UEFA EURO 2016 began with Spain aiming to add a third consecutive European title to the two they won in 2008 and 2012. Within a few weeks, the defending champions were back home, though the tournament could yet still end with a very notable hat-trick for hosts France. Victorious on home soil at EURO 1984 and the 1998 FIFA World Cup France™, Les Bleus are looking to lift major silverware in front of their fans for the third time running.
Trying to prevent them from doing just that will be Portugal, who will be out to avoid an altogether different kind of treble, having lost their last two EURO meetings with the French, in 1984 and 2000. Victory on Sunday would give the Portuguese their first ever major title.
FIFA.com previews a match that will decide who represents Europe at the FIFA Confederations Cup Russia 2017.
The match*Portugal-France, 10 July 2016, 21:00, Stade de France, Saint-Denis*
Has Portugal’s big day finally arrived? Despite their rich history, a string of stirring performances in major tournaments and a long list of legendary players, A Seleçao das Quinas have two U-20 world crowns to their name. They had hoped to land a maiden major title on home soil at EURO 2004, but Greece had other ideas and shattered their dreams of glory. Heading into Sunday’s final as the underdogs, the Portuguese will hope to inflict similar pain on the EURO 2016 hosts. After a faltering start to the tournament and having squeezed into the knockout phase without winning a match, Fernando Santos’ charges have shown their ability to keep cool at key moments, securing a late extra-time win over Croatia, beating Poland on penalties and then making their experience tell against Wales in the semi-finals.
France have enjoyed a more straightforward run to the final, though they were made to sweat in coming from behind against the Republic of Ireland in the Round of 16. Didier Deschamps’ men were tipped by some to come unstuck against reigning world champions Germany in the last four, and certainly found the going tough, spending long periods chasing the ball. Sticking to their task, however, the hosts made the most of the few chances that came their way to record a 2-0 win over their bogey team. Buoyed by that long-awaited victory over the Germans, the French are full of confidence ahead of their first final since the 2006 World Cup.
The duel*Cristiano Ronaldo (POR) v Antoine Griezmann (FRA)*
Though Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have been trying to outdo each other for many years, their rivalry fired by the competition between their respective clubs – Real Madrid and Barcelona – the Portuguese has seen a new challenger to their supremacy emerge. Griezmann has added an extra dimension to his game since joining Atletico Madrid – Les Merengues’ other sworn enemy – and now stalks the top of the Liga scoring charts. The two have already faced off in the final of this season’s UEFA Champions League, when Ronaldo struck the winning penalty in the shootout, this after the Frenchman had missed from the spot in normal time. The Portugal star has since gone on to equal Michel Platini as the European Championship’s all-time leading scorer with nine goals, while Griezmann, who has six to his name at EURO 2016, is the first player to score more than five in a single European finals since Platini struck his nine in 1984.
The stat 10 - Portugal have lost their previous ten games against France, their last victory in the fixture coming way back in 1975, three years before the birth of Portugal’s Ricardo Carvalho, the oldest man on either side on Sunday.
What they said“I’ve beaten a lot of records already and I’ll beat a few more, but the most important thing was for us to make the final. We’ve always dreamed of getting there and I’ve always dreamed of winning a trophy with Portugal. We’re a step away now, and we can keep on dreaming.” Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo* *
“We have to become a nation of winners again. The time is now, and we have to come away with the trophy. I’ve never won anything with France and it would be a failure if it stayed that way. I’m proud of my team-mates. They want to make me cry by winning the European title.” France defender Patrice Evra
The winners of UEFA EURO 2016 will represent Europe at the FIFA Confederations Cup Russia 2017.