The Euro 2016 final pits underdogs Portugal against host nation France in what promises to be an intriguing match-up at the Stade de France on the outskirts of Paris on Sunday.
Les Bleus are the overwhelming favourites for the decider and understandably so. They have home ground advantage, boast the superior side on paper – combined with the minor detail A Selecao have won just once in regular time to reach Europe’s pinnacle event.
France vying for third title on home soil
The hosts always appear to turn up at their own party. However, during this tournament it was not until midway through their Round of 16 game against the Republic of Ireland for them to really hit their straps. Since Antoine Griezmann’s inspired second-half brace over the Irish, France have not looked back and have conveniently found form at the pivotal time. In the quarter-finals they convincingly dispatched a spirited Iceland 5-2, before dismantling world champions Germany 2-0 with a slice of luck and by exhibiting some exhilarating counter-attacking football in the semi-final – arguably the match of tournament hitherto.
The French boss has also finally realised his best formation and starting XI to boot, after struggling in the initial stages of the championship. Consequently, Didier Deschamps’ men will be confident of claiming a third major trophy and in doing so become the first European nation to win three significant titles as hosts. After defeating Die Mannschaft, they are now unbeaten in 18 matches at home in major tournaments.
The sub-plot that is Cristiano Ronaldo vs Antoine Griezmann
While the two finalists have an abundance of individual skill across the park, it is this underlying match-up which has captured the imagination. Not only are the pair figureheads for their particular teams, but they are also cross-town rivals on the domestic scene. Ronaldo and Griezmann both ply their trade in La Liga – with Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, respectively.
Casting one’s mind back nearly two months ago, the pair squared-off in the Champions League final in Milan. Ronaldo ultimately scored the decisive spot-kick to hand the Merengues La Undecima, while Griezmann had earlier missed a penalty when it thundered against the crossbar. The diminutive Frenchman, who has endeared himself with the nation’s public, will be hoping to avenge that squandered penalty in Sunday’s contest.
Could fate see Ronaldo lift an elusive international title 12 years after that infamous loss to Greece? Or will the tournament’s highest goal-scorer in Griezmann continue his prolific vain of form?
Can Portugal overcome unenviable hoodoo?
Another factor playing into France’s favour is Portugal’s dismal record against the hosts. Fernando Santos’ troops have not beaten their counterparts in 10 consecutive matches, dating back to 1975 and in their 24 meetings have lost 18, triumphant on a mere five occurrences.
More significantly, Portugal and France have only met three times in competitive matches, all which were semi-finals and resulted in France victories – at Euro 1984, Euro 2000 and the 2006 World Cup – the latter two tournaments decided by Zinedine Zidane penalties. Portugal will be hoping to exorcise the demons of ’04 and spoil Les Bleus’s party in the same manner Greece ruined theirs. Even if many deem the Selecao ‘s road to the final as lucky.
Whatever transpires, there will be no shortage of support for the visitors as Paris, incidentally, has the largest number of Portuguese inhabitants outside of the Iberian nation.
What are your thoughts? Let us know by dropping a comment below via our Facebook comment box. Make sure you follow us on Twitter @Outside90 and like us on Facebook.
