Rival coaches Didier Deschamps of France and Fernando Santos of Portugal have been desperately trying to shield their teams from the sky high hopes of two nations.
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112 – Portugal’s tournament-leading number of shots, forty-seven of which have come from the boot of Cristiano Ronaldo.
“What you need to do is approach it as relaxed as possible while being at the same time totally focussed on the match”, he added. “But I’m fine, I don’t feel any pressure, no stress, just adrenaline and that’s positive”.
Lloris and Sagna were both part of the 2010 France team, who effectively went on strike – returning to their team bus, pulling the curtains shut and refusing to train at their base in South Africa, the inaccurately named “Field of Dreams”.
Deschamps was described by France captain Hugo Lloris as “the architect” of the current run of success.
The troubles were worsened by the exclusion of star striker Karim Benzema over an alleged sextape blackmail attempt.
“We left a negative image of French football around the world”, defender Bacary Sagna said through a translator.
The Brazilian-born defender missed Wednesday’s semi-final win over Wales with a thigh injury and also trained separately on Friday but confirmed he would be fit for Sunday’s final against hosts France.
It will be a tough test for Portugal as they have lost the previous 10 matches against France and a home match for Les Blues might push that to 11.
Veterans such as defender Pepe and Ricardo Quaresma have played lynchpin roles on days when Ronaldo has failed to fire.
Not only would Euro 2016 be a first trophy for Ronaldo in Portugal’s colours, it would also represent Portugal’s first major honours.
“Let them carry on saying that Portugal won without deserving it”, he said.
“But they never give up, and that’s something I’m very fond of”. “I will go home very happy”.
The 31-year-old was stung by Greece’s smash-and-grab European Championships raid in the 2004 final when Portugal were hosts, and has little intention of losing a second major final. I think his abdominal muscles, his six pack is there for a reason.
“I have always been very demanding of myself”.
Nuno Gomes put Portugal in front but Thierry Henry equalised for the world champions and Zinedine Zidane scored a golden goal victor from the penalty spot three minutes from the end of extra time.
“In the build-up to the [World Cup 1994] final, Sacchi just talked to the players about their jobs, and what they had done well so far in the tournament”. I don’t like to lose, I want to help my team.
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Security barriers are already being erected on the renowned avenue for the annual Bastille Day parade on Thursday, which would make the presence of several hundred thousand people for a players’ victory parade impractical, the police chief said. He always wants to be the best and be more and more ideal.
