are now with the French team, while Ronaldo and Pepe are interested in a UEFA and EURO Champions League double.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Antoine Griezmann will meet for another title showdown when Portugal faces France in the European Championship final on Sunday, just six weeks after they contested the Champions League final.
France will play Portugal for a chance to win its third Euro in the history and the second on home soil after winning 1984, while Portugal is still chasing its first trophy in a major tournament losing the only Final at the Euro in 2004 on home soil to Greece.
Lloris, 29, added: “We have had some tough times, with tragic events and events off the field, but we are proud to be on the pitch and really feel the French population behind us”.
The attacks began at the Stade de France where suicide bombers detonated devices after failing to force their way into France’s match against Germany.
“I think this referee is maybe among two or three [of the] best referees in the world and it was no accident that he was present at the final of the Champions League”.
Portugal’s most famous player since Eusebio warned the French not to underestimate Portugal.
Now they are 90 minutes away from the title and after the semi-final win against Wales Ronaldo said: “I hope on Sunday you’ll see me crying with joy”. “We know the whole country is behind us, so we’re giving everything for them”.
Their seventh major tournament semi-final brought with it progress for just the second time, 12 years on from the ignominy of falling to Greece at the end of a European Championship they hosted.
The decision paid off for coach Fernando Santos not to risk his defensive leader against a Welsh attack that lacked the options France possesses. “Every one will want to write their name into the history of Portuguese football”. Ronaldo, who has collected every major honor in club football, will not want his worldwide career ending trophyless like compatriot Eusebio.
“I’ve been playing in Real Madrid for (almost) 10 years”, he said.
“I think the French players all have great quality”, he said.
The Euro 2016 final will feature a duel between boyish poster boy Antoine Griezmann and preening superstar Cristiano Ronaldo to be the dominant number seven.
More than one million people celebrated France’s 1998 World Cup victory there.
Advertisement
“We left a negative image of French football around the world”, defender Bacary Sagna said through a translator. “We had to go right back to basics to get the public on our side again”.
